And you thought the last two Christmases were bad!
Surging power bills, gas shortages, strikes, transport chaos, healthcare chaos, blackouts, the prospect of nuclear war with Russia… it’s not looking like a promising one, is it?
I wonder if reliving the 1970s is making you feel younger or older…
Are people demanding of each other to “Have a Merry Christmas, to spite Putin” yet?
Perhaps we’ll refer to this year’s Christmas as the “Black Christmas” because the power went out…
But at least we’re allowed to actually see each other in person this time. That’s something to be grateful for… right?
This time last year I was in Japan, putting wood in a heating stove in an uninsulated house. The heat would make the snow slide off the roof and onto me each time I went to get more wood from outside…
If you’ve ever marvelled at how technologically advanced Japan is, I’m here to tell you that their toilet seats are heated for a reason – their homes are cold. Some people put bubble-wrap on their windows to keep the heat in…
It reminds me of the celebrations of Europeans over cutting their gas usage this year. Don’t they realise what’s being burned instead?
Things could be much worse in the UK this year too. I hope you’ve stocked up on firewood, coal or other heat sources. And candles…
My own Christmas will be spent welcoming some new visitors – a potential brother-in-law’s family. They’re dugong hunters from Thursday Island…
My mum reckons that they’re cannibals, so things could get interesting…
I’ll be back in touch on 26 December, retelling my favourite Christmas story and quite possibly the most important Fortune & Freedom of 2022.
If I disappear, you’ll know what happened to me…
Have a very merry Christmas, just to spite the establishment.
Nick Hubble
Editor, Fortune & Freedom
