I'm going to hit another birthday this week so I've been reflecting on my recent birthdays and thinking about love, life and all those deep things that only pop to the surface every so often.

These earrings were one of a number of gifts from my team on my 40th birthday three years ago. I can't look at them without welling up from the kind and generous support of my team that year. I had just left my husband and was making a defiant show of 'I can do it alone' but was angry and hurt inside that my ex had literally cleaned me out, taking all my precious records and CDs amongst other things I'll never be able to replace. I know when a couple splits up there are always things that both parties want but he took 90%+ of the record collection, much of which I'm sure he'll never play - he just wanted them because they were limited editions and such like. I'll never find singles by 'Getting the Fear' or 'Circus, Circus, Circus' now - they have long since disappeared without trace. Many of the things he took probably only sold 500 or 1000 in the first place. I'll bet I'll never see them again.

Ginny and Heather (love them both) decided to try to replace my record collection by going to a second hand record shop and talking through the records with my buddy, Claire, on a mobile. They called out titles and Claire decided whether or not I'd like them. They had sneaked into my office one morning while I was away from my desk and emailed her from my personal address list. Imagine Claire's surprise to get an email....'you don't know us but....'

They took me to the pub and we sat outside while I opened treasure after beloved treasure - each record I opened I loved them more for taking the time and trouble to do such a fantastic thing for me.

I don't think anyone will ever do anything so kind for me ever again. Thanks and love to you both. You don't know how much your friendship and support helped me through those black times.