Working from home

I'm working from home this week. I don't normally do this, even though I can just about manage to do most things I would normally do in the office. I like to go into the office as I get more of a chance to liaise with others at work, even on a social level. Working from home has its advantages (TV breaks and good coffee) but I feel like I'm off sick without being sick. Daytime TV !!!! Since when has that become so bad (OK, so I do take lots of TV breaks)! Even though the distractions are more, the interruptions from my boss and colleagues are removed, so overall I think I'm as productive, if not more, from home.

This week's working from home has been self-imposed, as I have builders around doing some work on my house. I hate this. I love the result, but I hate the process. I hate strangers coming into my home and basically setting up camp in my private space. They're courteous, polite and respectful but that doesn't make my feeling of being violated subside. Yes, I know, I brought this in myself. It was me that wanted new floors put in and a wall knocked down. So I have only myself to blame. That doesn't mean I have to like what's happening.

Just what will 2011 have in store?

A Happy New Year to all my readers - and from the number of hits on my blog, I'd say that was all three of you :) Still, one can only try.

So, we're now into 2011 - the second decade of the 21st century. Yes, yes I know, some would argue that last year was the first year of the second decade but I beg to differ as the century really started with 2001 (2000 was only the numerical change from the 1990s to the 2000s).

What will this year bring? Are we out of the recession yet or stalling towards another dip? So here are my predictions for the year ahead:

• Don't go thinking you can safely spend all of that money you've been hoarding during the recession. We're not out of the woods yet. There'll be no recovery in 2011. The best we can hope for is a year of "treading water";
• Terrorism will rear its ugly head again this year, with a high profile incident in a Western country. It's inevitable;
• More weird weather. Birds are falling out of the skies in the US, Italy and Sweden. Remember "The Day After Tomorrow"? Something odd is going on;
• Oil prices will remain high as OPEC squeezes the life out of those countries dependent upon them;
• Several high profile airlines will go under due to the cumulative impact of weather, volcanoes and passenger traffic declining;
  
• The world will keep on turning and night will follow day.

OK, I'm only sure about the last one there. What predictions do you make for 2011?