[New] What we might see in twenty-three?

If you think for one moment that I might be writing this week about New Year’s resolutions, well you have another thought coming! You totally ignored my tips on resolutions last year – and the year before that – and the year before that. Feel free to carry on as before and exercise your right to make up your own mind. We live in a free country …

In a more serious vein and as we reflect on the year just passed, we have to appreciate once more the beauty of living in a free society. Our TV screens beam horror into our living-rooms of slaughter and genocide in Ukraine, atrocities in Iran, ‘clamp-downs’ in China and basic human rights being denied all over the world. Anybody who thinks this could never happen here, needs to think again. According to Freedom House and World Population Review, the number of free countries has decreased between 2005 and 2021.

The number of ‘partly free’ has increased over the same period, as has also ‘not free’. It is good to see Ireland listed in the top ten of free countries. We come in at number six, where for example, the United States doesn’t register in the top ten. About 42 per cent of countries are classified as free.

Looking ahead to the New Year, most people’s thoughts will dwell on trying to figure what ’23 has in store. Like the New Year resolutions, an awful lot of it won’t pan out as projected. You will hear many people lament around now; ‘we won’t be sorry to see the end of that one’, but for some, time will prove that the one gone by doesn’t compare badly with what lies ahead.

*Author, entrepreneur and newspaper columnist, Bernie Comaskey, now spends most of his time on a farm in Ireland; but he retains his strong links with the Costa Blanca.

I got a present of ‘Old Moore’s Almanac’ (thanks Jerry) the other day. It must be thirty years ago since I last looked at this famous annual which carries a feature on predictions for the New Year for the past 259 years.

‘Old Moore’ forecasts a recession for next year … a safe enough prediction, I would say: But Moore goes further; ‘This year will mark the end of buying ‘stuff’. There will be a total reordering of the world and how finances work. Banks and governments have failed the people as have big pharma and corporations. The people will be untrusting of existing structures.’

‘UK has a huge political problem.’ (Another ‘banker’ I would say!) and ‘the Commonwealth starts to disband.’ ‘Germany and Switzerland in deep economic trouble.’

‘Many people will move to Spain, Portugal and Italy, challenging the infrastructure there.’

‘Artificial sweeteners will be connected to health issues.’ (Now there is something that this column has commented on before Old Moore – as well as preservatives in food.) ‘A disease will be released from the ice caps.’

‘There will be a return to traditional values and conservative politics will usher in a return to religion-led lifestyles with mixed results.’

‘Birthrate falls drastically. We are not replacing ourselves. Women will leave the workforce as a return to tradition becomes trendy.’

‘Donald Trump has a severe health warning.’ (Very difficult to restrain oneself from adding

Bernie has published four books; ëIf Ever a Man Sufferedí, ëThe Best of Bernieí, ëThe Teamí, and ëJust Between Ourselvesí. Bernieís books are available at half price, on sale from either Spanish Solutions or ëThe Leader.íCall 637 227 385 for info.