Overload

In the unlikely event that you have noticed, I haven't posted anything for a few days. In the even more unlikely event that you have actually missed me......I apologise profusely!

Part of the reason for my slacking is that I've been preoccupied with several personal issues but the main reason is that I'm suffering from whatever the opposite of"writer's block" may be. Writers overload perhaps?

There are so many invasive topics that are crowding my mind but my normal bent is to find an angle on a subject that I hope will amuse you and me but right now I'm finding it hard to see the funny side of almost anything.

Like millions of others I am still struggling to come to terms with the horrific death of Baby P. To even accept that human beings are capable of subjecting a toddler to a remorseless existence of torture and punishment makes me ashamed that we are even of the same species. Sadly, I live in the same borough whose social services were so abjectly inept that they couldn't (even after sixty visits) prevent this tragedy from happening. This is the same borough that allows traffic wardens and tow trucks to sit in wait so that as soon as yellow lines kick in they can issue residents with tickets and remove their vehicles within the space of five minutes. Ah yes but that's revenue isn't it?

Just as the impact of one human catastrophe inevitably subsides we have to get our heads around a new threat to innocent life. The teenage suicide bomber! I don't give a damn what your religious beliefs are, I couldn't care less who you consider the "enemy" is and I'm certainly not knowledgeable enough to offer any kind of solution to the complex conundrum that is the Middle East or come to that any other political hot spot. But what kind of race, creed, cult or religion can indoctrinate a child into destroying their life and the lives of others before they can even draw on their own life experiences. An "unholy mess".

Until recently we could comfort ourselves with the "I'm alright Jack" syndrome but not anymore we can't. Our cast-iron investment in bricks and mortar is depreciating on a daily basis. The job for life is currently a job for as long as the company's overdraft lasts and the pound in our pocket is worth less and less almost everywhere in the world. Moreover, anybody who thought they were lucky enough to have savings or pensions may have to seriously assess their "comfort zone".

On Saturday I ventured out to my local shopping centre to spend some of my dwindling reserves on Xmas presents. It was the penultimate Saturday to the "Big Day" the streets should have been heaving. they weren't. The shops should have been "jam packed" they weren't and the punters should have been laden with bags and looking cheerful as they shopped. They weren't and they didn't.

Being a "glass half full" kinda guy I'm sure I'll be back very shortly with another attempt at the rib-tickling or satire tinged writing that I (and hopefully you) enjoy but just for the moment I don't feel up to the challenge.

"Peace on Earth and Goodwill to all Men". Not this year I'm afraid.