I raise a glass to you all – and wish you the best possible Christmas.

It has been an extraordinary year, so many changes in the world – and a good few in my world.

You are a remarkable crowd of readers – you have wrought enormous changes in some lives over the past few years – Nick Hogan, Sheila Martin, Carol Hill; an incredible achievement for one little blog.

Over the past six months you have given me incredible support and friendship, so many e-mails, oft times so little time and energy to respond to them all – it doesn’t mean they were unappreciated. Over the past 48 hours several readers have remembered me in their thoughts, taken time out of busy lives to drop me a line, wish me well – and thank me for the blog. It is I who should be thanking you.

The fact that you were here, reading, has given me the discipline to write something, to reach out to you, at a time when it would have been only too easy to just look inwards and count my sorrows. Instead of which, daily, I have learnt something new, found something fresh to laugh at,  groaned at the imbecility of our politicians – and counted my blessings.

Thank-you for that.

OK, stand easy troops – you can have two days off now. I leave you with the words of Hillaire Belloc, would that I had written them!

Here richly, with ridiculous display,
The Politician’s corpse was laid away.
While all of his acquaintance sneered and slanged
I wept: for I had longed to see him hanged.

Cascadian December 28, 2011 at 02:59

I feel privileged to participate on your excellent site, the commentary is
always thoughtful and entertaining.

Even though the wishes are late, I hope you, your family and fellow
drinkers at the Raccoon Arms have had a merry Christmas. Hopefully the new
year will find your health fully restored so you may enjoy your planned trips
fully.

Nick
Drew December 27, 2011 at 22:33

Another belated one –

Happy Christmas, Anna

Spiral Architect
December 26, 2011 at 12:50

Belated Happy X’mas.

Do keep up the good work in 2012.

With respect and good wishes.

Gloria Smudd
December 26, 2011 at 01:29

Luvya, right?
And Mr G. And Oz (the world’s nicest dog).
Happy
Christmas and a healthy New Year,
xxxx A warm Glo
(still having hot
flushes every 30 minutes)

Châtelaine December 25, 2011 at 20:21

I join all of you in best wishes for our landlady.
Grosses bises, Anna,
Châtelaine

Saul December 25, 2011 at 17:53

At this festive time of year, save a thought for, Ngogo Mwambi. He has to
travel 5 miles every day for fresh water, 7 miles every day for food and 10
miles every day for medicine for him and his family. This is because the daft
bastard and all his mates torched the Peckham Spar, Tottenham KFC and Hackney
Medical Centre and now he has to walk to Croydon for his breakfast.

Mudplugger December 25, 2011 at 10:52

Next Christmas is going to be evn better still – be there.

johnC December 25, 2011 at 10:21

If we are going all foreign, Feliz Navidad para todo y un prospero año
nuevo. Keep up the good work Anna.

permanentexpat
December 25, 2011 at 09:10

Frohe Weihnachten!

Scrobs… December 25, 2011 at 06:49

Happy Christmas Anna!

You’re always required reading, even if I don’t always manage to keep
up…!

;0)

TheNoseyMole
December 25, 2011 at 02:52

The Canadian correspondent would like to wish Happy Christmas to all the
customers of the Racoon Arms with special greetings to the landlady.

Keep up the good work Anna and may you and your’s have a happy and
prosperous new year.
Moley

gladiolys December 25, 2011 at 00:34

Joyeux Noel!

Woman on a
Raft December 24, 2011 at 22:20

Best wishes at Christmas and for your trip to Jersey. See if you can send
us a post(card) from there.

Wigner’s Friend
December 24, 2011 at 20:15

And a Festive “Bah Humbug” to one and all. Thanks Anna for your thought
provoking comment during what must have been trying times. A Happy New Year to
all the regulars in the snug.

Robert Edwards
December 24, 2011 at 19:16

Merry Christmas your arse. God bless..

Engineer December 24, 2011 at 19:07

Happy Christmas, all – especially the landlady and the bar staff. You’ve
done a belting job of keeping it all together in sometimes trying
circumstances. Put your feet up and enjoy a bit of rest.

(PS – Save the leftover sprouts for target practice at the political
classes in the New Year.)

Single Acts of Tyranny December 24, 2011 at 18:58

Anna, as I may not be looking at too many blogs over the festive period,
may I take this opportunity to say thank you for an excellent body of thought
over this past year, I greatly enjoy La Raccoon

It is amongst perhaps two dozen that I look at more or less daily, so thank
you and Merry Christmas

The Filthy
Engineer December 24, 2011 at 18:41

Have a very merry Christmas and I look forward to reading more superb posts
after the festive season is over.

Regards

Nik

Ed P December 24, 2011 at 15:29

Merry Christmas to all at The Raccoon Arms and keep up the good work – in
these dark days of Eurocrumble & vile politicians, you provide a beacon of
light and hope.

SadButMadLad
December 24, 2011 at 15:25

Merry Christmas everyone and go and enjoy yourselves with lots of alcohol,
food and merriment.

Mark December 24,
2011 at 14:55

Did I read somewhere that a state funeral is being planned for Margaret
Thatcher?

JuliaM December
24, 2011 at 14:47

And a very Merry Christmas to you and yours! And, most importantly, here’s
to lots more of ‘em!

Tom
Paine December 24, 2011 at 13:57

Take it easy Anna. All the best for Christmas and New Year.

Fitch F.
Rich December 24, 2011 at 13:42

Eastern Correspondent wishes his Landlady and all her loved ones the
merriest Christmas ever!

Caedmon’s
Cat December 24, 2011 at 12:56

And a very happy Christmas to you, Anna. Your posts – along with those of
your fellow-contributors – have made such welcome, thought-provoking and
entertaining reading, and I hope that your health will steadily improve in the
coming year.

Dieu vous bénisse.