I started writing a post for this week, wanging on about what I got up to last week and how much fun I had, but I just couldn’t finish it. And I did have fun. I was part of two plays for Market Harborough Drama Society and I felt thankful to be acting again and fully welcomed by the lovely people at the theatre and the audiences we had. I took a week off from the blog as my focus was on trying to remember lines and general life and sometimes I just don’t have a post ready to go. Sometimes it gets written late on a Thursday… like this one is being done now.
On Thursday last week dictator Vladimir Putin decided to invade Ukraine. I write his name directly because I’m trying not to involve his country, but that is difficult. I genuinely feel the millions of people that live in Russia and the thousands of people that make up his military would not be behind this war if they were not primed by constant propaganda. And apparently some are not as seen by the brave protestors, taking to the streets of Russian cities, being arrested for protesting. And potentially the news reports we hear of Russian military personnel fleeing their vehicles and absconding.
There is war in mainland Europe and everything else that is going on is secondary. For me, what I did last week doesn’t matter, what I do this week doesn’t matter and what I do next week will not fucking matter. It’s upsetting to witness from my removed standpoint and frustrating that nothing I do at any time will actually make any real big difference to this ongoing atrocity. The despair is paralysing and my normal plucky resolve has been shaken. And I’ve consumed lots of news in the last week which is hugely upsetting and as I type this out, I am determined to take the example of the Ukrainian people and the example of their President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In the face of such peril, huge risk and certain death, they remain resolved to fight for their freedom and liberty and despair has no place here. And yes President Zelenskyy is the voice of Paddington Bear in the Ukrainian versions of the films. What a fucking legend.
Finally I would like to draw your attention to a journalist who, for a while now, I’ve been listening to and absorbing information from. He’s a BBC journalist, who is becoming a household name because of his simple explainers, called Ros Atkins. Hit the button below and you’ll find him. He is engaging, impartial and gives understandable snapshots of what is going on. Check out his back catalogue as well, as he has a knack of getting down to it without a lot of fuss. My kind of journalist. Stay safe.
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