Tis The Season To Be Jolly?

5.00.00pm GMT Sun 20th Dec 2009

Happy Christmas Everyone

A Christmas Message from Chris Took, Ashford Liberal Democrats Parliamentary Candidate

It's been a somewhat depressing year for politics. Who would have thought that we'd be looking back at Northern Rock's collapse and musing 'those were the good old days?' Who would have thought that our MPs would be on the rack, not defending political policies, but expense claims for carrier bags and second homes? Finally, who would have thought that the international community would blow their 'last chance to save the planet' at Copenhagen with a fudged agreement that would make any confectioner proud (Ok, I'll grant you that last one was always quite likely).

2010 is not expected to bring with it much cheer. Whilst the turn of the year is normally one of renewal and resolution even the most rose tinted be-speckled commentator knows that 2010 means dealing with considerable economic, political and environmental disasters (as well as awful, ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq).

At Christmas there are always a slew of Grumpy Old Men/Women programmes complaining that every aspect of the Holiday Season is dreadful and that nobody ever has a good time. Everyone is overworked and underpaid, nobody gets on with their family and there's always too much/too little food/telly repeats/crowded shops etc. I even had one friend bemoan that I'd sent 500 Christmas Cards and it would have been far better for me to email people instead.

Christmas though is a time for escapism. For a couple of days at least I hope you can all enjoy some time off, reconnect with old friends and enjoy Christmas cards from far and wide. Happy Christmas everyone - have a great end to 2009 and all the very best for 2010!