The people have been asked. They voted “No” to PR
Some people have been asked. If I asked you to present each of the people who voted no next week to confirm their vote in person i suspect you’d have a rather difficult time doing so… because a decent chunk of them would be dead. Which is a rather facetious way of saying that until the day I myself die I will never understand this nonsense that people can only be asked their view on the most important issues in the country once a century or something almost as ridiculous. Sure no one wants to emulate some European countries and US states where things are brought back annually until they get the result the governmental body desires, but equally so much can change in a decade even that it shouldn’t be unreasonable to look at asking questions again, whatever those questions are. Idiotic politicians who spout the “once in a lifetime” “once in a generation” nonsense should be sanctioned by their regulators and publicly shamed far and wide for saying such an irresponsible thing to the public when it it is absolutely not in the national interest to do so.
None of the above is a defence of PR btw, I don’t know where I stand on that.
This is a lovely article and video, which I found on YT and added below for you all to enjoy
David Attenborough’s birthday card from King delivered by animals
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It’s arguable that that was fine when it was primarily a two party system, with a few niche players on the fringes.
Now that there are potentially 4 or 5 parties within a percentage point or two of each other then it becomes harder to justify. You potentially have a government elected on 20 - 25% of the vote eddy feels wrong to me.
And, as @kirsteastevenson says, democracy isn’t a fixed moment in time, as circumstances change then policies should change. “Will of the people” is the tool of charlatans.
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That’s very clever, I love it. 
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You are right on all counts. The problem is that every party is aware that f.p.t.p. is the best bet - if they nick 1st places in enough constituencies. This is how Lab ended up with ‘a landslide’ victory - loads of seats but a derisory overall vote.
As with the Con-Lib Dem alliance, there’s going to have to be a minority party which can twist the arm of the party leading the coalition.
But it had better not be decided by referendum…
Whoops! Politics … 
I have a jkt just exactly like his! 
I usually have no time whatsoever for schmaltz, be it the overblown Christmas ads, Lizzy 2 and a fictional Peruvian bear, or whatever. But I have to hand it to them, this was cute.
He’s not beating the sausage fingers comments anytime soon though…
Given I’m due at the Kings Trust awards at the Albert Hall on Monday, then the 50th anniversary garden party at Buck Palace on Thursday, I may be living dangerously, we’ll see if he’s a regular SF reader if I get banned… 
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The Passion (and Fashion) of France’s Food Brotherhoods
France is home to hundreds of confréries, or brotherhoods, devoted to local wine, liqueurs, fruits, vegetables, cheeses, and more. Joining one of these groups is a serious commitment. Members take an oath to support their local product and often don headgear, medallions, and long robes whose colors and cuts reflect their beloved provision.
https://ctrk.klclick.com/l/01KREJ3YSR05J73X1TFJ9TY37H_10)https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/french-food-brotherhoods?utm_source=Klaviyo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily%20Tues%205%2F12&_kx=eUAqhZ5Ka9hwEwGp2hh40n7SASsdqVLfvFl_imnWZeE.UUnqkC
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It is surely the ultimate dream of most humans to find someone in life who looks at them the same way these old French men are looking at that cheese. Although to be fair I think that fella at the back’s arteries may have reached the state of fully blocked and he’s having a medical emergency he’ll never come back from. Those eyes, to me, less say “yum, cheese!” and more say “I see the white lights and the gates, at least I’m not going to the fiery place with Maggie Thatcher and anyone named Trump.”
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Goin’ up to the brie in the sky?
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That’s grate! Youre Gouda at cheese puns! I Camembert bad punning.
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Ah, but Cantal be winners
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Don’t get all iraty
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I’m sure it won’t Comté that…
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I Salut you for that one
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Merci, but Tomme to a Bandon these cheesy puns…?
Interesting video on declining/aging populations and impact on society
I can relate to the comments at the end about neighbourhoods/community.
Up until now we have been very self-sufficient and happy to be so. Coming into our late 70s and getting to know Chichester I am learning the benefits of community.
I enjoyed this from a novice gardener.
I find this chap’s poems weirdly compelling.
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Interesting, now free old article from The New Yorker - let my subscription lapse, but sill get lots of their stuff.
Early colour photography seems to bring the past much closer to the present, and perhaps much easier to relate to…