The President's Big Surprise. Seratonin, Mammoth, Ergonomics and Staff Engagement

St Ives to Broadway

President Trump has agreed to Kim Jong-un's request for a meeting, possible date sometime in May. This came as a bit of surprise to the President's own pres team, which was getting ready to deal with the fall-out  of the tariff declaration and also the bubbling Stormy Daniels affair. This news effectively blew them off the front headline, at least for today, and the Russia investigation is quietly ticking out of sight. If the President achieves a breakthrough with North Korea that does not turn out to be another broken promise, that will be a real achievement.

In the UK brexit news also has taken a back seat as the main interest is in the deepening investigation in the poisoning of retired Russian/UK double agent Sergei Skripal, his daughter Yulia, and of Det Sgt Nick Bailey. No official finger pointing yet - waiting for more evidence. This has not prevented the press immediately blaming Russia.

The day started off in sunshine with a bacon sandwich and an interesting conversation at the taproom on careers after science teaching, prompted by a necklace in the shape of the molecule of seratonin, the happiness hormone. Walking down towards Broadway towards the Norris, stopped to smile and photograph a wicker pig by a dog bowl with dog biscuits. Apparently the owner is an animal loverr!

At the Norris, it was clearing up duty, where I got off lightly with the task of photographing canvasses made by children at various Norris events. Hidden among them was a memory from the Mammoth exhibition I'd set up. One of the assistant curators at the time had drawn the outline of a mammoth and coloured balls of craft wool had been placed nearby with a glue stick for children to be creative with. This turned into one woolly mammoth that would cope with the cold.

At HBN, it was time for member presentations, with David Cartwright and Debbie Stevens. David talked and demonstrated on the ergonomics of seating in the office and also on the actual requirements for employers to regularly review staff seating and any actions implemented. Debbie presented on the impact of presentation, dress, attitude and core values on an organisation's productivity.

Trumps Tariffs Test Friend's Mettle. Calais Port Issue Tenfold Worse than Irish Brexit Border. Fake News Beats Truth

"You wanna by my friend, don't you!" is effectively the message issued by President Trump's imposition of tariffs of 10% on aluminium and 25% on steel imports. So far Canada and Mexico have been excluded from the tariffs. Apparently, the President will also make concessions to true friends. Should be interesting. At least the decision is received positively in some areas of the US, a good move if you are planning for a second term in office.

The President had removed the US from the Pacific free trade negotiations. Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam signed up to the The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), covering a market of 500 million people and 13% of the global economy.

Meeting with the EU's Donald Tusk, the Irish Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar,  piled on the pressure on the UK negotiating team, emphasising that Ireland needed to know the fall-back position to establish a “common regulatory area” between the island of Ireland and the 26 other EU states would apply of no open border solution could be achieved.

The Border with Ireland? Calais would be 10 times worse, claimed the boss of the port of Calais, Jean-Marc Puissesseau, who stated that permanent 20 mile long tailbacks were likely on a border. He helpfully added “At the moment, 70% of food imported comes from the EU. Even if that goes down to 50% after Brexit because of controls, it still needs to flow smoothly; people still need to eat. If there are delays it could end up rotting on the side of the road.”

Spent a whole day with a good friend and author from microscopy tackling a revised issue of his book we originally prepared in 2009/2010. Even with archive files retained  since then, it was a painstaking formatting and proofing exercise. We are halfway through, another session in the future beckons.

There was still an hour before we were to set off this evening to our German 'Stammtisch' with friends, with nothing to take along. Used the time to make another batch of soft oaty biscuits, accidently with half the sugar, which still tasted fine - possibly due to the substitution of cocoa fat for half the amount of butter required. An enjoyable evening with a great apple sponge cake and an aside conversation on macro-photography of insects, including lepidoptera.

One of my favourite authors, Terry Pratchett would be smiling wryly about the shock revelation that fake news travels faster through the social media than real news. His excellent book on journalism and the search for truth, aptly named "The Truth" featured the saying 'A lie can run round the world before the truth has got its boots on.' Mind you, the original quote has been attributed to famous people from Mark Twain to Winston Churchill.

EU says Free Trade Agreement is best UK can hope for. On being Chief Judge at a Toastmasters International Club Competition

Apple skin

Donald Tusk introduced the EU guidelines for the future trade agreement with the UK after brexit - see actual text here  (https://g8fip1kplyr33r3krz5b97d1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/European-council-Art.50-23-March-2018-Draft-Guidelines-1.pdf)

Key phrases:
In this context, the European Council reiterates in particular that any agreement with the United Kingdom will have to be based on a balance of rights and obligations, and ensure a
level playing field. A non-member of the Union, that does not live up to the same obligations as a member, cannot have the same rights and enjoy the same benefits as a member.

The European Council recalls that the four freedoms of the Single Market are indivisible and that there can be no “cherry picking” through participation based on a sector-by-sector
approach, that would undermine the integrity and proper functioning of the Single Market.

Basically as Donald Tusk said today, the best offer for a relationship with a UK that wants to be outside the customs union is a Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

This is a contrast with the aspirations expressed by Theresa May for the UK. Chancellor Philip Hammond spoke at the HSBC  today on the finance sector and emphasised that it would only be in the interests of the UK and EU to maintain some closer links for the sector, something not even mentioned in the negotiating guidelines.

There was some positive news, according to a Reuter's report, 'The European Parliament will call for a broad-based “association agreement” with Britain after Brexit that goes beyond a narrow focus on trade, according to a draft resolution to be voted on next week.' The resolution suggested including an agreement covering four areas: trade and economics, foreign policy and security cooperation, internal security and thematic cooperation.

My mind was on other matters (in addition to work). I'd been volunteered to be Chief Judge for tonight's Huntingdonshire Speakers Club International Speech competition by the event's Chair. This club competition was the very first stage of the annual competitions that would aim to find the best global Toastmasters International Speaker. I'd been both a competitor and a standard judge at previous club competitions but this was a step change. A couple of hours printing out reams of required material and wading through competition rules meant a modicum of confidence when i turned up early at the venue. it was even more daunting for the Chair as she was taking on a the key role of running the whole event for the first time too.

There were actually two competitions, with three speakers volunteering for the International speakers competition and three others for the Evaluation Competition. We had to share the briefing of competitors, time keepers, the actual judges, tally counters and secret  Tie Break adjudicating judge. We got through the first competition with only minor glitches and were running smoothly for the following Evaluation competition. Our club's two winners were chosen and now go forward to the next level, the district competition - and we wish them the best of luck!

US-EU Tariff Slanging Match. UK-EU Posturing Prior to Next Negotiations. A New Cooker Arrives.

There is a bit of a slanging match going on re tariffs between the US and the EU, mexico, Canada and other Countries. 'Well if you are going to increase tariffs, so are we! Nyaa, nayaa!'

The posturing re the brexit negotiations between the UK and the EU has also been shaping up since Prime Minister May gave her speech on her vision of brexit and the relationship with the EU. "Lacking substance and double cherry picking" is the reply from across the Channel.

There was also news in the FT that secret aviation negotiations between the UK and the US stalled because the offer being made was less favourable to the UK than the current EU ones. The main issue of the day is however the possible poisoning of a former Russian spy and his visiting daughter in Salisbury, both in a critical condition in hospital.

Kim Jong-Un has unexpectedly announced that his country is willing to give up nuclear weapons if North Korea's security is guaranteed and military threats are removed. Is it manipulation or have President Trumps threats of massive retaliation made an impact?

Big event in our household was the arrival of our new cooker from AO. One slight problem yesterday, we're told that delivery today would be within a set 4 hour slot - which we would first find out via their app today - with deliveries starting at 7am. So early to bed and then waking at 5am to check for our slot - sometime between 4 and 8. Was this am or pm? The A14 and a late pickup came to our rescue in delaying an apparent possible 7:30 am delivery to beyond 8:30 am, allowing a shower and breakfast beforehand.

We had made the effort to move out the old cooker and remove the decade of hidden accumulated grime yesterday and the exchange of old for new happened quickly. What was unexpected was the necessity of having both ovens on full power for half an hour to remove whatever coating there was inside. The acrid perfume permeated the kitchen despite open window and exterior doors, and still lingers. No doubt it will take time to to clear. At least the scent did not penetrate into our sausage dinner and new loaf baked in the oven.

We suddenly have at least three books that have been consuming our time nearing completion, the pressure is due to ease at last.

Milton Local History Group meeting this evening with an update on village residents at the 1911 census. Quite a number of widows and forgotten street names. This was followed by a session where we split into groups extracting data from records of the fallen in WWI.

A Cheese-Cake Cup-Cake Experiment

Partial success with Cheese-cake cup-cakes

Apart from President Trump increasing the trade war stakes by suggesting that he will impose tariffs on imported european cars, and Jeremy Hunt explaining how wonderful Theresa May's speech was yesterday in uniting both conservative remainers and brexiteers, not much of interest politically.

Not really feeling up to much today, and with a pot of curd cheese (Quark) in the fridge, I thought I would have another go at making cheese cake, inspired by a 'cream-cake deficit' post by a friend on facebook.

I took my inspiration from a recipe for 'Muttis bester Käsekuchen' (Mummy's best cheese cake on the basis that it used ingredients I currently had in hand. That is, apart from the minor fact that it used 1kg of  Quark and 3 eggs, and I only had 250 g of Quark and two eggs.

Undaunted, I decided to go for:

• A quarter of the recipe amounts
• Make little cup cake sized cheese cakes instead of one large one
• Use whipped egg white to make the filling lighter!

For the base

Ingredients & Preparation:

• 25 g butter
• 25 g caster sugar
• 1/2 egg yolk
• 65 g plain flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon of milk

These were rubbed to until I had a coarsely crumbed dough.

The  crumbs were distributed over 9 paper muffin cases in a 12 cup cake hole tray and then stamped down to a base with a glass and evened out with a finger!

For the Filling

Ingredients & Preparation:

• 250 g Quark (soft curd cheese)
• 62 g sugar
• 1/2 egg yolk
• ***1 egg white beaten until stiff peaks formed
• 40 g sunflower oil
• 20 g Birds Custard Powder
• 125 ml milk

I mixed all the ingredients EXCEPT the stiff egg white together first to get a faint pink smooth mixture. Then I folded the stiff egg white into the mix. This was done carefully until the mixture looked smooth again.

Baking

The cheese-cake mixture was then spooned in equal quantities on top of the dough base.

The small cheese cakes were baked at 170 degC in a fan heated oven for ****45 minutes. They looked spectacular - like this!

Having had past experience with a collapsing cake, I left them to cool in the turned off oven. However, they still came out looking like this!

Chilled in the fridge, they still tasted delicious!

*** I think next time, I will simply add an egg directly to the cheese cake topping mix (as the original recipe specified, duh!). 

**** The original recipe specified baking one large single cheese cake for 90 minutes, I think that the cup cake sized cheese cakes could bake completely through in less that the 45 minutes that I gave them.

Theresa May's Balancing Act Speech. Steely Opposition to Trump Tariffs. Wintry Outing

The Prime Minister gave her speech on the planned relationship with the EU, presenting some more detail and aspirations. The emphasis of the speech was on economic factors. Key points were:

• Restating that we are leaving the EU and customs union.
• Rejection of Norway or Canada models of agreements with the EU.
• Acknowledgement of impact on Northern Ireland and Eire.
• Intention to make border as soft as possible.
• 'Life is going to be different(!)"
• Acceptance that EU law relating to EU matters will still impact on the UK.
• Wanting a say in key matters relating to Data security and transport.
• Ability of EU and UK citizens to work in each other's areas (though presumably with some restrictions)

I could go on but the full text is here: Prime Ministers Speech on Brexit and relationship with the EU today.

This was largely a speech to a domestic audience, or should I say the two extreme wings of her party holding her to ransom, both on the remain and brexit side. One analysis stated that the success of the speech would be measured by whether one or other of the party wings looked overly happy - which would make the speech a failure. If they were relatively neutral, then the balancing act had been maintained.

The polarisation was reflected in other reactions to the speech. These included cautious optimism from business and the DUP that the Prime Minister might be taking steps in the right direction towards negotiations. Sinn Fein, the German leader of the EU Centre Right Coalition and Nicola Sturgeon were scathing to various degrees. Der Spiegel has an article on three reasons why Brexit will probably happen (no real change in voter balance between remainers and brexiteers; high hurdles politically for a course change; a lack of political will). The message is gradually sinking in that the UK is really (reluctantly) willing to cut off its ties and sail into an indeterminate future.

President Trump's planned tariffs on imported Steel and Aluminium are raising ire in Canada, the EU and China - and internally in the US. However he is currently sticking to his guns. Speaking of which, the White House attempted to reinterpret his statements on gun control measures in a way that would cause less offence to the strident defenders of the second amendment.

Found myself hurrying to the bus stop this morning as it seemed from by bus app that Stagecoach had changed the bus timetable without letting us know. However, setting off four minutes earlier made the connection to the guided bus more convenient. I arrived early in St Ives and hurried against the wintry breeze through a decimated market, where traders had obviously thought twice about coming out due to the snow and ice.

After a bacon butty and networking at the Taproom, it was off to the Norris to help prepare materials for tomorrows Civilisations activity. Interesting conversation about the benefits of a winter cruise to Norway for the Northern Lights (and rare hurricane force winds). Also had a great example of an interconnected world, where someone who has fallen in Australia, getting a cut to the head, phones the UK for advice and help, which is then supported by another contact back in Australia. Fortunately all was well.

Snow flakes began falling and swirling around the museum at around 2 pm so caught the buses back home before a small dump of one or two centimeters of snow. Spent the evening doing some more microscopy for Open Studios.

Public Posturing on Brexit Red Lines. US Steeled for Import Tariffs. Cambridge still a Snowmageddon Free Zone.

EU and UK negotiation stances set out again in public today.

The UK had already made some concessions on the status of EU citizens in the UK during Brexit.

Donald Tusk and Michel Barnier emphasise that with UK red lines, there is no chance of the promise of a border free Ireland being realised.

Theresa May holds cabinet meeting in preparation for her great speech planned for Friday.

David Davis blusters that if EU does not change its stance on legal demands that would keep Northern Ireland within EU rules, the UK will threaten to withdraw from paying the £39 billion Brexit divorce bill.

Theresa May recorded as saying that a open border in Ireland is not possible if the UK leaves the EU.

President Trump in the meantime is ruffling waters on two separate counts. The first is his call for a bipartisan deal on introducing some gun control measures such as greater checks and raising gun ownership age limit for certain types of guns. This put the republicans on the spot and also ran counter to the NRA interests.

The second, the announcement that strong import tariffs (25%) will be imposed on imported steel and aluminium next week, to protect US jobs in the sector. The announcement ted to a 400 point drop in the Dow Jones index as manufacturers worry about the increas in production costs.

Cambridgeshire seems to be one of the few spots in the UK relatively unaffected by the snow chaos hitting the South and the North. After the Beast from the East, we are now awaiting storm Emma hitting the South and west of the UK. Again, it looks as if Cambridgeshire will be unaffected. Tomorrow will tell. I'll go to St Ives but give Huntington a miss just in case there is a sudden change.

At tonight's artists and Craftists, finished off my letter D illustration and started E, which will incorporate an echidna.