As the New Year awaits us, I feel the need to pen a few words regarding the present. As leap years go, 2012 has not been without incident. It has not witnessed the political change of 1968 but has nevertheless achieved more than I expected. Against all odds, France now sports a socialist President and America has once more plumped for Obama. Back home, we are mid term and brave would be the man who chose to predict the outcome of the general election of 2015 based on the headlines of today. We live through interesting times with a Coalition Government not unlike a marriage of twenty years whose love has long been lost but whose public persona remains committed to the common cause. Doubtless, the coalition will see things out to the bitter end before the real recriminations begin. Politics aside though, the country remains in a perilous position irrespective of the politics of those who run it. High streets up and down the land are witnessing a progressive erosion of their credentials with business after business conceding to the greater resources of the large national retailers. Jobs have seldom seemed so scarce and happiness so palpably lacking. The Olympic Games brought brief moments of joy and pride but reality resumed quietly and without fuss. I read that lessons are slow to be learned with the majority having turned to personal loans and credit cards to finance the celebration of the birth of Christ. Unfortunately, one day passes quickly to the next and Christmas with its excesses and fripperies is soon forgotten while its price is paid over the ensuing weeks and months. As Greg Lake penned in his rather unfashionable protest song about the commercialism of Christmas, "The Christmas we get we deserve". I was saddened beyond words to learn of the brutal murder of the Sheffield man on his way to church to play the organ for midnight Mass. The Church stands on foundations of matchsticks as it is so stories like this one are a great blow. Over the years I have referred often to the predictions of Nietszche and regret enormously the accuracy of his words. Syria continues to engage in open warfare with man killing his fellow man while the rest of the world stands by. Quite how their President sleeps at night is beyond my comprehension. As ever, tensions between Israel and her neighbours simmer quietly while the world around them crosses its fingers.
Unlike 1976, the weather of 2012 has been largely forgettable so it is reasonable to assume that 2013 can scarcely offer worse. Good weather for ducks it may have been but good riddance to to a soggy year on the weather front.
In spite of his historic win in one of the majors, Andy Murray remains Scottish in the eyes of the many. This reflects on the rising tide on nationalism which prevails throughout the members of the Union. United we stand but divided we fall goes the saying. Time will sadly bear this out. One of his fellow countrymen continues to divide opinion in his role as manager of Manchester United. Football has become the symbol of our time displaying the worst excesses of greed and avarice. It is now far more a business than a sport - a trend which seems certain to continue at least for the time being. While it continues to expand in to new realms of obscenity, most of our towns and cities now have food banks borne not out of want but out of need. The haves and have-nots have grown even further apart.
Based on the findings of the last census, white English now constitute an ethnic minority within the confines of our capital city. This is not an indictment. It is merely an observation of the extent to which our country has changed. Perhaps this picture will be reflected in our towns and villages in the years to come. If this creates a more cohesive society, I am all for it. The internet pervades our society more and more but not always for the better. However, I can see why it is here to stay. As it gains strength, the postal service recedes further into the background. The increased levy on postal stamps seems now to have been a misguided decision at best and a politically motivated one at worst. The extent to which we communicate on a personal level has sadly diminished more and more.
This year I face my final written exams of my medical degree. To even write those words fills me with dread. The higher you go, the further you have to fall. So too it is with a medical degree. I shall give it my best as I have always sought to do and pray this will suffice.
The Public Sector continues to rail against inroads being made against its erstwhile impregnable fortresses of power and the Unions squawk and complain against the affronts being made upon those who finance them. The world seems a harder place to be than at any time in my life and rather more in tune with the world described so eloquently by Dickens and Collins in the nineteenth century. Perhaps the this is the beginning of the road which re-introduces us to our neighbour. I hope so and pray for the world around me.
The next year heralds the Chinese year of the Snake. Powerful and ambitious, the snakes are known to be the great thinkers. I suggest we have seldom needed their wisdom more than now. They are noted for their materialism so I hope this is seen to be lacking this year.
The forthcoming year is what we all make of it. I look forward tp playing my part and wish one and all a New Year of spiritual happiness, fulfillment and good health.
Happy New Year
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