Bill Harvey: If I tell you a joke...

As we reach the end of another somewhat challenging 12 months, I hope we can all find time to relax and gather ourselves ready for what next year might throw at us. At one point this year, I let stress get the better of me and started taking camouflage lessons; I just didn’t want any more patients to see me.

On a more serious note, for too long I was in denial about of how stress can creep up insidiously on anyone and, if not consciously affecting me, affecting how I interacted with others. I will even confess to being cynical about much of the support available, such as counselling.