HOLD FIRM!! - Page 17

must have sometime, lets not forget Los Amigos with Dave&Sheila,and old Pedro(god bless) at Waikiki

Cd Dave slept in his car for years around Ataylones apartments. I have a Guinness or two with Dave on a Sunday morning at the Sarten in the pueblo . Sheila’s Mom ,Diamond Lil bless her . Always had the craic with them as her birthday st Patricks day , meet in the Rusty . Such good times . Jimmy the Cave top top man . Just a special friendly place .

My apologies if I caused upset, I meant CD Alan, I made a mistake,good to hear Dave is still about as it was last year when I saw him last

Bless him ,it can only be one of three teeth 😂

During this momentous speech in Zurich 1946, Winston Churchill proclaimed:

‘We cannot aim at anything less than the Union of Europe as a whole, and we look forward with confidence to the day when that Union will be achieved."
More content here:- http://eu-rope.ideasoneurope.eu/2013/11/10/winston-churchill-a-founder-of-the-european-union/#:~:text=In%20his%20famous%20Zurich%20speech,of%20United%20States%20of%20Europe..&text=If%20at%20first%20all%20the,'

The Erasmus scheme that allowed and supported students in one EU country to study in another became a casualty of Brexit for those attending universities in England, Scotland and Wales.. 

Many people looking in may or may not be aware of this. 

The government of the Rep of Ireland has decided to fund all students attending universities in Northern Ireland as if the Erasmus scheme still operates. I reckon this will attract many students to NI from the UK mainland. 

The situation differs greatly from the stupid cartoon at the start of this thread.

Bravo Ireland, well done.  I believe you are right when you say you won’t see reunification in your lifetime, but I wish you were wrong.

Ireland is showing itself to be a mature and empathetic country, ready to help.  The differences that separate North and South are far more complex than just religion, but I really wish they could find a way past.  For too long has one country been rent asunder.  The Irish have shown they are capable of empathy and kindness.  My New Years wish would be that now they could start to find a way forward together.

As for the theme of this thread “Hold Firm”; he didn’t did he? It’s a bad deal for the UK, and favours the EU according to JP Morgan.  He was holding out for 80% of the fish over 3 years and sold out for 25% over 5.5 years.  It was all smoke and mirrors anyway to make people look the other way while he sold them out.

I don't think we'll see a United Ireland (certainly not in the lifetime of anybody contributing to this forum). If we could attain a United States of Europe (disliked by some pro Brexit people) there would never be a need for unification in the island of Ireland. Neither would there be friction between Scotland and the rest of the UK. Even Gibraltar would have ceased to be an issue. But, while we have a border between NI and RoI it is invisible and will continue to be invisible. For that I must commend Mr Johnson although I believe the issue should never have been on the table. Also, I must commend the unionist population of NI who have applied in large numbers for passports from RoI. It shows many unionists want to be associated with the Republic. [I'm just imagining Unionist politicians from NI standing in the EU queue at EU airports waving their RoI passports].

Ireland has embraced University education (NI and RoI) for years. I don't have figures to hand but I reckon there isn't a household in NI or RoI now without a university qualified person. So much for Irish jokes now! (and I enjoy the witty Irish jokes). How would you recognise an Irish person in a line-up? - He/She would be the one holding a university degree parchment.

The "hard pressed British Taxpayer" (according to my Panama Hat Neighbour in Spain) must continue to pay the high cost of security in Northern Ireland. Within the EU there was some co-operation between security forces based in NI, mainland UK and RoI. I hope this continues from later this week. 

The roll-out of the recent negotiations between EU and UK will show up some issues. As I write the Irish fishermen are complaining loudly. 

A United States of Europe has I think long been a dearly held dream of many in the project; but any chance of it was always firmly and completely vetoed by UK.

But UK no longer has a Veto - nor any right whatsoever to have any say in the direction the EU travels ... food for thought.

United States of Europe . Never in a month of sundays . Look how many different opinions on this forum never mind rest of Europe.