Brexit mega thread part 13: All eyes on Ireland

[SerendipityJane]

With the Windsor framework up & running, and the DUP having a "you could set your calendar by it" hissy fit, but Irish unification refusing to keep it's head down, what next in the long running sage of UK vs. the real world ?

"create an illustration for an article about parking costs rocketing"

This is what I got for my question: Create an illustration for parking costs rocketing

Unfortunately, as a text-based AI, I can't create illustrations directly. However, I can describe an illustration idea for you:The illustration could feature a rocket ship blasting off into the sky, with parking meters or parking lots attached to the sides of the rocket. The meters could have dollar signs or price tags on them, indicating the skyrocketing costs of parking. Surrounding the rocket could be cars with shocked or dismayed expressions on their faces, symbolizing the reaction of drivers to the increasing parking fees.

Seems very similar - and entirely appropriate Accurate but completely wrong and missing the point.

Its interesting
there is quite a lot going on NOW

• around the DUP
• around phytosanitary rules
• around customs clearance areas
• around visa rules
• around changing governments across the EU

but the squirrel is programmed to regurgitate the past

May have to get back into reading Chris Grey regularly

but the squirrel is programmed to regurgitate the past

Or hallucinate. LLMs can't help it.

Following on from my point about the damage to the Scottish salmon industry other industries are also affected , a large part of that if not all is down to the fact that the EU has already introduced its phytosanitary/paper work inspections, whereas the UK, years late, is only now getting round to it Hence the new costs that are disproportionately going to hit small businesses like delis.

If we were still in a, say, Single Market, then we wouldn’t need to do the checks as we would know that we have agreed common minimum standards But who is going to trust the UK and its current Government and the standards it applies?

Had; leaving the EU, pandemic and wars not overlapped, that could be a valid reason.

Osborne and Cameron introduced their austerity programmes back in 2010. Not much overlap there with the pandemic, war or leaving the EU.

Regards to Prettybird, Talkinpeace (and others!) ItisIleclerk from the past tempted to return:
Thanks for the squirrel picture although mine are red but I STILL can't pronounce them in French

Welcome back @IItisymoi

écureuil is indeed a difficult word to pronounce. Not difficult to recognise though

You could try the Dutch 'eekhoorn'

Welcome back

It's all going so well that we're now bottom of the International Mental Health table...

I just love the French wildlife (apart from the mysterious one that lives in my attic ) even if I can't always pronounce or remember their names. My Dutch friend on the village committee helps me out with French/English translation for the committee meetings. Although an intensive French course has improved me a lot. For real fun changing my computer to French is the real challenge. Anyone hear from BCF DGR or the others from 5 years ago? All the nonsense from Globetrotter was covered way back then, and of course in 'sunny upland Britain' you fail to see how insignificant the UK is rapidly becoming. The real threat of war arriving from the East is the most discussed issue, as well as issues in individual EU (strangely sovereign) countries. The terms of the TCA/WA and NIP were well written by the EU negotiators so the UK needs to understand what was signed by Boris the buffoon is DONE and there is no coming back. Dealing with the UK from the EU is 'just business' (or now, gradually reducing) which is what 'we' predicted and discussed way back when.

I am sure there is a very questionable jest to be made about mental health and voting tory in there somewhere.

Lovely reading you again @IItisymoi hope life is treating you well.
was thinking about BCF & DGR a couple of days ago, do hope they are both well.

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/spain-scupper-golden-visas-foreign-real-estate-investors-2024-04-08/

Welcome back @IItisymoi
I emailed with BCF at Christmas time.
Will send her your best.

WE are coming full circle.

Hi @IItisymoi
Nice to see you around again.

Another voice to the chorus welcoming back @IItisymoi 😀

Interesting direction of travel of comments on this story - the main thrust being a very un-Tory "Why the hell don't we do this here ?"

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13285823/british-expats-spain-golden-visa-scheme.html

Thanks one and all for the welcome. I know my place and will get the kettle on!
I like knowing where people are from simply as a way to increase my knowledge of the world and enjoy chat about traditions and nice places to visit. I used to have a mental map of where some of you live which is entirely safe for you because I am (hopefully) stuck in Europe and won't ever go back to the UK.
Before the Brexit mess I positioned myself so I could continue to see my clients in the UK but they are now effectlvely cut off thanks to the idiocy of Brexit. I would like to extend my thanks to all the French doctors and nurses who have been so good at trying to keep me alive. I KNOW there are problems in the French health system but getting to see a doctor on Boxing day having phoned at 09:00 in the morning to get an appointment and collect medication from a pharmacy in the afternoon was quite amazing. I have found the people around the world are usually friendly and helpful if you are respectful and accept that things are 'different'.

”I have found the people around the world are usually friendly and helpful if you are respectful and accept that things are 'different'.”

That is so true - and the way that dh and I try to live our lives, especially when we go travelling, the way we were brought up and brought ds up.

Having visited 67 countries for work or holidays I feel priviliged to have met so many nice people. Being invited to a family supper in Russia being particularly humbling experience and Uganda where hospitality is shown even if they can hardly afford food for the next day or two. Maybe Globetrotter should try it rather than the view from her/his cupboard in Norwich?

67 countries : I’m impressed

I’ve counted up the countries I’ve visited and can only get to 35 - about a third on business, the rest pleasure (but some I went to on business and then went back to for pleasure, like Iceland ).

There are a few European countries I want to visit - like Poland and some of the other Eastern European and Baltic nations. (I also only counted Yugoslavia as a single country as that’s what it was when I inter-railed through it and didn’t count Albania as the train didn’t stop as we went through because it was still a closed country then )

https://www.standard.co.uk/business/shell-ceo-isn-t-bluffing-the-london-stock-exchange-s-crisis-is-serious-b1150396.html

Good thing we're not about to put up any further barriers to importing food.

Oh...

Maybe now is not the time for an election. What with this crisis and that crisis.

Perhaps some Leave voters/Brexiteers would like to reflect on the fact Mr Barnier and the EU commission Insisted on an organised TCA and NIP as well as the Withdrawal agreement rathyer than the headbanger ERG insistence that the UK Leaves with NOTHING but simply revert to a 'basic' WTO agreement with essentially NO trade deals with ANYBODY. By now there would have been fighting on UK streets for food if the EU had insisted the EU exporters followed the letter of the 'law' (trade rules) as it was in 2016. Just some of which was mulled over by Remain voters 'back in the day'.