Shadow over Christmas - Perspective never more important

THERE has been a shadow hanging over this Christmas unlike any seen for many, many years.

There is an expectation that the new year will be very difficult and that there is little enough any of us can do about the approaching storm.

Despite all of our best efforts to enjoy the moment, the economic forecasts are such that they cannot be ignored. It is becoming difficult to sustain the kind of optimism and energy that helped us achieve so much over recent decades. People are worried about their jobs and their ability to meet their commitments.