THE main talking point of the week in the pubs and offices of Britain has been the sacking of David Moyes as the manager of Manchester United.

One of the world's biggest sporting brands made a mistake which has cost millions.  A man who was perceived to have over-achieved as manager of Everton has had his reputation ripped apart by humiliating failure. And speculation is going crazy about who will be chosen to try to restore United's fortunes.

To be dismissed less than a season into a contract to succeed English football's most successful manager,  is, of course, a big news story. There is room for sympathy for David Moyes, just as there is for anyone who loses their job. But let's keep his demise in perspective.

Stephen Sutton, from Staffordshire, is also in the news this week after he raised £1m for the Teenage Cancer Trust. Stephen was diagnosed with bowel cancer when he was 15 and began writing an on-line diary about his fight for life. Having topped the £1m mark, he has now posted his final message to his followers.

"It's a final thumbs up from me!" he wrote. "That's it from me. But life has been good. Very good."

It is impossible to read those words and not be moved - and to be reminded that life is precious.

Stephen Sutton's story should be remembered when relatively unimportant things go wrong and leave us feeling that our world is falling apart.