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// talk to me / spill the secrets you’ve been keeping / life cuts deep / let me help pick up the pieces / you’re not alone, i’m by your side / don’t you know, i’ll walk through fire with you / i’m not an angel, i’m not a saint / i’ve been a closed book full of mistakes / but when you’re broken, when you’re in pain / i’ll walk through fire with you // (walk thru fire by vicetone)
Given the events of 2020, it seems almost inappropriate to say we wish you a “merry Christmas” or even “have a jolly holiday”. Nor can we pretend that because it’s Christmas that everything will instantly be better.
How do we even find the right words that might bring some comfort when there are a magnitude of reasons for why this year has been personally awful. We all know someone who has sadly passed away because of this virus, or is in hospital, or is still suffering from the long term effects. We all know a person (or it may even be ourselves) whose mental health has seriously suffered from being isolated in lockdown; whose relationships have been strained; who has lost their job or is worried that they soon will. Each is deeply personal and we cannot even begin to comprehend what some people might have gone through.
Last Christmas Eve, we said “you are not alone”, and there will have been many times this year when we have all pretty much felt he opposite.
Remember that you’re not alone in being alone. There will be others out there in similar circumstances to you. You may not be aware of them; they might not even be talking about it publicly or on social media, but they are out there. Someone put in far better than us by saying “we are all in different boats but we are all in the same storm.” Some of those boats will be similar to your own; some will be closer together whilst others are further apart. But we have all gone through these last nine months together, and we will do so for the months ahead.
Many of us have had to rip up our Christmas plans - and for some that means spending the festive period alone. We are both spending our Christmas and New Year apart from our families and friends, and we imagine that many of you will also be in the same position. All we can say is: tomorrow, do what makes you happy. Plan on what will keep you busy and just take it hour by hour. This Christmas will be different, there’s no denying that. It’s to be expected that we will all feel jaded, lost, sad or angry at some point. For anyone starting to worry about being alone/lonely tomorrow, we recommend comedian Sarah Millican’s Christmas day chat on Twitter (using the hashtag #JoinIn) which anyone can take part. And if in doubt, there are always the Strike books and TV series to keep occupied tomorrow!
Speaking of which, if there have been any highlights in this nightmare year, then it would obviously be Strike: Lethal White and the publication of Troubled Blood.
Lethal White brought us four hours of escapism, and countless more in re-watches, discussion, and getting creative with memes, GIFs, and artwork. It was the perfect tonic and after a 2 ½ year wait, it was just so special to see Tom and Holliday back on screen together and at the top of their game. Who would have thought that we would have been watching Lethal White with some nostalgia of the time when we could all walk down the high-street together, visit the pub, or simply hugging our “best mate”.
Lethal White perfectly led to the long awaited 5th Strike novel and for many the book of the year: Troubled Blood. A book that was so rich in detail, characters, locations, and plot twists. A book that was mammoth in size and in weight - it was what we all needed going into this difficult autumn/winter period. Oh, and the further development of Cormoran and Robin’s relationship that warmed all our hearts!
Personally, we can only hope that during this year there might have been some content posted on here that offered you some brief distraction, insight, excitement, or even some laughter. Should you find yourself at a loose end tomorrow, or over the festive period, we have put together a Cormoran Strike word search, which can be downloaded here:
We know it’s not much but it might while away an hour of boredom. If you have been following the daily location posts, then those are carrying on over the festive period - tomorrow sees a long post on Hampton Court Palace. In the new year we will be taking your musical requests for the 2nd edition of Strike: The People’s Playlist.
On a personal note, we both want to finish with two words:
“Thank you.”
Thank you if you visit or follow us. We’re not sure why because we think a lot of what we post is of little interest.
Thank youfor taking part in the Troubled Blood predictions, Strike: The People’s Playlist, and the Strike 2021 Calendar. It’s always an uphill challenge trying to get people to participate in any fandom community events, and we often wonder if it’s worth the time, so we are forever grateful for those who did take the time.
Thank you for your contributions wherever they may be in the Strike fandom. Whether that’s fan-fiction, gifs, artworks or discussion. You might post, comment, like, etc. on a regular basis or only once in a while, but each contribution is of equal value and helps enrich and grow a fandom.
Thank you for being adults; for being able to have insightful discussions; to agree and to disagree and to give constructive criticism; for respecting the views of others and to still all be able to get along. This year has been difficult on a number of subject fronts but having sensible discussions and listening to differing opinions ishealthy.
Thank you for looking out for each other, for offering help, support, and comforting words. More than ever it was needed.
Thank you for the laughs. Because it makes everything instantly less bad.
Thank you.
All that is left for us to say is we wish you a safe Christmas and hopefully a more positive new year.
Today is World Mental Health Day and it’s never been more important, especially given how tough this year has been for many.
It’s okay to feel down. It’s okay to feel lost and scared. It’s okay to feel angry. Everyone’s experience of mental health is different but you are never truly alone.
Don’t be afraid to reach out and talk to someone. Because you are NOT a burden and people will want to listen. Help can come from the most surprising of places.
It will get better. The dark will become light once again.
“What I think about you and the job is that you are brilliant at it. I had a decade of training. I did hundreds of cases with SIB. You’ve had none of that, and you’re just as good as me. It’s actually quite annoying.”
As he chewed now, Strike thought that he would never again be able to taste the tart-spicy-sweet sticking to the roof of his mouth without seeing Robin as she was now, her hair a tangled mess around her face, golden and shining where it was hit by the sparse light filtering through his tiny bedroom window; legs long and bare and freckled and folded underneath her, her toast balancing precariously on her knee and mug clutched tightly in her hands for warmth – her fingers were often cold in the early morning, he knew. And without intending it, without conscious thought, the words bubbled up and out – thickly, through a mouthful of toast and marmalade.
