ON THE BRIGHTER SIDE...

Nothing helps see a situation for what it is better than getting away and taking a break.  The resulting view from the outside usually makes things clearer. 

After a tough year of all manner of difficulties, including illness, injury, family bereavement, problems caused by the government, and a challenging economic climate - not to mention the constant rain, cloud, and dark days of the British winter - we really needed a holiday. 

So it was great to be able to get away from it all and head off to the sunshine of a Caribbean Cruise with Social Group Holidays. 

Landing in San Juan, Puerto Rico (think Majorca/Cuba/Miami), we soon found ourselves immersed in a local festival of flamboyant colour and passion, with stalls on the grass by the beautiful palm-fringed Condado beach, offering everything from mojito cocktails and tasty snacks (e.g. Caribbean Whole Roasted Pig) to live entertainment from a steel band and even a belly dancer!

Fun in the sun, and people making the most of being happy!

And no-one panicking about the collapse of the currency or the government imposing obscene levels of taxes guaranteed to destroy any chance of economic prosperity!

Yes, it's amazing how much better life can seem when you disconnect and escape being fed a constant diet of despair, fear, and panic by the media. It struck us at once how much less aware and how less worried the Americans we met seemed to be. Strange that, when the British have always prided themselves on how resilient we are. 

Off then on the 18 storey cruise liner, 3200 passengers, 1200 staff/crew, with all you can eat for the duration, and different ports of call each day at exotic tropical islands off the coast of Venezuela. Beautiful white sand beaches, warm seas, wonderful snorkeling, blue skies, extravagant palm trees, and some exciting day excursions.  But best of all, lots of good company and good times.  And lots of smiles. 

It does make a difference.

And isn't that the whole point.  That life is very much a matter of perspective. 

If you are in a room full of depressed people, the world outside seems a lot worse.  If you are in a room full of happy people, the world outside doesn't seem so bad. 

What do they say... "Absence makes the heart grow fonder"? If anything at all can make you appreciate home, it's being away from it for a while.

On a cruise ship in the southern Caribbean Sea, amidst 37 different nationalities, we met some very nice people from America, Canada, Puerto Rico, Russia, France, Germany, Romania, Denmark and all over the world! But there was always a special thrill to meet someone from back home in the UK and that special bond of being countrymen.  

The one thing that really stood out for us was being reminded just how special our nation is and of the unique standing we have in the world.

Here's hoping the opening ceremony of the Summer 2012 Olympics in London is not a complete cringefest and instead manages to be a truly classy "Cool Britannia" affair that gets over to the world what a rich culture, past and present, we represent and embrace. 

So keep smiling people! The darkest days of winter are now behind us and it will soon be spring.

Summer lies ahead.

So let's all try to have some OPTIMISM and do all we can to BRING BACK THE GOOD TIMES!

And please everyone... do all you can to defeat government plans to further increase taxation on travel and flights! Because, especially when times are tough, we all need to be able to take a holiday.  And we can't allow them to take that away from us.