Whooosh ... where did that go?
Sorry about the silence, as a result of which I don't expect this will get read by too many people, but it is really so I can get clear in my own head what I thought about the last twelve months and think of the coming twelve; there is no substitute for writing it all down. That said, I have been surprised by the number of people who still check in to the Blog and then say, "Why have you not written anything recently - are you okay?".
Short answer - yes very okay thank you and the last annual medical was positive too. I can still think, walk, talk, contribute and enjoy life. "What more can one ask?" - he says, touching wood!
Last 364 days - roller coaster. For me lots to do at work and play. For the world - uncertainty. The lunacy (IMHO) of Brexit continues and is going to roll into 2019. Why on earth would Europe create a decent deal for Britain when to do so would probably lead to a number of other countries in the Union saying "If that's on the table then I'll have some too". A decision to leave Europe that was based on limited (or no) factual information being made available to the public, and an "it'll be alright on the night" sort of attitude was doomed from the start. A decision that was driven by emotion and the policies of the United Kingdom to take in everyone who turned up on the doorstep.
A US President who has been the butt of every comedian's jokes around the world - more, surely than any other President in history - except that it seems the jokes are not jokes all but reality while much of the world looks open-mouthed at the antics. Did America need to change gear and focus? From where I was sitting - probably yes, although I'm no expert. Did the USA need to take a stand on certain issues - again yes and let's be rational, not everything that is done or said by President Trump is insane; but his grasp of world politics has - if left unchecked - the ability to tip us into conflicts we do not need. The revolving door that represents the Administration in the White House is of concern, and when Americans say to me "all the adults have left" I think we should all be concerned.
Mainland Europe - fragmenting, the Middle East - always carrying the potential to surprise and mostly on the downside it seems, inflation in Argentina and a deteriorating situation in Venezuela, uncertainty still in North Korea, and China continuing to fill parts of the world stage and grow - not to everyones pleasure.
For me in 2018, a couple of brighter spots amongst many others. It seems that someone in HSBC - my full time employer for 37 years - realised that I had actually joined the bank in January 1968 and that this year marked 50 years with the organisation. It's a little bit of a stretch because I was away from the bank between retiring and re-joining, but hell - why not, so I was recently recognised for having been involved for those 50 years which was embarrassing for me but a wonderful gesture by them. (I actually started my Banking career in 1964 so it's going to be 55 years in the industry next year - and yes, clearly I started when I was 10!!)
The other bright spot amongst the gloom was further proof that not all young people are oblivious to their surroundings when a colleague of mine currently with HSBC in Egypt shared a musical video created by his daughter which she had written and performed herself as a result of being concerned about the plight of homeless people in her neighbourhood. The link is worth a look, and I hope she keeps this sort of thing going. She is, I know, not alone in her compassion but it's just so nice to see it up close.
And so to 2019; I keep wishing people a Happy New Year, but I am sorry to say that it comes with a "rider", as I add - "I hope it will prove to be better than it currently looks and that we will be pleasantly surprised".
I have said in Blogs before that I am by nature an optimist but that optimism has been dented in recent years. For 2019 that optimism is going to be sorely tested by a world which, in short, is showing increasing signs of nationalism, a growth in extremism, religious fervour in some quarters not in keeping with the teachings, economic uncertainty and dare I add, a lack of common sense. We run risks created by leaders who are bullies or who are weak. By an unwillingness to speak out against injustice. By a culture where it is almost impossible to express an opinion without causing apparent offence to someone somewhere. These are all, to me, not the best foundations for a stable future. Our young communities have few role models. Even the newly born - who depend on us to have a world into which they can grow - are going to have a bleak future unless we can deliver something positive.
Will the Chinese Year of the Pig come to our rescue? Interesting question. even though the Pig was the last animal of the 12 to arrive at the Emperor's party (apparently because he overslept!), they are nevertheless a symbol of wealth but can they solve the world's problems? Let's see.
And finally - common sense, to which I referred earlier. I wrote a blog in September 2008 entitled "Obituary - Farewell to Common Sense". It included an anonymous piece which I re-read a few days ago. What I hoped at the time was that stories of the death of common sense were premature. Re-reading it I am far from certain - but I think it is probably our only hope in the short term.
Have a happy, peaceful and healthy 2019!
