Current Affairs

So I feel that my blog should deal more with current affairs, and be up to date and so on. After all, in the past... oh, I dunno... matter of days we have had a new Prime Minister, some attempted terrorist attacks, and a freed journalist. And I haven't breathed a word of it. I mean, if my blog were preserved for antiquity and used by historians in the future to get a snapshot of life in the noughties, these crucial elements would be left out. What if there's a nuclear war and my blog is all that survives? Eh? WHAT THEN?

For this reason, I shall share with you my favourite news story of this week. This is the rather charming tale of a flotilla of 30,000 rubber ducks which got washed off a container ship somewhere 15 years ago, and has been swimming the high seas ever since (actually, they split into two factions early on - 20000 reached the shores of Indonesia, but the remaining 10000 are still swimming). They have journeyed north and south, east and west - losing friends to ice floes, currents and winds - and yet, ever persevering. The tale has hit the headlines because they are now headed for Britain and Ireland (WHY?! I'd be off to the Maldives if I were them). Anyway, they may continue to cirle the globe for 100 years and are helping scientists to track climate change, or something.

The particularly heart-warming part of this story is that the duckies have pretty much stayed together for 15 years (apart from the ones that... umm... *shhh*... died). Just sailing around, always sticking by each other. 'Where shall we head now lads?'... 'How about Turkey?'.. 'Sounds like us! Let's go!' and off they all float, in one big convoy of duckies. We could learn lessons from this.. about kinship, teamwork and the art of being there for each other. You see, the duckies have made it this far because they have worked as one, made decisions as one, and acted as one. They are one body of duckies, each with a different role (the encouragers: 'Come on boys, into the gulf stream, nice and easy, go with it, let it take you, that's the style'; the brains: 'The Maldives are THIS way lads, follow the sun, follow the sun'; and of course the decoys: 'Archie, go choke that shark, would ye? - every one else, SWIM!!'), and yet each one necessary.

As for duckies, so for us: each of us with our own part to play, each of us different, and yet everyone necessary. There may be a sermon in that somewhere. But we must learn the lesson.

So please keep your eyes peeled for the duckies, and if you see them, let your heart be warmed by this inspiring tale of togetherness and teamwork. It's also worth grabbing a few if you can - they're worth about £500 each.

Rubber Duckies, we're AWFULLY fond of you.