New World Order

 Paul said we should listen to the speech Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney gave to the Australian Parliament. It had given him hope he said. 

It was a very smooth speech of course, unruffled, a statesman's speech- but under the glistening, icy surface you could sense the land masses shifting. He was saying that "middle powers" like Australia and Canada should build their strength through co-operation- and move out of the shadow of "the hegemons"- by which he mainly meant the United States. The old order was collapsing and the smarter smaller nations should set about building the new. He didn't mention the sick old man in the White House but the message to him was clear. "We don't trust you any more. We don't need you any more...."

Alan Bennett At 90

 Alan Bennett has been an old man for ever so long- and now, at ninety, he has released the latest installment of his diaries. In spite of cataract and a failing memory for words (especially names) he still writes beautifully. And still has interesting things to write about- and meets as many celebrities in a day as I have briefly encountered in a lifetime. Writers, actors, politicians- he knows and has known them all. He sits outside his London home and they saunter by,  exchange an observation or two and provoke memories. The tone is ruminative, humorous, melancholy- mildly but never deeply philosophical- and if he has demons he keeps them well tucked in under his skirts.  When his birthday comes round they ring the church bells in the Yorkshire village where he has his other home. Few writers get to be so well loved.....

If you want the book in hardback it'll cost you £25.00. That's too much. I shall wait and source my copy from a charity shop.....