There's a storm brewing outside. Apparently, it's called Barney, as we have now taken to naming storms along the lines of the Americans naming hurricanes. I don't know where the name Barney has come from. It's not one I would have chosen myself. A bit too casual, low-key. You need something that commands a bit more respect: Boris, perhaps, or Brunhilde. It would be embarrassing to have your fence blown down by a Barney.
I was watching the England v France game this evening, in what must have been a difficult experience for players and spectators alike. Certainly, it was deeply emotional to watch, to hear the massed singing of the Marseillaise, the respectful observation of the minute's silence. A symbol of solidarity, of defiance.
We take for granted the values that define a liberal, democratic society. But these values can seem so fragile at times, so vulnerable to attack by those bent on destroying civilised society, who want to fuel division and conflict. At times like this, it seems there is no obvious route forward to repair these rifts: that is what causes the despair.
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