Time to look forward and try enjoy life's pleasures

Mal Pope is a songwriter who co-produced the film Jack To A King, about the 10-year rise of Swansea City FC

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T HAD been an exciting day for the little lad, back to school after the Yuletide break and a chance to see friends for the first time in weeks.

He had loved it. When he got home he ran into the living room, he couldn't believe his eyes. He sank to his knees and said in the most mournful voice just one word 'No!' The Christmas tree had gone and so had all of the decorations.

Now I know he's only four but I get it. After weeks of carols and twinkling lights and a house full of family back for the holidays, all of a sudden it's over and it hurts.

I must admit that I had decided to take a bit of a step back from social media and writing music for a couple of weeks after what had been an intense December. With the final Everyone Deserves A Christmas hamper being put on the back of the last van I thought the time was right for a break.

The trouble is people were starting to get worried. I even got a concerned answer machine message from my big brother checking to see if I was alright. He hadn't seen me posting anything online and was worried about me!