Forty years ago going abroad from home could mean going forever, and keeping in touch with loved ones and friends was done mainly via letter writing. If one had a large family and/or circle of good friends, keeping in touch regularly was a daunting task. However, by the early 1960s if one could access (as I could) a Getstetner Machine, sending a common letter to all, particularly at Christmas, was quite novel. Hence, giving rise to my seasonal mantra that – “it would hardly seem like Christmas if I did not get in touch and wish you the season’s greetings”. Now, telephone, the Internet, emails, texting have changed all that although for many the need to use the occasion to affirm one’s faith seems no less important. Additionally, the previous objection to the frantic commercialisation of Christmas has now been undermined thanks to the “credit crunch”, seeing that “using” the celebration of Christmas to encourage more shopping at Christmas seems necessary to save peoples’ jobs. And as hard-headed as I can be, I do embrace the previously quoted Bernard Lonergan’s in-life quote: "Be attentive, be intelligent, be responsible and be loving; and, if necessary, change." Travelling to Poland, Jamaica and the USA this year, we were touched by those relatives and friends who said how much they enjoyed our Xmas-letters over the years. Indeed, my cousin Vivienne (Florida) proudly declared that she has saved over 30 years of these Xmas letters. Some others remembered the letters from my more youthful days (notice the Afro?), and mused on watching our children growing up from birth to adults. For these reasons this final-final Christmas letter is attempting to recap on this forty year period through a series of photographic captions. But here also is a resume of our year:- Barbara’s mother died in March – we visited Poland in May, and Jamaica in June. Desmond, our youngest, got married to Katy in August (to see additional photos of Des & Katy click here). In October we went to NY and Washington DC for a cousin’s wedding but also enjoyed the election atmosphere. We got rather excited over the Presidential election. Great to have black President of USA – even greater for the white voters of USA: they did what we fear they would never bring themselves to do. I struggle to continue my administrative role in Caribbean cricket. Barbara is considering retiring next year, though my and her health is ok for our age. Funerals are still outstripping weddings although weddings have been good this year. We route for John Sheehan and Sue – for Olive left by Mac and Gilda also widowed by Tony’s departure; remember Barbara’s Mum, my own Mum who would have been 100 this year. If you can, find me on Skype at “hylton007” – text at +44 (0)7752 424578 – email at basilhylton@blueyonder.co.uk. Meanwhile, hope things are going well for you and that you are at least avoiding the worst effects of the “credit crunch”. May you and yours have a wonderful Christmas, be blessed, be of good health and cheer; and if perchance you have not yet experienced faith or have abandoned it, be assured that we can be as sceptical and questioning of our faith as someone who finds it hard to believe; yet, we recommend that you still search, for you will find. Walk good, and may you be blessed! Basil and Barbara.

Barbara, Basil & friend Mary Carroll on the “Cancel the Debts” demonstration outside Parliament - 2007

On the Birmingham (now annual) “Peace Walk” in July 2008 organised by Bill Ozanne in which people of different religions participates as fellow pilgrims seeking, sharing and affirming each others’ belief.