It’s all happening this week, what with VAT increases up north combined with the falling rate of the euro expected to put an end to the pull of cross-border shopping; the proposed introduction of yet another property tax — this time for everyone with a roof over their heads — that’s expected to work out at approximately €1,000 per person (but which should generate oodles of new income for those involved in the business of ‘independent assessment’ of house values ); the proposal to abolish town councils gaining greater clarity as it transpires that the dual mandate is set for a return, but only to a reduced number of councillors; and the news of royalty and leaders of powerful countries queuing up to come over to Ireland for a visit, with both Queen Elizabeth and President Barack Obama throwing their names into the pot. So much to take in.
Yonder in Brussels during the week Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey received a gong in recognition of the Government’s “sustained successful strategy in reducing road deaths”, a tribute to the fact that deaths in Ireland have been cut by half from 107 per million inhabitants in 2001 to 54 per million inhabitants last year. Heart-warming news indeed, and all the more difficult to believe considering no matter where or when you drive nowadays, motorists seem to be doing everything but looking at the road ahead (ie, they’re either texting/talking on mobile phones, plugging or loading devices into the dashboard, fiddling with navigators, stuffing their faces, or checking correct make-up application in the mirror. You get to wonder if drivers even see other drivers any more. )
Also this week, in addition to Bonfire Night we had the longest day of the year — June 21 — did anyone notice? Did the day drag or just fly by as usual, or are all the extra hours of daylight finally getting to you, as apparently they should be?
In fact, the ‘summertime blues’ were deemed official this week after Dr Lance Workman, head of psychology at Bath University, UK, reported that about two per cent of the population suffer with ‘reverse seasonal affective disorder’, which manifests through typical symptoms of insomnia, loss of appetite, possible weight loss, extreme irritability, and feelings of doom and hopelessness. Summer depression has in fact been noted since the 1990s in countries such as India, China, Japan, and Australia where sizzling temperatures have even been linked to a rise in violent crime.
With such a valid excuse for bad-temperedness, we can now therefore stop apologising for complaining so much about the good weather, because yes, it is too hot, we are fed up with it, we miss our comfort zone of daily rain, and can someone please just keep the curtains shut?
For the kids of course (and teachers ) this is the best time of the year as the 10 weeks of school holidays commence. If we could just get a good night’s rest without blazing sunshine hitting us in the eyes at 6am, maybe we can get into the holiday spirit too. We’ve waited long enough after all for these ‘sunshiny days’ to come. Happy holidays!
