So what does 2019 hold in store? How will the hospitality industry fare? How will the high street perform? Will Cumbria be able to take off and develop this year? Who has a crystal ball and can tell us how it will all pan out?

The answer is, of course, no one. No one has a clue.

A few folk might have a go at guessing the outcomes but no one really knows.

The high street has been under pressure for a few years now. The internet and less money in people’s pockets have dampened their sales.

Last year saw some issues with high profile restaurant chains getting into financial difficulties. Only a handful of companies are doing well. It’s a bit doom and gloom out there.

Then there’s Brexit. It’s a hugely complicated issue and we’ll find out the effects of it in the next few months. Economically, it has the potential to be devastating, certainly in the short term. A no-deal Brexit would see immediate price rises on many essential products which are currently covered by EU trade deals. Let’s hope the politicians see sense and come up with a deal that has minimum impact.

As for towns like Cockermouth and Keswick, I think we’ll need to wait and see. A lot depends on the weather. A sunny day and Keswick might be full and Cockermouth empty. A damp day and it might be the other way around. Will Brexit boost British tourism? Or will it ruin it? As I said, no one has a clue and I’m not about to start making predictions.

In Cockermouth, I think we’re just beginning to see the first signs of a recovery after the floods and the roadworks. In the last few months, there seem to be more people on Main Street, more people in the car parks, more people spending their hard-earned money in our locally-owned independent shops.

It’s all a bit fragile at the moment. Some other shop owners have said the same to me. Others are still waiting to see this happening.

It's clear to me that 2019 will be a crucial year. The way we shop may never be the same after the next twelve months.

To be honest, it’s always changing, every few years. This time, I think we might see a big change. A step change. Maybe only the tough will survive.