…and so now, I’d like to say; people can change anything they want to and that means everything in the world.  

People are running about following their little tracks - I am one of them - but we’ve all got to stop just following our own little mouse trail. People can do anything. This is something that I am beginning to learn.  

People are out there doing bad things to each other. It’s because they’re being dehumanised. It’s time to take the humanity back in to the centre of the ring and follow that for a time.  

Greed; it aint going anywhere. They should have that on a big billboard across Times Square.

Without people, you’re nothing. That’s my spiel. 

Joe Strummer

The above wasn’t originally meant as a Christmas message but I think it makes a pretty good one.

Naive? Yes.  But naive is good.  That’s one thing that I have learned over the past three years of adventures.  You can do it.  We can do it.  Realism has its place but not as an excuse.

I can’t help but think of Christmases past.  And New Years too.  Times that changed my life forever and the way I see things.  They’ve also influenced my ambitions for the future. 

I am back in Newcastle.  A timeout if you like.

Now is about people I care about.  Resetting my default.  Realising afresh how lucky I have been to live the adventures of Vietnam and Nicaragua.

Happy Christmas one and all, this is me signing off for the festive period.  A family Xmas followed by a week in snowy Poland.

Who knows what 2008 holds for any of us and there is a danger of looking too much into the future instead of enjoying the now.  But it will be the year when plans for the next adventure take shape. 

Have a good one.