O

The utterings of an Idiot. Who, contrary to popular belief is not abroad.

[O @OwenSherborne]

5

[O @OwenSherborne]

@ccwhitefield1 Left after she had finished....

[Stephen Skoberne MIPowerE @steveskoie]

Just give it big Sam till the end of the season #BRIMCI

[Board of Deputies of British Jews @BoardofDeputies]

Our comment on an MP's use of Pastor Martin Niemöller's poem about the horrors of the Nazis to describe a potential smoking ban.

[Geoff Lloyd @GeoffLloyd]

When me and Pete had Noel Gallagher on for a live phone-in, but just lined up loads of nannas and grandpas #oasis

[O @OwenSherborne]

Delightful! #IPSLIV

[Stan Collymore @StanCollymore]

Graham Thorpe, England cricketer, with beautiful daughters, loving wife, family and friends.

Took his own life.

Too many men in particular, at a time when information is plentiful, charities on standby, text, phone and email services ready, are deciding to end their lives.

Many reading this, like me will have hit very close to where Graham got but stopped short, just. It's a desperate, confusing and frightening experience mixed with a matter of factness that at the time feels sobering, you feel you're thinking and acting clearly but you're not.

Graham's wife took the decision to tell the world of how Graham both lived and sadly died, in the hope that if you or someone you know are struggling you'll grab one of the branches set out below and contact someone who can and will help.

When someone takes their life, there's a trail of pain, questions and few answers, but many of us know that anxiety and depression gets so bad that life simply doesn't feel worth living. In my case I was lucky, very lucky. I ran, and ran some more until clouds lifted, the anxiety moved away and I could think straight. Looking back I've been seconds away from death several times, so reading about Graham is incredibly confronting, upsetting and sobering as I'm sure it is for many.

I didn't know Graham but his story is all too familiar. Anxiety and depression for men, particularly men, hides invisible as the forced machismo creates a mask, a shield. You laugh, you crack a joke, you "look" ok and you carry on. But then one day as if you were preparing a meal, you take stock, prepare your deed and,

You take your life.

Leaving others with a lifetime of pain.

You don't mean to, it's the last thing you want, but it's the unintended consequences of a decision made, nonetheless.

If you're reading this, and can relate to any of the above, firstly have 5 minutes to think of Graham, his children and his wife, they need all the love and support that can be sent their way.

Then, if you're anxious, depressed, really struggling, ease know that my email is open to sound off, that charities such as the Samaritans are there 24/7, SANE charity phone line is open from 4pm to 10pm daily, MIND have drop in centres nationally and emergence services will always help on 999 or NHS 111.

To Graham and his family, you're on my mind and the mind of many, and to those struggling, you're a second away from help even in your darkest hour.

Protect life. Yours.

Stand up. Speak out.

[Andy Stevenson @AndyStevenson81]

The people amused/shocked/appalled that the BBC would hire a boxing reporter with no arms are going to fall off their sofas when they hear I also do golf, tennis, snooker etc.

PS I also have a prosthetic leg and report on football 😱

(Thanks @tphollingsworth for the pic)

[Jay Motty @JayMotty]

This is better than any speech from a politician we’ve heard recently 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[Ian Dunt @IanDunt]

This is one of the most pitiful things I have ever seen. This sad, tepid, brain dead little man, desperately blaming others for his own abject failures.

[BladeoftheSun @BladeoftheS]

It's been exactly 1 week, but due to the racist thugs these girls have almost been forgotten.

Don't let them be.

[Will @wsebag]

IMAGINE BEING IN A HOTEL FEARFUL FOR YOUR CHILDREN WHO COULD POSSIBLY RELATE TO THAT?

[Adam @AdameMedia]

This is Britain right now.

[Jim Scott @jimscottjourno]

Zaf is a taxi driver. He’s born and bred Sunderland

He broke down when he described the hate he’d received

This was seconds before racial slurs were thrown, telling him to “go back to his own country”

A short clip. Hard, but important, so please watch

[BladeoftheSun @BladeoftheS]

54 injured Police Officers in yesterday's riot in Southport.

Just Stop Oil injured no-one and got 21 years in prison.

How many hundreds of years will be handed out to the thugs in Southport?

[Peter Stefanovic @PeterStefanovi2]

WOW! Everyone should listen to this superb maiden speech from newly appointed Prisons, Parole & Probation Minister @JamesTCobbler in the House of Lords today

What an absolutely inspired appointment this is👏👏👏

[O @OwenSherborne]

@ccwhitefield1 We decided he was born in 1877