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THE SWIFT REPORT 2025

Had this year been only about good songs, TV shows and movies, plays, concerts, seeing friends, swimming, reading and holidays, it might rank among my top ten favourite years since I was born. However, three major factors make me consider 2025 one of the worst years in my personal experience, and probably one of the very worst years of the past century geo-politically.

1. My mother died. I won't write more here about this, but as you can imagine, this has been the saddest and most upsetting personal life event since the death of my father.

2. Trump, the war against Ukraine, and war and suffering in the Middle East, not to mention other wars and tragedies and terror attacks, led to a geo-political instability "at home and abroad" - with American democracy being undermined as perhaps never before, not even during the Nixon period.

3. The environment. Without even considering the existential risk to all humanity from nuclear weapons, bio-weapons, nanotech, a new pandemic like avian flu, or an anti-human superintelligence - each of which could destroy the human race in the next few decades - the climate catastrophe IS going to kill off many humans and animals, and ruin our civilisations, in the next few decades, probably. Bleak stuff.

If one adds aspects of local and national politics in the UK (a weak prime minister, the rise of extreme right populism), 2025 was for many people often depressing, scary and shocking. No wonder so many took refuge in entertainment, escapism, games, with mental health challenges on the rise.

***

Absurdly, perhaps, in the midst of many difficult moments, I had a few holidays, especially to Madrid and France, this year, and saw some good friends again.

I also published a new poetry collection.

And went to some excellent concerts in London and Brighton.

My health remained mostly stable.

And, I somehow managed to keep the small indie press I direct a going concern for one more year. I was very proud of the excellent titles we brought out, in our poetry, non-fiction, fiction and crime lists.

I have little to say at this time to encourage anyone. I suppose love and friendship, and art and conversation, prayer and good walks, swimming and lovely animal friends, can help. Good luck everyone.



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