IN THE final days before last June’s referendum I remember saying how much I was looking forward to not having to write the words Brexit or EU in every other paragraph.

In reflection I was more than a little naive.

Of course had the vote gone the other way we almost certainly wouldn’t still be hearing about it to anywhere near the same degree as we are today.

But few could have predicted just how complicated the actual process of leaving the EU could be.

Yesterday’s ruling by the Supreme Court that MPs have to be given a vote before Article 50 is triggered at least on the face of it seems to be yet another fly in the ointment.

But it’s worth thinking about just how momentous the decision really is.

While some MPs, those representing Scottish and Northern Ireland in particular, will make moves to stop the process moving forward, the fact is the UK voted to leave, and any MP representing a remain-supporting constituency who instead votes to block Article 50 probably won’t be hanging onto their job for too long.

When I asked the various MPs throughout the Argus’ circulation area last week how they would vote if given the choice, most said they would follow the wishes of their constituents and back the process.

No surprise in the case of Monmouth’s David Davies, who was a staunch Leave campaigner from day one, but the remainder of our MPs had all campaigned to varying degrees for the Remain campaign.

Even Newport West’s Paul Flynn, arguably one of the loudest anti-Leave voices in Gwent, conceded there was little he could do to stop the vote would be pushed through.

The fact that Mr Davies is the sole Conservative MP in Gwent while the others all represent Labour is no coincidence.

So ultimately Brexit is happening, with the Parliamentary vote not likely to do much more than put a slight delay on the process.

Yes, opposition parties will do their best to gain at least some concessions for the pro-Leave campaign, with the SNP alone saying they will present 50 separate amendments to the bill to trigger Article 50, but how much support these will win remains to be seen.

And in a further blow for Remain supporters in Wales, an appeal by the Welsh Assembly, as well as its Scottish and Northern Irish counterparts, to also be given a vote on the issue was not backed by the Supreme Court judges.

So the bottom line is Brexit is happening, and it’s happening soon.

Whether or not this is a good thing remains to be seen.

l As you may have noticed, Donald Trump moved into the White House last Friday.

With the controversy and surprise leading up to the change of guard in the Oval Office, it was somewhat inevitable coverage of the event would be dominated by rows around the size of the crowd at his inauguration, pictures of Michelle Obama looking unimpressed while being handed a present by the new First Lady, and a frankly hysterical clip of Hilary Clinton glaring daggers at her husband as he admired Mrs Trump.

But, despite half the world seeming to be under the impression the former reality TV show presenter and fake tan enthusiast would run straight into the Oval Office and slam his hand down on the big red nuclear button, the best part of a week later the world has kept on turning.

I know I wasn’t the only one to be utterly baffled when Mr Trump won last November’s election, thinking a cupboard bursting at the seams with skeletons would be his undoing.

As I’ve already mentioned, I’ve come to realise just how naive I can be.

But the fact is, arguments over the legitimacy of the Electoral College system notwithstanding, the American people gave him their support, and now we have to live with it.

And it’s possible that maybe, just maybe, a Trump presidency won’t be the worst thing to ever happen to the world.

And if it is, America can get rid of him in four years. Surely he can’t do that much damage in four years.

Can he?

l Congratulations to Islwyn MP Chris Evans and his wife Julia, who welcomed their son Zachariah George Ockenden Evans on Friday.

Whether or not baby Zachariah will be proud to tell people he was born on the day of President Trump’s inauguration or not remains to be seen.