2019 Stash & Grab

[richardandtracy]

Wendy,

The 'B' word has left me, usually a news junkie, totally unable to listen to the news. The farcical, embarrassing, vicious, inability of politicians to decide anything, or do what they have been told, has led the country into disrepute. And politicians more so. If any politicians ever had any credibility (and I'm not sure they did), then the have none now. Disgusted with the whole pack of them. Shows the contempt they hold their employers (the UK electorate) in.

Not sure what'll happen to my brother (living in Spain for 28 years) at the end of it. All his attempts at showing residency & applying for citizenship have been rejected by the Spanish bureaucracy as showing 'inadequate proof'. And he has presented 15 years of pay slips from the Spanish airline he works for, mortgage papers for 10 years, and he's been on the Madrid electoral roll for 27 years... 'Inadequate' only if you have zero intention of ever accepting any proof. I suspect bureaucratic spite is part of it, too.

Regards,

Richard.

[wendywombat]

Sad to say we watched all of the latest debacle on TV! I managed a great deal of knitting I have to say!! Thought that finally sense might prevail...but no one sensible seems to have had the last say!

I feel for your brother, Richard. We have heard stories very similar to your brother's situation from friends who live in Spain.
We have been in France for just over 20 years and are resident here, pay French Tax, receive French Health care and have a Carte de Sejour ( identity card) but not French Nationality. Our French is still at the 'Effluent' rather than Fluent stage! so couldn't pass the very intensive and thorough tests needed to gain that status. Friends here have done that and know all the words of the Marseillaise and sing it with gusto!

Our days here are numbered and we shall be returning to the UK in the next few years. Both of us now in our 70's and are looking for a quieter life North of the Border. There will be several things that we shall miss but not the uncertainty that we face at the moment.

[rcperryls]

Because politics are so wild and crazy on this side of the pond, I won't say anything other than I thought of quoting several of the recent comments and changing a few (very few) words and letters to describe what is happening here. I am also a news junkie, Richard, and have tried cold turkey and as I said before Britbox has been wonderful because it has so many new shows for me to get lost in. Acorn TV is another streaming service we can get and I've had Australian and New Zealand mysteries too. (I've pretty much gone through the American shows I like). Every once in a while though, a news item comes across my phone and I find myself checking to say what the latest absurdity or even worse horror/tragedy has occurred.

Since its still morning over here I will have my coffee with lots of whip cream (holding the Irish whiskey for after noon) and a big gooey cinnamon roll and watch puffins dance with the unicorns. Also enjoying the lovely fairies who flit around all of it. (Just saw Maleficent and the fairies are even more wonderful than in the first film. ).

Carole

[Serinde]

I was (briefly) reminded today that there is other, wholly horrific, news apart from Brexit. Of course, the wholly horrific bits have been with us forever, it being the human condition. Concerning "B", I find myself torn, seeing as how I'm Across the Border. Of course it's going to be awful for the UK, we know this and I'm sorry. But it could be the making of Scotland. (It is, for our American and other foreign readers, something of a curiosity that the Scottish National Party seems to be trying desperately to save England from the worst of its own proclivities, vis a vis Brexit, potentially at the cost of the thing it -- and 50% of the population here -- actually wants. Go figure.)

Having only indefinite leave to remain, I cannot, of course, have any opinions myself, you understand.

But, for a bit of a laugh, and especially if you are a fan of Samuel Beckett, may I suggest reading the feed of The Irish Border (@borderirish)? Yes, it's Twitter, but you don't have to join to read it. And it is very funny. And pretty clean. And the comments are funny, too.

[richardandtracy]

Under the next Scottish Independence referendum (and I'm sure there will be one), I do hope the rest of the UK gets a vote too. It does concern the whole of the UK not just Scotland, and will lead to a major re-jigging of the UK, so I do feel the rest of the UK should get a vote. And Independence for Scotland should occur if EITHER Scotland votes for independence OR the rest of the UK votes for it. I would, without doubt, vote for Scottish Independence.

At the moment, the situation where a Scottish MP can affect England/Wales only matters (such as prisons, education, justice, planning, local government, etc. etc), and an English/Welsh MP can never do the same in Scotland (due to those powers being devolved to the Scottish Parliament) is a constitutional outrage that will probably only be fixed by something as fundamental as Scottish Independence. I do not believe that there is any political imperative driving anything to fix the anomalies introduced by the botched Scottish Devolution bills, so it may, sadly, be the only way to ensure that there is some form of equality in the power structure within the UK. Part of the reason why devolution was botched in the way it was, was due to one political party [falsely] believing they had a secure power base north of the border not wanting to permanently put themselves out of power. An understandable, but utterly unacceptable, reason to mess with the way the UK works.

Regards,

Richard.

[Mabel Figworthy]

On a completely unconnected and more optimistic note, I've finished four more stitch diagrams & descriptions for the SAL - only eight more to go (there are a lot of stitches in the SAL...) This weekend I should have time to complete them all, and perhaps (I'm being a little optimistic here) a few stitch photographs. And then I can get started on the instructions for each of the ten parts...

So I'm going to have a combination celebration/encouragement with my usual hot chocolate, marshmallows and cream!

[Serinde]

You deserve it, Mabel. I'm looking forward to this.

[rcperryls]

Oh I can't wait!! My mostly absent stitching bug has promised (i made him sign in blood) that he will absolutely, positively be back for the start of it and probably before then. He's been a real jerk (I thought of other names to call him but they are not allowed on the forum), but I don't want to antagonize him too much since he has been so prone to acting out these days. Bring on the hot chocolate!

Carole

[Serinde]

At the moment, the situation where a Scottish MP can affect England/Wales only matters (such as prisons, education, justice, planning, local government, etc. etc), and an English/Welsh MP can never do the same in Scotland (due to those powers being devolved to the Scottish Parliament) is a constitutional outrage that will probably only be fixed by something as fundamental as Scottish Independence. I do not believe that there is any political imperative driving anything to fix the anomalies introduced by the botched Scottish Devolution bills, so it may, sadly, be the only way to ensure that there is some form of equality in the power structure within the UK. Part of the reason why devolution was botched in the way it was, was due to one political party [falsely] believing they had a secure power base north of the border not wanting to permanently put themselves out of power. An understandable, but utterly unacceptable, reason to mess with the way the UK works.

Regards,

Richard.

The Byzantine method adopted for voting in Scottish parliamentary elections was designed to make a majority govt (particularly SNP) impossible. Didn't quite work that way (there has been an SNP majority govt), but it is very interesting to note that the current SNP minority govt here is still remarkably popular, mostly because they do need to negotiate and compromise. A good thing, in my view, and an attitude which is lacking at Westminster, to the detriment of all.

As for EVEL, most primary UK parliamentary legislation appears as Scottish legislation, too, albeit couched in such a way as to be admissible in Scottish law. But in any case, since October 2015, via the Legislative Grand Committee, MPs in English constituencies have a veto on laws that only affect England. It's more complicated than that, of course, but it goes some way to sorting out the constitutional mess. What England really needs, in my view, is its own parliament/assembly. Then, by some mechanism, the constituent parts of the UK could be equally represented in the Westminster parliament. Guess that's federalism? But I fear that ship has sailed and it's too late now, especially when Brexit becomes a reality. I'm very disappointed, but not surprised, for example, that my MP (Conservative) has consistently voted with the govt against the wishes of his constituents (67% voted Remain on a 74% turnout). Well, get all your friends to vote for Scottish independence, too, and we can all be best and closest of friends in the future.

[wendywombat]

If we had a vote, which we don't having left the UK 20+ years ago, we would vote SNP every time.
As it is our future is in the balance as we have no say!

I won't go on but you'll find me in by the window in the chair with the Tartan cushion each evening watching the wildlife gamboling through the thistles and heather in the sunset whilst I eat Haggis Soup and shortbread accompanied by a Very Good Single Malt!

[Mabel Figworthy]

Finished all my diagrams and stitch descriptions
Definitely one of the most labour-intensive parts of getting the SAL ready. Well, apart from stitching the whole design twice but at least that will be fun!
Double hot chocolate and a XL bag of mini marshmallows please

[Nicola Main]

Hmmm not sure about haggis soup Wendy but you can't beat a good tattie and leek

On a side note my lovely parents got me an armchair for Christmas (I did ask for one lol) as stitching on my bed was just not feasible as my back is killing me. I now have my very own stitchy corner

[Mabel Figworthy]

woohoo! Congratulations on your new stitching chair.

[Nicola Main]

If you look closely you can see your scissors in the photo! Would be lost without them Mabel! Best scissors I've ever had!

[Squirrel]

That looks ideal Nicola and you have it all set up too which is even better. Enjoy it all.

[wendywombat]

Now that looks like a really comfortable stitching chair and corner!
How on earth have you managed your wonderful stitching whilst sitting on your bed!!! ???

For my birthday lunch I had Steak on a bed of Haggis with Tatties and Neeps. Delicious!

[Serinde]

Hmmm not sure about haggis soup Wendy but you can't beat a good tattie and leek

On a side note my lovely parents got me an armchair for Christmas (I did ask for one lol) as stitching on my bed was just not feasible as my back is killing me. I now have my very own stitchy corner

Not sure about the haggis soup, either, Nicola, but that chair looks just the thing! Great gift.

[Serinde]

Dunno about y'all, but here it's suddenly January. Same quality of light, same heavy frost. This morning, Conic Hill was pretending it was a big "ben", with its dragon back sticking out above the misty inversion layer over the loch. I'm enjoying it, in truth; not in any hurry for November rains to return.

This might call for a hot chocolate, of course...

[Mabel Figworthy]

*eager look* with marshmallows????

[Serinde]

Is there any other way?