Good and bad

So that’s that then. We’ve had our last night in Doris … for a while. We had a lovely time at the Jones’s and also at mum’s. She’s in good form and is managing the reasonably complex task of being frail and living on her own with aplomb. We are v lucky as she causes us very few problems. And whenever I phone her, which I do daily, she’s mostly content. Then onto Mary’s where we always have a good time, including a walk around Godalming (Britain’s happiest town, apparently – with the number of top-marque German cars in the drives, I’m not surprised) followed by a lovely lunch with a pal of hers.

one final walk

We’re staying here for Sunday lunch and then off home. I got a pretty full week next week, what with books, marketing, admin and some jobs to do on Doris. We have a trip down to Wells planned mid-week, a wedding to attend on Saturday and then we’re off over the Channel, the first time in over two years. I think it’s probably the longest time either of us have been divorced from the continent and, now that France looks set to remove the need for a covid test of any description, it should all be plain sailing. I can’t wait, both for the sense of adventure, and the skiing and everything that comes with it. We are, as I said last time, immeasurably lucky. Let’s hope no speed bumps are encountered on the way … and that we come back with all our limbs.

Of course, there are one or two existential threats which could unhinge everything. Russia’s pending invasion of Ukraine is one of them. I’m sure you’re clear on this, but the US’s weakness, caused by drastic partisan politics and submission in Afghanistan, the UK’s inability to effectively lead it’s own government, let alone a nation, and the EU’s mixed messages, provides the perfect opportunity for Putin – the vulgar narcissists, who cares only for his regime and not his people, nor those of his neighbours – the opportunity to strike. And this has nothing to do with so-called NATO expansion.

There are conflicting views as to how far Putin might go, but eastern Ukraine looks in peril. And all we will do in return is impose sanctions which will undermine any remaining quality of life for the poor and lower-middle class in Russian, and those parts of Ukraine which will succumb to Russian influence. From my perspective it’s all a disaster. And it’s just on our doorstep. One further major negative outcome could be sanctions against Russian gas. That might have some affect on the politburo … but it will certainly further impact on energy prices here in the UK, just when a lot of people are really struggling. It doesn’t bear thinking about. Ho hum.

coffee time in Godalming

And the cost of living crisis is, I feel, going to hit hard and huge. We’re all going to suffer, but no group more than the poor. I know it sounds like an urban myth but I firmly believe that many people will have to chose between heating and eating. I think I might have mentioned two years ago, when covid hit us, that we needed to be aware of inflation. Of course our kids have no idea what this means. They’ve lived through a time when the cost of living has remained flat. Those of us in our 60s remember only too well when mortgage rates were in double figures and retail prices doubled every five to ten years – and our parents had it worse still. I can’t see it getting any better any time soon. What we need here is strong leadership. And you know I’ll say that is missing here.

So … for us the short term, with hopefully three weeks in Alps coming up, looks fab. For many, it all looks v bleak. Again. How lucky are we? The answer, of course, is ‘very’.

Stay safe everyone.