I've had a rather unsettled time since my last post. The world's political situation has been depressing me and my uretic stent has been causing problems which always scares me because of the possibility of sepsis. Over the years I have got to the stage where I can recognise the very early onset of sepsis. However sometime it occurs in the middle of the night and I can wake up in a very confused state. Fortunately the emergency services have so far managed to respond to my confused phone calls and I'm here to tell the tale.
Apart from that I'm okay but enough of health and negativity.
I'm getting to the stage when I find the international political situation beyond coping with. It's obvious that the USA is going to be a loose cannon until Trump relinquishes power which may not be any time soon. It seems entirely possible that he may alter the constitution to declare himself president for life.
I spent my professional career in local government and can say without fear of rational contradiction that the great majority of people working in local government had the best interests of the communities they served at heart. I'm talking about professionals. Politicians were a different kettle of fish. Some - probably the majority - did have the best interest of their constituents at heart. Some, on the other hand, were in politics for what they could get out of it. In the UK when I was working, local government politicians were UNPAID and just received expenses. Now they are professional politicians.
I am, by nature, a very positive person. So THIS WILL BE MY LAST NEGATIVE POST.
I've never been a daily poster like YP and many others of you but my absence from Blogland has been unsettling for me because it's been such a part of my life for so many years.
I'm very fortunate that in my 81st year I'm as busy as I ever was and sometimes busier. Despite so many of my pals having left this mortal coil others have filled the gaps.
So I'm counting my blessings and hopefully I'll return forthwith to being an active member of the blogging community to which I have belonged for so many years.
It's the official first day of spring - well, the clocks have gone forward, anyway! - so that's a positive note. The sun is shining in a blue sky, the breeze is light and the birds are singing.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Janice. That had escaped me so perhaps my change of mood has come with the change of season.
DeleteIn the Soviet Union, as is well known, art, music and literature had to be fully compliant with the dictates of the state, and failure to comply could result in one being sent to a gulag and probable death. This is the direction the United States is moving towards. One may construe reporting on this as negative, but it is the truth and needs to be exposed. The world is changing in a terrifying way.
ReplyDeleteDavid, you are absolutely correct of course. I have just read the news that we are now actively restructuring parts of government to cope with the possibility, or even probability, of war in Europe.
DeleteI join you in feeling unsettled right now but, like Janice, am taking pleasure in the small positives that Spring brings. I wish you good health and hope to see you back here with us in Blogland on a more permanent basis. We miss you.
ReplyDeleteThank you, JayCee, for your kind words.
DeleteIt's impossible not to get discouraged during these unsettling times here. I join with the others in wishing you good health. I have a photo of yours on my bedroom mirror with your words, "However thick the clouds, the sky above them is always clear." That has comforted me on many troubled days, Graham. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteEllen, that comment and the fact that you have that on your mirror has really chuffed me to bits. Thank you. My spirits were lifting and you've just given them a huge boost.
DeleteYou seem to be watching too much news. Life is good in blogland. Try finding it again, I'm still here. Lovely things still happen.
ReplyDeleteRachel, I've always kept up to date with national and some international news. However, you are absolutely correct. I have become one of those people who has the headlines on my phone and when they peak my interest I read them and follow up. The last couple of days I have cut down drastically (the weather and being in the garden have helped too) and I shall not be returning.
DeletePrayers for your health
ReplyDeleteFor voters that put our president in office, I believe, their regrets are building. There are terrifying executive orders hurting and putting innocent people in danger. I pray for the courts to continue to rule against what they can. Everyone I speak to has fears of losing benefits, income, healthcare. MAGA is an oxymoron.
Thank you, Anonymous. I know how scared some of my friends working for your government are. Especially those who have had 'the letter'.
DeleteCounting my blessings is an integral part of my life and what makes me „me“. I know that I have been extremely fortunate with the time and place and family I was born into, and that none of it is my personal merit. But for as far as my tiny sphere of influence extends (and it really isn‘t far at all), I try to be a positive presence.
ReplyDeleteThat does not mean that I put my head in the sand or am not interested in what‘s going on, it just means that I am trying to keep sane and balanced - me losing sleep over current events would not make any difference to those events.
I am glad to know that the emergency service in your area is so reliable, and the people working for them are really helpful.
Meike, in many ways you and I have very similar attitudes. I have spent my life being objective and 'independent' (partly by nature and partly because of my job). I'm not quite sure what happened to me a couple of months ago when I suddenly seemed to change. I'm hoping that my return to my usual self will be permanent.
DeleteKeep going Graham. I'm still here too.
ReplyDeleteThank you Tasker. I shall pop over.
DeleteDear Graham,
ReplyDeleteYou are a valued member of the blogging community - in this neck of the blogosphere at least. You have always been decent, kind, thoughtful and positive. You read other people's blogposts carefully and fairly and that is how you respond to them too.
I think the feeling of bewilderment is pretty widespread. Old certainties are being blown up and in America, dedicated servants of the nation are being treated like lepers by charlatans and opportunists. It is tragic but sadly it is not drama - it is real life.
Keep on keeping on.
Kind regards,
Neil
Thank you very much for your kind words, Neil. I shall keep on keeping on.
DeleteNice comparison of sepsis and Trump. they are both very bad news.
ReplyDeleteRed, as you say, they are both very bad news.
DeleteI must say one thing: I don't consider it a negative post. I thing that you are looking at things realistically, and trying to put them into a proper framework. We all are doing that, Graham. I will continue posting about my life, but I will also blog about these horrible days. I had someone complain that I'd become extreme. He's someone who wants to shut his eyes, put his fingers in his ears and chant 'lalalalalalalala' to himself. He prides himself on being a centrist. I see it as cowardice, really. Refusing to pick a side. If one is committed to stubbornly sticking to the middle, anyone taking a stance will be seen as extreme.
ReplyDeleteThank you Debby. I will continue to try and be a voice for reason and fairness.
DeleteThat's all we can do, really. Unless someone has a magic wand.
DeleteIt can be hard trying to stay positive when you have health issues and the world is in turmoil. The news is always negative. Hope you can feel positive vibes in Spring.
ReplyDeleteDiane, the very responses I've had to this post have done wonders for my spirits.
DeleteWhen Tr*mp was re-elected I was prepared to give him the benefit of my doubts, but I was wrong. He has become a monster lurking overseas, causing trouble wherever he can, and making alliances in the most doubtful of places. I just hope we all survive him. I have always been an optimist, but my optimism is wearing thin. However, we are having glorious weather, so I can be grateful for that!
ReplyDeleteCro, I'm afraid that I thought he used up all his credits with me during his last term. Little could I have anticipated what an absolute monster he is. And I saw today that he has said that he will be expecting to serve a third term.
DeleteHeaven help us!
DeleteIt has pretty much all been said by the comments above. While there is life, keep making decisions - read Touching the Void. Even with madness in power we can all make decisions about our own lives - (and revolutions have happened and dictators have met sticky ends and those in power would do well to read history).
ReplyDeleteTigger's Mum, many moons ago I saw the film of Touching The Void. I suppose that was as near 'The Ultimate Decision' as an 'ordinary' person is likely to encounter. I expect that, like most people, dictators expect the worst only to happen to others.
DeleteI welcome your "return"! :) Knowing about your sepsis problem etc, I always worry a bit when you seem to disappear for too long... I agree that the combination of health issues, winter and world politics certainly does not always make it easy to keep positive and inspired for blogging, though. However, for my own part, I'm glad to say I still usually find 'Blogland' one of the things/places/communities that keep me going rather than dragging me down. - Hopefully spring and summer ahead will also soon bring life and colour back to your beautiful garden and island, and inspire some photography, perhaps! ♥
ReplyDeleteMonica, I'm completely with you on the positivities of Blogland. My problem was that the other things had got to me and I'd just lost my mental energy to be positive enough for Blogland.
DeleteWorld politics are a very depressing situation right now. There would be something wrong if you weren't at all bothered.
ReplyDeleteI agree that there's not a lot we can do but I think we can do small things in the way of resisting.
Kylie, I would found it very hard not to be almost consumed by what Trump et al are doing especially as I have friends who are adversely affected. However I let it 'get to me' to too great a degree.
DeleteI'm happy you're still getting on with each day Graham. The political situation of the world is not good, even here in New Zealand.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Amy. As you know New Zealand is very close to my heart. I have assumed that the geographical distance has given you a greater freedom from the influence of the USA.
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