Pandemics aren't the only things that can seem to turn the whole world upside down.  Or topsy-turvy, as we might describe it, if this were a cartoon for children.  (Don't say it!)  

Many people are surprised by the hate between leaders and extremists, as in Brazil, Ukraine and Korea. In many countries, as in Sweden, Austria, the UK, governments do not have sufficient support in the parliament to make true what they promised in their election-campaigns. They and banks lie about the future.

I applied to exchange my driving license in 2020. I emailed the required form and received an email receipt and waited.  Then COVID, so I waited. Then I heard there was a backlog, so I waited some more.

I am resident of Portugal. I have a UK passport. Last Thursday, Nov 3rd, I flew from Faro to the UK -  the queue for passport check went three times around the departure area !

Many people are surprised by the hate between leaders and extremists, as in Brazil, Ukraine, Korea, the US. There, youngsters kill dozens of colleagues while police-men torture alleged criminals in streets.

Life can be a minefield, and not always at ground (or underground) level. Boats sink, planes plummet from the sky, I once tumbled from my elderly roller skates and skinned both my knees, a manoeuvre the instruction booklet claimed was impossible. And many of us fall headlong in love at some point, accidentally or otherwise.

MEO recently switched us to fibre optic. Because our landline phone would now be routed by fibre rather than copper cable, I asked what would happen in the event of a power cut. We were told the landline would not function as it passes through the router.

Many people discuss what politicians and political institutions, as IMF, say about the future. A few trust them. They have to spread optimism, it´s their job. But an international consultant may not be optimistic or pessimistic, he has to be realistic, otherwise he will not be a consultant.