Not since COVID have I felt this miserable. It all started last Wednesday, February 19, when we had to keep a downtown appointment. In all my days crisscrossing northern Manitoba in all weathers, I never experienced cold like it—minus 26 degrees, plus an easterly gale. Our grandson, returning from Vancouver, had been wisely advised not to travel—any highway incident could have been fatal.
My first symptom was a dry cough, followed by chills requiring hot toddy therapy, which I can highly recommend. Next came the classic symptoms of an upper respiratory infection—a sniffling cold plus general malaise. This flu-like illness is highly reminiscent of the myxomatosis that virtually wiped out the rabbit population in Great Britain in the 1950s. What weather extremes we have to contend with in this country—arctic conditions three days ago and now puddles everywhere.
Politically, this country is in an unbelievable mess. The new Liberal leader will be announced on March 9 and is to be recognized as the new prime minister. We are hearing that Mr. Trudeau is back yet again in Ukraine in his enormous jet. As chair of the G7 at the moment, he was to be leading the “peace and security” meeting recognizing the three-year anniversary of the war, despite being discredited at home and having resigned as prime minister. Prorogation, under legal challenge, is to continue until March 24—15 days after the new prime minister is chosen. We are told that Mr. Carney, soon to be our leader by all accounts, is an unknown, untrained in politics and certainly not elected by the proletariat but supported by teenagers who could vote for him.
Mr. Trump continues to make headlines and is now turning his attention from tariffs to Ukraine. It is extremely alarming to see the world’s two superpowers discussing conflict, albeit limited to Ukraine at this time. Mr. Trump is unjustifiably putting some of the blame on Mr. Zelenskyy for the conflict, but arguing this point is not helpful. Capitulation, coupled with partition, apparently not considered before the conflict started, is now being openly discussed.
The Ukraine situation has been prolonged by intransigence on both sides and has only continued due to the support of so many countries e.g. by all of NATO and by money and equipment especially from the U.S. Mr. Trump has had enough and is apparently cancelling support. I personally welcome Mr. Trump’s intervention in this totally unnecessary conflict which has taken so many lives and caused so much destruction and is a threat to world peace.
My own trivial, self-absorbing health problem cannot be compared in any way to the similarly aged Pope’s pulmonary infection and distress. His condition is currently being described as critical, raising concern throughout the world. His Holiness is a world leader and a man of peace. We all join in wishing him an expedited recovery.
