WHAT WE DID YESTERDAY

Ever since 2002, we have - each January - held what one of my Irish friends laughingly refers to as the CFZ Army Council (a nickname which has stuck) but which is really our AGM. Because of the logistical problems in getting Max down here now he is at university, the only time we could get him and Dave B-P and Richard together in the same place with the folk who actually live here was last night, so we held an impromptu council.

Lots of stuff was discussed including changes to the website, and changes to the protocols for next year's Weird Weekend. However, we discussed the latest round of financial and other problems that have been facing the CFZ.

I have been feeling terrible, because for the first time in the seventeen years since I founded the CFZ and the twenty-two years since I founded the publishing company that is now CFZ Press, there is no festive edition of the magazine, and there is no CFZ Christmas card. Why? Because of the Godawful financial problems with which we have had to deal, we just simply cannot afford it. The holdups caused by computer problems haven't helped, and basically mean that the book which should have been our big seller wasn't available soon enough, and basically everything that could go wrong did go wrong.

The boys, and especially Richard F and Dave B-P reassured me, and basically told me that I was being silly. We are in the midst of a serious recession (they said) and where many long-established outfits have gone to the wall, we are still surviving. And what's more we are breaking new ground.

• Issue 47 of A&M is just being given its final proof and will be posted out in January.
• There IS a CFZ Christmas Card but it is going out via email together with the annual report next week
• There are plans for new books, new films and new expeditions
• The 2010 Weird Weekend will be better than ever

So hang on guys. It is still going to be a bumpy ride, but we shall all get through.

Onwards and Upwards