One of the interesting things about Michael Cohen's testimony in Washington this week, was the revelation that Trump knew beforehand about the impending leak of the Democratic e mails by Wilileaks.
Thing is, Trump's knowledge coincided with a visit to New York by one Nigel Farrage, who we know also visited the Ecuadorian Embassy on at least one occasion, as he was filmed coming out of the back entrance. And when asked why he had visited the embassy, he replied he had forgotten. As he stood on the building's steps!
This shows the strong link between Trump's election and the Brexit referendum; the trial of money, illegally obtained and shared personal data, and the same mega-rich people who are going to benefit from both.
It is at least being investigated in the US, and people like Carole Cadwalladr whose great work for the Guardian and Observer has also revealed much, including, let us not forget that both Leave organisations BROKE THE LAW, not just rules, as did people like Darren Grimes and Aaron Banks, and both are being investigated by the police. But in the face of not just evidence, but clear facts of law breaking, Westminster never mentions this, neither d almost any other newspapers, not the TV media. Like they are trying to hush it up. That democracy was bought and cheated, but no one seems to care.
It is now March 1st, and the UK is due to leave the EU THIS MONTH.
Thursday, 28 February 2019
Forever young
Today we said goodbye to Meg.
It has been 5 weeks since she died, and it has felt very surreal.
But this was very real.
There were hundreds of people at the crematorium. Full inside, standing in the aisles and even outside, they had to rig speakers so those could hear.
Meg was a 27 year old, bright, sparkling ball of energy and determination, she excelled at everything she did, and was always looking for more challenges.
But something broke.
We can guess, but maybe never know for sure.
We do know she had gone to see her councillor that afternoon, then drove across London to the station where she took her own life. She chose that station as some services don't stop and rattle through at 75mph. She stepped in front of one of those.
She planned it well.
Something happened over Christmas, and her world came falling down. We did not know that at the time, but found out from Mike.
Last time we saw her was before Christmas, at Jools' birthday party, and she was so happy, or seemed happy, in starting a new job. Did we miss something? We will never know.
People came from all periods through her life, and her achievements were listed. II Grade A or Grade A* stars, A Levels, degree, member of a professional body. Swimming the channel at 16 years old, biathlons, iron man challenges. It goes on.
And now gone.
Her family cried.
Her friends cried.
Her father released a white dove, and she was gone.
Now we will begin healing. We are fine. Jools and I. We cried too, at the thought of the loss of such a bright star, now in the heavens.
It has been 5 weeks since she died, and it has felt very surreal.
But this was very real.
There were hundreds of people at the crematorium. Full inside, standing in the aisles and even outside, they had to rig speakers so those could hear.
Meg was a 27 year old, bright, sparkling ball of energy and determination, she excelled at everything she did, and was always looking for more challenges.
But something broke.
We can guess, but maybe never know for sure.
We do know she had gone to see her councillor that afternoon, then drove across London to the station where she took her own life. She chose that station as some services don't stop and rattle through at 75mph. She stepped in front of one of those.
She planned it well.
Something happened over Christmas, and her world came falling down. We did not know that at the time, but found out from Mike.
Last time we saw her was before Christmas, at Jools' birthday party, and she was so happy, or seemed happy, in starting a new job. Did we miss something? We will never know.
People came from all periods through her life, and her achievements were listed. II Grade A or Grade A* stars, A Levels, degree, member of a professional body. Swimming the channel at 16 years old, biathlons, iron man challenges. It goes on.
And now gone.
Her family cried.
Her friends cried.
Her father released a white dove, and she was gone.
Now we will begin healing. We are fine. Jools and I. We cried too, at the thought of the loss of such a bright star, now in the heavens.
Wednesday 27th February 2019
Mid-week.
And work continuous apace.
And outside it is another fine and glorious day, it was even warmer, in St Maggies, than on Tuesday. Birds sang, bees buzzed between flowers, looking for nectar and pollen.
But, as ever, I am locked to my chair in the dining room, looking at two of three computer screens, trying to make sense of the madness.
And on the third screen I have Twitter going trying to keep track of the Brexit madness. I wish I had never heard of Brexit, did i say that before? Way too much of my brain is full Brexit shit, space that could be used for orchids, or music, or churches. Or even work.
But I remember this shit.
Back to work. Always difficult when my brain is churning something over and a question is fielded to me in a meeting. Please could you repeat as the line is so bad?
The stock answer.
And I have run out of cheese!
Gromit.
So I have to make do with scrambled eggs on toast, and then loads of fresh brews and some dried figs.
And my back is playing up again, not that bad, but bad enough to book an appointment at the chiropractor. I would just like to be pain free. To be able to alk as much as I want, not have to sit on a soft chair.
That kind of thing.
The day comes to an end, so I set my out of office message, and the working week is done.
I wait for Jools to come home, and then I can cook dinner, shoarma spiced lamb steaks and veggies, and some fried potatoes. And I have wine.
Sweet wine.
I take to my bed to listen to the football, battling against the wine that is trying to send me to sleep.
Wine won at some point near half nine. I wake up with the games having finished.
And work continuous apace.
And outside it is another fine and glorious day, it was even warmer, in St Maggies, than on Tuesday. Birds sang, bees buzzed between flowers, looking for nectar and pollen.
But, as ever, I am locked to my chair in the dining room, looking at two of three computer screens, trying to make sense of the madness.And on the third screen I have Twitter going trying to keep track of the Brexit madness. I wish I had never heard of Brexit, did i say that before? Way too much of my brain is full Brexit shit, space that could be used for orchids, or music, or churches. Or even work.
But I remember this shit.
Back to work. Always difficult when my brain is churning something over and a question is fielded to me in a meeting. Please could you repeat as the line is so bad?
The stock answer.
And I have run out of cheese!
Gromit.
So I have to make do with scrambled eggs on toast, and then loads of fresh brews and some dried figs.
And my back is playing up again, not that bad, but bad enough to book an appointment at the chiropractor. I would just like to be pain free. To be able to alk as much as I want, not have to sit on a soft chair.
That kind of thing.
The day comes to an end, so I set my out of office message, and the working week is done.
I wait for Jools to come home, and then I can cook dinner, shoarma spiced lamb steaks and veggies, and some fried potatoes. And I have wine.
Sweet wine.
I take to my bed to listen to the football, battling against the wine that is trying to send me to sleep.
Wine won at some point near half nine. I wake up with the games having finished.
Thursday Brexit
Thing about Brexit, it's the will of the people apparently.
But, then there's another thing; a large part of it broke election law. Not rules, but law.
Both Leave campaigns broke the law in relation to spending, and sharing data. Files are with the Metropolitan Police, and have been for many months.
So, why is no one, neither of the main parties challenging the so called will of the people? Because the vocal part of both main parties want Brexit, and the PM owes her position of power to the referendum, so challenging the legitimacy of the vote would undermine her authority.
If it had been a mandatory referendum, then the vote would have been declared null and void, same it it had been an election; laws were broken, but because it was advisory, nothing can be done. Other than drive the country off a cliff edge.
There is no majority in the House for anything, therefore the country slips into an "accidental" Brexit, apparently unable to get out of the death spin that the country and economy is in. Even after negotiating a WA with the EU, stating there was no alternative, within weeks May was whipping her MPs to vote against her WA in the House.
And this is normal, apparently.
MPs no longer trust whatever May promises to secure additional votes in The Commons, and the EU no longer believe anything the UK says it will do, and will now insist it is legally watertight because of the backtracking.
And that is why the backstop is there to stay. All MPs know it, especially the ERG and DUP, but they pretend it can be time limited, and when that is not accepted by the EU, they will blame them. Easy.
But they had no plan, still don't. They vote against May's WA one week, then vote in against a vote of confidence the next. Brexiteers are delaying and delaying things until there is no other course and no deal or the hardest of Brexits is the only course. They have to keep defeating the OM in key vptes, pretend to be reasonable, and yet they have not given an inch.
And they lie.
The UK will be better for outside investment once out of the EU, says JRM who moved his investment fund company to Dublin from London to keep it in the EU.
Why trust these twats.
At least today I got to call my MP a fucking Twat on TV today, as the prat was being interviewed at Dover harbour this afternoon.
Made me feel better.
And it turns out there is not enough Euro-pallets to allow UK companies to send their goods to the EU even if there were demand. This was only realised this week. Four weeks to fix it.
Clock is still ticking.
But, then there's another thing; a large part of it broke election law. Not rules, but law.
Both Leave campaigns broke the law in relation to spending, and sharing data. Files are with the Metropolitan Police, and have been for many months.
So, why is no one, neither of the main parties challenging the so called will of the people? Because the vocal part of both main parties want Brexit, and the PM owes her position of power to the referendum, so challenging the legitimacy of the vote would undermine her authority.
If it had been a mandatory referendum, then the vote would have been declared null and void, same it it had been an election; laws were broken, but because it was advisory, nothing can be done. Other than drive the country off a cliff edge.
There is no majority in the House for anything, therefore the country slips into an "accidental" Brexit, apparently unable to get out of the death spin that the country and economy is in. Even after negotiating a WA with the EU, stating there was no alternative, within weeks May was whipping her MPs to vote against her WA in the House.
And this is normal, apparently.
MPs no longer trust whatever May promises to secure additional votes in The Commons, and the EU no longer believe anything the UK says it will do, and will now insist it is legally watertight because of the backtracking.
And that is why the backstop is there to stay. All MPs know it, especially the ERG and DUP, but they pretend it can be time limited, and when that is not accepted by the EU, they will blame them. Easy.
But they had no plan, still don't. They vote against May's WA one week, then vote in against a vote of confidence the next. Brexiteers are delaying and delaying things until there is no other course and no deal or the hardest of Brexits is the only course. They have to keep defeating the OM in key vptes, pretend to be reasonable, and yet they have not given an inch.
And they lie.
The UK will be better for outside investment once out of the EU, says JRM who moved his investment fund company to Dublin from London to keep it in the EU.
Why trust these twats.
At least today I got to call my MP a fucking Twat on TV today, as the prat was being interviewed at Dover harbour this afternoon.
Made me feel better.
And it turns out there is not enough Euro-pallets to allow UK companies to send their goods to the EU even if there were demand. This was only realised this week. Four weeks to fix it.
Clock is still ticking.
Wednesday, 27 February 2019
Wednesday Brexit (evening)
Corbyns amendment this evening was heavily defeated. It was mainly more unicorn-based bollocks. But the upshot is, that Corbyn stated that if it was defeated, it was, then Labour's policy would be to fully support a second referendum.
So, now we shall see.
MPs voted against taking no deal "off the table" again. A disappointing, but not surprising event. Unsurprising, as had they voted for it, they would have to have come up with an alternative plan.
Which is clearly beyond them.
It seems that May will request a slight delay to A50. And it is not a given the EU will allow it, especially if it is for no reason only to improve no deal planning.
What might happen is that the EU might offer a 21 month delay, meaning Parliament would have to decide what is worse, no deal or having to participate in EU elections.
Still not clear as to what is going to happen.
So, now we shall see.
MPs voted against taking no deal "off the table" again. A disappointing, but not surprising event. Unsurprising, as had they voted for it, they would have to have come up with an alternative plan.
Which is clearly beyond them.
It seems that May will request a slight delay to A50. And it is not a given the EU will allow it, especially if it is for no reason only to improve no deal planning.
What might happen is that the EU might offer a 21 month delay, meaning Parliament would have to decide what is worse, no deal or having to participate in EU elections.
Still not clear as to what is going to happen.
Tuesday 26th February 2019
The all time winter temperature for the UK was broken on Monday. And then beaten on Tuesday by over a degree.
These are not normal events. Although Tuesday was sunny here, it was cool, cold even. But away from the coast, it was warm. Heck, even hot. I spoke my my friend, former Olympian, Tony in NZ, and we had it warmer here in winter than they had in summer down there.
This might be only temporary, but still, being warm enough to get sunburnt, in February, is not normal.
But as I said, Tuesday might have been sunny, but was cool. Cold even, and in the afternoon, I left the back door open, the temperature in the house dropped, apparently to near freezing, and took several hours for me to warm up. I mean, it looked warm.
We have meetings, there are phone calls, and the day slips though my fingers, too quickly and too cold to go outside for a walk. Although the sun in the back garden, now with the sun getting higher in the sky each passing day, made it look, if not feel, much later in the year than it was.
I have the last of the cheddar as I make yet more toasted cheese sandwiches, I mean how did I go so long without having them?
I then have jam and crisp sandwiches later, as I had the toasties too early in the day, as I bite into the first sandwich, the doorbell goes, and my old mate Gary is standing there, ready to talk about photography and shit.
So, we sit on the patio, though its not really war enough. But as we sit there, Goldfinches and Greenfinches come to eat at the feeder a couple of metres away. We really are spoiled.
It is good to meet up again, and I will try harder to see him more, but life and work, you know.
He leaves after nearly an hour, and I catch up on mails, and it turns out that is it for the day as far as work is concerned.
Dinner is, for me, warmed up sausagemeat pie and more Boston Beans, while Jools has salmon and salad.
We each are doing our best.
I listen to the football in the evening, and Leeds lose at QPR, meaning Norwich are still top of the league, and just 12 games to go. Close, but more than enough games to screw things up.
These are not normal events. Although Tuesday was sunny here, it was cool, cold even. But away from the coast, it was warm. Heck, even hot. I spoke my my friend, former Olympian, Tony in NZ, and we had it warmer here in winter than they had in summer down there.
This might be only temporary, but still, being warm enough to get sunburnt, in February, is not normal.
But as I said, Tuesday might have been sunny, but was cool. Cold even, and in the afternoon, I left the back door open, the temperature in the house dropped, apparently to near freezing, and took several hours for me to warm up. I mean, it looked warm.
We have meetings, there are phone calls, and the day slips though my fingers, too quickly and too cold to go outside for a walk. Although the sun in the back garden, now with the sun getting higher in the sky each passing day, made it look, if not feel, much later in the year than it was.
I have the last of the cheddar as I make yet more toasted cheese sandwiches, I mean how did I go so long without having them?
I then have jam and crisp sandwiches later, as I had the toasties too early in the day, as I bite into the first sandwich, the doorbell goes, and my old mate Gary is standing there, ready to talk about photography and shit.
So, we sit on the patio, though its not really war enough. But as we sit there, Goldfinches and Greenfinches come to eat at the feeder a couple of metres away. We really are spoiled.
It is good to meet up again, and I will try harder to see him more, but life and work, you know.
He leaves after nearly an hour, and I catch up on mails, and it turns out that is it for the day as far as work is concerned.Dinner is, for me, warmed up sausagemeat pie and more Boston Beans, while Jools has salmon and salad.
We each are doing our best.
I listen to the football in the evening, and Leeds lose at QPR, meaning Norwich are still top of the league, and just 12 games to go. Close, but more than enough games to screw things up.
Wednesday Brexit (morning)
Yesterday, The Lancet, published a scathing report on Brexit, that how, contrary to what was written on the side of a bus, Brexit in all its possible forms would make the NHS worse off.
Was that in the small print?
Brexiteers and the Mail and Express are fighting hard against any kind of extension to A50, this is because that, first, an extension is clearly needed to sort of the legal process of transferring 46 years of UK legislation that references the EU and UCJ to ones that don’t. Secondly, clearly 2 or three months is not enough, and that would mean delaying Brexit to the point when it became clear that Brexit is not worth doing.
A delay of 21 months would mean having to have EU elections in May, and passing the required legislation.
Even for a 2nd referendum, at least a year is needed, again to pass the legislation, to decide what two questions to ask of the people.
And thirdly, any kind of delay will show Brexit to be the incoherent mess it clearly is, and it will be dropped in stages.
They fear a referendum would reverse the first one, but then most people assumed that remain would win the first, because its like, common sense and logical.
What Brexit has shown, to do in in two years, overseen by the worse PM in living memory, who appointed people to deliver it, not on ability but because they “believed” in Brexit, guaranteed that Brexit would fail, but rather than admit the clusterfuck she has caused, May would rather push ahead, make the country and each and every one of us poorer, decimate industry, exports, wreck the NHS, all so the Conservative Party stayed whole a few extra month or years.
Of course, the Tories claim to be the party of financial prudence, of business and investment in Britain will be forever lost, as the party will try to distance itself from those who drove the country over the cliff. Either in March or May or June 2019 or on January 1st 2022. The party will never recover.
And neither will Labour, as the party that facilitated Brexit, failed to hold the Government to account.
That a week after the Independent Group was formed, the PM is talking about extension, and Corby talking about a second referendum, shows how a few strong willed MPs broke the deadlock. Who knows what both leaders will be suggesting in a week, or in 30days, on Brexit Eve?
Was that in the small print?
Brexiteers and the Mail and Express are fighting hard against any kind of extension to A50, this is because that, first, an extension is clearly needed to sort of the legal process of transferring 46 years of UK legislation that references the EU and UCJ to ones that don’t. Secondly, clearly 2 or three months is not enough, and that would mean delaying Brexit to the point when it became clear that Brexit is not worth doing.
A delay of 21 months would mean having to have EU elections in May, and passing the required legislation.
Even for a 2nd referendum, at least a year is needed, again to pass the legislation, to decide what two questions to ask of the people.
And thirdly, any kind of delay will show Brexit to be the incoherent mess it clearly is, and it will be dropped in stages.
They fear a referendum would reverse the first one, but then most people assumed that remain would win the first, because its like, common sense and logical.
What Brexit has shown, to do in in two years, overseen by the worse PM in living memory, who appointed people to deliver it, not on ability but because they “believed” in Brexit, guaranteed that Brexit would fail, but rather than admit the clusterfuck she has caused, May would rather push ahead, make the country and each and every one of us poorer, decimate industry, exports, wreck the NHS, all so the Conservative Party stayed whole a few extra month or years.
Of course, the Tories claim to be the party of financial prudence, of business and investment in Britain will be forever lost, as the party will try to distance itself from those who drove the country over the cliff. Either in March or May or June 2019 or on January 1st 2022. The party will never recover.
And neither will Labour, as the party that facilitated Brexit, failed to hold the Government to account.
That a week after the Independent Group was formed, the PM is talking about extension, and Corby talking about a second referendum, shows how a few strong willed MPs broke the deadlock. Who knows what both leaders will be suggesting in a week, or in 30days, on Brexit Eve?
Tuesday, 26 February 2019
What does it all mean?
May has said that in the event her WA is voted down again, the there will be two further votes, one on whether ruling out no deal and a second on an extension.
Problem is that this is yet more delaying, can kicking and more creation of confusion and anger in industry.
The DExEU published its impact assessments relating to a no deal Brexit, and it is grim stating that upto 9% of GDP will be lost, and will be worse initially.
But these were published to head off an amendment by now independent MP Anna Saubry, but it seems what was released is just a summary, as a Privvy Counellor, she had seen the full report, and is now pushing that for to be released.
Thing is, putting the MV off and off, is that it really gives very little chance for an alternative course of action. But that has always been the problem. The BBC are reporting an extension to A50 of two or three months is inevitable. But two months is possible, but three not really.
As previously stated, the EU Parliament rises in the middle of April, and they would have to ratify the WA. And if the UK is still in the EU at the end of May then EU elections would have to happen, but domestic legislation would have to be passed to enable that to happen. And that would have to be debated very soon.
So, time is very much of the essence, and yet May seems not to be all that bothered.
At lunchtime, it seems Brexit was fatally wounded, but May won't state if she would vote against a no deal if it came to a vote. But then, as ever, if no deal were to be avoided, then something else out of a very range of options would have to be agreed.
Tomorrow is a big day, as a range of amendments are being prepared, and most MPs now longer trust the PM's word to do as she promised. So, May carrying the day is not a certainty, but then again, each time the Commons had the chance to take back control, it blinked.
Problem is that this is yet more delaying, can kicking and more creation of confusion and anger in industry.
The DExEU published its impact assessments relating to a no deal Brexit, and it is grim stating that upto 9% of GDP will be lost, and will be worse initially.
But these were published to head off an amendment by now independent MP Anna Saubry, but it seems what was released is just a summary, as a Privvy Counellor, she had seen the full report, and is now pushing that for to be released.
Thing is, putting the MV off and off, is that it really gives very little chance for an alternative course of action. But that has always been the problem. The BBC are reporting an extension to A50 of two or three months is inevitable. But two months is possible, but three not really.
As previously stated, the EU Parliament rises in the middle of April, and they would have to ratify the WA. And if the UK is still in the EU at the end of May then EU elections would have to happen, but domestic legislation would have to be passed to enable that to happen. And that would have to be debated very soon.
So, time is very much of the essence, and yet May seems not to be all that bothered.
At lunchtime, it seems Brexit was fatally wounded, but May won't state if she would vote against a no deal if it came to a vote. But then, as ever, if no deal were to be avoided, then something else out of a very range of options would have to be agreed.
Tomorrow is a big day, as a range of amendments are being prepared, and most MPs now longer trust the PM's word to do as she promised. So, May carrying the day is not a certainty, but then again, each time the Commons had the chance to take back control, it blinked.
Monday 25th February 2019
A year ago, Britain was in the grip of the so-called Beast from the East, a real blast of Arctic weather, so cold and dry it desiccated plants in the garden, making us need to have the heating on 24 hours a day.
This year we have twenty degree temperatures, wall to wall sunshine, and already snowdrops beginning to go over.
But it is Monday, and I am stuck at home with work to do.
As is the way.
After drinking coffee I watch the previous day's MOTD, then prepare for the day ahead by having breakfast and a cuppa.
Now then on such a fine day, what could possibly go wrong?
I had to ask, didn't I?
And so the day progressed with meeting, planned an unplanned. Eating up the time I had allocated for actual work.
I did get my travel expenses done though. Much scanning and e mailing.
Lunch is served early, toasted cheese sandwiches, which was glorious, but probably at the time I should have something else to eat.
But not today.
At the end of the afternoon, I put on my walking boots, grab my camera and go for a short walk.
Out walking over the fields, its clearly not as warm as it looked, or felt in the back garden. We are near the coast here, so would be cooler. I did wish I had worn a coat.
Not many flowers out, or much new anyway. Over in the copse, the pigs are pleased to see me, but disappointed when they realise I have no food for them, and they squeal sadly as I walk down towards the Dip.
I stop at the top of the slope, looking down at the water and mud at the bottom. Probably could get through, but my back says, not today.
I walk back home, treat myself to a fresh brew and wrap up the last few tasks of the day.
And I am done. I prepare dinner, make a sausagemeat pie for me, in puff pastry. I even make pastry leaves to decorate the top.
It looks wonderful, and is all mine, though I will eat it over two nights, and I make the rest of the meal Boston beans.
Mmmm, beans.
And it is good, with lashings of ketchup. And a huge brew.
Lovely.
And I lost four more pounds this week, not as drastic as Jools', but more enjoyable, which has not gone un-noticed.
Only Connect is on at eight, and after watching that, it is bed time, as we go to bead ever earlier, and wake up earlier too.
This year we have twenty degree temperatures, wall to wall sunshine, and already snowdrops beginning to go over.
But it is Monday, and I am stuck at home with work to do.
As is the way.
After drinking coffee I watch the previous day's MOTD, then prepare for the day ahead by having breakfast and a cuppa.
Now then on such a fine day, what could possibly go wrong?I had to ask, didn't I?
And so the day progressed with meeting, planned an unplanned. Eating up the time I had allocated for actual work.
I did get my travel expenses done though. Much scanning and e mailing.Lunch is served early, toasted cheese sandwiches, which was glorious, but probably at the time I should have something else to eat.
But not today.
At the end of the afternoon, I put on my walking boots, grab my camera and go for a short walk.Out walking over the fields, its clearly not as warm as it looked, or felt in the back garden. We are near the coast here, so would be cooler. I did wish I had worn a coat.
Not many flowers out, or much new anyway. Over in the copse, the pigs are pleased to see me, but disappointed when they realise I have no food for them, and they squeal sadly as I walk down towards the Dip.
I stop at the top of the slope, looking down at the water and mud at the bottom. Probably could get through, but my back says, not today.I walk back home, treat myself to a fresh brew and wrap up the last few tasks of the day.
And I am done. I prepare dinner, make a sausagemeat pie for me, in puff pastry. I even make pastry leaves to decorate the top.
It looks wonderful, and is all mine, though I will eat it over two nights, and I make the rest of the meal Boston beans.Mmmm, beans.
And it is good, with lashings of ketchup. And a huge brew.
Lovely.
And I lost four more pounds this week, not as drastic as Jools', but more enjoyable, which has not gone un-noticed.
Only Connect is on at eight, and after watching that, it is bed time, as we go to bead ever earlier, and wake up earlier too.
Tuesday Brexit
It is possible, that today, Tuesday 26th February, no deal, and maybe hard Brexot and even Brexit itself might have been fatally wounded.
It is hard to keep up with all what is said in the Commons, but the upshot is May is now over a barrel with the inevitability that Brexit will be delayed, and probably by a long time.
Not that the Brexiteers will take this laying down, and will fight all the way. Indeed Leave Means Leave threatened to launch a legal bid to force Brexit to go ahead on 29th March.
It has been suggested by some that a delay of at least a year will happen, then a second referendum in which people will vote for the WA or no Brexit, and that probably remain will win. But that assumption isn’t a given, as there will be a huge campaign of misinformation by the Brexiteers, indeed that has started already with Lord Goldsmith stating, in his miond, the referendum would be between May’s “flawed” deal and no deal. An establishment stitch up.
That it was his, and the other Brexiteer’s lack of planning and flowed promises that has brought Brexit to this point can be just swept under the carpet
What happens now is anyone’s guess. The Dup and Brexiteers will fight it, but enough other MPs will vote for the delay, or against May’s deal, or both.
Probably.
So, in the even the MV is defeated on March 12, the next day MPs are to be offered a vote on extending A50, although that is a request as all of the EU27 would have to agree. But as previously stated, two months extension, is in effect just two weeks as ratification of the WA by the EU Parliament has to take place before the current session ends in mid April, unless the EU extends that.
Question is, what is the point if there is nothing to discuss, why not vote now and get it out of the way? May wants to ramp up the pressure in the hope more MPs go for the WA than vote against it.
It is hard to keep up with all what is said in the Commons, but the upshot is May is now over a barrel with the inevitability that Brexit will be delayed, and probably by a long time.
Not that the Brexiteers will take this laying down, and will fight all the way. Indeed Leave Means Leave threatened to launch a legal bid to force Brexit to go ahead on 29th March.
It has been suggested by some that a delay of at least a year will happen, then a second referendum in which people will vote for the WA or no Brexit, and that probably remain will win. But that assumption isn’t a given, as there will be a huge campaign of misinformation by the Brexiteers, indeed that has started already with Lord Goldsmith stating, in his miond, the referendum would be between May’s “flawed” deal and no deal. An establishment stitch up.
That it was his, and the other Brexiteer’s lack of planning and flowed promises that has brought Brexit to this point can be just swept under the carpet
What happens now is anyone’s guess. The Dup and Brexiteers will fight it, but enough other MPs will vote for the delay, or against May’s deal, or both.
Probably.
So, in the even the MV is defeated on March 12, the next day MPs are to be offered a vote on extending A50, although that is a request as all of the EU27 would have to agree. But as previously stated, two months extension, is in effect just two weeks as ratification of the WA by the EU Parliament has to take place before the current session ends in mid April, unless the EU extends that.
Question is, what is the point if there is nothing to discuss, why not vote now and get it out of the way? May wants to ramp up the pressure in the hope more MPs go for the WA than vote against it.
Monday, 25 February 2019
Trying not to be too positive
Over the last 32 months or so, it has been hard to be anything but depressed about what is happening with Brexit.
None of it makes any kind of sense, it it is economically and politically illiterate, pushed by people who care nothing for facts and experts, don't listen when advised how things could be done better or different.
Watching it unfold is like watching a car crash in slow motion, as each step has been forecasted, and seeing May and the Brexiteers fall into the traps their own ineptitude caused would be funny, if not so much were at stake.
But we are here now, in a week which should, but might not, define the future of Brexit and the country.
Labour's change of position on a 2nd (or 3rd) referendum is welcome, but as with Comrade Corbyn, it is not clear whether this is just a ploy to deflect some of the blame for a disastrous Brexit in the future when they can point and see we backed a new referendum. That the phrase "Tory Brexit" was used hints that Corbyn might still believe that a Labour Brexit would be better.
His long term goal is an election, but with his part's poll numbers in free fall after the forming of The Independent Group, that plan might have changed.
But no one knows for sure.
The papers this morning have been largely supportive of Labour's change, with the exception of The Express who thunder that the only vote the country needed was in 2016. And yet MPs are allowed vote after vote to decide what Brexit means, and yet the country knew exactly what it voted for nearly three years ago.
Each day brings new dramas, so buckle up for Tuesday in Brexitlalaland.
Many MPs are demanding that "no deal" Brexit is taken "off the table". But the problem with that is that no dea is the default position as a matter of both UK and international law. So, to avoid no deal then some other course of action needs to be agreed upon by Parliament and made into law, thus changing UK law and instructing the Government to either amend or revoke the A50.
The three choices are:
1. Vote for the negotiated WA (May's deal)
2. Instruct the Government to request from the EU27 an extension to A50.
3. Instruct the Government to revoke A50.
Those are the three choices. No more.
Decide.
Now.
In fact May's insistence on repeat presenting of the WA is a real attempt to take no deal off the table, that The Commons keep rejecting it, means that no deal is very much on the table and the default.
None of it makes any kind of sense, it it is economically and politically illiterate, pushed by people who care nothing for facts and experts, don't listen when advised how things could be done better or different.
Watching it unfold is like watching a car crash in slow motion, as each step has been forecasted, and seeing May and the Brexiteers fall into the traps their own ineptitude caused would be funny, if not so much were at stake.
But we are here now, in a week which should, but might not, define the future of Brexit and the country.
Labour's change of position on a 2nd (or 3rd) referendum is welcome, but as with Comrade Corbyn, it is not clear whether this is just a ploy to deflect some of the blame for a disastrous Brexit in the future when they can point and see we backed a new referendum. That the phrase "Tory Brexit" was used hints that Corbyn might still believe that a Labour Brexit would be better.
His long term goal is an election, but with his part's poll numbers in free fall after the forming of The Independent Group, that plan might have changed.
But no one knows for sure.
The papers this morning have been largely supportive of Labour's change, with the exception of The Express who thunder that the only vote the country needed was in 2016. And yet MPs are allowed vote after vote to decide what Brexit means, and yet the country knew exactly what it voted for nearly three years ago.
Each day brings new dramas, so buckle up for Tuesday in Brexitlalaland.
Many MPs are demanding that "no deal" Brexit is taken "off the table". But the problem with that is that no dea is the default position as a matter of both UK and international law. So, to avoid no deal then some other course of action needs to be agreed upon by Parliament and made into law, thus changing UK law and instructing the Government to either amend or revoke the A50.
The three choices are:
1. Vote for the negotiated WA (May's deal)
2. Instruct the Government to request from the EU27 an extension to A50.
3. Instruct the Government to revoke A50.
Those are the three choices. No more.
Decide.
Now.
In fact May's insistence on repeat presenting of the WA is a real attempt to take no deal off the table, that The Commons keep rejecting it, means that no deal is very much on the table and the default.
Who knows what this means...
This evening it was announced that the Labour Party is now backing plans for a second referendum, if nothing can be agreed, maybe by the end of this week.
There are mixed signals as to what this means and if there are any strings attached.
But at face value, it is a remarkable about face for Corbyn. Maybe a mixture of the Independent Group and Labours drop of 10% in the polls at the weekend, and the numbers still falling that caused the change.
We shall see.
Already the knives are out for Corbyn, from arch weasel Naughty Nigel who gave his views on his radio show this evening.
He has launched a new Brexit Party this month, and claims to have had 250,000 register interest. A long way from sub-paying members though.
And May is expected to request an extension of the A50 process this week.
But as ever, the default position in both UK and international law is no deal Brexit, unless the PM or Parliament decides otherwise.
A long way to go, but today, maybe things changed.....
There are mixed signals as to what this means and if there are any strings attached.
But at face value, it is a remarkable about face for Corbyn. Maybe a mixture of the Independent Group and Labours drop of 10% in the polls at the weekend, and the numbers still falling that caused the change.
We shall see.
Already the knives are out for Corbyn, from arch weasel Naughty Nigel who gave his views on his radio show this evening.
He has launched a new Brexit Party this month, and claims to have had 250,000 register interest. A long way from sub-paying members though.
And May is expected to request an extension of the A50 process this week.
But as ever, the default position in both UK and international law is no deal Brexit, unless the PM or Parliament decides otherwise.
A long way to go, but today, maybe things changed.....
Sunday 24th February 2019
The weekend (part 2)
And it was going to be another splendid day. Although, it was very cold first thing, with frost on the ground, and very much needed to put the central heating on.
That said, we start the day slowly, with coffee then me watching MOTD and Jools went out to pick up some large items of fly-tipping and take that to the dump.
Meaning that we were ready to go out at nine
By then it was warming up, and we were hoping to see a butterfly or two on the wing, and our chosen wood and chalk bank to walk was Yocklett's, home to the swarm of Fly Orchids.
We drive out along the A2 then down through Barham, along the wonderfully named Gravel Castle Lane, then down the Elham Valley before crossing over the downs to Stone Street.
It was so peaceful. Just birds singing, and expectant sheep baaing their frustration about waiting for the birth or their lamb Or two. I reverse into the parking spot, get out three cameras, and we're ready to go.
Along the lower path much clearance of hazel had taken place, opening up clearings for more wild flowers, and indeed places where orchids grew in the shade previous years will have open skies above them.
After climbing to the lower meadow, we pause to sit on the old bench, and look at man and nature's work in the valley below. It is a view we know and love so well.
But there was no Brimstones on the wing, and no slow worms under the iron panels lower down the meadow. It is still only February after all.
Down through the wood, looking a the emerging flowers and plants, no orchids, yet. But lots of others though.
Across the road, then up the path to the upper meadow, where we hoped to see the yellow butterflies. So we sit for twenty minutes, I look for orchid rosettes too, but no butterflies flutter by.
We carry on through the bluebell wood, plenty of leaves of those showing well too, down the bank and along the bottom path, where I had seen Brimstones before. And finally, just before the gate, I see the first one, but it is gone, up into the upper branches of a birch tree.
On the path back to the car, once past the lower meadow, we see several Brimstones, and one settles, I creep up and manage to snap it, looking for all the world like another leaf on some ivy.
We drive back to Dover, then to Mike's to see how he and Jane are.
Meg's funeral is this Thursday, and so we are making the final arrangements, travel and flowers and so on. It is still grim business, and will get worse on Thursday.
How this has touched so many people, brought pain into our lives, and hurt that we cannot undo what has happened. Meg will always be gone.
After Thursday we don't know what will happen, just get on with our lives and the healing can begin. We just don't know how bad the hurt is right now.
We leave after an hour, come home and have lunch.
It seems right to have our cooked meal at this point, neither of us had eaten that day, well apart from some fruit for me.
The football is on the radio, but I lose interest. Yes, its true, so into the second half of the League Cup final, we put Monty on the i player, i Japan, where he visits some of the gardens we also visited. Seeing the country in autumn makes us want to go back again.
When we put the radio back on, the game is still on and there has been no goals, and the commentator is saying its been a dour game.
In the evening I feast of toasted cheese sandwich again, then play Jools at Uckers and I am victorious again.
Yay.
And the weekend is over again.
And it was going to be another splendid day. Although, it was very cold first thing, with frost on the ground, and very much needed to put the central heating on.
That said, we start the day slowly, with coffee then me watching MOTD and Jools went out to pick up some large items of fly-tipping and take that to the dump.
Meaning that we were ready to go out at nine
By then it was warming up, and we were hoping to see a butterfly or two on the wing, and our chosen wood and chalk bank to walk was Yocklett's, home to the swarm of Fly Orchids.
We drive out along the A2 then down through Barham, along the wonderfully named Gravel Castle Lane, then down the Elham Valley before crossing over the downs to Stone Street.
It was so peaceful. Just birds singing, and expectant sheep baaing their frustration about waiting for the birth or their lamb Or two. I reverse into the parking spot, get out three cameras, and we're ready to go.
Along the lower path much clearance of hazel had taken place, opening up clearings for more wild flowers, and indeed places where orchids grew in the shade previous years will have open skies above them.
After climbing to the lower meadow, we pause to sit on the old bench, and look at man and nature's work in the valley below. It is a view we know and love so well.
But there was no Brimstones on the wing, and no slow worms under the iron panels lower down the meadow. It is still only February after all.Down through the wood, looking a the emerging flowers and plants, no orchids, yet. But lots of others though.
Across the road, then up the path to the upper meadow, where we hoped to see the yellow butterflies. So we sit for twenty minutes, I look for orchid rosettes too, but no butterflies flutter by.
We carry on through the bluebell wood, plenty of leaves of those showing well too, down the bank and along the bottom path, where I had seen Brimstones before. And finally, just before the gate, I see the first one, but it is gone, up into the upper branches of a birch tree.On the path back to the car, once past the lower meadow, we see several Brimstones, and one settles, I creep up and manage to snap it, looking for all the world like another leaf on some ivy.
We drive back to Dover, then to Mike's to see how he and Jane are.Meg's funeral is this Thursday, and so we are making the final arrangements, travel and flowers and so on. It is still grim business, and will get worse on Thursday.
How this has touched so many people, brought pain into our lives, and hurt that we cannot undo what has happened. Meg will always be gone.After Thursday we don't know what will happen, just get on with our lives and the healing can begin. We just don't know how bad the hurt is right now.
We leave after an hour, come home and have lunch.
It seems right to have our cooked meal at this point, neither of us had eaten that day, well apart from some fruit for me.
The football is on the radio, but I lose interest. Yes, its true, so into the second half of the League Cup final, we put Monty on the i player, i Japan, where he visits some of the gardens we also visited. Seeing the country in autumn makes us want to go back again.
When we put the radio back on, the game is still on and there has been no goals, and the commentator is saying its been a dour game.
In the evening I feast of toasted cheese sandwich again, then play Jools at Uckers and I am victorious again.
Yay.
And the weekend is over again.
Monday Brexit
In a sane world, and under normal circumstances, it would have become obvious by now that a substantial extension to the A50 was essential.
But this is not a sane world and these are not normal circumstances.
It seems that the UK is preparing to ask the EU for an extension of two months, until the end of May, of the A50 process.
But, this only works if the WA is ratified by the UK before the middle of April, as then the EU Parliament rises and will not sit until the beginning of July. This is important as the EU Parliament needs to ratify the WA too, once the EU27 and the UK have. So far the EU27 have, and so for them the WA is closed. All is needed is for the UK Parliament to ratify.
All.
A small word.
Anyway, an extension of two months would only give May two additional weeks to get the WA through Parliament, so to then pass it to the EU for final ratification.
But the message on this isn’t getting through.
May won’t even admit she has enquired about an extension, lest it raise hackles in the ERG, but instead said that it came up at dinner last night.
The EU say that the extension is now rational, but not a request. By implication then, May's course is not rational. Mad.
Amendments are being prepared for the Commons to consider to force May to request an extension if no ratification happens before 12 March. If MPs don’t take this opportunity to take control, then they never will. This is really the last chance to assert Parliamentary superiority over the Government.
They blinked on all previous occasions, and probably will this time.
But this is not a sane world and these are not normal circumstances.
It seems that the UK is preparing to ask the EU for an extension of two months, until the end of May, of the A50 process.
But, this only works if the WA is ratified by the UK before the middle of April, as then the EU Parliament rises and will not sit until the beginning of July. This is important as the EU Parliament needs to ratify the WA too, once the EU27 and the UK have. So far the EU27 have, and so for them the WA is closed. All is needed is for the UK Parliament to ratify.
All.
A small word.
Anyway, an extension of two months would only give May two additional weeks to get the WA through Parliament, so to then pass it to the EU for final ratification.
But the message on this isn’t getting through.
May won’t even admit she has enquired about an extension, lest it raise hackles in the ERG, but instead said that it came up at dinner last night.
The EU say that the extension is now rational, but not a request. By implication then, May's course is not rational. Mad.
Amendments are being prepared for the Commons to consider to force May to request an extension if no ratification happens before 12 March. If MPs don’t take this opportunity to take control, then they never will. This is really the last chance to assert Parliamentary superiority over the Government.
They blinked on all previous occasions, and probably will this time.
Sunday, 24 February 2019
Early morning Brexit
Over the weekend, three Cabinet Ministers (Google who they were, could have been replaced by now, frankly) suggested that A50 should be extended if Parliament did not ratify her WA this week.
We know how that worked out, May just pulled the vote.
So, Westminster has to decide if it going to accept that and carry on regardless. Or do something decisive.
I'm not holding my breath here, mind.
No deal Brexit will be bad. Bad as in early 80s, Thatcherism bad. And there will be no respite from it. Industries will shrivel and die, exports will be so expensive that only things like whisky will survive, and the political class will turn on each other like never before. Which isn't a bad thing, but outside the bubble the country will slide into chaos and poverty.
Tax revenues will slump, public spending will be slashed, and even pensions will have to be cut, which will shot the blue rinse brigade who voted for this omnishambles that not even they can escape.
It is rumoured that May will try to extend A50 by two months to the end of May. That is not long enough. At least a year is needed, probably 5, the EU is preparing for a two year delay.
Whilst the headbangers push for a harder and quicker Brexit, because their fear is that if it doesn't happen next month, it might never happen.
Like that's a bad thing....
We know how that worked out, May just pulled the vote.
So, Westminster has to decide if it going to accept that and carry on regardless. Or do something decisive.
I'm not holding my breath here, mind.
No deal Brexit will be bad. Bad as in early 80s, Thatcherism bad. And there will be no respite from it. Industries will shrivel and die, exports will be so expensive that only things like whisky will survive, and the political class will turn on each other like never before. Which isn't a bad thing, but outside the bubble the country will slide into chaos and poverty.
Tax revenues will slump, public spending will be slashed, and even pensions will have to be cut, which will shot the blue rinse brigade who voted for this omnishambles that not even they can escape.
It is rumoured that May will try to extend A50 by two months to the end of May. That is not long enough. At least a year is needed, probably 5, the EU is preparing for a two year delay.
Whilst the headbangers push for a harder and quicker Brexit, because their fear is that if it doesn't happen next month, it might never happen.
Like that's a bad thing....
Friday 23rd February 2019
The weekend had arrived.
And what to do with it?
Well, we did need to do some shopping, even if we are eating less these days. But we could carry on after shopping and stay out for the day.
So that was the plan. I just had to decide where in Kent we would be going.
A friend of mine online posted some shots from north Kent near to Gravesend, and as I had not visited that church, I though we should go there.
We were going to the triangle of the county bordered by the motorways, M25, M20 and A2. It is near to London, and one would think urban sprawl.
So, Jools set the sat nav for the first church, and we drove up the A2, taking our time as we did not want to get there too early before the church might be opened.
We turned off the eight lane A2, and headed west into unknown territory. Our first stop was to be Fawkham, I had no idea what to expect.
We drove through a large village, small town, where our next church was to be. Back out into the countryside, and on the edge of what looked like a park was a tiny whitewashed church; Fawkham.
The main reason for being here was to look at the wild flowers growing in the churchyard, but as it was a church I had not visited, I would try to take the chance to snap that too.
Along the stone wall there were many "pillows" of snowdrops, looking marvelous in the sunshine. In the shade a few clumps for green leaves, and closed flowers showing them to be Winter Aconites, not in huge numbers. And under the birch trees, a few scattered corcus reaching for the sky, opening their mouths to reveal bright yellow tongues, as they shout for joy that spring had arrived.
The church was locked.
I tried to door half a dozen times. I go to check the notice board. The one in the porch, in the car park and on the road.
I go back to the porch and check the door once again. A voice asked: can I help you?
I explain the pain of the churchcrawler, just want to get inside and take some shots I explain the project, give him a Moo card, and he is satisfied, and lets me in.
It is fine inside, and I snap away, taking many shots. As is my way.
Our next church is Hartley. Another ancient church, but this one has a new extension on the west end, although that was locked. The church was open. On the walls were fragments of medieval paintings, mostly faded, but still remarkable survivors.
A mile or so away was Longfield.
People were busy in the churchyard, sweeping, cleaning, pruning, while in the church all built on to the church, a coffee moening was under way, Sadly, it was heavily Victianised, but just a few hints of its history were left.
It left me cold, so we moved on to Meopham.
It is a fine church, full of interesting features, and some of the best Victorian tiles I have seen.
I also received a warm welcome from a lady doing the flowers. I had tried to get in, there was a large sign saying the church was open, but the modern door would not open. I didn't like to push too hard, but seems the little old lady knew just where to push to open the door.
Where are you going next, she asked. Not sure I said. Probably will end up at Ifield. Not going to Cobham then? It has the best collection of brasses in the country.
I felt that was a challenge, and one we would meet. Its hard to park there, she said. Park in the Leather Bottle opposite, and maybe have a drink and a meal there?
Now, that was a plan I did like.
So, we drive to Cobham, and after ten minutes we come up to a fine picture-postcard village, blessed with timber tramed thatched houses, three pubs, and a church on the hill.
I say to Jools that she should go to the pub and I would nip into the church.
It was astonishing.
In the chancel there is a pavement featuring 17 life-sized medieval brasses of knights and their wives, and in the centre a box tomb with very fine carved figures. Right in the centre of the chancel. Most remarkable.
Two wardens are measuring the height of the roof to buy ladders so the lightbulbs in the lamps can be changed safely, they are using a laser. But my story of the church project, places I have visited and my joy of being there distracts one of the wardens, getting a series of tuts from his colleague.
I go back to the pub, find Jools in the restaurant, but it is warm enough to sit in the beer garden. So we do. Later the car would tell us it was 17 degrees, and it felt very much that warm.
We order BBQ ribeye steak rolls, and I have a pint of the local beer named after the pub.
When I order I was asked if I wanted to see Dickens' bag, which they had on display. He wrote Pickwick Papers in the pub, and featured it in the boom too. Sounds great, but the great man loved Kent and there are few pubs and hotels that can't claim not to have had him stay.
The food is wonderful the first food either of us ate that day. As we sat, two Brimstone butterflies fluttered past, reminding us that there are other things, not just churches to see.
We visit one last church. Ifield, which I can see from my favoured side of trains on HS1 heading into London. It sits in front of a curtain of trees, and is pretty as a picture, but we find it locked, the only one locked on this day.
A disappointment.
I say to Jools that we will head for home, so we follow the lane for half a mile, then at the roundabout turn south onto the A2, onto the eaight lane road, and cruise home at 60 mph, just enjoying the day, the warm sunshine and signs of spring all around.
We get home at quarter to three, just in time to put the radio on to listen to the football.
Norwich were playing Bristol City, who were on a seven game winning run. It would be a tough game.
The season is coming to its climax now, 13 games to go, and results now are everything, as are nerves. City go one down after 12 minutes. The on half hour level, but Bristol kick off and break into the Norwich half and their forward weaves his way through the defence and plants the ball in the corner.
1-2 at half time, and I was all nerves.
But this is a new Norwich team, they level again on the hour, then score from a fine half volley a few minutes later, and see the game out to win again and remain top fo the league. 12 games to go. The pressure grows.
We go to Whitfield for more card action.
I no longer drink beer or wine when I go, and we have cut out the snacking too. Just cards and a fresh brew.
I have dreadful cards all night, Jen wins heavily, which shows luck just goes round.
We have to cut the evening shot as my back is not happy, sitting on the kitchen chairs that dug into my back.
Means we were hoe in time to see the highlights of the Norwich game. I sit in darkness with a wee dram to take it all in.
Exciting times.
And what to do with it?
Well, we did need to do some shopping, even if we are eating less these days. But we could carry on after shopping and stay out for the day.
So that was the plan. I just had to decide where in Kent we would be going.
A friend of mine online posted some shots from north Kent near to Gravesend, and as I had not visited that church, I though we should go there.We were going to the triangle of the county bordered by the motorways, M25, M20 and A2. It is near to London, and one would think urban sprawl.
So, Jools set the sat nav for the first church, and we drove up the A2, taking our time as we did not want to get there too early before the church might be opened.We turned off the eight lane A2, and headed west into unknown territory. Our first stop was to be Fawkham, I had no idea what to expect.
We drove through a large village, small town, where our next church was to be. Back out into the countryside, and on the edge of what looked like a park was a tiny whitewashed church; Fawkham.The main reason for being here was to look at the wild flowers growing in the churchyard, but as it was a church I had not visited, I would try to take the chance to snap that too.
Along the stone wall there were many "pillows" of snowdrops, looking marvelous in the sunshine. In the shade a few clumps for green leaves, and closed flowers showing them to be Winter Aconites, not in huge numbers. And under the birch trees, a few scattered corcus reaching for the sky, opening their mouths to reveal bright yellow tongues, as they shout for joy that spring had arrived.
The church was locked.I tried to door half a dozen times. I go to check the notice board. The one in the porch, in the car park and on the road.
I go back to the porch and check the door once again. A voice asked: can I help you?
I explain the pain of the churchcrawler, just want to get inside and take some shots I explain the project, give him a Moo card, and he is satisfied, and lets me in.
It is fine inside, and I snap away, taking many shots. As is my way.
Our next church is Hartley. Another ancient church, but this one has a new extension on the west end, although that was locked. The church was open. On the walls were fragments of medieval paintings, mostly faded, but still remarkable survivors.
A mile or so away was Longfield.
People were busy in the churchyard, sweeping, cleaning, pruning, while in the church all built on to the church, a coffee moening was under way, Sadly, it was heavily Victianised, but just a few hints of its history were left.
It left me cold, so we moved on to Meopham.
It is a fine church, full of interesting features, and some of the best Victorian tiles I have seen.
I also received a warm welcome from a lady doing the flowers. I had tried to get in, there was a large sign saying the church was open, but the modern door would not open. I didn't like to push too hard, but seems the little old lady knew just where to push to open the door.
Where are you going next, she asked. Not sure I said. Probably will end up at Ifield. Not going to Cobham then? It has the best collection of brasses in the country.
I felt that was a challenge, and one we would meet. Its hard to park there, she said. Park in the Leather Bottle opposite, and maybe have a drink and a meal there?
Now, that was a plan I did like.
So, we drive to Cobham, and after ten minutes we come up to a fine picture-postcard village, blessed with timber tramed thatched houses, three pubs, and a church on the hill.
I say to Jools that she should go to the pub and I would nip into the church.
It was astonishing.
In the chancel there is a pavement featuring 17 life-sized medieval brasses of knights and their wives, and in the centre a box tomb with very fine carved figures. Right in the centre of the chancel. Most remarkable.
Two wardens are measuring the height of the roof to buy ladders so the lightbulbs in the lamps can be changed safely, they are using a laser. But my story of the church project, places I have visited and my joy of being there distracts one of the wardens, getting a series of tuts from his colleague.
I go back to the pub, find Jools in the restaurant, but it is warm enough to sit in the beer garden. So we do. Later the car would tell us it was 17 degrees, and it felt very much that warm.
We order BBQ ribeye steak rolls, and I have a pint of the local beer named after the pub.
When I order I was asked if I wanted to see Dickens' bag, which they had on display. He wrote Pickwick Papers in the pub, and featured it in the boom too. Sounds great, but the great man loved Kent and there are few pubs and hotels that can't claim not to have had him stay.The food is wonderful the first food either of us ate that day. As we sat, two Brimstone butterflies fluttered past, reminding us that there are other things, not just churches to see.
We visit one last church. Ifield, which I can see from my favoured side of trains on HS1 heading into London. It sits in front of a curtain of trees, and is pretty as a picture, but we find it locked, the only one locked on this day.
A disappointment.I say to Jools that we will head for home, so we follow the lane for half a mile, then at the roundabout turn south onto the A2, onto the eaight lane road, and cruise home at 60 mph, just enjoying the day, the warm sunshine and signs of spring all around.
We get home at quarter to three, just in time to put the radio on to listen to the football.
Norwich were playing Bristol City, who were on a seven game winning run. It would be a tough game.
The season is coming to its climax now, 13 games to go, and results now are everything, as are nerves. City go one down after 12 minutes. The on half hour level, but Bristol kick off and break into the Norwich half and their forward weaves his way through the defence and plants the ball in the corner.
1-2 at half time, and I was all nerves.
But this is a new Norwich team, they level again on the hour, then score from a fine half volley a few minutes later, and see the game out to win again and remain top fo the league. 12 games to go. The pressure grows.
We go to Whitfield for more card action.
I no longer drink beer or wine when I go, and we have cut out the snacking too. Just cards and a fresh brew.
I have dreadful cards all night, Jen wins heavily, which shows luck just goes round.
We have to cut the evening shot as my back is not happy, sitting on the kitchen chairs that dug into my back.
Means we were hoe in time to see the highlights of the Norwich game. I sit in darkness with a wee dram to take it all in.
Exciting times.
A whole new level of panic
A short post:
Today, the PM announced that the Meaningful Vote (MV) was being delayed until March 12.
This is madness on stilts.
The only option now is for Parliament to take charge, but for that, they have to agree on a course, and a destination, and chances of that are slim.
Just a reminder that the UK is due to leave the EU on March 29, so the PM leaving it until 17 days before leaving for this is reckless in the extreme.
I don't see Parliament challenging this, they might huff and puff. But nothing will be done.
But in boardrooms up and down the country, emergency and eject buttons will be being pressed.
I cannot imagine how May could have handled this any worse than she has done.
And remember, that even if the WA gets passed, the trade agreement has to be negotiated and ratified. In 21 months.
Today, the PM announced that the Meaningful Vote (MV) was being delayed until March 12.
This is madness on stilts.
The only option now is for Parliament to take charge, but for that, they have to agree on a course, and a destination, and chances of that are slim.
Just a reminder that the UK is due to leave the EU on March 29, so the PM leaving it until 17 days before leaving for this is reckless in the extreme.
I don't see Parliament challenging this, they might huff and puff. But nothing will be done.
But in boardrooms up and down the country, emergency and eject buttons will be being pressed.
I cannot imagine how May could have handled this any worse than she has done.
And remember, that even if the WA gets passed, the trade agreement has to be negotiated and ratified. In 21 months.
Saturday, 23 February 2019
Friday 22nd February 2019
Finally, its Friday. And the weather is looking marvellous not just for Friday but for the whole weekend. Had me dreaming and making plans for both days off.
All I had to do was get through Friday....
We are both on diets: Jools is on a low calorie, low carb diet. She has shakes three times a day and a small meal on top of that. Only has enough milk allowance for one cup a day, saving the rest for a second cup on Saturdays and Sundays.
I am trying to cut down, especially on carbs. I just have fruit for breakfast, something on toast for lunch, and a small dinner. But larger than Jools' mind.
Jools is dropping weight as you would expect. As for me, well, lost 4 lb last week. and hope things will carry on. I had no beer when away.
So, I make coffee, Jools has her shake and I have a tin of grapefruit segments, whilst listening to the Remaniacs podcast.
And before you know it, its time for work and first meeting of the day.
In truth, the day is a real struggle with things going from bad to worse. Another meeting after lunch which is the killer, and squeezes the last drop of enthhusiasm from me.
But before then, I had gone for a walk to the post office, to pick up what I thought was my new swipe card for work.
Sea mist was trying to roll in, but was gloriously sunny when I set off.
I take some shots of the bank at the top of Station Road, all planted with dwarf daffs and crocus, and looking wonderful in the bright sunshine. I take shots.
But down the dip, the mist gets thicker, and by the time I make it up into the village, it is thick as guts, as my old Dad would have said. Visibility was down to twenty yards, and cold.
I go to the post office and am handed two huge boxes.
More workwear.
Thing is, when I tried to order some t shirts and coats, there was an error is the system. So I had to get IT to fix that, and when they did, I went back and did another order. Thought nothing of it.
But, it seems the original order went through as well. So I have twenty t shirts, two pilot jackets, two day glo fleeces, a huge winter coat. I have ten t shirts, some shirts, a coat and a pair of safety boots to carry back home.
Bugger.
So, I manage to squeeze all the stuff in one box, and is manageable.
But it is a struggle up the hill to our street, my back letting me know how much it didn't like that.
But at three, the week is done. I switch the laptop off, pack everything away. And go to the sofa to find something to fill my brain with other than WTG parts.
Jools come home at half three, we have coffee and swap news.
Not much else to report. Just a simple dinner to prepare. I cook curried chicken for Jools, and make an omelette for myself. No carbs.
Good boy, Jelltex.
We watch Grand Tours of the Scottish Lochs, with a visit to Loch Maree featured, a place I visited with my family in 1974 when we had two week on a coach tour of the Highlands. Just as I remember it.
Jools is pooped, so we will save Monty in Japan for another night. I listen to the Friday football before I too give up and go to bed.
All I had to do was get through Friday....We are both on diets: Jools is on a low calorie, low carb diet. She has shakes three times a day and a small meal on top of that. Only has enough milk allowance for one cup a day, saving the rest for a second cup on Saturdays and Sundays.
I am trying to cut down, especially on carbs. I just have fruit for breakfast, something on toast for lunch, and a small dinner. But larger than Jools' mind.Jools is dropping weight as you would expect. As for me, well, lost 4 lb last week. and hope things will carry on. I had no beer when away.
So, I make coffee, Jools has her shake and I have a tin of grapefruit segments, whilst listening to the Remaniacs podcast.And before you know it, its time for work and first meeting of the day.
In truth, the day is a real struggle with things going from bad to worse. Another meeting after lunch which is the killer, and squeezes the last drop of enthhusiasm from me.
But before then, I had gone for a walk to the post office, to pick up what I thought was my new swipe card for work.Sea mist was trying to roll in, but was gloriously sunny when I set off.
I take some shots of the bank at the top of Station Road, all planted with dwarf daffs and crocus, and looking wonderful in the bright sunshine. I take shots.But down the dip, the mist gets thicker, and by the time I make it up into the village, it is thick as guts, as my old Dad would have said. Visibility was down to twenty yards, and cold.
I go to the post office and am handed two huge boxes.More workwear.
Thing is, when I tried to order some t shirts and coats, there was an error is the system. So I had to get IT to fix that, and when they did, I went back and did another order. Thought nothing of it.
But, it seems the original order went through as well. So I have twenty t shirts, two pilot jackets, two day glo fleeces, a huge winter coat. I have ten t shirts, some shirts, a coat and a pair of safety boots to carry back home.Bugger.
So, I manage to squeeze all the stuff in one box, and is manageable.
But it is a struggle up the hill to our street, my back letting me know how much it didn't like that.
But at three, the week is done. I switch the laptop off, pack everything away. And go to the sofa to find something to fill my brain with other than WTG parts.
Jools come home at half three, we have coffee and swap news.
Not much else to report. Just a simple dinner to prepare. I cook curried chicken for Jools, and make an omelette for myself. No carbs.
Good boy, Jelltex.
We watch Grand Tours of the Scottish Lochs, with a visit to Loch Maree featured, a place I visited with my family in 1974 when we had two week on a coach tour of the Highlands. Just as I remember it.
Jools is pooped, so we will save Monty in Japan for another night. I listen to the Friday football before I too give up and go to bed.
Saturday Brexit
Let me share with you the real horror of Brexit:
Even if May gets the WA through Parliament, that is just the first part. She then has to negotiate a trade deal with the EU, get the EU 27 to ratify that, then the EU Parliament, and then get Westminster to ratify it.
And bear in mind the trade deal will be more difficult to get past her own party than the WA, as this will be the actual relationship the UK will have with the EU; close or not.
And get it done in just 21 months, and have all ports and points of entry ready to implement whatever the trade relationship. Probably including an IT system, which the UK has a very poor record in bringing online in the public sector. In just 21 months.
And the same people who have negotiated the WA will then switch to the trade deal.
It does not bode well. And they will also have to negotiate dozens of other trade deals too. At the same time as with the EU.
And.
And there is rumours that the Conservatives are ready to commit regicide, with May to be forced out whatever happens in three months.
That will leave a real motley crew to choose from for the new leader: DD, Johnson, Gove, Raab. Which means that there will be a leadership contest at least, possibly an election too, and with the EU not knowing who will be in power to conclude talks. And all that would eat into the 21 months. And there is the very strong possibility that whoever is in power might say they will not honour what May had negotiated.
So, party politics will carry on, even as the cliff edge begins to fall away. Like no one in Westminster really cares.
Even if May gets the WA through Parliament, that is just the first part. She then has to negotiate a trade deal with the EU, get the EU 27 to ratify that, then the EU Parliament, and then get Westminster to ratify it.
And bear in mind the trade deal will be more difficult to get past her own party than the WA, as this will be the actual relationship the UK will have with the EU; close or not.
And get it done in just 21 months, and have all ports and points of entry ready to implement whatever the trade relationship. Probably including an IT system, which the UK has a very poor record in bringing online in the public sector. In just 21 months.
And the same people who have negotiated the WA will then switch to the trade deal.
It does not bode well. And they will also have to negotiate dozens of other trade deals too. At the same time as with the EU.
And.
And there is rumours that the Conservatives are ready to commit regicide, with May to be forced out whatever happens in three months.
That will leave a real motley crew to choose from for the new leader: DD, Johnson, Gove, Raab. Which means that there will be a leadership contest at least, possibly an election too, and with the EU not knowing who will be in power to conclude talks. And all that would eat into the 21 months. And there is the very strong possibility that whoever is in power might say they will not honour what May had negotiated.
So, party politics will carry on, even as the cliff edge begins to fall away. Like no one in Westminster really cares.
Friday, 22 February 2019
Thursday 21st February 2019
One month before the spring equinox, and when the clocks will spring forward.
Sp much more daylight now, even more in Denmark where it is getting light, or the first signs as I near to Billund Airport.
But to get there I have to get up, and for a change I slept like a log, and was woken from a deep sleep by the alarm on my phone.
So I get up, go to have a shower and pack. Downstairs I settle the bill, and walk to the car, dodging between the cars heading off to work early. I load my bags into the car, turn on the ignition and ease out onto the main road.
As I leave the town, the towers for my project are standing in two rows of five. They look impressive, but these are just the lower third sections, and will be much, much taller in a few weeks.
I go out onto the motorway, or motorvej as the Danes call it, but I know what they mean, then up the near dead straight r30 towards the airport. I make good time, and anyway I know if I arrive too early there will be long queues at security.
I am behind a truck, but it is doing 85 kmh, so I cruise along behind it, turning off towards the airport for the final 15 km, getting to the parking lot at just after seven.
And there was still a long line at security, so I check in my bags, then go to the cafe of breakfast and a nutella roll. And by the time I have eaten and drunk, there was no line. So I walk to the scanner, put my stuff in trays and am through.
I don't look in the shop, instead find a place to sit and work, once I get online using the old VIP password which gives ultra fast access. Will kill me if they change the password.
Anyway, I make a couple of Skype calls, answer mails and then go to the gate for the flight to be able to board. But poor weather in London meant the flight was delayed, so we wait and wait until we are allowed on half an hour late, then wait 15 minutes more before we can take off, finally having a landing slot.
We climb through clouds and into the bright morning at cruising altitude, I read a book, and decline breakfast, as I promised myself if I did not eat until i got home I would have a toasted cheese sandwich, and I really wanted one of those.
So we fly down over Holland and along the Belgian coast, crossing over to the Thames estuary where I get a glimpse of Thanet before the clouds obscure all sight of the ground.
We fly blind through clouds, the engines labour and the plane is buffeted. I hang on to my seat. Landing gear is lowered, flaps applied, and finally, as the are above Belmarsh prison, we see the ground. We leap over the river and touchdown.
Back home.
The delay meant I had already missed the earlier plane, so no worries, no need to hurry. We get off and walk into the terminal, a short walk to immigration, and once through my case is waiting.
A dash through the arrivals hall, and up to the station and a two minute wait for a train to Stratford.
It is half term, so the trains are full of families taking their little darlings to the centre of town for some activities or the other, and once the Dover train pulled in, that has lots of families too, mostly heading for Folkestone, but some coming to Dover. Meaning that once off the train, all the taxis were taken, and I had to wait 20 minutes for the next one to come.
He takes me to Station Road, leaving me with a short walk to Chez Jelltex, where my arrival only arouses slight interest from both cats who quickly go back to sleep.
I have my long-promised lunch, then get online with the work computer as I have a meeting.
And by the end of that, I am washed up, washed out, and fit for nothing other than slumping on the sofa to watch Lucy in some documentary about the "Glorious" Revolution.
I put my case and washing away, then prepare dinner; cut veggies and potatoes, as I am having mini steak and ale pie, and Jools is having smoked salmon.
I also hit the wine, two and a half glasses, but that makes things fine. We toast each other and tuck in.
And that is it, as we are both bushed We listen to the radio until 9, then go to bed, so we will be refreshed for the weekend.
Sp much more daylight now, even more in Denmark where it is getting light, or the first signs as I near to Billund Airport.
But to get there I have to get up, and for a change I slept like a log, and was woken from a deep sleep by the alarm on my phone.
So I get up, go to have a shower and pack. Downstairs I settle the bill, and walk to the car, dodging between the cars heading off to work early. I load my bags into the car, turn on the ignition and ease out onto the main road.
As I leave the town, the towers for my project are standing in two rows of five. They look impressive, but these are just the lower third sections, and will be much, much taller in a few weeks.
I go out onto the motorway, or motorvej as the Danes call it, but I know what they mean, then up the near dead straight r30 towards the airport. I make good time, and anyway I know if I arrive too early there will be long queues at security.
I am behind a truck, but it is doing 85 kmh, so I cruise along behind it, turning off towards the airport for the final 15 km, getting to the parking lot at just after seven.
And there was still a long line at security, so I check in my bags, then go to the cafe of breakfast and a nutella roll. And by the time I have eaten and drunk, there was no line. So I walk to the scanner, put my stuff in trays and am through.
I don't look in the shop, instead find a place to sit and work, once I get online using the old VIP password which gives ultra fast access. Will kill me if they change the password.
Anyway, I make a couple of Skype calls, answer mails and then go to the gate for the flight to be able to board. But poor weather in London meant the flight was delayed, so we wait and wait until we are allowed on half an hour late, then wait 15 minutes more before we can take off, finally having a landing slot.
We climb through clouds and into the bright morning at cruising altitude, I read a book, and decline breakfast, as I promised myself if I did not eat until i got home I would have a toasted cheese sandwich, and I really wanted one of those.
So we fly down over Holland and along the Belgian coast, crossing over to the Thames estuary where I get a glimpse of Thanet before the clouds obscure all sight of the ground.
We fly blind through clouds, the engines labour and the plane is buffeted. I hang on to my seat. Landing gear is lowered, flaps applied, and finally, as the are above Belmarsh prison, we see the ground. We leap over the river and touchdown.
Back home.
The delay meant I had already missed the earlier plane, so no worries, no need to hurry. We get off and walk into the terminal, a short walk to immigration, and once through my case is waiting.
A dash through the arrivals hall, and up to the station and a two minute wait for a train to Stratford.
It is half term, so the trains are full of families taking their little darlings to the centre of town for some activities or the other, and once the Dover train pulled in, that has lots of families too, mostly heading for Folkestone, but some coming to Dover. Meaning that once off the train, all the taxis were taken, and I had to wait 20 minutes for the next one to come.He takes me to Station Road, leaving me with a short walk to Chez Jelltex, where my arrival only arouses slight interest from both cats who quickly go back to sleep.
I have my long-promised lunch, then get online with the work computer as I have a meeting.
And by the end of that, I am washed up, washed out, and fit for nothing other than slumping on the sofa to watch Lucy in some documentary about the "Glorious" Revolution.
I put my case and washing away, then prepare dinner; cut veggies and potatoes, as I am having mini steak and ale pie, and Jools is having smoked salmon.
I also hit the wine, two and a half glasses, but that makes things fine. We toast each other and tuck in.
And that is it, as we are both bushed We listen to the radio until 9, then go to bed, so we will be refreshed for the weekend.
Friday brexit
Those of wo voted remain have been a little harsh on those who voted to leave and have since realised the error of their ways. We are told we should understand they were lied to over and over again, and having an I told you so, or you deserve everything you get, it not going to heal divisions.
But I think that is missing the point, that as adults we need to be made to take the consequences of our actions, and think things through, and in the case of the referendum, people were told that we could have the same, if not better terms on trade as being out of the EU than being members and for free, should have seen that the lie or hogwash it clearly was. If something seems to good to be true, it probably is.
Also, if people did not know the consequences of their voting to leave, then maybe they shouldn’t have. And especially people who work in jobs and industries that reply on just in time deliveries that cross borders should have thought that potentially putting barriers and pinch points in that supply chain, might have negative consequences.
People have been crying on the production line at Honda this week. Not surprised, and yet the town and country voted 55/45% to leave. Those of us who did think ahead warned, but we were either ignored or shouted down. And what, we should just suck that up and say, oh, so very sorry to hear that and bad luck, old chap.
I have never wavered in what I have said, and pretty much things have panned out as I have said, because I use some of my spare time to find out facts and the truth. If I can do it, anyone can. I mean, even before the referendum, I saw a vote to leave as a risk, and risking all that the country enjoys as being a member of the EU, the jobs and prosperity that we enjoy. And risking at that, and the stuff the EU does for UK and that’s before we realise all the stuff the EU does for us that we don’t know.
So, I do feel sorry for people who voted to leave and now find their job is in peril, but really, what did you think it would mean? Honda and Nissan and other companies are in the UK because we’re in the EU, not because we’re Britain.
But hey.
And Anna Soubrey said in an interview yesterday that the PM has a problem with immigration. Whether that is racist or not is debatable, but what is clear that everything, including huge tracks of UK manufacturing, exports, jobs and wealth all on the altar of stopping immigration. And immigration that does the country overwhelmingly good. The economy, housing market and exchequer all benefits. Take immigration away, and we all suffer.
So, how much is May’s misguided dream of reducing immigration to work, every time a job is lost we should ask her.
The most maligned part of the EU is the Common Agricultural Policy, of the CAP. The CAL was always portrayed as a money pit, but it guaranteed prices and took some out of the risks of market forces in farming, and encouraged farmers to think not just about crops but the environment too, and things like set aside were made possible. And now all that is at risk. Imagine things like the Kentish downs, home of things like some of the rarest plants in the UK, kept that way by farmers, all being put at risk because of Brexit.
And yet, that is where we are. Putting it all at risk, betting on red over and over again. What happens when we lose?
Finally, a reminder to all that an extension to the A50 process is possible, though the UK would have to ask for it, and all of the EU27 would have to agree. But then we come to the legal problems.
Extension of a few weeks is fine, but we then come to July 1st. The next day the new session of the EU Parliamant is to be sowrn in, and any country that is a member of the EU will have to have taken part in the elections in May . The reason is that for legal reasons the EU Parliament must be made up with MEPs from all member states, otherwise every decision, law and vote would be open to possible legal challenge.
Although the EU has passed laws to allocate most of the UK's seats to other countries, there is a backstop, remember that, which will allow for the current allocation of MEPs to be used. But the time for decision is getting ever smaller.
And remember, no matter what for of Brexit is decided upon, or even no deal Brexit, an extension is needed to allow for more preparations and all the laws and SIs passed in Westminster.
The ERG are saying that if the UK does not leave the EU on 29th March, they will stop cooperating with the Government. Is that what they call their current actions? Anyway, the new group of indepndent MPs was swollen by one more today as another Labour MP resigned from the party, so the numbers in The House are changing
But I think that is missing the point, that as adults we need to be made to take the consequences of our actions, and think things through, and in the case of the referendum, people were told that we could have the same, if not better terms on trade as being out of the EU than being members and for free, should have seen that the lie or hogwash it clearly was. If something seems to good to be true, it probably is.
Also, if people did not know the consequences of their voting to leave, then maybe they shouldn’t have. And especially people who work in jobs and industries that reply on just in time deliveries that cross borders should have thought that potentially putting barriers and pinch points in that supply chain, might have negative consequences.
People have been crying on the production line at Honda this week. Not surprised, and yet the town and country voted 55/45% to leave. Those of us who did think ahead warned, but we were either ignored or shouted down. And what, we should just suck that up and say, oh, so very sorry to hear that and bad luck, old chap.
I have never wavered in what I have said, and pretty much things have panned out as I have said, because I use some of my spare time to find out facts and the truth. If I can do it, anyone can. I mean, even before the referendum, I saw a vote to leave as a risk, and risking all that the country enjoys as being a member of the EU, the jobs and prosperity that we enjoy. And risking at that, and the stuff the EU does for UK and that’s before we realise all the stuff the EU does for us that we don’t know.
So, I do feel sorry for people who voted to leave and now find their job is in peril, but really, what did you think it would mean? Honda and Nissan and other companies are in the UK because we’re in the EU, not because we’re Britain.
But hey.
And Anna Soubrey said in an interview yesterday that the PM has a problem with immigration. Whether that is racist or not is debatable, but what is clear that everything, including huge tracks of UK manufacturing, exports, jobs and wealth all on the altar of stopping immigration. And immigration that does the country overwhelmingly good. The economy, housing market and exchequer all benefits. Take immigration away, and we all suffer.
So, how much is May’s misguided dream of reducing immigration to work, every time a job is lost we should ask her.
The most maligned part of the EU is the Common Agricultural Policy, of the CAP. The CAL was always portrayed as a money pit, but it guaranteed prices and took some out of the risks of market forces in farming, and encouraged farmers to think not just about crops but the environment too, and things like set aside were made possible. And now all that is at risk. Imagine things like the Kentish downs, home of things like some of the rarest plants in the UK, kept that way by farmers, all being put at risk because of Brexit.
And yet, that is where we are. Putting it all at risk, betting on red over and over again. What happens when we lose?
Finally, a reminder to all that an extension to the A50 process is possible, though the UK would have to ask for it, and all of the EU27 would have to agree. But then we come to the legal problems.
Extension of a few weeks is fine, but we then come to July 1st. The next day the new session of the EU Parliamant is to be sowrn in, and any country that is a member of the EU will have to have taken part in the elections in May . The reason is that for legal reasons the EU Parliament must be made up with MEPs from all member states, otherwise every decision, law and vote would be open to possible legal challenge.
Although the EU has passed laws to allocate most of the UK's seats to other countries, there is a backstop, remember that, which will allow for the current allocation of MEPs to be used. But the time for decision is getting ever smaller.
And remember, no matter what for of Brexit is decided upon, or even no deal Brexit, an extension is needed to allow for more preparations and all the laws and SIs passed in Westminster.
The ERG are saying that if the UK does not leave the EU on 29th March, they will stop cooperating with the Government. Is that what they call their current actions? Anyway, the new group of indepndent MPs was swollen by one more today as another Labour MP resigned from the party, so the numbers in The House are changing
Thursday, 21 February 2019
Wednesday 20th February 2019
After a fairly late night watching football, I did not set my alarm, and so rose at seven, had a shower, checked the interwebs and dressed before going down for breakfast and then driving the short distance to the yard/office.
Oddly, I had little planned for the day, just sure as eggs is eggs that it would fill up with meetings.
But on arrival I was told I had missed the working breakfast that happens every Wednesday, but they had saved me a cinnamon bun. I'd save that for lunch. I said.
So, up the find a desk and then deal with the issues of the day.
Thing about being back at the yard is that not only do I see colleagues I have not seen in two years, I see friends I have not seen for two years. It really is a joy to see them, and they seem happy enough to see me, which is nice.
Better than nice.
I have no idea how you eat a cinnamon swirl without being covered in sticky stuff. Man v one large bun, and although I won, it covered my face and hands with sugar and icing.
I walk the yard in the morning, looking at the towers for the project that have arrived. All mine. For this project the turbines have grown somewhat, so they are now bigger than huge. Huger.
It is just amazing really, that we can take these monsters and just stick them in the sea.
But we do.
And they have gone from being 3MW ten years ago to over 9MW now, and will get bigger and more powerful.
And then meetings all afternoon, and I am pooped.
So, at four I go back to the hotel, driving in the heavy drizzle that brought dusk early, so from my room I could look out over the red tiled roofs of the town as darkness fell.
I could go for a walk to find somewhere nice to eat, or I could eat in the hotel.
Hotel won.
So, I ordered burger and fries along with a diet coke. And in the end could not finish it all, so maybe I am learning to eat less?
One hopes so.
And that was it. I had work to do, but I could not be bothered. watch more football before turning in, and will have just over six hours sleep before it is gezome time.
Oddly, I had little planned for the day, just sure as eggs is eggs that it would fill up with meetings.
But on arrival I was told I had missed the working breakfast that happens every Wednesday, but they had saved me a cinnamon bun. I'd save that for lunch. I said.
So, up the find a desk and then deal with the issues of the day.
Thing about being back at the yard is that not only do I see colleagues I have not seen in two years, I see friends I have not seen for two years. It really is a joy to see them, and they seem happy enough to see me, which is nice.
Better than nice.
I have no idea how you eat a cinnamon swirl without being covered in sticky stuff. Man v one large bun, and although I won, it covered my face and hands with sugar and icing.
I walk the yard in the morning, looking at the towers for the project that have arrived. All mine. For this project the turbines have grown somewhat, so they are now bigger than huge. Huger.
It is just amazing really, that we can take these monsters and just stick them in the sea.
But we do.
And they have gone from being 3MW ten years ago to over 9MW now, and will get bigger and more powerful.
And then meetings all afternoon, and I am pooped.
So, at four I go back to the hotel, driving in the heavy drizzle that brought dusk early, so from my room I could look out over the red tiled roofs of the town as darkness fell.
I could go for a walk to find somewhere nice to eat, or I could eat in the hotel.Hotel won.
So, I ordered burger and fries along with a diet coke. And in the end could not finish it all, so maybe I am learning to eat less?
One hopes so.
And that was it. I had work to do, but I could not be bothered. watch more football before turning in, and will have just over six hours sleep before it is gezome time.
Its all over
Whatever happens now, even if A50 is revoked, Brexit will have had its effect and the country will have changed, made poorer, forever.
Honda will have left.
Nissan will have left.
All those JLR jobs will have gone.
The European Medicines Agency would have moved to Amsterdam.
All those highly qualified EU citizens will have left, pissed off at being blamed for something they did the opposite of, and being accused of being citizens of nowhere and queue jumpers.
The final part, removal of rights, can still be stopped. But we will be forever poorer, have limited horizons, just more hateful. That is the UK in 2019.
And in the ashes of what Brexit has burned of our industries, international reputation and our human and workers rights, we will have to rebuild our broken political system, without blaming each other for the mess we find ourselves in. Blame will be the most bountiful resource, maybe we could export that to the rest of the world?
Instead of facing the most serious trouble the country has faced since 1940, instead the political parties are turning on those who defected this week, accusing them on not being pure of thought and better gone. Seeing this as a warning call, many in the hard right and especially the hard left, see this as justification in what they are going, so able to make Labour more pure of thought. So, in short, doing everything to show the 11 in the Independent Group were pretty much on the money.
So it goes on, the shitshow that is the last days of Brexit.
Both Turkey and Japan have refused to roll over the trade deal the UK has as part of the EU, and the disgraced former Defence Secretary, Liam Fox, has admissted a trade deal with both will not be in place until after the 29th March, surprising no one, except the disgraced former Defence Secretary, Liam Fox.
Things is, it won't stop with Brexit day. It will get worse as we will have all this. With added food and energy shortages and people dying because of lack of drugs and radiotherapy. I mean, its what everyone voted for, isn't it?
So, we will have Brexit, because, as a country, we are too stupid to stop it, no matter how much damage we know it will do.
We deserve Brexit.
Honda will have left.
Nissan will have left.
All those JLR jobs will have gone.
The European Medicines Agency would have moved to Amsterdam.
All those highly qualified EU citizens will have left, pissed off at being blamed for something they did the opposite of, and being accused of being citizens of nowhere and queue jumpers.
The final part, removal of rights, can still be stopped. But we will be forever poorer, have limited horizons, just more hateful. That is the UK in 2019.
And in the ashes of what Brexit has burned of our industries, international reputation and our human and workers rights, we will have to rebuild our broken political system, without blaming each other for the mess we find ourselves in. Blame will be the most bountiful resource, maybe we could export that to the rest of the world?
Instead of facing the most serious trouble the country has faced since 1940, instead the political parties are turning on those who defected this week, accusing them on not being pure of thought and better gone. Seeing this as a warning call, many in the hard right and especially the hard left, see this as justification in what they are going, so able to make Labour more pure of thought. So, in short, doing everything to show the 11 in the Independent Group were pretty much on the money.
So it goes on, the shitshow that is the last days of Brexit.
Both Turkey and Japan have refused to roll over the trade deal the UK has as part of the EU, and the disgraced former Defence Secretary, Liam Fox, has admissted a trade deal with both will not be in place until after the 29th March, surprising no one, except the disgraced former Defence Secretary, Liam Fox.
Things is, it won't stop with Brexit day. It will get worse as we will have all this. With added food and energy shortages and people dying because of lack of drugs and radiotherapy. I mean, its what everyone voted for, isn't it?
So, we will have Brexit, because, as a country, we are too stupid to stop it, no matter how much damage we know it will do.
We deserve Brexit.
Tuesday 19th February 2019
Travel will be a major part of this year. At least until Brexit, and then we’ll see.
But most weeks will see me travelling, somewhere or another. Mostly here to Denmark for the first few months anyway.
So, Tuesday was the usual commute; up at half four, Martin Mill for six, train to London, then to LCY for the flight to Billund, and then drive to Esbjerg which is now my home from home through to July at least.
Anyway, we ave to peel ourselves out of bed, get dressed and do the usual things we have to in the morning, so I can be deposited at Martin Mill before six so I can get my ticket and be ready for the train.
And I am relieved that already there is blueness in the sky, dawn coming quickly, especially at the beginning of another fine day. Blackbirds were already out looking for food, and singing about it too.
And despite it being a school holiday week, there were plenty of folks waiting for the train, friends meeting up, catching up on the news from the weekend.
I slump into a seat once the train arrives, ready to enjoy seeing the countryside slip by, though it will be about 20 minutes before it would be light enough. Dover is in darkness, but the yellow lights from a few kitchens burned bright as people began their days, and the town was laid out around the valley as the train dropped to Buckland Junction for the run to Priory.
More people get on, but it is quieter than normal, I don’t have someone next to me until Ebbsfleet, and by then it is getting light, and the full moon is hanging in the sky away to the west, just floating like a huge balloon, getting paler minute by minute.
As we crossed into Essex, the sun rose in the east, and the scrapers in Canary Wharf catch the first rays of the sun, shining like a wizard’s palace, and me the only one looking who saw it. At least around me, as they all are either asleep or watching something on their phones.
In London I go straight to the airport, check in and drop my case off, get through security and go to have some breakfast. My waitress recognises me from two weeks ago, and asks how I am and where I was going and was it business.
I have salmon and scrambled eggs on toast, along with two coffees, and it costs twenty six quid, which is obscene really, but the company pays, and all because Stratford station is too cold for breakfast, and I hope to meet up with colleagues here. I don’t, so eat in silence then go to find a quiet corner to read and wait for the flight.
It is running half an hour late; more time to read and watch flights coming and going. And people watching. There are more families this week, obviously, and have the joy in their eyes about travelling that we business types have had beaten out of us from hundreds of meetings and webinars. I was flying to Legoland, but driving right by.
Anyway, the plane comes, we get on and arrange ourselves.
And we are away, into the air, banking to the north for that great look along the river and at The City, then over the north east suburbs, over the M25, into Essex, then over the coast at Orford Ness, with the coast stretching up to Lowestoft and the dark clouds covering Norfolk.
I decline breakfast. 2nd breakfast, and read more, finishing the magazine as the plane drops towards Billund. And Denmark is covered in clouds, we pass through torrential rain on final approach and again there is the hairy landing.
I get a car, load my case in the back and drive the 40 minutes to Esbjerg, along the same roads I have driven down for what, six years? I know every turn and bump, but see the changes as shops closed down, and houses built on fields.
I arrive at the office and site. Like I have never been away, and ready to do the dance again for the 3rd project, cut and thrust of meetings and the usual give and take. I also meet my new boss, an old colleague who has taken over, and wanted to say hi. She wanted honesty she said, so I gave her honesty. And truth. And why not?
Anyway, soon it is five, and time to drive to the hotel, just out of the port, down along the branch line to the old tower, then up the hill and along to the hotel where I bag a free space.
I check in, mess around for half an hour, then go walk to a new restaurant to meet up with two colleagues, Brian and Henrik for dinner and a chat. Its good when work becomes pleasure, though I am dragging them from their loved ones for the evening, so they punish me by ordering surf n turf, the surf turns out to be half a lobster!
It is very nice, we talk and laugh, and I reflect on how I have come to be here, nine years after thinking I was unemployable. Yet, here I am.
Henrik gives me a lift back to the hotel, getting me back in time so I can watch the Liverpool v Bayern game on TV, which turned out to be very enjoyable indeed, even if there was no goals. But I did only just manage to stay awake until the end.
But most weeks will see me travelling, somewhere or another. Mostly here to Denmark for the first few months anyway.
So, Tuesday was the usual commute; up at half four, Martin Mill for six, train to London, then to LCY for the flight to Billund, and then drive to Esbjerg which is now my home from home through to July at least.
Anyway, we ave to peel ourselves out of bed, get dressed and do the usual things we have to in the morning, so I can be deposited at Martin Mill before six so I can get my ticket and be ready for the train.
And I am relieved that already there is blueness in the sky, dawn coming quickly, especially at the beginning of another fine day. Blackbirds were already out looking for food, and singing about it too.
And despite it being a school holiday week, there were plenty of folks waiting for the train, friends meeting up, catching up on the news from the weekend.
I slump into a seat once the train arrives, ready to enjoy seeing the countryside slip by, though it will be about 20 minutes before it would be light enough. Dover is in darkness, but the yellow lights from a few kitchens burned bright as people began their days, and the town was laid out around the valley as the train dropped to Buckland Junction for the run to Priory.
More people get on, but it is quieter than normal, I don’t have someone next to me until Ebbsfleet, and by then it is getting light, and the full moon is hanging in the sky away to the west, just floating like a huge balloon, getting paler minute by minute.
As we crossed into Essex, the sun rose in the east, and the scrapers in Canary Wharf catch the first rays of the sun, shining like a wizard’s palace, and me the only one looking who saw it. At least around me, as they all are either asleep or watching something on their phones.
In London I go straight to the airport, check in and drop my case off, get through security and go to have some breakfast. My waitress recognises me from two weeks ago, and asks how I am and where I was going and was it business.
I have salmon and scrambled eggs on toast, along with two coffees, and it costs twenty six quid, which is obscene really, but the company pays, and all because Stratford station is too cold for breakfast, and I hope to meet up with colleagues here. I don’t, so eat in silence then go to find a quiet corner to read and wait for the flight.
It is running half an hour late; more time to read and watch flights coming and going. And people watching. There are more families this week, obviously, and have the joy in their eyes about travelling that we business types have had beaten out of us from hundreds of meetings and webinars. I was flying to Legoland, but driving right by.
Anyway, the plane comes, we get on and arrange ourselves.And we are away, into the air, banking to the north for that great look along the river and at The City, then over the north east suburbs, over the M25, into Essex, then over the coast at Orford Ness, with the coast stretching up to Lowestoft and the dark clouds covering Norfolk.
I decline breakfast. 2nd breakfast, and read more, finishing the magazine as the plane drops towards Billund. And Denmark is covered in clouds, we pass through torrential rain on final approach and again there is the hairy landing.I get a car, load my case in the back and drive the 40 minutes to Esbjerg, along the same roads I have driven down for what, six years? I know every turn and bump, but see the changes as shops closed down, and houses built on fields.
I arrive at the office and site. Like I have never been away, and ready to do the dance again for the 3rd project, cut and thrust of meetings and the usual give and take. I also meet my new boss, an old colleague who has taken over, and wanted to say hi. She wanted honesty she said, so I gave her honesty. And truth. And why not?
Anyway, soon it is five, and time to drive to the hotel, just out of the port, down along the branch line to the old tower, then up the hill and along to the hotel where I bag a free space.
I check in, mess around for half an hour, then go walk to a new restaurant to meet up with two colleagues, Brian and Henrik for dinner and a chat. Its good when work becomes pleasure, though I am dragging them from their loved ones for the evening, so they punish me by ordering surf n turf, the surf turns out to be half a lobster!
It is very nice, we talk and laugh, and I reflect on how I have come to be here, nine years after thinking I was unemployable. Yet, here I am.
Henrik gives me a lift back to the hotel, getting me back in time so I can watch the Liverpool v Bayern game on TV, which turned out to be very enjoyable indeed, even if there was no goals. But I did only just manage to stay awake until the end.
Blue Splitters
This morning, three Conservative MPs resigned from the party, and the party whip and joined the Independence Group with the now eight former Labour MPs.
The new group now outnumbers the DUP.
Of course it might not come to much, and will peter out, but it might encourage more to leave the shitshows which are the two main parties now, as it seems that some formally moderate MPs might now support the madcap no deal Brexit plan.
Only problem for the new group, not a party, is that as more join, it might become a broader church and less focussed and become a place for all kinds of malcontents, not just those opposing Brexit.
We shall see.
But neither May nor Corbyn actually mentioned them in PMQs today, which is a hell of an elephant in the room to ignore, especially as the 11 members of the new group sat in the same area of the opposition benches.
In the face of accusations of antisemitism and threats against MPs who do not tow Corbyn’s policies, the party responded with accusations that the new group was funded by Israel and easier deselection of MPs by members who feel their representative is not pure enough.
Hmmmmm.
Not a good look.
What we have is 11 MPs who have said the poison and madness of the last two years is enough and want to take the centre ground to find solutions. Which is nice. And a change.
Whether they can get more to join is another matter, but as I have long forecasted, I can’t see how either main party can survive Brexit in their current form, and already proven right.
The new group now outnumbers the DUP.
Of course it might not come to much, and will peter out, but it might encourage more to leave the shitshows which are the two main parties now, as it seems that some formally moderate MPs might now support the madcap no deal Brexit plan.
Only problem for the new group, not a party, is that as more join, it might become a broader church and less focussed and become a place for all kinds of malcontents, not just those opposing Brexit.
We shall see.
But neither May nor Corbyn actually mentioned them in PMQs today, which is a hell of an elephant in the room to ignore, especially as the 11 members of the new group sat in the same area of the opposition benches.
In the face of accusations of antisemitism and threats against MPs who do not tow Corbyn’s policies, the party responded with accusations that the new group was funded by Israel and easier deselection of MPs by members who feel their representative is not pure enough.
Hmmmmm.
Not a good look.
What we have is 11 MPs who have said the poison and madness of the last two years is enough and want to take the centre ground to find solutions. Which is nice. And a change.
Whether they can get more to join is another matter, but as I have long forecasted, I can’t see how either main party can survive Brexit in their current form, and already proven right.
Wednesday Brexit
In order for any form of Brexit to happen, all UK laws that have reference to EU laws will have to be changed, this goes from fundamental issues like human rights down to the most trivial.
The Withdrawal Act allows the Government to change many of these without due process by Statutory Instruments (Sis), that Ministers can issue.
One such SI is that in the event of shortages of medicines, pharmacists will be able to change prescriptions from what a doctor has prescribed to what might be available.
This is actually against the law, and has possible lethal consequences if the pharmacist gets it wrong. Some conditions, like epilepsy are only controlled by careful monitoring of reactions to drugs, or combinations, and any change in one drug could trigger a possible fatal fit.
Therefore, The Good Law Project yesterday launched a Judicial Review on this SI, and others which will be against other UK laws and could have such lethal effects. As Brexit day is just 38 days away, this is urgent and is already causing patients, doctors and pharmacists grave concern. Though looking in the newspapers or TV news, you would think Brexit was all about trade and a competition to see which side blinks first.
Also, the Commons Select Committee released its lengthy report on the campaign of fake news and misinformation by Cambridge Analytica on behalf of the two Leave campaigns, and asks a really fundamental question as to how legitimate the referendum result actually was. And yet it was hardly covered in the press and by the BBC.
In fact negative news about Brexit are usually buried, even by the once paper of record, The Times. As I found out yesterday when the story that Honda was to pull out of the UK was on page 12.
And the disconnect between what is happening in the UK, an in particular within the Conservative Party and what is happening with the EU in regard to the backstop is startling. Listening to the BBC you would think that more negotiations are taking place, and yet the EU has said, for months now, that the WA is locked. Probably all a ploy to make the EU look unbending, and the brave Brexiteers plan was struck down unfairly, when it is just the plan from 18 months ago with a new title.
The Withdrawal Act allows the Government to change many of these without due process by Statutory Instruments (Sis), that Ministers can issue.
One such SI is that in the event of shortages of medicines, pharmacists will be able to change prescriptions from what a doctor has prescribed to what might be available.
This is actually against the law, and has possible lethal consequences if the pharmacist gets it wrong. Some conditions, like epilepsy are only controlled by careful monitoring of reactions to drugs, or combinations, and any change in one drug could trigger a possible fatal fit.
Therefore, The Good Law Project yesterday launched a Judicial Review on this SI, and others which will be against other UK laws and could have such lethal effects. As Brexit day is just 38 days away, this is urgent and is already causing patients, doctors and pharmacists grave concern. Though looking in the newspapers or TV news, you would think Brexit was all about trade and a competition to see which side blinks first.
Also, the Commons Select Committee released its lengthy report on the campaign of fake news and misinformation by Cambridge Analytica on behalf of the two Leave campaigns, and asks a really fundamental question as to how legitimate the referendum result actually was. And yet it was hardly covered in the press and by the BBC.
In fact negative news about Brexit are usually buried, even by the once paper of record, The Times. As I found out yesterday when the story that Honda was to pull out of the UK was on page 12.
And the disconnect between what is happening in the UK, an in particular within the Conservative Party and what is happening with the EU in regard to the backstop is startling. Listening to the BBC you would think that more negotiations are taking place, and yet the EU has said, for months now, that the WA is locked. Probably all a ploy to make the EU look unbending, and the brave Brexiteers plan was struck down unfairly, when it is just the plan from 18 months ago with a new title.
Monday 18th February 2019
Monday.
And, well, you know the score.
Back to work, up at six, make coffee, have fruit and try to ignore the hunger pangs until it is at least gone nine, meaning it’s ten in DK, I mean if they can have lunch, I can.
Right?
But then there’s toasted cheese sandwiches.
I had one in Folkestone on Sunday, and it was great. My stomach said more of that action, daddio.
We have no sandwich toaster, and grilling it would not work. But, I thought, I could fry the sandwich in a little melted butter, press down with the fish slice, and make a fried toasted cheese sandwich. But, would it work.
Yes it would!
Oh my lord, toasted cheese sandwich heaven. Only, I ate it at half nine, meaning that by one I was hungry again.
So I make another one, and make holes in the bread so the cheese could leak out and be all crispy.
Hole in one!
Bing. Then the feelings of guilt as I had eaten twice in the day.
And then there was work.
Always the same, mails, meetings, arguments, shouting. Rinse and repeat.
And outside the day was cloudy, light drizzle fell and I was struggling for the shot of the day until it brightend up later and I was able to snap one of the small flowers in what we used to call our lawn, and I ID’d it as Field Speedwell.
Nice.
Jools returned home and I cooked some unidentifiable white meat out of the freezer that has some kind of spice on it. Must have been a couple of years old. Came out OK and I’m still here. So, no harm done.
For the evening there was Only Connect and FA Cup football, Only Connect was better, and then Utd (Man) dumped Chelski out of the cup. It’s a Sari business.
And, well, you know the score.
Back to work, up at six, make coffee, have fruit and try to ignore the hunger pangs until it is at least gone nine, meaning it’s ten in DK, I mean if they can have lunch, I can.
Right?
But then there’s toasted cheese sandwiches.
I had one in Folkestone on Sunday, and it was great. My stomach said more of that action, daddio.
We have no sandwich toaster, and grilling it would not work. But, I thought, I could fry the sandwich in a little melted butter, press down with the fish slice, and make a fried toasted cheese sandwich. But, would it work.
Yes it would!
Oh my lord, toasted cheese sandwich heaven. Only, I ate it at half nine, meaning that by one I was hungry again.
So I make another one, and make holes in the bread so the cheese could leak out and be all crispy.
Hole in one!
Bing. Then the feelings of guilt as I had eaten twice in the day.
And then there was work.
Always the same, mails, meetings, arguments, shouting. Rinse and repeat.
And outside the day was cloudy, light drizzle fell and I was struggling for the shot of the day until it brightend up later and I was able to snap one of the small flowers in what we used to call our lawn, and I ID’d it as Field Speedwell.Nice.
Jools returned home and I cooked some unidentifiable white meat out of the freezer that has some kind of spice on it. Must have been a couple of years old. Came out OK and I’m still here. So, no harm done.
For the evening there was Only Connect and FA Cup football, Only Connect was better, and then Utd (Man) dumped Chelski out of the cup. It’s a Sari business.
Tuesday Brexit
So, the day after Honda leaked news their factory was to close, the official announcement came that the reason wasn’t Brexit related.
That’s the official statement.
Reporters in Japan are suggesting that although it is very unusual to back out of a commitment for a company to do this, the breaking of promises dating back to when the company agreed to invest in the UK meant it was an acceptable thing to do.
Brexiteers have been trying everything since the news was leaked to suggest anything was to blame, apart from the Holy Brexit. The one main reason was the slump in diesel engine sales, but when the production data for the factory was looked at, only 6% were diesel. It would have been possible to change the factory to make the new generation of electrical cars, but the new EU-Japan trade deal and almost zero tariffs meant that they could be made at home.
Meanwhile May and her Cabinet are trying to find ways to change the text of the WA, despite the EU saying over and over its not open. The Malthouse Compromise was killed by Barnier at their meeting today, and both sides agreed it should be so. And yet it is thought that the Attorney General will take an alternative arrangement plan to Brussels tomorrow, which will have some of that still in the text.
Like May and co never learn.
And meanwhile more time slips by and Brexit becomes nearer.
The only logical solution now is at least to try to delay Brexit, or even better revoke A50. It is the only thing that makes sense, but in Brexit, sense matters little, when belief is everything, and if it isn’t working, its because you don’t believe enough.
I have no idea what is going to happen, but this week has been grim, and things will only get worse.
Gove announced that tariffs would be applied in the event of a no deal, to protect UK farming, but also at odds with the true Brexit believers. Brexit meets reality again. Farming cannot survive any Brexit, let alone no deal which will add huge costs to any exports by tariffs alone, then delay costs on top of that, and with fresh produce, delays that could lead to spoiling.
Every port of entry into the EU needs EU certified vets to scrutinise incoming goods and paperwork, so will need associated storage space. There is not enough such certified vets in the EU, and the UK needs them to, but all UK certified vets works for the EU. How will that circle be squared in the event of no deal?
No one knows, but the port of Dover said this week it is ready.
It is not. But what can anyone do when ten years preparation had to be reduced to a few months.
Two lanes in each direction are now closed on the M20 to allow for preparations for it to be turned into a lorry park, which is about as prepared as it gets in the UK to be honest.
But news just in, JRM says the Malthouse is still alive. Until it meets reality.
Jesus, this is painful.
That’s the official statement.
Reporters in Japan are suggesting that although it is very unusual to back out of a commitment for a company to do this, the breaking of promises dating back to when the company agreed to invest in the UK meant it was an acceptable thing to do.
Brexiteers have been trying everything since the news was leaked to suggest anything was to blame, apart from the Holy Brexit. The one main reason was the slump in diesel engine sales, but when the production data for the factory was looked at, only 6% were diesel. It would have been possible to change the factory to make the new generation of electrical cars, but the new EU-Japan trade deal and almost zero tariffs meant that they could be made at home.
Meanwhile May and her Cabinet are trying to find ways to change the text of the WA, despite the EU saying over and over its not open. The Malthouse Compromise was killed by Barnier at their meeting today, and both sides agreed it should be so. And yet it is thought that the Attorney General will take an alternative arrangement plan to Brussels tomorrow, which will have some of that still in the text.
Like May and co never learn.
And meanwhile more time slips by and Brexit becomes nearer.
The only logical solution now is at least to try to delay Brexit, or even better revoke A50. It is the only thing that makes sense, but in Brexit, sense matters little, when belief is everything, and if it isn’t working, its because you don’t believe enough.
I have no idea what is going to happen, but this week has been grim, and things will only get worse.
Gove announced that tariffs would be applied in the event of a no deal, to protect UK farming, but also at odds with the true Brexit believers. Brexit meets reality again. Farming cannot survive any Brexit, let alone no deal which will add huge costs to any exports by tariffs alone, then delay costs on top of that, and with fresh produce, delays that could lead to spoiling.
Every port of entry into the EU needs EU certified vets to scrutinise incoming goods and paperwork, so will need associated storage space. There is not enough such certified vets in the EU, and the UK needs them to, but all UK certified vets works for the EU. How will that circle be squared in the event of no deal?
No one knows, but the port of Dover said this week it is ready.
It is not. But what can anyone do when ten years preparation had to be reduced to a few months.
Two lanes in each direction are now closed on the M20 to allow for preparations for it to be turned into a lorry park, which is about as prepared as it gets in the UK to be honest.
But news just in, JRM says the Malthouse is still alive. Until it meets reality.
Jesus, this is painful.
Monday, 18 February 2019
Sunday 17th February 2019
How is the weekend half over already?
At least there is no football to watch, as it is a cup weekend, so no Prem games, and that means sitting on the sofa with no bacon butties, will not be an issue.
I have coffee and some fruit while Jools goes out on another litter pick.
At half eight, we go out to hunt for some snowdrop action. Not only snowdrops, but wild garlic and see what else was showing in Waldershare.
I am a bit of a piss poor amateur botanist now, so was hoping to see some other stuff, but oddly with was devoid of much else in flower other than snowdrops.
The churchyard at All Saints is wildly overgrown, but there are lots of snowdrops, huge drifts of them, but I was looking for some rare doubles. And beside one neglected grave, I find two clumps of fine doubles, the blooms so swollen with additional petals they looked almost pregnant.
I get down to take shots, while at the same time am hidden from view from Jools who walks past.
Sown the path from the back of the church, through the to the woods where one of the houses has cleared part of the woods maybe for an extension, but there are hundreds of yards more of wood, and down the slope, bright green shhots and new leaves of Ramsons are showing, the first sign of this year's crop of wild garlic that will turn the leaf covered woodland floor green, then white once the flowers open.
I try one of the leaves, and my mouth so recently brushed clean and minty fresh is soon overwhelmed by garlic, garlic which I will taste the rest of the morning.
From there we drive to Folkestone, arriving bang on ten, when the Armenian hairdresser opens. I go there now as they cut my hair as short as I want, meaning I can go an extra week or two between visits.
The guy asks what I want and just does it. Lovely. The back of my head is so short though, it feels bald, but that will be better within a day.
We go to a place for a coffee and I have a toasted sandwich, which was glorious. Carbtastic.
By then our friends from London's train had arrived, so we walk up to meet them at the Central Station, which as it turned out, not so central.
But Graham was there with his family, and after greetings, we walk back when them to Sandgate Road and the new centre of town. But this is not what they had come to see, instead we walk down to the top of The Old High Street, all twisty and cobbled.
They are thrilled by the mix of art and craft shops, but then the old street opens down to the harbour and the remains of the harbour branch climbing away to the left.
So we take them round to the old Harbour Station, where we bid them farewell, as our parking ticket was about to expire, so we leave them to explore, and we walk back up the old trackbed then up the old High Street back to the car, and then drive home via the tip to drop the litter off Jools had collected.
Back home we have a brew and we listen to some more music before I start to watch the Doncaster v Palace cup tie. But it is poor fare, so switch off at half time with Palace 2-0 to cook dinner.
An in the evening, Jools beat me at Uckers for the first time this year. Which was nice.
At least there is no football to watch, as it is a cup weekend, so no Prem games, and that means sitting on the sofa with no bacon butties, will not be an issue.
I have coffee and some fruit while Jools goes out on another litter pick.
At half eight, we go out to hunt for some snowdrop action. Not only snowdrops, but wild garlic and see what else was showing in Waldershare.
I am a bit of a piss poor amateur botanist now, so was hoping to see some other stuff, but oddly with was devoid of much else in flower other than snowdrops.
The churchyard at All Saints is wildly overgrown, but there are lots of snowdrops, huge drifts of them, but I was looking for some rare doubles. And beside one neglected grave, I find two clumps of fine doubles, the blooms so swollen with additional petals they looked almost pregnant.
I get down to take shots, while at the same time am hidden from view from Jools who walks past.Sown the path from the back of the church, through the to the woods where one of the houses has cleared part of the woods maybe for an extension, but there are hundreds of yards more of wood, and down the slope, bright green shhots and new leaves of Ramsons are showing, the first sign of this year's crop of wild garlic that will turn the leaf covered woodland floor green, then white once the flowers open.
I try one of the leaves, and my mouth so recently brushed clean and minty fresh is soon overwhelmed by garlic, garlic which I will taste the rest of the morning.
From there we drive to Folkestone, arriving bang on ten, when the Armenian hairdresser opens. I go there now as they cut my hair as short as I want, meaning I can go an extra week or two between visits.
The guy asks what I want and just does it. Lovely. The back of my head is so short though, it feels bald, but that will be better within a day.
We go to a place for a coffee and I have a toasted sandwich, which was glorious. Carbtastic.
By then our friends from London's train had arrived, so we walk up to meet them at the Central Station, which as it turned out, not so central.
But Graham was there with his family, and after greetings, we walk back when them to Sandgate Road and the new centre of town. But this is not what they had come to see, instead we walk down to the top of The Old High Street, all twisty and cobbled.
They are thrilled by the mix of art and craft shops, but then the old street opens down to the harbour and the remains of the harbour branch climbing away to the left.
So we take them round to the old Harbour Station, where we bid them farewell, as our parking ticket was about to expire, so we leave them to explore, and we walk back up the old trackbed then up the old High Street back to the car, and then drive home via the tip to drop the litter off Jools had collected.
Back home we have a brew and we listen to some more music before I start to watch the Doncaster v Palace cup tie. But it is poor fare, so switch off at half time with Palace 2-0 to cook dinner.An in the evening, Jools beat me at Uckers for the first time this year. Which was nice.
Outpaced by events
As we speed towards Brexit day and that cliff edge, it was always clear that news would come faster and faster, hence that you get three Brexit posts in 24 hours.
But Sky News broke a story this afternoon that Honda is to close its plant in Swindon.
This is not project fear, this is project reality.
3500 jobs will be lost at the factory, and tens of thousands in the supply chain. And all predicted and avoidable, and yet May and Corbyn press on with Brexit.
I actually delivered door panels to Honda in Swindon, earning some extra money when I was at Lyneham. A supplier would receive production plans for the line, load door panels onto racks in the correct order, and I would drive a truck to the factory and deliver them to the workstation. Four people relied on that small process for jobs, all will be lost now, never to return.
On Facebook last year, and an exchange between people who worked at Honda popped on my newsfeed as I was friends with one of them, and workers on the line and parts department convinced themselves they knew more about the global supply business than their employer and voting for Brexit was not going to hurt them.
It gives me no pleasure to be proven right on this, and that this and other areas will be turned into industrial wastelands like in the early 80s. Generation of people with no work and no prospect, and all because some snake oil salesmen promised unicorns that in the end surprised few with a braincell that could not be delivered.
With no deal now the default most likely outcome, more companies will be pulling the emergency lever.
And how is that jobs first Brexit going, Jeremy?
But Sky News broke a story this afternoon that Honda is to close its plant in Swindon.
This is not project fear, this is project reality.
3500 jobs will be lost at the factory, and tens of thousands in the supply chain. And all predicted and avoidable, and yet May and Corbyn press on with Brexit.
I actually delivered door panels to Honda in Swindon, earning some extra money when I was at Lyneham. A supplier would receive production plans for the line, load door panels onto racks in the correct order, and I would drive a truck to the factory and deliver them to the workstation. Four people relied on that small process for jobs, all will be lost now, never to return.
On Facebook last year, and an exchange between people who worked at Honda popped on my newsfeed as I was friends with one of them, and workers on the line and parts department convinced themselves they knew more about the global supply business than their employer and voting for Brexit was not going to hurt them.
It gives me no pleasure to be proven right on this, and that this and other areas will be turned into industrial wastelands like in the early 80s. Generation of people with no work and no prospect, and all because some snake oil salesmen promised unicorns that in the end surprised few with a braincell that could not be delivered.
With no deal now the default most likely outcome, more companies will be pulling the emergency lever.
And how is that jobs first Brexit going, Jeremy?
Splitters
Today, seven MPs resigned the whip from the Labour Party to set up an independent group, but not yet a new party.
This should come as no surprise to anyone.
Not only because of Brexit, but a party whose leader and leadership ignore the views of party members to facilitate a right wing policy of Brexit, which will create a bonfire of rights.
On top of that, Labour is now the home of anti-Semitism, and likes to deny it has a problem.
There is never a good time for a split like this, let alone 39 days before Brexit day, but this is first sign that people are as mad as hell and not going to take it any more.
Whether it is successful depends on whether any more Labour MPs, or Conservatives, join too.
The hate being spat in their direction shows why they have left, and I stopped voting Labour three years ago.
So, maybe the start of a brave new political dawn, or another false dawn like the SDP?
This should come as no surprise to anyone.
Not only because of Brexit, but a party whose leader and leadership ignore the views of party members to facilitate a right wing policy of Brexit, which will create a bonfire of rights.
On top of that, Labour is now the home of anti-Semitism, and likes to deny it has a problem.
There is never a good time for a split like this, let alone 39 days before Brexit day, but this is first sign that people are as mad as hell and not going to take it any more.
Whether it is successful depends on whether any more Labour MPs, or Conservatives, join too.
The hate being spat in their direction shows why they have left, and I stopped voting Labour three years ago.
So, maybe the start of a brave new political dawn, or another false dawn like the SDP?
Sunday, 17 February 2019
"Relations with Japan have soured"
It seems that Liam Fox calling the whole of Japan "fat and lazy" has not gone too well with the people the other side of the negotiating table.
Who'd have thunk it?
It is also reported that the Japanese delegation were confused by the UK's "tactics", maybe that's because the UK has none?
In the meantime, a Commons Select Committee published a report on fake news and the role of the two vote leave campaigns and Facebook.
One thing I have not covered much is the fact that both Leave campaigns broke electoral law, the the extent that if it had been an election rather than a referendum, the result would have been declared void. This is not just breaking rules, this was broken law. Now the fact that electoral law is weak on referendums, but strong on elections, to the point that despite breaking law and a file being sent to the police for possible individual prosecutions, and no one, not the PM or her party, Labour or the press say anything about it, like it doesn't really matter.
A file has sat with the police for over nine months, and have done nothing.
The report from the Select Committee is scathing of the two leaders of Vote.Leave, who they said have a passing relationship with the truth.
And Facebook were subject to a massive data breach from Cambridge Analytica, stealing members details to target fake news posts. And no one does anything about this either. In a referendum that is swung by 4%, a ten percent overspend which broke law and illegal date breach and use, and apparently this referendum represents "the will of the people" and cannot be challenged.
It is apparently in the political classes interest for Brexit to happen, no matter what, no matter how the result was obtained, the law broken, data stolen and lies told, but this has to happen. And the PM, Corbyn and the leader of Unite, Len McClusky all say that Brexit must still happen.
We are trapped in some kind of ten circle of hell.
And there are 39 days left to go.
Who'd have thunk it?
It is also reported that the Japanese delegation were confused by the UK's "tactics", maybe that's because the UK has none?
In the meantime, a Commons Select Committee published a report on fake news and the role of the two vote leave campaigns and Facebook.
One thing I have not covered much is the fact that both Leave campaigns broke electoral law, the the extent that if it had been an election rather than a referendum, the result would have been declared void. This is not just breaking rules, this was broken law. Now the fact that electoral law is weak on referendums, but strong on elections, to the point that despite breaking law and a file being sent to the police for possible individual prosecutions, and no one, not the PM or her party, Labour or the press say anything about it, like it doesn't really matter.
A file has sat with the police for over nine months, and have done nothing.
The report from the Select Committee is scathing of the two leaders of Vote.Leave, who they said have a passing relationship with the truth.
And Facebook were subject to a massive data breach from Cambridge Analytica, stealing members details to target fake news posts. And no one does anything about this either. In a referendum that is swung by 4%, a ten percent overspend which broke law and illegal date breach and use, and apparently this referendum represents "the will of the people" and cannot be challenged.
It is apparently in the political classes interest for Brexit to happen, no matter what, no matter how the result was obtained, the law broken, data stolen and lies told, but this has to happen. And the PM, Corbyn and the leader of Unite, Len McClusky all say that Brexit must still happen.
We are trapped in some kind of ten circle of hell.
And there are 39 days left to go.
Gunboat diplomacy
The YOP placement at the MOD, Gavin Williamson, last week said in a speech that the UK's only aircraft carrier was being sent to the Pacific to bolster our partner's struggle against Chinese expansionism.
This did not go down well in Beijing, and it then cancelled trade talks with the EU in protest.
So, no trade talks with China after all, and only deals with the Faeroe Islands and Switzerland. And those rilling over agreements that the UK currently enjoys as part of the EU which dictate experts contain a certain percentage of EU parts. What happens when the UL leaves the EU, will those requirements be forgotten or overlooked. I'm sure the disgraced former defence secretary, Liam Fox, has that covered.
This sort of thing is written into most EU trade deals. And I'm sure there's nothing to worry about. Ahem.
UK citizens were told this weekend there was no need to stockpile food as supplies were going to be just fine and dandy, and that there would be no interruption. This weekend there were miles of queuing traffic on both the A2 and A20 into Dover with extra school holiday traffic heading to the port. But I am sure that something like Brexit will be totally controlled.
I mean with just 15% of UK hauliers getting permits to be able to operate in the EU, and that depending on there being a no deal, I am sure there is nothing to worry
about. Nothing at all.
This did not go down well in Beijing, and it then cancelled trade talks with the EU in protest.
So, no trade talks with China after all, and only deals with the Faeroe Islands and Switzerland. And those rilling over agreements that the UK currently enjoys as part of the EU which dictate experts contain a certain percentage of EU parts. What happens when the UL leaves the EU, will those requirements be forgotten or overlooked. I'm sure the disgraced former defence secretary, Liam Fox, has that covered.
This sort of thing is written into most EU trade deals. And I'm sure there's nothing to worry about. Ahem.
UK citizens were told this weekend there was no need to stockpile food as supplies were going to be just fine and dandy, and that there would be no interruption. This weekend there were miles of queuing traffic on both the A2 and A20 into Dover with extra school holiday traffic heading to the port. But I am sure that something like Brexit will be totally controlled.
I mean with just 15% of UK hauliers getting permits to be able to operate in the EU, and that depending on there being a no deal, I am sure there is nothing to worry
about. Nothing at all.
Saturday 16th February 2019
The weekend.
At last.
And we have some shopping to do.
At least to get some wine at least. Some other stuff might have been needed too.
And we were to take a huge bag of old clothes to the tip, or rather to the BHF drop off place in Tesco. Not sure if the old t shirts are good for much more than being dusters. But anyway, makes more stuff in the wardrobe, as I ordered a load of work clothes from the portal in the work intranet, and so now I have ten work t shirts, two coats and some working shirts too.
So we had to make room.
We drive to the Deal Road then along to the roundabout with the A2 where we find a huge jam, as traffic had backed up along Jubilee Way and back towards Whitfield. We did manage to get round to make our way to Tesco, but would need another way to get home.
We actually spent nearly 50 quid in Tesco this week, our shopping bill is way down now Jools is on the diet, and me eating stuff out of the freezer. I could have done with some bacon butties, mind.
Now, Brexit is coming, and if I am to carry on working abroad, I will need a driving permit. I find out the details, and as I discovered on Thursday, the local post office didn't do them, so I had to go into Dover.
We were early, so we went into La Salle Verte for breakfast. Or I did. I have a pot of tea and a sausage roll. Not that healthy, but healthier than the huge slab of shortbread they had in the display case. Jools just has some green tea.
I go to the post office at nine, only to find I had forgotten the passport photograph, so we return home, past the castle then along the coast road home.
Now, I could have left it for another week, but I had some old photos here ready to go, so I cut one of those out and go back into town while Jools trims the hedges.
When I get back to the post office, there was no queue. So I pass over my driving licence, passport, the photo and a fiver, and the poor guy had to write out the permit by hand, stamping the classes I could drive and my photo with he stuck on with Prit. It took 15 minutes, and by the time he was done, a line of ten people had formed. And this scene will be repeated at all post offices in the event of no deal, as all drivers who want to drive in the EU will need the permit.
But I got mine.
I drive back home, and wait while Jools cuts the hedge, until its midday and I go out to her and say, is it OK if we go to Walmer for the beer festival?
Of course it is.
So, I drive us to Walmer, parking outside the Green Berry, where inside, in the cellar, a dozen barrels had been set up. I go down to get a pint of dark cherry mild, which I had wanted to try, and was worth the trip over for.
I take the pint up to the bar, and sit with Jools as I make it vanish, then go back down for half of Imperial Stout, which was very imperial indeed.
Jools drove back, and I do some work on the computer, but get all cold, a sign I am tired. I decide to lay on the bed to listen to the football. Then I lay inside the bed when I am still cold.
I wake up at twenty to four and hear that City are already three up at Bolton. So, nothing to worry about. They score a forth in the second half, and miss another penalty, but that means we go back to the top of the league.
Which is nice.
We have burgers for dinner. A skinny one with salad for Jools and two in buns for me. I do skip beer though and have coffee instead.
For the evening I beat Jools again at Uckers, before she goes to bed early leaving me to watch the highlights of the football so I could watch all of City's goals again.
At last.
And we have some shopping to do.
At least to get some wine at least. Some other stuff might have been needed too.
And we were to take a huge bag of old clothes to the tip, or rather to the BHF drop off place in Tesco. Not sure if the old t shirts are good for much more than being dusters. But anyway, makes more stuff in the wardrobe, as I ordered a load of work clothes from the portal in the work intranet, and so now I have ten work t shirts, two coats and some working shirts too.
So we had to make room.
We drive to the Deal Road then along to the roundabout with the A2 where we find a huge jam, as traffic had backed up along Jubilee Way and back towards Whitfield. We did manage to get round to make our way to Tesco, but would need another way to get home.
We actually spent nearly 50 quid in Tesco this week, our shopping bill is way down now Jools is on the diet, and me eating stuff out of the freezer. I could have done with some bacon butties, mind.
Now, Brexit is coming, and if I am to carry on working abroad, I will need a driving permit. I find out the details, and as I discovered on Thursday, the local post office didn't do them, so I had to go into Dover.
We were early, so we went into La Salle Verte for breakfast. Or I did. I have a pot of tea and a sausage roll. Not that healthy, but healthier than the huge slab of shortbread they had in the display case. Jools just has some green tea.
I go to the post office at nine, only to find I had forgotten the passport photograph, so we return home, past the castle then along the coast road home.
Now, I could have left it for another week, but I had some old photos here ready to go, so I cut one of those out and go back into town while Jools trims the hedges.
When I get back to the post office, there was no queue. So I pass over my driving licence, passport, the photo and a fiver, and the poor guy had to write out the permit by hand, stamping the classes I could drive and my photo with he stuck on with Prit. It took 15 minutes, and by the time he was done, a line of ten people had formed. And this scene will be repeated at all post offices in the event of no deal, as all drivers who want to drive in the EU will need the permit.
But I got mine.
I drive back home, and wait while Jools cuts the hedge, until its midday and I go out to her and say, is it OK if we go to Walmer for the beer festival?
Of course it is.
So, I drive us to Walmer, parking outside the Green Berry, where inside, in the cellar, a dozen barrels had been set up. I go down to get a pint of dark cherry mild, which I had wanted to try, and was worth the trip over for.I take the pint up to the bar, and sit with Jools as I make it vanish, then go back down for half of Imperial Stout, which was very imperial indeed.
Jools drove back, and I do some work on the computer, but get all cold, a sign I am tired. I decide to lay on the bed to listen to the football. Then I lay inside the bed when I am still cold.
I wake up at twenty to four and hear that City are already three up at Bolton. So, nothing to worry about. They score a forth in the second half, and miss another penalty, but that means we go back to the top of the league.Which is nice.
We have burgers for dinner. A skinny one with salad for Jools and two in buns for me. I do skip beer though and have coffee instead.
For the evening I beat Jools again at Uckers, before she goes to bed early leaving me to watch the highlights of the football so I could watch all of City's goals again.
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