Guys and girls I am signing out for the year as I am off on chrimble holidays, do not panic the boys in the office are still open between chrimbo and new year, many thanks to my staff and everyone at ADL for helping make an interesting year a good one.

Lets see what the new year brings for the lettings market, I am sure 2009 will be a cracking year and hopefully our best ever.

P.S Winner of rubbish photo of the year was entry No.1 ( Jailhouse Rock ) Well done Leslie @ County lettings, I will be over in the new year for the presentation ceremony.

Rich

Congratulations Ben James, newly crowned Office Olympian 2008, This years event took place over three evenings after work and consisted of Darts, Carpet Bowls ( South and North ), indoor cricket and keepy-uppy. As ever the annual chrimbo event was keenly contested and at times controversial but was won on the final event of carpet bowls by Benny boy ( pictured above accepting the Olympian award from me - 2007 winner ).

 LETS all take a photo, LETS all take a photo, of a half a building, of a half a building, La,la,la,la. No.10, our final entry e mail your top three in 1,2,3 order to richard@anthonydavies24.co.uk

Jingle Bells, Jingle bells, Jingle all the way, keith Ian drove by and took these lovely pictures, Jingle all the way.

Another Hertford agency - smallest picture ever recorded on Rightmove, stand up on your desk and applaud this possible winner.

Pace gathering quickly, new entry from Martin & Co. titled ” pixelated top half of building “- very strong entrant

ALERT - Brand new entry from Hertford Agent - bendy block of flats - brilliant !

Entry Number 4 entered and unearthed on Rightmove by Paul @ Paul Wallace, Cheshunt. This is a late entry for the December winner,would you believe this property is actually FOR SALE, so the estate agent/ photographer has shown superb diligence in taking this patio shot, has got it well focussed and used a special narrow angled lens - well done, a close call, this one could go all the way, results next Friday, any other entries by Monday please.

I received an excellent letter from the Mercury on Saturday morning informing me that because market conditions are tougher for agents they are going to keep their advertising rates on hold for 2009 !

My Response :  Dear Mercury Newspaper, you have banged your heads, as I have told you before traditional newspaper advertising is in serious decline, what you need to do urgently is to review your position, change the product, realise that advertising agents are your lifeline to your jobs and reduce your prices !

As you are probably aware we have ceased advertising within local papers since the start of october and guess what, our deals are not down, of course we probably run the risk of perhaps not attracting new clients but I remain convinced this is an uneccessary cost to our business.

Listen guys , trust me, we do not need newspaper advertising any more a) it is not cost effective  b) it is old fashioned c) the internet is where it is at. Do I need to say any more, think wisely about your budgets for next year.   Rich

Another brilliant entry , out of focus, pixelated, pure classic useless shot of Yukon Road.