Currywurst in Berlin... lobster in Paris

When Theresa May met Angela Merkel in Berlin on Wednesday, Bio-Currywurst was probably not on the menu (or at least one would hope so). 
In a pre-dinner press conference, the German Chancellor agreed with the British Prime Minister that more time is needed before Article 50 of the Lisbon treaty can be triggered. She also did not dismiss the possibility of a deal that combines free trade with controls on immigration. However, Angela Merkel also added that there will be no negotiations until Article 50 has been invoked.


Before setting off on her EU travels, Theresa May announced through a spokesperson that the UK is giving up its planned presidency of the European Council (due to start in July 2017) to focus on Brexit negotiations. The decision was reached in a phone call between Theresa May and Donald Tusk, the President of the EU Council.

 

When Theresa May met François Hollande the following evening in Paris, the French President was not quite so accommodating. Although he did recognise that the UK needs more time before it can trigger Article 50, he was very clear about France's position on free trade. If the UK wants access to the single market it cannot put immigration controls on EU citizens, i.e. free trade cannot be granted without free movement of people.
In case you are wondering what was on the menu in Paris: lobster salad as a starter, veal with spinach as a main course, vanilla mousse with strawberries and cheese for dessert. Bon appétit!

Back to Brexit

One week ago...

David Cameron was still the UK Prime Minister.
Theresa May was still the Home Secretary and one of two contestants in the Conservative leadership race.
Boris Johnson had disappeared into oblivion.

Five days ago...

David Cameron shared a few jokes with his colleagues at his last Prime Minister's Questions before moving out of Downing Street with his family.
Theresa May paid a visit to the Queen and became the new Prime Minister.
Boris Johnson popped into number 10 and was made Foreign Secretary.  

The reaction to the news of Boris Johnson's appointment was shock, disbelief, bemusement, amusement and apprehension. The sign on the railings outside Boris' home in London "SORRY WORLD" summarises all of these feelings.
On his first day as Foreign Secretary, Boris was challenged with the difficult task of locating his car, while trying to avoid questions from journalists.

While the world focussed on the alarming news of the promotion of the former Mayor of London to the third-most powerful position in UK politics after Prime Minister and Chancellor, Theresa May made other controversial decisions.

David Davis was made Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union.

Liam Fox (who resigned in 2011 from David Cameron's government after he "mistakenly allowed the distinction between my personal interest and my government activities to become blurred") was made Secretary of State for International Trade.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change was abolished. 

What about Brexit?

Although Theresa May was officially on the Remain side, she insists that "Brexit means Brexit" and that there will be no second referendum on the EU. She has also said she will not trigger Article 50 until the UK's negotiating position has been defined.

Meanwhile, David Davis, the minister in charge of Brexit, has recently said that the UK can formally trigger its departure from the EU by 2017.

What about Scotland?
Scotland wants to remain in the EU.
Nicola Sturgeon, leader of the Scottish National Party, says a second referendum on Scottish independence from the UK is being considered.
Theresa May is against this idea.

The mess continues...

There is a petition to have the pudding Eton Mess renamed as Brexit!

Eton Mess is a traditional British dessert made with strawberries, pieces of meringue and cream. 

Eton is an exclusive school for boys in England. It's called a public school, but it's actually private and very expensive. Both David Cameron and Boris Johnson were educated at Eton. 
 

A very German problem

Today I am going to take a break from Brexit to address a really serious problem faced by anyone who lives in Germany: Why are so many Germans unfriendly and what can be done to improve their (and our) lives?

I really hate stereotypes and generalisations about nationalities, but after over 10 years (with a two-year gap in London in between) of living in Germany (Mainz, Weinheim, Saarbrücken, Berlin), I am still confronted with this problem on an almost daily basis.

Example 1) I've landed at Tegel or Schönefeld airport. I've barely got off the plane when I hear some angry person shouting in German about something trivial, such as, other travellers blocking the way or causing some other minor disruption. You've just got back from holiday for goodness' sake, you should be R E L A X E D!

Example 2) I've just got onto a shaky tram with Leo and we manage to find seats opposite an elderly couple. While the tram starts moving, I help Leo to his seat and his little foot inadvertently brushes against the knee of the old man sitting opposite. Most people would simile, but this man pulls a disgusted face and makes some unintelligible remark. The only possible reaction other than yelling at him: "Cheer up, you miserable old man" is to get up and change seats.

Example 3) There are roadworks and the cycle lane is blocked. The road is narrow and dangerous, while the pavement is wide, spacious and almost empty. So I cycle slowly on the pavement keeping out of the way of pedestrians, but a woman waiting at the tram stop shouts at me because I'm not on the cycle lane (which is inaccessible, by the way). Woman, R E L A X!

Example 4) I'm crossing a pedestrian bridge and I am pushing my bike with little Leo sitting behind in the trailer. At the beginning of the bridge, there is a sign telling cyclists to dismount. There are parents with pushchairs walking towards me and the narrow bridge is rather crowded. What does the guy on the racing bike behind me do? He shouts because I'm too slow! Er hello, do you realise we are on a pedestrian bridge and this is not the Tour de France?

Example 5) At the airport again, this time at the gate waiting to board our Brian Air flight. The Brian Air employee is rushing around checking everyone's bags and putting stickers on the larger ones. Suddenly the over-stressed and frustrated employee starts shouting and threatening a young petite lady in the queue, just because she has kindly asked him to talk to her politely. The non-German passengers are aghast and some of us go up to the lady to offer our sympathy.

These are just five examples, but I could go and and on and on...

So what can be done? 

We could start wearing t-shirts with slogans and carrying signs, such as, "Smile, relax and enjoy life", or "Life is too short to be miserable".

We could send all unfriendly Germans away for a year to Jamaica or somewhere similar to learn to relax and be friendly.

We could make relaxation and "How to be polite to people around you" courses compulsory.

Any other suggestions?

Of course, I'm not suggesting that everyone in Germany is like this. There are lots of friendly and smiley people in Germany. Unfortunately though, there are too many unfriendly ones and something clearly has to be done.