IF SOMEONE asked me to describe 2008 in two words, I'd say "credit crunch".
And hopefully that would be the last time I'd have to use that awful phrase for a while at least.
As a business journalist there's been no escape from the terminology which has become so over-arching that it barely means anything anymore.
Pick up any paper this weekend and there's sure to be a feature about a credit crunch-busting Christmas.
"Old mouldy jam makes a great substitute for expensive Cranberry sauce" etc etc.
Switch on the truly terrible One Show tonight and I would wager my mortgage (if I had one) on the fact that BBC stalwart Adrian Chiles will mumble the words credit crunch at some stage during the show.
Cue shots of a family down south somewhere who've saved on their shopping bills by drying out old tea bags on the washing line and re-using them.
And even in the world of football there's no escape.
I've lost count of the number of times in recent weeks Hansen and co. have spoiled my Saturday night's viewing by bemoaning the impact of the credit crunch in the upcoming transfer window.
Leave the doom and gloom to Peston please and stick to well-trodden path of "terrible defending."
It looks like there's little chance the credit crunch going away in the New Year and, as recession looms, to make things worse other irritating phrases like 'negative growth' will increasingly come into common usage...only time will tell.
Right, I'm off to make credit crunch-busting Christmas presents out of old bog rolls and stickyback plastic.
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