A year goes by so quickly these days! It is time to see how my predictions faired through the year 2007.

I said:

‘…In Belfast, the sense of a breakthrough in politics is no accident. The cynic would say the politicians are merely attempting to hold onto their government salaries. Maybe, but I think the truth is more complicated than that and has been long in the making. About 400 years in fact. Although my thoughts remain my thoughts, I predict that 2007 will see an evolutionary move for the state and the church in Britain… After several centuries of schism, the next stage in reconciliation of the Anglican and Catholic churches will take a leap forward in 2007. The first moves in this respect will be a consensus emerging for the British monarchy to relinquish the head of the Church of England and to start the process towards accepting the authority of the Pope as head of the Christianity. The first move in this respect will be the repeal of the age-old Settlement Act which for the uninitiated, forbids the monarchy from marrying a catholic. From there on it is anyone's guess how the process will conclude, but conclude it must.
Expedience is the key to this prediction. Both Anglican and Catholic churches will need each other over the next two decades if Christianity is not to become the 'also-ran' religion in Europe... As far as the British monarchy is concerned, I believe it needs to regain its position as an effective British institution, something it has lost in many eyes. Relinquishing the head of the Christian church might just be their salvation as the connections between church and state are unwound. This is a constitutional nightmare of course but an unwritten constitution is a bonus in such times…’
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I say:

There was no mass state-led move to Catholicism but Tony Blair finally made the move just before Christmas. How that affects the state I am not sure as yet, but the fact released late in the year that England now has more Catholic worshippers than Anglicans will eventually have serious affects on the state in years to come. I also noted that Dr David Starkey, in his last ‘Monarchy’ documentary just after Christmas was suggesting that the Monarch should be ‘ditching’ the Church altogether. I am pleased that such an eminent ‘media-bitch’ should take on my long established lead in these matters…This story has far to run.


I said:

‘…An assassination attempt will be made on a leading Statesman during the year…’

I say:

If ever I wished I was so wrong it is today! With the first attempted bombing and then the final blow of extinguishing the life of Benazir Bhutto just a few days ago, made this prediction one of the most disturbing I have ever made and I haven’t made that many! Not the most honest of stateswoman but a stateswoman all the same.

I said:

‘…The English Football, Rugby and Cricket teams will continue their downward spiral of defeats throughout the coming year…’


I say:

Well I found this the easiest of predictions to make and how true it all turned out this year. In rugby, cricket and football we sank to the very depths of failure. Nothing more can I say on this subject but try harder next year you overpaid, media-seeking failed so-called sportsmen.

I said:

‘…At least one major newspaper group will go into liquidation during the year.

I say:

Well it did but maybe not as I intended the prediction to work. In October 2007, ‘The Sportsman’ became insolvent. It looks like this paper at least followed our sad sportspersons into the gutter! I am encouraged that many of the papers I suspected of being ‘on the edge’ so-to-speak are still surviving and some, due to savvy management, are even thriving with advertising revenue as they have geared up for internet media as it develops and blossoms into the ONLY newspapers of the future. If some of them give the blogger a break maybe a share of that revenue could be channelled this way to keep me online!!!! (No harm in trying is there!).

I said:

‘…In the visual arts, painting will become an embarrassingly dull alternative to more challenging media during the year…’

I say:

I think that stands as proven, not that it encourages me in this time of multi-media art. Diamonds, bear suits thrived throughout the year and sales of Impressionist paintings did not all make those reserve prices that the auctioneers tempt us with. Maybe next year will se the demise of a famous auctioneer or two, but I digress.

I said:

‘…A move towards de-Celebritising society will take a step forward by the announcement of a new Bill in Parliament outlawing gatherings of more than three current celebrities…’

I say:

Of course that was complete wishful thinking on my part, but also on many others if you believe some of the bloggers around! Well I was so pleased when C4 ditched ‘Celebrity Big Brother’. Just those fools in the summer to clear from our screens and we can say we are on the way to being celebrity-free, always providing someone shoots that Simon Cowell as well. Give me the gun I’ll do it!

I said:

'...More alcoholic drink will be consumed in England than ever before and at least one major drinks company will move from the LSE to the NYSE...'

I say:

The sales of alcohol hit the roof every year despite the economic climate. Not rocket science that one. With it comes more young people in hospital with liver problems, alcohol addiction and other drink-related ailments. Quite frankly, it would not matter where the quoted companies listed their shares they would always be on the winning side in the nation’s never-ending affair with alcohol.


So all things being equal I got a lot right. Worth a punt for next year then?

Watch this space!