Partying. Pilgrimages. Desperate, dangerous travel.

At the cricket club, up the road from our house, they have been preparing for the Party in the Park, an annual event instigated almost 20 years ago. Bouncy castles and rides are set up for children, a stage is erected for tribute bands - Abba and Elton John soundalikes and so on - to perform on, fast food stalls are organised and the central bit of the cricket pitch (the wicket?) is carefully covered and enclosed so that nobody messes it up. Entry is by ticket only. It’s a very popular event. We don’t go; there is no need as we can hear it from our house. It’s a very dull and overcast day but as long as it doesn’t rain on their parade, I’m sure it will be fine. 

Other people gathering to party are ultra-orthodox Jews heading for Uman in Ukraine to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, a two-day holiday that falls in September or October. I’ve heard it described as the Jewish new Year. In Israel, apparently, they do family visits and eat together: traditionally, apples dipped in honey are eaten to symbolise hopes for a “sweet” year ahead. Like so many religious occasions, in whatever religion, it’s mainly about prayer but for followers of the rabbi Nachman of Breslov it seems Rosh Hashanah is a chance to party. Nachman, a great-grandson of the founder of what is today broadly known as Hassidic Judaism, a branch of ultra-Orthodoxy, spent the final months of his life in the Ukrainian city of Uman, 125 miles (200km) south of Kyiv, and died in 1810. They go and pray over his tomb. And many of them go to party.

There have been recommendations and appeals, including from Volodymyr Zelensky, not to go this year. After all, there is a war going on and there are barely enough shelters for the Ukrainians who live there, let alone a mass of pilgrims from all over the world.  But many are determined to go anyway. 

Some people travel out of desperation. In one of the latest rescue operation off the island of Lampedusa there was the body of a new born baby on the boat. Born on the boat, the child had no realistic chance of survival. Imagine being so desperate that you travel across the Mediterranean in an unseaworthy dinghy when you are about to give birth! Here is something I read this morning:  

“Between Monday and Wednesday this week, about 8,500 people – more than Lampedusa’s entire permanent population – arrived on the island in 199 boats, according to figures from the UN migration agency. The influx has prompted local politicians to appeal for help.”

That’s 199 boats and 8,500 people in just three days! All arriving on a small island! And we worry about the boats crossing the Channel. Our government is not the only one wanting to stop the boats:

“Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, called on Friday for the European Union to act jointly “with a naval mission if necessary” to prevent people crossing the Mediterranean from north Africa. “

“The migratory pressure that Italy has been experiencing since the beginning of the year is unsustainable,” she said.

The problem sprang from the “difficult international situation” in Africa, she said.

Now, I wonder which countries have contributed, over many years, to creating that “difficult international situation”. Hmm!

Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!