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        A selection of articles that illustrate the pre-occupation of governments with monitoring and controlling their citizens. This post re-instated 03/2017 after being, somewhat mysteriously, deleted from the blog – yet again. Apparently there are some who do not believe in the freedom of the press. 2018 […]

Brussels, 03/05/2018. I went to a press conference yesterday. In the Brussels Press Club, it promised to be interesting. Apparently the nuclear-limitation agreement between Iran and the rest of the world is due to expire in nine days time. Tick-Tock, the conference was called. Should the agreement be extended? ‘Salvaged’ […]

Brussels, 18/04/2018. The European Commission is expected to propose a new EU-wide whistleblower-protection law within the week. The proposed regulation is an attempt to protect citizens from the often devastating personal consequences they face for simply reporting fraud or corruption, while at the same time erecting safeguards against “malicious or […]

Brussels, 31/01/2018. ACEM’s ‘Sustainable motorcycling in Europe’ conference last week in Brussels was a fascinating blend between the usual Brussels EU conference (suits, eurocrats, industry execs, etc.) and what has traditionally been seen as a niche pursuit (riding motorcycles). ACEM’s aim (representing as it does the motorcycle manufacturers) is of […]

      Why Brexit is the right future for the EU, as well as for Britain (in my humble opinion). Brussels, 17/12/2017. It would be unnatural not to have doubts about the wisdom of Brexit. The news reports play a daily tune on the latest setback or political difficulty, […]

    Why is it that my country is so poor? I ask myself this question after listening to the latest set of economic and social problems emerging on today’s BBC Radio 4. Of course doom and gloom in the news is everyday ordinary (it is the journalist’s bread and […]

  – being a compilation of instant, sometimes off-the-cuff reactions to day-to-day reportings ……     European Commission preparing EU legislation to protect whistleblowers 05/03/2018. Vera Jourová, EU Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equity, speaking to the LIBE Committee in the European Parliament, 05 March 2018. She said, speaking […]

27/09/2017. The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride, or DGR for short, in Brussels this year saw nearly 300 bewhiskered and besuited supposed gentlemen (plus the odd lady) assemble at the Atomium on Sunday prior to a ride into and around the city. The weather for the day was unseasonably sunny and warm, […]

Five days in the wild with Woodland Ways 11 September 2017. Just back from a five-day course in the wilds of Leicestershire run by Woodland Ways. They call it an Intermediate course. With my bones still aching, I’d call it pretty advanced. And although I enjoyed the course, I’m still […]

    Monday 19th June 2017. Today I received the latest air-quality bulletin from the Belgian Interregional Environment Agency, which supplies air-quality warnings that focus particularly on nitrogen dioxide, particulates and ozone. The warnings for the coming days go from poor, to very poor, to just plain ‘bad’. What is […]

Brexit-Shorts – being a compilation of instant, sometimes off-the-cuff reactions to the day-to-day Brexit saga …… EU vision over Brexit? Not … 04/12/2017. Clearly the various EU establishments are determined to make life as difficult as possible for the UK during the Brexit negotiations. The image of Donald Tusk, that […]