Last night I caught part of a news segment where the newscaster was interviewing an expert on global warming & its effects on the oceans in terms of how and when it would affect life in London, especially considering London is bisected and greatly influenced by the Thames River. I don’t remember the totality of the response, but it wasn’t so much about the details of his response as it was about the perspective he placed on the situation. He stated, at current trends, the world’s oceans could rise enough in the next 1000 years that London will be underwater. My first reaction to this was wow, that is a really long time away, but then what really hit me was his next statement…(and I am paraphrasing here) ‘London was here a 1000 years ago, and we certainly imaging it will be here in another 1000, we really wouldn’t want to move the whole thing.’
This is what really hit me, especially being an American who has lived in places with maybe, if you are pushing it, 200 years of history of ‘settled’ civilization, is that London has buildings and infrastructure that are still in use from 1000 years ago!!! In fact, it will be only 60 years from now that we will all celebrate the 1000th anniversary of the battle of Hastings in which William the Conqueror came over from Normandy and decided to make England his new year-round residence. He and his decedents changed to the course of English history and if your family has its origins in England, it is a good chance your are descended from one of his conquering hoard. Anyway, I degress….
This little exchange really underscores one of the reasons I really am happy with our move to Ireland – the imbedded history in the people and culture, not to mention all the cool old houses and castles!