Liked your reflections and observations on the state of the world. Here's hoping the powers that be do not let the temporary powers that are do too much on their agenda. The world has enough challenges that need to be solved as it is.
Many thanks, Dr Twain. We can only hope that brave people will stand up to this bully and limit the harm he can do. At the moment, that's looking pretty damn hard, but let's hope...
Ciao! I was going to share a little witty ditty about friends' experience of acquiring GPL bombole decades ago in Sicily. Your hard truth observations about what is happening right now made my little tale silly and insignificant in the whole picture –so I left it out.
A wonderful account of your journey from the passenger seat. Once again, a joy to read–even the hard truths.
You’ve reminded my of my family holidays as a child. We also had a Morris Marina, a peach one with tent secured to the roof. We would leave before dawn to catch the overnight ferry to Cherbourg. Back in the present day the Trump circus shows no sign of closing anytime soon. Utterly depressing. The fact that so many of our politicians are holding in in such high regard is scary but sadly not surprising in some cases.
Ours was flame-coloured! I managed to crash it a week after passing my driving test.
And not, the Trump circus shows no sign of closing. It's not just criminal, literally fatal (for many people) and terrifying. It's also exhausting. I'm finding it quite hard to think hard of anything else. As for those of our politicians who support it, words (unusually escape me). Let's just say I do not wish them well.
Beautifully written as always, Christina. Motoring on the Continent is the only way to travel, though Italian motorways may well be the worst of it. On the up-side, at least you're not driving the ones around about Napoli. Yes turning a deaf ear to States-side news does also ring some bells (... guilty, of trying to anyway). Not sure what materially we can do about it from over here though. All my Democratic friends there seem at a loss currently, so what hope we? No-one here can even prevent Braverman from going there and spreading her poisonous views! She's too much even for Farage. (The News Agents podcast, 30th Jan.). At least you're in Umbria though - enjoy while you can ;) John x
Thank you so much for your kind words, as always, John. You're certainly right that it's hard to know what to do. I think we can only work that out for ourselves and do what we can (however small) in our own world to ensure that facts still have some weight etc. For me, the Channel 4 poll really is a wake up call. But there's also no point in driving ourselves to despair/depression. Please look after yourself. Sending very best wishes and a virtual hug. Christina x
Hard to disagree with most of it & sadly we'll all be long gone by the time we have anything to be proud of over here again.
Unfortunately Starmer & Co have done little so far to improve my mood & as for our allies across the pond, the phrase be careful what you wish for readily comes to mind.
I write this from from a balcony in Thailand. A stepping stone for our trip to Vietnam and then on to Cambodia. I write this on a small Samsung phone, and with the fingers of an Irish farmer, it takes time to correct misspelt words and stupid grammar.
I will leave it to others to comment on your article, but suffice to say, I felt I was sitting in the back seat while travelling with you both, I felt part of your journey.
I am at one with your thoughts of life, politics and the future. I'm glad I am at the opposite end of my life, my autumn years, but I fear for my children and grandchildren especially.
Hello George! Well, I hope you enjoy every moment of your trip to Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. You have certainly earned it. And thank you, as always, for your kind words about my piece. We are now collapsing on our beds in a (slightly weird) apartment in Switzerland after another long drive. France to go tomorrow and then we're home! Sending very best wishes to you and your family, Christina
There is a lot going on behind the scenes which is completely wrecking the S&T workforce in the US which is still not being reported as clearly as it should be (see the ProPublica piece on Vera Rubin's biography being wiped of all references to her equality work). And to tout our own horn, you can see some of it at https://ww2.aip.org/fyi
There is no standing on the sidelines this time around.
I can't begin to imagine what it's like over there at the moment, Paul. It looks like total madness from here and the consequences are pretty unimaginable. What are you all going to do?
What we can. For myself, sometimes it's as simply as providing a shoulder for someone to cry on, or reaching out to my representatives to ask them to, well, represent their constituents. I got a nice letter back from Jamie Raskin on that score. The other things I've doing is publicizing where I can what is going on to colleagues and social media, highlighting the risks to their business/science project. And more directly, working with some non-profits to help protect them and their clients. That part I'm not expanding on for obvious reasons at this point.
This week we should see some movement in pushing back via court action. The thing I keep telling myself is that he's doing this not because he is strong but because he is weak. If he was strong, he would be doing this through Congress. The trick will be tp make him and others realize they are not above the law. That's going to be hard.
Well, my heart goes out to you, Paul. This morning most of us woke up poorer and God only knows where we'll all be after four years. I'd say he has shown that he is very much above the law and that he will continue to find ways to show that. But if some people manage to preserve the institutions in ways that are meant to hold him to account then that, at least, will be a start. I wish you the very, very best of luck in all your efforts.
Yes, Donal, I'm afraid the smell will linger for a very, very long time. It's truly horrific. I can't imagine what the world will look like at the end of it. Let's hope it's better than I fear...
Christina, so well said 👏
Thank you so much!
“The piercing, dislocating joy of doing nothing” has done something to my heart. The way you write 🤌🏽🤌🏽
Hear, hear! Christina possesses a rare talent for emotive expression in her writing. Quite an excellent author.
Thank you so much!!
Thank you so, so much.
Liked your reflections and observations on the state of the world. Here's hoping the powers that be do not let the temporary powers that are do too much on their agenda. The world has enough challenges that need to be solved as it is.
Cheers,
B.E.
Many thanks, Dr Twain. We can only hope that brave people will stand up to this bully and limit the harm he can do. At the moment, that's looking pretty damn hard, but let's hope...
Yes, agreed. Thanks for your reply.
Surely our third female prime minister? Theresa May had some extremely bad qualities but she wasn't a MAGA hat type.
Indeed! I’ve lost my marbles (again).
Ciao! I was going to share a little witty ditty about friends' experience of acquiring GPL bombole decades ago in Sicily. Your hard truth observations about what is happening right now made my little tale silly and insignificant in the whole picture –so I left it out.
A wonderful account of your journey from the passenger seat. Once again, a joy to read–even the hard truths.
Buon soggiorno!
You are always so kind, Aisha. Thank you! And nothing is silly and insignificant. It’s all just life…
You’ve reminded my of my family holidays as a child. We also had a Morris Marina, a peach one with tent secured to the roof. We would leave before dawn to catch the overnight ferry to Cherbourg. Back in the present day the Trump circus shows no sign of closing anytime soon. Utterly depressing. The fact that so many of our politicians are holding in in such high regard is scary but sadly not surprising in some cases.
Ours was flame-coloured! I managed to crash it a week after passing my driving test.
And not, the Trump circus shows no sign of closing. It's not just criminal, literally fatal (for many people) and terrifying. It's also exhausting. I'm finding it quite hard to think hard of anything else. As for those of our politicians who support it, words (unusually escape me). Let's just say I do not wish them well.
Truss, Farage etc
Beautifully written as always, Christina. Motoring on the Continent is the only way to travel, though Italian motorways may well be the worst of it. On the up-side, at least you're not driving the ones around about Napoli. Yes turning a deaf ear to States-side news does also ring some bells (... guilty, of trying to anyway). Not sure what materially we can do about it from over here though. All my Democratic friends there seem at a loss currently, so what hope we? No-one here can even prevent Braverman from going there and spreading her poisonous views! She's too much even for Farage. (The News Agents podcast, 30th Jan.). At least you're in Umbria though - enjoy while you can ;) John x
Thank you so much for your kind words, as always, John. You're certainly right that it's hard to know what to do. I think we can only work that out for ourselves and do what we can (however small) in our own world to ensure that facts still have some weight etc. For me, the Channel 4 poll really is a wake up call. But there's also no point in driving ourselves to despair/depression. Please look after yourself. Sending very best wishes and a virtual hug. Christina x
Glad you got all that off your chest!
Hard to disagree with most of it & sadly we'll all be long gone by the time we have anything to be proud of over here again.
Unfortunately Starmer & Co have done little so far to improve my mood & as for our allies across the pond, the phrase be careful what you wish for readily comes to mind.
Well, I think we can be proud of not having a fascist government. God only knows what will happen if Nigel Farage gets anywhere near it...
I write this from from a balcony in Thailand. A stepping stone for our trip to Vietnam and then on to Cambodia. I write this on a small Samsung phone, and with the fingers of an Irish farmer, it takes time to correct misspelt words and stupid grammar.
I will leave it to others to comment on your article, but suffice to say, I felt I was sitting in the back seat while travelling with you both, I felt part of your journey.
I am at one with your thoughts of life, politics and the future. I'm glad I am at the opposite end of my life, my autumn years, but I fear for my children and grandchildren especially.
A very strange and unhappy time politically.
George.
Hello George! Well, I hope you enjoy every moment of your trip to Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. You have certainly earned it. And thank you, as always, for your kind words about my piece. We are now collapsing on our beds in a (slightly weird) apartment in Switzerland after another long drive. France to go tomorrow and then we're home! Sending very best wishes to you and your family, Christina
There is a lot going on behind the scenes which is completely wrecking the S&T workforce in the US which is still not being reported as clearly as it should be (see the ProPublica piece on Vera Rubin's biography being wiped of all references to her equality work). And to tout our own horn, you can see some of it at https://ww2.aip.org/fyi
There is no standing on the sidelines this time around.
I can't begin to imagine what it's like over there at the moment, Paul. It looks like total madness from here and the consequences are pretty unimaginable. What are you all going to do?
What we can. For myself, sometimes it's as simply as providing a shoulder for someone to cry on, or reaching out to my representatives to ask them to, well, represent their constituents. I got a nice letter back from Jamie Raskin on that score. The other things I've doing is publicizing where I can what is going on to colleagues and social media, highlighting the risks to their business/science project. And more directly, working with some non-profits to help protect them and their clients. That part I'm not expanding on for obvious reasons at this point.
This week we should see some movement in pushing back via court action. The thing I keep telling myself is that he's doing this not because he is strong but because he is weak. If he was strong, he would be doing this through Congress. The trick will be tp make him and others realize they are not above the law. That's going to be hard.
Well, my heart goes out to you, Paul. This morning most of us woke up poorer and God only knows where we'll all be after four years. I'd say he has shown that he is very much above the law and that he will continue to find ways to show that. But if some people manage to preserve the institutions in ways that are meant to hold him to account then that, at least, will be a start. I wish you the very, very best of luck in all your efforts.
Thanks! We'll need it!
Unfortunately a smell that will linger for some time to come.
Yes, Donal, I'm afraid the smell will linger for a very, very long time. It's truly horrific. I can't imagine what the world will look like at the end of it. Let's hope it's better than I fear...