Like Maria in her President's letter I have also been reflective for this issue of the journal. I have been unwell on and off for about six months and then for about 5 weeks I caught a virus of some sort which left me with a hacking cough, joints that were swollen and painful and a complete lack of energy [I must have been bad as I got into daytime TV and what is worse enjoyed it! But do not tell anyone]. I have been back at work for two weeks and after various tests the reason for feeling unwell is that I have gallstones and will have to have a cholycystectomy. At least now I know why I lack the energy I have always prided myself on and with this diagnosis I feel as if my energy levels have come back, all psychological I know, but there we go. However it got me to thinking that I am so lucky to have my health and be able to function on a day-to-day basis, but when in trouble have the NHS to turn to. I know it is not without faults (the understatement of the year!) but it is free at the point of deliver and I do know that within a year my gall bladder will be removed and hopefully I will feel better. I do not think that is to be sniffed at.

I think Maria's letter is excellent and should make us all think about our lives in general before we moan about canteen food or not taking a lunch break, at least we know we will have food when we eventually get home from work, one missed meal is minor really. This is the last President's letter that Maria will be writing as she has reached the end of her tenure as President of the British Anaesthetic and Recovery Nurses Association. She joined BARNA at a time when it was getting back on track and becoming stronger having been wandering around for a while. She has enhanced the profile of BARNA and I am sure you would like to join me in thanking her for her contribution and her stimulating letters in each issue of the journal.

So as one door closes another one opens, as my mother says. BARNA have decided to go in a new direction and we have asked a nurse to become our new President. This will be Mark Radford. Mark I am sure is very familiar to many of you. He is a nurse consultant who is at the cutting edge of developing nursing practice and we feel he has much to offer BARNA. I look forward to working closely with him and moving BARNA forward to another dimension.

Added to all this change this will be the last editorial I will be writing as I am handing the journal over to Gabby Barody. Gaby is a critical care nurse educator and I am sure she will develop the journal further and I hope you will give her your support and perhaps submit more articles to her than you did for me! I have enjoyed my time as journal editor but along with the chair of the association it is probably one of the biggest jobs on the committee and I have found it increasingly more difficult to do both. So now I will have time to devote myself completely to BARNA in the capacity as chair.

I hope you enjoy this issue of the journal and I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at conference 23rd–24th June Hove Town Hall.