The Bewilderness

Time to brew the sweet smell of that Brexit coffee

Labour supported the Conservatives in opposing the appointment of Jean-Claude Juncker to President of the European Commission. As a federalist, they were also unwilling to support further integration. Yet the headlines of "Britain isolated" brought some rich comments from Ed Balls on television this morning. As he stated, never had he seen such a "cack-handed" negotiation. (This seemed rather surprising, since there are so many examples from the previous Labour administration: General Practitioners, Treaty of Lisbon, etc etc).

Whilst the news from the continental press remains quiet in the aftermath of this repeat (Britain versus the rest), Labour's opportunistic spin falls on sterile ground, given the messenger (just as Cruddas bemoans his leader's leadership in the Sunday Times). The two initial conclusions from the appointment of Juncker is that there is no European constituency for the repatriation of powers and the appetite for real reform is retreating.

Given the choice between ever closer la la land and reality, the European Council chose a make-believe country called Europe and took the brakes off Brexit.   

Europe Juncked

A story that we have not seen for a long time: A British Prime Minister isolated in Europe with the spin of principle attempting to obscure the overwhelming defeat. And the battle chosen over the new European President was symbolic but a diversion.

When Cameron had the opportunity to retain powers, especially in the field of criminal justice, he signed them away. I reserve nothing but contempt for a government that upholds the European Arrest Warrant and puts our population at the mercy of laws which are not a criminal offence in this country. His whole performance is a tactical charade designed to appease his backbenchers.

Juncker, the 'leading candidate' of the Christian Democrats in the European Parliement, has interpreted the results of the European elections as a legitimation of the leading candidates. However, as more decisions of the Commission, undermine British national interests, the elite on these islands is becoming ever warier of Brussels.  

Some would argue that a Union which no longer takes the interests of one of its largest members into account (and has economically devastated most of its southern periphery) is beyond reform. The rejection of the populist protests in many countries is indicative of this. 

Cameron has been bruised by his encounters with Europe. It is not clear what his next steps will be, but a further dilution of Member State powers has taken place with the co-operation of EU leaders who have become further ciphers in a process where obscure non-entities are elected by a clownish Parliament who claim to represent a people that could not recognise them. 

Surrey does not have three peaks

Tonight I shall inveigh against the Surrey Three Peaks. This was a challenge that I would find posters for scattered across the woodland south of Dorking near Leith Hill. It was an admirable endeavour for charity whereby walkers, runners and the can't make your mind up crowd of joggers complete three hills in Surrey. The usual route is 26 miles though the peaks can differ. The highest hills (Box Hill, Leith Hill and Holmbury Hill) are usually included.

This a good stiff walk and could be accurately called the Surrey Hills Challenge (a more fitting tribute to the locale) or the Surrey Three Hills. I am unconvinced that any of the hills in Surrey could be described as having a peak. One expects snow, technical scrambling and walking up for a few hours. The ups and downs of Surrey just don't cut in and these titles do encourage a Trade Descriptions Act moment.

Does this appropriation actually detract from the Three Peaks itself? Not really. Those who experience the proper challenge understand what is required and can look down on such error from a great height! The lesson is that you do not need to clothe your route in another's garb. I am sure that there is a better name for these routes. Though I would balk at the Surrey Stride which is also intellectual property theft. I would prefer the Surrey Hills marathon.

Barraboy Mountain

During my sojourn in Ireland, there was one opportunity for scouting future trails and taking the air in the mountains. The weather was so bad (indeed equivalent to the rain now beating down upon my conservatory) that there was no alternative to bundling in the car and taking off for the Misty Mountains (my parochial mythmaking for the Dingle Peninsula).

There are three trails that criss-cross through this beautiful and mournful country: the Beara Way, the Kerry Way and the Dingle Way. All of them are exceptional in terrain and landscape. All three will be walked.

My sole attempt in Ireland was a useful primer in the bogs and mountains of Kerry. Having been bought a guide: "Walks in Kerry", I flicked through the pages and selected one of reasonable challenge. Words such as "don't do it alone" and when the mountains are in mist proved irresistable. Hardest first is a foolhardy motto but I chose it. As with all such books, the time and the distance was wrong. It took four hours, not six: and the distance was 13 miles, not 9. These are mere quibbles.

The first section followed the Beara Way up minor roads and up an old track called the Esk Way to a radio transmitter. The incline was steep and the track petered out but the off-road element gave me an alluring taster for this trail. (Added to the list!) After that, there was no path: just picking your way across a ridge walk for four miles in the mist and rain. Sometimes conditions were clement, especially as you trudged down into a saddle; sometimes conditions were ferocious. I last saw my baseball cap in a howling gale sailing north on the wind whilst rain battered me. Luckily these conditions were infrequent and didn't mar an enjoyable walk too much.

The peak of the walk is 519 metres near the Priest's Leap following which you turn back down into the valley on a tarmac road (a wonderful respite) and leave the heights behind. On a sunny day, the ridge walk must give a wonderful view of Kenmare and Bantry Bays. Even in the rain, one could see glimpses of this.  

The path is good experience as the ridge walk follows a fence due east for four miles. A compass is essential but it is hard to get lost. I never needed to look at an OS map, just the sketch outlined in the book. You can do worse than the Barraboy Ridge for an introduction to the Irish Mountains and bagging Barraboy Mountain (456 metres)