The Janus view

In which I look back over the landscape of 2015 and take a squint at what lies ahead in 2016.

2015 can only be called the year of IS. Having occupied huge tracts of land in Iraq and Syria, including several lucrative oilfields, and receiving succour from wealthy men in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, they can almost legitimately be called a state, though not one most people would live in by choice.The shock wave from their advance, combined with the attacks on his own people by Syria's Assad has resulted in the greatest movement of people since the end of World War II. We see the effects of this right here in Cardiff, which has been designated a "dispersal" centre for Wales, and which is now 20% Muslim. The impact is most noticeable in City Road, which is almost 70% non-indigenous. On the upside, most of these are hard working, cheerful folk who simply want to make a decent living, which has resulted in a blossoming of ethnic restaurants, which are enjoyed by as many white people as people from abroad. Cardiff has been a cosmopolitan city for more than 100 years, and we are very good at assimilating new arrivals from foreign parts.

What of the future? Will the bombing of IS diminish their power, and will we see more attacks on the West in reprisal? Unfortunately, the answers are  no and yes respectively. If, on the other hand we can starve them out economically, somehow prevent them selling their oil, somehow persuade the fundamentalist Arab states to stop supporting them, then we might actually get somewhere.

At home, having seen the Tories pull back from their fundamentalist doctrines of supporting the rich and screwing the poor, we must remain on our guard lest they try out their grand plans once again. And then there is the threat, often from the same people, to pull us out of the EU, that flawed behemoth that nonetheless is our only route to the maintenance of our prosperity. The battle will heat up this year as we prepare for the big vote next year. I believe we will vote to stay in, just as the Scots pulled back from the brink in 2014, but it will be bloody struggle.

For me, my first major reading project is to come to grips with James Joyce's famous magnum opus, Finnegans Wake. Regarded by many as unreadable, there is, however, a consensus that holds it up as one of the greatest books ever written, even if much of it appears to be written in an impenetrable code. To assist me in my great task are two books: Lots of Fun at Finnegans Wake,  by Finn Fordham, and Annotations,  by Duncan McHugh, which hopefully will illuminate my way. I have allowed up to two months to read, first the Finn Fordham book and then, with Annotations by my side and Joyce's great 628 page text (all editions have exactly 628 pages) on my lap I shall make my way through what is promised to be a "Universal Revelation". I can hardly wait to get started!
Wish me luck...