Travel allowed me to experience moments that remain vivid in my memory. I swam in the Dead Sea, stood before the Pyramids and the Sphinx, walked through the ruins of Babylon, and visited Mount Nebo, Petra and Jerash. I saw the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort in India, explored Kandy in Sri Lanka, snorkelled … Read more
Why an Electric Vehicle Is Not Simply a Petrol Car with a Battery At the age of seventy-seven, I have owned more than twenty cars. Since 1990, almost all of them have been bought new, but only the last two have been electric vehicles. My motoring life began with a Volvo 122S. I later enjoyed … Read more
What We Lost When Repair Became Replacement During much of the twentieth century, an engineer or skilled technician was expected to understand how a machine worked. When something failed, the first question was not necessarily, “Which new unit shall we order?” It was, “What has gone wrong, and can it be repaired?” Mechanics, electricians, instrument … Read more
Understanding Trade Regulations Key Compliance Requirements for Exporters Tips for Navigating Trade Regulations Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them
This review of The House of Managed Democracy considers Gerald Bratley’s examination of the gap between how British democracy is described and how it is experienced by voters. That was the first thing that grabbed me about the book. On the surface, The House of Managed Democracy is a structured, research-driven examination of the United … Read more
The friendships formed through international travel were among the most enduring rewards of Gerald Bratley’s six decades in overseas business. One of the unexpected rewards of a career in international trade was not the countries visited, the contracts signed, or even the business successes achieved along the way. Those were important, of course, but they … Read more
Choosing an export adviser is one of the most important early decisions a business makes when preparing to enter international markets. Before a business begins its international journey, it needs practical guidance from someone who understands not only the theory of exporting, but also the realities of operating in overseas markets. International trade advisers come … Read more
Britain’s historical responsibility for Israel and Palestine cannot be understood without considering the political decisions, mandates and competing national aspirations that shaped the region. As someone who has spent a considerable amount of time working in and around recent war zones, I have often seen at first hand the consequences of destroyed infrastructure and displaced … Read more
The Falklands War The reliability of international news became a personal concern for Gerald Bratley while he was living in Malaysia during the Falklands War. In 1982, I was living in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, overseeing the construction of a factory to manufacture uPVC pipe and fittings for soil, waste and drainage systems, under licence from … Read more
The relationship between UK EU membership and international trade is best understood against the changes experienced by British exporters over several decades. My working life spans the period before Britain joined the European Economic Community, through our years of membership, and into the present day. In the 1960s Britain still lived largely in the world … Read more