Yesterday, Micheal Barnier ripped the PM's Chequers plan to pieces, stating it was unworkable, as it needed to have the UK accept only one of the four freedoms, that of good. And that would undermine the fabric of the EU.
The choice is now stark for the PM, and all choices will probably lead to her Government falling.
The choices are:
No deal Brexit
An FTA using the N backstop, so there would be a trade border between the NI and Britain
Stay the SM, CU and tax systems,
Or scrap Brexit.
Delaying A50 is not feasible, as there is an EU election four weeks after the 29th March, and if the UK is still in the EU then, then there has to be European elections in the UK, and UK MEPs would be able to sit for 5 years.
So, who would like as your next PM: Boris, Gove, DD, no? Corbyn?
These are the choices the electorate will ace, and it is grimmer than a grim sandwich with an extra side order of grim.
Still, we deserve it.
Friday, 3 August 2018
Thursday 2nd August 2018
And with each day the temperature rises, but although its warm enough here, in Spain and Portugal, there is talk of breaking the all time European temperature of 48 degrees. Or something. I once worked in temperatures of 112 degrees, it was so hot that you would work for 15 or 20 minutes, and you would stop sweating as all fluid in your body was used up, giving you 5 minutes to get to the crewroom to rehydrate.
But not that hot here. At least, yet.
It is another day working from home, so not much else to report, just put out the bins first thing, take them back down the drive once they been emptied,, and inbetween run two meetings, te second where I am apparently, my boss's boss.
That done I have more documents to complete, lunch to make and eat, and all the while it gets hotter and hotter.
In the afternoon I go out for a walk, over the fields to check on whether I could find a the Silver Washed Fritillary again.
On the way I searched for Holy Blues on the lane, and found two, one was even possible to photograph it, but not well. But the real shock is the fruit; elderberries are ripening. Sloes are already rope, and blackberries are fattening up and turning dark.
The year presses on.
In the glade and along the path, it being the hottest part of the day, not much to snap. I did get a Large Skipper on a dried stem of grass, but all the rest, Common Blues, Brown Argus, peacocks, Red Admirals and Brimstones along with Large Whites, were roosting in deep undergrowth of on the wing, not settling.
I walk back, over the fields, back to te house and made a pint of iced squash.
Near to five Mulder and Scully emerge, eat a couple of mouthfuls and then find somewhere to sleep the rest of the warmest part of the day through. Molly comes back an hour later, no real change, and causing me great cause of concern.
I make dinner; yet more aubergine, my shares in the company are kept so high mainly by my purchases.
At least cooking takes 15 minute tops, so the kitchen doesn't really get hot, and so dinner is light and fabulous. We do have the penultimate slices of tart for dessert, and needless to say that is wonderful, as the flavours deepen with each day.
And that is it. Another day down, and tomorrow is Friday and after that the weekend.
But not that hot here. At least, yet.
It is another day working from home, so not much else to report, just put out the bins first thing, take them back down the drive once they been emptied,, and inbetween run two meetings, te second where I am apparently, my boss's boss.
That done I have more documents to complete, lunch to make and eat, and all the while it gets hotter and hotter.
In the afternoon I go out for a walk, over the fields to check on whether I could find a the Silver Washed Fritillary again.
On the way I searched for Holy Blues on the lane, and found two, one was even possible to photograph it, but not well. But the real shock is the fruit; elderberries are ripening. Sloes are already rope, and blackberries are fattening up and turning dark.
The year presses on.
In the glade and along the path, it being the hottest part of the day, not much to snap. I did get a Large Skipper on a dried stem of grass, but all the rest, Common Blues, Brown Argus, peacocks, Red Admirals and Brimstones along with Large Whites, were roosting in deep undergrowth of on the wing, not settling.
I walk back, over the fields, back to te house and made a pint of iced squash.
Near to five Mulder and Scully emerge, eat a couple of mouthfuls and then find somewhere to sleep the rest of the warmest part of the day through. Molly comes back an hour later, no real change, and causing me great cause of concern.
I make dinner; yet more aubergine, my shares in the company are kept so high mainly by my purchases.
At least cooking takes 15 minute tops, so the kitchen doesn't really get hot, and so dinner is light and fabulous. We do have the penultimate slices of tart for dessert, and needless to say that is wonderful, as the flavours deepen with each day.
And that is it. Another day down, and tomorrow is Friday and after that the weekend.
Brexit silly season
May is in France trying to bypass Barnier, thus making the age old mistake that Barnier is negotiating with a mandate from the EU27. That any one of the 27 would think this is a sensible and not desperate tactic by May is laughable.
Any offer put forward by May, or who might be next PM, ignoring the EU's red lines about the indivisibility of the four freedoms is doomed to failure. As is any attempt to try to work round the negotiations of Barnier, that might be seen as sheer stupidity in Europe.
UK has gotten itself into this mess, and only it can fix it.
Although the headbangers have other fish to fry, as the Governor of the Bank of England was quited today of saying that it is in bot the UK's and EU's interests to strike a withdrawal agreement, and the failure would be disastrous. The pound fell after his remarks. The headbangers response was that he should be replaced with a patriotic Brit, who, one suspects, is expected to ignore reality.
Yes, Brexit is coming, and getting closer every day.
Gove was quoted as saying it is the UK's fallback position to be "parked", indefinitely, in some kind of customs union, the first time one of the main brexiteers has broken ranks thus.
But the former leader of the Conservative and Unionist Party, IDS, tried to put the blame for any no deal on the EU and their politics, which shows he really always was a shot for brains, and is still a mystery on how he ever lead a main political party in the UK. Mind you, his intellect looks towering compared to the 2018 political class.
Any offer put forward by May, or who might be next PM, ignoring the EU's red lines about the indivisibility of the four freedoms is doomed to failure. As is any attempt to try to work round the negotiations of Barnier, that might be seen as sheer stupidity in Europe.
UK has gotten itself into this mess, and only it can fix it.
Although the headbangers have other fish to fry, as the Governor of the Bank of England was quited today of saying that it is in bot the UK's and EU's interests to strike a withdrawal agreement, and the failure would be disastrous. The pound fell after his remarks. The headbangers response was that he should be replaced with a patriotic Brit, who, one suspects, is expected to ignore reality.
Yes, Brexit is coming, and getting closer every day.
Gove was quoted as saying it is the UK's fallback position to be "parked", indefinitely, in some kind of customs union, the first time one of the main brexiteers has broken ranks thus.
But the former leader of the Conservative and Unionist Party, IDS, tried to put the blame for any no deal on the EU and their politics, which shows he really always was a shot for brains, and is still a mystery on how he ever lead a main political party in the UK. Mind you, his intellect looks towering compared to the 2018 political class.
Thursday, 2 August 2018
Wednesday 1st August 2018
It is getting hotter. Again.
There are only so many times I can tell you about the summer mornings, getting ready for work, breakfast, and enjoying the cool of the morning, as the sun rises slightly later each day, and sunrise moving to the south a degree or two at a time.
I suppose now I have to break the news about Molly, as it will be the main subject these next few days: A couple of week ago, her right eye began to weep. We were given pills and cream, and we were hopeful. But it got worse, and soon the eye failed to adjust to changes in light, so that it is now permanently dilated, leaving her squinting and almost blind on that side. She has become withdrawn, and after breakfast vanishes for twelve hours or more, which causes us even more distress.
So it was that she failed to come in for breakfast right away, but did in the end, but could not jump up onto the work surface in the utility room, so we have now taken to lift her up. It seems serious.
Jools leaves for work, and I am left alone, as the cats soon all go to find somewhere to settle down for the night so to avoid the heat of the day.
After breakfast and another coffee, it is time for work, powering up the laptop and opening Outlook.
So, the day progresses.
At some point I make some pasta salad, have lunch, and sit on the sofa to watch so I can watch some more episodes of American Pickers.
At least it isn't too warm as yet, warm enough mind, and sunny. And bone dry.
It is the new month of course, and turning over the page in the calendar, I see Jools' sot of the eclipse from last August. So my mind ges back to the preparations we had for that trip this time last year. All the things we hoped to see and do, and we did all that and more. And saw the eclipse from the high desert in Wyoming.
Outside there are a few butterflies on the wing, but after lunch it is pretty much too hot for anything to be too busy.
The day passes its hottest part, and the shadows lengthen. Before five the cats emerge and demand food, and once having fed them, I set about the two small aubergines that we were having for dinner.
So, pasta salade, pan-ried aubergine and red plonk de plonk, a meal that really says summer to me.
Once we have eaten and tidied up, we watch something on TV, and before you know it, its nearly dark at nine, and your brain is saying, we really should be making tracks for bed. And in this way, the calendar moves on.
There are only so many times I can tell you about the summer mornings, getting ready for work, breakfast, and enjoying the cool of the morning, as the sun rises slightly later each day, and sunrise moving to the south a degree or two at a time.
I suppose now I have to break the news about Molly, as it will be the main subject these next few days: A couple of week ago, her right eye began to weep. We were given pills and cream, and we were hopeful. But it got worse, and soon the eye failed to adjust to changes in light, so that it is now permanently dilated, leaving her squinting and almost blind on that side. She has become withdrawn, and after breakfast vanishes for twelve hours or more, which causes us even more distress.
So it was that she failed to come in for breakfast right away, but did in the end, but could not jump up onto the work surface in the utility room, so we have now taken to lift her up. It seems serious.Jools leaves for work, and I am left alone, as the cats soon all go to find somewhere to settle down for the night so to avoid the heat of the day.
After breakfast and another coffee, it is time for work, powering up the laptop and opening Outlook.So, the day progresses.
At some point I make some pasta salad, have lunch, and sit on the sofa to watch so I can watch some more episodes of American Pickers.
At least it isn't too warm as yet, warm enough mind, and sunny. And bone dry.
It is the new month of course, and turning over the page in the calendar, I see Jools' sot of the eclipse from last August. So my mind ges back to the preparations we had for that trip this time last year. All the things we hoped to see and do, and we did all that and more. And saw the eclipse from the high desert in Wyoming.Outside there are a few butterflies on the wing, but after lunch it is pretty much too hot for anything to be too busy.
The day passes its hottest part, and the shadows lengthen. Before five the cats emerge and demand food, and once having fed them, I set about the two small aubergines that we were having for dinner.
So, pasta salade, pan-ried aubergine and red plonk de plonk, a meal that really says summer to me.
Once we have eaten and tidied up, we watch something on TV, and before you know it, its nearly dark at nine, and your brain is saying, we really should be making tracks for bed. And in this way, the calendar moves on.
Brexit is coming. Or not
Brexit is either coming, or it isn't. If it isn't, then the Government of the day would have to either revoke the A50 notification, or ask the EU27 permission to do so. Still no one knows how A50 can be stopped, but we know it can. At the moment there is no sign that the current Government has any other plan than Brexit. It has also ruled out a 2nd referendum, so as it stands, Brexit here we come.
But as the hours and days speed by, the panic is getting louder, as industries that thus far have remained quiet because they hped sense would prevail or because they have signed NDA with the Government after being shown "plans". Jobs will go, employers will either close or relocate, and much of this is already in advance planning, so just stopping Brexit, even today, wouldn't change that much. The UK has burned trust and goodwill with the EU and businesses, and it will take decades to get that back. But still the UK threatens not to honour it's existing commitments, meaning the country becomes ever more untrustworthy on the international stage.
Jools and I had a discussion about moving, now that food and medicine shortages are being talked about, but we have left it too late, to be able to do that, we would need to be in another country already. So we will probably stay and try to ride the chaos out. And there will be chaos, as the trucks that we need to bring us supplies to the shops we use, will be stuck in the jams of traffic waiting to get to the port. April is the meanest time in the countryside, there are very ew roots and berries to eat, its when wildlife is most desperate for food, as so will we.
Energy is priced in dollars, so the pound/dollar exchange rate will be ever more important. It is lower now than before the referendum, but would plunge after a hard or no deal Brexit.
May has demanded that there be UK only lines at ports and airports, but as most people arriving in the country are UK citizens, we would probably have to queue longer than EU based passengers.
For months, Brexiteers have been demanding that there be planning for a no deal, so then there was planning, and the news so bad it was hushed up. So, no preparation for most people, just blissful ignorance.
For most Brits, the disaster that will become Brexit, will be a surprise. As the BBC and other media have failed to report on the implications of what Brexit is, just seen still as an abstract concept. All areas of UK life will be affect, most will be made worse. But I will have a tattoo on my forehead, which will read "I fucking told you so"
But as the hours and days speed by, the panic is getting louder, as industries that thus far have remained quiet because they hped sense would prevail or because they have signed NDA with the Government after being shown "plans". Jobs will go, employers will either close or relocate, and much of this is already in advance planning, so just stopping Brexit, even today, wouldn't change that much. The UK has burned trust and goodwill with the EU and businesses, and it will take decades to get that back. But still the UK threatens not to honour it's existing commitments, meaning the country becomes ever more untrustworthy on the international stage.
Jools and I had a discussion about moving, now that food and medicine shortages are being talked about, but we have left it too late, to be able to do that, we would need to be in another country already. So we will probably stay and try to ride the chaos out. And there will be chaos, as the trucks that we need to bring us supplies to the shops we use, will be stuck in the jams of traffic waiting to get to the port. April is the meanest time in the countryside, there are very ew roots and berries to eat, its when wildlife is most desperate for food, as so will we.
Energy is priced in dollars, so the pound/dollar exchange rate will be ever more important. It is lower now than before the referendum, but would plunge after a hard or no deal Brexit.
May has demanded that there be UK only lines at ports and airports, but as most people arriving in the country are UK citizens, we would probably have to queue longer than EU based passengers.
For months, Brexiteers have been demanding that there be planning for a no deal, so then there was planning, and the news so bad it was hushed up. So, no preparation for most people, just blissful ignorance.
For most Brits, the disaster that will become Brexit, will be a surprise. As the BBC and other media have failed to report on the implications of what Brexit is, just seen still as an abstract concept. All areas of UK life will be affect, most will be made worse. But I will have a tattoo on my forehead, which will read "I fucking told you so"
Wednesday, 1 August 2018
Tuesday 31st July 2018
It's building.
The temperature, I mean. Each day this week will be a little warmer, a little sunnier, until Friday when it reaches 30 degrees again.
Phew.
But it is another working day, you know the score.
It starts off cool enough, cool enough to be able to have a second coffee with my Bran Flakes before the grind starts. Jools is already on her way to work, and I am standing at the kitchen door, looking down at the garden. Jools says there were weeds that needed sorting in the lawn, but it would be hard to tell with all the long grass, so I decided that as the wild flowers were over, I could mow the lawn, and gather in our own hay, later in the day.
So, to work, and for the day I am making yet another spreadsheet. Yay.
I work through the day, taking regular breaks. Too regular I suppose, but I get it done.
IN the afternoon I take to the sofa, though there is no Tour to watch, there is American Pickers, which I am becoming addicted to, so will be good to start to travel next week to get me out of the routine.
Outside it is warm and sunny, so at four I go to the shed, get the mower out and give it a good yanks. It fires up in a cloud of blue smoke, but is working, so in an hour or so it almost looks like a lawn.
A dead lawn, clearly, as there are just a couple of patches of green, and none of the grass is alive, but when the rain starts proper, it will return.
I get the rake out and give the lawn a good going over, and promise to give it another cut on Wednesday.
Jools comes home, just as I am finishing the well deserved beer sitting on the patio. I cook chicken burger again, so we can have tart and cream for dessert, which was still delicious.
And we were pooped by nine, I try to read in bed, but my eyes got heavy....
The temperature, I mean. Each day this week will be a little warmer, a little sunnier, until Friday when it reaches 30 degrees again.
Phew.
But it is another working day, you know the score.
It starts off cool enough, cool enough to be able to have a second coffee with my Bran Flakes before the grind starts. Jools is already on her way to work, and I am standing at the kitchen door, looking down at the garden. Jools says there were weeds that needed sorting in the lawn, but it would be hard to tell with all the long grass, so I decided that as the wild flowers were over, I could mow the lawn, and gather in our own hay, later in the day.
So, to work, and for the day I am making yet another spreadsheet. Yay.
I work through the day, taking regular breaks. Too regular I suppose, but I get it done.
IN the afternoon I take to the sofa, though there is no Tour to watch, there is American Pickers, which I am becoming addicted to, so will be good to start to travel next week to get me out of the routine.
Outside it is warm and sunny, so at four I go to the shed, get the mower out and give it a good yanks. It fires up in a cloud of blue smoke, but is working, so in an hour or so it almost looks like a lawn.
A dead lawn, clearly, as there are just a couple of patches of green, and none of the grass is alive, but when the rain starts proper, it will return.I get the rake out and give the lawn a good going over, and promise to give it another cut on Wednesday.
Jools comes home, just as I am finishing the well deserved beer sitting on the patio. I cook chicken burger again, so we can have tart and cream for dessert, which was still delicious.And we were pooped by nine, I try to read in bed, but my eyes got heavy....
Taking back control by giving control away
AA leaked paper showed today, that in the event of a no deal Brexit, the immigration service has neither the manpower or resources to stop EU nationals from entering the UK. It would only carry out the checks it does now. Of course, the EU is much better prepared, and UK citizens travelling abroad almost certainly will need paid visas, international driving licences and travel insurance in that event. HGV lorry drivers would also not be able to operate within the EU.
Another series of released local Government documents show grave concerns regarding staffing issues, as most rely on EU workers to some extent. And the other repeated feature is a lack of planning from central Government.
Well.
At least we will have blue passports and the return of ration books to help relive that wartime spirit.
Other than that, a quiet time of the Brexit front, other than Brexiteers still denying reality and that we could leave the EU, nothing would change and we would save £350 million a week.
Oh and May is in France hoping to persuade Macron to bend a little bit on the four freedoms, for trade's sake.
Situation normal, in other words.
And the Torygraph is saying that Boris is in line to the ne PM should May be ousted, because that will really pull the two halves of the party together.
Another series of released local Government documents show grave concerns regarding staffing issues, as most rely on EU workers to some extent. And the other repeated feature is a lack of planning from central Government.
Well.
At least we will have blue passports and the return of ration books to help relive that wartime spirit.
Other than that, a quiet time of the Brexit front, other than Brexiteers still denying reality and that we could leave the EU, nothing would change and we would save £350 million a week.
Oh and May is in France hoping to persuade Macron to bend a little bit on the four freedoms, for trade's sake.
Situation normal, in other words.
And the Torygraph is saying that Boris is in line to the ne PM should May be ousted, because that will really pull the two halves of the party together.
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