At first glance, we might say we’re heading for a bleak holiday season.

With the farmers on the roads, the European Union divided over Ukraine, the cost of living stubbornly refusing to come down, Konstantopoulou launching denunciations left, right and center, and Karystianou’s ancient nun explaining who knows what exactly “in tongues”, it seemed the worst was ahead of us.

So much so, in fact, many were left wondered whether the Divine Infant would bother to be born again or just call the whole thing off.

Fortunately, I now feel that we can wish our readers and their families health and happiness for the holiday period with relative confidence and in good faith.

The holidays will be difficult, yes, but not bleak.

In principle, a stop-gap solution has been found on the Ukrainian issue, allowing the European Union to fund Ukraine for two years.

Of course, the frozen Russian funds remain frozen (for now…), but fanatical advocates of international legitimacy like Orban and Co. have managed to keep up appearances.

The Kremlin was also pleased; the high esteem in which they hold international law is no secret, after all.

Although, of course, brutal reality always to get the last word. And it’s hard to imagine that those who think they can avoid a clash with Russia, or placate the Kremlin, will end up on the right side of history.

With the farmers, things are somewhat more complicated. And since it’s still not clear what it is they want exactly, it’s hard to clarify what they hope to achieve.

But the word from the blockades seems to be losing some of its fanaticism.

It also looks likely that their payments will be smoothed out, which should at least get the roads clear for Christmas travel and keep the city markets supplied.

What is crystal clear, however, is that OPEKEPE-style rackets cannot be allowed to continue. One can only marvel at the sheer gall it takes to ask us to tolerate the perpetuation of a situation which is being revealed day by day for the abomination it truly is.

Ultimately, it would truly be a blessing in disguise if a truly loathsome case of corruption and venality were to provide the impetus not only to punish the perpetrators (which should go without saying…), but also to overhaul a flawed and loophole-riddled procedure that has been followed for years.

As for the rest, it seems unlikely anything can be done, at least over the next few days. I don’t see any more new parties appearing on the scene by the end of the year.

And from what I understand, the old nun is unlikely to start communicating with us any time soon in a tongue we can actually understand.