Friday, September 19, 2014

An email from Greek Helen this morning begins

When the hurly burly's done
When the battle's lost and won...

I couldn't have put it better myself. Not much sleep last night, huge relief this morning. The No margin was much larger than any poll predicted, confirming, I think, our hopes that the don't-know's would fall disproportionately in our direction.

We had a grand time voting yesterday – now that I can look back on it in tranquillity. Georgia took us. There was a crowd outside – I feared, as we approached, that it was a queue and we would have a long wait, but not so. It was just a party, television, balloons, and a Catalan. The Good Lord provided us with a parking space immediately outside. Inside, all was quiet, no queue at all. A pleasant Indian gentleman at a table explained to my husband that he must mark one box or the other on his ballot paper but not both.




That's me, in the lower picture. I must get my hair cut.

Alexander took this picture of Loch Fyne yesterday as the light faded. It is called “Sunset from Cairndow, U.K.” He will be feeling more cheerful this morning. Cairndow is still in the U.K.


16 comments:

  1. Anonymous9:49 AM

    Thanks for posting the pictures, Jean. The historic referendum voting looks like a festive occasion! The referendum has been the subject of much reporting in the U.S. for the past week, and it was even a topic of discussion at my knitting group on Wednesday night!

    Mary G. in Texas

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  2. I've never commented before, but read every day. Such a relief for us all on both sides of the border. I'm reading your progress on Rams and Yowes with interest (and some trepidation) as I'm currently spinning for 2 of them as a Golden wedding anniversary gift for my parents next May (mostly in their own Jacobs fleece) - I think I'd better get a move on!

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  3. Anonymous10:55 AM

    Interesting to see "No" placards so close to the poling place. I worked for many years as an election commissioner (like the Indian man). One of our jobs was to make sure no signs for either side were up within a block of the poling place.
    Glad the election came out well, and the dreaded turmoil won't happen.

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    1. I don't think we have the same rules here, as all polling stations have posters outside - and usually some campaign volunteers on hand to proffer leaflets or advice! think they sometimes keep tallies of the numbers of voters too.

      So glad that you enjoyed it Jean - and are relieved at the result. In the end I felt it didn't really matter which way I voted as either way we would get change. I am glad the news has rallied confidence in shares & markets. Intheresting times!

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    2. I'm an election judge in the US and we have the same rules. Perhaps a referendum is different.

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    3. It's also like that for elections (posters outside polling stations) so it wasn't just the referendum...

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  4. I watched the news with special interest - we got a bit of the BBC live reporting on public television, but I went to sleep before any of the larger councils were reported. I do hope there won't be an internecine aftermath. Then, there will always be wool.

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  5. Anonymous1:46 PM

    So, it's over. Much passion on both sides from Scottish expats on local radio here, including our charming Donna who keeps the local Scottish bar (a fervent yes). On a selfish note, the Quebec separatists who were in Scotland to observe can now come home and think things over - doubtless the same in Catalonia and other locales. On a personal note, relieved for you, Jean. Much that could be said but it's all been said - although more to come in the UK, constitutionally, in the wake of this.
    - Beth in Toronto

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  6. So glad you got the relief you wanted. It did look like a party...glad it went the way you wanted. You look great in the picture...just like at camp stitches a long time ago.

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  7. Sarah JS3:00 PM

    The news on Scotland's vote was why my radio went on first thing this morning. Happy that both your voting experience & the result came out so well for you!

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  8. I thought of you as soon as I saw the news this morning, it must be quite a relief. It will be interesting to see what happens next and whether the Westminster village will deliver. Hopefully this will have shaken them up a bit and helped over all engagement with politics? We can but hope.

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  9. No posts since Friday. Hope you are well and nothing is amiss

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  10. MaureenTakoma6:13 PM

    I join with southern gal in hoping all is well.

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  11. Anonymous8:05 PM

    I'm concerned, also, with no posts since Friday. Think of us as family members, Jean; we worry if you haven't notified us ahead of time that you will not be posting.

    Mary G. in Texas

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