It is that end of year feeling but I am already planning what's going to happen in the spring.

The last month has been a time of crisis for the Cittaslow Diss project, with budget constraints, issues arising, people getting edgy, illness and external factors all coming into force at once.

I must apologise to my neighbours in Cobbs Yard for all the noise. My big de-stresser is listening to music, which I adore, thank goodness for Ministry of Sound, Electronica and Nick Drake to keep me sane.

Customers don't seem to mind, music seems a popular pursuit – so much so, I have mooted the idea of having a community run night club in Diss – it could be a hang out place too for our youth to practice their own music… yes I am serious...

Perhaps I am exaggerating, there have been some recent successes, our Winter Art Exhibition has been a big hit, thanks to DCP director Jean Page and we have secured £6,000 more funding to have a new Diss visitor leaflet and Cittaslow information pack printed.

Farrows have set to work on the project and are busy drawing a new map for the town.

The leaflet will also include a drawing of our own Diss Dodman by Mike Webb.

I am also grateful to EARTHA, which has been funded by Cittaslow Diss to run clay lump specialist conservation training days for local builders.

They are also producing a set of guidelines on how to look after clay lump buildings and have done a survey, setting up a database of all the such buildings around Diss.

This fits in well with the Cittaslow goal of preserving and enhancing our heritage buildings.

It's the time of year to think of others and so I must thank my fellow colleagues on the Diss Community Partnership CIC board who take their public office seriously and tirelessly work as volunteers for public good in Diss.

Christmas to me is a big fire to curl up in front of, seemingly endless time to relax and the joy of catching up with dear ones.

We are lucky Father Christmas continues to visit our house, eats his supper, manoeuvres the inglenook and leaves so much collectable Lego pieces!

This is all due of course to my seven year old's son's good behaviour and long may it continue! Enjoy, relax and have a super Christmas and get ready for that Cittaslow Spring.