Yipee! It's 2012

Yes, it's that time when all politicians burden us with their thoughts on the year to come.
David Cameron has promised to use the "global drama" of the Olympics and "glory" of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee to help get Britain "up to strength". "This will be the year Britain sees the world and the world sees Britain," he has said in his New Year message. How inspirational and there'll be dancing in the lanes of Stoke Climsland from citizens excited by the prospect of such splendours. Ah, the sting in the tail: he admitted 2012 would be difficult as the economy struggled. You can see the man himself delivering his homily here.
In his New Year message, hapless Ed Miliband said his party must convince people in 2012 that "optimism can defeat despair". The UK needed "profound change" to avoid a future of struggling to compete in the world and called on politicians to show they could make a difference.
To complete the trio of Jeremiahs, the Dan Quayle of British politics, Nick Clegg, said the New Year posed "many great challenges for everyone", adding that his party had ensured the coalition government was helping people.

Let's accept that 2012 is not going to be an easy one: the financial crisis has got some way to run yet and we certainly haven't seen the worse of the Coalition policies. Neither should we forget what is going on elsewhere in the world: we are not alone in facing huge issues. Notwithstanding all the doom and gloom, there will be many good things about 2012 that we should not lose sight of. Here are a few from me: add your own to the list.
* The sun will rise and set every day.
* Most people will eat, laugh and love more than they are hungry, cry and hate.
* The world around us will continue to provide immense pleasure to those who take time to experience it.
* Many people will practice unsolicited random acts of kindness.
* Communities and organisations will continue to work together and make the lives of many immeasurably better.
* Most of us will continue to relish the companionship and support of our network of family and friends.
* Children will be born and received into the arms of loving parents.
* Healthcare professionals will successfully treat millions of us for a wide variety of illnesses and diseases.
* Other public service professionals and employees will continue to keep us safe and contribute to our good standard standard of living.

Each of us can accomplish something worthwhile in 2012: let's remember the Boy Scout motto of doing a good deed every day! Here endeth today's sermon.