Happy New Year? - welcoming 2023 has required something of an optimistic, tolerant and stoic approach.
The cost of living crisis, impact of the war in Ukraine, increasing strikes in the NHS, nurses, paramedics, ambulance workers, railways, Border Control, teachers; newspapers full of excerpts from Prince Harry’s exposure of all aspects of his victimhood and intimate family life and the never ending television interviews repeating more indiscretions about the family he so loves and with whom he seeks only reconciliation. How reassuring that he has enough material to publish a second volume – ‘Spare 2’. Added to this there is the promise of a book by the Duchess of Sussex no doubt entitled ‘Mrs Spare’ or ‘No one asked me if I was alright’.
Escaping for a week to the warmth of Calpe in the Costa del Sol in early January was quite a relief. Fortunately no flights were cancelled and the threatened two to four hour delays on return to Newcastle International airport did not happen. The army personnel appeared to provide a seamless and speedy border control service.
Returning to the North East provided snow and freezing conditions but some signs of hope. Inflation has stopped rising, we are not officially in recession, some levelling up money was distributed, Nicola Sturgeon’s wings have been clipped by the law and arrangements are beginning for the coronation. Other crises are still with us and strikes are becoming a way of life.
It is notable that major strikes in France, where such demonstrations have long been a way of life, are currently about opposition to raising the retirement age from 62 to 64. In fact President Macron won his last election on a manifesto including invoking that very change. So much for democracy and respecting the views of the electorate.
Locally we have had the success of Newcastle United winning a quarter final to get to their first League Cup semi-final since 1976. This has raised the local mood as has the novelty of luxuriating in being in the top 3 (or 4) of the Premier League.
I was able to watch the cup victory over Leicester City at the Irish Sea Tavern in Calpe where Guinness was flowing.The locals joined in the celebration for ‘los urracas’ – the Spanish for ‘Magpies’.
The internet went viral with images of Blyth born defender Dan Burn celebrating his first Newcastle goal with an idiosyncratic dance routine-now adopted by many supporters. John Travolta he isn’t!
Recent horror stories about rogue police officers create concerns about the public’s confidence in the Met and the police in general. Further public enquires and protestations that lessons have been learned may not be sufficient to restore faith. The performance of Sarah Lancashire in the latest series of Happy Valley may be more effective.
A nationwide billboard campaign for two weeks to raise awareness of anti-semitism. The changing images on the billboards have been shown at shopping centres, along motorways and high streets – in Newcastle at the Centre for Life. One of the messages asks ‘Why am I 500% more likely to suffer hate crime?’
The aim is to address very real, day to day violence and hatred experienced by Jews even in a tolerant country such as Britain.
The post Covid return of the Chinese New Year Celebrations in Stowell Street is a welcome restoration of normality. Happy Year of the Rabbit especially to those born in 1927, 1939. 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999 and 2011 whose characteristics are to be vigilant, witty, quickminded and ingenious. The rabbit is the symbol of longevity, peace and prosperity. 2023 is predicted to be a year of hope! The Bank of England says we have turned the corner. I rest my case!