Brexit Phase 2 Go-Ahead Conditions. Guaranteed to Upset Brexiteers?

Donald Tusk broke the good news for Theresa May, that the EU 27 had agreed that Brexit talks could progress onto the next stage.

Looking at the EU's guidelines for phase 2 of the negotiations (http://www.consilium.europa.eu//media/32236/15-euco-art50-guidelines-en.pdf), The EU's position is that talks will be on agreeing the requested for two year negotiating period after the 2019 deadline, to be sorted by March next year. Trade negotiations would then begin.

All sides agree that negotiations may be more difficult in this second phase, but fracture lines are soon to appear in the UK. Whilst the UK effectively becomes a third country in March 2019, with no say in EU decisions, the UK will still be adhering to the common market and customs union for the two transitional years, with all the associated requirements regarding movement of people etc..

Tonight's Newsnight interview, where Kirsty Wark sounded out both arch-Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg and pro-European Kenneth Clarke, exposed very real differences in the understanding of what was going to happen during the transition period. I suspect the Brexiteers are going to be very unhappy.

St Ives brings out a whole ecosystem of snowmen that cheerfully peek out from inside shops or stand outside, close to the shop fronts and I photographed one on the way to the Taproom. Good discussion at the A14 networking today with Nolan Collins. Having lived and worked in the UK, France and the US, he had a varied working life from his early beginnings in restaurants to current success in social media training, amongst other things. We share a love of public speaking and helping others solve problems where our skill sets fit.

Moved on to the Norris where I spent a couple of hours volunteering - formatting display information prepared by other expert volunteers.Visited a local author, working through the convoluted processes of getting an Amazon Seller account. The newest requirements include more personal details and two step verification process - and a lack of carity for the applicant whether going through the individual seller process or for the business process with a monthly fee.

Finished off the day checking one of the local clothiers for a suit and found one that is possibly worth pursuing.