Local heroes
What I like about this job is how it can always distract you, even in the toughest times.
OK - everyone's a little scared by the credit crunch, and in personal lives and jobs we need to consider all sorts of actions to prepare for the worst recession since 1929 (so we're told).
But while the great and good are (self) importantly rushing around freezing Icelandic assets, announcing £400 billion bank rescues, repossessing homes and grounding bankrupt airlines, others are simply getting on with what they do best. Helping other people.
I'm talking, of course, about this week's Birmingham Mail Local Heroes Awards, when we hosted 14 readers and their families and friends to a posh nosh-up at the Botanical Gardens to celebrate their selflessness and courage.
The full stories can be read here
In summary, they ranged from a quick-thinking eight-year-old who saved his collapsed dad's life to a shopkeeper who broke his broom hitting an armed robber.
From a carer who'd looked after other people's children for 20 years, on top of being a grandmother of nine, to the off-duty nurse who used her skills to resuscitate a man stabbed outside a pub.
Ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Stories that made us feel proud, happy and very humble to be Birmingham newspaper men.
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Steve Dyson - Blog from the Editor on recent issues and events.
Errm , would this be the same Steve Dyson who appeared at this event , gave a short speech , ate TWO dinners ( one vegetarian option ) and then left ?
Your gustatory enthusiasm is truly humbling.
Ooo, you rascal!
To be accurate, I arrived at 12 noon, spoke to every one of the 14 local heroes and their families either at the drinks reception or by visiting tables between courses throughout dinner (how many did you speak to?), and then introduced the awards ceremony before leaving just after 2pm to go back to urgent business matters.
Two dinners? Not quite, but I did snaffle the veggie pie left by a guest who didn't turn up on my table as well as my own chicken. (And, as you know, I made proper reference to this greed during my speech!)
FYI, I've been to all Local Heroes events as editor, and usually enjoy staying (and often shedding a tear) throughout. This year found me too busy sorting out crucial details on our (your?) restructure to stay away from work for more than two hours in a 14-hour day. Never mind, I'll get over it and will look forward to next year. See you there?