In the Italian capital, Rome, Pope Benedict XVI celebrated with a vespers service in St Peter's Basilica to give thanks for 2012 and look ahead to 2013.
But it was clear from the start when we met in some sort of plush private lounge at the club, swimming with publicists on BlackBerrys, and with its own bar where a mixologist was making "Vespers" and "Le Chiffre, " drinks named after "Casino Royale" characters and concocted just for the occasion that Mr. Haggis was anything but a writer's block sufferer.