Questions

Adrift

Passengers in a sea of uncertainty, at the mercy of the currents of pandemic and politics. 

Biden and Trump wait to discover who will be declared the winner. Thirty years of 'Biden' his time and it looks like this time Biden will be victorious, but he will take the helm of a country that will be deeply divided and damaged. What kind of prize will this poisoned chalice be?

The battle between Democrats and Republicans takes place thousands of miles away, yet the ripples will radiate out to all corners of the world, for no country exists in isolation. Polices of one country are often felt by others. Why did they pick this frail old man to fight their battles for them? What toll will it take on his health?

What does the support for Trump say about racial tensions, and what is it in his policies that strikes a chord with so many of the citizens of America? Much of the world may look on in disbelief - except for us in the UK, where we have our own political disasters unfolding. The opposition choose this vacuum to indulge in infighting and self destruction at a moment when they could have rallied and rebuilt. The word on no-one's lips is Palestine. The failure to resolve and defuse issues from the past result in a Middle Eastern ticking time bomb, with neither side able to compromise.

In my own town, remodelled by a government QANGO over 50 years ago, resentments bubble beneath the surface, covered by a glorious carpet of autumn colour from trees planted by the Development Corporation. 

The threatened intrusion of a new cemetery, in the parkland that runs through the eastern side of town, is the latest controversy. It would provide a peaceful place to go and remember loved ones, but picnics and kite flying will soon be frowned upon if the local council's plans come to pass... Is there nowhere else where townsfolk can rest in peace?
The railway bridge on the edge of town is also under threat - a remnant of the line to Ashchurch, axed by Beeching, and obliterated by the the progressive town town planners of the 1960's. It provides a safe route across the county border between this town and the adjacent village, but no council - parish, town or county - will take responsibility for preserving this structure. Demolition will enable a narrow lane to be transformed into a rat run for articulated lorries for the soon-to-be-opened food warehouse for Amazon - taking mince pies to Maurice and ready meals to Rhonda. At the first threat the local residents rallied and the original planning was withdrawn, but it is anticipated that new plans will be submitted despite the outrage both sides of the border. Demolishing the bridge will provide land for a couple of homes to be built, replacing a safe route with a crossing that is dangerous for both pedestrians and those using the Sustrans cycle route. Why? Money talks.

Meanwhile, covid cases escalate. 

We stay close to home. 

Shopping is delivered. 

Church services revert to Zoom. 

Youth group is in hold until someone unravels the new regulations. 

The roads are quieter, but, unlike the spring few folks venture out in the dark on an evening, content to shut the world out behind their curtains and designer blinds. 

In an Alexa-free household, we turn the heating on ourselves and decide what music we will listen to, grateful to have something in our lives of which we can take control.