AND so this is Christmas! I hope you are gearing up for a safe and happy festive season and that Santa brings you what you want (although I can’t see Santa delivering me a scorching 30 degree Christmas Day, so I will just have to be content with an Aussie win over India in the Boxing Day Test…).
2011 has been an action packed year for Australian Times. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you, our readers and our writers, for contributing to such an awesome year. It’s because of you guys that our great publication hits the streets every Tuesday and it’s you who keep the Aussie news stories, comments and feedback streaming in.
It’s sure been a big news year, here in the UK, around the world, and back at home. Royal visits and a wedding, Rugby World Cup hopes and woes, revolutions, phone hacking revelations, London burning with rage and brimming with as much Aussie talent as ever … it’s been a hell of a year!
And there were, of course, the floods. How Aussies the world over pulled together in our time of crisis, we think, was our nation’s proudest moment in living memory. A very special thank you goes to everyone who donated to the UK flood appeal we ran with the Commonwealth Bank and Australian Business, raising over £100,000 to help flood victims.
At Australian Times HQ, the biggest event of 2011 (apart from the Christmas party; I refuse to confirm or deny those reports) has undoubtedly been the launch of the new and improved AustralianTimes.co.uk which attracts more readers and writers every week. Head there today, while you’re pretending to work, to check out our exclusive online content and chance your arm at one of the many Chrissy competitions on the go.
And just last month we launched our video channel Australian Times TV. Catch our chats with Cut Copy, Stirling Mortlock and Alex Lloyd online now and watch out for plenty more to come.
So now we look ahead to the New Year. We eagerly await our Aussie athletes arrival for the Olympics and put our republic aspirations under our hats (again) as we gear up to another great right Royal shindig; the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
Sure, 2011 was huge, but 2012 will be absolutely massive and we can’t wait!
So enjoy your Christmas break! If you are flying, travel safe and hopefully there are no delays. If you’re in London for the duration, here’s hoping for a white Christmas. Toast the New Year in style (but responsibly as always) and we look forward to you joining us again in 2012.
Merry Christmas!
There will be no Australian Times newspaper next week and the first edition in the New Year will hit the streets on 4 January. Until then, stay safe and merry!
Play our Australian Times advent calender and WIN Christmas prizes today!