Who knows what tomorrow will bring?

“There are decades when nothing happens; and there are weeks when decades happen.”

This is a quote from one Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, better known by his alias Lenin, AKA the first and founding head of the government of Soviet Russia.

Apparently written when the man himself was in exile, prior to the 1917 Russian Revolution, Lenin’s words are ironically apt when it comes to summing up recent developments in eastern Europe.

Despite an invasion of a European democracy being utterly unthinkable just over a week ago, the inconceivable came to pass – decades have happened over the past few days – and another Vladimir’s Russia declared war on Ukraine.

Most people outside of Ukraine have looked on in anguish, as Russian forces thundered into Ukrainian territory sparking, understandably, a humanitarian crisis. While arms were offered by the government to any Ukrainians willing to defend their homeland, many more made haste for the current relative safety of bordering Poland; the scenes of mothers and children queuing for succour in freezing temperatures have been overwhelmingly tragic. And yet, while we in the West may look on in anguish, the trauma for Ukrainians living now under the shadow of Putin’s hubris is unimaginable.

Which is exactly why so many locals have this week been donating or collecting for aid for Ukraine and those fleeing the carnage.

Many communities across the county and beyond are still working towards sending out emergency supplies.

If decades continue to transpire in the coming weeks, all of us will be wondering with abject dread what tomorrow will bring.