One of the 50 reasons to be optimistic for this year included in i News is one from me based on our British Academy Innovation Fellowship project with Jones Bamber Productions. You need to register to read it but it is free here https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/reasons-optimistic-2023-space-launches-nature-recovery-2040843 . After the festivities (which for me included Covid Part 2) and the UK even further on its knees, if that is possible, we all need optimism. I cannot say I agree with all of these 50. I prefer ‘Reasons to be Cheerful’, by punk singer and disability activist Ian Dury with The Blockheads. There is something about the rhyming that always makes me laugh: A bit of grin and bear it (Reasons to be Cheerful), a bit of come and share it (Part 3)/You’re welcome we can spare it, yellow socks/Too short to be haughty (Reasons to Be Cheerful), too nutty to be naughty (Part 3)/Going on forty, no electric shocks/The juice of a carrot (Reasons to be Cheerful), the smile of a parrot (Part 3). May we all be blessed by the smile of a parrot in 2023. Amen.