I have written three first paragraphs and two almost complete posts, plus made a vegetable hash and cheese and onion soda bread. I then had a breakdown where I really didn’t know if I ever wanted to blog again. It seems so inconsequential as the world falls apart and I don’t feel up to the task of either changing the course of history or amusing people as the end of the world heaves into sight.

For once, I wish I was younger. Much younger that is – about 20 – this is about my future career as a historian rather than the belief that I could cure my knees by going back in time by 15 years. I wan to be young enough to get a history degree and go to conferences about how Donald Trump brought the USA to its knees.

No man, as Donne said, is an island.

No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thine own
Or of thine friend’s were.
Each man’s death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.

There’s a reason Trump is seen as a breath of fresh air.  It’s easy to break the rules when you are new to something.  It’s a lot harder to build something up. It may be a good idea to listen to Churchill on that one.

‘Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.…’

Winston S Churchill, 11 November 1947

Now, Churchill had his faults. Ego, poor grasp of strategy at times. racist by modern standards, alcoholic, self-publicist, and a mother from the USA. Nobody is perfect. He did, however, turn down two titles.

However, he saw active service on the North West Frontier, the Sudan, South Africa and the Western Front. After his capture by the Boers after the armoured train attack he was referred to by the train driver in glowing terms, saying there was “not a braver gentleman in the army.” Although he frequently made false steps he was not afraid to try again. He didn’t get the nomination for the 1947 Nobel Peace prize although he was listed, and he didn’t get the Peace Prize on his second nomination either. He was disappointed. I can understand that. he didn’t, however, use it as an excuse for stealing land off an ally. In 1953 he received the Nobel Prize for Literature. He wrote 43 books (in 72 volumes) including a novel, a book on painting and  several volumes of speeches. Trump’s name appears on 22 books, though fourteen of them seem to be written by other people. Yes, I was surprised too. Who’d have thought after all his socialising, golf and litigation (it’s because of the litigation that I decided on “socialising”) he would still find time to write eight books and undermine the constitution of the USA.

So – one of the exam questions I would be setting in the future if I had a chance.

Churchill and Trump – compare and contrast.

Or for those light-hearted moments – Churchill, Trump, Enver Hoxne – Snog, Marry, Avoid?

Anyway, time for a laugh now. Buy your MAGA hat here.

No pictures today. Look at like one of those times something bad happens and they don’t do theme music on TV.