October 2024 Newsletter

This month’s newsletter will be shorter than usual. But, as I regularly tell my girlfriend, less can be more.

We’re into the final part of the year. Three more months and another year will be gone. We expats will soon have one less Christmas to experience. How has 2024 been to you and you to it? It doesn’t seem happy with the Western world.

War still rages in Europe with many countries losing interest in Ukraine. In Ireland, my country of birth, the Brit referendum ending their participation in Europe has created danger to the always fragile peace created by the Good Friday agreement.

I remember sighing with relief when the EEC full was initially created. Economic cooperation and cultural exchanges would surely exclude the possibility of future wars. No more fear after centuries of turmoil. How wonderful it would be! And how wrong I was.

The Middle-East seems set to explode into even more intense levels of depravity and destruction. It seems all sides believe “You have what I want, and I’m going to get it regardless of the cost. Besides God gave e it to me first.”

After the American election next month, that once wonderful country will never be the same regardless of the election outcome. A noble experiment that was America is finished. Nationalism and extreme political views have taken told there and on much of Europe.

Recently China callously, intentionally crashed into a Philippine naval vessel then blamed the Philippine crew for what happened. All of this despite evidence to the contrary from a 60 Minutes Australia team being on the Philippine vessel and taping the entire experience.

Th misguided policies of Hugo Chavez who had promised to liberate his people from poverty in oil rich Venezuela, condemned his people to remain in poverty.

The once sleeping bear was is Russia has a leader intent of expanding the boarders and recreating the great Russian empire.

A madman has his finger on the pulse of international devastation in North Korea.

Much of Africa is in turmoil with the usual wars sparked from tribal disputes and artificial famines. But we don’t care much in the west whose colonial powers abruptly left the continent after the looting and pillaging had removed much of the valued resources. But, before they left, they carved up their “possessions” into tribal divisions that ensured a future lack of harmony resulting in tribal conflict.

“So, this is Christmas, and what have you done? Another year older, a new one begun.” You probably recognize these words from John Lennon’s powerful Christmas song.

What have you done? Have you contributed much, if anything, to the world in 2024? How has this year been for you on a personal level? Have you had to endure physical and/or emotional pain? If so, how did you deal with it? Isn’t that the true measure of the person you are? How we deal with adversity reveals us in a startlingly naked manner. Quite often the view in not flattering.

What are your hopes for yourself in 2025 and beyond? Have you clarity or simply a few vague ideas on what you might want to see happen ?

Are you in a relationship? How healthy is it, honestly? What can you do to improve it? Should you walk, or perhaps run, away? Are you capable of being honest with yourself? Or are you, like many of us before, consumed with the illusion of love in these beautiful islands? This “love” condition renders us incapable of objectivity. If you recognize yourself as an expat in this situation please wise up. Future storm clouds are gathering and will inevitably unleash fire and rain on you.

I used to plan an adventure each year. It involved an activity I’d not done before. Examples are climbing mountains in Western America, working my way across the Atlantic in a 100-year-old sailing vessel. I was heading to Pamplona to run with the bulls but Covid hit the world. I’m considering kite surfing or scuba diving for 2025. I must do one or the other.

Please enjoy today because tonight it will be gone, never to return. At some unknown future time, your next day will never happen.