Say Nothing, Do Nothing???

What with appalling neighbour governments in place across the water* in both directions, on top of the climate threat and our problems in facing up to the consequences of the pandemic, it's no wonder that Ireland is in danger of political paralysis. The fact is that nobody in their right mind would actually want to go into government at the present moment. It’s very tempting to fall back on one time-honoured Irish reaction to being confronted with alien force majeure; - Say nothing! Do nothing! Give it time!

At least it is beginning to look as if we may see the back of The Ducky in five months’ time! Is there any chance at all of things being turned around in the UK before five long years? It is hardly possible to imagine that more than a shrinking minority there fail to see now that their government of chancers is horrendously misleading them, but very difficult to see how they might do something about it any time soon, even while things are plainly going from bad to worse. 

One Bird Has Flown!

Now the year has turned. On Sherkin we are back to grey skies, wind and rain, which came in dramatically with a Midsummer gale. One bird has flown to a sunnier clime, virus or no virus. The lockdown, with its fine weather, is beginning to seem quite blissful; now a sterner future looms, fraught with uncertainty. Where will we find the leadership to weather the coming storm? Frankly, Ireland is used to being towed along in the wake of our large neighbours in the Anglosphere. It would be much better if they would change course, so that we would not have to part company too drastically!

Ireland's Naval Might.

If minds are finally to be concentrated in the UK, it badly needs to be done now, with the deadline for renewing the extended relationship with the EU about to expire, and before the situation becomes yet more dire as bad weather and winter set in. But what can be done? I said at the time of that last big Remain demo in London, which I was on, that it all felt too much of a walk in the park to be really changing things. 

A limp acquiescence seemed to set in after the General Election, though I do not believe it reflects the positive convictions of a majority, but only a sad state of disarray and disunity that a small minority knew how to exploit. Now it will indeed take massive demonstrations, with civil disobedience probably required, to turn things round. It might be an idea to start with ‘Cummings Must Go!’, but where are all those remainers now? Where is the will to turn things round?

Meanwhile in Sherkin, let us hope that our summer has not come and gone. It seems to be difficult these days even to enjoy the little things, though more important than ever. Rather than those passing nations and notions, I focus both narrowly on our little corner, with house and garden constantly claiming attention, and also as widely as possible on the Gannetsway, - a cultural framework that reaches back many hundreds of years, and into an exciting future.

Nice When It Happens.

It is anyway a long time since I felt that I could make any difference in the political picture, but even in that I suppose it is good that the odd person is able to sit back in relative peace and comfort, and consider matters with detached sympathy, 'detached' in the sense that I try to hear all sides of the story, to be objective, take a long-term view, and have no ideological axe to grind; but all the same this Dr Robert Palmer seems to me spot on:-*http://www.brexitshambles.com/the-brexit-government-and-a-global-pandemic-the-perfect-storm-in-the-eye-of-a-hurricane/

THIS IS IT!

Heading 'Back to Normal'?

Fiona and I are two and a half months in lockdown now, and still counting. Herself is hobbling around, more than somewhat incapacitated with a sore hip and now 'plantar faschiitis'. Never heard of it? Neither had I, but it's bad news and Dr Google will tell you all about it. 'You shouldn't be self-diagnosing', says a physiotherapist on the phone. Pity about that appointment with a specialist that was supposed to happen in late January! We live in hope.

     We have to be grateful for the fact that the weather has for

photo by Cristiona!

the most part been splendid during this lockdown, and doubly so that we live in the right place to enjoy it; we have had a very good lockdown in fact. One does not hear much of such sentiments, but surely we are not alone in this? The Azores High is in great heart anyway, and going to remain that way apparently for the next while. But it has been a bit weird, living peacefully here while mayhem rules in so many places and so many are suffering, - sickness, riots, job losses and the rest, particularly the intense personal stresses that inevitably result.

     Times not so long ago, when for instance I could blithely head off sailing and forget about the world, are beginning to seem like distant memories from another era; not that, as a look through my old posts will confirm, this state of affairs didn't come well heralded here. It may be some help to remember that this pandemic has only brought to head a multi-facetted dis-ease. 

     They say that 'trouble comes in threes'. Give credit where it's due, - the Americans are certainly good at 'getting stuff out there', and they can be relied upon to articulate what we in polite European society may be more inclined to try to ignore! They also love acronyms, so may I offer a new one, -PPEP; Personal, Political and Economic Problems? Go on Yanks, tell us about the PPEPs, which you excel in getting out there while we are inclined to sit on them even as they feed on each other and rot our guts! 

     It is good and hopeful in a way when these things are brought to a head! In the midst of all the misery, there is an extraordinary syncronicity in the world! We have a chance at last to address issues that have been festering for many years; to me it seems that we are being offered one last chance! Offered by whom or what, you say? Have it your own way! I realise many people will only get turned off if I start talking about God and His Providence. It could do more harm than good, and anyway I refer to Jesus' attitude, that it was not saying 'Lord, Lord' which counts, but doing the divine will, in practical ways. 

     Perhaps everyone 'of good will' may agree that the worst affliction that we have been suffering from is that dreadful sense of fatalism, which results in the time-honoured saying that 'there is nothing we can do about it!' It suddenly appears that there are many things that we can do, which would have been unthinkable a few short months ago. THIS IS IT; the time when we must finally stand up for our better selves and take responsibility for the world in every way we can, however small and insignificant it may seem. It is the cumulative effect of so many little things that will make the difference! It is the fact that we are all being wrenched away from our usual cosy corners that is enabling it, even if we are living a quiet life on an Irish island. The internet brings the world and all its suffering even into our cottage here. This encounter feels odd, but will surely be creative!

    So anyway SNAPP, the Sherkin Nazaré Alternative Power

Project, has by no means been forgotten, while the Anna M waits patiently under her sun cover in Nazaré. Alec is back at his workshop there, with his prototype electric motor taking shape, and I hope I shall soon have positive things to report from this direction!