This year looks quite promising

LETTER - What a complex lot we Brits are. On the one hand we tend to like to dwell on the negative side of things, yet, on the other, we face adversity with upbeat phrases like "Chin up. It could be worse." Actually, it could be a lot worse.

Firstly, amidst global worries about the credit crunch, we've been able to enjoy hosting an astonishingly likeable French president and his wife.

Secondly, all the old nonsense about only flying the Union flag on certain days is being swept away to finally allow it to be flown as a matter of course in schools and from public buildings.

And lastly, in a UN-commissioned report the UK was ranked among the top 10 most stable nations in the world, which in view of the criteria, was very reassuring. All things considered, 2008 is looking quite promising.

Robert Jenkins, Stirchley