2017 was not  as eventful for me as 2016, my Annus Horribilis, which included a dislocated shoulder, diagnosis of a heart condition, Easter in a Greek hospital, skin cancer …..  and culminated in an 02.30 evacuation from a hotel fire in Banff and the loss of everything I had.   But it wasn’t great, not least because of the still not successful struggles to get compensation for the losses in the fire.

Looking forward to 2018 it’s perhaps as well that I don’t believe in portents.  One recent morning the sky was streaked vivid red, painting the Monmouthshire-Brecon Canal at the end of the garden.   Only lasted a few minutes but it was very impressive.

2018 will hold whatever it does, it’s in God’s hands not some old wives/sailors/shepherds omen.

So,  happy New Year.