Two Reports that No Brexit Deal is a Good/Bad Thing

Jungle House at Oakington by the Guided Busway

The shockwaves of yesterdays killer van attack in Barcelona were compounded by a further attack on the coast. There was also a knife attack in Turku in Finland. In Spain, it is possible that this was all part of a larger group planning a more serious attack, but were prompted to alternative action when there was an explosion in the house they were thought to be plotting.

Two alternative reports on the impact and benefits of different Brexit scenarios were published today. The Institute of Economic Affairs went with the title "'No deal' with EU on trade post Brexit does not mean disaster for the UK" (https://iea.org.uk/publications/a-trade-policy-for-a-brexited-britain/). The Institute for Government went with the more serious "Frictionless trade? What Brexit means for cross-border trade in goods" (https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/sites/default/files/publications/5704%20IFG%20-%20Frictionless%20Trade%20Web.pdf).

I don't think they differ much in thinking that there would be negative consequences for business without tarif free trade with the EU. Brutally summarised, the difference between the two report is, that the IEA thinks that if no barrier free trade can be agreed with the EU, then leaving and trading on WTO terms is worth the pain for the benefit of cheaper imports from other sources.

President Trump has fired his Alt -right tending chief strategist Steve Bannon. He may still be very influential on the Trump administration.

With the prospect of a bright but windy day, I set out to cycle to Longstanton and catch the guided bus to St Ives from there. Google maps said it was a 9.3 km journey. My odometer measured 12 km. I felt that I'd earned the bacon sandwich when I reached the Taproom.

Volunteering at the Norris involved sitting in and helping with the children's activities. There were Roman board games, Ludo and Snakes and Ladders. The favourite for visitors was colouring-in flying models of butterflies, birds, pterosaurs and planes. A number of parents were actually back for a second week, in response to children's demands - and because it was such a child friendly environment and activity during the summer holiday.

The cycle ride back from Longstanton was delayed until one of the unexpected afternoon showers had just passed. It was a race back home to avoid being hit by the next major shower.