Jottings
The Council is controlled by the Green Party which has decided to place restrictions on items being sold by traders . This is reported to include the sale of crucifixes , only allowing them to be called “ JC crosses .” To preserve the markets ’ regional flavour , the council has forbidden the sale of champagne in favour of local sparkling wine , a move which the Interprofessional Committee of Champagne Wines has denounced this move as “ imbecilic .”
The Council says it wants to stop the market from descending into a consumerist “ amusement park ” but its members have been branded “ self-styled good taste police .” Opposition councillors in Strasbourg have been unrelenting in their criticism of the move with one socialist member classifying the restrictions as “ idiotic wokeism ”.
War breaks out
War between Spain and the United Kingdom is a thing for history textbooks , isn ’ t it ? Well no , because hostilities have broken out once again in recent weeks … and it was all triggered by the Guardia Civil .
The law enforcement agency chose this year ’ s World Paella Day to launch the opening salvos in an attack on those who appear to make a mockery of the classic dish from Valencia . That region ’ s government long ago declared paella to be a Bien de Interés Cultural Inmateria ( Intangible Asset of Cultural Interest ) describing it as “ the epicentre of the Valencian gastronomic tradition , a backbone which , together with its preparation and relevance to Spanish culture , has become one of the most prestigious world brands .”
At the centre of the Guardia Civil ’ s recent attack was a pre-packaged “ paella sandwich ” which was launched by Tesco supermarkets ten years ago as a publicity stunt . Reviving the memory , the force used this year ’ s World Paella Day to describe the snack as a “ heresy ,” adding that it went against good taste and could even be a health hazard . “ We will deal with any complaints ,” it concluded helpfully .
Unfortunately , the British press failed to spot the tongue which was being held very firmly in the Guardia ’ s cheek . “ You ’ d think Spanish police had enough on their plates tackling crime ,” roared the Daily Mail , “ but it appears they have put that aside to take Tesco to task over a ‘ heretical ’ paella sandwich .” Calm down , dear – it ’ s only a sandwich .
But , of course , it ’ s not the first time that the UK has got it wrong with this dish . In 2016 , Jamie Oliver was given a roasting after including chorizo in his recipe for paella . Now that IS something to complain about …
Flying the flag
Ferguson Marine shipyard , located in Port Glasgow on the Firth of Clyde in Scotland , boasts a century of shipbuilding , ship repair , fabrication and engineering services . It opened in 1903 and is now an executive nondepartmental public body of the Scottish Government .
However , the business appears to be so in thrall to Nicola Sturgeon ’ s nationalistic demands that it recently appeared to have expunged any links with the UK after a complaint from the SNP . It all began with a complaint from the other Scottish nationalist party , Alba , whose General Secretary , Christopher McEleny , drove past Ferguson ’ s in late September .
He didn ’ t like what he saw and wrote to the SNP ’ s Deputy First Minister John Swinney , advising that , instead of the Saltire ( the flag of Scotland ) being flown at both sides of the entrance gates , one
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