MY grandmamma always said ‘it’s no good preaching to a man, if he has an empty stomach’. She was a big Salvation Army-ist.

And that thought came back to me on Saturday night as, along with many more, I attended the Blackburn Citadel.

Citadel! Now isn't that a wonderful name?

The Sally Army was celebrating its 135th anniversary — and it’s a long time ago since the Army came into Blackburn.

My gran always claimed that our family are descendants of Brigham Young and she somehow associated him with the Army.

So, a few years ago, when we were in the States, Bill and I went down to Salt Lake City to see what, if any, connection, there was.

However, it needed a lot of time, patience and the real desire to know and, quite honestly, I thought does it make any difference where you come from?

It’s where you are going that counts.

I’ve been doing my ‘bucket list’ and in case you’re not familiar with the phrase, it’s things I wish to do before I ... Before I what?

Well, you know what I mean — while I’m able.

And funny enough, it’s nowhere near as long as I thought.

I’ve been very lucky to have done a lot of the stuff that I wanted to do — marry, have children, cross the Amazon, kiss the Blarney Stone and the Wailing Wall and climb the Himalayas.

I’m glad to say, though, there are still one or two things on that list and I’m planning them right now.

But I believe the best things we have, or do, are the really simple things.

Things that we all take for granted, such as our family and friends, reading the papers or having a cup of tea .

These are the things that make our lives pleasant, liveable and worthwhile.