There was once a man who arrived at a new town. He had left his last one under a cloud and was looking forward to a new start.
As he arrived at the town gate, he met a guard.

“You look like you’re moving in!” The guard laughed, pointing towards the vast array of belongings on the man’s old cart.

“I am” replied the traveller, unnecessarily firmly

“How was the last place you lived?” inquired the guard.

“Couldn’t wait to leave the place. Lots of bad tempered people, complaining and arguing about everything. To be honest, I’ll be glad to see the back of them!” he retorted.

“I see,” said the guard. “I am afraid you might find the same thing here. Be on your way now. Good day.”

He watched as the traveller pulled his old horse and cart inside the town gates and sighed.

Soon afterwards the guard saw another man. He too was laden-down with goods and various packages and parcels.

“Coming for a long holiday?” he smiled.

“No. I am coming to live with my sister as her husband has died,” replied the man.

“I am sorry to hear that,” the guard said. “That’s kind of you.”

“Thinks the world of her I do,” said the traveller, his eyes welling up. “Added to the fact that my wife died a few years back and we had no kiddies like…” He tailed off, aware that he was becoming emotional.

The guard looked at his shoes and coughed the way men do when there is nothing to say.

“What are the folks like in this town?” said the old man.

“What were they like where you were from?” asked the guard, curiously.

“Oh! Salt of the earth. Wonderful people. Loved the bones of them I did. Nothing too much bother. Very sad to leave them I was. Why?”

“Well, you will find the people here exactly the same,” said the guard.” I hope you settle in brilliantly with your sister. Take care.”

I think that story is beautiful. And true. As all beautiful stories are.
The way we treat others affects our mood and their treatment of us. People laugh at me because I get so much better treatment in surgeries, shops and restaurants than they do. The reason is simple: I talk to the staff and engage with them. I can’t help it:)

This morning I saw my son on his way to his swimming lesson with his school class. I shouted across the road, “Sam!” and waved vigourously.

Sam – and two other total strangers (one a black middle aged lady and one an old white man) all waved cheerily.

I smiled. It all goes to prove that we take the weather with us. Today it may be rainy in Manchester but it is sunny in my heart.