To wish people who use my package repositories a happy new year, the following packages are new in my home repo (and may well move to GNOME:Community soon):

• galeon - that's right, the classic GNOME web browser is back and you can get it while it's hot, hot, hot!
• banshee-itunes-plugin - does what it says on the tin: enables you to purchase music from iTunes within Banshee

So, what do I think will happen outside of my house this year?

Firstly, the biggie: Iraq. Saddam Hussein has been executed in what Sir Menzies Campbell described as looking like victor's justice and this isn't going to help the situation there at all. Bush seems to think it's an important step forward and he's right. The problem is that it's a step forward into increased bloodshed and further sectarian violence. The recording of Muqtada Al-Sadr's name being chanted as Saddam was hanged doesn't help that either. Expect to hear a lot more talk about partitioning and a timetable for occupying forces to withdraw released by the summer.

Next up: Linux. I wouldn't be surprised if at least one major government department announced it was switching to Linux on the desktop this year. openSUSE 10.3 will come out and be fantastic, building on the success of 10.2.

Finally: Football. My predictions for the top three in the Premiership this season:

1. Man Utd
2. Chelsea
3. Liverpool

Oh yes, none of these are based on anything more than my own guess-work (well, the Iraq prediction owes a lot to the coverage of the situation by the BBC and Independent).

New Year party at college last night - a lot of fun, including Disney Trivial Pursuit after a few beers - odd.

So, what does this new year hold? Well a few thoughts ...

For us, we will become parents this month for the first time. There will be a new, very small, addition to the family. Small, as I said, but larger than the hamster it's fair to say. Then, in the summer, June or July to be accurate, we'll be moving house. At the moment we don't know where too but we're trusting God that He's got a place for us to go to do my curacy.

Thoughts for the wider world later - can you cope with the excitement?