Professor Richard England, renowned architect, admits that he is no great believer in resolutions. Rather, he is a man of order and lists – these, he says, help him achieve his wishes in a more practical manner.

However, far from being robotic in his methods, Prof. England acknowledges the poetic significance of time passing.

“January is the Janus month,” he says. “It’s a time to look forward to and plan for, but also a time to look back and reminisce on the fallen leaves of the previous year. It is a time to remember, but more so a time to dream.”

The programme he sets himself at the beginning of each year is wide in breadth but far from overreaching and ambitious. He states how resolving less instead of more leads one to a better chance of fulfilling them, and with less disappointment should one fail to achieve them.

Prof. England half-humourously sets himself the task of going on living and not dying, and resolves (though he would not like to use that word) to end the year 'wiser' than when he started it. “Overdrive is essential,” he adds. “I still believe there is much to be done but at my age, the question lurks – is there enough time left?”

Simultaneously practical and poetic, Prof England plans to make the absolute most out of this coming year, especially since it marks the end of the Mayan cycle.

“Who knows what will happen on 21.12.12? Perhaps time is even shorter.”