Ah, it was good to be at the PrintWeek Awards last night. And thanks to the restorative powers of Marmite on toast even the morning after the night before has been relatively painless.

I've written before about my belief in the importance of having a suitable quotient of "joy replenishers" in one's life, and the Awards fitted the joy replenishing bill perfectly. It really was a welcome and timely reminder that it's not all bad, even though things have felt that way on more than one occasion over the past year.

While the comedian may have fallen flat, the industry at large certainly didn't. I spoke to lots (and lots and lots) of people, including elated winners and philosophical contenders. The delight of those who triumphed was a joy to behold, and it was terrific to see so many people chatting, networking and strutting their funky stuff into the small hours, long after the ceremony itself had finished.

One of the great things about the evening, IMHO, is that it highlights the achievements of companies of all shapes and sizes. UK printing isn't all about the big groups, although sometimes they can be guilty of thinking it is (in fact, this was one of the more "lively debates" among last night's many discourses). Some of our most successful companies are small- and medium-sized businesses, and the big guys could learn a trick or two from them.

Anyway, I salute all the winners and finalists. You've made a lot of people very proud, and you've topped up my joy levels nicely.