There’s no shortage of moaners in this world – and East Lancashire’s certainly got its fair share.

Many people seem to be addicted to grumbling and complaining or ‘whinging’ – the word Australians use to refer to what they see as a peculiarly English trait.

The popularity of Eric Idle’s song Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, for the 1979 Python film Life of Brian, has a lot to do with the fact that deep down we know we don’t.

Overall we are a nation of pessimists lacking the cheery optimism and enthusiasm of the average American (a quality which in fact we find quite hard to stomach) or the happy go lucky outlook of Aussies summed up by phrases like ‘she’ll be right mate.’

We do tend to get worked up (and I’m not pretending I’m any exception to this) into Victor Meldrew-style frenzies by things like late trains, litter, dog dirt, winter gritting and parking charges which in the grand scheme of things are pretty small.

I suspect I’m not alone in reading one report last week which truly put all these ‘problems’ in their rightful place – the box marked trivia.

It was the story of the death of Haley Taylor at the tragically early age of 27 from cervical cancer, leaving behind three children, Leon, 9 and Reece, 7, whose dad passed away two years ago, and 18-month-old TJ.

Long before she became ill, life had hardly been easy for Haley.

She lost her own mother Lorraine when she was just 13.

Then 12 months ago doctors discovered a tumour.

Haley had chemotherapy and battled on but after five weeks in East Lancashire Hospice she died.

She was clearly a fighter and was determined her children stay together after her death.

And that’s what her dad Arthur has vowed to do. The 57-year-old grandad said: “She asked me to take the three kids and not split them up.

"She said she would haunt me if I didn’t.”

Next time you feel like moaning because the binmen have missed your house or a speed camera flashed as you drove past, spare a thought for Arthur.

His family has clearly faced up to more than its fair share of genuine problems with spirit and a positive attitude that should have the admiration of all.

Arthur and the youngsters now truly deserve bucketfuls of the luck that has been in short supply for them in recent years.