As 2013 draws to a close, what a pleasure it is to read about improving financial and employment statistics across the major economies! It has taken five years and a lot of pain to get to this point, and has incurred national and personal debt on an unprecedented scale. Let us hope that the repayment of this round of debt will be better handled than previously, and that proper fiscal management will be the new foundation stone of government. A forlorn thought maybe, but a review of the immaculate way that the tunnelling industry has negotiated its way through the worst downturn in living memory might be a good start…..

Have a great festive season, and keep in mind that not everybody is as fortunate as us.