Chris Rea’s ‘Driving Home for Christmas’ plays on the radio, an anthem for the many Geordies who have sought work far and wide although ‘Flying home for Christmas’ would become the title in my case. I can’t help reminiscing about a particularly memorable journey home for the festive season. I was on a project for a bank at the time. Horrified at the price of direct flights home around the festive period at £450 return, I sought a more reasonably priced alternative which consisted of two flights with Air France via Paris for less than half on 23 December.
That morning, temperatures had dropped; there was great demand for the de-icing machine for which we patiently awaited on the tarmac. The captain announced further delays… There was a chance I would arrive in Charles de Gaulle Airport after my connection to Newcastle had departed. As we descended, I could see the shape of the Eiffel Tower out of the window. Many of the passengers were en-route further afield and they too had missed their connections. We were instructed to go to the Air France desks where help was available. When my turn came, there were no more flights to Newcastle until the next day, I asked if I could catch one to Edinburgh instead. There was a space at 3 pm. The alternative was Air France would put me up in a hotel with dinner. I muttered to the agent, I’ve never been to Paris. “Will Madame, take this chance”. I did not need much persuading. I always like to be prepared for a trip to a new place. I had no guide book, which was easily corrected by a rapid purchase of a Lonely Planet Paris complete with maps on the way to the hotel. I rang home to apologize: “I’m stuck in Paris and won’t get back until tomorrow”. My family immediately had visions of me going up the Eiffel Tower that weekend. As it happened, that was not the case.
Paris
Air France arranged the Ibis nearby, but it was more than walking distance; a shuttle bus ran every half hour or so. I checked in and took my bags to the room. No time to waste, Paris awaited me. I was straight out on the next shuttle so I could catch the metro and decide where to go. A fellow traveller, Celine, who was also stuck in Paris on her way to the US for Christmas, spotted me avidly reading my new guide book; she told me she was going to go for a walk in the centre down the Champs Elysee and that she knew Paris quite well because she was born there and lived there for a while as a child. This sounded like fun so I gladly accepted her invitation.
We passed thorough the Jardin des Tuileries near the Louvre and on the Seine at the end of the walk. After a coffee, we nipped into a pharmacy for supplies and Zara for a shirt for the next day as our luggage was still in transit. A few more of us stranded passengers gathered for dinner together at the hotel. What could have been a very irritating delay turned out to be great fun swapping travellers’ tales and Christmas plans.
Experience counts
The government has recently announced the plan to rejoin Erasmus in 2027 and beef up schemes for young people to live and work in Europe. Many experiences I once had in Europe were as a consultant aged over 30. Like many people who go on Erasmus, my connections with Europe began as a student, but they deepened during my professional working life.
Anno 2025, any professional wishing to go on that European adventure in the world of work faces many barriers, most of all freelancers. Recruiters must search in the whole of Europe for a suitable candidate before considering third country nationals. Even skills migrants coming out of university, who still remain third country nationals, are scrutinised by agencies who inevitably prefer citizens from members of the single market.
The Brexit TCA is far too restrictive, even where a British citizen is highly qualified, the thought of any red tape or risks mean agencies very often discard UK candidates.
I cut my teeth on European projects. A customer recently noted the unique comibnation of experience I bring to their team, a lot of which was acquired on projects in several countries.
Without that experience, I would not be able to help them in the same way.
What of the people out there who are in the middle of their careers now? They will have fewer chances to gain experience in their sectors, especially as Brexit Britain tightens its belt.
I recently spoke to some team members at the European Movement about another dire consequence of Brexit. Rates on many European projects for experienced consultants are at least double those offered in the UK. This means not only we but the UK treasury are missing out on large tax revenues. Denying other age groups the extra possibililities to work in Europe during their whole careers is not only unfair, but economically stupid. Nether should older people who hoped to retire in Europe be denied that dream. European dreams and experience beyond the student days remain the privilege of the elite who have sufficient financial resources to purchase European citizenship via large investments in property in countries like Malta, Cyprus of Portugual.
Pantomime villains in politics
Brexit has cast a spell on Britain as a country; those holding the reins grabbed at the red apple presented by the evil fairy. Dazed by the glow of its red skin, which promised all manner of delights, the country bit in hard and now suffers the consequences.
Almost a decade into that dreadful process as we approach June 2026, the country’s economy has been forced into a slumber, awaiting the ‘handsome prince’ figure who will come along to kiss the sleeping princess and awaken her from her sleep.
Zack Polanski would be in there fast; so too would Ed Davey. Keir Starmer stands back observing the sleeping princess, too shy to approach, for fear of what other people might think of him.
Valentine Low in his book Power and the Palace: the Inside Story of the Monarchy and 10 Downing Street, revealed that the late Queen Elizabeth was a remainer.who “on a fundamental saw the EU as part of the postwar settlement, marking an era of cooperation after two world wars.” David Cameron is said to have been aware of her views, but ultimately chose not to reveal these. Head of NATO, Mark Rutte, warned Putin is at our door posing an ever growing threat. Unfortunately, Putin was and is already here in the form of Brexit. The pantomime villain won. He did not need physical bombs to cause damage. Politicial friends and virtual assailants in the form of internet research agency trolls and their social media offensive allowed Putin and his Brexiter allies to ‘brainwash’ the public. Keir Starmer needs a larger dose of courage to rescue the princess, stop the villains and save the economy. No ands ifs or buts. This must be one of his New Year resolutions, for our sake and the survival of his own party.
