But where was the opium market grown and developed specifically for export: India that other part of the Empire, whose army was used by the British to colonise the rest of Asia. Until the Indian mutiny in Malaysia when faced against the Japanese and also from Ghandi's independence movements within.

The old British policy of divide and rule has affected the Indian sub-continent ever since.

In the same way Nigeria was used and ist still having those divisions today.

The problem is that our schooling and history lessons proclaimed the British Empire and all its glories so that most of us now only believe all that crap. If I as a white guy even attempts to quote the truth many of my old pals tell me it's revisionist for they still believe that we educated and made these countries better. It is convenient to believe that the Empire was ambivalent, that is why the nationalists and white supremacists are active today.

I obviously feel differently and accept the truth of the real history and empathise, but I know I'm in the minority.

As I wasn't around in those days it is also difficult when the other side has a go at me as if it was my personal fault.

As an anti-monarchist it seems from all the nutters that are parading with that sick-making sycophancy and waltzing around the palaces and a closed coffin that I am still in the minority.

I would leave this sceptred isle tomorrow for I can't see my views taking precedence ever here. The problem is where to go, which place has not been poisoned by my country or the white supremacists?

Southern Europe was in my plans but the nationalists brought on and empowered by Brexit have put paid to even that hope.

I will re-publish this in part on my own blog as a request for ideas of where to head next.

Thanks Ade