Every experienced boomerang thrower knows: every now and then it’s good to look back. Compared to my previous years in the UK, 2023 was actually quite tedious. No Brexit, no Covid, no disgraced Royals, no politicians emerging from aisle 7 in Sainsbury (fruit & vegetables), …
Although we were surprised by the most memorable comeback of the year of disgraced former British PM David Cameron. If you remember the complete and utter botched up 2016 Brexit referendum: promises of £350 million a week for NHS, frictionless trade and new deals around the world, taking back control on immigration, … ring a bell, anyone … no? Well, that was “dodgy dave” Cameron.
And then there were the strikes in the UK. Too many to mention, I’ll spare you the details, I suppose every one of us has very fond memories of trains not showing up, tube stations closed, planes grounded, endless queues at immigration, kids at home when they were supposed to be safely tucked away in school, …
But it’s not all doom and gloom, just in the final days of ‘23 I read the joyful news that pint-sized bottles of wine are to be sold in the UK again after a Brexit review. The British will finally have access to that pint-sized bottle of Prosecco…
Oh, and this being the UK, the Royal family did make the headlines in 2023. Were you also completely fed up with hearing about Harry Wales and Meghan Markle ? In January, Harry published « Spare », his memoir on his rearing with the Royal Family, with several note-worthy revelations: the Nazi costume apparently not being his fault and the brothers getting into fisticuffs – resulting in Harry landing in the royal corgi’s dog bowl.
And then came May when Prince Charles became King Charles III. Meghan Markle immediately rushed in front of a camera and lamented that she’s not king because she’s black and that’s why people don’t like her.
King Charles was 75 when he was crowned king. Paul McCartney is 81 and the Beatles released a new song in 2023. Well sort of, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are the only two members of The Beatles who are still alive today. And what the Beatles can, the Stones (Sir Mick The Lips is 80) can do better: they released a complete new album. Elton John (76) continues his 5 year Farewell Tour. The old British duffers are doing well, no early retirement for them.
Talk about retirement, I cannot write about the UK without at least mentioning the French once, nothing seems to unite the British like their traditional hatred of the French. Here we go: the French raised the retirement age from 31 to 32 years. There were widespread riots and strikes.
Today is reality, yesterday is history…and the UK is almost history for Sonja & me, as is my pastime for the past 30-something years in the Belgian foreign service. In 2024, at the end of June, I will be put out to pasture. I have made my mark, paid my dues, now I’m outta there and good luck without me!
Wishing you and your families all the best for 2024 😊
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