We are lucky to be a long way from the incidents of terrorism so far, and illegal migrants do not press at our borders as they do in Europe and the United States. We have had record numbers of legal migrants arriving over the past few years, contributing to the house price inflation that has made many of us millionaires on paper and others of us facing a possible lifetime of rent.
But low interest rates, not immigration, were the main cause of the bubble and interest rates are about to rise. The hardship that may bring could make us long for last year's problems. But this is not a day to worry. What might happen, equally might not.
This is a day to relish the good things of life, our good fortune to live where we do, in a community small enough to care for all its members and sensible enough to sustain two moderate opposing political parties that can each govern well.
It is the quality of government, not luck or natural resources, that ultimately determines a country's wealth. Most English speaking countries have been well governed for nearly four decades now, which is why last year is a worry.
But worry tomorrow. Today is for celebrating the good things that allow us to wish you a Happy New Year.
