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[tournesol] 25/2/2023 16:34

Spittingbarrel

R4 also interviewed management from the big supermarkets, representatives from the NFU and specialists in the importation of foodstuffs.

The BBC's bias was on full and open display as they desperately sought confirmation of their confected story that the current problems stemmed from Brexit. Every speaker that I heard said "No, the current problems have little to do with Brexit and everything to do with recent abnormal weather in Spain and North Africa".

As for your anecdote about lorry drivers, it's obviously incorrect. For one thing, If the appalling bureaucracy so vindictively imposed by the EU (with different coloured pens and all the rest of the nonsense) was disincentivising lorry drivers from bringing in fresh food, then we'd have seen the effects years ago. For another, it's not the lorry drivers who have to fill in the forms it's the importers and they have got their act together.

There is a temporary shortage of fresh produce across Europe. Consumers in the EU pay higher prices than we do so the growers are sending their limited products to the European market. It's basic market economics. Nothing to do with Brexit.

[my retirement fund] 25/2/2023 15:27

Anyway, now that those normal and sane amongst use are beginning to wake up to the reality and stupidity of it, it's no wonder 75% of those who voted would sooner not have left!

[my retirement fund] 25/2/2023 15:24

Sky yes it has! I can't go and buy a home in Europe and stay there as it suits me. Now I have to go through some ball ache process of becoming a national and changing my tax status which completely knackers everything for me! It's only by sheer luck my son has been able to apply for an Irish passport, so he has duel nationality, so he can continue to choose be free to be educated, live and work across Europe, a freedom most youngsters can no longer enjoy thanks to a load of decrepit old gits who want to go back to what they knew when they were a child. PATHETIC!!

[skyship] 25/2/2023 15:17

The appalling way the EU has behaved over NI really shows them for what they are. We dared to assert our sovereignty and the Commission doesn't like that show of independence as others might dare to follow!

The crazy thing is that we can't re-join without ditching the £; and for sure there is no way that the Brits would ever want to trade in the £ for the Euro.

[tournesol] 25/2/2023 15:07

Hi SkyI'm tired of being lectured by Remainers who self identify as Europhiles and accuse me of being a Europhobe. I am opposed to the EU because it's anti democratic, corrupt and ineffective. But I'm a strong European. I worked in France for years and speak fluent French. I've also lived and worked in Germany, Belgium, Holland, Norway, Finland, Austria, Portugal, Greece, , Switzerland

[skyship] 25/2/2023 14:51

Bizarre - root crops don't need labour; all done with one farmer and heavy machinery. Back to the shed then manual labour to cut the leaves; but not very labour intensive.

[spittingbarrel] 25/2/2023 14:45

tournesol - From 31/1/23 lorry drivers bringing in fresh produce to the UK have to fill in 3 sets of paperwork which take an average of 77 hours to process. Most lorry drivers are self employed and cannot afford to wait 3 days in queues to come here and then return with an empty lorry.

That is why we have a shortage of fresh produce. A farmer was interviewed on R4 today and said he gave up farming turnips because of labour shortages due to Brexit.

[skyship] 25/2/2023 14:34

tournesol - agree with every word. Of course, there is no going back - even Starmer accepts that. But the "Establishment" and the Left seem not to do so; they believe it was all an appalling mistake and Democracy should be ignored as it doesn't conform to their own preference.

Thankfully the wider public believes in UK sovereignty; whilst recognising the weaknesses inherent in the corrupt and protectionist EU.

[tournesol] 25/2/2023 14:24

The temporary supply disruption in some fresh produce has nothing to do with Brexit. But even if it did, I'd regard it as a trivial inconvenience which was well worth incurring in exchange for regaining our political independence and agency.

[tournesol] 25/2/2023 14:22

And of course unless we are really deluded we don't spend years comparing things to some alternative version of history in which we got our own way and life was infinitely better.

[tournesol] 25/2/2023 14:20

The basic idea of democracy is that we have a discussion/debate then we put it to a vote. And then the most important bit - we all accept the result and we respect those whose opinions are different from our own. What we don't do is dispute the process and/or result (as D Trump did/does) or slag off those who voted differently from us (as some remainders are doing)

[skyship] 25/2/2023 12:15

O/T - this is the weekend, so:

Quite amusing that turnip saga.

In their usual anti Tory Government way, Radio 4 called up a couple of farmers expecting them to slag off Therese Coffey - but both of them agreed with her. We should have more respect for seasonality; and why do we really need 5 different lettuces on the shelves; alongside totally unripe tomatoes devoid of any flavour!

We have a salad lunch every day; but, living in France, the cuisine country, we are far more imaginative with what we eat. Green lentils; white beans soaked in herbs, stock & vinaigrette; pickled red cabbage with honey sweetener; white cabbage/red pepper/carrot salad steeped in vinegar & olive oil; beetroot (absolutely NO vinegar; cucumber: de-seeded, sliced, with chili dipping sauce, sugar and cider vinegar. All those basics are pre-prepared and last for 1-2weeks in jars. On the other half of the plate add pork pie, cold meats, cheese - whatever. Personally I also add an artichoke heart in olive oil from a jar; and a pickled walnut brought back from the UK when over there.

I tried pickling my own walnuts because we have two walnut trees in the garden; but it was an incredibly complex procedure and the results were pitiful. Best leave it to Opies!

One last thing. We will be having tomatoes; however they too have to be doctored at this time of year. I would seriously recommend you try this:

# Quarter the tomatoes lengthways
# Lay up on a baking tray covered with greaseproof paper
# Sprinkle with s & p, then dried thyme (or overlay with sprigs from garden)
# Spray a little olive oil; and then (the most important part)
# Drizzle good quality balsamic vinegar – use the thick unctuous type – not the cheap £3/btle type!
# Into the oven at 120c for c90mins.
# Serve warm or cold. They will last in the fridge for 3 days.

[skyship] 25/2/2023 11:25

MRF - Brexit hasn't stopped anyone from buying a house over here in France; and either work or retire.

You now need to apply for a residency permit in advance; but all you have to do is show you have sufficient cash not to be a burden on the State.

Obviously not a problem for a man of your means!

[spittingbarrel] 25/2/2023 09:59

And then cheese and turnip pizza for supper...

There must be a name for that, how about Cofferita?

[spittingbarrel] 25/2/2023 08:41

Really looking forward to my cheese and turnip sandwich for lunch, long live brexit...

[skyship] 24/2/2023 14:29

Last one definitely deserves an uptick.......done!

[this_is_me] 24/2/2023 10:02

I was certainly asking for a referendum and voted for UKIP which achieved a majority in EU elections showing that sensible people like myself recognised that we needed to be out of the Evil Empire.

Note that auditors have never signed off the EU accounts; that tells you all you need to know about the way it is run.

If it wasn't for the woke establishment we could, by now, have been free of all the woke nonsense and red tape that the EU were strangling us with and the NI protocol would have been assigned to history.

If the EU is so good just go and retire there, taking your rudeness with you, and leave us to continue to fight for our freedoms.

While I am not a particular admirer of Nigel Farage he is certainly not a cretin and did our country a great deal of good in leading the campaign for freedom.

[yf23_1] 23/2/2023 22:52

Anyway, back to the huge discount to NAV, private equity and unlisted securities sure aren't flavour of the month at the moment.