Today is a hard day for a British European...
From the year I was born the UK has been part of the European Union... today the process of leaving is beginning...
We have had lies, we have had apathy, we have had misinformation, we have had violence and we seen hatred and xenophobia rising...
I go between anger and sadness at what is happening around us, watching my country of birth heading off a cliff edge with no idea of impact or direction - just OUT...
In a recent personal Facebook post on the 60th anniversary of the EU I wrote:
“Happy birthday EU... 60 today - thanks to EU I got the chance to study and work abroad to choose Belgium as my home, to choose a French/Italian life partner, to have kids who speak 3 languages already...
Thanks to EU I trust the food on our shelves is labelled well and safe to eat, that my rights are protected, the seas we swim in are safe, there are limits to pollutants and chemicals around us...
Thanks to EU I have grown up in peace - I was never called up to fight in a war...
Thanks to EU my home city of Liverpool got a massive boost...
Thank EU for our cities which welcome people from all over the world are vibrant and diverse.... and have benefitted from some decent ‘Italian style’ coffee ;-)
I am one of the lucky ones... I am Belgian now and my kids are too so we can continue to benefit from EU...
I am sad for my family and friends in the UK who did not ask for this and for the people who were misinformed in a hateful referendum campaign...
The EU is far from perfect... I hope this is a wake up call that a People’s Europe is needed and not one that puts only companies and growth first...
But non of us are perfect - every day we live we learn and we grow... Onwards and upwards EU... PLEASE!!!!”
The British attitude is often to "Keep Calm and...." - so today it's
Enjoy the recipe.... some necessary sweetness in this bitterness