I became a dad late in life. There are pros and cons with this. I am in pretty good health and am not over-weight or lazy. But yes, I got backache and some joint pains. But I also have perspective. I know that if I was in my thirties, say, and became a dad then, work was my primary focus. I am now older and if someone calls me up and says they have an opportunity and that we can all make a lot of money, then so what. The Bunster is my biggest opportunity. To love, to nurture, to teach, to inspire. This is where I enjoy spending my time now. It is important (to me) and challenging and it is good for the soul.

When The Bunster came onto the scene something inside of me switched on. Something I never knew about. Where did this love for this little man suddenly come from? I love this feeling. And I am learning a lot about myself on the journey. It also got me thinking. Does everyone have this love inside of them, just waiting to come out? I think yes, but I also think that not everyone has the capacity to embrace it.

Imagine you have a child and at the same time you lose your job, or you are struggling with some kind of addiction, or a tragedy, or perhaps you are a single parent. Or war breaks out. One’s situation is a fundamental parameter. I am very fortunate that I can give the Bunster my full attention. And yes, I do have stresses on the work front, and there has been the pandemic and a dozen other things to worry about, including the current nightmare situation with Russia, but all in all, I thank God that we are in this fortunate position, that we can give the Bunster the time he needs, and with our full attention.

I know that being a parent is something much of the world experiences, and yes, I am just another parent statistic. But to me it feels special. And for this, I am very grateful. I think I am really fortunate that I can embrace the journey and enjoy the Bunster as much as I can. I think also that being a parent makes you less selfish, and for this I am also thankful. Yes, I am learning a lot about myself, and also, I am thanking God a lot. To be able to embrace this love is a magical feeling. And with that, I am going to give the Bunster a big hug now … when he looks at me and gives me a hug and goes “dada” it all just feels like magic.

I started writing this text a month ago. I was constantly thinking about this new love that I have been experiencing and wondering if everyone else gets to feel this too. If they did, I don’t believe there would be any more wars.

Three weeks ago today we were still in Kyiv. I see it is almost 10 am now, and it was around this time that we left our apartment and hit the road on the most terrifying journey that lasted around 5 days. We will never forget it. I finally finished this blog piece, and added in this last paragraph here. I pray that this nightmare ends soon. I pray that the Bunster never gets to experience this kind of horror. I pray that peace returns soon.

It was 3 weeks ago this time that we were running around looking for a bomb shelter. Air raid sirens were going off, our apartment building in Kyiv was vibrating, and bomb blasts could be heard in the distance. Our lives had changed. And the whole world has changed with it. Not for the better, I am sad to say.

America has lost its way. First there was that maniac Trump and now there is this weak Biden. America should have stood up for Ukraine right away. The Budapest agreement should have been more than enough. And yet Ukraine has to constantly beg for help.

No matter how long it takes Russia cannot win. Even if Russia takes over Kyiv, what will they do there with a puppet government. No one will support them. No one will give them money. What can Russia do with Ukraine?! There is nothing for them to do. They can’t even sort out their own country’s failing economy so how can they now also run Ukraine. There is seriously nothing for them to do in Ukraine. It is all just senseless.

Ukraine needs $565 billion to rebuild after Russia’s war. Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmygal said on March 15 that this preliminary figure would be at the expense of Ukraine’s partners and reparations from Russia. Ukraine’s government has already established a group to assess losses to the economy due to Russian aggression. – UBN

Ukraine is begging the world to help. Humanity is failing. If Putin nukes the world we probably all deserve it. I am sure many of you feel disgusted too.

God help us all.

This nightmare is not going to end soon.

The US is studying every Russian move. They are learning all their current military capabilities, seeing all their weaknesses. I don’t believe the US/West “engineered” this war, but they are certainly now taking full advantage.

Putin is going to fall, and that is good for the world. No one expected Zelensky to rise up and unify Ukraine like this. The US didn’t see this coming, Putin didn’t see this coming. And now there is the opportunity to try and remove Putin and Ukraine is doing the US/West’s dirty work.

NATO is going to have to step in at some point – Ukraine is the first wave. Yes, Ukraine is doing the world’s hard and ugly work. Unless China steps in and helps Russia – then it is WW III. I cannot see China helping Russia. They saw what happened to the Russian economy in a very short space of time. They don’t want this to happen to them.

These are very scary times.

Poland wants to give fighter jets to Ukraine but they can’t give these to them directly or Russia will take this as an attack by Poland. So they can give them to me, and I can give them to Ukraine. This is all crazy under the table game playing. Bottom line: the world is helping Ukraine.

Russia, everyone is disgusted by what you are doing and you have broken every rule in the book, so others are breaking some rules too – yes, Ukraine is getting help … not nearly enough, but they are getting help for sure, and it is on the increase.

Unless this nightmare ends soon WW III is inevitable. Russia invaded Ukraine, the world is helping Ukraine, and those are the facts. It is just a matter of time before Russia says “Hang on, this is now too much help.” Whether it is direct or indirect or under the table or over the table – Ukraine is getting help. This nightmare needs to end, or yes, this war is going to be far more reaching pretty soon.

But hang on, what is this latest news about Russia asking China for help. If this is true, and if China actually helps Russia, then this nightmare will go up a few levels. This could lead us right into WW III.

For those who know me, I am pale-skinned and gentle and warm. And yes, I don’t fit any of the pigeon holes. I have lived life on my own terms. I never set out to hurt or deceive anyone, but for sure I have made many mistakes. I am sorry about all the mistakes I have made.

I enjoy making people laugh and I like to tell stories. I love magic and inspiring people. And I love being inspired. I take pleasure in listening to a good story.

Kyiv in the winter is magical. And is full of smiles and laughter. I prefer it to the summer. I know most people in the world rather have warm weather but I like the winter and I enjoy that time of year in Kyiv (it is not that cold actually). I hope that this coming winter we are back in Kyiv, celebrating life, in this relatively unknown city. A city with an ancient and incredible history that is growing and buzzing. You may not know much about Kyiv, but it is fast becoming a new travel hot spot. I am pretty sure that within the next 5 years you will visit, and you will inspired and amazed. And like everyone who comes there, you will want to come back. Again and again.

Here are some photos of this winter wonderland. These are pics from some photographers I follow online.

If bombs dropped on Poland by mistake or on purpose then the West would need to defend, so the theory goes. So what is the difference if the bombs are falling on Poland or on Ukraine. Lviv is 70 km from the Polish border.

You ever been to Edinburgh? Everyone loves it there. Well, Lviv is more spectacular, and more buzzing. It is one the world’s new hot spots. And it is Poland’s close, friendly neighbour. So if bombs drop on Poland the West needs to defend, all because Poland signed a piece of paper. Ukraine also did sign a piece of paper in 1994 in Budapest that guaranteed their sovereignty. The US was very much a part of this. So much for all these pieces of paper. If you were drowning and I was walking by and could try and save you but I don’t because you were not in the “club” then what does it say about me?

Yes, yes, I know all the arguments about WW III and I am not buying it. Who is fighting currently with Russia. No one. And who said it will be WW III if they close the sky? Who said this will happen? Putin did not say he will attack if you close the sky. Show me where he said this. He said the sanctions from the West are an attack on Russia. So how does closing the sky make any difference. Close the God damn sky above Ukraine and help prevent more loss of life and all this senseless destruction.

“That idiot Putin walked into a trap. Putin is a rat and Ukraine is just the cheese. America caught him proper. The sanctions will mess up Russia totally. And so what if there is minus one million or minus two million Ukrainians. And minus one country. Who cares. The world feels pretty messed up at the moment.”

“Right now the US is just waiting to see how the sanctions are taking effect. What is happening in Ukraine and Europe suits them. They know their dirty work of getting rid of a madman is being done by Ukraine. That’s why Zelensky is a hero.”

But hang on, someone needs to control the 6,000 nuclear warheads. This problem with Russia will always be there. It also shows how irresponsible Putin in behaving right now.

“The West is not so unified, on anything, and it took only the unspeakable madness of invading Ukraine to get to agree on anything. The West could have stopped Russia in 2014,. The insufficient response from the West to the Russian invasion of Crimea in 2014 led to the current conflict.”

I am all over the place. In summary, if there was anyone to blame it is all of us. Greed has led the world to this point, and for now Ukraine is paying the price. God help us all.

“The world is feeling more and more evil, and it is hyper-connected, the worst of combinations. We have given the cheapest and most powerful weapon – connectivity – to the worst people in the world.“

“I wrote this essay in November when Russian troops were starting to lay siege to Ukraine. What has happened since then further supports its two main theses. First, that Vladimir Putin and his inner circle have a deliberate plan to destroy the order of rules and values governing world politics. Their goal is not regional or limited. They have a profound hatred of the Western world and want to take advantage of its perceived weakness. Second, the Kremlin has no vision of a new order to come. Its goal is purely destructive. Events in Ukraine over the last few days have fully confirmed these insights.“