Everyone still hanging on in there during our global meltdown??
At least blogging is free….
So. What’s been happening this week in my little world I hear you ask. Here’s a synopsis, going from big to small:-
THE WORLD
It feels a little like some larger presence is controlling the puppet strings of Western Civilisation from above, whilst pulling the carpet out from underneath us. World markets are collapsing and Russia has bought Iceland. Is this the beginning of the end? Are we all heading for Armageddon?
Personally, I think if we all stopped panicking it would help. Although “DON’T PANIC!!!” is not something we like to hear the people in power say. It generally has the opposite effect. Lets just hope that governments don’t start going bankrupt. Living in Hong Kong for years has meant that we have seen this sort of stockmarket collapse before. A few people lose a lot of money and jump off buildings and then things settle down again.
I know this is rather simple and ignorant of me and I realise that it’s got to be globally orchestrated in order to avoid us all turning into Zimbabwe but why can’t the government just print some more money and give it to the banks so that they can start lending to each other again?
Then, I suggest when everything has calmed down and the banks start answering the phones again, we all take a suitcase of money and move to Australia where, thanks to stricter regulations with their banks their economy looks to be a little stronger than most.
THE UK
It’s fucked. Although at least the sun is shining.
MY TEENAGE SON.
Gorgeous. Playing rugby, football and partying. Nothing more to say. Which is a good thing.
MY DAUGHTER
She has failed to notice that there is a recession and is busy shopping somewhere with other friends.
MY 8 YEAR OLD.
Complicated. He’s very happy that he’s slowly losing weight and on target to receive the Christiano Ronaldo boots his father is bribing him with if he loses a stone (a stone?). His plan last week for losing weight at school was “I’m going to play lots more football at lunchtime and I’m going to do languages all afternoon, which is how Henry VIII lost weight”.
ME
I’m fine. Which when I said that to a friend earlier said “that means that you’re Fucked up, Insecure, Neurotic and Emotional”. Which just about sums it all up.
I’ve had a good week, compared to some people. It helps not to have shares or a pension or an Icesave account, or much money in the bank. Work is going well. Kids are generally happy. I’m not training for a run. I’m not having to read “A Day In The Life Of Ivan Denisovich” anymore which was one of the coldest, greyest books ever written – about life in a Stalinist labour camp. We should learn from him though. Life was ridiculously hard. Hard labour, hard non-existent food. Hard people. Hard ice covered ground and yet, the strength of the human spirit shines through. I thought I’d share with you the last paragraph, although I have to say that it transpired as we discussed it during our book group that depending on which translation we were reading we either loved the writing and the poetry or hated it. I had the shit translation version:
“Shukhov felt pleased with life as he went to sleep. A lot of good things had happened that day. He hadn’t been thrown in the hold. The gang hadn’t been dragged off to Stoggorodok. He’d swiped the extra gruel at dinner-time. The foreman had got a good rate for the job. He’d enjoyed working on the wall. He hadn’t been caught with the blade at the searchpoint. He’d earned a bit from Tsezar that evening. And he’d bought his tobacco.
The end of an unclouded day. Almost a happy one”.
The really bad bit about the book group was that as I borrowed some glasses in order to read something out they all decided that I looked like Sarah Palin.
So you see. We need to look at what we’ve still got. Not what we’ve lost. We need to manage our expectations better.
CATS
Alive.
FISH
Ditto.
EXTRA CHILDREN STAYING THIS WEEKEND.
Two. Although I have no idea where either of them are.
Gorilla Bananas
October 11, 2008I’m a little worried about the fish, to be honest. They may look happy and never complain, but fish tend to internalise their problems.
family affairs
October 11, 2008You are right Gorilla Bananas. I have clearly been neglecting the fish and will discuss their feelings ASAP. Lx
ciara
October 11, 2008the whole holiday thing is never easy…but since my ex lives in another state i send them for one week during christmas time. one yr he’ll get the week w christmas, the next will be the w new years. sometimes you have to give a little to get a little. though at times i think i’m giving WAY more. *sigh*
Fat, frumpy and fifty...
October 11, 2008FAB post…you have just the right balance between, madness, guilt, resentment and love, warmth and kindness..so dont go putting yourself down…break open the galaxy, gin or peanuts whatever you preference, or even buidler bloke…and relax…
perhpas run the xmas thing by the children, omitting to mention New york, thats a deal breaker and he knows it…
maybe you could compromise, saysing, xmas morning at yours not negotiable, then he can have boxing day and new years day, btu not outside a ten mile radius, so you have access if you NEED them…l dont know, its a bummer..l would probbaly hope for a house ful of colds, best lad plans usually fall falt at this time of year…
shit happens..l’m so sorry you have to deal with this..(i just know it could be me…quite easily, not saying anymore just now)
take care..
family affairs
October 11, 2008Yes a week without them Ciara must be hard. I’m thinking maybe I’m going to have to give in and let him have them x
family affairs
October 11, 2008Thank you FFF – xmas morning is at mine, not negotiable but he wants them from 11. Which is bad as I can’t do the xmas lunch thing and it’s not going to be good wearing silly hats and stuff without them….I will be in serious danger of getting horribly drunk instead. OOps. confused you by abreviated New Year to NY – he’s not taking them to New York thank god – will change to avoid anymore confusion. Hope you’re well – your message sounding slightly ominous – email me! Lx
Lori ann
October 12, 2008dear l. i believe that as long as your children know you want them(of course they do, they have you)they will be fine wherever they are.and now that there are 2 places to be at once, everyone has to be more creative. perhaps you could celebrate a few days earlier, have all your traditions together. eventually (i think fff is right), let the children choose, they will at some point soon anyway. it will all be ok. It has to be. you are a wonderful mom.
thanks for sharing.
xx lori
family affairs
October 12, 2008Thx Lori. Good advice and you’re right. I just need to be more creative. Maybe I’ll do our Christmas meal on Christmas Eve. Or maybe I’ll do Christmas at Easter time, just to confuse everybody Lx
Anonymous
October 12, 2008xmas and NY dilema. Nightmare for all involved. But my advice is not to pull ‘custody’ or ‘what’s best for children’ cards but to step away and look at the situation objectively. Be pragmatic. Try and see both sides. Work out what’s fair (ie. what’s happened in previous years etc) and make an ‘un-emotional’ decision. I know that’s asking alot but you will feel better knowing you have thought it through carefully.
family affairs
October 12, 2008Yes. Agree anonymous. It’s the worst time to try and think in an unemotional way, but perhaps it’s the only way and I shouldn’t really do the angry “I’ve got custody” thing – it’s not fair on him. Thanks for advice Lx
ExAfrica
October 12, 2008I still don’t see why your Ex is angry with you – HE’S the one who had the affair. HE broke up the family.
How can he possibly be mad at YOU?
family affairs
October 13, 2008He thinks it was my fault that his willy accidentally slipped into somebody else Lx