Peace on Earth, Happy New Year!

Sad that 2025 saw the continuation of a major war in Europe, it's been nearly 4 years now with hundreds of thousands of needless deaths and destruction because of the evil dictator in Russia! Conflict in the Middle East continues, and conflict in the Americas, Asia and Africa too; notably since January the wannabe dictator Trump has threatened Canada and Greenland, and others, and now he's on the verge of starting a war with Venezuela, apparently for oil, maybe Colombia as well! There still remain millions of refugees fleeing wars and poverty too, sadly. We thought the world had changed following 1945, at least in Europe, but apparently not so...

However, I am an optimistic soul, consequently, I trust that things will improve in 2026, and I wish to share my hope for peace and true goodwill to the people of Hastings and everyone worldwide, fingers crossed folks... 

Happy New Year! 🎉

Christmas, Just Saying...

Christmas, just saying... It's still only November! OK, maybe brightening up Hastings town centre with lights is nice, pubs have already been doing it, and the lights are pretty, true. Oh yes, and the gang of Albanian women, or wherever they come from, get dropped off again around this time of year, increasing the number of Big Issue salespersons by 5 or so, just so's you keep tripping over them in the town centre... 

And Priory Meadow shopping centre joins in, wishing you a Merry Christmas! Christmas, yet another pagan festival, that is Saturnalia (history.com), linked to the Winter Solstice and borrowed by Christians, and which meant moving the birthday of Jesus months across the calendar. My flabber has never been more gasted!

Merry Christmas folks, or Happy Hanukkah, or Yuletide, or Kwanzaa, or Bodhi Day, whatever your preference, okay, yes it is early, but I can never get enough of wishing for peace on earth, particularly when there are so many wars being fought... 😞

Peace and Goodwill

I shall not be spending so much time on the internet and, consequently, having a bit of a life for a day or three, but wanted to express my thanks to those who read my blog for their support before I go quieter over the next 2 days... 

Peace and goodwill to all is a common enough phrase at this time of year, but, genuinely from me, whatever someone's age, gender, nationality or belief, the vast majority of people in the world are good and do want to live in peace, so, my best wishes to you all, and let's hope we can reach a time very soon when there will be peace on the Earth...

Peace on Earth...

It's that time of year, which should be every time of year really, but now I'm passing on festive best wishes to everyone, regardless of race, religion, nationality, gender or age! 

Also, my thoughts and thanks go to those who work on public holidays, or are on call, ensuring the safety of the rest of us, including staff in the caring services, eg nurses and doctors, but also other back-up and administrative staff, and, of course, the emergency services, which includes RNLI volunteers; it's a couple of years since I had to work a Christmas night shift... 

Let's keep up the goodwill into the New Year!