Trying to make sense of the car crash that is 2020, is a tricky business. Which is why conspiracy theories are born. From a laboratory manufactured bioweapon to tracker vaccines, that know what you had for breakfast. One man’s conspiracy theory is a trillion men’s misinformation. Clutching at straws is what human beings do, when our world is in meltdown. In writing this piece I do not wish to trivialise the gravity of the situation we find ourselves in. The very nature of Social Media and the light speed a rumour, falsehood or fabrication, can whizz around the globe is frightening. I sincerely urge you to stay safe by continuing to practice good hygiene and physical distancing. As well as avoiding public gatherings and by isolating yourself, if need be. It’s a tough call but these are tough times. So, in no particular order here are some of the more colourful Coronavirus conspiracies that are nuttier than Secret Squirrel doo-doo. First, as I’ve already mentioned, features a swarthy ...

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum was a Broadway musical,(1962) and a Hollywood film,(1966).  Inspired by the farces of Ancient Rome’s equivalent of Woody Allen, a playwright called Plautus (251-183 BC). His bawdy tale tells of a slave and his attempt to win freedom by helping his master woo the girl next door. Using puns, slapstick, mistaken identity and satire he comments on the social classes of the time. I wonder what old Plautus would’ve made of the deadly farce entitled ‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to COVID19’, we all find ourselves playing a bit part in? Who can we blame? The current Coronavirus pandemic has made us all a tad jumpy. A desperate search for answers has spread across continents, wanting to uncover the reasons for what’s turned our routine-filled lives, upside down. Finger-pointing headlines like ‘Yellow Peril’, ‘Chinese Panda-monium!’ and ‘China kids stay home’, have appeared in newspapers around the world. Our lives might...

You Still Alive and Kicking? I checked in with my precious older sister Esme and my brother-in-law Ray last night. It was morning in Blighty and evening in Oz. And guess what popped into the conversation? The friggin’ Black Death! Like the rest of the world, I didn’t see COVID19 coming. Or for that matter, the Black Death being a topic of conversation for my elderly, kith and kin to happily chat about! Obviously, being in their late 70s and early 80s, they didn’t actually remember first-hand the bubonic plague but it was a surreal experience non-the-less. 'Which is worse, Coronavirus or the plague?' Search me? I was just phoning to see if you were alright! They’re both in the sweet-spot, demographic for the virus to have its evil way, so you can understand my concern. A Short History of Virus. As a life-long student of history, it got me thinking about the similarities between the two. Both spread rapidly between countries around the globe, catching governmen...