Surprise! [43]
Apparently, I can vote in unexpected ways...
Dear fellow animals,
How are you? The last fortnight has been very busy (as you will see!), so no newsletter last week but there is one this week… I mean, you’re reading it. So, in a sense, that was unnecessary to say. But I did. And I can’t take it back now.
I want to say a big thank you to everyone who has emailed to give feedback on the previous few newsletters. I’ve been trying some things and, as a result, I’m going to do some things that, thanks to your comments and a bit of confidence that comes with getting to edition 43, might feel a bit different. Keep the comments coming, either in the comments or just by replying to the email!
Anyway, I’m currently sitting in our kitchen and, out of the window to my right, I can see blue sky and out of the window in front of me (that is actually in the front room - which, in common with many front room, is at the back of the house - weird expression), it is raining!
But wait! I have said too much already!
In this exciting edition:
The Co-pilot lands
That General Election
Sensible butter
…and much, much more!
So, grab a hot beverage, feet up on the sofa (feet off the chair if you’re on a train or bus) and let’s do this thing!
Take care everyone!
James x
That General Election
Regular readers may recall that, a few editions ago, I said that I would not be voting in the UK General Election. Various things have changed my mind about this and, as a result, I have both registered and arranged my proxy.
I’m not going to go on a full rant about everything that the current bunch of charlatans and spivs have done to upset me because, to be honest, it wouldn’t be fair to add that much load on to the infrastructure of the internet. However, and I say this as someone who once worked for the Tory Party (when it was moderate - yes, I’m that old), the Tory Party needs not just to be defeated but utterly finished off.
For clarity, I am not saying that there does not need to be a party on the right, I’m saying that there needs to be a moderate party on the centre right and that the Tory Party is so tainted at an institutional level that it needs to end.
The latest, massive Yougov MRP research is showing that the Tories will be down to 155 seats. You can see the details and a link to the data here.
My constituency has the misfortune of having the awful Anne Marie Morris as MP. She is still predicted to win. However, the data shows that the gap between her and the next candidate is just 6 percentage points. With a little bit of tactical voting, a bit more bleed to Reform and a section of moderate Tories not turning out, I feel that 6% is not insurmountable.
In addition, there are 2.2 million overseas voters and, quite a few of us have been betrayed by the current Tory government who, it seems, are trying to woo us.
I will be voting Labour (or, at least, my proxy will!) simply because they are most likely to remove the Tory in my constituency. It you want to check the data to see who is most likely to dethrone your local Tory MP, click here - just so you know, this is the direct link to the Excel data set
Registering to vote is simple - you need a UK passport (active or expired) and your National Insurance Number. Click here and you can be registered to vote very, very quickly.
If you have already registered but know someone that has not, forward this email to them by clicking on the button below.
Every vote counts and, since the removal of the 15 year rule, ANY British citizens overseas can vote, no matter how long you’ve been abroad.
A few years ago, the Tories removed a swathe of your rights. It’s time to return the favour.
Sensible Butter
I probably eat too much butter. There you go, I’ve said it.
I mean, it doesn’t change anything but at least I can own it, eh?
I was throwing a wrapper into the recycling the other day...
…and I noticed this…
Well, apologies for the lack of sharpness to the pic but, for those who don’t speak French, it says ‘Out of date? Before throwing it away, look at it, smell it, taste it’. Such obvious advice but a great reminder, and permission (because some people need that now), to use common sense before chucking food in the bin. It continues “If it is out of date, you can still eat this butter without risk, but it might have lost a bit of its taste”.
This needs to be put on more foodstuff.
Incredibly, in the EU, on average, households throw away 1 kg of food per person every five days.
Surprise!
As a British citizen abroad, I cannot vote in all elections. However, Teignbridge Council have helpfully told me which elections I can vote in…
Personally, I can’t wait to vote in that South West Region European Constituency…
The Co-pilot has landed!
A couple of days ago, in the middle of a storm, just after another flight had been cancelled because it was unable to land due to the high winds, Marko got on a plane to start his journey to Norway! Braver than me!
To get to his final destination, on the west coast of Norway, took three flights - one to Paris (landed on the third attempt), then to Oslo, then to a local airport a couple of hours north of Oslo and then on to a ferry!
As promised, he is sending photos and news!
Interestingly, phones are not allowed at school, so we've had no photos of the school.
Early each morning he gets a bus to school with some of the most stunning views of any school bus journey in the world…
They have quite an intense morning but school is finished by around 2.30pm - more on that in a future newsletter!
Trips to the local ‘big town’ require a ferry journey.
One little thing that I did learn is that Marko hasn’t tried all the sweets that I had as a kid! So, when he sent this…
…my reaction was ‘Ooh! Drumsticks! But you’ve had Drumsticks!’ - it’s easy to forget, sometimes, that we grew up in different countries!
Also, I asked the Co-Pilot to bring me back a packet of Kvikk Lunsj. For those that don’t know (and I don’t know because I’ve yet to try one), it is like a KitKat but better. The main problem, as I see it, is that I know for a fact that he has already opened those and he liked them - so he’d better not forget to replace them for me!
Once again, a massive thank you to everyone who contributed towards his tablet for the trip. It is already proving very useful for him as he tackles his Erasmus study trip. His Gofundme is still live and any donations will be used by him for coffee (as is the newsletter tradition!) on his trip.
More from Norway next time!
April 2nd
Never mind April 1st, this is relevant for the rest of the year!
Self-Scan Chaos
Everyone has a weird, inconsequential thing that brings them unnecessary joy - and mine is seeing the handheld self-scan devices in my local Leclerc when they have gone wrong!
Few things make me happier than seeing the range of ways these handsets can go wrong. I also have a photo of one which went to a command line screen - but I can’t find it, sadly!
I would love to have had a play with them, especially the one with the app screen, but you can only unlock them from their holder when they are available and, what’s more frustrating, the customer service desk is directly opposite!
I know that we have some fellow geeks among us, so has anyone managed to have a play with one of these? If so, what can they do beyond their primary purpose and what are those apps about? We need to know!
The warning has appeared that I am nearing the email length limit and, alas, I must finish!
Hope you’ve enjoyed it! Share it if you did! Send me comments! Have a fab week!
Take care,
James x
PS Anatidaephobia is the fear that, somewhere, a duck is watching you.
Always a pleasure to read.