Julie packed hampers at the food bank over the holiday period.

Bobby reminded me that white handkerchiefs were often waved in times gone by to signify distress or to request help.

They were certainly waved 50 years ago on January 2 when the Ibrox disaster was taking place. Sixtysix people died and around 200 were injured in the crush. For some, help would never have come quickly enough. Still, those white flags waved.

“Who even carries one of those big white hankies any more?” I asked.

“Very few, if any,” Bobby replied. “Not the best reason to make sure a crush like that never happens again. But a reason.”

Sporting stadia have improved beyond recognition since then, but the loss was a deep one. Let us, football fans or not, whatever team we support, pause a moment, out of respect for those who, even half a century later, still reach for a hankie or a tissue to wipe a tear away.

One of the regular volunteers commented there weren’t many people in the hall. Julie saw about 20 people. “Normally, we have 50,” the other volunteer said. “A lot of people are off because of Covid. They’re either ill or isolating.”

Then she asked Julie, “Are you on furlough?” She admitted she was.

“It’s wonderful,” the other woman sighed. When times are good, the people who don’t have jobs come and help us. In times of sickness, the people who are furloughed come and help us. In the holidays, schoolchildren help us. Some businesses pay their staff to come along. Whatever the situation in the wider world, we always have someone helping!”

“I guess, it’s just a kind world,” Julie said.

I’m glad it is!

Making Newyear resolutions,

Is something we can do, By writing down our hopes and aims,

And try to follow them through.

Sweet success could well be ours,

If we persevere,

And the joy when we attain, What we hold most dear.