2013 here we come!

Next week sees the secular New Year. And with each impending arrival of the New Year comes a time for reflection. Television, radio and the newspapers will fill copy with a review of the major events of 2012. In the UK this will consist primarily of the Queen's Jubilee and the London 2012 Olympics, both rip-roaring successes. Both events lifted the mood of the nation at a time of economic austerity, and enabled the population to indulge in its own peculiar, understated form of nationalism, while celebrating Britishness and enjoying the sporting success of both the home nation and those from overseas.

My personal recollection of 2012 is, like so many other years, something of a mixed bag. The one key event which made this past year unlike any other was being diagnosed and treated for angina. While I have always known that I was not immortal, this was a stark reminder of my own mortality. Even before undergoing the angiogram and surgery in September I had made peace within myself so that had the worst happened I was entirely prepared mentally. Fortunately, nothing of the kind happened, and I have been on the road to recovery ever since. Recovering from cardiac surgery also meant that I had to review the manner in which I supported my beloved Tottenham Hotspur. It has meant learning to be less outwardly emotional, more sanguine about matches, and to accept that I am unable individually to change things on the pitch. I cannot tell you at this point in time whether or not this has contributed to me enjoying matches more or less, but hope it is the former.

I was very lucky in the past year to have made friends with two authors, who both gave me an appearance or two in their recent publications. I was more than fortunate to have become acquainted with the legendary sportswriter, the great Julie Welch, who came to interview me in the early days of 2012 for her book, Spurs: The Biography. A thirty-minute interview turned into a several hour recollection of common interests and passions, notably all Spurs-related. We have remained in contact since then, and I am glad to be able to call Julie my friend. Through Julie I was contacted by Anthony Clavane, and made an appearance in his Does Your Rabbi Know You're Here? I felt very lucky to be invited to the official launch of this book, which came at an auspicious personal time for me, and provided a tremendous boost to my recovery. I cannot recommend both books enough; they are an excellent addition to anyone's library of books about football. Julie's has interest beyond the Spurs' fan alone, while Anthony's serves as an excellent volume of social history centred on football.

2012 has also been notable for the eurocrisis, and the inevitable economic austerity measures which have taken place. While there may be an economic case to be made for tax rises and reductions in government spending, it is hard to escape the feeling that some members of the UK government take a special pleasure in watching the general population suffer. I remain hopeful that living in a democracy means that we, the general population, can enjoy a high degree of schadenfreude when they are dismissed from office at the next general election. Despite the economic gloom, the squeezed disposable incomes, the rising prices, and the unemployment, there seems to be something of an emotional climbing away from the abyss at present. The mood seems to be slowly lifting and I would not be at all surprised to find 2013 the year in which the UK economy begins a slow but steady climb away from the "great contraction", which began in 2007 with the financial (sub-prime) crisis in the USA. If the EU can come to grips with its structural issues it will help immensely, both within the eurozone, the EU and the wider global economy.

I am looking forward to 2013, and hoping that for me it is a year of improved health. I am also looking forward to being more productive in my academic output, and have already begun writing an Economics textbook for MBAs (I really must fill in the contract and send it back). I have a couple of other research projects on slow-burn in the background as well, and with a little luck and some commitment on my part my CV will continue to fill up. However, nothing is more important than family and my wife and I will celebrate 16 years of marriage on January 26th. It is hard for me to imagine what kind of madness prompted her to accept my marriage proposal in the first place, let alone put up with me for such a long time. But, whatever the cause I am decidedly grateful for the effect. It is impossible for me to imagine what life without her would have been like. Similarly for the output of the marriage, two (almost) teenage children of whom I am immensely proud! My son is a gem of a lad, with a passion for technology; my daughter is still finding her way in the world, and currently has ambition to become something of a MasterChef. But on the wedding anniversary of her parents, my daughter will become Bat Mitzvah at our local synagogue, and I feel sure my wife and I will both be glowing with immense pride that day. I can only hope that my heart does not burst with too much pride.

My other desire for 2013 is to see Spurs be more successful than in recent years. Yes, they have been improving and showing more consistency than heretofore, although coming fourth in the Premier League and yet being denied a Champions League slot still rankles as grossly unfair. My dream is to see Spurs win a trophy or two this season. While I hope we can achieve a Champions League placing (not least because of the extra cashflow it brings) history books list winners of trophies, and Spurs' history is primarily one of cup wins.

However your 2012 has been and whatever you wish for 2013, I wish you every health and happiness, and if my predictions are accurate, an improvement in your prosperity.