27. Sep, 2019

“Be humble. I always believed the higher a monkey climbs in the tree, the more people below can see his ass. You don’t have to be that monkey.” Thomas, ‘T.Boone,’ Pickens Jr.  American business magnate and financier. Died September 11th, 2019.

RED FLAGS GETTING FRISKY...

‘Takeover Operator,’ T. Boone Pickens, had an ego. No disputing that.  All of us, particularly leaders, need a healthy one. ‘Health,’ being the key word.  Red flags get frisky when it’s ego that becomes the main decision driver.  Psychologist Chantal Gautier highlights the short sightedness of such self-regard

“(Ego) becomes problematic when it takes over and is put in the mix with power…and arrogance. This can trigger blind spots.”

 "ANOTHER Slice of Self-Promotion Pie?" Ooooo It's a YES from ME!"

Boris/Trump/Farage seem more than happy to take an ever-bigger slice of the self-promotion pie; laced with an unhealthy dose of self-delusional Dream Topping.

Their many fans talk up their ‘charisma,’ and their ‘common touch,’ gifts of connection.  Our three, now very familiar, public figures, need much more than ‘charisma,’ and a game show gift of the gab, if they’re to prevent their own personal plummet from grace.

SUPREME COURT JUDGEMENTS? POTENTIAL IMPEACHMENT? "BAH HUMBUG! IT'S ALL BASE JUMP JAMBOREE!"

They may, of course, be able to postpone any potential downfall. When it does happen, and it will; of much greater concern is who is dragged down with them on their Brexit or bribery, (alleged, of course,) base jumping descent.  

What will be the impact on the countries they’re supposed to serve? The effect on the democratic process they claim they’re proud to protect.  Supreme Court judgments? Potential impeachments? “Bah humbug!” To borrow from Boris.

 "THREE AMIGOS ARE WE......"

Humility does not come naturally to our three amigos. To be fair, it does not come naturally to most of us. But if you get to the top of that tree, beware. Your bare backside will blaze, brightly. Blackpool’s illuminations? A portable torch from Poundland in comparison.

18. Sep, 2019

They’re cream crackered. All of them. Sluggish in the Supreme Court? Completely. Drained by ‘no deals?’ Utterly.  Fed up with fighting back? Whichever side they’re on?  Totally. Even when Luxembourg’s PM lost it, prompting podium gate,  exhausted eyebrows stayed put. Foreheads were frozen.

 VET VISIT?

Perhaps a trip to the vet’s the answer?  

“Within a month or so of taking her new treat twice a day, she was counter surfing and attempting to chase cars on our walks. It's made a HUGE difference in her quality of life...and undoubtedly extended it."

"Just want to thank you (again) for making Hazel feel SO MUCH better! What a difference! She’s running, playing in the park & eating like I’ve never seen her eat before."

HEMP’S A HIT!

A relative’s dog’s on Hemp.  Or Cannabidiol. It’s all above board, well checked, and what a transformation!  Her spring had sprung, now she’s a canine captivated by life.

Perhaps our world-weary politicians should give it a go? Might even reboot the sleep deprived soul above. 

11. Sep, 2019

Free time? The UK Parliament’s got 5 weeks of it. Across the pond, (the now former,) National Security Advisor, John Bolton’s diary’s just opened up. He’s disputing claims that he was ‘Trump Dumped,’ because the President, “disagreed strongly with many of his suggestions,” but he’s out the door, just the same.

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR MOUSTACHE MR. BOLTON!

 The bright side? A chance to re-boot those FOX TV appearances, and enjoy more leisurely moustache trims. No rushing back to the office now, for fights with the President over those Kim Jong-il fireside chats.

PROROHHHH-GING - POGUE-ING - VOGUING

 But the prorogation (pron. Prorohhhh-gation,) of Parliament:  - not to be confused with, ‘Pogue – ing;’ American military slang for, “not on the front line. Easy job, mate.” (Wikipedia. Interpreted.) Or even, ‘Voguing;’ (house dance, with poses, still a ‘thing.’ Madonna’s bag.)

No, the prorogation of the British Parliament is a Royal request, on the advice of the British Minister to ‘shut up shop.’ Everyone keeps their jobs, but debates and votes are done away with. Temporarily.

NETFLIX SURFING? NOT A CHANCE...

However, no-one’s at home Netflix surfing, (45% percent of Brits watch TV in their free time says one survey.) Boris says he’s still negotiating that deal but preparing to leave without one. The opposition’s doing their utmost to make no deal disappear altogether.  

Likewise in the US; TV’s the top leisure time choice here, too. Either that, or spending hours struggling to keep track of the poor sacked souls, dismissed from Trump’s administration.

WHITE HOUSE JOB WOES

Prorogation or no, keeping your job in the Trump White House is almost as rare as Boris Johnson heading to Brussels and saying: ‘this Brexit’s just bonkers. Terrible mistake. Let’s keep things the way they were eh. Let me buy you a British,(some things never change,) beer, Michel?” (Michel Barnier, top Brexit negotiator.)  

Headlining, at time of writing: ‘President Launches fresh attack on ‘bonehead’ Federal Reserve chief’. Only hours after Bolton’s been told to wander off. (Apologies to the football club with similar name.)  The Bolton sacking’s now yesterday’s news, and 3 Scottish Judges have just decided that all this prorogation’s a legal ‘no, no.’

YOU'RE NOT SUFFERING SOLO

If you’re at your desk, and desperate for some free Netflix surfing time of your own, take comfort. The world’s movers and shakers, givers and takers, are also up to their ears. You’re not suffering solo.