Monday 3rd March 2013

At some point in the late 80s, I was stopped by someone conducting a survey: When do you, they asked, see the iron curtain come down? I thought, and as it being a constant in my life since birth, I said maybe in 30 years. As we know, the world can turn on a sixpence; and so in about a year, there were people dancing on the Berlin Wall to a David Hasselhoff song. I mean, wtf?

Little did we know, that a spat about whether Ukraine should have closer links with either Europe or Russia would take us onto the brink of WW3 in a few days. I think that it is fair to say that even a few days ago, we thought that the overthrowing of the Ukrainian President and the voting in of a new parliament which is seeking stronger links with the EU.

Imagine our surprise to find that over the weekend Russian troops taking over key installations in the Crimea, which was to protect the Russian people. As far as I know those Russian speaking people in Ukraine were actually Ukrainians, not Russians. However, this is not how Russia sees it of course. Although they may or not be Russian tropps as the uniforms they are wearing have no insignia and the troops are wearing face masks. Which as far as I am concerned is against the Geneva Convention.

Said troops have surrounded various Ukrainian military bases and buildings. And more are massing in Southern Russia, with naval warships are arriving into Sebastopol every hour.

Last week the President had been deposed by rioting people in Kiev, and the authorities responded by ordering snipers to shoot people demonstrating on the streets. Some 70 were killed in this way. The Ukrainian parliament has voted for closer links with Europe.

Russia now says that its troops are staying until normality has been restored. Now, this seems very simple of Russian aggression, unless you think about the invasions of Iraq (twice), Kosovo and Libya. It could be argued, possibly, that these invasions were under UN Security Council Resolutions. Of course the legality of these invasions were never tested in an international court. It could be further argued that the legally elected president has been ousted by a mob, and Europe and the US were wrong to recognise them, and so the Russian stance/invasion could be argued as restoring the legally elected government.

In addition, Crimea has declared its own president and asked Russia for protection, but from what we do not know, as far as I can see there were no riots on that peninsular.

So, its take your partners for WW3, or is it? It seems that neither Russia nor the US has a stomach for a fight, although Russia has brought enough troops along just in case.

Every hour, minute brings more news of Russian troops massing, digging in, blocking roads, cutting the electricity off various Ukrainian military bases, blockading them and being generally menacing.

Despite living through some 24 years old cold war, it never felt this close to a European war, not even during the race for Kosovo airport when it seems that we might break into sporadic gunfire. Or a race. Which we sadly lost when our Herc crashed in Albania. Oh well.

One of our glorious members of parliament, OK, William Hague, has threatened sanctions, sorry sevre sanctions against Russia. Which may include banning exports of Marmite, Tizer and Royalty. He really has the threat and authority of a bucket of cold custard. Both the EU and US have ruled out military action, as have the new/today’s leader of Ukraine.

I am sure I shall be bringing you updates when I return from the frozen north on Thursday.



Yesterday, being Sunday, was a day of rest. After me catching up on MOTD first thing, we headed out down to Dover Harbour for a walk along the promenade. Call us tight if you want, but we really don’t see why we should have to pay for parking when the High Street and town centres in general are suffering so. So, we scouted around and found a free place, I got out my camera, or selected on from my small group of cameras! And we set off, first to the Eastern Docks and then along past the yacht club to the water sports centre where we stopped for a cuppa, and then onto the prince of Wales Pier and back again, enjoying the milky sunshine that was threatening to break through the clouds. Also, we had to doge the east-Europeans fishing from the pier; it seems to be the hobby of choice for them. Some took along a bottle of Coke to sup during the longs waits, others a bottle of vodka. Each to their own I guess….



I don’t know, we should have done more with the day, but we ended up doing our hobbies in the afternoon, and me listening to the radio as I can multi-task. First of all the League Cup Final, with Citeh putting the Mackems to the sword then the league games. City were at Villa, and I fancied our chances. We took an early lead, and all seemed set fair, and then the roof caved in and we conceded four in 16 minutes and, well, that was that. Again. We now have just 10 games to save the season, we need four wins to be sure, and I can’t see us getting that, but I have been wrong before….



He hopes.

And then to the kitchen to cook dinner; roast prime rib and lots of vegetables. And it was wonderful. I opened the last bottle of the 2003 Le President’s 15, which was glorious with a wonderful deep flavour that only comes with aging.



And once again before we knew it, the weekend was almost gone and it was time to think about work again.

Sigh.