Christmas comes loaded with associations and memories of food, family, fun, carols, gifts, parties and all those decisions about Christmas cards. Using the internet we could send them by the hundred, but somehow animated reindeer on the computer screen are no match for handwritten messages on 'real' cards delivered by the mailman.

Christian churches are crowded as people give thanks for their big day. I'm big on giving thanks. As I put together this issue of 'Well' I realized how easy it was because of the wonderful people who touch my life. People like Simon Ibell, whom I've known for years and have yet to hear him complain about anything. Peter Mason who quietly helps students get high by getting high up in the mountains or his new climbing boulder. I'm thankful for the students next door for introducing Nancy and me to the story of Stephen Canning. If these names are unfamiliar to you, 'read all about it' in this issue.

I believe that in every community, in every school, in every workplace you can find inspirational people with great stories to tell. You can see what you want to see, find what you want to find and an attitude of gratitude will align your eyes so that they don't overlook the goodness by which most people would like to be known.

I grew up hearing old British music hall songs, a number of which were songs of thankfulness.

"When I'm worried and I can't sleep   I count my blessings instead of sheep."

In the music hall tradition, the Cockney rock singer Ian Dury did his paean of thanks in a song called "Reasons to be Cheerful".

"A little grin and bear it, a bit of come and share it.
You're welcome, we can spare it ­ yellow socks.
The juice of the carrot, the feathers of a parrot,
A little drop of claret ­ anything that rocks.
Reasons to be cheerful, 1 - 2 - 3."

It's trite but it's right.

When Paul McCartney gave his younger brother, Mike, a Nikon camera for Christmas in 1966, it triggered two things (I) the birth of a fine photographer

and (II) a song of gratitude called, appropriately enough, 'Thank U Very Much', which was recorded by Mike's group, The Scaffold (who also gave us 'Lily the Pink'). The lyrics look pretty inane on paper, but the song sounds fine.

"Thank you very much for the family circle
Thank you very much
Thank you very, very much
Thank you very much for the family circle
Thank you very much
Thank you very, very, very, very, very much."

The song also gives thanks for Brian Epstein, who discovered the Beatles, although the reference to Brian is disguised as the 'Aintree Iron'.

The Kinks gave us, "Thank you for the days, those endless days, those sacred days you gave me."

I'll join in the chorus. Thank you for the days of 2004, which saw my daughter, Christy, who is a professor in Australia, get married to Sue, her partner of 10 years. I finished my little 'father's blessing' with the immortal words of Elvis.

"Thank you very much."