PMCI February 2017 | Page 15

EDITORS COMMENT As I come to writing my comment for this issue of PMCI it strikes me how very privileged we’ve become in the last couple of years; when I first stepped in to take over the reigns as Editor I had just one regular contributor in the shape of my good friend and valued colleague Trampas, and somehow we managed to pull a couple of issues seemingly out of thin air! This gave us a little breathing space to be able to speak to folk out there that were manufacturing some great products or offering first rate training packages. It also allowed us time to be able to bring a regular format together which thankfully is obviously one that you enjoy, as our readership numbers soared from Issue 4 onwards; it’s humbling to know that PMCI is viewed and read by the best part of 60,000 of you fine folk each and every issue now. As we got onto a roll new contributors have come and gone, but now Andy and JT have joined us to bolster up the team and we’re running harder and faster than ever before. SHOT Show, which we report on fully in this issue, has now come and gone and what an experience it was for us; I’d like to personally extend my heartfelt thanks to all the companies and individuals we met in Las Vegas who extended to hand of friendship to us. We’ve come away from the show with so many new contacts which we’ll be following up with for content, and re-connected with some “comrades in arms” of old. This leads me onto the real point of my comment this time; with political and cultural changes it’s all too easy to lose sight of those that have stood beside you, those that you once shared a bond so close with. Shared experiences, both good and bad, forge a bond that can be as strong, if not stronger than family, and I hold those that I call “brother and sister” very close. Life however moves on unabated and changes in circumstance and physical location mean that sometimes we don’t speak to one another as often as perhaps we should, and given the stoic nature that many of us have we’re not always the best at asking for help when things get tough. We need to be mindful of this, and look for those small signs that one of those closest to us might be suffering in some way, whether that is financial, physical, emotional, or psychological. From the Heart... Those that have faced adversity and danger in life carry the memories with them forever; yes, we manage things pretty well most of the time, but it’s that rare moment when our guard comes down that the bad thoughts can come flooding back. Without wishing to sound trite, we DO need to be there for one another; the bond forged is a strong one and should never be forgotten. If you’re out there and need help there are numerous professional groups and organisations that can help, but sometimes the first step is simply speaking to someone you trust. To all our “brothers and sisters” around the world, thank you for what you have already given, and for what you may yet give; thank you for “watching our six” and know that we’ve got yours when you need it. pmcimagazine.com