Dull day, bright night

As the days draw in, we have to accept the fact the number of daylight hours is diminishing.  And with cloud overhead, today has been particularly dull, in stark contrast to the evening, when the sky cleared to reveal a brillian full moon.  It's almost brigher at the time of writing this, than during the day. 

The full moon reminds me of the suggestion that my dietician gave me for having one 'detoxitation day' each month, when I only drink tea.  He told me that it would be most effective to do this when the moon is full because this is when the gravitational pull is greatest on the body.  It sounds a bit weird to me.  But maybe I will try it next month.  If your grandfather dissappears as a result, you may see him floating around the moon.


Grandpa Jonathan
Prague, Czech Republic

Video killed the radio star

I was very pleased to get confirmation today that the Huffington Post, a leading US online newspaper, wants me to submit a daily report from the upcoming United Nations intergovermental climate summit to be held next month in Cancun, Mexico.  You will be hearing much from me about this event in the coming weeks.  For now, it is interesting to note that the Huffington Post has caused some surprise, attracting more readers than many major newspapers.  It is massively growing in influence.

It occurs to me that you may find it hard to understand why this is so amazing to me, because it is possible that online publications will be the primary source of news and opinion by the time you get around to reading this.  I would really like to look into a crystal ball to find out what the future has in store for the newspaper that you can actually hold in your hands.

This reminds me of the song, Video Killed the Radio Star which celebrates the golden days of radio, describing a singer whose career is cut short by television.  Released in 1979 by a British pop group called The Buggles, who I'd never heard of before or since this one-hit wonder, this song symbolised the fascinating question about the impact of new technology on society.  Thankfully, television didn't kill the radio, which is as imporant to me as the air that I breath.

While I'm delighted to contribute to the Huffington Post, I do hope that growing interest in online media will not destroy the conventional news publishing industry.  Time will tell whether the Internet killed the newspaper.  Not such a catchy song title.


Grandpa Jonathan
Prague, Czech Republic

Growing old, uncomfortably

Your grandfather has just returned from a rock concert here in Prague performed by the 66 year-old legend, Joe Cocker.  His unique, gravelly voice is as powerful as ever, and inspite of his age, there were many young people in the audience.  It's his ballad, You are so beautiful, that always touches me the most.  It's a song that only he can really sing.

When I first went to rock concerts, the performers were young, long-haired, rebellious types, seeminly dedicated to taking as many drugs, having as much sex as possible, and to overthrowing the 'establishment'.  But today, these same stars, look like bank managers, with short hair, conservatively cut clothes.  Gone are the calls of revolution, the haze of dope smoke or the screaming loose women. 

While I enjoyed the concert for its music, I could not help but feeling dissapointed by the soberness of the occasion.  Rock and roll used to represent expressions of dissent from the younger generation.  Rock idols were generally against the status quo, apparently pushing for radical change in society.  It was all about peace and love, and anti-capitalism and equality.  Now it seems to be more about enhancing the bank balances of the stars.

The concert ended by 11.30pm, no doubt enabling Joe to go back to his hotel and get his beauty sleep.  What a change from those heady days in the seventies, the legendary Woodstock festival at which a much younger Cocker performed.  Rock and roll was going to change the world.   What happened?  Your grandfather must to confess not to be be growing old comfortably.

Grandpa Jonathan

Prague, Czech Republic

Euro's woes

Good news rarely stays at the top of the media agenda for long.  Waking up to this morning's news of Ireland's accelerating financial crisis after the joy of yesterday announcent of Royal nuptials, was a stark reminder of this.

Ireland is apparently on the verge of bankcrupcy, as was Greece until it was bailed out by the European Union.  And we are told that Portugal and Spain are also facing the prospect of financial collapse.  These four weak links in the Euro chain have been nicknamed the PIGS.  The big worry is that the PIGS could really mess with the stability of the Euro, and even jeopardise the currency's future.

Your grandfather was very excited by the introduction of the Euro at the start of 2002.  Less than 60 years after this continent was torn apart by terrible conflict, former enemies were now sharing the same banknotes.  I am a passonate supporter of the European Union.  It may have its imperfections, but it is a miracle of mankind for nations to collaborate so closely on important issues of common interest.  I am not discouraged by the seeminly endless political bickering between member states.  Jaw, jaw is far better than war, war -- to coin a phrase of Winston Churchill's.

But I am worried that the current financial problems facing four of the 16 countries using the Euro could fatally undermine the currency's future.  I was told the other day that the Germans never destroyed their old Marks, and that the banknotes are held in secure storage in case the government were to urgently decide to leave the Euro.  If Germany were to quit, this would surely result in the currency's demise.

As of now, Britain is still not in the Euro and continues to use the good old Pound.  I wonder whether this currency will still be around by the time you are old enough to read this blog.  It's my hope that our politicians will have the courage to stregnthen the Euro and ensure its future stability; and that Britain will show its confidence in the project by joining the Euro in the not-to-distant future.

But until the current financial hurricane passes, all we can expect is for the European Union, the International Monetary Fund and others to help to keep ailing Euro economies above water.  When the economy bucks up and the sun comes out again, let's hope that as optimism grows, so does peoples appetite for the Euro.

One financial postscript from yesterday's news of William and Kate's impending wedding, is that some economists are predicting that the event will bring in more than a billion dollars to the British economy.  At least we have a wedding to look forward to.


Grandpa Jonathan
Prague, Czech Rebublic

Soon to be Princess...and one day Queen

"Soon she will be Princess, and one day she will be Queen", were the first words I heard when turning on the radio just before lunchtime today.

These were the words of a BBC reporter, with news of the impending marriage of Prince William to his long-time girlfriend, Kate Middleton.  Like it or not, this is a truly historical moment, as we witness the continuity of almost a thousand years of history of British Royalty.

In this modern era, there is a tendency to be rather cynical about the British Royal Family.  It's fashionable to ask whether it has any relevance or it it's just an unecessary expense.  But it seems that all of this negative talk has got completely thrown out of the window, as the media shows scenes of unbridled joy in Britain today.  And fascination of Kate and William's engagement has rapidly spread throughout the world.  All of the major U.S. news networks opened their morning shows today with dramatic fanfares, and even the Czech media is devoting massive airtime to the story.

I am surprised about how emotional I am about this news.  I remember the wedding of William's parents 29 years ago.  Your grandmother Veronica and I watched the ceremony from the office window of our friend Robin Ellison, just a stone's throw from St. Paul's Cathedral.  Your grandfather was perched on a second floor window sill taking photographs with my two beloved Nikon cameras with long lenses attached.  I have some wonderful photographs which you must see of this great event.

The birth of Prince William is another day etched in my memory, with happy photos of his mother cradling him in her arms.  Of course, I recall the day that Prince William's died in a car accident in Paris just over ten years ago.  I was deeply touched by the scenes of the happy couple posing for photographs in St. James Palace this afternoon.  In fact there is no other family's life that I have followed more than British Royalty.  It may seem strange for you but this announcement feels very much a part of my life.

Love is beautiful, and the deep feelings that this couple, who have been going out together for nearly a decade, was very clear for everyone to see.  In spite of the declining popularity of marriage -- with a third less people in Britain tying the knot today compared to 30 years ago -- everyone adores a wonderful wedding.  These may be so-called times of austerity, but the wedding planned for next spring or summer is bound to be of fairy tale proportions.

Kate and William, both 28 years old, have been living together near his military base in Anglesy for the past six months.  I was therefore amused by his father's comment that "they have been practicing for long enough".  Another interesting sign of the times is that Kate is the first 'commoner' (non-aristocrat) to marry into the Royal family.  And with so many modern marriages sadly breaking down, it was wonderful to hear William say that he had chosen this women with whom to share the rest of his life.

Amusingly, given the rather dismal record of failed Royal marraiges, Prime Minister David Cameron's description of "unadulterated joy", raised a few eyebrows as he stood on the steps of Number 10 Downing Street today.

I beleive in the institution of marraige profoundly.  To live with someone in good times and bad, to support and cherish them whatever the pressures, is wonderful.  I can think of nothing more uplifting than growing old toegether with the person you adore more than anyone else in the world.  I hope that the love which radiates from this union will have a positive impact on us all.


Grandpa Jonathan
Prague, Czech Republic

Introspection

A good friend of mine made an observation about me today which has really made me think.  She suggested that I didn't look comfortable in my own skin, and that I wanted to jump out of my body.  The idea iniitially amused me, but then I realised that it has some truth.

Your grandfather has a tendency towards becoming easily irritated and bad tempered, mostly about things of little or no importance.  I have often wondered whether this is symptomatic of some inner feelings that I could adjust for the better.  To be quite honest, I do beleive that I am in an almost constant state of discontent.  Although I lead an interesting life, live in a lovely home, am fortunate to have terrific friends, have lovely children and an adorable grandchild, when I am being introspective, I do feel that I have yet to find my place in this world.

It's not in my nature to be negative, in fact I am mostly energetic, optimistic and enthusiastic.  But I have this nagging feeling that I haven't fully found myself, and in particular, I am without any clear direction as to where I am going in life.  It's not easy to explain, and I am not quite sure of the purpose of using my blog for this kind of introspection.  But one of its purposes if for you to gain some insights into what your grandfather is (or was) really like.

I've previously mentioned my concern about the absence of a life strategy.  I may be without one, but that does not mean that I am simply prepared to aimlessly live one day to another.  I am continuing to look for that all-important path.

Perhaps I've had too much time at home to idly think about such matters.  Maybe it's time to get back on the road in search of adventure, and forget about such inward thinking.  Or maybe it's high time for me to force myself into plotting out a plan for living.



Gramdpa Jonathan
Prague, Czech Republic

Glorious Dead

I never fail to be moved by scenes from London's Whitehall on Rememberence Sunday -- that closest to 11th November -- when the Queen and the Royal Family, together with dignatories from Britian and the Commonwealth, lay wreaths in memory of our war dead.  They are joined by thousands of ex-servicemen, many old and some with terrible injuries, who proudly march past the Cenotraph memorial to honour their fallen colleagues.  As I watch them file past on television, I look at their faces and wonder what incredible life stories these people have to tell.

The words "Glorious Dead" boldly engraved on the elegant marble war memorial, originally unveiled exactly 90 years ago, always attract my attention.  I wonder whether it is glorious to be dead.  As a young man, fired up with anti-war idealism, I used to deride this approach as a cynical means for the establishment to glorify war.  But I see it differantly now.  War is awful, and one of its consequences is death.  It is surely right to pay tribute to those who made that ultimate sacrifice on behalf of their country.

At the risk of becoming overly philosphical, I suppose that it makes sense to describe death as glorious.  After all, when we die, it's permenant.  Life is only a transient stage which always culminates in death.  Life wouldn't be of much value if we didn't hold death in the highest regard.

Today, I salute all those who have tragically and needlessly lost their lives in conflicts.  In spite of our intelligence and ability to achieve greatness, hostility and aggression remain as a significant feature of human nature.  We must understand the pain of war, and pass this on to future generations in the hope that disputes can be resolved peacefully.  If we were to learn the true lessons of war, and put down our weapons for ever, the death of those killed in warfare would indeed become glorious.


Grandpa Jonathan
Prague, Czech Republic