Well, i think things are looking up.
After my golden age came to an end i had a look at the power graph again and saw that ragnars was starting to level off, i still below him though. An interesting thing i noticed was that the turn after my golden age came to an end i saw that ragnars had also come to a end!

i hadn't even relised he was in a golden age. this was either a big concidence or the AI was using the GA strategically to keep pace with me. i have never seen the AI do that before.
Anyway i think the cold war is over - mostly - he still got his stack, less berzerkers, more muskets, and i still have my defensive line, which isn't likely to change, his research has bottom out, and i have signed defenive pacts with pacal and ragnar. So if i don't let my guard down or turn my back on him i think he won't go to war with me anytime soon.
Thanks to all those who gave advice

and all those who gave a laugh with their comments

. All i have to do now is build up my navy, before i get invaded from that direction, i have noticed that there is quite a few frigates and caravals out there.
