The working year is nearly over. That is already showing in daily blog traffic. Many of you read this at work, it seems. And I am, like others, beginning to wrap up loose ends whilst laying foundations for the New Year.
I confess that as a consequence my enthusiasm for commenting on the daily events of tax, economic and accounting life has almost expired. In between thinking about the mundane necessities that fall to a parent in the run-up to Christmas, I am feeling more reflective. If I get time I hope to muse a little more widely over the holiday period.
I will keep the negativity - and there is ample of that to be found - until the New Year is in sight. This moment is about something else.
Firstly it's about taking a rest. I confess I am exhausted as Christmas approaches. A great deal has been done and after a period when I was frustrated by an absence of apparent progress in my work a lot of good things seem underway.
The work I have been doing with Andrew Baker on tax spillovers is published in the new year.
As is a new report on the EU tax gap, including suggested new approaches.
Six book chapters are underway; three of them are already peer-reviewed.
Another four journal papers are likely next year.
And new projects are developing.
This blog will exceed 2016 traffic levels, but not 2017. That's a first, in not exceeding the previous year. But that's OK: we did not have a general election in 2018 and that was what generated the additional 2017 traffic.
Let's leave Brexit aside. You're bored with it. And it can wait for a 2019 reflection.
Modern monetary theory and Scotland were the most popular themes of 2018 here. Tax and accounting, less so.
There's been a lot of hard work. And by sometime tomorrow I might try some rest. It's not my greatest skill, but I think I need to try a bit.
In the meantime, there will be blogs, but as I say, not (I hope) on the standard themes. This is a time for considering meaning.
And if you want a really good reflection on that, might I recommend this from Robin McAlpine this morning? It's well worth your time.
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Robin McAlpine: “If you want to be really, really radical, don’t smash something, love someone. Again and again. Forever.”
“All you need is Love…” and kindness…such an underrated value, kindness.
I prefer the French for it ‘gentillesse’, gentleness.
He’s so right, but so many things and people distract us from this single most important joyful act.
I can vouch it works. Let’s concentrate on the Joy of Love, as often as we can, and make shopping for essentials only. I haven’t shopped for ‘pleasure’ for at least three decades, and feel much happier for it, this quick buzz after buying new shoes was almost immediately cancelled by my sore feet…
Time to concentrate on building blanket castles, or in my case, with adult children, going for long walk with them, dogs in tow, cooking nice food for all to share and reading by the fire, sharing a few laughs with those I love.
It also means all those little daily moments of being kind to strangers, they fill them and you with joy too. Warmth and joy, as often as we can. Essentials.
Have a joyful and festive rest Richard.
Marie
I wrote much like Robin has in my book The Courageous State
My best bit of every day now? Supper with my sons.
The best bit of Christmas day will be putting lunch on the table for them, their mother and others
Cooking and conversation
Two essentials for good living
Have a good Christmas
Richard
(and the work has not ended yet….)
Enjoy your break Richard.
I always find you blogs a good read. Concise and easily understood by us non-professionals
You’re always my point of reference when the old ‘tax and spend’ comes up in conversation!
Cheers.
Thanks
Enjoy the down time.
Thanks for the recommend of the Robin McAlpine blog. A succint summary of the lunacy of consumerist capitalism, and a possible antidote to it. Inspiring. I must start reading the Common Weal blog more.
Bored by Brexit? No, alternatively enraged and scared by the whole wretched business. I wish it was a boring, unimportant subject I could just ignore, but it ain’t. Another email will soon be winging it’s way to my Leave supporting MP about it……………….sigh.
Anyway, on a more cheerful note, its great to see that your hard work is bearing fruit. Take some extremely well earned rest and recuperation over Christmas – you’ve earned it, in spades.
Merry Christmas and a (hopefully!) Happy New Year to you all.
I stop by daily to read: I appreciate your insights and always learn something. Happy Christmas! Enjoy your rest and have a wonderful holiday with your family.
Thanks
And thanks too for stopping by
You’ve deserved your break – I hope you and all your family have a splendid Christmas, and wish you all good health and happiness for the coming year.
Thanks
And you!
Take good care and try to busy yourself getting a break.
I’ll try…when the work stops
“I’ll try…when the work stops….” Why not start by getting your clarinet out and immersing yourself in playing music? If you do that properly you won’t have the conscious or sub-conscious capacity to think about work, so it’s the ideal therapy for stress-relief (it saved my bacon on countless occasions!). Then fill the rest of the day with fresh air, exercise and quality time with loved ones just enjoying life’s simple pleasures as prescribed by the good Dr. McAlpine.
I’m a regular reader of the blog, more so than a contributor, and am constantly in awe of your output in both qualitative and quantitative senses. I also enjoy the interesting debates that result, so my message to Richard and the contributors to the debates is have a very Happy Christmas and a healthy, happy and productive New Year, or, if you have the Gaelic, Nollaidh Chridheil agus Bliadhna Mhath Ur.
There’s going to be quite a lot of train building going on Ken….
Less music, I think
We’ll see
Richard, since you quite clearly enjoy your work, maybe treat yourself over the er…’Winterval’ by just doing the work you want to do.
In between times do the pleasant things you will enjoy. Food, drink (not to excess of course) and good company.
After tomorrow there will be gradually more daylight, so longer walks with the dog ?
Enjoy the festive(?) season.
Her majesty’s opposition has obviously signed-off for the holidays and decided not to bother about Brexit or the nation as whole (taking their lead from the Government which doesn’t apparently give a toss about anything)……so…. I think they should all be ‘migrated’ to Universal Credit. They’re doing fuck-all good where they are.
2019’s going to be hoot isn’t it ? I can hardly wait.
God Bless us all [said Tiny Tim].
I have just finished all promised work!!
For anyone feeling like commenting on the political situation I think you’ll find this sums up the situation beautifully.
It makes me smile everytime. Enjoy. 🙂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvXuItebZg8
🙂
Great video!! I can translate what they howl : Happy Solstice to you All
My compliments of the season to Richard, and to all commenters here. Best wishes.
And to you John
FWIW you went from an occasional read to one of my few daily visits this year (though usually I read via RSS – sometimes even from home 🙂 ). Thank you for the work you put in.
Thanks
As I once said to Lord Robbins at the LSE, work is the curse of the drinking classes.
Yes, and according to Gove Belgian beer and French wine drinkers will be ok with a hard Brexit.
A relaxing and enjoyable holiday to all (and to those of us of a certain age, if you don’t really need your winter fuel payment please consider a charity or other good cause) and thanks to Richard for a stimulating must-read daily blog.
Thanks Graham
Richard – I add my thanks to those already posted for your remarkable inspirational and educational output. Like many others here, the blog is compulsory (even compulsive!) reading for me every day. And because next year is looking to be even more controversial and challenging, I’m relieved to hear you’re winding down to recharge the batteries over the festive season as we’ll be needing all the help we can get to guide us through the evolving political smog.
Wishing you and your family a splendid end to the year and sincere good wish for a happy and – most importantly – a healthy New Year. Peace, love and fine coffee!
I admit I am out for coffee in the morning….
Next year is going to need more than some good Columbian coffee beans, although those are my usual choice
It’s an excellent time to catch up on some reading imv:
Mill’s Principles of Political Economy
and
Marshall’s Principles of Economics
are worth a look.
Both written before we had such things as people’s votes of course. Oh the nostalgia for when the wrong choices couldn’t be blamed on the public.
Norris Da Mus says:
It’s an excellent time to catch up on some reading imv:
Yes indeedy…not keen on YOUR choices…….I was thinking of rereading the Rev Audrey’s ‘James the Red Engine’ again 🙂
Make it narrow gauge
Hi Richard,
Merry Christmas to you and yours. Many thanks for the blog – it’s on my daily “must read” list.
Enjoy the break.
Neil
Thanks
Even the Duracell Bunny needs a change of battery, eventually. Let the wind-down begin, and enjoy your life at home with your family over the holidays. And thanks again for all you have done.
I promise you, that is the plan….
Dear Richard, have a wonderful break and rest with your family and friends – you thoroughly deserve it. Hope Santa is good to you and the New Year brings health and happiness to you and yours.
Doreen
xx
Thank you
And to you
Please accept my apologies for not turning up recently – I have had a terrible cold just as I have been winding down myself (unexpected as I have had the much vaunted flu jab). So, just to say – I really do appreciate and remain interested in your views and ideas on this subject.
Your work on the accountancy side of things is very important as we know that accountancy is part of the modern architecture of complicity that enables financial fraud, unfair competition, tax cheating , money laundering and theft (did I miss anything?) to enrich those who wish to undermine democracy.
Have a well-earned break with your family and all the best to you in 2019.
PSR
Thanks PSR
Accountancy is at the core of economics as well
Everything has a reaction
Have a good Christmas and get better
Richard
Richard – have a great Christmas with your family and friends and a huge thank you for all you’ve done and continue to do
Though there are differences of opinion here on the blog, as Jo Cox said, there is much more unites than divides. Perhaps more focus on that in 2019 would be a step forward
Best wishes – to all contributors
Robin
And to you Robin