I have to admit, the world has an infinite capacity to surprise.
Perhaps it’s just me and my mental capabilities are falling behind, but 2020 has been a year that has already held more than its fair share of events that have surprised me, concerned me or just left me wondering “has the world gone bonkers?”
I have already commented on the response by so many to the terrible bushfires that destroyed over 2000 homes, almost 3000 by some reports, along with taking too many lives.
I certainly cannot remember a more protracted fire season.
Yet still the response by many in the media has all but beggared belief.
But, I have already had my say on this particular topic.
The events that have caused my latest musings are nowhere as catastrophic, or even close to home, as the fires. But in some cases they are just as bamboozling.
Exhibit A in my list of bamboozling bemusements is the decision by Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to cease being “royals” and become, presumably, non-royal.
Now, as Mrs Doyle will willingly, nay enthusiastically, confirm I am no mental giant.
But even I can see gaping flaws of logic that you could drive a truck through in the Sussex’s plans.
1. You claim that the media attention attached to being a royal is too much. Fair enough. Especially given the manner in which Harry lost his mother.
2. You then decide to step down in a shock announcement that –apparently- took everyone, including the Queen, by surprise.
3. You somehow think this will lessen media attention…how?
4. You then decide to move to Canada, maybe. Or the U.S., maybe. And then forge your own careers and presumably lavish income.
5. How do you think you are going to do this?
By Harry going back into the army, and Meghan getting a job at the local supermarket, or maybe being a stay at home mum?
Or by, just perhaps, parlaying your fame into income by using, wait for it, media attention?
Which do you think is most likely?
So to avoid media attention you are going to make money through media attention. O.K. got it!
I don’t know, but I think they maybe could have come up with a better plan. Or at least a more logical one.
But as far as bemusements are concerned, this is far from the biggest one.
You have probably never heard of Tilli Buchanan. Poor Tilli is from Utah in the USA and she is in a spot of bother.
A spot of bother that is in the “only in America” category, actually it is pretty extreme even for them.
You see Tilli is facing charges that could see her imprisoned and classified as a registered sex offender for up to 10 years.
Given this, you could be forgiven for concluding that Tilli is accused of some pretty severe crime.
You may be surprised to learn that Tilli is facing these charges due to an enthusiastic session of insulation laying in her own garage!
Tilli and her husband, behind closed doors, in their own garage, were putting up insulation. (It gets very cold in Utah!)
Her husband removed his shirt and Tilli did the same. Both were topless while completing this usually mundane task.
The behaviour may have been unusual and potentially itchy, but hardly a worry for anyone else; you may think.
Well, the husband’s children (Tilli’s step children) saw the couple putting up the insulation.
The children told their mother, who reported Tilli to whoever looks into married couples putting up insulation in their own homes which led to, to quote USA Today:
The charges against her were filed after the children’s mother reported the incident to child welfare officials working on a separate investigation involving the kids.
So, hang on.
There’s a separate investigation, which is kept private, but poor Tilli is now international news and facing charges of lewdness for being topless in her own home?
Is it just me, or is there something a bit askew, a touch over reactive, here?
The case has already gone to court, Tilli’s lawyers logically asked for it to be thrown out, but Judge Kara Pettit has ruled that the charges must stand.
So now Tilli Buchanan is facing trial over what must be some of the more ridiculous charges ever laid.
Perhaps Meghan Markle is re-training as a lawyer, (she was in Suits which, I believe, portrayed the U.S. legal system) and will defend her?
Who knows?
You can tell me none of the above surprises you, but I won’t believe you!
Bill Doyle, The Courier’s occasional guest columnist
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