Stock Taking

As the year comes to an end and a new one beckons it is generally time to take stock and look forward.

Generally I think that this year for personal reasons of redundancy at the beginning is best forgotten and then in some aspects it has bought new beginnings. Redundancy subsequently happened to many people locally and is still happening with little real assistance to those affected from the government. It is all very well pumping money in to the economy but what it doesn't do is affect people at the sharp end, those that are still chased for tax when money is running out or for social security because they have some savings and the letter dismissing them from their employer did not mention the word "redundancy".

For the recession has brought many bad times to many people but others also have suffered worse with ill health and also death of their loved ones through whatever cause. I think when one hears of the stories of heartbreak and the worry of those plagued by serious ill health it puts into perspective the traumas personally suffered during a year.

What one hopes for is a year of reasonable prosperity, peace of mind and good health for all and perhaps a little common sense to enter the thinking of our government.