So. Globalisation. What exactly does that mean and what are the affects of this word on the average person round the world?

Well lets start with the meaning.

It’s all about how business, technology and everything is connected and grown globally. What were once small businesses have evolved into massive corporations, cultures that were separated are now being integrated, research and development has sped up and brands have become household names all over the world where before they were limited to their home nation.

That’s the basic meaning of globalisation and it has resulted in some very different outcomes.

A few decades ago business, compared to today’s, were relatively small and everyone had a fair bite at the cherry. The chief executive or managing director would have responsibility for the running of things and that would be reflected in a higher salary but it was often limited to a ceiling of only ten times what the average worker received.

Technologies changed slowly so one could get used to products and information gradually and get full use from those things before the next generation came to market.

People worked, played, and lived locally and local trades and businesses could thrive and the markets for housing were affordable and set by local incomes.

Society was safer and more caring as communities grew up together, education and morals were greater and life in general was far less complicated and stressful.

Today we see mass exploitation, over inflated house prices, an ignorant youth (who can hardly read and write let alone work), corporate and international corruption in almost every field of business and faceless organisations which take little or no responsibility for their actions.

The chief executive or managing director can receive two or three hundred times what the average worker receives but want to take less accountability. The workers are squeezed from all directions through bullying, low wages, migration and economy drives.

The banking crisis and subsequent crash saw businesses and corporations cut back on their running costs but never did we see senior management or the very people who caused the problems suffer; in fact most grew fatter off the exploitation by using excuses of saving money and cutting waste when still spending (more quite often) on pointless clipboard missions and state of the art office blocks.

Time will tell and often one’s campaign game is totally different to the reality of how things are run or will be managed. This can be said, as an example, about Mr Donald Trump. He delivered a bigoted, brash, ludicrous and offensive campaign but managed to take one of the world’s most responsable  and influenceable jobs. Many will have opinions and fears about this position of president but how many have independently listened to  his game plan after election?

The Hillary Clinton package would have been fine for her rich cronies and powerful counterparts but would have done little to change the lives of the masses. She was caught out and the comeuppance of her actions led to her loss.

The world needs change and needs shaking out of this time-bomb attitude that will have no choice but to explode. We need champions and a different way of looking at how we do things like never before. We need radical ideas and reforms.

This attitude that globalisation is working and is good is the very thing that will see devastation in the not to distant future.

The world cannot carry on with a few commanding the wealth while the rest are left fighting for scraps off the castle floor.

When the average bod cannot afford the next Iphone,  new car, plush sofa, labelled clothes and the holiday abroad what do they think will happen? Demand goes down so less are made. Result, fewer jobs, less profit and subsequently the downward spiral will start as each level will see less and less and casualties will undoubtedly will be left.

The, already, super-rich won’t care because they will sit lording it from their ivory palaces. It’s the new management and work force that will suffer and its this generation that has to roll out change or embrace the new ideas from the brave and, possibly insane, ones who want to do things differently.

Globalisation, corporate ignorance and greed cannot carry on for much longer before the bubble has to burst, but what will be the outcome is anyone’s guess. So before you dismiss Donald Trump, Nigel Farage, Theresa May and such-like names we should give them a chance. The world can’t get much more disastrous than it already is.

I know many will disagree with these words and I have only picked up on a few aspects of the title of the article but these are my opinions today (with hindsight and more information and action I may change my stance) and I am open to other’s views.

Thanks once again for reading if you have got this far.

Recently, my father was in hospital and, although he was in pain and needed tests, his sense of humour and interaction with those around him remained.

What shocked us was the answers he received from one of the lovely nurses that attended his needs.

He asked her what Christmas meant to her and what it celebrated.

Her response was that it was a time of celebrating some winter festival by giving and receiving gifts, serving sumptuous feasts and getting together with friends and family.

“Okay; Have you ever heard of a man called Jesus?”asked dad.

“No, can’t say I have. Why, who was He?” replied the nurse with an expression of confusion played out on her pretty face.

“He was the son of God and Christmas is a celebration of His birthday as he was born on the 25th of December.” dad explained.

Has it got that bad that commercialism, selfishness, overindulgence and overspending have overshadowed the real reason for christmas?

As you all know, or should by now, I love the odd gadget and would love to see one  under the tree (albeit a small felt 9″ affair) on Christmas morning but I also appreciate why this day is special. We should be kind to one another the year round and maybe offer help and treats over the twelve  months too.

It has become  a season of stress, hatefulness, jealousy, selfishness and loathing and with thanks to the marketing departments of businesses and television it has become utterly boring to the point that most are sick to the back teeth of it and can’t wait for it to end.

Every which way you turn there is someone trying to sell you something, give to charity (so the governors can realise a higher bonus), watch a telly repeat or spend money. You’d be safer at a rodeo or at the hands of Dick Turpin.

Once the New Year finally makes and appearance the credit cards are full, the bank accounts empty and the store loans are as high as they can be. Everywhere one goes there is more stress, gloom and despair for trying to impress and outdo as folk come to terms with their stupid choices.

It’s just not worth it when a simple meal, a walk in the park and some good conversation is all that is needed to cheer one up. Maybe some silly hats and jumpers would not go amiss and a small gift that means something would fit the bill.

Being a postie, I see families ordering a plethora of items online. Thats fine but add that to the car loads of goods and things that other companies deliver to them then it does make me stop and think. Thousands of pounds are spent on goods that a few days later lay broken or abandoned. Food is thrown out by the wheelie bin full. Bottle banks groan with the increased amount of empties from stifling parties. Might just as well well set fireto those bank notes and it may have been a little more exciting too.

No one stops to think about the click of a button and what that causes to the hoards of folk employed to deliver the item that was clicked on. No one says even a thank you for getting it to the buyer on time and before the big day.

Push into the queue to grab the last turkey or pair of socks. Gridlock roads so the handbag (that will be in a charity shop a few weeks later) can be bought (on higher purchase).  Curse and swear that a store has run out of cranberry sauce two weeks before the 25th. Be forced to work over-time to ensure that Santa gets a helping hand when they are the ones who also have a life and need to provide but are working to allow others to be sorted first.

Self, self, self. Me, me, me. I’m alright Jack sod everyone else. Thank you? Why should I, its your job!

Okay we all resign and see what happens then. No wine to grace the tasteless crystal, no happy Jonny as there will be no action figure or play station 4, no tree to shed its needles. No nothing and see how you bleat then.

A simple smile and thank you go a long way and make things worthwhile.

I just wonder if all the waste was put into a pile and shared out how many years that pile would last and still give pleasure?

Think about your actions. Can I afford that gift or extra food? Does that child really need 25 presents? Do we actually need the neighbours freezer space for the food for the family meal?

If the answer is no then stop and don’t do it. Honestly, don’t do it.

A much better gift at Christmas and The New Year is to bring happiness, love, fun and a smile to proceedings and a token gesture of something to boot that is affordable and apt is a bonus.

Seasonal Greetings and Happy Christmas to all for 2016 and all the years to come.

But Most Of All Be Amazing And Smile.