So, 2011 was a pretty quiet year, then? No major changes. Probably one the history books will skip over. Or maybe not...

Governments, dictators, economists, not to mention news reporters, certainly might beg to differ.

From the Arab Spring to the summer riots much closer to home, the eurozone crisis and natural disasters of epic proportions, 2011 will be remembered if for nothing else, its ability to shock and surprise.

By now you've probably had your fill of year-end round-ups, but if not, take a click down memory lane with HuffPost UK's photo montage of the past 12 months.

On the blog, Callum Jones charts the political highs and lows of 2011. Given how many there's been, it's probably not surprising his blog comes in two parts!

For something a little lighter, click through our Celebrity Review of the Year, the Entertainment team's Top TV Moments of the Year, or blogger Madeleine Wilson's favourite weird world news stories of the year.

But that's all that happened. What about what's coming up? There's no big royal wedding to look forward to, unless Harry's planning on getting down on one knee any time soon, but that doesn't mean the UK won't get a chance to show off its ability to throw a good party.

London will take centre stage this summer with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, and the Olympic and Paralympics Games, and for all the doubters, naysayers and sceptics, when the world's top athletes descend, if they can just get the Central Line running on time, I think we'll all feel pretty proud to be British.

In the political arena, we've got Ken Vs Boris the Sequel, followed up by the blockbuster that America's presidential election promises to be.

And that's just a taster of what we know is in store. No doubt there will be plenty to catch us all unawares.

As blogger Steven Neish so eloquently points out, if 2011 were a movie, 2012 has an awful lot to live up to.

Happy New Year!

Follow Carla Buzasi on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CarlaBuzasi