What goes up, must come down. And I came down with quite a bump. An extremely painful bump. Some days we just feel better than others. This afternoon I was happy, and not for any particular reason. My wife and I had enjoyed a very nice weekend, including a fabulous time at the company ball,…
Running through my mind
I went for a run this morning through Vienna, up and down the banks of the river. The city was waking up to a beautiful sunny morning. It is always fascinating to run through a new place and watch the people – some were coming towards me, some sat on benches overlooking the river, some…
Brexit – A Failure of Leadership
Every nation needs leadership. Leadership is not about charisma or personality. In my mind, true leadership needs these seven qualities – Vision, passion, clarity, judgement, courage, integrity and humility. How did the main characters in the EU referendum pantomime measure up to these seven? This is how I scored them. Cameron 3, Corbyn 3, Farage…
The Results Recount
The results of the biopsy were inconclusive. Of the 12 samples taken, two had a shade of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and one had a touch of atypical small acinar proliferation.. The consultant told me this, as if I should know what this meant. Or rather that I shouldn’t – because this would have made me as clever…
The Results are In
All over bar the shouting The results are in. I just don’t know what they are yet. It’s been really nice that people have wished me good luck, or reassured me about the odds of a good outcome. But it makes no difference to the answer. Nothing can change that. It is – as…
Optimism
Not now. Tomorrow, We will solve these things And thinks that bother you. Not now my love. You are too young as yet To know the answer. When all the world is old my love And rubbish floats the seas And every chick a Sunday meal From battery to deep freeze. Not now. Tomorrow We…
Despair
The shift is quick and we are not aware Than any moment now, the floor will drop And leave us grasping in the empty air. With our confusion. At once we find our friends have gone They’re out – or they don’t want to know. Our hollow empty selves are left alone. Abandoned in confusion.…
We are the dead
We are the dead, surrounded by the garbage Deafened by the cries of dying earth. Someone up there is feeling rather ill And even Lucifer can find no mirth In our destruction. The nowness has a sword of Damocles Poised, hanging over rubbish tips and litter. Increasing effluence pours into the sea. Someone perhaps up…
People
Eyes vacant – they are blinded by Too many varied stimuli. They see you not as they pass by. They are humanity. Not hearing for the brain would scream If all the noises could get through. So they knock off. They’re in a dream. They’re them and me and you. Worried, withdrawn, they only see…
Time to think
The time has come, the papers say To think of many things. Of labour and conservative, Negroes, dope smuggling rings. Los Angeles and Notting Hill And all the exiled kings. The time has come, the papers say To think of many things. Of Concorde, Ulster, North Vietnam, West Bromwich and the syringe, The balance of…
Unwrapping The World 