I see England smiling

This festive season is like none other I have experienced. I see happy faces.Perhaps it has to do with an increased mobility on my part, but this year I see a widespread anticipation and desire.

On New Years Eve, as I was about to enter my workplace an elderly woman flagged me down, full of smiles. ‘Happy new year,’ she said. At work, my colleagues bantered.

Shortly afterwards, I left there and came down to Brent Cross where I did some reading then onto an internet café, then Home. I saw people in a jovial mood. The travails of this year’s global economy didn’t dampen them.

I took a bus home where a passenger who had sat down next to me, raised his hands up before leaving and said. ‘Happy New Year.’ I responded to the gesture with a thumb projected.

Afterwards, I made my way home to the repeated sparks of firecrackers.For sure, this has been a turbulent year for many – the global economic downturn – yet in the eyes of many I see a resurgent anticipation.

Today being the New Year, the first person I met outside told me, happy New Year. There were other instances of felicity. Happy new year England!