Fab

I have written some political stuff at the end. I’d ignore it, if I were you.

We’ve made it as far as Dijon. We woke to a fabulous scene: freshly fallen snow and sunshine. But it was due to get much, much colder later and I didn’t fancy heading off down the hill at 5 am on Sunday morning with the outside temperature at minus 10. So we packed, popped down town for a cup of coffee, and then drove five hours to Dijon. We are staying in a ‘Fast Hotel’ (47 euros including breakfast); like Travelodge but not as swanky. Don’t say I don’t know how to show a girl a good time.

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We skied on Thursday – my boot popped out of my ski again and I ate some snow. On inspection it seems my 15 year old bindings have two screws missing on the front. That can’t be good. So we skied gently for the rest of the day. On Friday I took my skis into the shop where I bought my boots earlier in the week, hoping for some support. I was served by a young Frenchman with a hangover who couldn’t have been any more unhelpful. So I took them to a bespoke ski shop … on the off chance. It was run by a French Canadian couple who had moved to Chatel 35 years earlier. An hour’s work and 10 Euros lighter (plus a 10 Euro tip), everything had been bored out, reset and rescrewed. Fabulous.

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For the record, as C started the packing I ran up the hill … and we binge-watched the start of season two of The Walking Dead (there are eight seasons – yikes). Think Lost, but with zombies rather than the dark mist. In the end it’s all about the relationships. Is it any good? It’ll do.

And here we are. McDonalds for supper and now tucked up in a comfortable bed half way up France. We catch the Ferry at 4.30 tomorrow.

Now something a bit more meaty … ignore it if you like.

Two things need comment, I feel. First is the whole Big Ben bonging thing. Now, to be absolutely clear, I lost. Twice. First in the EU referendum, and second in the general election. OK, so there are some minor niggles, like the first-past-the-post system, the general feel that much of the message was malignant, maybe illegal, and maybe the Russians were used to subvert much of the message [and, of course, you’ve heard that Johnson is apparently redacting much more of the original Russian report which was ready for publication before the GE, so we won’t see the whole story]. But I lost. We all did. Fair enough.

However … I’m not convinced that under a banner of ‘bringing the country together’ we should be rubbing the losers’ noses in it by ringing out the national bell at the point we formally leave the EU. Leaving aside the fact that there are so many other worthwhile and needy projects that could use half a million quid – rather than delaying the updating of BB whilst you move floors, pay off the current contractors not to work whilst you get other workers in to change the plan … (sorry, I don’t know the complete story, but there’s half a million quid’s worth of work and, as I understand it, none of that is beneficial to the work currently being undertaken) – any sensible leader of the whole country would be suggesting a quiet transition. After all, there is a lot of work to be done to get the EU and US trade deals sorted, and I’m not sure I’d want to advertise what may turn out to be a calamity.

Of course, when the bell doesn’t ‘bong’ it’ll be my fault. In the same way that it will be my fault if we don’t secure an all-singing-all-dancing trade deal by Christmas, or if we have to tow the US line on many things we disagree with (ie, our thoughts on the Iranian issue; chlorinated chicken etc) in order to secure a deal with them. It will be my fault because I have dragged my heels on Brexit (actually it was the ERG who prevented May from securing the original deal, not me, but let’s not split hairs) and talked the country down. It’s not Brexit’s fault that UK’s manufacturing is in a bit of a nose dive, that many companies are leaving us and we’ve now have a border running down the Irish Sea: it’s mine.

Sorry.

The second thing is the Megan/Harry thing. To be honest I’m neither a Royalist nor a Republican. I think they are part of what we are, should probably be a leaner institution and should always look to modernise where they can. But that’s not my point. My issue is with the racist argument. Now, as I’m not a Royal follower I can’t tell you why Megan and Harry have decided to leave the Royal Family (rather than the Windsor family), although it goes some way to meeting my thoughts that the institution should be leaner. Clearly the UK press have been awful, as they always do when they see an opportunity to pull down something that is tottering – it’s what they do.

But racist? Well – and here’s my point – it is absolutely not for me to say.

I am a privileged white male. I am. I can’t and won’t argue with that. Nor will I argue that that is a racist statement. And that’s something I can dispute. Because, unlike remarks made to other colours and ethnicities, that remark is made against me. I can, therefore, comment. So, in this case, I will. I am white, male and privileged. In the same way a not so well off black man from, say, central Bristol might be considered an under-privileged black male. It is a statement of fact. So, I, personally, do not see it as a slur (others may, but I think probably not).

However, I am not in a minority in this country. I am not black. Nor am I brown. Nor am I a Muslim (or a Christian, for the record). It is a truism that, as a result, I cannot say what is or isn’t racist against those people. It’s like bullying. It’s always in the eye of the bullied. It is. And that is certainly enshrined in employment law. I may not think my statements are racist, or are designed to bully, but they may well be construed as such. As a result we do have to be careful the way we treat other people. It has always been the case. And always will be.

So, has the press been racist? I don’t know. Does Piers Morgan know? No, he can’t. Does Priti Patel? No. It is a spurious argument – until Megan tell us. And I suspect she won’t; it’s not what she’s about. Have the press made their lives uncomfortable? Yes. Certainly. Do they seem to favour Kate more than Megan? Seems so. Are they inclined to amplify their comment to make the matter worse? Yes, that’s what they do.

Racist?

I. Don’t. Know. It’s. Not. For. Me. To. Say.

Rant over. And, sorry for everything Brexit related. It’s all my fault.