Chris Drew
@mesnilman.bsky.social
Ex UK gov economist incl 2 years in Euro Parl econ & monetary cttee. Normandy. Level 1 umpire. Semi-veggie. UTV
EN & FR (DE after beer). Views personal etc. Glamorgan CCC fan.Welsh. And French
Born at 325ppm
EN & FR (DE after beer). Views personal etc. Glamorgan CCC fan.Welsh. And French
Born at 325ppm
This was our textbook for a transport geography course at Lancaster Uni. The Prezza intro still stands up well some *checks notes* 35 years later
February 3, 2026 at 6:15 PM
This was our textbook for a transport geography course at Lancaster Uni. The Prezza intro still stands up well some *checks notes* 35 years later
January 31, 2026 at 4:17 PM
January 31, 2026 at 9:34 AM
January 28, 2026 at 4:40 PM
With thanks to @unchcrosswords.com for the tip, I've started doing these.
I had to explain to the lady in my local bookshop here in France how cryptic crosswords work.
And she then solved this morning's Minute Cryptic (her English is excellent).
I had to explain to the lady in my local bookshop here in France how cryptic crosswords work.
And she then solved this morning's Minute Cryptic (her English is excellent).
January 24, 2026 at 12:09 PM
With thanks to @unchcrosswords.com for the tip, I've started doing these.
I had to explain to the lady in my local bookshop here in France how cryptic crosswords work.
And she then solved this morning's Minute Cryptic (her English is excellent).
I had to explain to the lady in my local bookshop here in France how cryptic crosswords work.
And she then solved this morning's Minute Cryptic (her English is excellent).
Thank goodness we still have jazz.
On The Turntable this morning.
On The Turntable this morning.
January 18, 2026 at 9:50 AM
Thank goodness we still have jazz.
On The Turntable this morning.
On The Turntable this morning.
And this is the last of the 2025 potato harvest, along with the compost ready to start 2026
January 17, 2026 at 3:16 PM
And this is the last of the 2025 potato harvest, along with the compost ready to start 2026
January 17, 2026 at 3:12 PM
The soundtrack to this evening
January 16, 2026 at 5:57 PM
The soundtrack to this evening
I'd appreciate any recc's from my cryptic contacts please. Finished this & I'm looking for 'next level'. Completed today's Grauniad Fed. Would like to have some more of that level, to help me break through. TIA
cc @guineverecryptic.bsky.social
@unchcrosswords.com @coot.bsky.social @liari.bsky.social
cc @guineverecryptic.bsky.social
@unchcrosswords.com @coot.bsky.social @liari.bsky.social
January 14, 2026 at 7:57 PM
I'd appreciate any recc's from my cryptic contacts please. Finished this & I'm looking for 'next level'. Completed today's Grauniad Fed. Would like to have some more of that level, to help me break through. TIA
cc @guineverecryptic.bsky.social
@unchcrosswords.com @coot.bsky.social @liari.bsky.social
cc @guineverecryptic.bsky.social
@unchcrosswords.com @coot.bsky.social @liari.bsky.social
Dinner tonight is 'kolokithokeftedes'. Basically, courgette and feta cheese galettes, and I'm having these two with a cream, garlic and parmesan sauce. These were made in the summer and frozen.
H/t to @romeoromeotango.bsky.social for the recipe
H/t to @romeoromeotango.bsky.social for the recipe
January 8, 2026 at 5:43 PM
Dinner tonight is 'kolokithokeftedes'. Basically, courgette and feta cheese galettes, and I'm having these two with a cream, garlic and parmesan sauce. These were made in the summer and frozen.
H/t to @romeoromeotango.bsky.social for the recipe
H/t to @romeoromeotango.bsky.social for the recipe
The French independant média group Mediapart @mediapart.fr stopped posting on X in December 2024.
We subscribed to this.
We subscribed to this.
January 5, 2026 at 6:15 PM
The French independant média group Mediapart @mediapart.fr stopped posting on X in December 2024.
We subscribed to this.
We subscribed to this.
As Lemmy almost said...
"I've got a raclette machine!"
"I've got a raclette machine!"
January 3, 2026 at 5:35 PM
As Lemmy almost said...
"I've got a raclette machine!"
"I've got a raclette machine!"
That's my last batch of garlic and shallots planted.
And some of my earlier batches are coming through.
#gardening
#allotment
And some of my earlier batches are coming through.
#gardening
#allotment
January 3, 2026 at 9:51 AM
That's my last batch of garlic and shallots planted.
And some of my earlier batches are coming through.
#gardening
#allotment
And some of my earlier batches are coming through.
#gardening
#allotment
We're currently watching this - yes, we are very much behind the times (and no spoliers, please!).
A really excellent series, with overtones of The Prisoner and The Good Place.
A really excellent series, with overtones of The Prisoner and The Good Place.
January 1, 2026 at 2:16 PM
We're currently watching this - yes, we are very much behind the times (and no spoliers, please!).
A really excellent series, with overtones of The Prisoner and The Good Place.
A really excellent series, with overtones of The Prisoner and The Good Place.
I appreciate this is still not Premier League stuff, but I just completed the 'Mega Crossword' at the back of this. This is only my second 100% cryptic analogue solve, after the @guineverecryptic.bsky.social grid in @unchcrosswords.com (honour to Guinevere and Unch !).
January 1, 2026 at 1:42 PM
I appreciate this is still not Premier League stuff, but I just completed the 'Mega Crossword' at the back of this. This is only my second 100% cryptic analogue solve, after the @guineverecryptic.bsky.social grid in @unchcrosswords.com (honour to Guinevere and Unch !).
Scallops and prawns in a white wine béchamel for starters
December 31, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Scallops and prawns in a white wine béchamel for starters
If anyone else is on their cryptic crossword journey, or would like to know what on earth it's all about, this book is *really* good for beginners (I still class myself as one!)
December 29, 2025 at 12:51 PM
If anyone else is on their cryptic crossword journey, or would like to know what on earth it's all about, this book is *really* good for beginners (I still class myself as one!)
The Copenhagen criteria (from the EUR-lex site, which gives all the primary sources) state the following "... obligations of membership, including... adherence to the aims of political, economic and monetary union."
Accession criteria (Copenhagen criteria) - EUR-Lex share.google/VAHN9zUF7qoT...
Accession criteria (Copenhagen criteria) - EUR-Lex share.google/VAHN9zUF7qoT...
December 28, 2025 at 6:30 PM
The Copenhagen criteria (from the EUR-lex site, which gives all the primary sources) state the following "... obligations of membership, including... adherence to the aims of political, economic and monetary union."
Accession criteria (Copenhagen criteria) - EUR-Lex share.google/VAHN9zUF7qoT...
Accession criteria (Copenhagen criteria) - EUR-Lex share.google/VAHN9zUF7qoT...
I would hope there is.
Hope.
But this photo still means I wouldn't be 100% sure
Hope.
But this photo still means I wouldn't be 100% sure
December 28, 2025 at 11:07 AM
I would hope there is.
Hope.
But this photo still means I wouldn't be 100% sure
Hope.
But this photo still means I wouldn't be 100% sure
@garethaethwy.bsky.social Kathy is correct. The French constitution says.
The get out is a vote by Congrès (Assemblée + Sénat) by a 3/5 majority.
I'm not a specialist of the Belgian constitution, but I think the approval needs to be federal as well as by the Flemish and Walloon parliaments
The get out is a vote by Congrès (Assemblée + Sénat) by a 3/5 majority.
I'm not a specialist of the Belgian constitution, but I think the approval needs to be federal as well as by the Flemish and Walloon parliaments
December 28, 2025 at 10:35 AM
@garethaethwy.bsky.social Kathy is correct. The French constitution says.
The get out is a vote by Congrès (Assemblée + Sénat) by a 3/5 majority.
I'm not a specialist of the Belgian constitution, but I think the approval needs to be federal as well as by the Flemish and Walloon parliaments
The get out is a vote by Congrès (Assemblée + Sénat) by a 3/5 majority.
I'm not a specialist of the Belgian constitution, but I think the approval needs to be federal as well as by the Flemish and Walloon parliaments