Goodbye 2011, hello 2012!

2011 was a year of colossal change. One that will be worthy of its own chapter in the study books of students for centuries.

The 'Arab Spring' was an awakening of hope that has willed literally millions of suppressed citizens to press for positive change. A seismic shift from dictatorship to democracy in well over a dozen countries, and counting. The outcomes are as unpredictable as their beginnings and their metamorphoses are painful and dangerous. But without change we cannot achieve a better, safer world.

Closer to home I wonder how many could have predicted the indolent progress made by European leaders in sorting out their fateful currency. In this column three months ago I remarked that when a crisis hits, its impact is often determined less by the severity of the challenge than by the timeliness and effectiveness of the response. In this case the lack of response will be the author of essential change in Europe while the leaders babble in their talking shops.

In 2012 there are things we can already predict which are causes for celebration; the Olympics, the Queen's diamond jubilee being two national events in which this constituency will play its part and I look forward to sharing those occasions.

As individuals and as families we will all have our own aspirations for the next 12 months too, be they life changing or simply life improving. And, as in every year, there will be unforeseen events that will carve the routes of our journeys.

The BBC's world affairs editor John Simpson commented that most of the globe was taken by surprise by the Arab Spring, admitting that even he had not predicted such a sea change would take place.

And that in itself gives me great cause for optimism. Anything can happen if the public have the will. I wish you all a safe and happy 2012.

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