Richard Hogan: My daughter asked me - 'is this the start of World War III?'

Our children have had to process so much over the last number of years. Now they are trying to comprehend if their world is at war. If your child asks you about the current situation in Ukraine, it is important that you discuss it with them calmly.

Vienna, Austria - March 30, 2014: Protesters gather in the main square in Vienna to protest the Russian annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. Police are watching the protests carefully in the background.

I think it’s fair to say, we’re all a little world-weary. As I write this I’m currently recovering from my second dalliance with Covid 19. I’ve had better dalliances. This one, less serious than my first tryst but more prolonged and annoying. There always seems to be a sting in the tail. 

Just when you think things are improving something else seems to come along and knock you off your optimism pedestal. I am the eternal optimist, you might not think it from what I just said, but I am. I always try to find the positive in any situation. Shakespeare would have killed me off in the first few scenes for being too bloody naïve. But there have been moments, over the years, when that ‘glass half full’ mentality has been challenged.