Four weeks ago, just a couple of days before the wedding of my son and bride to be, I managed to upset them both in the middle of a text conversation we were having. It wasn’t intentional, and it was very much one of those things which could have been sorted out straight away if we’d been in the room together.

But they were in Aberdeen and I was in Campbeltown. It’s sometimes hard to communicate via the written word, when anybody’s personal feelings are involved.

I was devastated that I had managed to be the cause of upset, almost on the eve of the most important day of their lives so far. I hardly slept that night. And I knew that I had to make it right.

Next morning I rang up to say sorry to them both. It’s good to do that even when there has been no harm intended. And we talked and cried. And then everything was so much better.

As a result of our reconciling chat, there was not the slightest hint of a cloud hanging over the wedding. And the following weeks have been a great time of being together, and strengthening our relationships further.

So the answer I’m going to give, Elton, to the question “What I have got to do, when sorry seems to be the hardest word?” is quite simple really.

Say sorry.

(A beautiful performance of that song in the link, btw).