Business first. The reduction in the rate of VAT from 17.5% to 15% ended on 31st December 2009. For many businesses, whose customers can recover their VAT in full, the change is not of any great significance economically, but for those whose customers are unable to recover the VAT, there is a real increase in costs. We need to be aware that we adjust the VAT rate charged on goods and services as we may be liable for any shortfall.

New Year has always been a great time for making life changing resolutions. However, very few of them reach their expectations. Resolutions made in the heat of a sudden rush of inspiration, supported by a hangover, have a very poor survival rate. Diets are a favourite after the excesses of Christmas food and drink. As a poetic lady once bewailed, ‘Twas the month after Christmas, and all through the house Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse.’ And so many to chose from! There low fat diets, low carbohydrate diets and glycaemic index diets etc, etc. The Mayo Clinic diet (which, incidentally, has nothing to do with the Mayo Clinic) is a short term diet that involves eating a lot of grapefruit, while limiting the intake of fruits, vegetables and meat products. Not recommended if you don’t like grapefruit. The Atkins’ diet is a weight loss program in four phases that severely restricts the daily intake of carbohydrates. As a bi-product it also generates flatulence, causing a considerable contribution to greenhouse gases. Not recommended for greenies or ecologists worried about global warming.

There are diets based on eggs, exercise, slimming drinks, cereal bars, and support groups. The list goes on and on, for this is a multi-million pound business. What we all really know is that if we eat less and exercise more we will lose weight, and that there is no gain without pain. So who’s up for it? Well, very few by the second week of January. Giving up smoking is an important and serious issue. The NHS has invested in a lot of excellent support for those who wish to quit so it is recommended you have a word with your local GP surgery and enlist their help. It’s also free!

So when you consider embarking on New Year resolutions don’t set yourself up to fail. Choose something you able to achieve. Alternatively, perhaps you could consider a different kind of lifestyle change; your personal relationships with friends and family. Resolve to listen to what they say to you for a little longer, and pause for a moment to consider before you respond.

The old biblical maxim, “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you” goes a long way towards pointing us in the direction of improving relationships. If we were all to adapt it then the world would better, safer place. I wish you all a happy and prosperous New Year.