Officially I am on Christmas holiday from now until new year. I have an employer who has told me so, and pays me nonetheless. I thank all those who campaigned for paid holidays in times past and worry about the post-Brexit future when saying that.
Since this blog is, however, unrelated to my employment in that it's done in my time, that fact need not interrupt service. And it won't, except when I want it to do so. Like today when the first family visit of Christmas takes place to the relative who is a doctor and is on duty for the following few days (for which I can only say ‘thank you').
So please play along with me if there are periods of absence. I need a break. Since the beginning of October I think I've stayed in ten hotels in six countries, worked on four academic papers, had a book chapter or two published and thankfully made real progress on many issues to make the effort worthwhile. I never stop thinking, so I will blog. But I may need a festive snooze, walk and conversation as well.
I am hoping you get the chance for them as well,.
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Good for you.
Have a good Christmas and Happy New Year Richard.
Let us hope that the festive season is a quiet one.
I feel for all the migrant workers who have saved up over the year to have 2 weeks relaxation back in their home country this Christmas. There’s no paid holiday for many of them.
The neoliberals will tell you that paid holiday comes out of total compensation so it makes no difference either way. And that those who express thanks for paid holidays existing are really saying thank you to a government that insists on holding your hand because you might be incapable of budgeting.
You push good will to its limits
I have often noticed it is commonly those who have little need of careful budgeting who mostly loudly praise its virtues.
Well said
And in the same vein, those who have the least are usually those who work the hardest. And vice versa…
And don’t forget to feed the dog.
Season’s greetings, I can feel the hours of daylight increasing already.
The Sun has got his hat on (and scarf, mittens, frivolous Christmas pullover and long johns.)
Slainte Chugat !
A very happy Christmas, Richard to you and yours. I have much enjoyed, and been stimulated by the Blog.
Happy Christmas/Seasons Greetings/ETC
Whatever…have a good one!
Have a well-deserved break, Richard. I look forward every day to your blogs and tweets. I thank you for making 2017 bearable through your insights. Best wishes for 2018.
Thanks Mary
But it’s not over yet…
May you and all your family have a joyful and peaceful time, whether together or apart, and may the New Year prove prosperous in terms of health and happiness.
Thanks
And thanks for all your retweets!
Have a good holiday
Richard have a well deserved break, spending time with your family and relaxing. I look forward to many points of agreement and perhaps a few of disagreement in the New Year.
I’m waiting for your 2018 recession predictions
It’s al in the timing
Good Wishes to you and your family for ‘the time of year known as Christmas’ (as the 17th Century Quakers called it!).
I bought my son (who is doing geography ‘A’ level) a book by Danny Dorling, for Christmas ( sad dad present!) and produced a bad joke involuntarily, : I told him that Dorling had ‘put geography on the map.’
Well, I found it funny!
All the best,
Simon
Danny would too
I know him
Richard: wishing you a splendid end to the year with your family, and enjoy a well-deserved rest.
‘Merry Christmas’ – or as our soon-to-be-estranged Continental cousins say ….
Joyeux Noël * Priecigus Ziemassvetkus * Fröhliche Weihnachten * Linksmu Kaledu * Il-Milied It-Tajjeb * Chestita Koleda * Vrolijk Kerstfeest * Glædelig Jul * Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia * Feliz Navidad * Feliz Natal * Roomsaid Joulu Puhi * Craciun Fericit * Iloista Joulua * Veselé Vianoce * Kala Christouyenna * Vesel Bozic * Kellemes Karácsonyi Ãœnnepeket * God Jul * Nollaig Shona Duit * Veselé Vánoce * Buon Natale 🙂 (with thanks to Le Centre d’Information sur les Institutions Européennes – CIIE).
Richard – I’m hoping you’ll chill out and talk to the family and friends, and recharge the batteries. We’ll manage without you for a few days!
For many of us, in spite of all the bad news, 2017 has been a good year for you and the blog, a lifeline to remind us that better ways are possible and good people are out there. Let’s hope 2018 sees some of those possibilities brought to life
Thanks Robin
Good to see you this year
Very many thanks for the blog, to you and (almost) all the contributors – a source of invaluable information and opinion.
Best hopes for change in the coming year.
Happy Christmas Richard! Thank you for blogging here as you do — this American reader finds it all very edifying! 🙂
Thanks to you and all who have said so
They missed Nollaig Chridheil, which is Scottish Gaelic.
Chill as much as wish to. You are on the side of the better angels of our nature and must prevail. I realised some time ago the risks of making too much personal sacrifice for a noble cause and I stepped back. Despite your considerable impact, ultimately on many lives, do draw lines to protect yourself and family and recharge batteries. Merry Christmas and thanks for the prodigious moral influence which shines like a star in the firmament.
I will stop all work, but reserve the right to blog
But blogging is like breathing to me!
If you don’t take a break, you’ll burn out. And we would all be the poorer for that! So relax, enjoy yourself and recharge the batteries. Most of us will be doing the same. Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. And thank you for all your hard work on behalf of all of us. It’s much appreciated (and talked about.)
Trust me – I do relax
Family, friends, sleep, maybe a novel and some model railways building are all on the agenda for the next week or more
I have to admit university related work is not going to happen at all
Happy Christmas!
You deserve a rest. Merry Christmas.
Happy Christmas! Thanks for the blog, I rely on it so much to keep myself informed on a wider variety of issues than I thought would be the case – Marvellous!
Thanks
Have a good Christmas
Richatd
Have a great Christmas and enjoy your break. Many, many thanks for your blog, a light in the darkness.
Thanks
And to you