I've had a good day (I am, of course seven hours ahead of most of you, and it's now dark). I'm lying here on my bed with my faithful 13-year-old Yorkie at my side, and I'm contemplating the wonder and ecstasy of life and death.
An old lady died the other day - it was probably a merciful release, given that she was (it is said) suffering from dementia, Alzheimer's or whatever. She had not been a public figure for more than 20 years, but her passing has provoked a surge of tributes and invective, the like of which has not been experienced since...I can't recall. There have even been calls for her to be 'Oliver Cromwelled' (dug up and hanged?).
Well, I suspect she deserved some of the invective. She appeared insensitive, uncaring, divisive, gloating and...I can't think, as she helped to dismantle much that seemed important, without apparent concern for those affected. Haig, it is said, suffered sleepless nights over the casualty lists, even when were winning, but the impression is that the old lady didn't. Yet she was not alone, and could never have done what she did on her own. She was surrounded by fine, upstanding figures, giants of politics - Michael Heseltine, John Biffen, Willie Whitelaw, Keith Joseph, Nigel Lawson and more (including a Classic FM presenter). She held sway in an era when 'self' was all-important, and she epitomised that attitude, though I suspect it would be too much to think that she caused it.
No, I cannot be surprised by the invective, though it would have meant nothing to the old lady, since she was doo-lally [I've never written that before - spelling?]. And since I cannot conceive of a soul or an afterlife, it's all over for her anyway.
We, however, are still here, and it's a lovely day. And I've just finished listening to a symphony by Asger Hamerik [who he?], the Symphonie Lyrique. I recommend it. It seems more meaningful than the death of an old lady.
An old lady died the other day - it was probably a merciful release, given that she was (it is said) suffering from dementia, Alzheimer's or whatever. She had not been a public figure for more than 20 years, but her passing has provoked a surge of tributes and invective, the like of which has not been experienced since...I can't recall. There have even been calls for her to be 'Oliver Cromwelled' (dug up and hanged?).
Well, I suspect she deserved some of the invective. She appeared insensitive, uncaring, divisive, gloating and...I can't think, as she helped to dismantle much that seemed important, without apparent concern for those affected. Haig, it is said, suffered sleepless nights over the casualty lists, even when were winning, but the impression is that the old lady didn't. Yet she was not alone, and could never have done what she did on her own. She was surrounded by fine, upstanding figures, giants of politics - Michael Heseltine, John Biffen, Willie Whitelaw, Keith Joseph, Nigel Lawson and more (including a Classic FM presenter). She held sway in an era when 'self' was all-important, and she epitomised that attitude, though I suspect it would be too much to think that she caused it.
No, I cannot be surprised by the invective, though it would have meant nothing to the old lady, since she was doo-lally [I've never written that before - spelling?]. And since I cannot conceive of a soul or an afterlife, it's all over for her anyway.
We, however, are still here, and it's a lovely day. And I've just finished listening to a symphony by Asger Hamerik [who he?], the Symphonie Lyrique. I recommend it. It seems more meaningful than the death of an old lady.
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