Resolutions? Not me!

I don't do resolutions at New Year or any other time. If I did, I might just adapt the old fourth Scout law (at least, I think it was the fourth):

A Scout is a friend to all and a brother to every other Scout no matter to what colour class or creed the other may belong.

There are words of wisdom in the Lions' code of ethics as well:To accept no profit or success at the price of my own self respect lost because of unfair advantage taken or because of questionable acts on my part.

• Whenever a doubt arises to the right or ethics of my position or action towards my fellow men, to resolve such doubt against myself.
• To hold friendship as an end and not a means. To hold that true friendship exists not on account of the service performed by one to another, but that true friendship demands nothing but accepts service in the spirit in which it is given.
• To be careful with my criticisms and liberal with my praise; to build up and not destroy.

I do try to remember those words every day, not just on 1st January. It isn't always easy, but who promised that life would always be easy?.


2011 was a pretty tumultuous year in several ways, what with the uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, unrest in Bahrain and continuing problems in Syria. Then there have been the deaths of Osama bin Laden, Muammar Gadaffi, Kim Jong-wotsit and the former Czech President Havel. Closer to home we had the excitement (for some) of William and Kate becoming the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the further excitement of riots in various cities in August for no apparent reason. Even closer, I was introduced to my Macmillan nurse one Tuesday and had almost come to terms with the fact that I had lung cancer when ten days later I was told it wasn't: I just had a lump of mucus in my lung. I wish I could say that every day since then has seemed like an extra one, but they haven't. I think I was reasonably certain in my mind that I was going to beat that bugger - but then I didn't have to anyway, which was a great relief.

I am not going to do an Old Moore and gaze into a crystal ball so we shall just have to wait and see what this new year holds in store. Whoever and wherever you are, I hope 2012 treats you at least as kindly as it treats me.