The broad sunlit uplands of next March. Yeah, really. .

[Mike Bell]

Going back to the topic of the thread , when I came back from Spain the Portsmouth Customs were searching every truck, which I’ve never seen before. As usual they lost concentration when they saw the contents of mine.....

[Gerard C]

If they asked how many pesetas you had in your pockets, sure they are very knowledgeable officers!

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

Going back to the topic of the thread , when I came back from Spain the Portsmouth Customs were searching every truck, which I’ve never seen before. As usual they lost concentration when they saw the contents of mine.....

Going back to the past, I think that certain members of the motor racing fraternity relied on that happening when they tried to pass through Customs.

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

Going back to the past, I think that certain members of the motor racing fraternity relied on that happening when they tried to pass through Customs.

From stories I've read, that definitely was the case! Given comments during the ‘search’, I don’t think it was stowaways they were looking for, either. Luckily I was one of the first off the boat, so guess those last to join the queue would have had quite a wait.....

[Mike Bell]

So taking stock, where are we now? I gather our elected are back and hard at work, but there is some concern (according to the Beeb this morn) for their mental health. Apparently the stress is getting to some.....

[Gerard C]

Concern for their mental health? We should open a # like "bring a shrink" for all politicians. Or: free the lions and put the real crazy people in cage! I guess next step in France will be something like "lets have a Frexit based on the Brexit rules and results! Bonne chance with that!

[MGDavid]

France is looking good for a retired racer's base again; Nice M Macron has promised lower taxes, increased pensions, and the workers (if you can find any) are going to have to work harder. Utopia?

[grantp]

Originally Posted by MGDavid

France is looking good for a retired racer's base again; Nice M Macron has promised lower taxes, increased pensions, and the workers (if you can find any) are going to have to work harder. Utopia?

I think I saw headline in a UK newsprint wasting publication today that suggested the UK was heading in the other direction.

No more free TV licence for the over 75s and older person's bus passes canned for example.

I think it's time to be completely honest with the millennials and point out that the western style pension system is completely unsupportable 'going forward' (I think that's how they speak isn't it?) and so they can expect to work until they drop - probably achieving little more than growing just enough food to support themselves and their family once our mad politicians have adopted the policies defined by Extinction Rebellion.

No way would anything as noxious as motor sport survive the transformation and in fact almost anything to to with transportation of good will likely be working with far smaller volumes and to different protectionist rules.

However if personal trackers are widely implemented even the old time creativity of smuggling will be challenged to come up with full proof cloaking devices although the, er, 'management' of the payments required to operate without interference are likely to be payable to Beijing rather than Westminster.

That said the two above named places may, in effect, be under the same ownership by the time any of this matters.

So should one attempt to learn French or Mandarin?

[Mike Bell]

Think the House of Lords came up with ‘get rid of pensioners perks’ yesterday, which is how I saw it reported!

So France it is, then. I already have a gilet jaune, so am sorted!

[Gerard C]

Spot on, David! Workers are missing as you say and if you want to meet a wise French retired you've better go to Spain, Portugal or Morocco! Remember Aznavour's song? Il me semble que la misère serait moins pénible au soleil!

[grantp]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

Think the House of Lords came up with ‘get rid of pensioners perks’ yesterday, which is how I saw it reported!

So France it is, then. I already have a gilet jaune, so am sorted!

I would happily agree with that if it was applied to the House for Frauds.

[Peter Mallett]

On a slightly more serious note, I read today that the Guardian is decrying Free Movement of People because Romania is short of doctors and nurses. Apparently they've gone to places that pay more.

[grantp]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

On a slightly more serious note, I read today that the Guardian is decrying Free Movement of People because Romania is short of doctors and nurses. Apparently they've gone to places that pay more.

It seems like many people, no matter what their careers path, do the same thing.

That said I expect that doctors able to communicate in certain languages may command higher than usual rates to work in the UK and a few other countries.

[Peter Mallett]

The irony is obviously too deep. The Guardian complains often enough that the NHS is suffering a crisis due to brexit.

[midgetman]

I have a gilet jaune, a gilet rose and a gilet orange so I should be sorted no matter who does the protesting!

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by midgetman

I have a gilet jaune, a gilet rose and a gilet orange so I should be sorted no matter who does the protesting!

Show off!

[bauble]

Originally Posted by midgetman

I have a gilet jaune, a gilet rose and a gilet orange so I should be sorted no matter who does the protesting!

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Geraint Thomas has a maillot jeune!

[grantp]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

The irony is obviously too deep. The Guardian complains often enough that the NHS is suffering a crisis due to brexit.

Well yes, but that is to be expected from the Guardian.

They just get the logic for the claim wrong - usually reversed it seems to me.

Like their use of the word 'austerity'.

[Gerard C]

Midget, just out of my curiosity what is the exact purpose of you gilet rose? Isn't it called a pyjama in Manchester?

Bauble another great one, thank you! You're a killer, for sure! Todays special at Monna Lisa is spaghetti alla carbonara with pork!

[MGDavid]

Originally Posted by grantp

........

So should one attempt to learn French or Mandarin?

Pleased to say that grandson aged 12 is learning Mandarin, in an English state academy school. What's more he likes it! Also a nephew has lived and worked in Ningbo, China for many years. Married a local girl etc. Seems our family will be OK to embrace the future, if that's the way it's going.

[midgetman]

Originally Posted by Gerard C

Midget, just out of my curiosity what is the exact purpose of you gilet rose? Isn't it called a pyjama in Manchester?

It's pretty boring actually, all to do with Health and Safety. If we go on track to rescue a kart we have to wear a hi-vis jacket and different kart clubs require different colours.

I got in serious trouble at one track for wearing a yellow, not an orange one. Seriously. A real ticking off and the final line was "you have to wear orange, it's 'elf & safety!" Remember this is to go on track after one race finished and before the next one started, not wander around while they're blasting past.

And people wonder why I get grumpy

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by midgetman

It's pretty boring actually, all to do with Health and Safety. If we go on track to rescue a kart we have to wear a hi-vis jacket and different kart clubs require different colours.

I got in serious trouble at one track for wearing a yellow, not an orange one. Seriously. A real ticking off and the final line was "you have to wear orange, it's 'elf & safety!" Remember this is to go on track after one race finished and before the next one started, not wander around while they're blasting past.

Portsmouth Ferry port has always required anyone walking about in the lorry park or between that and the terminal to wear hi-viz. Makes sense, but I forgot once and walked all the way to the customs post within the terminal without. At that point I was given a severe lecture, refused entry, and made to walk back to my truck to retrieve the hi-viz. That made sense.....

Caen/Ouistreham now also requires them to be worn, but maybe to distinguish drivers from the illegals wandering about.

[Gerard C]

In the case of a protesting migrant wearing a gilet jaune how will they manage?

[grantp]

Originally Posted by Gerard C

In the case of a protesting migrant wearing a gilet jaune how will they manage?

Hmm.

What happens if a migrant steals a driver's vest?

Would the driver have to borrow a vest to get to his truck?

Would the thief be deemed to be a driver of the truck?

Someone must have thought of that and authorised the project to research the correct procedure to follow and then document it, have it proof read in 28 languages after translation.

Actually more than 28 languages given the nature of the purpose of the ports.

[p261brm]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

So taking stock, where are we now? I gather our elected are back and hard at work, but there is some concern (according to the Beeb this morn) for their mental health. Apparently the stress is getting to some.....

???? I am only assuming Mike you are referring to the Honorable Members of that bastion of so called democracy, The House of Comedians, work?