This has been a tough year. Riots, international conflict and a really challenging economy. With no end in sight for the Eurozone crisis and so much of the gargantuan task of bringing down the UK deficit still ahead of us, you could be forgiven for approaching the festive season with rather less enthusiasm than usual. However, most local people I meet are remarkably stoic about the difficult economic waters we have to navigate our way through, confident that tough decisions now are laying a better future for us and our children.
But what is it about the British that a good old crisis always seems to bring out the best in us? The spirits of the people I encountered last weekend at the De La Warr Pavilion, at The Bexhill Conservatives Christmas party, the Brightling Church Christmas fundraiser and the wonderful Whatlington village Christmas Pageant (accompanied by the terrific Battle Town Band!) were undimmed. Perhaps it is because times like these really put into perspective those things that are really important. Not expensive presents but friends, family and community. At times like these we certainly need their support more than in the boom years but we are all the better for having it and particularly for being useful ourselves. But few do more for others at this time of year than the amazingly hard working local volunteers who run "Surviving Christmas" which provides support and company for those who don't have the comfortable Christmas break so many of us take for granted. So I would like to use my message this year to say a big thank you to them and to everyone else who is putting themselves out to help other local people enjoy the holiday.
However you will be spending the 25th, I hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.