The year 2016 began much like any before it – trouble in the Middle East and Russia flexing its muscles.
The United Kingdom had been promised a vote to consider leaving or staying in the European Union by Prime Minister David Cameron if elected, which he duly was in 2015.
He and much of his government and many in the opposition were opposed to an exit and campaigned against it.
No one expected the populace to actually vote in favour but, as we know, they did.
Two years later the UK officially left the EU and that triggered immediate events.
Northern Ireland left the UK and 97 years after it was split from its southern neighbour it reunited and remained part of Europe.
The Scots, not to be outdone, ceded from the UK and became a sovereign nation again after 311 years of a prickly marriage and remained part of the EU with the French, in particular, enjoying watching the discomfort of the English with their joined-at-the-hip Welsh flatmates.
To rub further salt into the wounds of the English, Gibraltar, after much agonising, also ceded from the greatly diminished union and once again became part of Spain.
London had also made great efforts at remaining part of the EU by trying to become a city state like Singapore and Hong Kong but Prime Minister Boris Johnson had thwarted its attempts with blocking legislation.
Since the exodus of all the Polish plumbers England’s wastewater and sewerage systems completely failed and the resulting stench has seen the once-thriving tourist industry collapse.
Johnson has the perimeter of the country fenced in an attempt to protect essential services such as transport as the West Indians try to escape from what has become a third-world nation in quick fashion.
The only Englishman to flourish in these troubled times has been Nigel Farage and given the unexpected voting results during this past decade, no one was greatly surprised when he was elected secretary general of the United Nations.
Just four months after Brexit, America threw its own curve ball electing President Donald Trump.
Within six months of taking office Trump folded the US into the Trump Organisation, overcoming the unnecessary cost and distraction of democratic elections and along with his family has governed the US since.
The refugee camps full of dislocated Americans have continued to grow along the borders of Mexico and Canada with the UN estimating some 30 million souls are waiting to be resettled if other countries can be convinced to help.
North Korea with its booming economy has been able to place three million.
Alaska has mostly become deserted after the perilous exodus across the Bering Strait during the summer of 2018.
The collapse of world trade happened suddenly as country after country followed America’s withdrawal from any form of trade treaty and became inward looking.
The one redeeming feature is that the cost of most modern goods has now become so prohibitive that manufacturing has reduced to the point where a sustainable use of the world’s resources has been reached.
World population has begun to decline for the first time in human history as modern medicines become harder to source and famines wreak their havoc. But again, the environment is benefitting.
Local communities grow and consume their own food and most clothing is made of wool, making sheep farmers the nouveau riche.
Are you or do you know of a young shepherd looking for a good job and adventure?
A station with great folk on the Kaikoura Coast has asked me if I can help find them a good lad with a couple of dogs and farming skills to help with the stock work as they get matters back in hand.
Email me if you can help or want further information.
