So, farewell 2007. When I look back, how will I remember you? Probably as a year of business progress, family progress and a considerably greater number of public speaking engagements.

As Mrs Moneypenny, I have had – and accepted – more speaking invitations in 2007 than ever before. Why do I bother? Partly because I meet new people, partly because I donate all the fees to charity and so it is a good way of turning my time into useful cash for someone, and partly because I am always looking for new readers. And it can be an entertaining way of passing an evening. My speaking engagements this year have taken me to all sorts of places I haven’t visited before, such as the great hall in Lincoln’s Inn, one of the four Inns of Court in London that form the ancient seat of the English legal system.