As you will have noticed we have not posted on Ensign since December 23rd. Our whole immediate family joined us for a splendid celebration of Christmas and we thoroughly enjoyed the wonder of our little grand daughters and the comfort it gives to be surround by our sons and my father.

The only problem I have with Christmas this year is that my low resistance to infection gave me the opportunity to experience a total "common cold". It hit me on Boxing day and today I am showing signs of recovery. So, I really can't complain, for many, one of these things can linger for weeks.

The all consuming problem I have to face and I have been worrying about this since September, is how to get through my 2009 edition of New Year's Predictions. The economic conditions which I can see and am aware of, extend far far beyond anything in my personal experience. The conditions that are looming are as black as can be and the only thing to work out is the details about food riots and the collapse of governments. I have tonight to sleep on this problem and tomorrow I must face the music and put down in print the awful expected truth.