A New Normal?

Strange times indeed. The world is a very different place to the one we knew just a few months ago. The almost intangible emergence of a semi-apocalyptic virus shutting the globe down is surely the stuff of the latest Stephen King thriller. People have been locked down (the new in-word) for weeks, deaths of seven to eight hundred a day in countries throughout mainland Europe are common place and we struggle to even comprehend the scale of just what confronts us.
The source of such horror has reportedly been traced to the so-called "wet markets" in China. For the uninitiated these markets sell anything that breathes, then kills it, cooks it, (sometimes not) and then feeds it to an omnipresent customer base while they wait. Whilst consuming such delicacies as rats, bats and dogs, (there are also the "normal" options of chicken and fish), wet markets play a very important part of the rural Chinese economy and cries to close them, (as has been suggested of late) would simply drive such business underground and as such, probably cause greater damage to not only the eager consumers but possibly the entire world in one fell swoop.

China has (rightly so) been chastised internationally for its lack of transparency in regard to this current Corona Virus outbreak. Previous outbreaks in the form of SARS have largely been restricted to the Asia peninsula but unfortunately, maybe due to the relative easy access to air travel at an affordable price, we have seen a much quicker development of the COVID19 variant across the Globe, in no small way, lets not forget, also attributable to the contagious qualities of the virus, far more-so than any previous mutations.
The consumption of raw meats and in particular, so science would lead us to believe, bats and snakes, has helped the virus to jump the species barrier to humans, this most unnatural way of life which (to most Westerners is abhorrent) is the norm in these markets. This being the case though perhaps the best way forward would seem to be education and better regulation of such arenas. I know that America is calling for the banning of such markets, (I believe the WHO have been clumsy at best to this point) and its understandable that this is the case. On the contrary, though, I believe now we should be pressing China to bring in stricter regulations, endorse what can and cant be done and stick to it. Only then can we start to tackle these cesspits of infection and Zoonotic diseases.

So, from here what do we see? More lock down is surely on the cards, borders will be closed across States and Countries for the foreseeable future. We will all learn much from this, not only about social manners but also the art of self-distancing that will include more hand washing and better hygiene, in itself, not a bad outcome!  As far as the Global markets are concerned they are taking a bashing, but as we have seen many times before, they survive, mostly with some new millionaires and some new bankruptcies, but they survive. It will also be interesting indeed to see if Sweden's herd immunity works in the long run, as we know they have only asked the vulnerable to self-isolate and given everyone else cart-blanche, except for the two meter rule. Although at present per-capita their death rate is higher than America, it remains to be seen how much quicker they turn the corner.

 As for myself? Well I am at home entering my fifth week of isolation, any of you who know me well will know that cutting my arms off would have been a less severe punishment! But we all have to make major adjustments and motivate ourselves to carry on.
 My adopted Country Australia has so far dodged the worst of the virus by locking down early and keeping those lock downs in place, though of course it is well paragraphed that cruise ships have caused almost half of the current death toll, which raises an even larger eyebrow when we are told the industry has seen forward cruise bookings increase by over 40%. Maybe some natural selection is at work there, but I am sure the cruise lines will be doing everything to keep their customers safe.
All in all however, as stated Australia has been very fortunate, unlike our European friends Spain, UK and most notably Italy.
So, in such times that we find ourselves, lets all be thankful for what we have, not what we haven't got, lets talk to our older neighbours and offer support where its needed, lets take this time to make life adjustments, spend time with the kids if possible and take it as a "time out".
 Motivation (or lack of it) is just our heads adjusting to what is no longer "normal". This can also be a time of self revelation so don't waste it and hopefully we will have learned enough from this to avoid such an issue in the future and even better we find a new 'normal' that helps us appreciate the simpler things we now have no access to.

 Stay safe and well all.

This Virus #COViD19

This virus is hectic
population eclectic,
Hurtful, painful seen it so hateful,
Spreading its claws
Through windows and doors,
Use your hand wash,
It ain't tosh
Do as I'm preaching,
Save your life I'm teaching
Insightful advice you'll know it's damn spiteful
No pill gonna save ya
Chase you to the grave yeah,
No conversations,
This bug will sink nations.
Keep yo ass indoors,
Help yo mum with da chores
Use your head, don't be dead, take it as read.
Keep your own distance,
Wash yo hands, be consistent,
You need to exist,
Don't end up on a list,
This disease ain't sick
Its gonna kill you quick.
Come into your home, dying all alone, no one on the phone,
When you sneezes,
It gonna spread diseases,
Cough into yo elbow
Stop the germs in the airflow,
Remember what I said,
Or you gonna end up dead.

Amongst The Breeze.

A breeze can muster thoughts that dwell,
From years that served our souls so well,
Of spirits high in warming sun,
So etched upon our minds so young.

The grass that waved upon our meeting,
As pure by chance a moments fleeting,
Would share our dreams from therein after,
Forever mixed with tears and laughter.

And how our parents spawned these feelings,
Protected us with walls and ceilings,
They fed our hunger, quenched our thirst,
Bathed our sickness, placed us first.

Our days gone by so real and pure,

Our thoughts not clouded that’s for sure,

No phones or photos clicked to send 

No Social Network, cardboard friends.

As I grow older now I see,

Just what those days had meant to me,

Mistakes we’ve made or so it seems,

Have robbed our children of such dreams.

One day the sands of time will call,

Our earthly bodies fade, then fall.
Return to dust from whence we came,
Our thoughts amongst the breeze again.



 

Kids No More..

Facebook makes promises kids cant deliver
Their souls overwhelmed by the networking river

Make-up and make-outs are shared with a selfie
Diva's on You-tube get fabulously wealthy

Feeding on children that just don't know better
Hoping to be the new fashion trendsetter

The kids are all fucked up before they're eleven
Presents discarded no sooner than given

All pleading for iphones and ipads and make-up
Pouting and posing before the next break up,

A million likes for those schoolgirl poses
Pushing their top lip right up to their noses

Now bullying sits in the heart of the home,
There is no escape for your kids from a phone

What happened to kids being kids just a while?
Ask Instagram Snap-Chat and that bloody mobile.

Our lives are now lived in a bowl like goldfishes
Dictated by Apps that betray all our wishes

By promising so much, but handing us nowt
And kids with illusions they are living without

So now we have bullying, suicides then follow,
Doesn't it make so called progress seem hollow?

Remember?

The night cloaked the day like a slow curtain closing
The lights all came on like the Milky Way posing
The children all headed for bed with dad's stories
While mum gazed the city from a full twenty storeys

Up from the streets came the sounds and the smells
The heartbeat of street feet and distant church bells,
While beggars held signs explaining their toil
And drains spewed a mist like a kettle thats boiled

 

Post English.

Theres a breeze that blows that misses my face
Grass that grows at an unseen pace
Pathways that wind to a hillside view
That witness the form of the morning dew

Dogs that still bark though yet unheard
Songs from the heart of the morning bird
Lambs bleating loud but still unspoken
Silent fields as if now all broken

Chatter of children heading for the playground
The whistle of the Postie as he goes about his round
Rain and wind that makes the trees rustle
All sing their songs but I raise not a muscle

For I sing a tune that should carry on the breeze,
But as loud as I can sing it is only just a tease
I sit a world away from the land that i knew
And the silence that I hear is so deafening too.


 

Those Days when..

Those days when just waking is struggle enough
The kids up for school have lost all their stuff
Time seems to race like it needs a vacation
Arrive at the platform but wrong blooming station
A sip of your latte you find out its tea
Your boss is like Gru from Despicable Me

The clock is just crawling you know that old feeling
Paperwork climbs all the way to the ceiling,
The lady from marketing calls just on One
And two thirty beckons when she is all done
The train arrives early but you arrive late
Empty mouth's waiting for you to create

You get them all fed but the noise levels lift
The X-Box has died and they're all feeling miffed
The old man is home and asleep the poor chap
While half of his dinner is spread on his lap
The dog has run off with the meat that's remaining
And leaps through the cat flap no care if its raining

A bottle of wine but you needed a flagon
Tonight you were trying to stay on the wagon
But you are defeated the wine is essential
Then cork breaks in half and its driving you mental
As night closes in and the bed surely calls
You wonder how men landed up with the balls....

From the South side.

Well here we are with over 12 months under the belt in sunny and wet Australia. The Eastern coastal area around Sydney and Newcastle in New South Wales has been my home now for some 14 months.

Australia is always depicted as the lucky country. This indeed may be true but only to a point. There is a long way to go in her development and she is quite the adolescent child that has much to learn yet demands an uncommon respect from her piers. There is much work in progress and I think the country is in good hands,  but the lack of understanding when it comes to immigration is a worry. To build a strong dynamic economy every country requires intervention from not just the locals but also those who have sailed or flown in and are worldly wise. They offer Australia experience and a trade-off for a safe home is a bargain.

Having said all this when you see the rate of Chinese house buying in and around Sydney over the past few months immigration is actually alive, well and definitely on the increase. I dont think Australia has any issues with the lower paid sector jobs its more the middle ground where plumbers, electricians and mechanics sit. They are in short supply and I see many instances where there is a growing list of jop vacancies for such people.
 So despite the clamoring of the few to keep Australia for Australians the facts are the country needs outside help. I smile a wry smile when I am confronted with people who are staunchly against immigration yet they forget I am one such immigrant and indeed I have paid many thousands of dollars in tax over the last year or so and without drain on any of the homeland resources.

The Aldi revolution is gathering pace over here as the food and general items are so much dearer. The fact the Prime Minister is looking at raising GST to 15% will send alarm bells ringing throughout the country and most certainly spark a downturn in business. This will undoubtedly be the death-knell to many small to medium enterprises but since when did governments listen to the people?

So there we have it, the lucky country in the making for sure. Not perfect but where is perfect exactly? I watch with an anxious eye the goings on in my homeland the UK and wonder just what the future will look like as the country gets the chance to vote on European membership. I for one hope they kick the over-bloated over-financed corporately corrupt EU as far over the white cliffs of Dover as they can, let's hope the rest of Blighty feels the same.
Have a great weekend and I promise not to be away for so long again !

My own Climate Change.

The cold weather descends upon us here in Newcastle NSW for the first time in 2015. For a Northern hemisphere tough skinned Brit I am amazed how I now shudder at 18 degrees and I am sure my late father would be calling me a (bloody big girl) for grabbing a blanket this evening as I sit and watch TV. I think it's called getting acclimatised, but nonetheless I am now sat here with the doors and windows closed!
These last few days has seen the UK bathed in political mire as the election looms larger and larger. It is almost surreal watching the going-on from afar, listening to the different opinions from each leader whose words stretch across the world sometimes more than they would seem to be aware of.
In some respects I am glad that I am not there to witness or suffer the never ending party political broadcasts and spin that surrounds such events, I fear no matter who gets in the average person in the UK will not be any better off, this may explain the apathy at the ballot box. On that note over here in OZ you have to vote or you get fined, the fact that after recent local elections some 2.1 million dollars in fines was issued would tend to suggest it doesn't work either.

I am sat here typing away with Antiques Roadshow broadcasting in the background, its a little bit of England here in the middle of a massive country thousands of miles away, it is odd to watch the program in such circumstances but still of great interest. I have had little time of late to write, its been frustrating and I have found it hard to get motivated, it has taken its toll out of me adjusting to a new life down under which is hardly a surprise, but I now feel like I am starting the long road of adjusting and finding my feet here, God help the Australians!

I have made the effort to sit down this last few days and start to edit the second book I am currently writing, my first book is all but finished but I have delayed the publication even after re-editing it simply because I am still not sure it covers the subjects I have written about well enough, so I intend to re-read it this long Easter weekend and give it my final decision with regard to printing. The second book has pleased me very much with its extra detail and heartfelt story lines so I hope it will make the decision easier when it comes to the final edit. I guess I must sit back and take the rest of the evening in my stride, I am currently here in Newcastle on my own as there is a great family gathering in New Zealand this weekend and my attendance was superfluous to the event so I elected to "keep house" the fact I have had time to sit and be quiet for a few hours has not been lost on me and this will always lead to a return to the Blog, I think I have missed it, I hope my readers feel the same!!

Dumbestic Politics with Al Murray

Politics is the closest the rest of us mere mortals will ever come to making or changing the lives of those rather more fortunate who live amongst us. It is therefore no surprise that when given the opportunity our tribal instincts will kick in and we will sense a weakened "special one" and go for the kill.  Welcome to the world of Tony Abbott, or rather welcome to the witnessing of the demise of yet another politician who was doomed to fail before he started.
If I were a betting man, I would have a fat wager on an OZ leadership coup that entails all those who have given the well known line to the press this last few weeks "I have full confidence in the Premier"
The reality is politics is just a game, Labour spends and looks after the workers, Liberal and Conservative look after businesses and earn back what Labour spends, then it all changes hands again when the workforce get tired of saving and want a blow out so out go the Tories and Liberals.

While on the subject of politics I have been intrigued by a certain comedian in the UK called Al Murray, he is affectionately known as the "Pub Landlord" and indeed his entire stage show involves said comedian pouring himself a drink behind a makeshift stage bar and generally insulting the audience (customers) with sarcasm and general banter, not dissimilar to your average cockney Landlord you might think but Al has made a career out of it and a very good one too. The reason he and politics have become so entwined is because apparently he is standing for the seat of Thanet, not exactly the metropolis or heart and soul of London City but remarkable in the fact that it is being contested by Nigel Farrage who is the leader of the right wing party UKIP (UK independence party).

Nigel has seen his popularity go through the roof just for uttering the words immigration and Europe, something mainstream UK MP's have long been taught as taboo subjects and the British people actually like what he is saying, the fact he is a bit of a fuckwit, (sorry it's an OZ term for someone you get tired of as soon as they enter a room) seems to be forgotten amongst all the hype. Well its forgotten by all but one guy it seems and that is Al Murray as he has decided to stand against Nigel for the seat of Thanet under the party heading FUKP.... I really am not going there!
Anyway this move has stirred many an emotion, some latching on to the real reason Al is pressing forward and others missing the point entirely. My guess is that Al, by standing at this election against Nigel is demonstrating the stupidity of current day politics and that people will more or less vote for anyone other than the mainstream parties, quite simply because they have been lied to once too often.

Although I agree with Al Murray's sentiment he is actually playing a rather more dangerous game than even he imagines, the very fact that he will get votes highlights a dangerous downward spiral of disinterest and mistrust of the entire political stage as it stands and that is dangerous for any democracy. Tread very carefully Al Murray as we may not always like what we wish for.