67% turn out ? - don't know whether it was time of year, sheer boredom with the politics on offer or what - pretty abysmal tho for a supposed western democracy.
Better turnout than in 2 of the 3 previous General Elections. 67% in '17; 61% in '16 and 62% in '12.
Can't vote so can't do anything about UK politics. We're all just going to have to be hopeful I think.
Going to change the subject and have a separate grump or 3 if you don't mind. OH and I have been out to do our weekly shop starting first in the Arago market at Olonne because there is a woman there who sells the strips of preserved orange and lemon zest I need for the Creol cake for Xmas as well as decent confit cherries instead of those ghastly glacé things. Picked up some fresh fish at another stall and then headed off to the supermarket which is in a shopping complex that has a florist, boutiques, cafés, bookshop etc and has just been expanded to add 50 new shops.
The perfectly decent sandwich and coffee bar has been replaced by lingerie. The very good crêperie and dish of teh day place next door is being converted to a haridresser's. The alternaives in the new section are a place offering Japanses dishes going round on a conveyor belt or a Taco diner.
We went without lunch and did our raid on the SM. Thence to a fancy garden centre up the road because I have a voucher form the patch ladies. Plain white hellebores 17€!! Hydrangea paniculata 19€. Small apple tree 79€.
On the way out we found some fun, Xmas socks with non slip soles for Possum - made in China so I hope she brings her slippers! All the Xmas baubles and garlands are also made in China.
We did find fat blocks with insects and mealworms. Made in France. Tubs of fat balls 3 for 2.
We might go back in the January sales and buy some solar lights for the garden - as long as they're made in Europe.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Well we don't really know that yet but I suspect it will be close to one of the deals that the EU already accepted and parliament shot down. I'm not suggesting it's a good goal.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
Well we don't really know that yet but I suspect it will be close to one of the deals that the EU already accepted and parliament shot down. I'm not suggesting it's a good goal.
Parliament haven't voted on a deal. Nor have the EU. The withdrawal agreement that Boris agreed will presumably now pass. The Deal hasn't even been talked about yet.
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
I though the "goal" was to "get Brexit done" and be out of the EU by Jan 31st. How it gets done is now moot as he'll get his deal voted thru with no bovver now. That's just the decree nisi tho isn't it? Then it's down to what and how they negotiate for the decree absolu.
That part will be of great interest to people like Busy-Lizzie, Nollie and Floralies and me plus, I dare say, anyone running a business or employed in one that relies on EU membership for the smooth flow of parts, staff and customers.
For the rest of you, I suspect you'll be keeping an eagle eye on what they do about improving infrastructure, housing, education, universal credit and the NHS. I sincerely hope they get that right but we'll just have to wait and see.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
@Obelixx , that is so annoying isn't it, when your favourite shops/cafes disappear. In Bath we have so many eating places that they regularly go in and out of business. I think in the New Year I will try not to buy anything made in China if I can help it, but I hope Possum likes her socks. My daughter wants the complete set of Harry Potter videos for Xmas - goodness knows why!
I did not buy the socks!! Bloody China has appalling human rights violations and I do not knowingly buy anything from there.
As for the cafés, we didn't go often but they did offer good quality well-filled baguettes or paninis and great deals on savoury galettes and pancakes when we just wanted a simple meal. Japanese nibbles and tacos do not meet that need.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Preaching to the converted there @steveTu - that was precisely what I meant by ceding control/sovereignty (by harmonising standards/protocols) in exchange for trade or cooperation in areas such as crime, security, defence, research, IT, banking standards... the list is endless. You also make a valid point about chasing far-distant trade, with it’s greater environmental impact, whilst theoretically aiming to reduce said impact.
Anyway, there is not a cat’s chance in hell it will be done and dusted within a year. The uncertainty will continue for some time, even with a Government majority - but I do concede that the latter will ease progress, even if marching in a direction one doesn’t like. We are only on the withdrawal agreement, the starter course, if you like. The meaty negotiations are yet to begin and we have a long way to go before we will all be having our cake and eating it whilst admiring the new view from the lofty heights of the sunlit uplands.
Anyway, enough of the B word from me.
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
It's interesting, your comments about Christmas stuff @Obelixx and @Lizzie27. I was looking through a magazine at the dentist's yesterday (an up to date one for a change !), and there were pages and pages of stuff apparently necessary for Christmas, decorations, clothes, china, gifts, etc. etc. I have a feeling that within the next few years people's attitudes to this will change , especially as so much of the stocking fillers, cracker fillings and so on seem to be made of plastic. Do people really need another special plate to put mince pies on, when there are plenty in the cupboard already ? I have become very aware of this over the last few months, l can certainly see the next generation changing all this, and that's no bad thing.
Posts
Better turnout than in 2 of the 3 previous General Elections. 67% in '17; 61% in '16 and 62% in '12.
Going to change the subject and have a separate grump or 3 if you don't mind. OH and I have been out to do our weekly shop starting first in the Arago market at Olonne because there is a woman there who sells the strips of preserved orange and lemon zest I need for the Creol cake for Xmas as well as decent confit cherries instead of those ghastly glacé things. Picked up some fresh fish at another stall and then headed off to the supermarket which is in a shopping complex that has a florist, boutiques, cafés, bookshop etc and has just been expanded to add 50 new shops.
The perfectly decent sandwich and coffee bar has been replaced by lingerie. The very good crêperie and dish of teh day place next door is being converted to a haridresser's. The alternaives in the new section are a place offering Japanses dishes going round on a conveyor belt or a Taco diner.
We went without lunch and did our raid on the SM. Thence to a fancy garden centre up the road because I have a voucher form the patch ladies. Plain white hellebores 17€!! Hydrangea paniculata 19€. Small apple tree 79€.
On the way out we found some fun, Xmas socks with non slip soles for Possum - made in China so I hope she brings her slippers! All the Xmas baubles and garlands are also made in China.
We did find fat blocks with insects and mealworms. Made in France. Tubs of fat balls 3 for 2.
We might go back in the January sales and buy some solar lights for the garden - as long as they're made in Europe.
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
That part will be of great interest to people like Busy-Lizzie, Nollie and Floralies and me plus, I dare say, anyone running a business or employed in one that relies on EU membership for the smooth flow of parts, staff and customers.
For the rest of you, I suspect you'll be keeping an eagle eye on what they do about improving infrastructure, housing, education, universal credit and the NHS. I sincerely hope they get that right but we'll just have to wait and see.
I think in the New Year I will try not to buy anything made in China if I can help it, but I hope Possum likes her socks. My daughter wants the complete set of Harry Potter videos for Xmas - goodness knows why!
As for the cafés, we didn't go often but they did offer good quality well-filled baguettes or paninis and great deals on savoury galettes and pancakes when we just wanted a simple meal. Japanese nibbles and tacos do not meet that need.
Anyway, enough of the B word from me.
I was looking through a magazine at the dentist's yesterday (an up to date one for a change !), and there were pages and pages of stuff apparently necessary for Christmas, decorations, clothes, china, gifts, etc. etc.
I have a feeling that within the next few years people's attitudes to this will change , especially as so much of the stocking fillers, cracker fillings and so on seem to be made of plastic. Do people really need another special plate to put mince pies on, when there are plenty in the cupboard already ?
I have become very aware of this over the last few months, l can certainly see the next generation changing all this, and that's no bad thing.