THE BLOXIDGE TALLYGRAPH

Dateline: 25 December 2009

January, which is not far away, is named for Janus, the two-faced Roman god who looks both forward and backward, and appropriately enough, as this is seen each year as a time to reflect on the past and to look forward to the future.

As far as I am concerned, the past year has been a time of both sadness and of success.  My father passed away late in 2008, and more than one friend has followed him in the time since then.  Sometimes life has been a struggle or stressful, one way or the other.  Many have faced difficult and worse times in 2009, however, what with the economy and war, rising unemployment and the incompetence of government and the banks.

On the other hand, some obstacles have been overcome, and The Bloxidge Tallygraph, amongst other activities, has gone from strength to strength.  I have made new friends, renewed old friendships and made positive changes in my life.  I have also had the pleasure of putting something back into the local community in some small way.  There is still much more to do, of course.

The end of the year has been a strange one, for me.  The anniversary of my father’s death in November was a difficult time.  But I have tried to enter into the Christmas spirit a little more this year, through these pages and with family and friends, whether virtual or in the world beyond cyberspace, with a few surprises along the way, and I feel happier than I have for some time.

However, now is also a time to look forward, and the future is something we have to build for ourselves; it does not make itself.  There is much to be done, and hopefully fun to be had, in the New Year.  The Tallygraph is small fry in the grand scheme of publishing, but I feel it has a useful place in serving Bloxwich and district, and I hope our readers feel the same.  If nothing else, it may help cover a few matters of local import that would otherwise fall through the cracks.  I will do my best to build on the past year’s success. I know I will be busy, that’s for sure.

I am involved in many other things apart from the Tallygraph and my ‘day job’ as a local historian and photographer.  You may not be aware that in 2002 I co-founded the Society for the History of Astronomy, now established as the UK’s national society in that field.  I write a local heritage column for the Walsall Chronicle on a monthly basis.  I am also on Bloxwich Carnival Committee, and attend the Bloxwich, Leamore & Blakenall Retailers Traders Partnership, offering the support of The Tallygraph.  No doubt I will get roped into other things in the new year; I really must learn how to juggle my time better if I am to do more writing, which is another ambition!  In any event I will try to be, and do, better in future.

On a political note, I hope we see some positive change in the New Year.  It has been a terrible year both for voters and their so-called representatives.  Sadly, our negative opinions of politicians have been confirmed on many occasions in the last twelve months, whether it be a matter of expenses or of ignoring the needs and opinions of the people. 

Who we will be stuck with in government at the next general and local elections remains to be seen; hopefully the voters will have a long memory and place their ballot accordingly.  We are not, after all, as stupid as they think we are.  We could not possibly be so…

A wise man once said, “Expect the unexpected”.  I am sure there will be surprises for us all in 2010.  I hope they will be pleasant ones, for we have all had enough of the other variety in 2009.

Finally,  I should like to thank a few of my online friends for their help and support.  Mark Blackstock of www.theyamyam.com for helping to raise of the profile of the Tallygraph and his sage counsel.  Brownhills Bob, the enigmatic champion of his town and those who suffer incompetence in the area. He has also sent more than a few readers our way!  Dan Slee, who has opened doors and introduced me to some aspects of social media I had never thought of.  The Forrener, whose voice has needed to be heard on more than one occasion.  The chaps and chapesses on the Walsall group of Flickr, and those who have followed my accounts on Twitter, many of whom have become daily correspondents in that mode.  You have enriched my days in many ways.  I look forward to conversing with you all in the coming year.

May I take this opportunity to wish all our readers a happier, healthier, safer and more prosperous year in 2010.

I hope you will continue to read The Bloxidge Tallygraph, and enjoy its little eccentricities as much as the information you glean from its pages.

The Edditer

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