Newsletter 5
A couple of quick messages from James
A massive THANK YOU to all of those who kindly donated towards my Great North Run sponsorship. We raised £851 for Age Concern. The charity and I are extremely grateful.
At times like these, with much economic and personal gloom, it does make you realise what is important in life. Whether we will get a change in the work-life balance, which has shifted dramatically during recent boom years, remains to be seen.
My sponsorship page is still open for those of you yet to sponsor me and who would wish to! www.justgiving.com/jamestheathlete
I hope that you all have a successful 2009 - even though it will doubtless be trying. It is interesting to note how quickly attitudes and perceptions change. I guess we all believed what we were told – that there was an end to the days of boom and bust.
When you look back over history though, there are constant changes and evolutions of economies. At the turn on the 20th Century Britain contributed to 25% of the world's GDP and owned or occupied 25% of the world's land mass!
China and India are just starting on their road towards a functioning capitalist style economy with their own slat on things. It is possible that in another decade the USA will be 3rd in the world GDP table - Empire shifting continuing through the decades.
I am personally approaching 2009 with a renewed vigour. The first part of moving through this downturn is accepting that it is here and changes need to be made. Whenever there are business or economic updates on Chinese State Television, viewers are greeted with a message: "Face the challenge with unwavering confidence."
Challenges we will face and changes we will see but are things really so bad? As previously mentioned, we all have standards of living which we had perhaps taken for granted.
My best wishes for 2009 are with you all.
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I would ask that you keep us updated with any relevant changes to your circumstances, which may affect your current or future borrowing ability.