This isn't a political blog as I have pointed out time after time. But crikey how can we live through these times and not comment?
We have never experienced anything like this and probably never will again. But today I have decided not to comment further on the situation in our own country but one in a country far far away.
So here's the scenario. The leader of this country who proves to be a liar and a charlatan and who breaks all the rules that he sets is booted out of power due to the number of people resigning because they cannot work with him. Whilst the country implodes and flails around, a replacement is found after a hard and arduous battle that goes on for weeks.
This new person tries a number of potty proposals that prove to be even worse than those already tried and is booted out in under 50 days which is not even time to change the hideous wallpaper and decor in the flat at the place of government.
Now this country orders a new contest, making up new rules to hurry up the process and the leading candidate turns out to be the liar and charlatan who was booted out of office less than 50 days previously.
Of course that couldn't happen in our country could it?
* * *
On Thursday I had my annual flu jab. Didn't feel a thing but the whole process does illustrate how people have lost their sense of humour.
"Which arm would you like?" I was asked. This is the usual question.
"Whichever one doesn't fall off," I replied.
Not a flicker of a smile.
"Left please," I added.
"Are you allergic to eggs?" This was the next question.
"Fried or boiled?" I asked.
"No just eggs," was the reply.
Now cousin Belinda has a theory and I have to say I agree with this. She reckons fun has been taken out of the workplace thanks to wokeness. To start with wokeness is a new word that would never have been in my vocabulary a few months ago. I'm not sure woke is even in the dictionary yet.
I trawled the internet and came up with the following definition:
"The quality of being alert to injustice and discrimination in society, especially racism."
Now we all agree with this (don't we). We all need to root out injustice, discrimination and racism. But wokeism has gone much further. It is threatening to destroy all the harmless and enjoyable fun out of life and work in particular.
My most enjoyable years at work were with two different organisations where every day was fun. The first was when I worked in Beccles on the local paper and our boss was the wonderful Tony Clarke. A lot of the time we may not have been technically politically correct but every working day was a joy and we were just like a daytime family.
Many years later I worked in another office where we had tremendous fun. The banter was amusing, nobody got upset and we were a close-knit little community who also went out socially. That was all before wokeness came in. Some of the things we got up to and some of the practical jokes we played would now get us into serious hot water. Mind you I'm not sure what serious hot water is.
* * *
A few days ago when I met a mate for coffee in Norwich we were approached by a couple of young ladies.
No need to worry for our safety though. These were school pupils from Hartismere High School which I knew to be in Eye in Suffolk from my days being involved in local football.
This duo asked if we had time for a short survey. It turned out to be the shortest of the short.
Question One: "Why have you come to the Norwich Lanes today."
Answer from both is us spontaneously:
"Coffee."
Question Two: "What do you think of the Norwich Lanes?"
Answer
"Very interesting"
And that was that!
I don't think they will be coming up with an in-depth survey of modern life. I'm always happy to help out schools with surveys if I'm not in a hurry. It does take a little bit of nerve for school pupils to approach strangers and ask them their views.
Of course, journalists do it all the time and I've certainly had to do my fair share.
I well remember at journalism college being told that "today you are going to go out into The High (that's the name for Harlow town centre) and ask people questions on a specific topic. Does anyone have a topic we can follow?"
There was silence and then a wag on the course said "how about birth control?" He burst out laughing but didn't find it funny when his bluff was called.
"Ok" said our lecturer. "Go out and ask people what kind of birth control they use."
It was rather embarrassing to say the least. I believe one of our class found elderly people and put the question to them and then came back with the stunning revelation that 100% of people surveyed said they did not use birth control!