Happy New Year

...to Blippers everywhere. This is Copacabana at midnight, and vaguely seen in the foreground our standard - a Carnival accessory I pulled out of a skip a few years ago, rather battered now but it helps keep the group together among the millions on the beach.

Here's to explosions fiery lights and rockets being restricted to fireworks, and religious fanaticism, racism and territorial ambitions giving way to peace and goodwill among peoples.

How I wish...