My Brexit Diary~The first draft 2019
I have decided to keep a Brexit Diary. It is not intended to be a platform for Remain or Leave. I voted to remain in the EU when we had the referendum but I think I would still be writing this if I had voted to leave EU.
I have this strong sense that we are standing on the edge of something....I am not sure what. Is it change? If it is change is it for the better or for the worse?
The unknown can be exciting and frightening. I am not sure what I feel and this is one reason for me writing this. I have decided to publish this on my blog as maybe there are other people that feel like I do... that is they are not sure what to feel. They may have strong views for or against leaving EU but may be are unclear on how all this is going to pan out.
I wanted to write something to chart the occasion. I welcome people's comments providing they are not aggressive towards other people. Those comments will get deleted. I am writing this to record thoughts and feelings. It is not my intention to attack or offend....so here goes:
1st January: Yesterday we had friends round and I was surprised that we discussed Brexit during The New Year celebrations. I was also surprised that some of my friends who I thought voted remain actually voted leave. We had never discussed this until that point.
I spent parts of today thinking about the future wondering what will happen and how it will affect us all. I don't know why I am writing this. I think partly because I want to keep a record...a before and after if you like....part of me is trying to figure out how we can all unite around whatever decision is made. Our country has become so divided. Politicians cannot agree and families are divided over this issue. Some people are excited at the prospect of a No Deal Brexit while others are terrified.
2nd January:
I spent today at home. I had a Brexit free day as I avoided The News and enjoyed reading and writing my blogs.
3rd January: I was back to work today. I drove past the Bansky Brexit themed painting in Dover. It is hard to get away from what is happening. Will life be very different for my friends and family or will it be much the same after the March deadline?
4th January: As I drove to work I passed lorries with European plates. What will Dover be like once Brexit is put into practice? Will I be trying to drive past miles of lorries queuing to get into the Dover port?
5th January: I spent time walking the dogs and trying not to think about Brexit.
6th January:Chunks of M20 will be closed at the weekend. I will have to divert miles to get home. What will happen if things get as bad as they did a couple of years ago when Operation Stack caused Kent to grind to a halt as there were strikes in France ferry ports?
7th January: 89 lorries drove from Manston airport as a trial run for a 'No Deal Brexit' drill. This is to test how our roads would cope. I think the motorways near where I live will be very hard to negotiate when thousands of lorries try to pass!
part of me wants to ignore all this and focus on other things like my coaching job or meditation or anything really but I don't want to be an ostrich with my head in the sand.
8th January:I am not really sure why I am writing this diary. It doesn't really fit the theme of my other blogs which are centred around Personal Development or does it? I am writing this partly because I feel like we are at a turning point, a crossroads if you like. Things may change forever in a few months time or they may stay the same. Is a decision made by UK government now going to change things for the better or for the worse? If things are changing, who will be experiencing these changes? People of UK, Europe or beyond? Will it be better for some countries,worse for others and if so which countries? Will certain types of people do well out of all this while others suffer and if so who will win and who will lose?
I watched 'Brexit: The Uncivil War' last night. It was a Channel 4 drama which focused mainly on the Leave campaign and how it appealed to people who are fed up with the way things are. Many people feel they have lost control of their lives in multiple ways and when you offer the chance for someone to 'take back control' this offer is hard to resist. I found the programme interesting. Some of it got me thinking. Is politics changing? Are we being influenced by people who have access to our social media choices? Brexit has amazed me as people who have shown little interest in politics for years are feeling strongly they want change even if they are not sure what that change will look like and how it will really affect them.
After watching that programme I went to bed and this morning I read some of 'My Sisters Keeper' by Jodi Picoult. It is a moving and beautifully written book about a girl who has leukaemia. Her parents had a baby who was planned to be a genetic match for her so that she could donate blood and even organs to try and save their first daughter. The second daughter resists this and decides to sue her parents for the right to decide what happens to her body. The story really makes me think about the dilemmas people face every day, life and death decisions that may save some people but condemn others. I also skimmed the start of 'Sophie's World' by Jostein Gaarder. It is about a 14 year old girl who gets introduced to philosophy. A friend recommended it saying that it is the type of book I would like. I think they are right. The 20th anniversary edition that I am reading has an introduction by the author who wishes that the original book had more about environmental concerns in it. They say that people care passionately about their nearest and dearest. They try to pass on their genes but this concern for genes surviving is not currently extending to future generations. We are not looking after our planet properly for future generations and this is concerning.
This also links with the decision that is being taken in UK. Do we leave EU or not? Is the decision that will be made the right one for future generations? Are we thinking about the future or trying to focus on now?
I have just watched The News where the police were being interviewed about protests that occurred yesterday when a pro-Remain MP was called a Nazi. It is important that a balance is achieved between people having the right to protest and ensuring that people are not abused verbally or otherwise.
15th January: I have been thinking about the vote that the government is holding today. The press are suggesting it is a landmark, or turning point. If Theresa May loses the vote she has three more days to present an alternative to the existing proposal. It looks like the deal will be rejected according to the news reports I have been watching. Does this mean Theresa May will resign and if so, who will take her place? Will there be a General Election and if so, who will win?
Depending on who you listen to, Theresa May's deal is either the best we can hope for or an absolute disaster and who do I believe?
Who really knows what will happen next and how it will affect you, me and our loved ones?
Many people have simply stopped worrying about it and have started turning off The News.
My approach has been to ration the amount I watch and I make sure I do things that I find relaxing like walking dogs or listening to music as an antidote to the anxiety I feel at not knowing what is going to happen next....
I have had a lovely day. I went to the cinema with a friend and we both admitted we don't know what outcome to hope for with tonight's vote. What is a good outcome? I am watching BBC Live and it all feels rather surreal....Yes:202 No:432 The deal has been defeated by 230 votes and tomorrow there is a motion of no confidence in The Government. Things are definitely up in the air!
29/01/19
I have managed to focus less on Brexit for the last week or so but now The News has reminded me that this evening the government is voting on possible Brexit amendments. Maybe we will have a clear path forward soon? I am detecting a slight willingness to compromise on behalf of the government and in this situation I think that is the only way forward. Nobody actually knows what will happen next so I respect people most who admit this.
03/-2/19 I have made the conscious decision to try not to be too preoccupied by Brexit so I have been limiting News concerning it. I just saw a Guardian article claiming there are plans to evacuate The Royal Family if there is civil unrest in the event of a No Deal Brexit! Words fail me!
08/02/19
I chatted to my friends in the pub last night. We all feel that the majority of politicians have let us down with this process. I really hope things don't get too stressful as the deadline to leave EU approaches...
19/02/19 I have tried to avoid thinking about Brexit lately as the future possibilities scare me. There has been another vote in Parliament which as far as I can work out was pointless. They voted to send Theresa May to renegotiate a deal that the EU has said is not open for renegotiation. At that point I decided that there was little point in worrying about things I cannot alter.
Yesterday seven Labour MP's resigned from their party. One of the reasons they gave was their disappointment in the way the leadership has been handling Brexit. They are Independents now. I am unsure how this will work. Will they back Theresa's deal while Labour rejects it, for example?
The clock is ticking away. I feel like all I can do it try to stay up to date while not letting the uncertainty get to me too much.
12/03/19 I 'switched off' from Brexit for quite some time. I think most people have become saturated and cannot absorb any more. Tonight there is yet another vote. I have no idea what to think...I am trying to watch what is unfolding on The News but there are power-cuts here associated with Storm Gareth of all things! In the words of George Ezra...'Why, why,why, what a terrible time to be alive...if you're prone to overthinking....' I guess when it comes to Brexit, that is me!
01/04/19 Well, the 29th March came and went. It all feels a bit like it did with the Millenium Bug...we got worried and anticipated something significant happening but in the end it all turned out to be a non-event. We have been granted a short extension to Article 50.
Tonight they have had another collection of Indicative Votes. Could some compromises be starting to form?
There is talk of a General Election and some want A People's Vote. The other European countries watch on in amazement. Some people want No Deal Brexit wile others want to revoke the Article all together. Tomorrow they are having a 6 hour Cabinet meeting.
What is going to happen next?
I have this strong sense that we are standing on the edge of something....I am not sure what. Is it change? If it is change is it for the better or for the worse?
The unknown can be exciting and frightening. I am not sure what I feel and this is one reason for me writing this. I have decided to publish this on my blog as maybe there are other people that feel like I do... that is they are not sure what to feel. They may have strong views for or against leaving EU but may be are unclear on how all this is going to pan out.
I wanted to write something to chart the occasion. I welcome people's comments providing they are not aggressive towards other people. Those comments will get deleted. I am writing this to record thoughts and feelings. It is not my intention to attack or offend....so here goes:
1st January: Yesterday we had friends round and I was surprised that we discussed Brexit during The New Year celebrations. I was also surprised that some of my friends who I thought voted remain actually voted leave. We had never discussed this until that point.
I spent parts of today thinking about the future wondering what will happen and how it will affect us all. I don't know why I am writing this. I think partly because I want to keep a record...a before and after if you like....part of me is trying to figure out how we can all unite around whatever decision is made. Our country has become so divided. Politicians cannot agree and families are divided over this issue. Some people are excited at the prospect of a No Deal Brexit while others are terrified.
2nd January:
I spent today at home. I had a Brexit free day as I avoided The News and enjoyed reading and writing my blogs.
3rd January: I was back to work today. I drove past the Bansky Brexit themed painting in Dover. It is hard to get away from what is happening. Will life be very different for my friends and family or will it be much the same after the March deadline?
4th January: As I drove to work I passed lorries with European plates. What will Dover be like once Brexit is put into practice? Will I be trying to drive past miles of lorries queuing to get into the Dover port?
5th January: I spent time walking the dogs and trying not to think about Brexit.
6th January:Chunks of M20 will be closed at the weekend. I will have to divert miles to get home. What will happen if things get as bad as they did a couple of years ago when Operation Stack caused Kent to grind to a halt as there were strikes in France ferry ports?
7th January: 89 lorries drove from Manston airport as a trial run for a 'No Deal Brexit' drill. This is to test how our roads would cope. I think the motorways near where I live will be very hard to negotiate when thousands of lorries try to pass!
part of me wants to ignore all this and focus on other things like my coaching job or meditation or anything really but I don't want to be an ostrich with my head in the sand.
8th January:I am not really sure why I am writing this diary. It doesn't really fit the theme of my other blogs which are centred around Personal Development or does it? I am writing this partly because I feel like we are at a turning point, a crossroads if you like. Things may change forever in a few months time or they may stay the same. Is a decision made by UK government now going to change things for the better or for the worse? If things are changing, who will be experiencing these changes? People of UK, Europe or beyond? Will it be better for some countries,worse for others and if so which countries? Will certain types of people do well out of all this while others suffer and if so who will win and who will lose?
I watched 'Brexit: The Uncivil War' last night. It was a Channel 4 drama which focused mainly on the Leave campaign and how it appealed to people who are fed up with the way things are. Many people feel they have lost control of their lives in multiple ways and when you offer the chance for someone to 'take back control' this offer is hard to resist. I found the programme interesting. Some of it got me thinking. Is politics changing? Are we being influenced by people who have access to our social media choices? Brexit has amazed me as people who have shown little interest in politics for years are feeling strongly they want change even if they are not sure what that change will look like and how it will really affect them.
After watching that programme I went to bed and this morning I read some of 'My Sisters Keeper' by Jodi Picoult. It is a moving and beautifully written book about a girl who has leukaemia. Her parents had a baby who was planned to be a genetic match for her so that she could donate blood and even organs to try and save their first daughter. The second daughter resists this and decides to sue her parents for the right to decide what happens to her body. The story really makes me think about the dilemmas people face every day, life and death decisions that may save some people but condemn others. I also skimmed the start of 'Sophie's World' by Jostein Gaarder. It is about a 14 year old girl who gets introduced to philosophy. A friend recommended it saying that it is the type of book I would like. I think they are right. The 20th anniversary edition that I am reading has an introduction by the author who wishes that the original book had more about environmental concerns in it. They say that people care passionately about their nearest and dearest. They try to pass on their genes but this concern for genes surviving is not currently extending to future generations. We are not looking after our planet properly for future generations and this is concerning.
This also links with the decision that is being taken in UK. Do we leave EU or not? Is the decision that will be made the right one for future generations? Are we thinking about the future or trying to focus on now?
I have just watched The News where the police were being interviewed about protests that occurred yesterday when a pro-Remain MP was called a Nazi. It is important that a balance is achieved between people having the right to protest and ensuring that people are not abused verbally or otherwise.
15th January: I have been thinking about the vote that the government is holding today. The press are suggesting it is a landmark, or turning point. If Theresa May loses the vote she has three more days to present an alternative to the existing proposal. It looks like the deal will be rejected according to the news reports I have been watching. Does this mean Theresa May will resign and if so, who will take her place? Will there be a General Election and if so, who will win?
Depending on who you listen to, Theresa May's deal is either the best we can hope for or an absolute disaster and who do I believe?
Who really knows what will happen next and how it will affect you, me and our loved ones?
Many people have simply stopped worrying about it and have started turning off The News.
My approach has been to ration the amount I watch and I make sure I do things that I find relaxing like walking dogs or listening to music as an antidote to the anxiety I feel at not knowing what is going to happen next....
I have had a lovely day. I went to the cinema with a friend and we both admitted we don't know what outcome to hope for with tonight's vote. What is a good outcome? I am watching BBC Live and it all feels rather surreal....Yes:202 No:432 The deal has been defeated by 230 votes and tomorrow there is a motion of no confidence in The Government. Things are definitely up in the air!
29/01/19
I have managed to focus less on Brexit for the last week or so but now The News has reminded me that this evening the government is voting on possible Brexit amendments. Maybe we will have a clear path forward soon? I am detecting a slight willingness to compromise on behalf of the government and in this situation I think that is the only way forward. Nobody actually knows what will happen next so I respect people most who admit this.
03/-2/19 I have made the conscious decision to try not to be too preoccupied by Brexit so I have been limiting News concerning it. I just saw a Guardian article claiming there are plans to evacuate The Royal Family if there is civil unrest in the event of a No Deal Brexit! Words fail me!
08/02/19
I chatted to my friends in the pub last night. We all feel that the majority of politicians have let us down with this process. I really hope things don't get too stressful as the deadline to leave EU approaches...
19/02/19 I have tried to avoid thinking about Brexit lately as the future possibilities scare me. There has been another vote in Parliament which as far as I can work out was pointless. They voted to send Theresa May to renegotiate a deal that the EU has said is not open for renegotiation. At that point I decided that there was little point in worrying about things I cannot alter.
Yesterday seven Labour MP's resigned from their party. One of the reasons they gave was their disappointment in the way the leadership has been handling Brexit. They are Independents now. I am unsure how this will work. Will they back Theresa's deal while Labour rejects it, for example?
The clock is ticking away. I feel like all I can do it try to stay up to date while not letting the uncertainty get to me too much.
12/03/19 I 'switched off' from Brexit for quite some time. I think most people have become saturated and cannot absorb any more. Tonight there is yet another vote. I have no idea what to think...I am trying to watch what is unfolding on The News but there are power-cuts here associated with Storm Gareth of all things! In the words of George Ezra...'Why, why,why, what a terrible time to be alive...if you're prone to overthinking....' I guess when it comes to Brexit, that is me!
01/04/19 Well, the 29th March came and went. It all feels a bit like it did with the Millenium Bug...we got worried and anticipated something significant happening but in the end it all turned out to be a non-event. We have been granted a short extension to Article 50.
Tonight they have had another collection of Indicative Votes. Could some compromises be starting to form?
There is talk of a General Election and some want A People's Vote. The other European countries watch on in amazement. Some people want No Deal Brexit wile others want to revoke the Article all together. Tomorrow they are having a 6 hour Cabinet meeting.
What is going to happen next?
Comments
Post a Comment