On Sunday, the people of Catalonia in north-eastern Spain voted in a disputed and non-binding poll on independence.
There was no official electoral roll but the regional government said 5.4 million Catalans and resident foreigners aged 16 and above were eligible to vote.
The Catalan government said that a total of 2.3 million people had taken part in the vote, surpassing its initial estimate of 2.25 million, despite legal challenges and objections from the central government.
The vast majority of those who took part in this symbolic independence referendum, 80.7 percent, voted for independence.
Spain's central government dismissed the above as "useless" although Catalonia's nationalist government will surely step up their secession drive.
Opponents of the vote said those in favour didn’t produce convincing numbers. The total number of votes in favour of independence was purportedly less than the number cast in the last regional elections in 2012 for the four Catalan nationalist parties which called the referendum.
Whatever it is, the demands for greater autonomy have been rumbling for years, but the latest bid has pushed the issue further than ever before.
On Monday, I was at the Speakers Dream Toastmasters meeting. Although it was not well-attended, it was still enjoyable. I played two roles – as General Evaluator and Evaluator. I was also voted Best Table Topics Speaker and Best Evaluator.
I wish meetings can start on time but for many Toastmasters clubs, that is wishful thinking! I would score this particular meeting a 3.5 over 10.
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