Eight for 2008

On Christmas Eve Iain Dale tagged me with a new meme, asking me to give my eight wishes for 2008.

I am never sure how personal to be on such occasions, remembering a story from Read My Lips by Matthew Parris and Phil Mason:

In 1948, a Washington radio station contacted ambassadors in the capital, asking what each would most like for Christmas. Britain's representative, Sir Oliver Franks, mistook the request.

French Ambassador: Peace throughout the world.

Soviet Ambassador: Freedom for all people enslaved by imperialism.

Sir Oliver: Well, it's very kind of you to ask. I'd quite like a box of crystallized fruit.

Anyway, here is my list:

1. Nick Clegg to turn out to be half as good as his supporters claimed he was during the election campaign;
2. Guantanamo Bay to close;
3. A Lib Dem education policy that goes further than "we agree with the NUT";
4. Jonathan Ross to be sacked by the BBC;
5. Me to get more paid writing published;
6. Andrew Flintoff to return to test cricket;
7. Chelsea to win the Champions League;
8. Leicester Tigers to win everything in sight.

Iain also asked me to nominate five blogs to continue the meme. So: Disgruntled Radical, Eaten by Missionaries, Gladstone Bag, Hug a Hoodie and Redemption Blues.