Some Bitter New Year's Resolutions for Others

1. If it's snowing or has snowed, it is not appropriate to drive at 70mph or faster. Slow down and leave loads of room between you and the person in front. (cf. my M40 crash on 23/12/10)
   
2. If you work in Customer Services, please provide your customers with information about your service that is accurate. (cf. FlyBE's denial of fog 27-29/12/10 when you couldn't see the bloody bus stop, never mind the runway)
3. If you are a person who goes jogging in the dark when there is snow and ice everywhere, do not expect your local A&E to be thrilled to see you when you have broken something.
4. Likewise, if you are thinking of seeing any health professional whatsoever with a joint/muscle/back pain, then please do try a paracetamol or ibuprofen before you book an appointment to say that you've tried "everything" and/or that you "don't believe in tablets".
5. Do not attend sales at any store that opens hours after Christmas Day in the hope of securing a bargain. If we all just stop and think about where we really want to be at 4am on Boxing Day, I doubt it is in a queue to buy some Next jeans with £3 off. Don't go, and the stores might start opening later.
6. Please knock on your neighbour's door and get a contact number for them. Then, if for sake of argument, they don't isolate their water supply during freezing weather leading to your entire road's supply becoming disrupted when the pipes burst and thaw, you can come and unlock the door to find your house ankle deep in water, turn off the stopcock and arrange a plumber, rather than your neighbour having to call the Fire Brigade.
7. Give money to charity. Maybe it will keep the chuggers off the streets.
8. If you are planning to be in public, such as in a crowded shop or perhaps on a bus or train, please have a wash at some point in the days beforehand. Thanks.
9. If you are a journalist, please try to relate your headlines and emphasis to reflect the facts and gravitas of the story. Especially where science is concerned. (cf. BBC News 24 "headlining" the fact that Northern Irish "have not had a shower in 2 days... and must take THEIR OWN containers to water collection points" following the arctic-induced drought.)
10. If you are a politician, tell me what you plan to do and how you plan to do it. I do not want to hear how other politicians have failed me, how their plan is not as good as your plan or how "there should be an inquiry". You'll convince me much better with positive information about yourself backed up with facts I can verify far more than simply spouting playground teasing of others.

That is all. Happy 2011. (Bah Humbug)