Well today was supposed to be the day, two years in the planning and we have to stay behind for a couple of weeks as we didn’t do our homework. I know people in both camps, I value their friendship and accept their diverse opinions. Sadly that is not reflected across the country. We are now too polarised, I am sure it will wear off in time, but for some it will gnaw on their bones for eternity.

Mine was my usual sort of Friday, leisurely breakfast with Jun, discussions on the rest of the day and plans for the weekend. Followed by a wedding, I love weddings; in the summer I can clock up double figures in a week, they are always enjoyable occasions – although sometimes emotions get the better of people. Then home, were we going shopping? “No” said Jun, so I changed, repotted a rhododendron, planned some fushias in pots, drank some wine. We then enjoyed a fusion supper Chinese chicken, curried veg and cous cous. I promise it was better than it may sound. Now more wine before bed. Did I achieve anything today? I think so, but it was much like most other Fridays so in a way the day that never was…………

As a nation we appear to be descending into chaos, our MPs vote to take control of Brexit and then fail to vote to agree on anything. Making it more likely we will crash out, or more likely limp out. It is disheartening if only because our once strong country looks weak and probably in a week will look even more disorganised.

I hope that in all this we can avoid tearing ourselves apart, no anarchy or violence.

Tomorrow is the day we should have left, drawn up the drawbridge, said yah boo sucks to Johnny Foreigner; did we really believe that, a country that’s very existence is so diverse? Our language is full of words that come from around the globe, the most popular dish is chicken tikka marsala and I believe we are still the greatest consumer of champagne in the world, although I think that might be after the French who produce it. Think of all the supermarket chain going down to the Reims area and buying  up a complete years production from a vineyard. I noticed a bottle for less than £12 in Lidl today, perhaps I should have bought it before a post Brexit run starts.

It was always better back then, they keep saying and I am inclined to agree so much so, that we will be joining a large group of former colleagues who are meeting at a south coast resort this weekend to celebrate our fortieth anniversary of ’Flights’ through training with the Fleet Air Arm, mine was a relatively short career, others enjoyed long and productive ones. Some, sadly, have crossed the bar, but we are a very social lot so let’s hope that when we raise a glass to absent friends it’s champagne.