• Predictions 2021 – How did I do?

    Time to see how I did with my predictions at the start of this year.

    Boris Johnson will achieve his longstanding ambition to become a former Prime Minister.

    Alas, Boris Johnson did not achieve this ambition this year. But we must award him 10/10 for trying. He’ll get there in the end. Prediction not accurate

    Stock market higher at end of 2021 than at the beginning (FTSE – 6,460) but higher inflation too (most recent CPIH – 0.6%).

    Yes, the stock market is higher and so is inflation. (FTSE – 7379 and most recent CPIH – 4.6%). Prediction accurate.

    No progress for those hoping for marriage equality in the Church of England.

    Indeed, no progress at all for those hoping for marriage equality in the Church of England. Moreover, any hope is receding, made much worse by the Church in Wales opting for blessing same-sex couples rather than marrying them. Prediction accurate.

    State based hackers turn their disruptive attention to open source software. (Watch out WordPress).

    Hard to prove but there are reports suggesting this is happening and indeed may have been happening before this year. I’m claiming this as a win. Prediction accurate.

    Donald Trump will remain the centre of attention.

    He’s not gone away. He’s not been convicted of anything. He’s building his media empire. He wants to run again and has no major republican challenger. Prediction accurate

    There will be midnight mass in St Mary’s Cathedral, Glasgow next Christmas Eve. People will be wearing masks.

    Accurate in every respect. Prediction accurate.

    A rocky year for Nicola Sturgeon but the SNP will be returned triumphant to Holyrood, despite their record.

    Well it wasn’t really a rocky year for Nicola Sturgeon who is still the only show in town but the SNP did return in triumph to Holyrood despite their record. Prediction partially accurate.

    No vote on Scottish Independence this year but like it or not, constitutional change is a-coming.

    Indeed so. It has been quite a year for asking whether devolution works. Prediction accurate.

    Attempt to repeal the Human Rights Act, removing the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights from UK law. (It is a stepping stone to restoring capital punishment – the Brexiteers are not done with us yet).

    Consultation currently underway on a plan to replace the Human Rights Act with a Bill of Rights that would distance the UK from the ECHR. Prediction sadly accurate.

    Legislation emerges in Scotland to restrict fireworks.

    The Fireworks (Scotland) Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 2021 were brought in at the end of June restricting the times of day that fireworks can be used to between 6 pm and 11 pm, restricting the times of sale and limiting the amount that can be sold to someone at any one time. We’ll see how these restrictions have been received at about one minute past midnight tonight. Prediction accurate.

    Not a bad year overall. I’m claiming 8½ out of 10.

7 responses to “M 40, GSOH obviously…”

  1. Rachel Avatar
    Rachel

    Not sure if you read “Christianity” magazine, but they have had an “agony” column for the last few months which has addressed mostly sexual issues and has caused a storm of debate on the letters pages about their suitability in a “family” publication. The topics covered are among those least likely to be heard in a sermon but very important for christians to think through.

    I am dubious as to whether “Inspire” has the nerve to take up either of your suggestions.

  2. kelvin Avatar
    kelvin

    Thanks for the comment Rachel. I don’t read Christianity so I was unaware of this. How very interesting.

    Inspires does not claim to be a family magazine – it is for everyone, but I could easily imagine the same kind of debate.

    The most interesting thing about the kind of reaction that you describe is that people seem to be saying that such topics should not be discussed in a family setting. I’ve a feeling that this is a particularly strong view in the UK and very different to what seems to be the case in, for example, the Netherlands, where there would be a presumption that the family was exactly the right place for open discussion.

  3. Rev Ruth Avatar

    Rev F (50), small rectory, seeks clergy-wife /scrubber to keep house tidy, prepare meals and listen after a long hard day. GSOH essential.

  4. kelvin Avatar
    kelvin

    Mother R, has it passed you by that slavery has been abolished?

  5. Kimberly Avatar

    I think we need to combine this post with last:

    Fr Kevin’s agony-auntie weblog–

    relationship-guidance, fashion, vocational questions, handy household tips …

    just watch the blog-stats soar

  6. Rob+ Avatar

    M 38 happily attached… still waiting for that Liturgy though

    maybe I can bitch to agony-auntie for some help 😉

  7. Andrew Avatar
    Andrew

    Almost new liturgy (one careful Methodist owner) seeks a church for meals and occasional companionship. Comes complete with canonical approval and Guild of Servers certification. Affectionate, but a little nervous with children and Archbishop Drexel Gomez. No Anglican Hymn-book time wasters please.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Previous Posts

  • Sunday Trading and the Churches

    Dear the Churches of England If you campaign against Sunday trading you are going to seem to the People of England to be as bad as you are. Campaign instead for the rights of shop workers of all religions who work at all times and the People of England might be more convinced. If you…

  • Providence and Vocation for Liberals in Public Life

    So far as I can tell, most Christians believe that right at the centre of the public square there grows a tall tree called Christians Ethics. And Christians think that they sit up in its gentle branches presiding over the moral dilemmas of this world greatly blessed by what the good Lord has given unto…

  • US achieves Equal Marriage across all states

    The full judgement is here. But the essence of it is contained in this one paragraph. No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family. In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were. As some of the petitioners…

  • Proud Christian

    I’ll be heading off to join in with Pride Scotia this weekend. It is the Pride march that takes place in Edinburgh. Whilst looking for some pics of Pride to illustrate the facebook event invitation for Episcopalians at Pride, I came upon this picture. It is a picture of me standing in the rain addressing…