In the latest edition of New Civil Engineer, I read of plans for a fixed link between Wales and Ireland, including two artificial islands, a 45km tunnel linking the islands and two 40km bridges, one at each end. The concept is for this crossing to carry both rail and road connections. Now a Euro-Tunnel shuttle / Eurostar style service I can imagine, but hands up everyone who wants to drive 130km across such a link? This concept is a response to Boris Johnson’s suggestion that a bridge between Scotland and Northern Ireland should be built. Apparently “Downing Street officials have recently suggested that three tunnels under the Irish Sea could connect in an underground roundabout beneath the Isle of Man.” I don’t doubt that it could be done, if the chancellor could find the money and, given the risk, a whopping contingency. I can also see how such a link would be an aspirin for the BREXIT induced headache that Northern Ireland has been landed with.

Meanwhile, in researching my next novel, I stumbled upon one of Louis XI’s sayings: ‘Qui nescit dissimulare, nescit regnare’ which I am told means – he who does not know how to dissemble, does not know how to reign. Normally I would try and find a link between two parts of a post, but I can’t quite put my finger on one.