current affairs and some enjoyable moments





It has not been a great week. I am in mourning because Article 50 has been triggered by our government. Mrs May and her cronies are on track to not only alienate the rest of Europe, the devolved countries in the UK and remain voters but also the leave voters. They will be bitterly disappointed when false promises made to them are not turned into realities. I have set in motion the registration of James' and Alistair's adoption with the Italian authorities. This will ensure their Italian citizenship, giving them access to Europe. Sam and Annie already have Italian citizenship. No child of mine shall have their European rights curtailed. I am truly privileged to have this option for my children. I was also pleased to find out that Richard is entitled to Italian citizenship by virtue of being married to an Italian citizen. Becoming Swiss is much more complicated for a spouse and we won't go there. Should my right to remain in Britain be affected by bloody Brexit we can pack up and go. I have lived her for 18 years and in principle have permanent right to stay but the paperwork to proof so is exhaustive and there is much room for mistakes, which may lead to a denial. I have no intention of applying for British citizenship and I will not complete the residency form until someone forces me to do so.

I am worried about so many other things, too. I can't even begin to list them. Others have done a far better job than I could do. Take CJ for example, she has written about her worries about environmental protection in the aftermath of Trump (aren't his latest acts just beyond belief??) and Brexit. I couldn't agree more with her. I am going to put my head down and focus on what I can do but I will not loose focus on the bigger picture.

Anyway, to take my mind of things, I tried to take notes of enjoyable moments. Nothing earth-shattering, just a few moments here and there.

Listening to James and Annie pottering in the kitchen. Annie was teaching James how to make a lemon drizzle tray bake. Hers is the best! He had lots of questions and she had lots of answers. How much butter is needed for greasing the tin. Why the butter needs to be soft but not melted for making the cake batter. Where does lemon rind start and when is it not rind anymore. All the while, Ed Sheeran was blasting away in the background.  I don't think they were aware of me listening in, I was working quietly in my sewing room.

How I love to write that: my sewing room.

Having old friends from the German speaking children's club come to knit and natter. I have missed quite a few knit nights due to work and it was really nice to have old and new friends over. I haven't spoken German in donkey's years and it felt good to do so. When I do speak German with my family, it is Swiss German, which is different. The cake Annie made on Monday was delicious. I knew it would be.

Finally sinking into my favourite armchair on Wedneday evening at 9:30 pm, having just returned from the last evening tutorial I had to facilitate for a few months.

Noticing the tiny late blooming dwarf daffodils in a neglected pot on my front steps. I have been wondering for a few weeks what the green shoots would turn into. Now I know.

Learning of the £100,000 our local secondary school has been awarded by the Scottish Government. This money comes out of the Pupil Equity Fund and will used to address the poverty related attainment gap. You wouldn't believe how much work there is to be done! The pupils have been discussing with their teachers how this money could be best used. It could be anything, resources, additional support staff, maybe a probationary teacher to help fill the gap (there is a teacher shortage in all of Britain).

I'll leave you with a conversation I had with James the other day. I was laughing about a cartoon I'd seen on Facebook. It showed a dog in a newsagent, asking if they sold any 'Sorry I done a shite on the carpet' card. Crude, I know but my sense of humour is not very sophisticated. James wanted to know what made me laugh and I showed him the cartoon. He didn't get it. I explained that sometimes, if you need to apologise for something, it is nice to send a card and had he not made a card for his friend recently to say sorry for pushing him over. Oh, he said earnestly, does the dog want to apologise to the carpet?

What are your thoughts? Are you directly or indirectly affected by Brexit? Do tell. Also, any enjoyable moments you'd like to share? I have some sewing and cooking to share but each warrants a post or two so I'll do that another day. Have a lovely weekend. x




Comments

  1. Thanks for the mention Christina, it's a grim time isn't it. So much uncertainty. My friend is busy tidying her house in France where she lives in case she has to sell it and uproot her whole family to return to the UK. I'm glad you have the Italian option, but let us hope it doesn't come to that. I think you are right that it will end in dissatisfaction for many who voted leave. It will be especially tough for regions that rely on EU subsidies. And a very dark day for the environment, which hardly ever gets a mention in the national news. Glad you had some enjoyable moments this week though. A knit and natter night sounds like an excellent thing. Hope you and yours have a good weekend. CJ xx

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  2. We love Britain and I do worry about what will happen under Brexit. Hope it's better than most people think and not as bad as many fear. We have to deal with Trump and I hope he's gone soon, wouldn't it be wonderful if he got bored with it all and resigned before he does too much damage. Our daughter says she can't see ever living the States again and I understand.

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  3. I am trying to stay positive but it is very difficult when everyday brings further bad news for the environment as well as human rights. Brexit and that awful Trump man will affect us all. I am trying to do my bit, I now eat a plant based diet, we have solar panels fitted and I will be changing to an electric car. There are days when I wonder why I bother, my efforts are a drop in the ocean. My happy moment today was after weeks of backbreaking work making veg beds I spotted some carrots peeping through the ground.

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  4. I love seeing the green shoots come up each year and waiting for the blooms to arrive. So far I see hyacinth and dwarf daffodils that I just might see bloom before my move :-)

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  5. I'm not sure Brexit effects me directly but it certainly worries the hell out of me to think what this country has come to and what a huge mistake I believe has been made. It makes me feel helpless and all we can do is keep being kind to others, kind to the environment and hope things work out.

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  6. I'm nodding in agreement as I read. Although not part of the action in Jersey we are obviously very much affected by all the goings on. All I hear at the moment is how prices will rise. At least you have European nationality to fall back on. Your overhearings made me smile. Love to listen to siblings talk to each other when they think you're not there. Often highly amusing :). Have a great weekend. Hope the sun shines. It must be the start of your holidays too I presume? B x

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  7. There's so much upset and uncertainty everywhere at the moment. I can empathize with your situation to some degree, having lived in Canada as a non-citizen for many years. In the end I did take out Canadian citizenship, and I've never been sorry. But I realize taking out UK citizenship isn't as easy for you. I really doubt you will be at risk of having to leave since you are married to someone from the UK. And you are so smart to be getting your children their Italian citizenship papers.

    Crafting, gardening, and enjoying the everyday moments are the recipe to stay sane given all that's going on in the world.

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  8. My only response can be...
    I went to the zoo the other day, there was only one dog in it... It was a shit zhu!
    I can only look at the funny things at the moment because the rest is too tragic. Love to ya Jo xxxx

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  9. What will happen now Brexit has been triggered? I don't know. I am not sorry that we're leaving the EU political system, I'm hoping it doesn't mean we get treated as a pariah by France and Germany who are the only countries that really benefit from the EU. I hope that the fact that a majority of those who voted in the UK voted out is a wake up call for the unelected bureaucrats who actually run Europe. I hope that we use our democratic rights to make sure that we in the UK keep the policies that benefit the environment and people rather than just big business. I don't want Brexit to mean that people here or in Europe get 'thrown out'. I don't think it will, but it must feel like you're a pawn in the bargaining game at the moment. Perhaps we need a rethink of the political system??? If neither team is playing the game properly, is it the teams or the game that is at fault?

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  10. It is a horrible time. For a while it seemed as if Brexit wasn't real, that it was all a bad dream, and now it's back. Truly sad, as I thought my children were going to be Europeans. Very bad news for Scotland in the loss of EU subsidies - I don't think people realise quite how much we get from the EU, which I would be very surprised if it was replaced by the UK government, and the Scottish government can't afford to. And of course there's political capital being made in Scotland of Brexit, which I'm not going to get into as a) it depresses me too much and b) it tends to start wars - like YouTube, where 3 comments down under any video, even something like a Mozart concerto, people are f**** and b**** at each other with no holds barred! I have been thinking of writing to Donald Tusk to say I will pay for my children to have European citizenship - your example spurs me on.
    In happier news - we have appointed an architect for our house renovation work - should get their proposals by the end of April. Thanks for your advice on that earlier.

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  11. The world has gone mad.. I only wish I knew why. But here in the USA -- every single day one or numerous horrible things are being done by the horrible man who was voted president here and his gang of billionaires who only care to increase their billions with no care for the children, poor, elderly, women, people of color and everyone from one religion. It's awful. And worse, the Republicans who I did not know were this evil.. are totally falling into lockstep with Herr Trump-ler and Steve Bannon who is leading them all to dismantle our government. And our country. This is the worst time of my life and I'm 67. Hang in there and fight for what is right. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  12. I too find Brexit very sad and my family has no other route to EU citizenship, our Irish links are too old. Ironically our best hope is the Scotland becomes independent and rejoins the EU. Independence is something I was very negative about but I am changing my mind. Like Linda I would pay for associate citizenship for my kids. We are still hoping to move abroad with husbands work for a few years and that helps to distract me.

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  13. I'm not sure what is going to happen... I hope I don't have to leave the Uk but I just moved 4 years ago so my changes to stay may be very low...
    I'm still waiting to see what I should do... maybe I need to start looking to different countries where to move... le's see.

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  14. Here in Canada we are feeling the impact of the policies of our large neighbour - we have refugees coming across the borders of two of our provinces, Quebec and Manitoba. I saw on the front page of the current Rolling Stone magazine a sketch of Trump alongside an ominous looking tornado. I enjoy your blog. I like hearing about your family and your life. Good wishes.

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  15. Oh Christina, I know, it's just too awful. And especially uncertain for you as you are not a British Citizen (I didn't know you were Italian though, I thought you were Swiss!) A dear friend of mine who happens to be German became a British Citizen recently (it cost her well over £1000!!!) because she is the breadwinner and felt very worried about her not being able work in the UK. Sad times. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only person who is worried so it's great to check in here and feel that, actually, it's not just me. xx

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  16. I feel your pain my friend. I am so glad you are getting the citizenship for the boys, it gives you options that hopefully you will never have to act upon. I am sick everyday about what is happening. #45 as I like to call him is such a child. He does not get his way by bullying so makes drastic decisions that will affect not only this country but the entire world. His partners in this is the whole republican party they are despicable, and those who voted them in should be ashamed.

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  17. Yes I agree 100%, the political world is appalling at the moment and I am in occasional despair that we are living in an era of division, mistrust, political chaos etc. I limit myself to listening to the news once a day, otherwise I in despair, and to be honest I just try to make my day to day life with my family as happy and fulfilling as possible. Not very radical I know x

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Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment, I love to hear from you, I really do. I sometimes reply by email but I am not all that reliable... Christina xx

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