Brexit, EU, distrust etc..

Thursday 10th December, 2020

A friend who has bought a house in Italy and has taken up Italian citizenship has just informed me that when the United Kingdom leaves the European Union without a civilised agreement it will only be the Vatican City which will welcome animals without quarantine. Whether this is true or not it makes me smile. I have just signed a petition insisting that whether there is an agreement or even a non agreement with the E.U. a referendum should be held so that the people can vote upon it. The initial referendum promised much and if it does not deliver the new position needs to be ratified. The petitioners insist it is the democratic thing to do. However I am an anti Brexit man myself so I do not trust the sense of the voter but I do want to irritate the pro Brexit lobby. Perhaps we should have a trade agreement with the Vatican. Did they not once have shares in the fishing industry? I am just out of my depth and simply feel bloody minded. It all seems so farcical but is, I am sure, deadly serious. Sadly I have gotten to the point of trusting almost nobody and no news stories either.

Yet I still trust my friends and humanity as a whole. Without trust the whole system breaks down from law and order to capitalism and trade to neighbourliness. So what is the balance we need to be able to cooperate and live together? How to live and think and act....on what basis?

This morning it took some time for me to trust my eyesight. I looked out on a misty Tay and saw what appeared to be a large log floating by. It then moved and disappeared making me realise it was alive. It re surfaced and then disappeared again. On the third surfacing I declared that I was watching a sea otter. I had thought it might be a seal but it had a longish tail. Eyes can deceive. News items can be deceptive also. People can deceive. So one has to be aware of it all and then make a judgement.

I am a Roman Catholic and there are things about the Church that I do not trust. I am not sure I would trust my dog to the Vatican, although I might my soul!! What is feeding all my distrust? Surely it is better to trust that not to. It reminds me of the story my house master at school told me. When he was appointed his predecessor said he was available for comment, advice etc but would not foist any opinions on him. He did say however that he had one story to tell. A pupil was in his room one evening with others when he ran out of biscuits and various other items. He asked the pupil to go to the ' goodies cupboard ' to fetch some more. He handed over his keys to the cupboard. Twenty minutes later he realised the pupil had not come back so he went to find him. He found him in the cupboard handing out all sorts to his friends and other house members. The House master gave the youngster a flee in his ear. The next evening that same youngster was in his room again and he needed more biscuits or whatever. " So I gave my keys to the pupil and asked him to go to the cupboard to get them. That is the only advice I will give. "

This reminds me of two things. First how can anyone become trustworthy unless they are trusted? Second the question of how many times do I forgive?

My walk today was later than usual. So it was beginning to get dark when I was walking through the local Park. The trees, the lake, the other walkers, the sounds, the birds and animals, all took on different hues and shapes when compared to an afternoon stroll. It was difficult to identify some things. So I fear my own mind for if one grows cynical then that is the hue through which one sees all things. One's attitude, one's mindset is vital. To the pure all things are pure is how I think St Paul put it. It is better to be trusting and be wrong than to be untrusting and right? At least I think so!!