This is not champagne popping. It's raindrops through my window. This is a sad and depressing post. Don't read it if you need cheering up.
Outside, a storm has gathered. Rain and howling wind.
And our little country is engulfed in a similar storm. Talks are under way for an EU/IMF bailout for us. Apparently the banks have the big problem, but the banks and the country are completely intertwined, thanks to a blanket guarantee given by our government 2 years ago. We now don't have any more billions left to capitalise the banks, and no option not to capitalise them.
I'm recording how I feel here.
I feel like howling too. We're about to lose our sovereignty. This government has been disastrous for our country, and they have lied traitorously to the people. They have completely failed in their handling of the crisis that they got us into. They have poured billions that we can't afford into banks that behaved irresponsibly lending to developers that have gone bankrupt, but held onto villas and mercs. They have lived it up, squandered taxpayers money on trips and junkets. In their view, it was party, party, party.
Well, we have one hell of a hangover now. And it's not going away, no paracetamol or aspirin will work for it.
Yesterday, an unemployed developer strangled his two daughters after his wife left for work, then doused his car in petrol and drove it at high speed until it crashed and burst into flames.
It is a black day for Ireland. A terrible mess. I love my country, love the fact that I'm Irish, love how other nations love us. `We've produced some good people, great writers and artists among them. But tonight, I feel desperately sad, and I'm in tears for a nation brought to its knees by silly, greedy politicians.
And I hope that I will live long enough to see us recover and to tell grandchildren about how it came about, and how we recovered from it.
