Greetings from the editor

From the Swindon Advertiser, first published Tuesday 25th Dec 2007.

HAPPY Christmas and festive greetings to all our Adver online readers.

First of all, why are you on the computer reading this in the first place on Christmas Day? Shouldn't you be in the kitchen helping out with cooking dinner, finding some spare batteries or fixing the new-fangled toy for your offspring? Any escape from the duties of Christmas Day!

In fact, I'm delighted how more and more people are turning to the Adver website for news, information and entertainment. We've been listening to your comments and we will continue to develop the website in 2008. Stand by your beds for some exciting and fresh innovations where you, the reader, play your part in shaping the site.

For me, Christmas Day will be a quiet one spent with the family at home. It will be present-opening in the morning with my three boys, then I try to get out for a run on Christmas Day morning to blow away a few cobwebs. The full works for Christmas lunch before the Queen's Speech - God, bless her - and then it's a board game bonanza and some television in the evening.

In my younger days, I spent every Christmas Day at my local hospital working for hospital radio. It was a good day going round the wards, talking to patients, chatting to the medical staff and orderlies. Everyone had left their families at home to enjoy Christmas Day, though they would be home later that evening for whatever leftovers they could find in the oven.

It was an uplifting day. Even though those patients who remained in hospital were the more severely sick, the medical staff transformed the wards into a special place to celebrate Christmas Day with presents, a slap-up meal, while doing their best to make sure the patients were as comfortable as possible.

No doubt today, there will be similar scenes at the Great Western Hospital and at other hospitals. So we should spare at a thought for medical staff and anyone who has to work today on this, the most special of days.

For 2008, let's hope internationally that solutions can be found in Iraq and Afghanistan so that our troops can come home and the people in the region can live in peace. A somewhat unlikely hope, but one I'm sure many would join in wishing.

For Swindon, we have a town which is vibrant and exciting, a town on the up. There's a vision about Swindon and a willingness to reach those goals. Let's hope that 2008 takes Swindon forward as a town to be proud of, a town with a strong identity and focal point for the region.

And wouldn't it be nice if on the football front, Swindon Town FC could make a strong push for promotion in 2008?!

Don't worry if you overindulge a little on the festivities because in 2008 the Swindon Advertiser is launching its Shape Up Swindon campaign. You can play a part in this initiative to feel great in 2008.

Have a Happy Christmas - and shouldn't you be getting back to seeing how the turkey is cooking?!!!