I am being serenaded by a friendly magpie lark. His/her shrill calls piercing my hearing aided ears.
Lulu came limping in just after dark last night. She wouldn’t tell us what happened and we feared it may have been a snake…
We loaded her up and took her to a vet hospital in Manly, where she hopped out the car and started snuffling about hardly limping at all. We went home unvetted – she’s good.
Si and Mags arrived and made their big announcement: they were doing a Dry January. I was miffed – I would have joined them, but I had just opened my first beer of the day, year and decade. I feel better now; more like a pioneer.
Reviewing the decade, our move to Australia dominates; it was a good decision. Our little cameo stay in Oamaru holds bright if not many warm memories.
I suppose the next ten years will be about downsizing. We will get a few trips and jols in before we move into wheelchairs, so the kids still have a few years of freedom.
We have been very lucky.
My crystal ball gazing suggests:
- Africans will get poorer as their rulers fail to provide for other than themselves
- The primacy of individual rights will subside as surveillance becomes ubiquitous.
- Liberal governments will remain hampered by populist demands for attention to every little individual need. Autocratic governments will grow stronger.
- Government processes will become digitised and more efficient.
- There will be no cash money. Cryptocurrency may lead to a universal currency and a basic income may become available for all.
- Individual car ownership will diminish under shared ownership; petrol will disappear.
- Water will become highly valued. Unproductive land will be uneconomical (i.e. lawns and gardens)
- Waste management and plastic eradication will be of paramount importance
- Air transport will come to your door.
That’s enough thumbsucking. Make a note to check my predictions in 2030 – you won’t remember but Google will!
“Normality is a paved road: It’s comfortable to walk, but no flowers grow on it.”
Vincent Van Gogh
sillysocksonfriday 
Very good. Some comments of my own.
Africans will get poorer as their rulers fail to provide for other than themselves. (Me) Education will see the beginning of the African renaissance.
The primacy of individual rights will subside as surveillance becomes ubiquitous. (Me) too many big words but I think I agree.
Liberal governments will remain hampered by populist demands for attention to every little individual need. Autocratic governments will grow stronger. (Me) Maybe we will see more growth towards “one world government” scenario.
Government processes will become digitised and more efficient. ( Me) Ok
There will be no cash money. Cryptocurrency may lead to a universal currency and a basic income may become available for all. (Me) OK
Individual car ownership will diminish under shared ownership; petrol will disappear. (OK)
Water will become highly valued. Unproductive land will be uneconomical (i.e. lawns and gardens)
Waste management and plastic eradication will be of paramount importance. (Me) …but we will get on top of it.
Air transport will come to your door. (Me) I’ll have to significantly extend my front driveway.
An additional prediction :
Population will peak which will require a major setback to the economic philosophy of growth!
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The next decade is going to be enough of a challenge Mal, don’t make it harder for yourself by giving up alcohol! Best wishes for the next decade and let’s hope we are still around in 2030 to check on your predictions.
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