25/12/2017
This is the 14th consecutive Christmas message I've written for EURef, a blog that Helen Szamuely and I started in 2004 as part of the ongoing campaign to end the UK membership of the European Union. Sadly, Helen has not lived to see the fruits of her work, having
passed away in April.
At least she saw the referendum victory and it is some small comfort that she has not had to see the appalling mess being made by our prime minister and her negotiating team, which seems to get worse with each passing day.
On a happier note, Booker at least got his model of
HMS Poppy and this blog has survived all the traumas and alarums of the year, producing a minimum of one post a day. I've also added a few items to the North collection of military vehicle scale models. The very latest project (unfinished) is a US WWII vintage "Dragon Wagon" â now suitably attired in Christmas finery (pictured).
I have to say that our tasks have been made so very much easier by the continued generosity of readers, including those who have so kindly committed to monthly payments, providing enough to meet the costs incurred by this blog and a small surplus that has helped Pete to continue and extend
his blogging and social media activities. Brexit blogging has, to that extent, become a family affair.
With the unflagging support of Mrs EUReferendum and distant family, the daily grind of producing 1,500 words or so on the general subject of Brexit has not presented an insurmountable hurdle.
Today, however, is the one day of the year when I am not glued to my computer screens. By tradition, the machines shut down at the stroke of midnight and do not turn on again until the following day (in theory) â apart from reading e-mails and comments.
Thus, before the enforced shut-down, I will take this opportunity to wish our readers and supporters a very merry Christmas, hoping that we can all enjoy a short break from the near-perpetual hostilities.
Your support, tolerance and good humour is much valued and, as daily readership occasionally touches 30,000, we represent a band of informed realists upon whom, one day, the nation may have to rely.
Things really are that bad.
