Oh dear! We have a war raging in Ukraine, but Mr Putin doesn't call it a war, or an invasion. So, what is it? A jolly boy's outing? On a serious note, it all sounds to much like what happened in Europe in 1938 and then lead to Germany invading Poland in September 1939 which then lead to war being declared and the start of World War Two.
I can remember The Cuban Missile Crisis which was in 1962. It was more or less exactly over the period of my birthday, which is 22nd October and seeing an episode of Panorama, which mentioned how close to nuclear war we came over the matter of nuclear weapons being stationed on the island of Cuba and being more or less terrified that we were all going to be annihilated in a nuclear war. Those were the days when you were never told what the significance of such things were, and if you were a child (I would have been around 12-13.) it wasn't something you would discuss with a child. Are we in a similar situation, regarding the situation in Ukraine, in particular as Putin has said he has put out a nuclear alert. Is he just bluffing (one likes to think so.), a distraction from what is going on with his troops in Ukraine? Only time will tell. Well, anyway, in my childish mind in 1962, it would have been scary. There was certainly quite a lot going on at the time for me, what with that awful winter of 1962-63, having my appendix out and in 1963, seeing the first episode of a new children's science fiction television series (actually, to be more accurate, it was a fantasy show.) about a time-travelling gentleman and his granddaughter, the show being 'Doctor Who.' Who (sorry, pun warning.) would have imagined that it would still be going strong (well, reasonably, regardless of falling audience ratings.) sixty years later? Aimed specifically at my then age group and so amazingly different from what else was aimed at children at the time.
Wednesday. 4.15 a.m. I had BBC news on yesterday evening and there was footage of Russian attacks on buildings in Kyiv and, quite frankly, it was nothing but aggression. Why destroy buildings like this? Many Ukrainians are being brutally murdered, regardless of what Putin is saying. It was quite horrifying, and we can see such footage in our living rooms, without any sort of editing, which makes it more horrifying. I had to switch to another channel as it was too much. That might sound pathetic, but I think we need to stand back and take a different approach, not helped by being stuck in a room on my own. Just heart-rending.
2.15 p.m. The excitement is too much! They are laying new carpet in the lounge here at Dexter House. I think I ought to lay down and rest, it's too much to take! They've been working on it for a couple of days now. Nothing very exciting about the colour. Just boring. The same as the newly-painted walls. A sort of washed-out lavender colour (if the colour lavender isn't washed out enough, to begin with. Now, now, Murdoch, don't hyperventilate! It's just a shock that it's actually happening. It's been in the works for months.
By the way, what's happened to the lady cleaner who does the common areas around here? I mean, the corridors and some of the rooms we are allowed to inhabit? Is she ill? Is she on holiday? She hasn't been seen for at least a week.
I've taken Alfie out, but, because it's raining, not heavily, but making the ground wet nevertheless. He didn't want to go far, so we didn't do our usual tour of Oldbrook Green.
Meanwhile, in another part of the forest . . . I mean, Dexter House. We still have only one operational washing machine. The old one which was taken out is still sitting in its place at the entrance. When will it be replaced? The one that is left isn't working particularly well, and I reckon is on its final legs (or however you want to describe it.) It has bits falling off it, for example, the front panel of the drawer you are supposed to use for detergent. I never use it as I use gel capsules that go directly into the drum before doing any washing. If we have to put up with this breaking down as well, where are we supposed to wash our clothes? I have no idea where the nearest laundrette is, just in case. Perhaps we should get washboard and take our laundry down to the canal or the river and wash it there . . . How slow the powers that be can be knows no bounds. A bit like fiddling whilst Rome burns.
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