This is the traditional time of year to thank you for your custom during the past year and to wish you, your family, friends and colleagues a very happy Christmas and the very best in 2012.

Years seem to flit by. You look at older people now and think, "I knew your grandparents!" Now their grandchildren have grown up.   Those grandparents, no doubt would have looked back on earlier years - at school, work on in their years fighting in the forces and wonder what had happened to those they know. They had no way of knowing. We have some advantages.   I've just been looking back on my old school (Alleyn's 1957-62) on Friends Reunited. There are many photos which have been scanned and uploaded - faces from the past. And if they have put their names on the system you can re-connect. How many more are in Linked-in and - if you can find them, Facebook?

These old photos are valuable - not necessarily in money terms - but they are memories and memories are of value. Some will yield stories which can entertain others; others will be just yours. But not forgotten. Without that photographic evidence they would at most be in the depths of your hippocampus.

I still maintain that those photos, had they not been printed would have been lost. I have a box full of CD/DVD's going back to my first digital camera - ten years maybe. They are also on a hard drive and uploaded to Livedrive. But will they be looked at?  And more importantly, will they become technologically obsolete? Meanwhile my wife still keeps printed 4x6 photos in expansible albums (over 100 now!). These, along with the more creative albums I have done myself are the real records.

The Christmas holiday is the time to bring these up to date.*

As a Christian too, I will take this opportunity to share with you the wonderful message of Jesus. He was not wanted here: no room in the inn, no place in religious or political circles, and awarded a cross. So man's turmoil continues - individually and - pretty obviously - in the world generally.   But here He - God manifest in flesh - 'made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself'. (Colossians 1:20). May you know - at this time of year - the peace and joy of being reconciled to God. And if you do thank Him.

May you enjoy good health and happiness and - despite the economy - prosperity in 2012.

Best wishes

Daniel Roberts

daniel@opusalbums.com

*PS If you need any paper or albums, you should still be able to receive them before the holiday (UK only)   Go to OPUSalbums.com.   Sorry, but we will be closed between Christmas and New Year.