December. The final month begins.
It's getting much colder. Except when it isn't. The last few days were much warmer than average. On average we can I suppose expect warmer than average days since 2016 is globally the warmest year since records began, beating 2015 which was the warmest year and which beat 2014 which was also the warmest year. Climate change is real and 2016 saw the election of a man to be President of the USA who has stated that climate change is a Chinese hoax. There is much to be worried about environmentally - are we all doomed already?
There is also much to be worried about economically and socially. In the UK there are increasing reports of malnutrition, one million people now are forced to rely on food banks to feed themselves, homelessness is rising and laws to persecute homeless people are being introduced. Disabled people are losing out under government policy and the rich poor divide continues to increase.
Across the world there are wars - often fought using the weapons sold by the UK and USA - with all the human suffering that war brings, and the civilian suffering and fallout is perhaps greater than ever with so much fighting taking place not on the battle field but in the cities and towns. The refugee crisis is increasing rather than declining and across Europe refugees face another winter. I saw a video a couple of days ago about the situation in Greece, posted by a local woman who I've met but don't know. Maybe next year that will change. Her Facebook feed has lots about the crisis, about human rights, and about the humanitarian work she is involved with both here and overseas. Since much of it is publicly shared I'll share it here. It's under this link. If you would like to look at the video I mentioned, Ruhi's post is here.
December. The final month begins.
So it's not the final month is it? It's only the final months of one particular version of a yearly calendar.
Though there is much to be worried about and much that I'd like to find a way to become more involved with in 2017 there is also much to smile about. I've been trying to smile and be thankful each day this year. Sometimes it's been very difficult indeed and my mental health has been wildly changeable. But I'm glad I've done it. I'm glad I've kept up this diary. In another month I think I'll have stopped and will be finding another way to be thankful or to channel positivity and passion.
The final month begins. You'll see that it's not all roses and sparkles. But so far the month has been pretty frabjous.
Just wait until the next gratitude post. You'll see some very joyful frabjousness. Or should that word be frabjosity?
1st December
Grateful to hear Laura Bates who started the Everyday Sexism Project.
Grateful to have so much good in my life and to have written about some of it last night.
Picture is some wise graffiti seen under a bridge. Sometimes it can be easy to forget it and to want to give up.
2nd December
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| The elusive Patchwork Northumberland |
I was able to take my soft toy friends to the farewell event. Really good to see the dogs again.
Bye bye dogs. We enjoyed you.
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| Newcastle and Sunderland Football Club Dogs |
And you will raise lots of money for a good cause.
3rd December
Grateful for silly computer games.
And grateful to have spent 20p when out, on a new little friend.
This is Merghost. He's a merghost.
4th December
Great to sing with great people. And fantastic to be totally accepted as a woman within a women only space. It's the first time I've deliberately joined a women's group.
Photo was taken on a dark street afterwards.
5th December
Pictures: A sky on the way there, a light tree there, and a hopefully not to be returned to piece of the past on the way back.
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