Nobody said it would be easy.

A reflection on the road ahead for Mr O'Bama.
The perfidies of corporate America, specifically the chief executives of the petrol head industry, and the stress that is introduced into a democratic, open society by obscenities like Guantanamo are going to give your man a problem or two.

I know we have the solid, Presbyterian, dour, granite like figurehead of Gordie Broon, recently emerged from political rehab, to reassure us in these difficult times. I do not think we understand how difficult these times will become. Let's not forget how often the comforting, caledonian, tones of some politician have gulled us. There is a strong possibility that you, or someone you know will be perched in a handbasket moving rather swiftly in the proverbial direction, in the near future.

We never see those Black Swans until they are upon us.

It is never easy to right the effects of great evil, certainly the flagrant abuse of human rights. The humane resolution of the fate of the inmates of the concentration camp at Guantanamo will be an early measure of Mr O'Bama's presidency.

Thanks to John Naughton, again, for getting the old brain cells going on this chilly East Anglian morning. No snow yet, and herself is dissapointed, but I'm sure we will be making snowmen and pasting each other with snowballs before the days out.