BLUE MONDAY, 20th JANUARY 2014 06:39 BST

AVAILABLE FOR KINDLE DOWNLOAD, DOCUMENT DOWNLOAD AND AUDIOBOOK - EMOTIONAL MANAGEMENT FOR ORDINARY FOLK

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1. THIS DAY IN WORLD WAR 2 (20th January 1944)
On the Russian Front...
Soviet 59th Army captures Novgorod as German 18th Army continues to withdraw
Soviet 2nd Baltic Front opens new attacks against German 16th Army

In the North Sea...
Kriegsmarine minelayer Skagerrak is sunk by RAF aircraft 

In the English Channel...
Kriegsmarine patrol vessel V-712 is sunk by a mine
German blockade runner Munsterland is sunk by British naval batteries at Dover 

In the Atlantic...
U-263 is sunk, probably by a mine, in the Bay of Biscay

In Italy...
The pro-Allied Badoglio government revokes all anti-Jewish laws

II Corps of US 5th Army attack across the Rapido River against strong opposition by 15th Panzer-Grenadier Division 
British 10th Corps of US 5th Army continues advancing across the Garigliano River 

In the Pacific...
Japanese vessel Hidaka Maru is sunk by USN submarine Batfish
Japanese vessel Koyo Maru is sunk by USN submarine Gar
Japanese vessel Ogashima Maru is sunk by USAAF aircraft off Namu Atoll
Japanese vessel Menado Maru and Kuzan Maru are sunk by US 14th Air Force aircraft in the South China Sea

USN submarine Tinosa lands men and equipment on Borneo 

In New Guinea...
In the Dumpu-Bogadjim sector, with heavy US air support, Australian 18th Infantry Brigade attacks the Japanese 78th Infantry Regiment on Shaggy Ridge 

In Burma...
Indian 89th Infantry Brigade attack around Letwedet east of the Mayu Range and west of the Kalapanzin River 
Dogfighting between RAF Fighters and Japanese aircraft above Maungdaw  

In the Indian Ocean...
British vessel Fort Buckingham is sunk by U-188  

Today's Air Raids...
Berlin and military targets in Germany by RAF Bomber Command
Viterbo, Pontecorvo, Carsoli, and military targets in Southern Italy by US 12th Air Force
Guidonia, Centocelle, and Ciampino, Northern Italy by US 15th Air Force
Tarawa Atoll by Japanese aircraft
Wotje Atoll, Kwajalein Atoll, Rakaaru, Jaluit Atoll, and Mille Atoll by US 7th Air Force
Hansa Bay and military targets in New Guinea by US 5th Air Force
Gasmata and targets between Borgen Bay and Rein Bay on New Britain by US 5th Air Force
Rabaul, New Britain by US 5th Air Force
Mogaung, Mohnyin, and Natalin, Burma by US 10th Air Force  

2. TODAY IN MY LIFE
Blogging
Me Time
Housework
Meditation
Missus Time

Twitter Followers = 1,701 (no change)
Nonfollowed eliminated = 1
Unfollowers eliminated = 0
New followers = 1
@DowSocialUK      

3. TODAY'S SELF-OBSERVATION 
A clear diary for the next four weeks gives me a clear run to develop both self and Practice between all the standard stuff. Never have my personal circumstances been so benign! I intend to respond by "making hay while the sun shines" to make myself as robust as possible going into the future.

I have very much enjoyed writing and proof-reading my new book, which compresses a lifetime of learning into a few pages. Feedback from proof-readers notwithstanding, I intend to self-publish in February. It is already proving a great reference for myself! I have never previously put everything I have learned into one place.

I have realized that what makes life fulfilling is not being surrounded by opulence, nice though that is, but rather having a clear idea what you're here for and having the opportunity to pursue it. I know exactly why I'm here and what I'm doing!

4. TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU
Do you know why you're here and what you're doing?

5. TODAY'S WEATHER IN BRADFORD
Dry, clear and cold throughout, fog in lower-lying areas
Wind negligible
Max Temp = 3 degC
Min Temp = 1 degC
Sunrise at 08:12
Sunset at 16:25

6. TODAY'S ONELINER
The three greatest lies told by a New Zealander:- 1. My grandmother was a Maori princess 2. I once tried out for the 'All Blacks' 3. I was only trying to help it over the fence.  

7. NOW THAT'S FUNNY!
Mock The Week - grammar and country crime 

8. TRIVIA
40% of workplace dating relationships result in marriage.

9. ZEN WISDOM
Alone, one’s suffering only deepens. Human beings need to be with and among other human beings. Engagement with others forges our character and enriches us.