After the most hectic week that I can recall for a long time, you would imagine that sleep would finally win the argument. So waking up at 0430 today feeling wide awake looks like another victory for insomnia (partial insomnia at least).
Since she started working split shifts at the airport, my wife has also been prone to erratic sleeping patterns (quite how they expect people to perform efficiently on these split shifts never fails to amaze me), but this morning at 0430 even an erupting volcano might not have disturbed her. Good to see people sleep at times.
Emerging into the pitch black morning, finally elucidated with a couple of light switches and the silence interrupted by the sudden gurgling of the coffee percolator, the first part of the latest translation was despatched in all of 47 minutes (47 - the number of the month, usually followed by the % sign).
My wife having decided yesterday that we should raid the local supermarket at opening time (0700 for those of you in parts of the world where they stay open all night), emerged 40 minutes later than schedule. Whereas her husband is prone to being instantly alert upon awakening, she hates mornings (particularly those when she has for professional reasons to emerge at 0320 - see above). Not the best of times to practise your sense of humour, never mind indulge in some mock Muay Thai (well it is her national sport, and she should know where the left foot is coming from ....).
The usual miscommunication in 3 languages, followed by a gentle 10-minute stroll down to the preferred supermarket. Some good signs out there this morning. The local raven population seems to be back to its old level, not seen as many sparrows in years (definitely a good sign), a couple of very shy wood pigeons almost hiding from view - only the local magpies were missing from the usual avian crowd.
Supermarkets are often an indication of the way the world is going. More bargain prices than ever - they obviously need the custom. And there was the sign (in German - translated):
CHRISTMAS STARTS HERE!
Stared at my watch. Couldn't recall immediately whether it was September 28th or 29th (my watch indicated the latter). December it definitely isn't though!
My atheist's view on Christmas I have already explained elsewhere on this blog (and the strange need for artificially enforced enjoyment in the company of people you would happily avoid all year if you could). I realise that it is now a mainly commercial event, but do we really need it being imposed upon us this early? Is there nothing else to think about in the mean time?
Perhaps my one thought this year will go my to cousin, Paul. It will be the first time for end of the year celebrations since he died. I hadn't seen much of him in years (though we hung round together all the time in our teenage years), but he was always the archetypal good guy, the person that you would always have wanted to know.
Leaving school at the age of 15, working shifts on the shop-floor of a dirty factory at the age of 16, getting an HGV licence and becoming a long-distance lorry driver, then training as a paramedic and driving an ambulance, becoming a first-aid officer on an oil rig, and finally driving a car for the local social services to take invalids to hospital appointments - his career in a nutshell.
Always there for people, always helpful, possessing a gentle sense of humour, committed, dedicated, no obsessive need to chase wealth or get over-ambitious (and getting into outrageous amounts of debt as a result). In many ways the epitome of the best that working people can be. You can also note that he worked in both the private and the public sector. Frankly I should not think that he was overly concerned which it was - as long as he was working! Being responsible for his own life, his self-respect intact.
Among the last of a breed? Sadly so. He was more of a giver than a taker, and that is definitely a style that has gone out of fashion. To the detriment of us all.
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