So it’s 17h50 on Friday,29 December 2006 and I have just got to say that I am utterly exhausted and exhilirated. Boy oh boy what a year it has been.

For Avo it has been a year of phenomenal growth both for the business and for the people in the business. Some much has happened this year that it is quite hard to comprehend.

For those of you who are really close to Avo you will know that this year has been really scary, some people stand in the fire, but I think we were the bloody fire.

We had serious financial challenges, we had spooks, we had a wedding, we had babies, we had a death, we had tears, we had fear, we had anger, we even had periods of feeling absolutely desolate but we also had each other. And so we laughed, shared, grieved, cried, screamed, moaned and held on to each other for dear life. Eventually we emerged, battered, bruised, greyer, wiser, more tolerant, more accepting of difference and a thousand times more powerful …on top.

And now we stand at the birth of our new dawn, and our company remains intact, as youthful, soulful and spontaneous as ever. Yes, despite the challenges we have faced, we look forward to the year ahead, simply because 2006 has shown us that our strength lies in our team. When others buckled or were decimated the Avo tree stood strong and proud.

So to the Avopeeps, thank you for the year that was. Thank you for weathering the storm with us. Thank you for giving of yourselves when there really wasn’t any more to give. But most of all thank you for just being there day in and day out, doing your level best to meet and serve our clients.

May the year ahead hold joy, happiness, good health and PROSPERITY for all of you. May we grow stronger and taller knowing we ROCK !!! Here’s hoping that you all have an amazing new year.

Love, Elaine