And Now, The End Is Near ...

So here we are, out with the old crap and in with the new as we touched on the other day.

But while our gormless governors have been increasingly plotting to fill our lives full of gloom and misery, 2011 has been a quite superb year for me personally.

On the business front, we signed off our figures with our accountants on the last day before Christmas showing increased profit but, masterfully, they ensured that we will be paying circa £30k less tax. The exchequor won't be too out of pocket though, seeing as our growth means that we employ 20 more people now than we did on New Year's Eve 2010.

Additionally this year, my football team was promoted; my cricket team won just about everything; I enjoyed a first ever Park Lane black tie slap up 'do'; gave a speech in front of 250 people alongside an MP; made a first radio appearance; and, top of the pile, got married to the wonderful Mrs P.

And just to tie it all up with a pretty bow, we jewel robbers enjoyed two successes out of two by humbling Herr Bartlett and installing our esteemed mascot as Parliamentarian of the Year.

That'll take some topping in 2012, eh? We can but try, though - the next twelve months already threaten to unleash plenty to get our teeth into, sadly.

However, this is my lot for 2011 as I'm off to a smokey-drinky tonight, swiftly following on from a messy one last night which broke up around 3am this morning. Suitably refreshed after nodding off at the cinema with the little Ps during Sherlock Holmes this afternoon, all is set up nicely tonight for more behaviour which the state finds appalling.

I'll wish a hugely successful and Happy New Year to all who have passed by here in 2011, and hope you keep the words of Norman Stanley Fletcher closely in mind in 2012 ... "don't let the bastards grind you down".