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Tom
London, England
An Englishman returned after twenty years abroad blogs about threats to liberty in Britain
Interests: liberty, travel, photography, writing
Recent Activity
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My friend is going to drive me to Luxembourg Station at 1215 to catch the 13:11 train to Brussels. I have a carry-on sized wheelie case from which I plan to hang my bigger grab bag full of (now mostly dirty) clothes. My heavy camera outfit (complete with tripod) is... Continue reading
Posted 6 hours ago at THE LAST DITCH
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All went well on the way to my meh hotel in Dijon yesterday. I had left the booking too late because I was hoping to stay longer in Bandol if a couple days delay allowed the dealer to fix Speranza. Once it was clear I’d need to go home and... Continue reading
Posted yesterday at THE LAST DITCH
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On Thursday evening, after learning a little about French justice from my friend’s account of his visit to the family court with his ex wife and their daughter, we set off for dinner in another little yacht/fishing port of which I had never heard. It was just as pretty as... Continue reading
Posted 2 days ago at THE LAST DITCH
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Monsieur D., with whom I lunched in Antibes last Sunday, lives in Bandol near Toulon. Yesterday I left the home in Cannes of my Polish friends and drove here to stay with him. It was the shortest drive of the trip and passed uneventfully. Having parked Nira at our home... Continue reading
Posted 4 days ago at THE LAST DITCH
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I had a quiet day yesterday after the various social and engineering excitements of the trip. I did some washing, some reading and watched some TV. My local friends in Mougins had told me I reminded them of Raymond Reddington; the anti-hero of the Netflix FBI procedural The Blacklist. So... Continue reading
Posted 6 days ago at THE LAST DITCH
That sounds like a plan DK. Where's a good place to meet for pints these days?
Toggle Commented 6 days ago on Another misadventure at THE LAST DITCH
1 reply
In fairness I don't have the option as the lift is now out of order. It will be a while before I feel comfortable in *any* lift, to be honest.
Toggle Commented 7 days ago on Another misadventure at THE LAST DITCH
1 reply
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Yesterday was - for the most part - an excellent day. I had arranged with an old friend from Moscow days (let's call him Monsieur D.), now resident once more in his native France, to meet him for lunch at my favourite restaurant in the whole world. I was very... Continue reading
Posted May 28, 2023 at THE LAST DITCH
My first outing from my new base was to visit my friends in Mougins – let's call them Mr & Mrs L. I respect their privacy so no photos today. I met them 18 years ago through their son. A mutual friend sent him to me in Moscow. He was... Continue reading
Posted May 27, 2023 at THE LAST DITCH
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One of my favourite places in the world is the little village of Mougins, up in the hills above Cannes. It was the home of Picasso in his later years and is just ridiculously cute. If you have a mental image of the perfect French village, this is it (although... Continue reading
Posted May 26, 2023 at THE LAST DITCH
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I breakfasted handsomely at my castle hotel in Italy, looking out at the splendid landscaped gardens, which must alone cost many thousands to maintain. I was alone for dinner in the restaurant last night and there was only one couple in the breakfast room this morning. I am a little... Continue reading
Posted May 25, 2023 at THE LAST DITCH
She’s a cranky old lady these days, with 96k on the clock, but I’ve had immense pleasure from her and she’s still the most reliable user of she/her pronouns in my immediate circle.
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I had a great breakfast in Lucerne and set off in good spirits. The only nagging concern in my mind was that the blood/alcohol limit for driving in Switzerland is low and I'd had a skinful of wine and martinis the night before. Best not to get breathalysed eh? Yoko... Continue reading
Posted May 24, 2023 at THE LAST DITCH
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Gentles all, this was my plan. In my first serious road trip for a long time, I aimed to visit seven good friends (five of whom I haven't seen since before COVID) and to begin to enjoy life again after a miserable period of which I have already said more... Continue reading
Posted May 23, 2023 at THE LAST DITCH
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My political despair is too profound to blog on my once-usual subjects. The “deep state”in the UK has grown enormously under the “Conservatives” so they don’t now even serve as a brake on Britain’s crazed (and yet seemingly popular) lurch towards totalitarianism. I carefully don’t say communism or socialism, because... Continue reading
Posted May 21, 2023 at THE LAST DITCH
I am sorry to read that, Mark. The last thing I wanted was a confirmation of a personal impression. I would have been happier to be contradicted. It has to be worth a last try (couples therapy maybe?) to try to change Mrs C’s mind. So much time together should not lightly be cast away. In the end though, if her mind is made up, you don’t want to be with someone who doesn’t want to be with you. Either way, good luck and I hope Peterson’s ideas help.
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3 HOURS THAT WILL FIX YOUR CHARACTER & SOUL - Jordan Peterson Motivation - YouTube Firstly, let me wish you a happy new year. I hope 2023 proves to be a good one for you all. A friend sent me this video a while ago. He didn't say why. He... Continue reading
Posted Jan 1, 2023 at THE LAST DITCH
The key battle of ideas is (and in modern times has always been) between collectivism and individualism. Gentle reader, you know which side I favour. We have a problem though. Humans are pack animals, hard-wired to approve of those who sacrifice for the greater good of family, friends or nation.... Continue reading
Posted Dec 27, 2022 at THE LAST DITCH
Our state tormentors are taking a break, which makes the holidays even more special for decent folk. However you celebrate - please enjoy. Life is for living, as best as we each can, Whatever our problems and regrets, there is joy to be found in the company of family and... Continue reading
Posted Dec 24, 2022 at THE LAST DITCH
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I was picked for a jury in the end. Our verdict was delivered last Thursday. I can now discuss the case and the proceedings in court but it remains illegal to discuss our deliberations. I will say nothing here about what went on in the jury room. All opinions are... Continue reading
Posted Nov 5, 2022 at THE LAST DITCH
As a libertarian, I’d be happy to abolish immigration controls as soon as we have dismantled the welfare state. The only immigrants then would have job offers and/or a viable business plan. Any asylum seekers would be genuine. We would have a list of persona non grata to avoid international... Continue reading
Posted Nov 2, 2022 at THE LAST DITCH
I know exactly what you mean. The standard greeting is a condescending insult that asserts the moral superiority of the Deep State minions. It infuriates me every time I see it, partly because it will cheerfully be ignored by anyone to whom it might apply. In fairness, I did not notice it at court.
Toggle Commented Oct 26, 2022 on Of juries and justice at THE LAST DITCH
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If, gentle reader, you had hopes of more posts this week I must disappoint you. With great haste, to spare the taxpayer the cost of today’s lunch and half the minimal loss of earnings allowance for today, the clerks just discharged everyone not currently serving on a jury. Those of... Continue reading
Posted Oct 25, 2022 at THE LAST DITCH
This week and next I am on jury service. The jury is the last of Britain’s institutions in which I have any faith. I learned about “criminal equity” (known in the US as "jury nullification") during the legal history part of my long-ago law degree. For example, the hated “game... Continue reading
Posted Oct 24, 2022 at THE LAST DITCH
Thank you. I only wish I could see the point of posting more often. I post to advocate for a better, freer, Britain. I have to believe there’s *some* prospect of that to summon up the will to do it.
Toggle Commented Oct 24, 2022 on Nurse Ratchet at THE LAST DITCH
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