I accept what you say about Ireland (you clearly know the scene there, and I don't), but in the UK I'll believe the 'safe and legal routes' when I see anyone actually arriving along them... the hurdles being set in people's paths are both unequal in practice and very hard to achieve.

And even within the UK, A Levels are not routinely available in schools in Scotland.

And the art of the serious understatement is alive and well!

Oh no... good luck!

Good luck to him!

Yo!!! I totally enjoyed tucking into a Scotch pie for old times' sake when I was in Edinburgh last week.

Jess, just do it. I think it is a bit sad that our culture has made us worry about how others might perceive our kindness. (I'm not having a go at you, honest: it's the increasing cultural isolated bubbles that modern life makes us feel that we live in.) I hope they are OK. It does no harm to offer.

Very well said, as ever, Richard. Thank you.

Sadly, it will barely merit a mention outside Irish circles. On the TV news in Portugal this morning (three different channels) the Irish election was never even alluded to.

I love the sound of it: very Tolkien! Are you familiar with 'widdershins' (primarily but not solely Scottish, probably derived from roots related to the German 'wider' = against and 'Sinn' = direction), meaning counterclockwise? It loses in transparency if used in English, but gains expressiveness.

This is Lanchonete, my cute little cat. Her name is the Brazilian Portuguese word for a snack bar or cheap restaurant. She enjoys eating, but she is still as small as a kitten! I challenge you not to fall in love with her. She is great fun, but totally unpredictable.

AARGGH!

As we'd say in Scotland, 'Michelle Mone, you're tea's out'. Now let us see her stripped of her title - and the Tories asked why exactly she was ever raised to the House of Lords.