17th January 2016

Yesterday we received election papers.Why on earth did the UK government agree to hold an EU referendum?  It will cause absolute disaster to the good British people if a majority vote Out. Too many are looking at comparatively trivial issues and ignoring future worldwide perils. Should unimaginable terrorism or further climate calamity strike, the UK would be out on a limb with no signed-up friends or allies. And, in the event of an Out vote, Scotland would surely soon call another union referendum in order to further split the UK. Remember: for over 70 years the signed-up members of Europe have not fought each other in war and have supported each other. And, even Iran are apparently new allies - but only because of pressure from a consortium of nations. For God's sake: having friends and allies is the only important issue. So, vote to stay In.  Today it's Him indoors' birthday. I couldn't understand when he said he'd been invited to Swan Lake. Yes, he said, it'll be because of all the flooding.  No, no, it's not a ballet paper you've received, it's a ballot!  Pity.

6 December 2015

On this day 68 years ago I was born into a very different world. I was malnourished and had numerous physical ailments not recognised back then. There would be another seven months before the NHS would be born, so few people called the doctor. Too expensive. Many babies were weak due to food rationing during their mother's pregnancy, and in my case there would be another 65 years before a congenital beance cardiale would be diagnosed by a far superior French health system. But, is the world in a better state environmentally and politically than it was in post-war '47? I'm not sure. Yesterday saw N. England awash with terrible flooding. And politically, here in France everyone goes to the polls today in the first round of council elections for the new, fewer but bigger regions. Early surveys show a poll surge for the Front National, boosted by the recent Paris troubles. They're ahead in 7 out of 12 regions, with the Republican right ahead of the parti-socialiste left.Yes, there is global terror that must be confronted and eliminated by a consortium of agreed democracies, but not by individual nations voting in extremist, racial party leaders! So, 68 years since my birth, all I can say is: will the world never learn?

16th December 2012

My grandparents hailed from Kretinga near the Baltic in Lithuania, which may have been Russian a few centuries ago. That's before pogroms and depression forced the family to flee.  But, depression still rules.
Are mysterious, elemental forces still about today?  Wednesday saw the strange date 121212 (the French called it Le Douze) and there's the phenomenon of the dieback of the ash tree - something that some say foretells the end of the world. The disease has just reached the town of Aspatria (called the ash tree of Patrick)  in Cumbria, an English county where the tree plays a special part in history and folklore. Legend has it that the saint struck his staff into the ground and up sprouted an ash tree.  Strange that that's just where the present ash tree disease has been discovered. Then, there's water. Lots of it. Rising waters worldwide mean that no-one should even think of living near the coast or even near a river. At least the canny French build their living areas a floor above the ground. 
Well, let's hope all this folklore and worry is mere superstition. After all, there's a certain Friday the 21st fast approaching. See you all in Bugerach. Him indoors says not to worry - he's ordered a poster saying all is well, and has arranged to pay for it on the 22nd.....