There’s panic in the streets of Paris. What started with unhappy people complaining about tax rises on petrol and diesel have turned violent in the last four weeks. Despite the taxes being repealed, the protests continue with people who are unhappy about the cost of living in France. And it has become apparent that far right groups have hijacked the movement. The Gilet Jaunes comes from the protesters wearing high-viz vests that are compulsory in all cars driven in France.

Far right movements have gained traction in recent years, despite the less than distinguished outcome from the middle of the last century and we must be on the look-out at all times for them returning. Of course I doubt that the leaders of these groups regard themselves as bad people, rather saviours who speak the truth.

What worries me about the Gilet Jaunes is that they have a uniform. Gangs have colours, and the far right have uniforms. And this makes me wonder if I need to buy a black shirt, a brown shirt, or a high-vis vest so that I can walk the streets and not get beaten up in a similar way to the Body Snatchers film where walking like a zombie would keep you safe.

This is a happy theme for a blog! It will improve. The TV is off and I’m listening to Tom Waits. I’ll just have to let the world spin without me looking. It’s not as if I’ll even be more informed. What will happen is me being annoyed by the views of people on the street wanting a no deal Brexit. Why can’t we have a scandal where a minister allegedly calls a policeman (sorry police officer who was a man!) a pleb. 

I’m really trying to avoid the Brexit theme, but the whole thing is a bloody mess which will probably ruin many a Christmas dinner. The problem is the issue surrounding the more extreme views that have been bundled up with the Leavers. For example, finding Grandad’s views on brown people that we already knew, but tried to ignore. There’s no joy in Leaving the EU. There could have been if the leaders of the campaign were nothing bust disrupters who didn’t even think they would win. What will happen if we leave is that they have lost their raison d’etre which was to complain about being in the EU. Perhaps they will prevent any attempt to leave for the same reason.

At times like this, I like to wonder what Tom Waits would do.