This is going to be one of the shortest blog posts I have written this year - and I can hear the cheers already...

For many reasons 2011 has been a difficult year for many and 2012 looks like it will be little better, but there are reasons to be cheeerful out there - especially as there are a number of high profile events that will knock the doom-and-gloom off the rolling 24 hour news. Whether it is the Queen's Jubilee celebrations, Euro2012, the Summer Olympics or the US elections there are reasons to see beyond the usual headline news - and if all goes completely wrong then we can all look forward to the predicted (?) end of the world on 21st December.

So whatever 2012 brings you - I hope it will be a positive one for us all...

Richard