Definitely a Week to Remember

Hi Everyone

Some of the most feared and unpopular world leaders like Putin, that funny little man from North Korea, and Mr China, seem to get great pleasure in watching their country's military power pass by and to show the rest of the world and they have to take note that they are not to be messed with. Most of us, if we can be bothered, watch with disdain at these awful men with their toys. Now, Trump has decided to spice up his birthday with his own show of strength while looking bored and almost falling asleep. His excuse appears to be that it is a way of acknowledging the service, contribution and sacrifice of many service men and women. I understand that on occasions, it is good to acknowledge their service, but surely not in this way, as Trump sinks to the same level as his supposed enemies. Thank goodness that we mostly show our appreciation and applaud our service personnel in ceremonial occasions and at the annual Armed Forces Day. I hope that I never see the day when we have a military parade of strength marching past the Monarch or any of our political leaders.   

I am now four weeks into my new ‘career’, which, for some reason, some of my friends find amusing. My new career involves me volunteering at our local library for four hours each week so, as far as they are concerned, I am now a librarian. Sadly, all our small libraries only stay open with the help of unpaid volunteers but I am really impressed by the number of new books we are receiving, the fact that requested books are moved between libraries and that any books can be ordered by customers, No, I am cannot by any stretch of the word describe myself as a librarian. I am in the hands of the two lady volunteers who share the shift with me, and I find myself saying “help” at least twice during the four hours I am there. 

I can, however, issue books, deal with book returns, return these books to the right place on the shelves and be the friendly face in the hope that customers will continue to support the library. That just leaves one thing for me to deal with, the fifteen or so ladies of the Knit and Natter group who, as you can imagine with a group of fifteen ladies, do more nattering than knitting while we provide them with tea, coffee, hot chocolate and water. It all means that I am enjoying a new social experience as I learn how a library works but, at the risk of disappointing my friends, I am more of a happy dogsbody than a librarian.

This week we have the NATO meeting with about twenty six leaders and Trump in The Hague in the Netherlands for just three days - one day for Trump as apparently his attention span is short and, in any event it will only take him one day to upset everyone else. The cost of the security for the shindig is just over £150 Million and that does not include getting every leader, their entourage to and from The Hague. Add to that the hundreds of journalists from many parts of the world with their camera teams, hotels and food and goodness knows what else. Surely a more remote location would be more sensible and less expensive  as the end result will probably be that nothing much will change, especially as you could probably write the final statement before the meeting even starts, or am I being just a little bit cynical? As the Junior Partner used to say “It all provides a job for someone”. 

Just a Thought : 

What does NATO stand for? No action, talk only.

This week, someone asked me for a book on fractures. The only answer I could think of was “Give me a break”.

Brian