Remember dear internet chums there is no place for puncuation here. This is waffle (drivel) in its purest form. Feel free to stick around and enjoy as a permanently confused Scottish man mentally unravels in ever-growing increments*. If you listen really carefully you can probably here it happening in real time.

Dont say I didn’t warn you…

What The Actual Fuck?

Wow, 2020 has just been stupid crazy so far hasn’t it? We’ve moved from confused, passed odd, through panicked and onwards to terrifying and that was all just in one week around mid-March. The murder hornets were nearly my pick of the year so far but COVID-19 just managed to edge them out of the top spot. The uncertainty of our current existence is hard work (more on that shortly). 

I think the key thing to remember is that we are only just half way through the year. There are all manner of terrible things that could (probably will) happen before the end of December. Its all still to play for.

Meanwhile politics has gone beyond satire into the realms of batshit crazy, the new normal is now just normal. A racist is in charge in the US (please note, the previous statement is not open to debate. HE IS A RACIST). In Britain an entitled buffon plays at being a leader while his strings are being pulled by a man who thinks he is far cleverer than he actually is. The trans-Atlantic game of fuckwit one upmanship would be hysterical if it werent for the fact people are suffering because of these pricks.

A couple of arseholes yesterday

We should be looking to countries like New Zealand and Germany as  blueprint of how things could/should be. Both run by women, I think that particular fact speaks volumes. 

Living At Work

Working from home is a thing that has happened. Part of me is enjoying the experience. I think it is over four months now and my other half hasnt killed me…yet. I’ll take that as a win. It is nice to be able to share my lunch break with her every day. I’m curious to see how my employer will handle those wanting to continue the working from home situation when the office reopens. We’ve proven working from home is viable so will it be considered a long term option? I’ll admit there is a small part of me that is missing wider social interaction. Dont get me wrong Teams, Zoom, Skype and Facebook are all good when it comes to video calls but its not the same as being in the same room as someone is it? Ultimately I am having some good days and some bad days. For me I’ve found the best option is taking each day as it comes. Trying to stay busy seems to help. If I stop for too long I find myself focusing on the wrong things. Its easy to fall into your own neagtive thoughts.

It’s Not All Doom and Gloom

The flip side to all the negativity is that there are some amazing people out their doing amazing things.

We’ve experienced some of these things ourself. Our new next door neighbor came around to introduce themselves a few days ago and when the discovered my other half is shielding they immediatley offered any assistance should she need it. Thats a pretty amazing thing to so when you have known someone all of about three minutes.

The professionalism of the NHS and our other emergency services remains, more so than ever, inspirational. Never mind z-list celebrities, footballers and the like its the doctors, nurses, hospital porters and cleaners who are real heroes.

Those courageous people who are determined to promote and embrace real change in the world for the better. Racism is a blight on the planet and needs to stop. I’ll admit to a degree of ignorance  on my part so I’m trying to educate myself. I’ve learned a lot about the nature of privilege in the last few months than I have ever learned in the last forty+ years. Its not enough to just be not racist you have to be actively anti-racist.

Run Away! Run Away!

There are some things that have kept me going in these uncertain times. When it comes to entertainment I am all about the escapism. Taking a break from yourself can be a genuinely cathartic experience. Here are just a few things that are currently cheering my weary heart – 

The Last of Us 2 is just as good, if not better, than its predecessor. As apocalypses go, it is a little bit brilliant. I am playing in one hour slots just so I can eek out the game for as long as possible. Five hours in and I am already an emotional husk of a man. Naughty Dog are unparalleled when it comes to compelling, narrative gameplay. They are just so good at story telling. I am more than a little bit in awe, it is such a truly immersive experience. If a television version of these games does ever materialise then it has the potential to be something quite special. As the kids say, “its giving me all of the feels”. 

Twelve months from now…

Eurovision: The Story of Fire Saga is the best movie about The Eurovision Song Contest you are ever going to see. True it may be the only movie about Eurovision you are ever going to see but it is unashamedly self depricating and wonderfully joyous. The contest always brightens my soul and in the absence of an Icelandic winner this year** I’ll settle for a movie instead. I dont think you could ask for more. Jaja Ding Dong, indeed.

♫♪♪ Volcanic Protector Man ♫♪♪

Though my reviewing mojo is currently all over the place I have still read some cracking books. Did you know I’ll have been running The Eloquent Page for ten years come the end of July. I never would have believed I would have stuck to it this long if I’m honest. Some people even actually rate my opinion about genre fiction, the foolish fools. On a more serious note, I think I would be lost if I didnt have my books to fall back on. They are my security blanket of choice. Being able to share my thoughts, however fuzzy and indistinct, about them is one of my favourite things.

We’re rewatching Buffy the Vampire Slayer from the beginning. The 1990s look like a different planet from a million years ago. Its a double edged sword. Its fun to reconnect with the characters but it reminds me constantly that I’m a middle aged man now. I have a sneaking suspicion I may no longer be quite so rock and roll as I think I am. I do intend to try and counter this dawning realisation by getting more tattoos as soon as the fates will allow.

Oh! I’m Done, How Very Abrupt

If you’ve got this far then I apologise I have already taken up far more of your time than was entirely necessary. I do however appreciate you stopping by. Be nice to people and look out for one another.

*It may be that this is just the sound of my brain dripping out me ears. We’ll probably never know

**Daði Freyr was robbed!!