Category Archives: UK

Brexit and EU Elections

Posted on 2019-05-13 by

One could almost think that this Brexit isn’t going anywhere. Because three years after a referendum in which a narrow majority voted, ostensibly, against fellow Europeans being part of the political decision-making process (and for British people being excluded from … Continue reading →

Posted in Elections, Europe, Politics, UK | Tagged | 3 Comments

Splendid Isolation

Posted on 2019-05-03 by

This house in Newquay is a good symbol for how Britain sees itself in Europe. The house probably believes that it is self-sustainable, while relying heavily on commerce and cooperation with the mainland. In the Cornish Guardian, a letter was … Continue reading →

Posted in Photography, Politics, Travel, UK | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

What kind of Brexit do you want? No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No!

Posted on 2019-03-27 by

With only a few hours left before the Brexit deadline and with the United Kingdom still unclear about what it wants to do, British Members of Parliament were presented with eight options today, some of which they had already refused … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, UK | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Random Thoughts (24)

Posted on 2019-03-08 by

Good news: the days are getting longer. Unless you live in the Southern hemisphere, then you are doomed to darkness. And unless you live on the equator, in which case you are missing out on something fabulous. My sister asked … Continue reading →

Posted in Austria, Books, Brazil, Canada, Economics, Elections, Facebook, Feminism, Germany, Iran, Language, Politics, Religion, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Travel, UK, USA | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

East Germany and West Germany, seen from the outside

Posted on 2019-03-07 by

In the old days, before Erasmus, academic exchanges were still complicated: visa, health insurance, exchanging money. And then there was no internet, so you couldn’t start looking for accommodation before the move. The first week was usually spent at a hotel, … Continue reading →

Posted in Cold War, Education, Germany, History, Media, UK | Tagged , | 2 Comments

The next cat will be in Cornwall

Posted on 2019-03-06 by

This house sitting is turning into a booming business. Apparently, word on the cat internet has it that I am lovely and caring, for I am receiving one assignment after the other. As I am going to return from Canada … Continue reading →

Posted in Travel, UK | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

Brexit Poetry

Posted on 2019-01-30 by

Everybody knows the line “no man is an island”, but nobody knows that when John Donne wrote Devotions upon Emergent Occasions in 1624, he actually warned of Brexit. No man is an island, Entire of itself. Each is a piece … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Iran, Politics, UK | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Flight to the North Pole

Posted on 2018-12-24 by

Waiting at airports, I always like to read the departure and arrival listings, dreaming of going to Timbuktu or Kabul, or wondering where on Earth cities like Narita or Kandi might be. As I was passing the time before my … Continue reading →

Posted in London, Travel, UK | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Visiting the UK is as cheap as never before

Posted on 2018-11-27 by

Sometimes, particularly when I put on my lawyer hat, I am inclined to think that maybe, just maybe, that whole Brexit thing wasn’t properly thought through from the outset. But big words like “sovereignty” won over practical concerns, and thus … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Immigration Law, Law, Politics, Statistics, Travel, UK | Tagged , , , , | 29 Comments

Random Thoughts (23)

Posted on 2018-10-07 by

Sure, World War II had some bad sides to it. But at least it got the Oktoberfest suspended between 1939 and 1945. Many times as I entered Israel, I was questioned thoroughly about the origin of my last name by … Continue reading →

Posted in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Books, Economics, Germany, History, Israel, Maps, Romania, Terrorism, UK, World War II | Tagged , , , , , , | 12 Comments