Imperialism and the "British Empire" are dead - Get over it !

I've been listening to an "Audible" sort of podcast by Writer, Broadcaster and Barrister Afua Hirsch on the topic headlined.

In this relatively brief but truthfully accurate and hard-hitting series of interviews to such diverse characters as Actress and film star Dame Diana Rigg, Poet Benjamin Zephaniah and Broadcaster Anita Rani, the "British Empire" is exposed for its flaws and logically but inexorably consigned to the dustbin of history!

British Empire

The British Empire was composed of the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts established by England between the late 16th and early 18th centuries. At its height it was the largest empire in history and, for over a century, was the foremost global power. By 1913 the British Empire held sway over 412 million people, 23 per cent of the world population at the time, and by 1920 it covered 35,500,000 km²or 24 percent of the Earth's total land area. As a result, its constitutional, legal, linguistic, and cultural legacy is widespread. At the peak of its power, it was described as "the empire on which the sun never sets", as the sun was always shining on at least one of its territories.

The death of the British Empire as such, was exacerbated by the second world war, but in truth was probably a  lingering and not entirely painless death from the 1920's.

 Economics, was probably the root cause of this terminal illness, in addition to outmoded attitudes by those, and by the way I definitely include the Scots in these attitudes towards "Johnny Foreigner".

The question is?  Does "Brexit" exemplify "Imperialism" and despite the reality of the 21st century global politics the "Dis-United Kingdom" still think it has a role to play on the world stage??

If you have "Audible" on your Kindle, have a listen to this short but accurate summary of the death of Empire.

The pomposity of a "Londoner" in respect of tattoos and Israel

More Delhi reminiscences; 

"I hate tattoos" Thus proclaimed a rather pompous woman from London who's now offended two of us, a career in the diplomatic corps is undoubtedly her forte. Actually she asked if I'd had it done, and when I said yes, the response was the comment at the opening. I pointed out that life was too short to use hate as an emotion but she prevaricated to reiterate her hatred for them. I took this opportunity to point out that I was unlikely to lose much sleep over her hatred of them since it was my arm it was decorating and not hers. The same pompous woman had the temerity to tell Laiah in a very early conversation that she hated Israel, despite knowing that Laiah is Jewish! We're now convinced that she was stood up at the altar in her wedding dress by an Israeli tattooist, which can be the only logical explanation for her somewhat belligerent dislike of the country and my arm art work.

Still it is Friday and the weekend beckons, though no travelling for me! The heat is beginning to sap me physically, and by midday I'm not worth a brass farthing. I may go sight-seeing in Delhi this weekend as there are still places I haven't seen, and I should really as they're on the doorstep so to speak (well a rickshaw away!) 

The morning started at Mother Teresa's with a mass with Father Julian coming in to do it. He's a nice guy and the day had started well, for the most part it went that way, till near the end when I'd normally be leaving the hospice. 

Lunch at the hospice was behind schedule today and in the interim there was an incident which wouldn't have happened if they'd been eating as they'd normally be doing at that time. One of the stronger boys bit one of the weaker ones on the arm, breaking the skin on the kid. It all happened so quick no-one was near enough to stop it, but I was near enough to see it and dive in on top of him. Dinner was obviously not soon enough for his appetite. So much for a vegetarian diet! 

Namaste for now. 

Football penalty flops

 No I'm not referring to Tottenham Hotspur, even although they'd qualify for the description! I'm referring to myself and one of the hospice helpers, when we had a penalty shoot-out in the yard this morning. Neither of us could kick a barn door if we held the handle. I saved all of his and he saved all of mine, not that they were exactly rockets since it was a leather ball and we both had cheap sandals on! Other than that it was another good day at the hospice, which I'm enjoying more as each day passes. Maybe enjoying is not the right word, but it is not as harrowing as I thought it would be on Monday. I still have to watch closely for any aggravation between the strong ones (and there are some who, whatever else they may have wrong with them are built like the proverbial brick "outhouses") and the weaker ones. The fact that they do stop whenever I whistle piercingly at them and shout "Nehi" in an authoritative voice seems to be enough. The afternoon saw me at yet another tattooist, this time not in a van but in a beauty parlour of all places, for the two latest editions to the Tom Walker body art (?) collection. It took some time but they are done and look very good according to all who've seen them thus far. One of the new arrivals this last weekend had taken to sleeping on our lounge floor since her room-mate snored too loudly for her to sleep. Since I start about two hours earlier than the rest I'm normally in the lounge for a coffee and a nicotine injection just after 6 a.m. This morning to my horror an enormous cockroach made it's way across the lounge floor, I tried to stamp on it but missed and it scurried under one of the settees. She asked me what that was, and I lied and said it was a wee ant. However, after I'd gone there was some shrieking which woke everyone else in the flat, as she undoubtedly saw the 2.5 inch long potential resident! His present state of life is as yet unknown, but I'm willing to bet that he's joined "Roland" in the big rubbish heap in the sky. Namaste from a very hot Delhi (33 dec C)