Annus horribilis

Last year seems to have been a long one, one full of change and challenge. I think the Queen memorably said in her Christmas speech, when talking about the death of the late Princes Dianna and all that surrounded the royal family at that time, that 1992 was an Annus horribilis. For those of you that don’t know Latin! Annus horribilis literally translates into ‘A horrible year’ apparently it is a pun on annus mirabilis, which is the opposite meaning ‘a year of wonders’.

2005 has in many ways been an Annus horriblis for myself, family and friends. It seems that there has been so much bad news, sadness and illness.

The unfortunate change of circumstances for my parents, a change of jobs and starting out on a fledgling new enterprise has not been helped by father being laid up in bed for the past 2 months with back trouble and hernia; The closure of DDM auction rooms and the loss of jobs for three dear friends Graham, Linda and Rob; continued bad health for Bernard who seems to have been up and down all year; the concerns over another dear friends health and the prospect of a fairly major operation in the new year along with the loss of her job, Lian is coping remarkably well.

The global news has not been great either, the year started with the horrific scenes of the tsunami, no words that I can come up with can add anything to all that has been said on this subject. The out poring of generosity left me with mixed feelings, comparatively we gave so little, but it meant so much, if only we could extend this further and wipe out the inequality once and for all.

The July bomb attacks in London were a wake up call for all, the society we live in should not be taken for granted, nor should we feel so arrogant about how we live. Maybe if we took the time to look and understand how others in the world community live, what they believe and be more tolerant of that, understand the disparity of wealth between the west and those living in true poverty in many other areas of the world. Then we could show willing to help those people making the world a brighter and safer place. I think Sir Bob Geldof put it best when he said “It is intellectually absurd and morally grotesque that people should die of want in a world of surplus.” (From www.bobgeldof.info) It is time we woke-up the reality of this inequality and did something about it. The Live 8 concerts and the Make poverty history campaigns, we I feel a positive step in this direction, but while enjoying the omissible, never to be repeated (well… that’s what they said last time!) rock concert we should always remember to question why.

The continued troubles in Iraq are of course great concern, the pantomime trial of Sadam Hussain are an embarrassment to justice. He should be charged with crimes against Humanity and be tried at The Hague.

There have been more personal matters… but that would just bring the level of this blog right down into depths of depression, so perhaps we should look at the positives.Progress has been made on friends James and Lynnes house, new windows, new roof, new kitchen, decoration and garden trees! There is still much to do next year, and be sure dear friends I will be there to help, the fireplace and surround is my priority for this year! The engagements of Andrew and Naomi and Paul and Helen are great news indeed. Some would say about time! However I can’t really talk can I? The birth of Luke early in the year to Simon and Brenda, and seeing recently how much he has grown is wonderful.

So all in all perhaps not an Annus horribilis but a heady mixture of ups and downs. Next year will be a good one, there are already positive signs coming through.Here’s to the New Year, hoping it will be a good one for all.