Tomorrow is a big day. Parliament will be voting on the deal Mrs May has arrived at with the EU. From what I understand she's likely to lose the vote as the deal pleases almost no-one.
As a remainer I would be pleased if the government would just turn around and say, 'We've carefully considered all the options and we've presented the best deal to you. What we intend to do now is what we consider best for the country: revoke Article 50 and stay in the EU.'
That's not likely to happen.
Indeed, if it were to, there would be trouble. Brexiteers are already threatening violence and riots. That's the problem you see. We Remainers show our anger by signing online petitions, writing to our MP and, if we're really cross, to The Times. The other side, well, I don't want to stereotype but ...
In happier news I had seven forms of heart-attack while walking alongside Swansea canal with GrandSon4 this morning. His insistence that, 'Ardo* do it,' was pretty determined even when it meant leaning over the muddy edge of the bank to throw in a stick. (*His name is Leonardo.) As was his insistence that I pick up an old Doritos packet that was flying around and, 'put in bin.' He's going to be a ferocious eco warrior when he grows up.
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Also I can't help but compare his hair with mine. I have to pay loads of money to have highlights like his put in.
Meanwhile over on notanotherwannabewriter I continue to struggle to get to grips with connecting with people on social media, a small detail that is essential if I am to 'increase my audience.'
I voted Remain. (Whether Britain should stay in the EU or not.) The so-called Brexiteers won the day thanks in part to false advertising and media scare tactics so on Friday, 29th March next year, at 11.00 pm, Britain will leave, apparently whether a satisfactory deal or arrangement is made with the EU or not.
My reason for voting stay was largely ideological - being united in something is better than being on the outside - but many intelligent people in banking, industry, and the arts agreed with me with more sensible financial reasons too.
Two years on since the crucial vote the government is still negotiating with the EU for a good deal but seems to have very little idea of how to achieve this. More and more people from government are now talking about preparing for a No-deal Brexit, and plans are afoot to stockpile medicines and other vital supplies just in case. To which all I can say is, 'Seriously?'
What happened to the bus? The one the leavers used to promote their campaign? The one that suggested leaving would mean an extra £350 million a week for the NHS?
And that brings me to Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees-Mogg. No, I can't. I'm speechless at the very thought.
There have been many surveys done recently that claim that more and more people have now understood the facts and seen the folly of leaving and would change their minds if given another opportunity to vote, hence the calls in the media for a second referendum.
But I don't think that is necessary. There are plenty of arguments to say that the first one shouldn't have been held and maybe the most crucial point is that it should have remained a government decision. Which is what, in my opinion, it should be down to now.
Why can't Theresa May and her government say, 'We have looked very carefully into the possibility of leaving the EU. We have considered the pros and cons and we have come to the conclusion that the best thing for this country is to remain in a united Europe. We realise many of you will be disappointed but as the government we have to do what we genuinely believe is the best thing for this country and its people and we believe that working with our European partners is the way forward.'
Perhaps I should send this draft to Mrs May. Perhaps no-one else has suggested it ...
As any statistician will tell you, statistics can be quoted to prove anything you want. Or something like that.
Usually when I publish a post I have a quick look at my stats. After a brief period when I was getting hundreds of views regularly they've been steady within a 60 - 200 daily views range recently. Imagine my surprise then when I looked at the stats this morning (9.50 am) and read this:
Yesterday - 90
Today - 1,227.
Once I'd picked myself up off the floor and stopped laughing I looked the map: is it those Russians again? No.
Of the 1,227 views today 1,229 originated in France. Curiouser and curiouser.
Of course if you were a fan of Yes, Minister you'll know that Britain's greatest enemy has always been France so now they're getting into the tech-war. (Taps side of her nose knowingly.)
P.S. I just looked for the relevant clip. Couldn't find it but did watch some scarily accurate forecasts about Britain's role in the EU.
It's only taken 38 years.
Of course there've been plenty of things we've agreed on in the past, like West Wing and House being some of the best television ever but when it comes to anything vaguely political, in the small p sense of the word, we've agreed to disagree.
We've both stuck with the leanings of our formative years when he was a very slightly right wing mod and I was a slightly further left wing hippie. So we've disagreed about everything from God to nuclear weapons.
But now on what will be the day before our 38th wedding anniversary the country goes to the polls and for once we'll both be crossing the same boxes: REMAIN.
Our reasoning is different - mine is idealistic; his is well-thought-out and rational - but we've come to the same conclusion.
Maybe after another 38 years he'll begin to come round to more of my way of thinking ...
