Says a lot that I was surprised this was my result
November 21, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Says a lot that I was surprised this was my result
But I imagine that depends on when they moved? i would gather that pre 1990s, there was a lot of “sticky” migration from poorer countries like Portugal, Spain, Greece etc - but France was doing better so less migration. (And post-WW2 refugees). Whereas post 1990/2000s perhaps it’s more transient?
November 14, 2025 at 9:33 AM
But I imagine that depends on when they moved? i would gather that pre 1990s, there was a lot of “sticky” migration from poorer countries like Portugal, Spain, Greece etc - but France was doing better so less migration. (And post-WW2 refugees). Whereas post 1990/2000s perhaps it’s more transient?
If you have to get a visa, etc that makes it more difficult and more of a “permanent” decision. my theory!
November 14, 2025 at 9:29 AM
If you have to get a visa, etc that makes it more difficult and more of a “permanent” decision. my theory!
Surely that is a feature of how the UK (and specifically London) was seen on the continent pre-Brexit and post-Ryanair? international, comparatively good salaries, somewhere you could study, spend a few years to build your career, close to home to go back cheaply for holidays, and return after a bit
November 14, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Surely that is a feature of how the UK (and specifically London) was seen on the continent pre-Brexit and post-Ryanair? international, comparatively good salaries, somewhere you could study, spend a few years to build your career, close to home to go back cheaply for holidays, and return after a bit
I would suggest 18-40s only. This may be related to the fact I had to google what "6 7" means...
November 3, 2025 at 9:31 AM
I would suggest 18-40s only. This may be related to the fact I had to google what "6 7" means...
How much RAM do you have??
October 22, 2025 at 11:27 AM
How much RAM do you have??
This just remind me of my idea for the perfect voting system for Spain, which would:
- split large provinces into "town" and "country" (as was the case in the Second Republic), to reduce district magnitude
- switch to open lists
- add in circa 25 Danish-style "levelling seats"
it will never happen!
- split large provinces into "town" and "country" (as was the case in the Second Republic), to reduce district magnitude
- switch to open lists
- add in circa 25 Danish-style "levelling seats"
it will never happen!
October 22, 2025 at 11:00 AM
This just remind me of my idea for the perfect voting system for Spain, which would:
- split large provinces into "town" and "country" (as was the case in the Second Republic), to reduce district magnitude
- switch to open lists
- add in circa 25 Danish-style "levelling seats"
it will never happen!
- split large provinces into "town" and "country" (as was the case in the Second Republic), to reduce district magnitude
- switch to open lists
- add in circa 25 Danish-style "levelling seats"
it will never happen!
Sorry yes I think I meant allocation at the district-level (where the electoral thresholds are de facto determined by district magnitude). Spain's 3% district-level PR is very rarely relevant anyway.
October 22, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Sorry yes I think I meant allocation at the district-level (where the electoral thresholds are de facto determined by district magnitude). Spain's 3% district-level PR is very rarely relevant anyway.
I still find it quite strange that a party that may have won enough votes to get a seat in a district, is prevented from doing so because of not getting enough votes at the national level!
October 22, 2025 at 10:42 AM
I still find it quite strange that a party that may have won enough votes to get a seat in a district, is prevented from doing so because of not getting enough votes at the national level!
With the help of Copilot, I just learnt that there are relatively few PR systems that only apply a district-level threshold (Spain, Portugal, Finland).
October 22, 2025 at 10:42 AM
With the help of Copilot, I just learnt that there are relatively few PR systems that only apply a district-level threshold (Spain, Portugal, Finland).
On the other hand, we’d all get to read some really funny columns about you going through the process!
October 19, 2025 at 10:45 AM
On the other hand, we’d all get to read some really funny columns about you going through the process!
My parents have a copy of this amazing painting of Lenin and Maxim Gorky fishing in Capri - I think Lenin paintings are always great talking points in any home!
October 17, 2025 at 5:54 PM
My parents have a copy of this amazing painting of Lenin and Maxim Gorky fishing in Capri - I think Lenin paintings are always great talking points in any home!
Exactly! We do "print pictures" with our B&W Brother mono laser printer, which involves going on supercoloring.com, printing, and them colouring in. Great activity (except for the part where it takes them an age to choose which picture they want).
October 6, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Exactly! We do "print pictures" with our B&W Brother mono laser printer, which involves going on supercoloring.com, printing, and them colouring in. Great activity (except for the part where it takes them an age to choose which picture they want).
Thank you - final question (I promise), presumably sleeper cabins and couchette cabins are in different carriages? Ie if I book a 2-bed sleeper and a 4-bed couchette there is no way they would be next to each other right?
September 25, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Thank you - final question (I promise), presumably sleeper cabins and couchette cabins are in different carriages? Ie if I book a 2-bed sleeper and a 4-bed couchette there is no way they would be next to each other right?
Thank you - that's great. I also wanted to investigate whether the "Easy" version of the Trenitalia Pass allows you to book a 4-couchette in triple occupancy - FYI perhaps helpful for your website, but I called Trenitalia and they confirmed that for this you need the "Comfort" version of the pass.
September 23, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Thank you - that's great. I also wanted to investigate whether the "Easy" version of the Trenitalia Pass allows you to book a 4-couchette in triple occupancy - FYI perhaps helpful for your website, but I called Trenitalia and they confirmed that for this you need the "Comfort" version of the pass.
Quick follow-up if I may - sorry I checked your website and I wasn't 100% clear about this. Does the "Trenitalia Pass" include the couchette supplement? If so it looks like an amazing deal, as passes for children under 12 are free?
September 23, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Quick follow-up if I may - sorry I checked your website and I wasn't 100% clear about this. Does the "Trenitalia Pass" include the couchette supplement? If so it looks like an amazing deal, as passes for children under 12 are free?
I find it so interesting why some countries adopt different "national" sports than what you'd expect, ie ice hockey in Finland, baseball in Japan, did you also know that archery is the most popular sport in Bhutan (I didn't until I looked it up just now)?
September 22, 2025 at 10:44 AM
I find it so interesting why some countries adopt different "national" sports than what you'd expect, ie ice hockey in Finland, baseball in Japan, did you also know that archery is the most popular sport in Bhutan (I didn't until I looked it up just now)?
Thank you! So I should wait until mid October or so?
September 20, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Thank you! So I should wait until mid October or so?
However for late December I can only see one sleeper, with only more expensive BASE fares listed. Does that mean I am looking too early, or have I missed the boat on cheap tickets?
September 20, 2025 at 9:10 AM
However for late December I can only see one sleeper, with only more expensive BASE fares listed. Does that mean I am looking too early, or have I missed the boat on cheap tickets?
Yesterday I got Scottish Power to accept that my electricity consumption (which had been estimated) last year didn't suddenly increase by 2.5x from one month to the next, and knock off over £100 of a bill. Let's celebrate any victory over the utilities!
September 17, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Yesterday I got Scottish Power to accept that my electricity consumption (which had been estimated) last year didn't suddenly increase by 2.5x from one month to the next, and knock off over £100 of a bill. Let's celebrate any victory over the utilities!
that is the correct answer (and indeed today I've just purchased some more USB-C to A cables) - and yet, I somehow hesitate to get rid of them!
September 10, 2025 at 11:31 AM
that is the correct answer (and indeed today I've just purchased some more USB-C to A cables) - and yet, I somehow hesitate to get rid of them!
but hear me out, what if in 5 years time I need that ancient FireWire 400 cable? or that niche USB-C to MiniDisplayPort cable? who knows??
September 10, 2025 at 11:29 AM
but hear me out, what if in 5 years time I need that ancient FireWire 400 cable? or that niche USB-C to MiniDisplayPort cable? who knows??
and - spoiler alert - there is a fun bit of cross-over with Balatro at one point in the game, which you might enjoy
September 8, 2025 at 1:12 PM
and - spoiler alert - there is a fun bit of cross-over with Balatro at one point in the game, which you might enjoy
if (you might not, in which case ignore!) you are looking for a nice relaxing game, with the odd bit of challenge, can I recommend Dave the Diver? I didn't think I would enjoy but really loved it
September 8, 2025 at 1:11 PM
if (you might not, in which case ignore!) you are looking for a nice relaxing game, with the odd bit of challenge, can I recommend Dave the Diver? I didn't think I would enjoy but really loved it