Brexit means Brexit.
Make Brexit work.
Two slogans from the last ten years.
As Prime Minister May had not defined what Brexit was, she was reduced to this mantra: Brexit mean Brexit.
Although just 37% of the population voted for Brexit, or answered this question (2):
Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union? The responses were:
1) Remain a member of the European Union
2) Leave the European Union.
But there was no actual indication what what this meant. Many Brexiteers ruled out leaving the SM and/or the CU, due to the economic hit the UK economy would suffer. And yet leave the SM and CU the UK did, as part of Johnson's "oven ready deal" with which he won the 2019 General Election.
But even with details clarified, the economic impact of these meant many measures were kicked into the long grass for years. Some still sit there.
Make Brexit work.
This is another mantra that politicians from all parties say. Without detailing what it means.
Brexit is what is holding the UK economy back, and stifling growth, and yet although this is now the thought behind dozens of opinion polls of UK voters, no party, except the LibDems, will suggest doing anything about it.
In fact, Labour and the Conservatives are veering more right, with the latter suggesting that it will revoke millions of visas and settled statuses to send anyone ot born of UK who has claimed any kind of benefit, even state pension, or earns less than £39k a year.
This will break up millions of familes, and destroy many industries, or cause them to struggle further. Such repatration goes further than any other country has ever gone, including Trump in the US and Idi Amin in Uganda. This is now so normalised that there's barely a ripple of discontent.
Finally, the EU has no real desire to make Brexit work.
The status quo suits it and its members fine. Any softening of Brexit might make other states think twice about leaving. There might be some technical changes in some or many sectors, but Brexit will remain Brexit, and will reman so until the UK has a conversation and the impacts that referendum has caused.
Thursday, 23 October 2025
Wednesday, 22 October 2025
Tuesday 21 October 2025
We were told that we would be busier retired than when we worked.
And so it turned out.
And coupled with the kitchen replacement, its busier than ever.
Up at half five so I could head to the gym and be back by half seven so Jools could go to her fitness class.
I was at the gym at ten past six, the gym was empty, but the boxercise class was going strong in one of the studios.
I rode round Paris again, mostly along the river before packing up and heading home.
There was a brew waiting, so Jools went out soon as I got back, so I waited in the quiet for the workmen to arrive.
The fitter came first, and his company is project managing everything. Next came two electricians and finally two plumbers.
Soon the house was vibrating to power tools and a haze of dust hung in the kitchen, so the door was closed and I let them get on with it.
They want for nothing, they brought their own tea and lunch, so for me it was messing around online, then sitting on the patio with Scully as the sun rose higher and it got warm.
Jools came back with a coffee, but soon thoughts turned to lunch, and it was decided that Mex-on-the-Beach was the place.
We left the guys working, and we drive into Deal, finding the last parking space it being half term and that, walked over The Strand and took a table.
I have nachos with bean chilli, so to try to get some of my five a day. The promenade was busy, and looked and felt like late summer, not late October.
Once we ate, I drove us back home where the work continued. New lighting fitted, new pater pipes installed and generally all the noisy, dirty stuff out of the way.
They were done at half four, and peace descended on the house. Scully said meow and where the heck was lunch AND dinner.
We have a brew and use up some old rolls with some antipasto we had, and supper was served.
Despite not doing much, we were shattered, and nothing in the house was as it should be.
To cap the day, Norwich were on the TV at Derby. City played well, but conceded early in the second half, and never looked like scoring after that.
Sigh.
And so it turned out.
And coupled with the kitchen replacement, its busier than ever.
Up at half five so I could head to the gym and be back by half seven so Jools could go to her fitness class.
I was at the gym at ten past six, the gym was empty, but the boxercise class was going strong in one of the studios.
I rode round Paris again, mostly along the river before packing up and heading home.There was a brew waiting, so Jools went out soon as I got back, so I waited in the quiet for the workmen to arrive.
The fitter came first, and his company is project managing everything. Next came two electricians and finally two plumbers.
Soon the house was vibrating to power tools and a haze of dust hung in the kitchen, so the door was closed and I let them get on with it.
They want for nothing, they brought their own tea and lunch, so for me it was messing around online, then sitting on the patio with Scully as the sun rose higher and it got warm.
Jools came back with a coffee, but soon thoughts turned to lunch, and it was decided that Mex-on-the-Beach was the place.
We left the guys working, and we drive into Deal, finding the last parking space it being half term and that, walked over The Strand and took a table.I have nachos with bean chilli, so to try to get some of my five a day. The promenade was busy, and looked and felt like late summer, not late October.
Once we ate, I drove us back home where the work continued. New lighting fitted, new pater pipes installed and generally all the noisy, dirty stuff out of the way.
They were done at half four, and peace descended on the house. Scully said meow and where the heck was lunch AND dinner.We have a brew and use up some old rolls with some antipasto we had, and supper was served.
Despite not doing much, we were shattered, and nothing in the house was as it should be.
To cap the day, Norwich were on the TV at Derby. City played well, but conceded early in the second half, and never looked like scoring after that.
Sigh.
Tuesday, 21 October 2025
Monday 20th October 2025
And so the day came.
The day of the great kitchen replacement.
First job, once up and juiced up on coffee was to round up three of the four cats, put them in boxes and take them to Lydden to the cattery. The knocking and banging and disruption would do them no good.
But then neither did the round up, chasing scared kitties round the house, and dragging them from their hiding places.
As Jools took them to the cattery, the guys arrived to begin work.
First job was to assess the job, then beginning to rip out the old units. It might be easier than putting new ones in, but the old units created lots of trash and rubbish, all to be collected for sorting.
One did the kitchen, the other did the utility room. The wall to the WC was down, and one by one the units were stripped of their doors, shelves before being ripped out with jimmys and hammers.
By half eleven it was done, all units off the walls, and broken down. The old fridge and dishwasher both now waiting to be collected outside.
We headed to B&Q for lunch of greasy burger, before returning before the guys when they loaded the rest of the rubbish, and take out the old stove.
By three it was all done, two empty rooms and the state of the walls and floors revealled.
In the next two days the walls will be de-greased, filled then painted ready for the installation of the new units beginning on Thursday.
We have the fridge-freezer, and that's about it. There had been talk of somehow leaving the sink in place so we could wash up. But that got taken away pretty quickly.
The basin in the utility room is gone too, leaving just the basin in the bathroom upstairs for handwashing and washing up, not that there'll be much to wash up until the end of the week at least.
Sounds echo in both rooms.
Meanwhile, all the stuff from the cupboards from the kitchen is in boxes in the living room. We have the table to sit and compute at, but that's it.
To make matters worse, Monday saw frequent heavy showers, so we couldn't really go anywhere, just sit on the sofa and read.
The drop off to sleep.
Scully is tested and fed, but the house is empty because the other cats are away. So, no scramble to feed them, though on occasion, Scully can make enough of a fuss for four.
In the evening, we met Ange and Sean for dinner, at a seafood place in Deal we have never eaten at, though have meant to.
Dunkerley's is mainly a seafood place, for me, fish and chips is as seafoody as I get.
So at half six, in torrential rain, we drive along to Ringwould, Walmer and into Deal, parking on The Strand as its free in winter evenings.
We dash over the road, avoiding being splashed by passing cars driving through the half-flooded roads, and into the warmth of the bar to wait for our friends to arrive.
Once they did, we were shown to our table and order taken. As expected I had beer battered cod, which was splendid: Sean had muscles, Ange had baked plaice. It was all rather good, all washed down with Guinness for me..
We even had a cheeseboard to finish.
And that was that.
Jools drove us back, the road slick with fresh rain and lots of golden leaves blown down from the branches overhanging the road.
But we got home safe, met by Scully. Hungry.
The day of the great kitchen replacement.
First job, once up and juiced up on coffee was to round up three of the four cats, put them in boxes and take them to Lydden to the cattery. The knocking and banging and disruption would do them no good.
But then neither did the round up, chasing scared kitties round the house, and dragging them from their hiding places.
As Jools took them to the cattery, the guys arrived to begin work.First job was to assess the job, then beginning to rip out the old units. It might be easier than putting new ones in, but the old units created lots of trash and rubbish, all to be collected for sorting.
One did the kitchen, the other did the utility room. The wall to the WC was down, and one by one the units were stripped of their doors, shelves before being ripped out with jimmys and hammers.
By half eleven it was done, all units off the walls, and broken down. The old fridge and dishwasher both now waiting to be collected outside.
We headed to B&Q for lunch of greasy burger, before returning before the guys when they loaded the rest of the rubbish, and take out the old stove.
By three it was all done, two empty rooms and the state of the walls and floors revealled.
In the next two days the walls will be de-greased, filled then painted ready for the installation of the new units beginning on Thursday.We have the fridge-freezer, and that's about it. There had been talk of somehow leaving the sink in place so we could wash up. But that got taken away pretty quickly.
The basin in the utility room is gone too, leaving just the basin in the bathroom upstairs for handwashing and washing up, not that there'll be much to wash up until the end of the week at least.
Sounds echo in both rooms.Meanwhile, all the stuff from the cupboards from the kitchen is in boxes in the living room. We have the table to sit and compute at, but that's it.
To make matters worse, Monday saw frequent heavy showers, so we couldn't really go anywhere, just sit on the sofa and read.
The drop off to sleep.Scully is tested and fed, but the house is empty because the other cats are away. So, no scramble to feed them, though on occasion, Scully can make enough of a fuss for four.
In the evening, we met Ange and Sean for dinner, at a seafood place in Deal we have never eaten at, though have meant to.Dunkerley's is mainly a seafood place, for me, fish and chips is as seafoody as I get.
So at half six, in torrential rain, we drive along to Ringwould, Walmer and into Deal, parking on The Strand as its free in winter evenings.
We dash over the road, avoiding being splashed by passing cars driving through the half-flooded roads, and into the warmth of the bar to wait for our friends to arrive.
Once they did, we were shown to our table and order taken. As expected I had beer battered cod, which was splendid: Sean had muscles, Ange had baked plaice. It was all rather good, all washed down with Guinness for me..
We even had a cheeseboard to finish.And that was that.
Jools drove us back, the road slick with fresh rain and lots of golden leaves blown down from the branches overhanging the road.
But we got home safe, met by Scully. Hungry.
Sunday 19th October 2025
Sunday.
And we were up at six to feed the cats, have coffee before going to the gym.
Yes, that's who we are now.
We arrived at the sports centre at ten past seven, and only a few others were there.
So straight into the gym, and both bikes were free, so I took one and Jools the other. And for me, a ride round Rome at dusk.
I see many photographic opportunities, as I have seen in all these places I virtually ride round.
Once I had done my 40 minutes, I do ten minutes on the hand bike, and was done.
Phew.
So back home for breakfast, and to sit in the garden while the sun still shone, as rain and storms were on the way later, and for most of the week.
This was also the last day of the old kitchen, with Monday people coming round to rip the old one out before the new one begins to be installed on Tuesday onwards.
It was a day for using up the last of the stuff in the fridge: so I made carbonara for lunch, with the last of the eggs. Its been months since we had it, as it seems to be a winter dish.
Was magnificent I have to say.
And then an afternoon of football, as Villa did a smash and grab at Spurs, with dear Emi scoring the winner, before Man Utd beat Liverpool in a game that flattered to deceive, with neither team as good as their reputations.
Still, was exciting.
And then it was evening, and the last of the stuff moved out of the kitchen and utility room, before we went to bed to read and then sleep.
And we were up at six to feed the cats, have coffee before going to the gym.
Yes, that's who we are now.
We arrived at the sports centre at ten past seven, and only a few others were there.
So straight into the gym, and both bikes were free, so I took one and Jools the other. And for me, a ride round Rome at dusk.
I see many photographic opportunities, as I have seen in all these places I virtually ride round.Once I had done my 40 minutes, I do ten minutes on the hand bike, and was done.
Phew.
So back home for breakfast, and to sit in the garden while the sun still shone, as rain and storms were on the way later, and for most of the week.
This was also the last day of the old kitchen, with Monday people coming round to rip the old one out before the new one begins to be installed on Tuesday onwards.
It was a day for using up the last of the stuff in the fridge: so I made carbonara for lunch, with the last of the eggs. Its been months since we had it, as it seems to be a winter dish.
Was magnificent I have to say.
And then an afternoon of football, as Villa did a smash and grab at Spurs, with dear Emi scoring the winner, before Man Utd beat Liverpool in a game that flattered to deceive, with neither team as good as their reputations.
Still, was exciting.
And then it was evening, and the last of the stuff moved out of the kitchen and utility room, before we went to bed to read and then sleep.
Monday, 20 October 2025
It's funny
That during the Johnson's and Truss's Governments, where wasting public money was turned world class, pretty much the only thing that Government was world class at.
Billions wasted and/or funnelled through firends and political allies for non-existant or poor quality PPE rather than buying from the usual suppliers.
Even stock that OK was left unused beyond its shelf life, due to the vast amount ordered, and some of the people who supplied the crap got paid again to dispose of it.
Rishi Sunak, as Chancellor, wrote of billions in bad debt.
And nothing was said by most on the right, not even the Taxpayer's Alliance, who get very angry about perceived waste by Labour Governments.
Former members who left the country and now live in Dubai, like Isabel Oakeshott, now write for the Torygraph bemoaning a country they do not live in and not being free, whilst living in a country which is, by any measure, less free.
Cities are not "no-go zone", there is no Sharia Law. Streets are not unsafe.
London and Birmingham are integrated, a melting pot of cultures, cuisine. But why could it be these right whingers get off by portraying such happy integrated cities as being lawless hellholes?
Like Trump describing Portland, OR as being gripped by riots, when the reality is people dressed in inflatable animal costumes dancing, is it too easy to believe the bad things that is written?
The same people who told us that Brexit would cure all the Nation's ills, who also claimed that Johnson would lead an agile nation into the sunlit uplands, who hailed Truss's Budget as the first true Conservative Budget are now claiming that either Kemi or Nigel will fix things, when either they promised so little that was delivered or part of the very Governments that failed to deliver.
That the current Government are making such a pig's ear of things. I had high hopes for Starmer, but aping Nigel's anti-immigrant rhetoric and polices, meerly legitimises him. Its bats and newts, apparently, that are holding growth back, so environmental protections are to be swept away. And now the disabled will lose their mobility allowances, so be imprisoned in their own homes.
I cannot say much positive about Starmer and Labour right now, so have to chose between the Liberals and Greens. How can anyone take the Greens seriously when they were against the greenest form of mass transport, HS2? It was too easy to pile in againast HS2. Now it is cancelled, the current infrastructure will only get worse.
But hey. Blue passports.
Billions wasted and/or funnelled through firends and political allies for non-existant or poor quality PPE rather than buying from the usual suppliers.
Even stock that OK was left unused beyond its shelf life, due to the vast amount ordered, and some of the people who supplied the crap got paid again to dispose of it.
Rishi Sunak, as Chancellor, wrote of billions in bad debt.
And nothing was said by most on the right, not even the Taxpayer's Alliance, who get very angry about perceived waste by Labour Governments.
Former members who left the country and now live in Dubai, like Isabel Oakeshott, now write for the Torygraph bemoaning a country they do not live in and not being free, whilst living in a country which is, by any measure, less free.
Cities are not "no-go zone", there is no Sharia Law. Streets are not unsafe.
London and Birmingham are integrated, a melting pot of cultures, cuisine. But why could it be these right whingers get off by portraying such happy integrated cities as being lawless hellholes?
Like Trump describing Portland, OR as being gripped by riots, when the reality is people dressed in inflatable animal costumes dancing, is it too easy to believe the bad things that is written?
The same people who told us that Brexit would cure all the Nation's ills, who also claimed that Johnson would lead an agile nation into the sunlit uplands, who hailed Truss's Budget as the first true Conservative Budget are now claiming that either Kemi or Nigel will fix things, when either they promised so little that was delivered or part of the very Governments that failed to deliver.
That the current Government are making such a pig's ear of things. I had high hopes for Starmer, but aping Nigel's anti-immigrant rhetoric and polices, meerly legitimises him. Its bats and newts, apparently, that are holding growth back, so environmental protections are to be swept away. And now the disabled will lose their mobility allowances, so be imprisoned in their own homes.
I cannot say much positive about Starmer and Labour right now, so have to chose between the Liberals and Greens. How can anyone take the Greens seriously when they were against the greenest form of mass transport, HS2? It was too easy to pile in againast HS2. Now it is cancelled, the current infrastructure will only get worse.
But hey. Blue passports.
Sunday, 19 October 2025
Saturday 18th October 2025
After not getting on my favourite machines in the gym on Friday, I was taking no chances on Saturday: setting the alarm for six and being out of the house by five past seven.
Jools was going to walk to the cliffs, and I was to pick her up when i was done in the gym.
As expected, the gym was quiet, and both machines were empty, so I climbed on one and biked round Hong Kong for nearly an hour.
Like most of the videos, it is concentrated down by the waterside, along wide paths doubling as sea defences. It looked hot, and here I was in air conditioned luxury, listening to my favourite music.
All done by eight, so I walk down and out to the car, put the radio on and set course for the White Cliffs, to take something new for the day, a view overlooking the Eastern Docks and ferries loading/unloading.
Then along Reach Road, with views over to France on my right, back to the village and then along to near the monument.
I get a call from Jools: she can see me, but no clear way to get there!
But then does, so she climbs in and we go home for a brew and breakfast.
We pass two twitchers out looking for a rare finch or something. Small and brown, I guess.
We then set about boiling the jelly and adding the sugar.
It took nearly an hour to bring the eight kilos of mixture to the boil, then it rose so much we could hardly keep it from overflowing like fruit-flavoured magma.
We decanted the hot jelly and waited for the jars to cool and set.
I cooked a large pan of butternut squash soup, as I try to empty the fridge of the last of its delights before work begins on Monday on the new kitchen.
We'll have a fridge and freezer, but nowhere to cook at least until Thursday, I guess.
At one, I retire to the desk to watch football: QPR v Millwall, and the visitors won 2-1, and deserved to win.
After that, on the sofa to listen to radio 5 and watch the videoprinter on Final Score, as the main batch of games kicked off.
Norwich lost their sixth home game in a row, and are now just one place above the relegation zone.
Sigh.
And then there was Arsenal at Fulham, which flattered to deceive, and Arse scored the only goal to win.
That was too much football, so I went to bed to read a bit, as the clouds never cleared, so there was no chance of seeing either comets.
Tuesday, perhaps.
Jools was going to walk to the cliffs, and I was to pick her up when i was done in the gym.
As expected, the gym was quiet, and both machines were empty, so I climbed on one and biked round Hong Kong for nearly an hour.
Like most of the videos, it is concentrated down by the waterside, along wide paths doubling as sea defences. It looked hot, and here I was in air conditioned luxury, listening to my favourite music.
All done by eight, so I walk down and out to the car, put the radio on and set course for the White Cliffs, to take something new for the day, a view overlooking the Eastern Docks and ferries loading/unloading.
Then along Reach Road, with views over to France on my right, back to the village and then along to near the monument.I get a call from Jools: she can see me, but no clear way to get there!
But then does, so she climbs in and we go home for a brew and breakfast.
We pass two twitchers out looking for a rare finch or something. Small and brown, I guess.
We then set about boiling the jelly and adding the sugar.
It took nearly an hour to bring the eight kilos of mixture to the boil, then it rose so much we could hardly keep it from overflowing like fruit-flavoured magma.
We decanted the hot jelly and waited for the jars to cool and set.I cooked a large pan of butternut squash soup, as I try to empty the fridge of the last of its delights before work begins on Monday on the new kitchen.
We'll have a fridge and freezer, but nowhere to cook at least until Thursday, I guess.
At one, I retire to the desk to watch football: QPR v Millwall, and the visitors won 2-1, and deserved to win.
After that, on the sofa to listen to radio 5 and watch the videoprinter on Final Score, as the main batch of games kicked off.Norwich lost their sixth home game in a row, and are now just one place above the relegation zone.
Sigh.
And then there was Arsenal at Fulham, which flattered to deceive, and Arse scored the only goal to win.
That was too much football, so I went to bed to read a bit, as the clouds never cleared, so there was no chance of seeing either comets.
Tuesday, perhaps.
Friday 17th October 2025
The question the night before was, are we going to the gym in the morning.
Wat I took from this was that Jools wasn't going to yoga, and we would be going to the gym early doors.
Jools thought i understood that she would be going to the gym first, and the gym would come later.
Which is why when I got up after the alarm had gone off after six, I found the house empty and the car gone.
I tried to call, but got no answer.
Ho, and indeed hum.
Jools called back at half seven having just come out of her class, and wondered why I called.
She came home, we had a brew, then went to the gym, by which time it was gone nine, the car park full, and in the gym, a class of young folks being shown the equipment, and my bike, both of them, were occupied.
I tried the hand bike, and did 15 minutes without issue, then tried the upright bike, and right away my knee began to twinge, so I game up.
On the way home we went to the gym for some supplies to last over the weekend, then back home for breakfast and a shower.
And then what?
Not much, really.
There is always podcasts to listen to, blogs to read or write. And minute by minute, the day grew old.
Lunch was cheese sticks warmed in the air fryer, and mid afternoon a brew and a salted caramel Twix each. I read more of the Beatles book, and not that shocked to discover that the establishment and upper classes hated and belittle the Fab Four at times, though classical composers and critics recognised the song writing skill Lennon and McCartney displayed.
In the evening there was the music quiz, and despite getting the answer on the first clue, I still finished outside the top ten.
Finally, football was back: Ipswich playing at Middlesborough, and in a cracking game, the home side won 2-1.
I took some shots of the kitchen and utility room, so to remind us what it was like.
Wat I took from this was that Jools wasn't going to yoga, and we would be going to the gym early doors.
Jools thought i understood that she would be going to the gym first, and the gym would come later.Which is why when I got up after the alarm had gone off after six, I found the house empty and the car gone.
I tried to call, but got no answer.Ho, and indeed hum.
Jools called back at half seven having just come out of her class, and wondered why I called.
She came home, we had a brew, then went to the gym, by which time it was gone nine, the car park full, and in the gym, a class of young folks being shown the equipment, and my bike, both of them, were occupied.
I tried the hand bike, and did 15 minutes without issue, then tried the upright bike, and right away my knee began to twinge, so I game up.
On the way home we went to the gym for some supplies to last over the weekend, then back home for breakfast and a shower.And then what?
Not much, really.
There is always podcasts to listen to, blogs to read or write. And minute by minute, the day grew old.
Lunch was cheese sticks warmed in the air fryer, and mid afternoon a brew and a salted caramel Twix each. I read more of the Beatles book, and not that shocked to discover that the establishment and upper classes hated and belittle the Fab Four at times, though classical composers and critics recognised the song writing skill Lennon and McCartney displayed.
In the evening there was the music quiz, and despite getting the answer on the first clue, I still finished outside the top ten.Finally, football was back: Ipswich playing at Middlesborough, and in a cracking game, the home side won 2-1.
I took some shots of the kitchen and utility room, so to remind us what it was like.
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