New Year, New Beginnings!

Well here it is, dear reader, a brand new year. By now you have probably got over the hangover and are wondering what this brand new year will bring to you. Let me tell you, dear reader, new years bring new beginnings and I am sure this year will be no exception. By now, of course, you know me well enough to know that I don’t like to complain and I always look on the bright side, so what thoughts have I about this wonderful new year?

Well, firstly, let me address the thorny issue of transport. It is true that the traffic jams will continue and probably get worse. The rail system will undoubtedly be both worse and more expensive – it will be interesting to see if @SouthernRailUK can actually achieve the wonderful accolade of getting a train to run on time without hesitation, deviation or cancellation! Planes will continue to be one of the safest forms of travel and we all pray that this year all of them will manage to stay in the sky! The tragedies of last years, MH370, MH17 and QZ8510 do not need to be repeated and let us all pray that they are not!

So what, dear reader, of the rest of the world? It is, without doubt, that the world’s insatiable appetite for data will continue to rise … but that subject is for another blog! It is also true that, whatever one’s political views, good old Blighty is continuing to emerge from one of the worst recessions of all time and at a speed and strength that is greater than many others. We will, of course, have a new Government this year. Will Nige and his far right followers take power in Westminster? No! Of course not. But he will inevitably gain more support than he has previously done. The problem here is that, whatever one’s view on immigration, it is a simple fact that no Government, whatever flavour, has properly managed immigration in the last 30 years. We are an island nation with a finite amount of space and the number of people living on it, regardless from where they may originate, needs to be managed.

There is, of course, the slightly more tricky question of Europe. Once again, Nige and his far right comrades, will inevitably gain some ground here too. Of course there are issues with Europe. It is true that the balance of power has probably weighed too far in favour of Brussels. It is also true that those in the Eurozone have suffered, and continue to suffer, more than we have because they have been dragged down and held there by the few that have impacted the whole. But is leaving Europe the right move? Let us not forget we are a small island nation. We are not the Empire that we once were and we never will be again. The world has evolved and we must evolve with it or we will be left behind like dinosaurs that eventually become extinct. For those of us that wish to trade with Europe, (and for many of us that is the case because we need to trade with our neighbours as well as farther afield in order to survive in a shrinking economic world), we need Europe. Leaving would be a disaster both economically and politically. We need to remain within and negotiate terms that allow us to be part of the community rather than acting like spoilt brats and running away. And talking of spoilt brats, let us not forget that Nige needs Europe even more than we do! Nige is funded by Europe, without that funding he is nothing. Nige has a German wife, his surname is French and if we were to leave Europe he would have nothing of interest to say. He would disappear down the plug hole faster than the French would leave a battle field! The man is more European than we are!

So what else can we expect of 2015? Well, in my humble opinion, and you will know, dear reader, how humble I am! Things can only get better, (does that remind me of a song?), life is a roller coaster, (oh dear!), I can see clearly now, (oh no!), always look on the bright side of life, (I may have to shoot myself!), and every day its a brand new day! I am feeling good! 2015 is going to be a good year and if I can avoid any further song cliches we are all starting over. Its RudyMenTerry!