Enter La La Land and forget President Trump
Right. OK. So Donald Trump is being inaugurated today. Which means if we get to summer without a global nuclear apocalypse, then the world’s done well – and we’d have only three-and-a-half more years to get through and hope Americans do better the next time they get a chance to vote.
A great man told Americans on his presidential inauguration... “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself”.
In light of that timeless piece of advice – and after President Obama telling us he thinks everything will be fine at his final press conference – here are some things you could do to cheer yourself after a week that began with blue Monday and which ends in a bleak, black Friday. Go and watch La La Land
After work, head to the pictures and watch La La Land.
It’s been widely given five stars by the critics and seems to be the film we need right now – even if you’re not one for musicals, this is a movie that’ll give you a midwinter tonic.
“Audacious, retro, funny and heartfelt, La La Land is the latest great musical for people who don’t like musicals – and will slap a mile-wide smile across the most miserable of faces,” said Ian Freer in Empire.
We’re all in need of a smile right now. Alternatively... stay in
You might be able to time your day so you get home from work, walking the dog, picking the kids up – whatever – after 6pm. By then you’ve missed the main ceremony and you can pretend Barack Obama is still president if you want.
I advise either bingewatching an entire series on Netflix – has to be Narcos if you’ve not watched it yet – or on good old fashioned network TV you can tune in to Jamie Oliver cooking some food live on Channel 4 8pm, followed by comedians trying to out-funny one another in 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown. Go on a date night You don’t do enough things with your one true love; you’ve forgotten the value in each other’s company; you can’t remember the last time you had a bit of quality time together. Well why not make Trump Day, Date Night. Share a bottle of wine or two. Have a nice meal. Chat about anything but Donald. Go for a dance. This may be one of the last chances you get! Organise works drinks The time is ripe to restart the moribund after works drinks tradition in your office and make the office sociable again. There are a colleagues you barely know the names of, less speak to every day. Well here’s a chance to get to know them better and make a few friends along the way.
Then on Monday you can have a watercooler chat about Friday’s shenanigans – instead of a watercooler chat about, erm, the watercooler. Sign up to night classes
How about taking time out today to work on a longer-term project of self-fulfilment.
Spend a bit of time having a look at the things you can do to improve yourself – and the world. Always wanted to speak Italian? Check for courses and do it! Prove that there’s more to being here than merely worrying about what’s going on in geopolitics. Console yourself with the thought...
... that at least you aren’t Donald.
Trump will soon learn that he must cut a far more conciliatory figure if he is to get through his presidency. It will also become apparent just how big a job he has on his hands.
This cannot be done by one man alone, no matter how vain he is.
The daunting truth awaits.