Boxing Day

Stayed near Banbury with C's sister for Christmas, also joined by her parents. Travelled back via Oxford where we stopped to go up the oldest tower there - that of St Michael at the North Gate.  This Church does an excellent job of making visitors aware of the Gospel, and indeed has a splendid panorama of Oxford from the tower.

We then travelled down to Alton Abbey. Alas we couldn't stay for a service but we were able to spend some time in the grounds and the Church. I bought a new Benedictine Breviary and this entailed summoning one of the monks. Dom Anselm the Iconographer came and it was great to hear their news. They have a Novice (Brother John) and a Postulant which is great!

The office is closed but I will be working a bit - a good time to think and not be interrupted by phone calls. Had one v god work idea which I need to develop and write up.

I have never known the economic outlook for the next 6 months to be so uncertain. On the one hand we have the Eurozone mess. On the other, the US economy seems to be recovering rather well. Becasue of our big push into China last year the prospects for us as a firm seem good, but much needs to be done to help the UK economy move forward. One thing I have to do this week is respond to the Treasury about one of my ideas to help this happen.