Ash Wednesday. The modern incarnation of an apocryphal day in the dim and distant, when Jesus started his forty day vigil in the wild, to be tempted and yet undefiled. God 3- Satan 0. So we head into Lent with a big ask. There are certainly going to be more than three temptations and it’s a racing certainty that Satan is going to score a few; in my case anyway. I’ve never been a great believer in giving things up for Lent. Either you choose some meaningless thing, in which case its meaningless, or you go for the biggie like “chocolate” or “alcohol” and ruin your own life and everyone else’s around you. However, for the sake of my health predominantly, this year alcohol has been taken off the menu until Easter at least. With two open bottles of red, one of white, a half drunk half bottle of delicious pudding wine and a decanter of rather special, recently decanted, vintage port there is no shortage of temptation. Having spent much of my youth in close association with JC, I have sadly lapsed on the devotion front, so can’t expect any help from him in the Luciferian conflict to come. I am confident of success, but conscious that pride comes before a fall. All I can say is that I will report honestly.
It’s now Friday and my apologies for allowing external distractions to hinder completion on the correct day. The good news is that my anti-alcohol resolve is hardening and thus far, not a drop has passed my lips. I reckon with any addiction it’s always the first few days that are the hardest. I’ll try to avoid getting too sanctimonious!
Are we on the verge of a flu pandemic and resultant global recession? I have a horrible feeling the answer is “yes” and “yes”. As I write, the markets are distinctly twitchy with billions of dollars being wiped off stock markets around the world. We’ve lived in this cloud-cuckoo land since the 2008 Financial Crisis where central banks have printed trillions of dollars to prop up markets, creating the belief amongst so many that everything in the garden will stay rosy for ever. Those who lived through the many industrial and financial crises of the 1970’s will know that sooner or later all those multifarious little chickens will come home to roost. Maybe this is the moment. Where is The Tardis when you need it. A quick peek into 2021 and beyond would be so handy right now. One could make a fortune. My bet is that this could herald the crash that many people have been predicting for years. Time, as ever, will tell.
Meanwhile, somewhat belatedly, I’m off to experiment with that very healthy pancake recipe. Now, where’s the maple syrup……
ADayInTheStrifeOf 