I would like to take this time to wish everyone who drops by here a very happy new year and, most importantly, a safe one. Just where on earth did 2009 go…just where on earth did the last ten years go!

When I was ringing in the new millenium – and for an old arguments sake I will say it began at 12.01 in the year 2000 – I had no idea I was standing at the beginning of a decade that would herald so many changes for myself, both personally and professionally. In the dying hours of December 31 1999 I seemed to feel that something special was going to happen for me in the new century and it most certainly did – in many different ways. Highs and lows, you name ‘em, they all happened and even though I am pretty sure I wont be here to ring in the next new century I feel lucky to have been here to see in century number 21. The world has gone through so many changes in the last ten years and events occurred that will shape the way we all live throughout the next ninety – but if you look back I would say that no century  has made it’s mark more on humankind than the twentieth century did. For the first time in human history we have an entire century on visual record – recorded via the wonderful medium of the camera, the television, radio and ultimately the internet.

I hope that as we all progress through the remarkable period that lies ahead and our lives are shaped and influenced by evolving technology, that we stay grounded by keeping in touch with the old values that seemed to make life so much simpler and nicer for generations past. As we take on newer ways of doing things I hope we all remember that many of the old ways were simple, tried and proven and they will never be out of date.

This is how they rang in 2010 in my hometown of Sydney, Australia – a hard act to beat but you can call me biased…

From me to all of you.