Wednesday 13 June 2018

It's a wonderful day


Cro is suffering from the same deep despondency as the rest of Britain is right now. It just seems so unfair that all this 'news' is happening at happening during a very long period of austerity when the only thing that is capable of collectively cheering us up is a Royal Wedding, and we've had that now.

Sport used to be the Great Escape, but when Scotland beats England at cricket, those days are obviously over for the foreseeable future. We have the humiliation of the football World Cup in Russia to look forward to next.

Spending-sprees also used to be a good form of therapy for the middle classes, but even though we are encouraged to tighten our belts and put aside money for rainy days, it is impossible to shop for everyday groceries without embarking on a spending-spree, thanks to the enormous hike in food prices.

Eating the expensive food is another solace for the troubled soul. I hear that Britain now has levels of child obesity which are greater than the U.S.A.'s. That is a record.

Up until quite recently, my personal form of escapism was the hunt for antique glass and other stuff, but despite that prices for those things have reached an all-time low, the appeal has tarnished for me and I no longer actively hunt.

Reality is getting more and more difficult to escape, but nobody seems capable of dealing with it at the moment - especially the politicians.

27 comments:

  1. My tip for escapism. Go to the library and choose 5 books. Hide somewhere and ignore the rest of the world while you read. Only con with this is the world is still there when you come out of hiding... and all the chores have piled up ready for your return. However I will choose to be happy and optimistic. Maybe it will be 1966 again and we shall be uplifted as a nation. Our overpaid, beautifully presented and groomed football team will make us proud?

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    1. Yes books are good while they last. Actually things can change very quickly but I don't know how near the nadir we are right now. It could get worse.

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    2. I've just been watching PMQ's; total chaos.

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    3. The current Speaker is unspeakable.

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  2. I like to read so that's my escape. Although, I am waiting for a fav author to write the next book and that can be frustrating.
    We are getting ready for tariffs and a new northern border strategy from the USA so that keeps us busy. I am off to my victory garden. take care.

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    1. I am in personal contact with my favourite writer of plays and screenplays. I ask him to write stuff, and he usually obliges.

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    2. Do you know Patrick Rothfuss? I would like to read the 3rd book in the series before I die.

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  3. I have joined the 'Ladies who lunch'Brigade - that and as much gardening as I can manage keep me sane. For example - tonight a huge gale is forecast - all my worries now centre on how to protect my Patty pan (no rude jokes please)from the gale. No spare worry space for any of the worries of the world.

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    1. Patty pan... hmm... I sometimes wish I had a garden.

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  4. The millennials in the US have little savings and lots still live with their parents. 2020 seems to be the next 'money crisis'. That is unless Trump does something and the market crashes before then. Me, I'm trying to pay more attention to each day and let the others worry about it all. Self preservation.

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    1. Same here. I really wish I was one of those baby-boomers who stole their inheritance, but unfortunately my brother stole it for me.

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  5. Time to put your raincoat back on and head to the municipal park?

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    1. It's sunny here today. Who knows what tomorrow will bring.

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    2. Sorry, that was a question: ?

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  6. My escapism is a good, long walk. Usually, the best walks are along the beach or in any green space.

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    1. I quite like a good, long drive in the car, followed by a short walk amongst interesting things. Walking is something I can only do for a mile or so these days.

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  7. Keep on. Day by day. People complain. I reply, "I register voters." Talk is too cheap now. I register voters.

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    1. Talk is almost exclusively digital these days. If you register voters you are doing unpaid work for companies like Google or Amazon or Facebook. 'Likes'.

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    2. No, no, no. I register people to vote. Mostly kids who just turned 18 and haven't thought about it.

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  8. You (and H.I.) were in my dream last night Tom.....I encountered you both in some strange bohemian place and it was so fascinating and interesting and welcoming I wanted to stay....odd huh?

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    1. I hope I was not behaving inappropriately. I usually do in dreams, but not as bad as Freddie on Elm Street.

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  9. Take up running, Tom. It’s a cure for all the ills of the world.

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    1. You really don't know me do you? I find that people who take up running when they still can - I am 67 and never could - become a little boringly evangelistic. I think you are all getting off on the endorphins, whereas I just use drugs like every other sane person.

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    2. Sorry, that sounded a bit terse!

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  10. Could you take a break at the sea Tom? A few days at the seaside works for me.
    Greetings Maria x

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    1. Good idea, and we often do. We plan to again this Summer, so long as I am not made bankrupt.

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