An attempt is made to reconcile the large wind-loss rates of stars in the
Galactic Centre (GC) with the predicted low accretion rate for Sgr A*, the
putative blackhole at the heart of the Milky Way. It is found that, independent
of the details of the accretion, the bound but unaccreted gas has been
accumulating in the potential well of Sgr A* for <1000 yrs and thus is not in
equilibrium. Otherwise, the gas flows of the region would be visible in both
the IR and X-ray. It appears that the blackhole was more active in the recent
past due to the passing of a supernova blast shock but is presently in a
short-lived dormant phase. The extended low frequency radio emission from the
central parsec should visibily increase over the next few decades, as the shock
passes completely in front of the absorbing gas and dust near Sgr A*. The GC
may become more active in < 100,000 yrs due to either another supernova or
sufficient accumulation of stellar winds in the central arcsecond.Comment: accepted by A&A Letter