Incidentally, is anyone planning to make the trip to Catalan and if so, what flights have you booked?

Yeah, we've done the lot over the years but, with it being so early in the year, options are massively limited.

That's exactly how I feel.

It’s not that Bojo isn’t a clown I get that but I’m not sure how the French and Macron in particular don’t look stupid.

We seem to have little or no problems with the rest of Europe post Brexit, the EU itself is a different issue. The French however have been petty on every level and have actually helped Boris which I’m sure was not the intention.

I travel a fair bit and I’m amazed how popular the Brits are with almost everyone except the Brits themselves (excluding the French). Especially in America and parts of Europe where Brexit is seen as an heroic act by many who wish there own nations would.

Of course it depends on your point of view and the people you hang out with and I suspect we are very different on that.

However as I’ve mentioned many times I grew up in Bathurst NSW and visit occasionally our relatives and friends. They hate the way Australia is now and detest the current government as anti democratic. They seem to be in the majority especially after the governments handling of Covid.

As I say it’s often based on your social group but it tickles me that so many Aussies hate their government for being almost the exact opposite of Boris, whilst so many Brits put forward Australia as a shining example.

FWIW Australia now depresses me in a way I never thought it would. It’s lost all its character and every time I go it seems to be morphing further into a Disney version of West coast America. It’s nothing like the tough independent minded place I once knew but is now the capital of woke. Fine if you’re woke but these days I find Blighty, warts and all, a far better place. Boris is not Britain, he’s just a really poor Tory PM.

Oh well

Your observations are relevant... many Australians brought up under the ‘white Australia’ banner are very disillusioned with the path the country has taken ... and it’s still probably the most racist country I’ve ever been in, but, I’ve only been here 13 years but have witnessed considerable change...

...the safeguards against political corruption for example are far more stringent... simply because political corruption was a cancer in state and federal government...

Government procurement for another example has many many checks and balances ... sadly the caliber of politician here is not good... naive at best ... incompetent at worst. I watch the political scene very closely both here and in the UK and until 2016 I held similar views on both countries... now... I wouldn’t return to the UK for a kings ransom.

I agree Johnson is not Britain... but I see his attitude pervading many aspects of British society.

Aus isn’t perfect (as is commonly claimed on Australian media) and certain sections of the society are despicable, avoidable and should be challenged, but it’s home and I love my life in the country.