I just wanted to say a word or two about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. I haven't written much about current affairs in recent times, but felt compelled to add my voice to those who continue to support these two young people on their journey through life. As a frequent user of social media, I have been shocked by the comments made about Harry and Meghan. At the moment every man and his dog has an opinion about this royal couple and most views are derogatory, inflammatory and bullying. I have written much about bullying in my time and have seen the same language used over and over again. What on Earth is going on and why are people so angry about people they don't even know.

The Duke and Duchess have decided to remove themselves from the fray and follow a life outside the Royal Family, concentrating on their lives together, rather than being scrutinized by the newspapers and press on a daily basis. It would seem Harry doesn't want his wife suffering in the same way his mother the late Princess Diana did, constantly harassed and hunted like a wild animal by a press pack hungry for a story. Who can blame him, who wouldn't want to see this young Prince happy and content? Well it seems most people in this country have no empathy towards them and their chosen path. The reactions of the 'trolls and bullies' I have witnessed online are upsetting, hurtful and absolutely shocking for someone like me, who tries to see the best in everyone.

What has happened between the Duke, Duchess and Royal Family is a personal matter. Together with Her Majesty The Queen and other members of the family, Harry and Meghan have come to an agreement, that will see them forge their own way in the World, without public funds and will also pay back the £2.4 million pounds spent on renovations at their London home; nothing wrong with that surely? Yes apparently there is and it doesn't satisfy the jeering crowds, baying for blood at their door.

What the hell has happened to this country? Since Brexit, the general public have lost all sense of compassion towards anyone but themselves. Racist and homophobic hate crime is on the rise, and we have lost all sense of what is right and what is wrong. A once empathetic nation has become a nation of haters, doubters and egotists....We are no longer the country we once were and that is a tragedy.

Before you decide to publicly destroy the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, maybe you should all look closer to home and the difficulties you may have faced along the road. Instead of attacking two people you don't even know, maybe, just maybe you should get your own house in order. The majority of you, spouting grotesque, baseless accusations and insults can barely string two words together, yet you are so deluded to believe anyone cares what you think. Harry and Meghan have the blessing of the Queen and the Royal family in their new endeavours and that is all that matters. There is far too much hate in this country now and I find it very difficult to understand just what went wrong. I for one wish them both well, as we all should. Prince Harry served our country during traumatic times and I respect him for that and the choice he now makes. Think about the things you say and look deep within at the person you are...Do you really like what you see?

Like everyone else, I have been watching in horror at the disaster unfolding in Australia; wild fires causing devastation across the continent. Already an area the size of Belgium has been destroyed and half a billion animals lost in New South Wales alone. This is destruction on an unprecedented scale and I have been dumbfounded at the pictures I have seen on television.

I spoke to Darrell a few days ago in Western Australia, just to find out if he is OK. The fires are concentrated in the Eastern states and Darrell hasn't been directly affected by them, although there are still many wild fires ablaze in the west. The type of incidences we are witnessing usually occur in Darrell's home state, which is normally drier and hotter than the east, but this year the reverse is true and Australians can only watch, like the rest of the World, as the Eastern seaboard burns unabated.

I have lived in Australia twice with Darrell over the twenty four years we have been together and have experienced some particularly harsh weather. I remember it was so hot during the summer of 1998, that you couldn't even move to turn on the air conditioner. Australia is a country of extremes in every respect, one of the reasons I chose not to live there. However it is one of the most beautiful places I have ever lived and have many fond memories of my time living there. It is terribly sad seeing such awful scenes playing out in front of our eyes. The loss to Australia and the World is immeasurable.

The reaction of Scott Morrison and the Liberal Government is typical of politicians who understand nothing about the challenges Australians face everyday. The Prime Minister's decision to go on holiday, while Australia burned was unbelievable and shows his complete contempt for the public who voted him into office. This is a man who denies climate change is happening and continues to promote the mining of fossil fuels to keep the lights burning in Sydney. This vast nations reliance on outdated methods of Electricity production, when it could be investing in solar power, an abundant source Australia has unlimited access to, is shameful. This man's refusal to listen to climate change experts has been complicit in the severity of the fires raging across the Eastern states; it is people like him who continue to destroy this planet for no other reason than personal gain. Like Donald Trump, history will judge him harshly for his actions and lack of foresight. The World we live on is dying and no one is prepared to stand up and do the right thing!

Australia will burn for many more weeks yet, as the intensity of the summer grows stronger. As spectators to this travesty, we must do more to help those suffering in my second home Australia.

Please click on the link above, to give what you can to help those in greatest need and rebuild the shattered Eastern States of Australia.

Australia is burning, animals and lives are being lost - Make a donation, MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

I am making an urgent appeal for my friend Katie Stewardson. I met Katie while living in Spain. Katie became a close friend and has even written for Roaming Brit. A few days ago Katie and her family, including her two week old son Sebastián were evacuated from their Southern Spanish home, after their property flooded along with thousands of others in the region. Katie is now trying to raise money for the local community who have lost everything, trying to ensure animals and livestock are re-homed and looked after, following the worst storms to hit Spain in a century. Katie has asked me to advertise this plea for help, so she and other victims can start to rebuild their lives!

Please click on the 'Go Fund Me' picture below, to take you to her appeal!

"Our farm was hit bad by the flooding of the 'south eastern Spanish gota fria.' Paddocks are flooded and sheds are destroyed, the kennels for the dogs are non existent and they have no shelter. We are not the only ones affected .

We are fundrasing to build new kennels for the dogs and new shelters for the goats at our finca. We are also fundraising for other fincas and shelters in the same mess as us.

Dog food to buy. Beds etc

Please help if you can, every little counts to remaking homes for the animals."

Its official, the Charity Commission report detailing abuses carried out by Oxfam has been published and the evidence contained in it is damning, as I believed it would be. Readers of Roaming Brit are well aware of my connection to Oxfam, I worked for them as a Manager between 2008 and 2015. These were testing years; a time when I was given little support or direction by Managers at the top of the chain. I was more or less left to my own devises and always sought help and advice from colleagues, who were also unable to get guidance from a failing Management structure, that hadn't changed since Oxfam was formed in 1948.

The report highlights bullying, intimidation and harassment, perpetrated by a powerful elite who thought nothing of the victims they violated. There was a calculated plan to destroy and discredit employees and volunteers who dared to speak out about their mistreatment across this organisation, both at home and abroad.

Both my partner and I worked for Oxfam at a time of change and we did our best to try and "make poverty history," a mantra used across this charity. The politics of this trust were not always in  step with my own and we were encouraged to support and maintain a connection with left of centre organisations, at the expense of fair and balanced campaigning. There were many times I challenged Managers for their one sided political stance, especially in meetings, but was promptly made to feel wrong or inadequate in front of those who worked alongside me. Having a voice and speaking up against Oxfam's politically motivated appeals was discouraged. A shop I managed was situated in the middle of a large Jewish community, yet we were expected to raise money for the very people who were bombing Israel, almost on a daily basis at the time. This wasn't about supporting Israel over Palestine, it was about objective and impartial working practices, especially at times of elevated tension. Ignoring local and regional concerns was at odds with the ideals Oxfam promoted. We lost many Jewish donors; there seemed to be a crusade, instigated by Oxfam for purely political reasons and it was hurting us as a business. No thought was ever paid to the demographic of the individual areas we served, left leaning motivation always won the day!

The region I worked for was in a mess; personal ambition and vengeance took priority over getting results and I was often in the middle of an altercation or difficult situation between staff or volunteers, who were left bewildered after yet more pressure was piled on them, from Managers who were dismissive of their needs. By 2015 I discovered the extent of bullying in the South West region. Staff were leaving without reason, fabrication and falsohoods were used to discredit their work and I began to notice I was also becoming the target of what I can only describe as immoral behaviour, after I had dared to report my superior for acts of wrongdoing against volunteers. My partner had also become the victim of abuse after he was targeted for reporting a member of staff to Human Resources, when a vulnerable volunteer became the subject of a sustained campaign of bullying. Like me, his views were dismissed and we both became the subject of attacks that continued for two years. Misinformation, lies, threats to us and our property, homophobia and in several recorded cases, sexual harassment were now part of our life; the strain began to take its toll and our health began to suffer!

Inappropriate behaviour by Management was commonplace. I know of at least eight incidences of unspeakable conduct that those closest to me endured. Unable to do anything about the constant attacks, many of us decided to leave. My partner and I left the UK in 2015 to start a new life in Spain, to try and forget our ordeal.

In 2018 I was contacted by the Charity Commission who interviewed me about my time at Oxfam and what these crimes had done to my sense of well-being. I was forthright in my assessment of a culture at Oxfam that sought to destroy personal liberty. I suffered for many years after the events that shaped my life and even today remain unable to forget the evil that so nearly destroyed me. The interviewee was sympathetic and informed me of what the Charity Commission wanted to achieve, as a result of allegations and affirmation made by a cross section of people from all walks of life. She was distressed by what I had to say, disgusted that nothing was done to protect me at particularly difficult times and stunned that my pleas for help fell on deaf ears, ignored by those who were there to look after our protection. This was not just about my immediate superior, this was about the whole organisation, from top to bottom. This was about a corrupt Human Resources department, a union who were complicit in the atrocities committed against victims and their refusal to stand up for their membership and most importantly a CEO who covered up criminal activity across the charity!

Today I spoke to an ex colleague who directed me towards an article about Oxfam. This was a shocking expose detailing the worst transgressions committed by this once respected trust. I was gobsmacked; what had transpired at Oxfam and continues to this day was astonishing, far worse than I expected. A telling paragraph from this report loomed heavily, as I continued to read - "In Britain, investigators found that scores of serious complaints by staff or volunteers in its charity shops were not reported to the authorities, including 11 cases involving potential crimes." This struck a chord with me and told me all I needed to hear. What happened to me and others was an affront to common decency; discrimination and abuse that had no place at Oxfam was mainstream, accepted and considered almost run-of-the-mill. As a result nothing was done to stop the continual cycle of damage that was so rooted in the structure of this organisation.

As a starting point Oxfam must apologise to people like me, so we can continue to rebuild our lives. No amount of compensation will make up for what I endured, but the Charity Commission now needs to help the victims as they learn to live with what occurred, often over prolonged periods of time. Over the next few months I expect to reopen my concerns with the commission and hope they will finally do what Oxfam didn't; offer the support and assistance that all of the victims needed at the time, but were so unsparingly denied. in order to finally close this dreadful chapter in our lives, the commission finally need to listen to the voices that were dismissed for far too long, then and only then can we all move forward positively, emphatically, conclusively and get on with living life once again!

I was lucky enough be able to express my view, on the contemporaneous 'Brexit shambles,' in the Portsmouth News this Saturday. A colleague who writes for this popular Newspaper contacted me and asked if I would say a few words about the current situation and I was of course delighted to do so. As most of my readers are aware, I am extremely opinionated, especially on political matters, so It will come as no surprise as to my thoughts.

'It is important that the Government implement the wishes of the general public, which thus far they haven't. We should have left today no matter what these over paid MP's think. Parliament has set a dangerous precedent. People will only take so much! The whole process has been a shambles from beginning to end... LEAVE MEANS LEAVE!'

It does seem from the above article, that I am not the only one who thinks the way I do. Brexit is the talk of this great maritime city, as it is in every other corner of Britain and the majority of the general public think the same -  Brexit is a bloody shambles and the problems that surround our departure are getting worse. The reality is, there seems no end in site to this Parliamentary impasse and Britain appears stuck in a vicious cycle of blame and shame.

Today I don't want to go into the details of Brexit, because I have done so many times before, but I do want to talk about ordinary people, not the useless politicians, the Prime Minister or the EU, just people like you and I, after all we are the ones that will be dealing with the aftermath of our exit, long after Theresa May and her cabinet have gone.

People are incredibly angry that Brexit has been delayed. As a country we voted to leave the EU three years ago and we are still very much a part of this union. Our wishes have been ignored and the selfish rhetoric of MP's in the House of Commons has taken priority. It does feel that everyone of them has their own damn agenda and they couldn't care less about the electorate they serve. As a disgruntled voter, who is disgusted with all those who represent me, I want the whole lot of them to go. Their self serving egotism is a stumbling block to our eventual freedom and I am appalled by
their continual uncompromising, stubborn and tenacious behaviour.

The Great British public are fed up with MP's squabbling and for the good of this country they need to pull together and do what is right for us, the people. That means politicians compromising, putting their own pride to one side and finally working as a team for the good of the UK. People demand a resolution to this ridiculous charade; all of us want to lay this chapter to bed; I urge and encourage all those engaged in petty party politics to start talking about the issues that are important to us - housing, education, the NHS and the cost of living, just a few of the concerns that have been forgotten over the last three years.

None of us know where we are heading, what the future holds and just how we are going to get out of this mess. If Theresa May can't command the confidence of Parliament any longer, than it's time she left and allowed someone else the chance to solve this crisis. Until then expect more of the same, more inaction, more fighting and more inertia until the day finally comes, that we can celebrate our independence once more!

Since returning to the UK last year, there has only been one word on peoples lips ‘Brexit.’ Everyone has a view or opinion about what Britain should do and just how we should leave the European Union. Soft Brexit, hard Brexit or no deal, just three of the options on the table and not one of them a clear choice for the powers that be.
 
The last few weeks have been a ‘car crash’ for the negotiations to leave on March 29th 2019, a date that will now pass without fanfare. The only difference to the current situation we are facing, is we really have no firm leaving date at all; all options are open. Parliament initially rejected the draft withdrawal agreement mainly because of the ‘backstop’ clause in the document. The backstop is essentially a security measure, intended to ensure there is no hard boarder between Northern and Southern Ireland, in the event that no formal trade agreement can be reached later down the line. In effect if no arrangement is agreed, Northern Ireland would remain in the Customs Union and single market, thus creating a frictionless boarder. The main objection to this clause is that Britain could still be tied to Europe, with no firm time limit on the backstop specified. For many MP’s it is unthinkable that Northern Ireland would remain within the regulatory structure of the EU, split from the rest of the United Kingdom, threatening the very fabric of the union itself.
 
Members of Parliament voted on a series of amendments to the withdrawal bill, charging Theresa May with the difficult task of renegotiating the agreement with Brussels, removing the backstop from the draft document; on top of this they have signaled their objection to a ‘No Deal Brexit,’ which seems to be at odds with the demands they are placing on the Prime Minister. The European Union have already stated they will not renegotiate the deal on the table, so it would seem we are heading for a ‘No Deal Brexit’ anyway. Europe was in no mood for compromise; Theresa May returned to Britain empty handed and had to ask Members of Parliament to vote for a second time on her original bill. Once again the proposed withdrawal agreement was scuppered and Theresa May lost for a second time.
 
When I lived in Spain, I wasn’t truly in touch with how the British felt about Brexit. I heard snippets of information, but essentially my life carried on very much in the same vein it always had. Brexit really wasn’t affecting me on a daily basis, so I just chose to ignore it. Here in the UK, you just can’t get away from the stress of this highly contentious topic. Only yesterday the news announced more job losses as a result of the instability in the UK economy and with other famous brands threatening to relocate their Head Offices and foreign nationals packing their bags in readiness to leave in a few short months, none of us are completely sure how this saga will end.

Tonight Members of The House of Commons will vote on a series of Indicative amendments, hopefully suggesting a way forward in this exhausting Brexit process. Rather than saying what they don't want, MP's are charged with expressing a view on what they do want. So far Parliament has been unable to decide how to proceed, only stating its opposition to Theresa May's deal with the EU. A consensus may well be reached tonight, or not, depending on just where politicians want to go next. Revoking Article 50, leaving with a 'no deal,' a new referendum on the withdrawal agreement or a delay to Brexit itself, just a few of the options that will be considered. Of course if no one choice emerges as the favourite, the Prime Minister is likely to once again put her deal on the table, simply because it is the only way Brexit can be delivered. Nothing is certain as politicians from all sides try and break this Brexit impasse.
 
Personally I think Parliament will support the withdrawal agreement in the end, they really don’t have a choice; in their eyes the alternative is far worse. I believe we should just walk away and get on with it, if that is what it takes then so be it; as a nation we have survived before and will do so again. Having the courage to do what is necessary is vital for the prosperity of all, we should not sign a deal at any cost. The uncertainty and instability up and down the country at present is destroying the economy, indeed the very fabric of society. It is essential the Government does all it can to finally move the debate forward, signaling its intentions to end the deadlock!

Today is yet another crucial day in the Brexit story. Every week for as long as I can remember has been a milestone in this ongoing serial drama. The twists and turns of an embattled nation has been aired for all the World to see and as we pass the original leaving day of 29 March, the waters seem muddier than ever before. It looks likely however the PM will win through, the threat of Britain not leaving the EU will be too much for Brexiteers to stomach and finally we will be able to once again forge our own way in the World. Until that day finally comes, the spectacle of a Country at war with itself will continue and there are likely to be more difficult days ahead. All of us looking on with baited breath are watching history in the making, the final chapter about to be written; what happens tonight will be pivotal for the story of our nation, as Brexit slowly, painfully comes to an end!

What a bloody shambles our country is in with Theresa May at the helm! Yesterday while MP's debated the proposed 'Brexit' bill in Parliament, we were told the vote was going to be deferred. After 164 MP's had spoken, it was unceremoniously suspended, leaving the House of Commons shocked and angry. The PM had accepted that MP's would not vote in favour of this deal, after spending weeks saying she wouldn't change her mind and would force this vote through anyway. Speaking about her decision, Theresa May assured everyone that we would still leave the EU on the 29th March 2019, just like she assured us the vote on this bill would go ahead today. Nobody believes a word this discredited Prime Minister says anymore. If one speaks to the average man and woman in the street, they, like me are clear....She is just trying to save her own skin and buy herself some more time!

Since returning to the UK, I have seen just what a mess this country is in where Brexit is concerned. As a nation we are being asked to accept a deal that isn't in our best interest and have made concession after concession to the EU. The people of this country voted to leave this shameful organisation and our vote is being ignored. The PM and Westminster are trying to cause as much mayhem as possible, so the people of Britain get so fed up and disheartened, they  will vote to stay in Europe after a future EU referendum is arranged. Mark my words that is what this Government wants. Theresa May was a 'Remainer' and she wants to stay in Europe, she doesn't want us to leave and the reality is, she is trying to sabotage this process.

I am firmly of the opinion, that we need to walk away from these deeply flawed negotiations. As a country we have given enough. Europe and the distasteful bureaucrats who run it are trying to punish us for a democratic vote, in which we decided to leave and forge our own way in the World, once again. These faceless people are undemocratic, unelected and without a mandate, yet they want to dictate our destiny, a destiny now perpetuated in the vote to leave.

Watching back to back news coverage is something I have always done, I have a keen interest in politics, having studied it at University, so I am well aware of the implications of what I am witnessing on television. With the Country in such disarray, I have seen very little of the Leader of the Opposition, Jeremy Corbyn, who should be riding high in the polls right now. He is not challenging the Prime Minister in a way one would expect him to, at such a terrible juncture in British politics. He is tinkering around the edges of disaster, calling for a debate on the PM's handling of the Brexit negotiations. Mr Corbyn should be taking charge of this volatile situation and giving people like me, who feel totally disenfranchised by the whole process a voice, instead he is barely audible over the cries of treason from a bitter nation.

Today Theresa May has flown to Europe to try and get more concessions from the EU, to allow her to win the Brexit vote, at a future date, as yet undetermined. It is likely she will fail and all of us will be wondering what happens next. The 29th of March deadline is looming and Theresa continues to delay the inevitable....It really is about time, someone who can run this country steps forward and leads us all to freedom and finally lays this sorry episode to rest!