The Cuban Missile Crisis of 1961 is finally over, just 53 years after it began. The world can relax once more, phew.

Relations of a diplomatic nature can be resumed once more between the largest of Caribbean islands and its massive, continental neighbour who lives about 50 miles away.

And that’s a great thing. Its also the first headline for about 7 months that hasn’t involved murders, suicide bombings, kidnappings, beheadings or Chelsea winning matches. Nice to have something positive for a very welcome change.

You have to wonder, though, how fast Americanisation will destroy what is left of the real Cuba. If you can work out what is ‘the real Cuba’.

The first thing we noticed when we visited Cuba about 8 years ago (we’re British, we could always go there, it was only Yanks who were banned, and rightly so) was that there was no Starbucks. How weird, to enter a busy city on planet earth where that franchise is conspicuous by its absence. No McDonalds either. Bigger problem, but heh, we’ll get over it. An even bigger problem was the general lack of ‘stuff’ everywhere in Havana.

Ok, they have amazing buildings wot the Spanish built, and magnificent constructions built whilst that corrupt mo-fo Baptista was in charge and capitalism went a bit crazy. And they have all those amazing 1950s American cars running round, generally with the engines out of a Nissan Micra having long since replaced the original monster gas-guzzling units. And lots of people. Generally happy people. Dancing on the streets. They really do, every time a band plays. When a band plays somewhere in London 6 people complain about the noise and call the police regarding the disturbance. In Cuba they just dance on the pavements.

But there was no food for sale. Or very little. And nothing much in any of the shops. Very sad. This was a poor country. Zero unemployment, but only in that communist way where everyone has a job title, if not anything to do once they get it. They get the same money from the government whether they work or not. The only item readily available was Che Guevara t-shirts. Fortunately, I love Che Guevara t-shirts and bought loads.

Now all will change. Opening up diplomatic doors with America will open up trade. The Yanks will buy their sugar, their Bacardi, their cigars and in return, Havana will be over-flowing with coffee shops, burger chains and pizza outlets. Which none of the locals will be able to afford, but in time, businesses will grow, the economy will revitalise and all will boom.

I’m glad I was there during the Castro years. They’re gonna fucking ruin the place. But in a good way.

Another crisis averted last night was Newcastle in the Capital One Cup, quarter final. We were ‘brilliant’. I’ll say no more. Brilliant. Powerful. Dominant. Lust-worthy. Awesome. Brutal, but in a kind way. Magnificent…

Happy thursday

A xxxx