I had intended writing about a few funny and frivolous things that happened this week but to be honest my heart just isn't in it.

Yesterday's major incident at George Square seems to make all festivities seem in bad taste.

Yet today the city will be busy again with people going to and from work or shopping for last minute Christmas presents just like those poor souls who were going about similar tasks yesterday.

Many families waited patiently for loved ones returning from the town at teatime, delayed in the chaos which ensued with traffic. Texts and phone calls to check if all were safe and sound were rife. I received a few myself from concerned friends because it is usually about now that my family and I make our annual homage to George Square to see the lights.

We would have been taking three children and two elderly parents up there so all I can think is thank God we decided to go to see a Pantomime in Kilmarnock instead.

When people travel on planes, trains, buses or cars, accidents happen but to be walking on a pavement and be knocked down by a bin lorry is just plain awful.

Those relatives who received the heart breaking news that their loved one had been killed have all our sympathy. This tragedy at any time of year would have been horrendous but a few days before Christmas is just so cruel.

Most of us round about now are running around frantic with Christmas preparations driving us crazy and creating tension and arguments amongst each other. This tragedy puts all that nonsense into perspective, doesn't it?

That phrase will be widely used today and I only hope we can take it to heart. Today of all days why not go out your way to hold and/or call your loved ones and tell them just how much you love them and how much you care for them?

What yesterday illustrated with such rank injustice yet again is how little warning we get before tragedies strike and loved ones are gone forever. Cherish who you love in your life and never tire of telling them how much they mean to you. You simply never know when you will lose them and never be able to say the things you wished you had when you had the chance.

Cherish your family and friends at Christmas

Tommy and I spent the last two days finishing off Gabrielle's presents and taking her to see Santa.

Tommy remarked that being together is all we really need and as we travelled last night to Kilmarnock to see the Panto Aladdin, he said it again.

He's right, of course. When loved ones are lost or missed the pain is unbearable at this time of year. My uncle died on Sunday and his family are in pain at his loss. Family and friends are the greatest gifts we have at Christmas. So I'll be saying a prayer for those who lost their lives and their bereaved families and I'll be acknowledging the fortune of having a wonderful wee daughter and an incredibly loving husband.

We will be spending Christmas with parents, sisters, sister-in-laws and brothers-in-law. We will do the same thing we do every year. We'll eat too much, drink too much but, most importantly, we will laugh and enjoy each other for there can never be too much of that. Merry Christmas.