Charles will probably turn out to be a slightly more popular king than it appears now. An even more outspokenly multicultural view on religion and environmentalism than his mother, for the left, and an old-Britain traditionalism on issues like architecture, and somewhat general rural-tweediness, for the right. Quite a reasonable balance and mix, in fact.
Yes, I think Charles will be a decent enough king though probably not so popular. Not that popularity matters, we have had plenty of unpopular monarchs over the years. Republicanism is nothing new.
I also don't think Charles would have prorogued Parliament as the Queen did (not least as he is probably a closet Remainer while the Queen was more pro Brexit).
Charles would have no choice . He couldn’t refuse and put himself in the middle of a political storm .
Proroguing Parliament is not the same as refusing to sign an Act passed by Parliament. Even the Supreme Court ruled it was unconstitutional.
Remember Charles is a Cambridge graduate while the Queen never went to university, he will be more aware when he can use his powers and not
Cambridge graduate? I wonder how he achieved admission to Fen poly? I got 4A’s at A level, with a distinction in the chemistry special paper and still didn’t get in. Reckon he exceeded my grades?
Prince Charles got a B and C A levels which were perfectly respectable when he took them in the 1960s pre grade inflation. Indeed even most Oxbridge undergraduates did not have straight As then
Charles will probably turn out to be a slightly more popular king than it appears now. An even more outspokenly multicultural view on religion and environmentalism than his mother, for the left, and an old-Britain traditionalism on issues like architecture, and somewhat general rural-tweediness, for the right. Quite a reasonable balance and mix, in fact.
Yes, I think Charles will be a decent enough king though probably not so popular. Not that popularity matters, we have had plenty of unpopular monarchs over the years. Republicanism is nothing new.
I also don't think Charles would have prorogued Parliament as the Queen did (not least as he is probably a closet Remainer while the Queen was more pro Brexit).
Charles would have no choice . He couldn’t refuse and put himself in the middle of a political storm .
Proroguing Parliament is not the same as refusing to sign an Act passed by Parliament. Even the Supreme Court ruled it was unconstitutional.
Remember Charles is a Cambridge graduate while the Queen never went to university, he will be more aware when he can use his powers and not
Cambridge graduate? I wonder how he achieved admission to Fen poly? I got 4A’s at A level, with a distinction in the chemistry special paper and still didn’t get in. Reckon he exceeded my grades?
I believe HMQ got some pretty solid grounding in constitutional law from some distinguished private tutors. Charlie is patently thick as fuck, Cambridge or not.
I have heard similar, via a friend who knew one of his tutors.
Odd then, that when he has often spoken out on 'unfashionable' topics, such as the environment (built and natural), he has generally been proven to be on the 'right' side.
You can be thick and right though...
Even Dominic Cummings has been right a couple of times.
At least, I'm sure he has. Sometimes. On minor things, perhaps...
In other news, Camden's night life is back. Been out there Friday last week with my friends and then again yesterday with my wife's friends. Bars and pubs are all packed, not many people milling about outdoors but everywhere had queues to get in, The Underworld has been refurbished and you can wear canvas shoes risk free and use the gents.
Londoners have got their confidence back. What I don't see as much is out of towners like people from Essex heading into Liverpool Street on Fridays for a night in one of Leicester Square's more commercial bars/clubs. Hopefully as we head into the summer this crowd will be back too, despite the fights/piss/rowdiness London needs the two sizes too small polo shirt wearing crowd.
I have seen the same. Camden Market today is RAMMED despite the lousy weather: completely back to pre-pandemic levels, indeed possibly busier than normal for a very wintry, wet Sunday. Barely possible to drive through, all the pubs full at 4.30pm
Another thing I have noticed: gentrification has sped along, up from Camden High Street, down Kentish Town Road, all the way to Tufnell Park and even tentatively as far as - yes - Archway, previously a dystopian urban Toilet.
This seems to be a post-demic thing, or at least the process has been vastly speeded up by the plague. What used to be crappy pound stores, betting shops, charity outlets, is now all trendy bars, Vietnamese pho pop-ups, organic grocers, new cafes, wine shops, fancy clothes stores.
Intriguing
Of course this leaves the Big Question: how is CENTRAL London doing?
The City was still incredibly quiet the last time I was there a couple of weeks ago. And Canary Wharf.
Yes, it's a major concern. Central London is THE motor
We need tourists back
Commuters are definitely returning
Out here in the blue wall, people are quietly having fun while remaining cautious in shops - masks almost universal in Sainsbury. A friend's funeral is getting a good turnout, but some of the elderly folk are not coming. Generally it all seems quite sensible - enjoy life as you usually would, but if you're concerned about gettting the bug, avoid unnecessary exposure that doesn't stop you having fun.
My office will reopen at the end of March, with most people planning to come in two days a week, permanently - nobody is very keen, but it 's recognised that 100% wfh has its drawbacks. An interesting side-effect has been that some people are working overtime as needed without claiming TOIL - as one said, "I'm saving two hours a day on commuting, I'm not fussed if I need to spend half an hour extra finishing a report."
Why are people still wearing masks in shops ?
Do they actually think it will do any good or has it become some sort of weird social habit ?
Because they do indeed do good.
I gave someone a piece of my mind yesterday who came near me without a mask. Thankfully 80%+ of people around here are all still wearing masks and many do so even outdoors.
Why? Because we know that this killer virus isn't done with us yet and we're not selfish.
In what context did you give them a piece of your mind? In hospital? Then fair enough. Almost anywhere else you are bang out of order. And rude to be honest.
There are far more not wearing masks and I simply do not see anyone brave or foolish enough to challenge them
Anyone comes near me in a shop without a mask they get a broadside. And my titanium tipped pole.
But fortunately most everyone wears them around here and virtually all the shop assistants. Whenever anyone approaches on the pavement we all cross the road: it has become a thing.
If you did that to me you'd get a punch in the face tbh. A very, very hard punch in the face.
Gloating about violence. How pathetic.
No gloating, just reality. Anyone who attacks me physically for not wearing a mask would get a retaliation.
That just makes you sound like a thug. Someone hits you (presumably lightly) with a pole, and you punch them hard in the face.
If you're like that in irl, then you're a nutter. If you're not like that, then you're just a prick on the Internet pretending to be a hard man.
Sorry but in the hypothetical scenario surely the person assaulting MaxPB with a stick is the one in the wrong and the provocateur ?
If someone did that to me I wouldn’t immediately hit them but if I was concerned for my safety I might. I’d sooner remove myself from the risk. They’re carrying a sharp stick after all and using it as a weapon.
It depends on the circumstances and the strength of the 'hit'. But Max's reply about a 'very, very hard punch in the face' is stupid.
Lives have been ruined and taken by that sort of attitude.
I mean, imagine if it was an accident, and Max saw the person was wearing a mask, and therefore punched her 'very, very hard in the face'.
As ever, if you can, deescalate a violent situation. Run away if necessary. Only attack back if you cannot.
Max evidently goes for escalation.
Naah Max is a pussy. I'd open her guts up with a razor. Or glass her
In other news, Camden's night life is back. Been out there Friday last week with my friends and then again yesterday with my wife's friends. Bars and pubs are all packed, not many people milling about outdoors but everywhere had queues to get in, The Underworld has been refurbished and you can wear canvas shoes risk free and use the gents.
Londoners have got their confidence back. What I don't see as much is out of towners like people from Essex heading into Liverpool Street on Fridays for a night in one of Leicester Square's more commercial bars/clubs. Hopefully as we head into the summer this crowd will be back too, despite the fights/piss/rowdiness London needs the two sizes too small polo shirt wearing crowd.
I have seen the same. Camden Market today is RAMMED despite the lousy weather: completely back to pre-pandemic levels, indeed possibly busier than normal for a very wintry, wet Sunday. Barely possible to drive through, all the pubs full at 4.30pm
Another thing I have noticed: gentrification has sped along, up from Camden High Street, down Kentish Town Road, all the way to Tufnell Park and even tentatively as far as - yes - Archway, previously a dystopian urban Toilet.
This seems to be a post-demic thing, or at least the process has been vastly speeded up by the plague. What used to be crappy pound stores, betting shops, charity outlets, is now all trendy bars, Vietnamese pho pop-ups, organic grocers, new cafes, wine shops, fancy clothes stores.
Intriguing
Of course this leaves the Big Question: how is CENTRAL London doing?
The City was still incredibly quiet the last time I was there a couple of weeks ago. And Canary Wharf.
Yes, it's a major concern. Central London is THE motor
We need tourists back
Commuters are definitely returning
Out here in the blue wall, people are quietly having fun while remaining cautious in shops - masks almost universal in Sainsbury. A friend's funeral is getting a good turnout, but some of the elderly folk are not coming. Generally it all seems quite sensible - enjoy life as you usually would, but if you're concerned about gettting the bug, avoid unnecessary exposure that doesn't stop you having fun.
My office will reopen at the end of March, with most people planning to come in two days a week, permanently - nobody is very keen, but it 's recognised that 100% wfh has its drawbacks. An interesting side-effect has been that some people are working overtime as needed without claiming TOIL - as one said, "I'm saving two hours a day on commuting, I'm not fussed if I need to spend half an hour extra finishing a report."
Why are people still wearing masks in shops ?
Do they actually think it will do any good or has it become some sort of weird social habit ?
Because they do indeed do good.
I gave someone a piece of my mind yesterday who came near me without a mask. Thankfully 80%+ of people around here are all still wearing masks and many do so even outdoors.
Why? Because we know that this killer virus isn't done with us yet and we're not selfish.
In what context did you give them a piece of your mind? In hospital? Then fair enough. Almost anywhere else you are bang out of order. And rude to be honest.
There are far more not wearing masks and I simply do not see anyone brave or foolish enough to challenge them
Anyone comes near me in a shop without a mask they get a broadside. And my titanium tipped pole.
But fortunately most everyone wears them around here and virtually all the shop assistants. Whenever anyone approaches on the pavement we all cross the road: it has become a thing.
If you did that to me you'd get a punch in the face tbh. A very, very hard punch in the face.
Why bother? Just make a complaint under section 4a of the Public Order Act 1986 and she gets six months.
In reality maskless people are all around Heathener and he/she does nothing about it, maybe tuts under their mask sometimes and basks in the glory of their own self satisfaction and virtue.
Leaving aside the unpleasant and aggressive tone of his/her posts, what on Earth is he/she on about? Mask mandates were abolished weeks ago.
They are completely barmy. So many people have made masks some totem of COVID virtue and decided that those who don't wear them are evil murderers. The government shares some of the blame and so does the media. There still seems to be some expectation out there that it will be possible to not get it and wearing masks in some locations but not others will prevent infections.
Just back from skiing in Italy. Face masks - must be FFP2 - are mandatory on gondola lifts. This was 100% enforced. So on went the masks - prior to sharing a gondola with my family!
Mountain restaurants - no problem. No masks enforced.
The reason for this idiocy is simple - the resort knows that if the coppers call they will be policing the gondolas not the restaurants.
This is an example of where we are. Companies are enforcing laws because they are worried about getting prosecuted not because of rationality, common sense and science. This adherence to laws which are absurd is surely a mark of authoritarianism.
In other news, Camden's night life is back. Been out there Friday last week with my friends and then again yesterday with my wife's friends. Bars and pubs are all packed, not many people milling about outdoors but everywhere had queues to get in, The Underworld has been refurbished and you can wear canvas shoes risk free and use the gents.
Londoners have got their confidence back. What I don't see as much is out of towners like people from Essex heading into Liverpool Street on Fridays for a night in one of Leicester Square's more commercial bars/clubs. Hopefully as we head into the summer this crowd will be back too, despite the fights/piss/rowdiness London needs the two sizes too small polo shirt wearing crowd.
I have seen the same. Camden Market today is RAMMED despite the lousy weather: completely back to pre-pandemic levels, indeed possibly busier than normal for a very wintry, wet Sunday. Barely possible to drive through, all the pubs full at 4.30pm
Another thing I have noticed: gentrification has sped along, up from Camden High Street, down Kentish Town Road, all the way to Tufnell Park and even tentatively as far as - yes - Archway, previously a dystopian urban Toilet.
This seems to be a post-demic thing, or at least the process has been vastly speeded up by the plague. What used to be crappy pound stores, betting shops, charity outlets, is now all trendy bars, Vietnamese pho pop-ups, organic grocers, new cafes, wine shops, fancy clothes stores.
Intriguing
Of course this leaves the Big Question: how is CENTRAL London doing?
The City was still incredibly quiet the last time I was there a couple of weeks ago. And Canary Wharf.
Yes, it's a major concern. Central London is THE motor
We need tourists back
Commuters are definitely returning
Out here in the blue wall, people are quietly having fun while remaining cautious in shops - masks almost universal in Sainsbury. A friend's funeral is getting a good turnout, but some of the elderly folk are not coming. Generally it all seems quite sensible - enjoy life as you usually would, but if you're concerned about gettting the bug, avoid unnecessary exposure that doesn't stop you having fun.
My office will reopen at the end of March, with most people planning to come in two days a week, permanently - nobody is very keen, but it 's recognised that 100% wfh has its drawbacks. An interesting side-effect has been that some people are working overtime as needed without claiming TOIL - as one said, "I'm saving two hours a day on commuting, I'm not fussed if I need to spend half an hour extra finishing a report."
Why are people still wearing masks in shops ?
Do they actually think it will do any good or has it become some sort of weird social habit ?
Because they do indeed do good.
I gave someone a piece of my mind yesterday who came near me without a mask. Thankfully 80%+ of people around here are all still wearing masks and many do so even outdoors.
Why? Because we know that this killer virus isn't done with us yet and we're not selfish.
In what context did you give them a piece of your mind? In hospital? Then fair enough. Almost anywhere else you are bang out of order. And rude to be honest.
There are far more not wearing masks and I simply do not see anyone brave or foolish enough to challenge them
Anyone comes near me in a shop without a mask they get a broadside. And my titanium tipped pole.
But fortunately most everyone wears them around here and virtually all the shop assistants. Whenever anyone approaches on the pavement we all cross the road: it has become a thing.
If you did that to me you'd get a punch in the face tbh. A very, very hard punch in the face.
Gloating about violence. How pathetic.
No gloating, just reality. Anyone who attacks me physically for not wearing a mask would get a retaliation.
That just makes you sound like a thug. Someone hits you (presumably lightly) with a pole, and you punch them hard in the face.
If you're like that in irl, then you're a nutter. If you're not like that, then you're just a prick on the Internet pretending to be a hard man.
Not really, it's self defence. You think it's right that anyone would attack someone else unprovoked yet condemn anyone who would defend themselves.
In most cases there are other ways of getting out of a situation aside from attacking back, which should be the last resort.
Your first thought is apparently to escalate.
To make it clear: in this hypothetical situation, Heathener would be in the wrong. You might well be more in the wrong if your 'very. very hard punch in the face' was a dramatic escalation over the provoking incident.
In other news, Camden's night life is back. Been out there Friday last week with my friends and then again yesterday with my wife's friends. Bars and pubs are all packed, not many people milling about outdoors but everywhere had queues to get in, The Underworld has been refurbished and you can wear canvas shoes risk free and use the gents.
Londoners have got their confidence back. What I don't see as much is out of towners like people from Essex heading into Liverpool Street on Fridays for a night in one of Leicester Square's more commercial bars/clubs. Hopefully as we head into the summer this crowd will be back too, despite the fights/piss/rowdiness London needs the two sizes too small polo shirt wearing crowd.
I have seen the same. Camden Market today is RAMMED despite the lousy weather: completely back to pre-pandemic levels, indeed possibly busier than normal for a very wintry, wet Sunday. Barely possible to drive through, all the pubs full at 4.30pm
Another thing I have noticed: gentrification has sped along, up from Camden High Street, down Kentish Town Road, all the way to Tufnell Park and even tentatively as far as - yes - Archway, previously a dystopian urban Toilet.
This seems to be a post-demic thing, or at least the process has been vastly speeded up by the plague. What used to be crappy pound stores, betting shops, charity outlets, is now all trendy bars, Vietnamese pho pop-ups, organic grocers, new cafes, wine shops, fancy clothes stores.
Intriguing
Of course this leaves the Big Question: how is CENTRAL London doing?
The City was still incredibly quiet the last time I was there a couple of weeks ago. And Canary Wharf.
Yes, it's a major concern. Central London is THE motor
We need tourists back
Commuters are definitely returning
Out here in the blue wall, people are quietly having fun while remaining cautious in shops - masks almost universal in Sainsbury. A friend's funeral is getting a good turnout, but some of the elderly folk are not coming. Generally it all seems quite sensible - enjoy life as you usually would, but if you're concerned about gettting the bug, avoid unnecessary exposure that doesn't stop you having fun.
My office will reopen at the end of March, with most people planning to come in two days a week, permanently - nobody is very keen, but it 's recognised that 100% wfh has its drawbacks. An interesting side-effect has been that some people are working overtime as needed without claiming TOIL - as one said, "I'm saving two hours a day on commuting, I'm not fussed if I need to spend half an hour extra finishing a report."
Why are people still wearing masks in shops ?
Do they actually think it will do any good or has it become some sort of weird social habit ?
Because they do indeed do good.
I gave someone a piece of my mind yesterday who came near me without a mask. Thankfully 80%+ of people around here are all still wearing masks and many do so even outdoors.
Why? Because we know that this killer virus isn't done with us yet and we're not selfish.
In what context did you give them a piece of your mind? In hospital? Then fair enough. Almost anywhere else you are bang out of order. And rude to be honest.
There are far more not wearing masks and I simply do not see anyone brave or foolish enough to challenge them
Anyone comes near me in a shop without a mask they get a broadside. And my titanium tipped pole.
But fortunately most everyone wears them around here and virtually all the shop assistants. Whenever anyone approaches on the pavement we all cross the road: it has become a thing.
If you did that to me you'd get a punch in the face tbh. A very, very hard punch in the face.
Gloating about violence. How pathetic.
No gloating, just reality. Anyone who attacks me physically for not wearing a mask would get a retaliation.
That just makes you sound like a thug. Someone hits you (presumably lightly) with a pole, and you punch them hard in the face.
If you're like that in irl, then you're a nutter. If you're not like that, then you're just a prick on the Internet pretending to be a hard man.
Sorry but in the hypothetical scenario surely the person assaulting MaxPB with a stick is the one in the wrong and the provocateur ?
If someone did that to me I wouldn’t immediately hit them but if I was concerned for my safety I might. I’d sooner remove myself from the risk. They’re carrying a sharp stick after all and using it as a weapon.
It depends on the circumstances and the strength of the 'hit'. But Max's reply about a 'very, very hard punch in the face' is stupid.
Lives have been ruined and taken by that sort of attitude.
I mean, imagine if it was an accident, and Max saw the person was wearing a mask, and therefore punched her 'very, very hard in the face'.
As ever, if you can, deescalate a violent situation. Run away if necessary. Only attack back if you cannot.
Max evidently goes for escalation.
Naah Max is a pussy. I'd open her guts up with a razor. Or glass her
A True English gent would just fix the miscreant with a Paddington (*)-style 'hard stare'.
In other news, Camden's night life is back. Been out there Friday last week with my friends and then again yesterday with my wife's friends. Bars and pubs are all packed, not many people milling about outdoors but everywhere had queues to get in, The Underworld has been refurbished and you can wear canvas shoes risk free and use the gents.
Londoners have got their confidence back. What I don't see as much is out of towners like people from Essex heading into Liverpool Street on Fridays for a night in one of Leicester Square's more commercial bars/clubs. Hopefully as we head into the summer this crowd will be back too, despite the fights/piss/rowdiness London needs the two sizes too small polo shirt wearing crowd.
I have seen the same. Camden Market today is RAMMED despite the lousy weather: completely back to pre-pandemic levels, indeed possibly busier than normal for a very wintry, wet Sunday. Barely possible to drive through, all the pubs full at 4.30pm
Another thing I have noticed: gentrification has sped along, up from Camden High Street, down Kentish Town Road, all the way to Tufnell Park and even tentatively as far as - yes - Archway, previously a dystopian urban Toilet.
This seems to be a post-demic thing, or at least the process has been vastly speeded up by the plague. What used to be crappy pound stores, betting shops, charity outlets, is now all trendy bars, Vietnamese pho pop-ups, organic grocers, new cafes, wine shops, fancy clothes stores.
Intriguing
Of course this leaves the Big Question: how is CENTRAL London doing?
The City was still incredibly quiet the last time I was there a couple of weeks ago. And Canary Wharf.
Yes, it's a major concern. Central London is THE motor
We need tourists back
Commuters are definitely returning
Out here in the blue wall, people are quietly having fun while remaining cautious in shops - masks almost universal in Sainsbury. A friend's funeral is getting a good turnout, but some of the elderly folk are not coming. Generally it all seems quite sensible - enjoy life as you usually would, but if you're concerned about gettting the bug, avoid unnecessary exposure that doesn't stop you having fun.
My office will reopen at the end of March, with most people planning to come in two days a week, permanently - nobody is very keen, but it 's recognised that 100% wfh has its drawbacks. An interesting side-effect has been that some people are working overtime as needed without claiming TOIL - as one said, "I'm saving two hours a day on commuting, I'm not fussed if I need to spend half an hour extra finishing a report."
Why are people still wearing masks in shops ?
Do they actually think it will do any good or has it become some sort of weird social habit ?
Because shops have asked them to, such as Waitrose etc. And yes, some folk do believe they will help prevent them catching Covid. This should be the future. I have no beef with people wearing masks. I get annoyed at people being upset if I don’t.
I suppose that depends on if you want to live the rest of your life in fear of covid.
Not that it will do those people any good as everyone will still come into contact with it.
It clearly upsets you you that people still wear masks, not sure why, it's personal preference.
You assume people who do are living "in fear" of covid. They are not. There are still plenty of cases so I pop my mask on in a crowded shop or public transport. Why take a risk? If it doesn't have any effect then so be it, but there is no downside to putting it on for a couple of minutes as far as I can see.
I'm in my early 70's and whenever it has been allowed we have been eating out 3 or 4 times a week , travelling around , staying in hotels, going abroad, going to concerts, meeting friends etc but acting cautiously and wearing a mask when we feel it's wise to do so. We haven't yet caught Covid and could easily carry on as we are for years if necessary. it's not impacting on what we do in the least.
I’m not upset that people wear masks. I’m very upset that I am still required to at work and expected to at my preferred supermarket. I think it’s reasonable that I shouldn’t have to, but my employer and John Lewis don’t seem to agree.
I can't comment on your employer but you are under no obligation to do so in a shop and nobody is going to say anything if you don't.
If a shop requested I did something whilst on their premises I would probably do so out of common courtesy if nothing else even if I didn't think it was necessary. It just wouldn't be a big deal. There's more to worry about in this life than something as inconsequential as whether to pop a mask on in a shop for a couple of minutes.
Yes I can perfectly happily shop in Waitrose without the mask, and yes it’s not a big deal to wear one either. Except in my head it is. I think this stems from my personal circumstances. Effectively freedom day has meant little to me because I still was under the Covid cosh at work and my preferred shop would like me to wear the mask too. So really since Feb last year nothing really changed for me, even when it did nationally. Now I can unilaterally stop tomorrow. I won’t get fired and I Waitrose will still take my money. But that’s not the point. I want the situation shifted to where those that want to wear masks do, but no one else is made to feel guilty for not doing so.
This Ukrainian crisis seems to have bought out the worse in Macron (and Germany for that matter)
Sad state of affairs that will fundamentally shift the dial for the west
There's been an opinion poll in Ukraine on how the role of other countries in the crisis is perceived. 60% believe the US 'protects Ukraine interests' and 58% think so of the UK. Only 26% think so of France, and 13% of Germany.
MUNICH — The Kremlin on Sunday used a telephone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron to broadcast an array of provocative, unproven allegations of belligerence by Ukraine and NATO countries, insisting the West was “pushing Kyiv towards a military solution to the so-called Donbass problem.”
Moscow’s unfounded claims, put forward while Russia has mobilized more than 100,000 troops and sophisticated weapons on the Ukrainian border, sharply raised the danger that Putin might use fabricated charges to justify a military attack.
In other news, Camden's night life is back. Been out there Friday last week with my friends and then again yesterday with my wife's friends. Bars and pubs are all packed, not many people milling about outdoors but everywhere had queues to get in, The Underworld has been refurbished and you can wear canvas shoes risk free and use the gents.
Londoners have got their confidence back. What I don't see as much is out of towners like people from Essex heading into Liverpool Street on Fridays for a night in one of Leicester Square's more commercial bars/clubs. Hopefully as we head into the summer this crowd will be back too, despite the fights/piss/rowdiness London needs the two sizes too small polo shirt wearing crowd.
I have seen the same. Camden Market today is RAMMED despite the lousy weather: completely back to pre-pandemic levels, indeed possibly busier than normal for a very wintry, wet Sunday. Barely possible to drive through, all the pubs full at 4.30pm
Another thing I have noticed: gentrification has sped along, up from Camden High Street, down Kentish Town Road, all the way to Tufnell Park and even tentatively as far as - yes - Archway, previously a dystopian urban Toilet.
This seems to be a post-demic thing, or at least the process has been vastly speeded up by the plague. What used to be crappy pound stores, betting shops, charity outlets, is now all trendy bars, Vietnamese pho pop-ups, organic grocers, new cafes, wine shops, fancy clothes stores.
Intriguing
Of course this leaves the Big Question: how is CENTRAL London doing?
The City was still incredibly quiet the last time I was there a couple of weeks ago. And Canary Wharf.
Yes, it's a major concern. Central London is THE motor
We need tourists back
Commuters are definitely returning
Out here in the blue wall, people are quietly having fun while remaining cautious in shops - masks almost universal in Sainsbury. A friend's funeral is getting a good turnout, but some of the elderly folk are not coming. Generally it all seems quite sensible - enjoy life as you usually would, but if you're concerned about gettting the bug, avoid unnecessary exposure that doesn't stop you having fun.
My office will reopen at the end of March, with most people planning to come in two days a week, permanently - nobody is very keen, but it 's recognised that 100% wfh has its drawbacks. An interesting side-effect has been that some people are working overtime as needed without claiming TOIL - as one said, "I'm saving two hours a day on commuting, I'm not fussed if I need to spend half an hour extra finishing a report."
Why are people still wearing masks in shops ?
Do they actually think it will do any good or has it become some sort of weird social habit ?
Because shops have asked them to, such as Waitrose etc. And yes, some folk do believe they will help prevent them catching Covid. This should be the future. I have no beef with people wearing masks. I get annoyed at people being upset if I don’t.
I suppose that depends on if you want to live the rest of your life in fear of covid.
Not that it will do those people any good as everyone will still come into contact with it.
It clearly upsets you you that people still wear masks, not sure why, it's personal preference.
You assume people who do are living "in fear" of covid. They are not. There are still plenty of cases so I pop my mask on in a crowded shop or public transport. Why take a risk? If it doesn't have any effect then so be it, but there is no downside to putting it on for a couple of minutes as far as I can see.
I'm in my early 70's and whenever it has been allowed we have been eating out 3 or 4 times a week , travelling around , staying in hotels, going abroad, going to concerts, meeting friends etc but acting cautiously and wearing a mask when we feel it's wise to do so. We haven't yet caught Covid and could easily carry on as we are for years if necessary. it's not impacting on what we do in the least.
I’m not upset that people wear masks. I’m very upset that I am still required to at work and expected to at my preferred supermarket. I think it’s reasonable that I shouldn’t have to, but my employer and John Lewis don’t seem to agree.
I can't comment on your employer but you are under no obligation to do so in a shop and nobody is going to say anything if you don't.
If a shop requested I did something whilst on their premises I would probably do so out of common courtesy if nothing else even if I didn't think it was necessary. It just wouldn't be a big deal. There's more to worry about in this life than something as inconsequential as whether to pop a mask on in a shop for a couple of minutes.
I wrote this in July; I think it has held up well:
'Someone downthread said that no-one had tried to justify why masks should be dropped. So I'll have a go in three hits. I admit not many have justified removal of mask mandates - and I think that is because, like banning peanuts from certain environments like schools where one child is allergic, it is seen as 'low cost' or 'not a huge deal'.
1) Philosophical. In my view that is not a sensible or desirable policy for a whole society to adapt permanently to for a transient event, nor is it justified to protect a tiny minority of immuno-supressed individuals who live with the chance of catching the flu every-day, anyway. Since the chance of medical collapse has gone, the analogy of masks to protect the vulnerable would be banning peanuts across the country because some are allergic. imposing restrictions on the many in the small chance that it might prevent the odd infection for a tiny minority of unvaccinated individuals is unwieldy.
2) Scientific and epidemiological. For a start, the cloth I wear over my face does little to nothing to stop any spread. It isn't properly fitted, I don't replace it frequently enough. I have seen much worse than my own. So they largely don't work in the real world. Secondly, we have a vaccine wall which will protect us far more. A pandemic exit wave will burn out in population whether vaccinated or not; we've done wonders, we need to have confidence in science
3) Socio-political. Masks to me are a symbol of fear, concern, or general alertness - and I am sure that I am not alone. The crisis is over. I don't want people covering to the whims of authority forever and a day. Fear makes society far too easy to mould by those who govern a fearful society is not a free society. It is suboptimal.
To conclude; I think the problem is that people have come to see any covid as terrible, and therefore support any measures to supress it, no matter how onerous. This is foolish. We will not be rid of it. Living with it is the only way through.'
In other news, Camden's night life is back. Been out there Friday last week with my friends and then again yesterday with my wife's friends. Bars and pubs are all packed, not many people milling about outdoors but everywhere had queues to get in, The Underworld has been refurbished and you can wear canvas shoes risk free and use the gents.
Londoners have got their confidence back. What I don't see as much is out of towners like people from Essex heading into Liverpool Street on Fridays for a night in one of Leicester Square's more commercial bars/clubs. Hopefully as we head into the summer this crowd will be back too, despite the fights/piss/rowdiness London needs the two sizes too small polo shirt wearing crowd.
I have seen the same. Camden Market today is RAMMED despite the lousy weather: completely back to pre-pandemic levels, indeed possibly busier than normal for a very wintry, wet Sunday. Barely possible to drive through, all the pubs full at 4.30pm
Another thing I have noticed: gentrification has sped along, up from Camden High Street, down Kentish Town Road, all the way to Tufnell Park and even tentatively as far as - yes - Archway, previously a dystopian urban Toilet.
This seems to be a post-demic thing, or at least the process has been vastly speeded up by the plague. What used to be crappy pound stores, betting shops, charity outlets, is now all trendy bars, Vietnamese pho pop-ups, organic grocers, new cafes, wine shops, fancy clothes stores.
Intriguing
Of course this leaves the Big Question: how is CENTRAL London doing?
The City was still incredibly quiet the last time I was there a couple of weeks ago. And Canary Wharf.
Yes, it's a major concern. Central London is THE motor
We need tourists back
Commuters are definitely returning
Out here in the blue wall, people are quietly having fun while remaining cautious in shops - masks almost universal in Sainsbury. A friend's funeral is getting a good turnout, but some of the elderly folk are not coming. Generally it all seems quite sensible - enjoy life as you usually would, but if you're concerned about gettting the bug, avoid unnecessary exposure that doesn't stop you having fun.
My office will reopen at the end of March, with most people planning to come in two days a week, permanently - nobody is very keen, but it 's recognised that 100% wfh has its drawbacks. An interesting side-effect has been that some people are working overtime as needed without claiming TOIL - as one said, "I'm saving two hours a day on commuting, I'm not fussed if I need to spend half an hour extra finishing a report."
Why are people still wearing masks in shops ?
Do they actually think it will do any good or has it become some sort of weird social habit ?
Because they do indeed do good.
I gave someone a piece of my mind yesterday who came near me without a mask. Thankfully 80%+ of people around here are all still wearing masks and many do so even outdoors.
Why? Because we know that this killer virus isn't done with us yet and we're not selfish.
In what context did you give them a piece of your mind? In hospital? Then fair enough. Almost anywhere else you are bang out of order. And rude to be honest.
There are far more not wearing masks and I simply do not see anyone brave or foolish enough to challenge them
Anyone comes near me in a shop without a mask they get a broadside. And my titanium tipped pole.
But fortunately most everyone wears them around here and virtually all the shop assistants. Whenever anyone approaches on the pavement we all cross the road: it has become a thing.
If you did that to me you'd get a punch in the face tbh. A very, very hard punch in the face.
Why bother? Just make a complaint under section 4a of the Public Order Act 1986 and she gets six months.
In reality maskless people are all around Heathener and he/she does nothing about it, maybe tuts under their mask sometimes and basks in the glory of their own self satisfaction and virtue.
Leaving aside the unpleasant and aggressive tone of his/her posts, what on Earth is he/she on about? Mask mandates were abolished weeks ago.
They are completely barmy. So many people have made masks some totem of COVID virtue and decided that those who don't wear them are evil murderers. The government shares some of the blame and so does the media. There still seems to be some expectation out there that it will be possible to not get it and wearing masks in some locations but not others will prevent infections.
Just back from skiing in Italy. Face masks - must be FFP2 - are mandatory on gondola lifts. This was 100% enforced. So on went the masks - prior to sharing a gondola with my family!
Mountain restaurants - no problem. No masks enforced.
The reason for this idiocy is simple - the resort knows that if the coppers call they will be policing the gondolas not the restaurants.
This is an example of where we are. Companies are enforcing laws because they are worried about getting prosecuted not because of rationality, common sense and science. This adherence to laws which are absurd is surely a mark of authoritarianism.
Hols booked in Naples for April. I am sincerely hoping the mask rules are dropped by then....
Charles will probably turn out to be a slightly more popular king than it appears now. An even more outspokenly multicultural view on religion and environmentalism than his mother, for the left, and an old-Britain traditionalism on issues like architecture, and somewhat general rural-tweediness, for the right. Quite a reasonable balance and mix, in fact.
Yes, I think Charles will be a decent enough king though probably not so popular. Not that popularity matters, we have had plenty of unpopular monarchs over the years. Republicanism is nothing new.
I also don't think Charles would have prorogued Parliament as the Queen did (not least as he is probably a closet Remainer while the Queen was more pro Brexit).
Charles would have no choice . He couldn’t refuse and put himself in the middle of a political storm .
Proroguing Parliament is not the same as refusing to sign an Act passed by Parliament. Even the Supreme Court ruled it was unconstitutional.
Remember Charles is a Cambridge graduate while the Queen never went to university, he will be more aware when he can use his powers and not
Cambridge graduate? I wonder how he achieved admission to Fen poly? I got 4A’s at A level, with a distinction in the chemistry special paper and still didn’t get in. Reckon he exceeded my grades?
I believe HMQ got some pretty solid grounding in constitutional law from some distinguished private tutors. Charlie is patently thick as fuck, Cambridge or not.
I have heard similar, via a friend who knew one of his tutors.
Odd then, that when he has often spoken out on 'unfashionable' topics, such as the environment (built and natural), he has generally been proven to be on the 'right' side.
Actually I partly agree with this. I think the reason is his youth in the 1960's - he seemed to have a formative, slightly more radical period, and then a more traditionalist period. As a result, however intelligent he is or not, I think his overall perspective on a lot of things looks quite well-balanced.
MUNICH — The Kremlin on Sunday used a telephone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron to broadcast an array of provocative, unproven allegations of belligerence by Ukraine and NATO countries, insisting the West was “pushing Kyiv towards a military solution to the so-called Donbass problem.”
Moscow’s unfounded claims, put forward while Russia has mobilized more than 100,000 troops and sophisticated weapons on the Ukrainian border, sharply raised the danger that Putin might use fabricated charges to justify a military attack.
One thing I noticed last night on the way home, street lamps in the suburbs seem to have been switched off. It seems as though the electricity capacity situation is worse than the government is letting on.
This Ukrainian crisis seems to have bought out the worse in Macron (and Germany for that matter)
Sad state of affairs that will fundamentally shift the dial for the west
There's been an opinion poll in Ukraine on how the role of other countries in the crisis is perceived. 60% believe the US 'protects Ukraine interests' and 58% think so of the UK. Only 26% think so of France, and 13% of Germany.
In other news, Camden's night life is back. Been out there Friday last week with my friends and then again yesterday with my wife's friends. Bars and pubs are all packed, not many people milling about outdoors but everywhere had queues to get in, The Underworld has been refurbished and you can wear canvas shoes risk free and use the gents.
Londoners have got their confidence back. What I don't see as much is out of towners like people from Essex heading into Liverpool Street on Fridays for a night in one of Leicester Square's more commercial bars/clubs. Hopefully as we head into the summer this crowd will be back too, despite the fights/piss/rowdiness London needs the two sizes too small polo shirt wearing crowd.
I have seen the same. Camden Market today is RAMMED despite the lousy weather: completely back to pre-pandemic levels, indeed possibly busier than normal for a very wintry, wet Sunday. Barely possible to drive through, all the pubs full at 4.30pm
Another thing I have noticed: gentrification has sped along, up from Camden High Street, down Kentish Town Road, all the way to Tufnell Park and even tentatively as far as - yes - Archway, previously a dystopian urban Toilet.
This seems to be a post-demic thing, or at least the process has been vastly speeded up by the plague. What used to be crappy pound stores, betting shops, charity outlets, is now all trendy bars, Vietnamese pho pop-ups, organic grocers, new cafes, wine shops, fancy clothes stores.
Intriguing
Of course this leaves the Big Question: how is CENTRAL London doing?
The City was still incredibly quiet the last time I was there a couple of weeks ago. And Canary Wharf.
Yes, it's a major concern. Central London is THE motor
We need tourists back
Commuters are definitely returning
Out here in the blue wall, people are quietly having fun while remaining cautious in shops - masks almost universal in Sainsbury. A friend's funeral is getting a good turnout, but some of the elderly folk are not coming. Generally it all seems quite sensible - enjoy life as you usually would, but if you're concerned about gettting the bug, avoid unnecessary exposure that doesn't stop you having fun.
My office will reopen at the end of March, with most people planning to come in two days a week, permanently - nobody is very keen, but it 's recognised that 100% wfh has its drawbacks. An interesting side-effect has been that some people are working overtime as needed without claiming TOIL - as one said, "I'm saving two hours a day on commuting, I'm not fussed if I need to spend half an hour extra finishing a report."
Why are people still wearing masks in shops ?
Do they actually think it will do any good or has it become some sort of weird social habit ?
Because they do indeed do good.
I gave someone a piece of my mind yesterday who came near me without a mask. Thankfully 80%+ of people around here are all still wearing masks and many do so even outdoors.
Why? Because we know that this killer virus isn't done with us yet and we're not selfish.
In what context did you give them a piece of your mind? In hospital? Then fair enough. Almost anywhere else you are bang out of order. And rude to be honest.
There are far more not wearing masks and I simply do not see anyone brave or foolish enough to challenge them
Anyone comes near me in a shop without a mask they get a broadside. And my titanium tipped pole.
But fortunately most everyone wears them around here and virtually all the shop assistants. Whenever anyone approaches on the pavement we all cross the road: it has become a thing.
If you did that to me you'd get a punch in the face tbh. A very, very hard punch in the face.
Why bother? Just make a complaint under section 4a of the Public Order Act 1986 and she gets six months.
In reality maskless people are all around Heathener and he/she does nothing about it, maybe tuts under their mask sometimes and basks in the glory of their own self satisfaction and virtue.
Leaving aside the unpleasant and aggressive tone of his/her posts, what on Earth is he/she on about? Mask mandates were abolished weeks ago.
They are completely barmy. So many people have made masks some totem of COVID virtue and decided that those who don't wear them are evil murderers. The government shares some of the blame and so does the media. There still seems to be some expectation out there that it will be possible to not get it and wearing masks in some locations but not others will prevent infections.
Just back from skiing in Italy. Face masks - must be FFP2 - are mandatory on gondola lifts. This was 100% enforced. So on went the masks - prior to sharing a gondola with my family!
Mountain restaurants - no problem. No masks enforced.
The reason for this idiocy is simple - the resort knows that if the coppers call they will be policing the gondolas not the restaurants.
All my stereotypes of Italian police are clearly wrong...
Charles will probably turn out to be a slightly more popular king than it appears now. An even more outspokenly multicultural view on religion and environmentalism than his mother, for the left, and an old-Britain traditionalism on issues like architecture, and somewhat general rural-tweediness, for the right. Quite a reasonable balance and mix, in fact.
Yes, I think Charles will be a decent enough king though probably not so popular. Not that popularity matters, we have had plenty of unpopular monarchs over the years. Republicanism is nothing new.
I also don't think Charles would have prorogued Parliament as the Queen did (not least as he is probably a closet Remainer while the Queen was more pro Brexit).
Charles would have no choice . He couldn’t refuse and put himself in the middle of a political storm .
Proroguing Parliament is not the same as refusing to sign an Act passed by Parliament. Even the Supreme Court ruled it was unconstitutional.
Remember Charles is a Cambridge graduate while the Queen never went to university, he will be more aware when he can use his powers and not
Cambridge graduate? I wonder how he achieved admission to Fen poly? I got 4A’s at A level, with a distinction in the chemistry special paper and still didn’t get in. Reckon he exceeded my grades?
I believe HMQ got some pretty solid grounding in constitutional law from some distinguished private tutors. Charlie is patently thick as fuck, Cambridge or not.
I have heard similar, via a friend who knew one of his tutors.
Odd then, that when he has often spoken out on 'unfashionable' topics, such as the environment (built and natural), he has generally been proven to be on the 'right' side.
Actually I partly agree with this. I think the reason is his youth in the 1960's - he seemed to have a formative, slightly more radical patch, and then a more traditionalist period. As a result, however intelligent he is or not, I think his overall perspective on a lot of things looks quite well-balanced.
If he could vote Charles would probably be a LD I would imagine, occasionally voting Green or Tory
MUNICH — The Kremlin on Sunday used a telephone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron to broadcast an array of provocative, unproven allegations of belligerence by Ukraine and NATO countries, insisting the West was “pushing Kyiv towards a military solution to the so-called Donbass problem.”
Moscow’s unfounded claims, put forward while Russia has mobilized more than 100,000 troops and sophisticated weapons on the Ukrainian border, sharply raised the danger that Putin might use fabricated charges to justify a military attack.
I am looking forward to getting rid of the things, and I'm using mine on fewer occasions.
Having said that: in future, if I have a cough or cold, then I might well wear one when going into crowded places. It seems reasonable and only polite.
On a related note, I can see companies being less keen on staff coming in when they are obviously unwell. No more struggling in and coughing guts up at the desk because there's a deadline that needs to be met ...
I am not at all reassured by @EmmanuelMacron 's call w Putin. 'A summit meeting with a view to defining a new order of peace and security in Europe' shd not be on offer as long as Putin has a gun to Ukraine's head. Rewarding blackmail is never a good strategy.
Putin wants just Ukraine , Germany and France at any summit for obvious reasons. Whether any summit has a chance of success clearly he doesn’t want to look like he’s made any sort of deal with the UK and USA.
That’s the bit I doubt. In fact there’s a few bits that seem odd.
Through NATO and wishing to be a global power US has huge amount of skin in the game. That bit we can all agree on. So the next question, are they being excluded in front our eyes, as you suggest, or are they choosing to work through actors and others as a front.
If I was US pres right now, I would keep hands off deal making and use actors instead, partly it would keep Moscow guessing what my view is, it would make it seem Europe sorting its own peace without it being dictated by Washington - that’s brilliantly diplomatic - and I couldn’t be seen as blocker or wrecker if talks breaks down, quite fairly it needs to look like Ukraine and Europe powers red lines, not mine in Washington.
The other odd bit, where Washington been pushing the invasion certain, Major and imminent hype has been spooking Ukraine more than Moscow - almost to the extent you wonder if London and Washington on back hander for amplifying rattle of sabre, are they trying to pressurise Ukraine too? Bonkers I know, yet over last few weeks you can visibly see it, Ukraine honestly rattled and woken up by the Washington announcements,
Charles will probably turn out to be a slightly more popular king than it appears now. An even more outspokenly multicultural view on religion and environmentalism than his mother, for the left, and an old-Britain traditionalism on issues like architecture, and somewhat general rural-tweediness, for the right. Quite a reasonable balance and mix, in fact.
Yes, I think Charles will be a decent enough king though probably not so popular. Not that popularity matters, we have had plenty of unpopular monarchs over the years. Republicanism is nothing new.
I also don't think Charles would have prorogued Parliament as the Queen did (not least as he is probably a closet Remainer while the Queen was more pro Brexit).
Charles would have no choice . He couldn’t refuse and put himself in the middle of a political storm .
Proroguing Parliament is not the same as refusing to sign an Act passed by Parliament. Even the Supreme Court ruled it was unconstitutional.
Remember Charles is a Cambridge graduate while the Queen never went to university, he will be more aware when he can use his powers and not
Cambridge graduate? I wonder how he achieved admission to Fen poly? I got 4A’s at A level, with a distinction in the chemistry special paper and still didn’t get in. Reckon he exceeded my grades?
I believe HMQ got some pretty solid grounding in constitutional law from some distinguished private tutors. Charlie is patently thick as fuck, Cambridge or not.
I have heard similar, via a friend who knew one of his tutors.
Odd then, that when he has often spoken out on 'unfashionable' topics, such as the environment (built and natural), he has generally been proven to be on the 'right' side.
Actually I partly agree with this. I think the reason is his youth in the 1960's - he seemed to have a formative, slightly more radical patch, and then a more traditionalist period. As a result, however intelligent he is or not, I think his overall perspective on a lot of things looks quite well-balanced.
If he could vote Charles would probably be a LD I would imagine, occasionally voting Green or Tory
Do you think he’d happily vote for this Tory admin ?
I am looking forward to getting rid of the things, and I'm using mine on fewer occasions.
Having said that: in future, if I have a cough or cold, then I might well wear one when going into crowded places. It seems reasonable and only polite.
On a related note, I can see companies being less keen on staff coming in when they are obviously unwell. No more struggling in and coughing guts up at the desk because there's a deadline that needs to be met ...
When this bloody cold is over No more PPE for me; When I get these silly masks off Whoah, how happy I will happy I will be. No more handsan in the foyer No more spraying after class If I see that Indie SAGE mob I'll shove a spray gun up their arse.
In other news, Camden's night life is back. Been out there Friday last week with my friends and then again yesterday with my wife's friends. Bars and pubs are all packed, not many people milling about outdoors but everywhere had queues to get in, The Underworld has been refurbished and you can wear canvas shoes risk free and use the gents.
Londoners have got their confidence back. What I don't see as much is out of towners like people from Essex heading into Liverpool Street on Fridays for a night in one of Leicester Square's more commercial bars/clubs. Hopefully as we head into the summer this crowd will be back too, despite the fights/piss/rowdiness London needs the two sizes too small polo shirt wearing crowd.
I have seen the same. Camden Market today is RAMMED despite the lousy weather: completely back to pre-pandemic levels, indeed possibly busier than normal for a very wintry, wet Sunday. Barely possible to drive through, all the pubs full at 4.30pm
Another thing I have noticed: gentrification has sped along, up from Camden High Street, down Kentish Town Road, all the way to Tufnell Park and even tentatively as far as - yes - Archway, previously a dystopian urban Toilet.
This seems to be a post-demic thing, or at least the process has been vastly speeded up by the plague. What used to be crappy pound stores, betting shops, charity outlets, is now all trendy bars, Vietnamese pho pop-ups, organic grocers, new cafes, wine shops, fancy clothes stores.
Intriguing
Of course this leaves the Big Question: how is CENTRAL London doing?
The City was still incredibly quiet the last time I was there a couple of weeks ago. And Canary Wharf.
Yes, it's a major concern. Central London is THE motor
We need tourists back
Commuters are definitely returning
Out here in the blue wall, people are quietly having fun while remaining cautious in shops - masks almost universal in Sainsbury. A friend's funeral is getting a good turnout, but some of the elderly folk are not coming. Generally it all seems quite sensible - enjoy life as you usually would, but if you're concerned about gettting the bug, avoid unnecessary exposure that doesn't stop you having fun.
My office will reopen at the end of March, with most people planning to come in two days a week, permanently - nobody is very keen, but it 's recognised that 100% wfh has its drawbacks. An interesting side-effect has been that some people are working overtime as needed without claiming TOIL - as one said, "I'm saving two hours a day on commuting, I'm not fussed if I need to spend half an hour extra finishing a report."
Why are people still wearing masks in shops ?
Do they actually think it will do any good or has it become some sort of weird social habit ?
Because they do indeed do good.
I gave someone a piece of my mind yesterday who came near me without a mask. Thankfully 80%+ of people around here are all still wearing masks and many do so even outdoors.
Why? Because we know that this killer virus isn't done with us yet and we're not selfish.
In what context did you give them a piece of your mind? In hospital? Then fair enough. Almost anywhere else you are bang out of order. And rude to be honest.
There are far more not wearing masks and I simply do not see anyone brave or foolish enough to challenge them
Anyone comes near me in a shop without a mask they get a broadside. And my titanium tipped pole.
But fortunately most everyone wears them around here and virtually all the shop assistants. Whenever anyone approaches on the pavement we all cross the road: it has become a thing.
If you did that to me you'd get a punch in the face tbh. A very, very hard punch in the face.
Gloating about violence. How pathetic.
No gloating, just reality. Anyone who attacks me physically for not wearing a mask would get a retaliation.
That just makes you sound like a thug. Someone hits you (presumably lightly) with a pole, and you punch them hard in the face.
If you're like that in irl, then you're a nutter. If you're not like that, then you're just a prick on the Internet pretending to be a hard man.
Sorry but in the hypothetical scenario surely the person assaulting MaxPB with a stick is the one in the wrong and the provocateur ?
If someone did that to me I wouldn’t immediately hit them but if I was concerned for my safety I might. I’d sooner remove myself from the risk. They’re carrying a sharp stick after all and using it as a weapon.
It depends on the circumstances and the strength of the 'hit'. But Max's reply about a 'very, very hard punch in the face' is stupid.
Lives have been ruined and taken by that sort of attitude.
I mean, imagine if it was an accident, and Max saw the person was wearing a mask, and therefore punched her 'very, very hard in the face'.
As ever, if you can, deescalate a violent situation. Run away if necessary. Only attack back if you cannot.
Max evidently goes for escalation.
If someone wants to start something they need to be prepared for the situation to be ended. Someone hitting me with a titanium stick would be starting something. They need to be prepared to be hit in the face very hard. If they aren't they shouldn't be going around hitting people with sticks.
Charles will probably turn out to be a slightly more popular king than it appears now. An even more outspokenly multicultural view on religion and environmentalism than his mother, for the left, and an old-Britain traditionalism on issues like architecture, and somewhat general rural-tweediness, for the right. Quite a reasonable balance and mix, in fact.
Yes, I think Charles will be a decent enough king though probably not so popular. Not that popularity matters, we have had plenty of unpopular monarchs over the years. Republicanism is nothing new.
I also don't think Charles would have prorogued Parliament as the Queen did (not least as he is probably a closet Remainer while the Queen was more pro Brexit).
Charles would have no choice . He couldn’t refuse and put himself in the middle of a political storm .
Proroguing Parliament is not the same as refusing to sign an Act passed by Parliament. Even the Supreme Court ruled it was unconstitutional.
Remember Charles is a Cambridge graduate while the Queen never went to university, he will be more aware when he can use his powers and not
Cambridge graduate? I wonder how he achieved admission to Fen poly? I got 4A’s at A level, with a distinction in the chemistry special paper and still didn’t get in. Reckon he exceeded my grades?
I believe HMQ got some pretty solid grounding in constitutional law from some distinguished private tutors. Charlie is patently thick as fuck, Cambridge or not.
I have heard similar, via a friend who knew one of his tutors.
Odd then, that when he has often spoken out on 'unfashionable' topics, such as the environment (built and natural), he has generally been proven to be on the 'right' side.
Actually I partly agree with this. I think the reason is his youth in the 1960's - he seemed to have a formative, slightly more radical patch, and then a more traditionalist period. As a result, however intelligent he is or not, I think his overall perspective on a lot of things looks quite well-balanced.
If he could vote Charles would probably be a LD I would imagine, occasionally voting Green or Tory
He'd probably be too busy shagging Camilla to bother voting.
Charles will probably turn out to be a slightly more popular king than it appears now. An even more outspokenly multicultural view on religion and environmentalism than his mother, for the left, and an old-Britain traditionalism on issues like architecture, and somewhat general rural-tweediness, for the right. Quite a reasonable balance and mix, in fact.
Yes, I think Charles will be a decent enough king though probably not so popular. Not that popularity matters, we have had plenty of unpopular monarchs over the years. Republicanism is nothing new.
I also don't think Charles would have prorogued Parliament as the Queen did (not least as he is probably a closet Remainer while the Queen was more pro Brexit).
Charles would have no choice . He couldn’t refuse and put himself in the middle of a political storm .
Proroguing Parliament is not the same as refusing to sign an Act passed by Parliament. Even the Supreme Court ruled it was unconstitutional.
Remember Charles is a Cambridge graduate while the Queen never went to university, he will be more aware when he can use his powers and not
Cambridge graduate? I wonder how he achieved admission to Fen poly? I got 4A’s at A level, with a distinction in the chemistry special paper and still didn’t get in. Reckon he exceeded my grades?
I believe HMQ got some pretty solid grounding in constitutional law from some distinguished private tutors. Charlie is patently thick as fuck, Cambridge or not.
I have heard similar, via a friend who knew one of his tutors.
Odd then, that when he has often spoken out on 'unfashionable' topics, such as the environment (built and natural), he has generally been proven to be on the 'right' side.
Actually I partly agree with this. I think the reason is his youth in the 1960's - he seemed to have a formative, slightly more radical period, and then a more traditionalist period. As a result, however intelligent he is or not, I think his overall perspective on a lot of things looks quite well-balanced.
I don't think the environment stuff was connected with the 60s counterculture. His dad was into it as was that utter windbag Laurence Van Der post which is more likely where he got it. Plus he was fanatically dedicated to hunting foxes when that was a thing which is actually profoundly compatible with environmentalism (you need an ecosystem which supports foxes in order to do it) but not v countercultural.
You seem to spend a lot of time on Twitter. There are quite a few there blaming Boris.
As for Nokes comment I don’t see why one very wealthy, privileged, individual catching Covid changes anything with regards to ending restrictions. It’s the right thing to do, other nations are opening up. So should we.
There is utterly no reason whatsoever to postpone Covid changes.
I hope the Queen is OK but she's mortal and her card will be marked one day, whether it be Covid or anything else, we have to trust the vaccines.
If not now, post-three doses of vaccine, then when?
Indeed, then we have a month of national mourning, then prepare for King Charles' coronation in 6 months as he finally gets the role he has waited his life for at 73.
Hopefully however Her Majesty has a few years left in her but she is 95, she has had as much protection as she can get being double vaccinated and boosted
Point of order: we get about six hours of national mourning, after which viewers start to ring up the BBC complaining about EastEnders being replaced by Nick Witchell.
Tough. I want full Iranian style national mourning when the Queen dies.
I want sombre music on every radio station and wall to wall coverage on all the main freeview channels until her funeral is over. I also want shops shut throughout the day of her funeral.
Anyone who complains gets sent to the Tower., that would also help weed out republicans. After all, what else did we elect a Tory government for?
Good japes!
It's going to be wall to wall for at least a week, and yes, people will complain about it, but it's a one off so I am sure people will manage.
Interestingly, there was a discussion about getting insurance at our recent Dart Music Festival Committee Meeting. One of the things we are having to look at is an additional sum to cover the death of HM the Queen. In the event of it happening, everything - and I mean everything - closes down for three days. Including our free Festival.
The vast majority of people in the UK, who have lived there all their lives, have never experienced the death of a monarch before. Between the death and the funeral, there won’t be a lot going on, the country will be utterly shocked in a way that’s never been experienced by anyone under 70.
I just don’t agree with this. People were shocked when Diana died because it was so unexpected. Everyone knows she will die at some point soon. Yes there will be an outpouring of love and grief, but it will be her time. I don’t see most people being that shocked. Do you expect businesses and schools to close until she is buried? I don’t. You may see sports cancelled for a weekend.
In a word, yes.
The first three days, and the day of the funeral itself (day 9), will be like Christmas Day on the High St. there will be no music in bars for the week, sports will all be off for the first three days too, schools may well close and businesses work to bank holiday hours for the week.
I’m not convinced. Will it be legally mandated to close? To not play music? I’ll crank up my car stereo then and drive up and down. People die. I’ve never met her. She’s had a good innings. I dread the thought of Charles 3rd, or George the 10th or whatever stupid name he chooses.
I am sure Priti Patel as Home Secretary will ensure there will be plenty of opportunity for the police and monarchist volunteers to hand out on the spot fines to anyone not being sufficiently sombre during the official mourning period and funeral
Dear me, you have lost it
HY is right on this one, it’s not just for us monarchists to be upset and respectful, everyone has to show respect in National morning. The clues in the title: it’s “National” morning.
We're not in Thailand. It's part of our national heritage to give zero shits about the monarchy.
Rubbish, of the top 3 most watched TV programmes ever in the UK 2 were royal connected. 1st was the 1966 World Cup final, second was the funeral of Princess Diana and third was the 1969 documentary on the Royal family
Charles will probably turn out to be a slightly more popular king than it appears now. An even more outspokenly multicultural view on religion and environmentalism than his mother, for the left, and an old-Britain traditionalism on issues like architecture, and somewhat general rural-tweediness, for the right. Quite a reasonable balance and mix, in fact.
Yes, I think Charles will be a decent enough king though probably not so popular. Not that popularity matters, we have had plenty of unpopular monarchs over the years. Republicanism is nothing new.
I also don't think Charles would have prorogued Parliament as the Queen did (not least as he is probably a closet Remainer while the Queen was more pro Brexit).
Charles would have no choice . He couldn’t refuse and put himself in the middle of a political storm .
Proroguing Parliament is not the same as refusing to sign an Act passed by Parliament. Even the Supreme Court ruled it was unconstitutional.
Remember Charles is a Cambridge graduate while the Queen never went to university, he will be more aware when he can use his powers and not
Cambridge graduate? I wonder how he achieved admission to Fen poly? I got 4A’s at A level, with a distinction in the chemistry special paper and still didn’t get in. Reckon he exceeded my grades?
I believe HMQ got some pretty solid grounding in constitutional law from some distinguished private tutors. Charlie is patently thick as fuck, Cambridge or not.
I have heard similar, via a friend who knew one of his tutors.
Odd then, that when he has often spoken out on 'unfashionable' topics, such as the environment (built and natural), he has generally been proven to be on the 'right' side.
Actually I partly agree with this. I think the reason is his youth in the 1960's - he seemed to have a formative, slightly more radical patch, and then a more traditionalist period. As a result, however intelligent he is or not, I think his overall perspective on a lot of things looks quite well-balanced.
If he could vote Charles would probably be a LD I would imagine, occasionally voting Green or Tory
Do you think he’d happily vote for this Tory admin ?
No, as I said he would probably also be a Remainer and LD voter. I suspect Charles would get on better with a PM Starmer than PM Boris. Charles will also be more of a reformer as monarch than his mother.
The Queen was probably a Brexiteer, Charles probably not
MUNICH — The Kremlin on Sunday used a telephone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron to broadcast an array of provocative, unproven allegations of belligerence by Ukraine and NATO countries, insisting the West was “pushing Kyiv towards a military solution to the so-called Donbass problem.”
Moscow’s unfounded claims, put forward while Russia has mobilized more than 100,000 troops and sophisticated weapons on the Ukrainian border, sharply raised the danger that Putin might use fabricated charges to justify a military attack.
It is always good to try and avoid war by way of dialogue, but it seems like Putin is using Macron as a tool.
And Putin absolutely knows Macron is keen to be seen as some sort of European saviour. So he’ll just play up to that whilst proceeding with his plan regardless
In other news, Camden's night life is back. Been out there Friday last week with my friends and then again yesterday with my wife's friends. Bars and pubs are all packed, not many people milling about outdoors but everywhere had queues to get in, The Underworld has been refurbished and you can wear canvas shoes risk free and use the gents.
Londoners have got their confidence back. What I don't see as much is out of towners like people from Essex heading into Liverpool Street on Fridays for a night in one of Leicester Square's more commercial bars/clubs. Hopefully as we head into the summer this crowd will be back too, despite the fights/piss/rowdiness London needs the two sizes too small polo shirt wearing crowd.
I have seen the same. Camden Market today is RAMMED despite the lousy weather: completely back to pre-pandemic levels, indeed possibly busier than normal for a very wintry, wet Sunday. Barely possible to drive through, all the pubs full at 4.30pm
Another thing I have noticed: gentrification has sped along, up from Camden High Street, down Kentish Town Road, all the way to Tufnell Park and even tentatively as far as - yes - Archway, previously a dystopian urban Toilet.
This seems to be a post-demic thing, or at least the process has been vastly speeded up by the plague. What used to be crappy pound stores, betting shops, charity outlets, is now all trendy bars, Vietnamese pho pop-ups, organic grocers, new cafes, wine shops, fancy clothes stores.
Intriguing
Of course this leaves the Big Question: how is CENTRAL London doing?
The City was still incredibly quiet the last time I was there a couple of weeks ago. And Canary Wharf.
Yes, it's a major concern. Central London is THE motor
We need tourists back
Commuters are definitely returning
Out here in the blue wall, people are quietly having fun while remaining cautious in shops - masks almost universal in Sainsbury. A friend's funeral is getting a good turnout, but some of the elderly folk are not coming. Generally it all seems quite sensible - enjoy life as you usually would, but if you're concerned about gettting the bug, avoid unnecessary exposure that doesn't stop you having fun.
My office will reopen at the end of March, with most people planning to come in two days a week, permanently - nobody is very keen, but it 's recognised that 100% wfh has its drawbacks. An interesting side-effect has been that some people are working overtime as needed without claiming TOIL - as one said, "I'm saving two hours a day on commuting, I'm not fussed if I need to spend half an hour extra finishing a report."
Why are people still wearing masks in shops ?
Do they actually think it will do any good or has it become some sort of weird social habit ?
Because shops have asked them to, such as Waitrose etc. And yes, some folk do believe they will help prevent them catching Covid. This should be the future. I have no beef with people wearing masks. I get annoyed at people being upset if I don’t.
I suppose that depends on if you want to live the rest of your life in fear of covid.
Not that it will do those people any good as everyone will still come into contact with it.
It clearly upsets you you that people still wear masks, not sure why, it's personal preference.
You assume people who do are living "in fear" of covid. They are not. There are still plenty of cases so I pop my mask on in a crowded shop or public transport. Why take a risk? If it doesn't have any effect then so be it, but there is no downside to putting it on for a couple of minutes as far as I can see.
I'm in my early 70's and whenever it has been allowed we have been eating out 3 or 4 times a week , travelling around , staying in hotels, going abroad, going to concerts, meeting friends etc but acting cautiously and wearing a mask when we feel it's wise to do so. We haven't yet caught Covid and could easily carry on as we are for years if necessary. it's not impacting on what we do in the least.
I’m not upset that people wear masks. I’m very upset that I am still required to at work and expected to at my preferred supermarket. I think it’s reasonable that I shouldn’t have to, but my employer and John Lewis don’t seem to agree.
Do they still insist on masks in your local John Lewis??
In other news, Camden's night life is back. Been out there Friday last week with my friends and then again yesterday with my wife's friends. Bars and pubs are all packed, not many people milling about outdoors but everywhere had queues to get in, The Underworld has been refurbished and you can wear canvas shoes risk free and use the gents.
Londoners have got their confidence back. What I don't see as much is out of towners like people from Essex heading into Liverpool Street on Fridays for a night in one of Leicester Square's more commercial bars/clubs. Hopefully as we head into the summer this crowd will be back too, despite the fights/piss/rowdiness London needs the two sizes too small polo shirt wearing crowd.
I have seen the same. Camden Market today is RAMMED despite the lousy weather: completely back to pre-pandemic levels, indeed possibly busier than normal for a very wintry, wet Sunday. Barely possible to drive through, all the pubs full at 4.30pm
Another thing I have noticed: gentrification has sped along, up from Camden High Street, down Kentish Town Road, all the way to Tufnell Park and even tentatively as far as - yes - Archway, previously a dystopian urban Toilet.
This seems to be a post-demic thing, or at least the process has been vastly speeded up by the plague. What used to be crappy pound stores, betting shops, charity outlets, is now all trendy bars, Vietnamese pho pop-ups, organic grocers, new cafes, wine shops, fancy clothes stores.
Intriguing
Of course this leaves the Big Question: how is CENTRAL London doing?
The City was still incredibly quiet the last time I was there a couple of weeks ago. And Canary Wharf.
Yes, it's a major concern. Central London is THE motor
We need tourists back
Commuters are definitely returning
Out here in the blue wall, people are quietly having fun while remaining cautious in shops - masks almost universal in Sainsbury. A friend's funeral is getting a good turnout, but some of the elderly folk are not coming. Generally it all seems quite sensible - enjoy life as you usually would, but if you're concerned about gettting the bug, avoid unnecessary exposure that doesn't stop you having fun.
My office will reopen at the end of March, with most people planning to come in two days a week, permanently - nobody is very keen, but it 's recognised that 100% wfh has its drawbacks. An interesting side-effect has been that some people are working overtime as needed without claiming TOIL - as one said, "I'm saving two hours a day on commuting, I'm not fussed if I need to spend half an hour extra finishing a report."
Why are people still wearing masks in shops ?
Do they actually think it will do any good or has it become some sort of weird social habit ?
Because shops have asked them to, such as Waitrose etc. And yes, some folk do believe they will help prevent them catching Covid. This should be the future. I have no beef with people wearing masks. I get annoyed at people being upset if I don’t.
I suppose that depends on if you want to live the rest of your life in fear of covid.
Not that it will do those people any good as everyone will still come into contact with it.
It clearly upsets you you that people still wear masks, not sure why, it's personal preference.
You assume people who do are living "in fear" of covid. They are not. There are still plenty of cases so I pop my mask on in a crowded shop or public transport. Why take a risk? If it doesn't have any effect then so be it, but there is no downside to putting it on for a couple of minutes as far as I can see.
I'm in my early 70's and whenever it has been allowed we have been eating out 3 or 4 times a week , travelling around , staying in hotels, going abroad, going to concerts, meeting friends etc but acting cautiously and wearing a mask when we feel it's wise to do so. We haven't yet caught Covid and could easily carry on as we are for years if necessary. it's not impacting on what we do in the least.
I’m not upset that people wear masks. I’m very upset that I am still required to at work and expected to at my preferred supermarket. I think it’s reasonable that I shouldn’t have to, but my employer and John Lewis don’t seem to agree.
Do they still insist on masks in your local John Lewis??
They don't in John Lewis Newcastle, nor the Waitrose in Ponteland.
Charles will probably turn out to be a slightly more popular king than it appears now. An even more outspokenly multicultural view on religion and environmentalism than his mother, for the left, and an old-Britain traditionalism on issues like architecture, and somewhat general rural-tweediness, for the right. Quite a reasonable balance and mix, in fact.
Yes, I think Charles will be a decent enough king though probably not so popular. Not that popularity matters, we have had plenty of unpopular monarchs over the years. Republicanism is nothing new.
I also don't think Charles would have prorogued Parliament as the Queen did (not least as he is probably a closet Remainer while the Queen was more pro Brexit).
Charles would have no choice . He couldn’t refuse and put himself in the middle of a political storm .
Proroguing Parliament is not the same as refusing to sign an Act passed by Parliament. Even the Supreme Court ruled it was unconstitutional.
Remember Charles is a Cambridge graduate while the Queen never went to university, he will be more aware when he can use his powers and not
Cambridge graduate? I wonder how he achieved admission to Fen poly? I got 4A’s at A level, with a distinction in the chemistry special paper and still didn’t get in. Reckon he exceeded my grades?
I believe HMQ got some pretty solid grounding in constitutional law from some distinguished private tutors. Charlie is patently thick as fuck, Cambridge or not.
I have heard similar, via a friend who knew one of his tutors.
Odd then, that when he has often spoken out on 'unfashionable' topics, such as the environment (built and natural), he has generally been proven to be on the 'right' side.
Actually I partly agree with this. I think the reason is his youth in the 1960's - he seemed to have a formative, slightly more radical patch, and then a more traditionalist period. As a result, however intelligent he is or not, I think his overall perspective on a lot of things looks quite well-balanced.
If he could vote Charles would probably be a LD I would imagine, occasionally voting Green or Tory
He'd probably be too busy shagging Camilla to bother voting.
In other news, Camden's night life is back. Been out there Friday last week with my friends and then again yesterday with my wife's friends. Bars and pubs are all packed, not many people milling about outdoors but everywhere had queues to get in, The Underworld has been refurbished and you can wear canvas shoes risk free and use the gents.
Londoners have got their confidence back. What I don't see as much is out of towners like people from Essex heading into Liverpool Street on Fridays for a night in one of Leicester Square's more commercial bars/clubs. Hopefully as we head into the summer this crowd will be back too, despite the fights/piss/rowdiness London needs the two sizes too small polo shirt wearing crowd.
I have seen the same. Camden Market today is RAMMED despite the lousy weather: completely back to pre-pandemic levels, indeed possibly busier than normal for a very wintry, wet Sunday. Barely possible to drive through, all the pubs full at 4.30pm
Another thing I have noticed: gentrification has sped along, up from Camden High Street, down Kentish Town Road, all the way to Tufnell Park and even tentatively as far as - yes - Archway, previously a dystopian urban Toilet.
This seems to be a post-demic thing, or at least the process has been vastly speeded up by the plague. What used to be crappy pound stores, betting shops, charity outlets, is now all trendy bars, Vietnamese pho pop-ups, organic grocers, new cafes, wine shops, fancy clothes stores.
Intriguing
Of course this leaves the Big Question: how is CENTRAL London doing?
The City was still incredibly quiet the last time I was there a couple of weeks ago. And Canary Wharf.
Yes, it's a major concern. Central London is THE motor
We need tourists back
Commuters are definitely returning
Out here in the blue wall, people are quietly having fun while remaining cautious in shops - masks almost universal in Sainsbury. A friend's funeral is getting a good turnout, but some of the elderly folk are not coming. Generally it all seems quite sensible - enjoy life as you usually would, but if you're concerned about gettting the bug, avoid unnecessary exposure that doesn't stop you having fun.
My office will reopen at the end of March, with most people planning to come in two days a week, permanently - nobody is very keen, but it 's recognised that 100% wfh has its drawbacks. An interesting side-effect has been that some people are working overtime as needed without claiming TOIL - as one said, "I'm saving two hours a day on commuting, I'm not fussed if I need to spend half an hour extra finishing a report."
Why are people still wearing masks in shops ?
Do they actually think it will do any good or has it become some sort of weird social habit ?
Because they do indeed do good.
I gave someone a piece of my mind yesterday who came near me without a mask. Thankfully 80%+ of people around here are all still wearing masks and many do so even outdoors.
Why? Because we know that this killer virus isn't done with us yet and we're not selfish.
In what context did you give them a piece of your mind? In hospital? Then fair enough. Almost anywhere else you are bang out of order. And rude to be honest.
There are far more not wearing masks and I simply do not see anyone brave or foolish enough to challenge them
Anyone comes near me in a shop without a mask they get a broadside. And my titanium tipped pole.
But fortunately most everyone wears them around here and virtually all the shop assistants. Whenever anyone approaches on the pavement we all cross the road: it has become a thing.
If you did that to me you'd get a punch in the face tbh. A very, very hard punch in the face.
Gloating about violence. How pathetic.
No gloating, just reality. Anyone who attacks me physically for not wearing a mask would get a retaliation.
That just makes you sound like a thug. Someone hits you (presumably lightly) with a pole, and you punch them hard in the face.
If you're like that in irl, then you're a nutter. If you're not like that, then you're just a prick on the Internet pretending to be a hard man.
Not really, it's self defence. You think it's right that anyone would attack someone else unprovoked yet condemn anyone who would defend themselves.
In most cases there are other ways of getting out of a situation aside from attacking back, which should be the last resort.
Your first thought is apparently to escalate.
To make it clear: in this hypothetical situation, Heathener would be in the wrong. You might well be more in the wrong if your 'very. very hard punch in the face' was a dramatic escalation over the provoking incident.
So Russia invades part of Ukraine and you're one of those people who thinks Ukraine would be wrong to defend themselves. Got it.
Charles will probably turn out to be a slightly more popular king than it appears now. An even more outspokenly multicultural view on religion and environmentalism than his mother, for the left, and an old-Britain traditionalism on issues like architecture, and somewhat general rural-tweediness, for the right. Quite a reasonable balance and mix, in fact.
Yes, I think Charles will be a decent enough king though probably not so popular. Not that popularity matters, we have had plenty of unpopular monarchs over the years. Republicanism is nothing new.
I also don't think Charles would have prorogued Parliament as the Queen did (not least as he is probably a closet Remainer while the Queen was more pro Brexit).
Charles would have no choice . He couldn’t refuse and put himself in the middle of a political storm .
Proroguing Parliament is not the same as refusing to sign an Act passed by Parliament. Even the Supreme Court ruled it was unconstitutional.
Remember Charles is a Cambridge graduate while the Queen never went to university, he will be more aware when he can use his powers and not
Cambridge graduate? I wonder how he achieved admission to Fen poly? I got 4A’s at A level, with a distinction in the chemistry special paper and still didn’t get in. Reckon he exceeded my grades?
I believe HMQ got some pretty solid grounding in constitutional law from some distinguished private tutors. Charlie is patently thick as fuck, Cambridge or not.
I have heard similar, via a friend who knew one of his tutors.
Odd then, that when he has often spoken out on 'unfashionable' topics, such as the environment (built and natural), he has generally been proven to be on the 'right' side.
Actually I partly agree with this. I think the reason is his youth in the 1960's - he seemed to have a formative, slightly more radical patch, and then a more traditionalist period. As a result, however intelligent he is or not, I think his overall perspective on a lot of things looks quite well-balanced.
If he could vote Charles would probably be a LD I would imagine, occasionally voting Green or Tory
There was a story that he had asked to joint the Labour Soc at Uni.....
Charles will probably turn out to be a slightly more popular king than it appears now. An even more outspokenly multicultural view on religion and environmentalism than his mother, for the left, and an old-Britain traditionalism on issues like architecture, and somewhat general rural-tweediness, for the right. Quite a reasonable balance and mix, in fact.
Yes, I think Charles will be a decent enough king though probably not so popular. Not that popularity matters, we have had plenty of unpopular monarchs over the years. Republicanism is nothing new.
I also don't think Charles would have prorogued Parliament as the Queen did (not least as he is probably a closet Remainer while the Queen was more pro Brexit).
Charles would have no choice . He couldn’t refuse and put himself in the middle of a political storm .
Proroguing Parliament is not the same as refusing to sign an Act passed by Parliament. Even the Supreme Court ruled it was unconstitutional.
Remember Charles is a Cambridge graduate while the Queen never went to university, he will be more aware when he can use his powers and not
Cambridge graduate? I wonder how he achieved admission to Fen poly? I got 4A’s at A level, with a distinction in the chemistry special paper and still didn’t get in. Reckon he exceeded my grades?
I believe HMQ got some pretty solid grounding in constitutional law from some distinguished private tutors. Charlie is patently thick as fuck, Cambridge or not.
I have heard similar, via a friend who knew one of his tutors.
Odd then, that when he has often spoken out on 'unfashionable' topics, such as the environment (built and natural), he has generally been proven to be on the 'right' side.
Actually I partly agree with this. I think the reason is his youth in the 1960's - he seemed to have a formative, slightly more radical patch, and then a more traditionalist period. As a result, however intelligent he is or not, I think his overall perspective on a lot of things looks quite well-balanced.
If he could vote Charles would probably be a LD I would imagine, occasionally voting Green or Tory
He'd probably be too busy shagging Camilla to bother voting.
Charles will probably turn out to be a slightly more popular king than it appears now. An even more outspokenly multicultural view on religion and environmentalism than his mother, for the left, and an old-Britain traditionalism on issues like architecture, and somewhat general rural-tweediness, for the right. Quite a reasonable balance and mix, in fact.
Yes, I think Charles will be a decent enough king though probably not so popular. Not that popularity matters, we have had plenty of unpopular monarchs over the years. Republicanism is nothing new.
I also don't think Charles would have prorogued Parliament as the Queen did (not least as he is probably a closet Remainer while the Queen was more pro Brexit).
Charles would have no choice . He couldn’t refuse and put himself in the middle of a political storm .
Proroguing Parliament is not the same as refusing to sign an Act passed by Parliament. Even the Supreme Court ruled it was unconstitutional.
Remember Charles is a Cambridge graduate while the Queen never went to university, he will be more aware when he can use his powers and not
Cambridge graduate? I wonder how he achieved admission to Fen poly? I got 4A’s at A level, with a distinction in the chemistry special paper and still didn’t get in. Reckon he exceeded my grades?
I believe HMQ got some pretty solid grounding in constitutional law from some distinguished private tutors. Charlie is patently thick as fuck, Cambridge or not.
I have heard similar, via a friend who knew one of his tutors.
Odd then, that when he has often spoken out on 'unfashionable' topics, such as the environment (built and natural), he has generally been proven to be on the 'right' side.
Actually I partly agree with this. I think the reason is his youth in the 1960's - he seemed to have a formative, slightly more radical patch, and then a more traditionalist period. As a result, however intelligent he is or not, I think his overall perspective on a lot of things looks quite well-balanced.
If he could vote Charles would probably be a LD I would imagine, occasionally voting Green or Tory
There was a story that he had asked to joint the Labour Soc at Uni.....
He would either be LD or moderate Labour or the wettest Tory imaginable
In other news, Camden's night life is back. Been out there Friday last week with my friends and then again yesterday with my wife's friends. Bars and pubs are all packed, not many people milling about outdoors but everywhere had queues to get in, The Underworld has been refurbished and you can wear canvas shoes risk free and use the gents.
Londoners have got their confidence back. What I don't see as much is out of towners like people from Essex heading into Liverpool Street on Fridays for a night in one of Leicester Square's more commercial bars/clubs. Hopefully as we head into the summer this crowd will be back too, despite the fights/piss/rowdiness London needs the two sizes too small polo shirt wearing crowd.
I have seen the same. Camden Market today is RAMMED despite the lousy weather: completely back to pre-pandemic levels, indeed possibly busier than normal for a very wintry, wet Sunday. Barely possible to drive through, all the pubs full at 4.30pm
Another thing I have noticed: gentrification has sped along, up from Camden High Street, down Kentish Town Road, all the way to Tufnell Park and even tentatively as far as - yes - Archway, previously a dystopian urban Toilet.
This seems to be a post-demic thing, or at least the process has been vastly speeded up by the plague. What used to be crappy pound stores, betting shops, charity outlets, is now all trendy bars, Vietnamese pho pop-ups, organic grocers, new cafes, wine shops, fancy clothes stores.
Intriguing
Of course this leaves the Big Question: how is CENTRAL London doing?
The City was still incredibly quiet the last time I was there a couple of weeks ago. And Canary Wharf.
Yes, it's a major concern. Central London is THE motor
We need tourists back
Commuters are definitely returning
Out here in the blue wall, people are quietly having fun while remaining cautious in shops - masks almost universal in Sainsbury. A friend's funeral is getting a good turnout, but some of the elderly folk are not coming. Generally it all seems quite sensible - enjoy life as you usually would, but if you're concerned about gettting the bug, avoid unnecessary exposure that doesn't stop you having fun.
My office will reopen at the end of March, with most people planning to come in two days a week, permanently - nobody is very keen, but it 's recognised that 100% wfh has its drawbacks. An interesting side-effect has been that some people are working overtime as needed without claiming TOIL - as one said, "I'm saving two hours a day on commuting, I'm not fussed if I need to spend half an hour extra finishing a report."
Why are people still wearing masks in shops ?
Do they actually think it will do any good or has it become some sort of weird social habit ?
Because shops have asked them to, such as Waitrose etc. And yes, some folk do believe they will help prevent them catching Covid. This should be the future. I have no beef with people wearing masks. I get annoyed at people being upset if I don’t.
I suppose that depends on if you want to live the rest of your life in fear of covid.
Not that it will do those people any good as everyone will still come into contact with it.
It clearly upsets you you that people still wear masks, not sure why, it's personal preference.
You assume people who do are living "in fear" of covid. They are not. There are still plenty of cases so I pop my mask on in a crowded shop or public transport. Why take a risk? If it doesn't have any effect then so be it, but there is no downside to putting it on for a couple of minutes as far as I can see.
I'm in my early 70's and whenever it has been allowed we have been eating out 3 or 4 times a week , travelling around , staying in hotels, going abroad, going to concerts, meeting friends etc but acting cautiously and wearing a mask when we feel it's wise to do so. We haven't yet caught Covid and could easily carry on as we are for years if necessary. it's not impacting on what we do in the least.
I’m not upset that people wear masks. I’m very upset that I am still required to at work and expected to at my preferred supermarket. I think it’s reasonable that I shouldn’t have to, but my employer and John Lewis don’t seem to agree.
Do they still insist on masks in your local John Lewis??
Only the company as a whole, although most customers wear them still, most of the time. The exception was Friday, after the storm, where it was at around 10 to 20% masked only, but that was unusual. There are not guards at the door checking, but the company policy as a whole is still to wear masks.
Excuse me for being self-indulgent but pb is nothing if not eclectic. I know Sunday evenings is a classic crisis moment but I'm honestly tempted to phone in the office tomorrow and quit my job with immediate effect. Frankly, I've had it. Bit risky but I have savings to tide me over for quite a bit and I honestly think if I simply carry on with the same cycle of drudgery nothing will ever change. Stare in to the abyss long enough and the abyss with stare back in to you.
It must be a quiet news day again, as PB is dominated by sodding masks (again), the Royal Family (again) and manly violence (a new one). I take it war hasn't started yet, but whether it does or it doesn't, Macron is to blame.
In other news, Camden's night life is back. Been out there Friday last week with my friends and then again yesterday with my wife's friends. Bars and pubs are all packed, not many people milling about outdoors but everywhere had queues to get in, The Underworld has been refurbished and you can wear canvas shoes risk free and use the gents.
Londoners have got their confidence back. What I don't see as much is out of towners like people from Essex heading into Liverpool Street on Fridays for a night in one of Leicester Square's more commercial bars/clubs. Hopefully as we head into the summer this crowd will be back too, despite the fights/piss/rowdiness London needs the two sizes too small polo shirt wearing crowd.
I have seen the same. Camden Market today is RAMMED despite the lousy weather: completely back to pre-pandemic levels, indeed possibly busier than normal for a very wintry, wet Sunday. Barely possible to drive through, all the pubs full at 4.30pm
Another thing I have noticed: gentrification has sped along, up from Camden High Street, down Kentish Town Road, all the way to Tufnell Park and even tentatively as far as - yes - Archway, previously a dystopian urban Toilet.
This seems to be a post-demic thing, or at least the process has been vastly speeded up by the plague. What used to be crappy pound stores, betting shops, charity outlets, is now all trendy bars, Vietnamese pho pop-ups, organic grocers, new cafes, wine shops, fancy clothes stores.
Intriguing
Of course this leaves the Big Question: how is CENTRAL London doing?
The City was still incredibly quiet the last time I was there a couple of weeks ago. And Canary Wharf.
Yes, it's a major concern. Central London is THE motor
We need tourists back
Commuters are definitely returning
Out here in the blue wall, people are quietly having fun while remaining cautious in shops - masks almost universal in Sainsbury. A friend's funeral is getting a good turnout, but some of the elderly folk are not coming. Generally it all seems quite sensible - enjoy life as you usually would, but if you're concerned about gettting the bug, avoid unnecessary exposure that doesn't stop you having fun.
My office will reopen at the end of March, with most people planning to come in two days a week, permanently - nobody is very keen, but it 's recognised that 100% wfh has its drawbacks. An interesting side-effect has been that some people are working overtime as needed without claiming TOIL - as one said, "I'm saving two hours a day on commuting, I'm not fussed if I need to spend half an hour extra finishing a report."
Why are people still wearing masks in shops ?
Do they actually think it will do any good or has it become some sort of weird social habit ?
Because shops have asked them to, such as Waitrose etc. And yes, some folk do believe they will help prevent them catching Covid. This should be the future. I have no beef with people wearing masks. I get annoyed at people being upset if I don’t.
I suppose that depends on if you want to live the rest of your life in fear of covid.
Not that it will do those people any good as everyone will still come into contact with it.
It clearly upsets you you that people still wear masks, not sure why, it's personal preference.
You assume people who do are living "in fear" of covid. They are not. There are still plenty of cases so I pop my mask on in a crowded shop or public transport. Why take a risk? If it doesn't have any effect then so be it, but there is no downside to putting it on for a couple of minutes as far as I can see.
I'm in my early 70's and whenever it has been allowed we have been eating out 3 or 4 times a week , travelling around , staying in hotels, going abroad, going to concerts, meeting friends etc but acting cautiously and wearing a mask when we feel it's wise to do so. We haven't yet caught Covid and could easily carry on as we are for years if necessary. it's not impacting on what we do in the least.
I’m not upset that people wear masks. I’m very upset that I am still required to at work and expected to at my preferred supermarket. I think it’s reasonable that I shouldn’t have to, but my employer and John Lewis don’t seem to agree.
Do they still insist on masks in your local John Lewis??
They don't in John Lewis Newcastle, nor the Waitrose in Ponteland.
Unless it’s changed, it’s company policy to ask customers to wear masks. They are not enforcing, but still want you to.
I see the diminishing ranks of face rag police are on here tonight.
Will be fascinating to see what happens when they're dropped as a legal requirement in Scotland. The only place I've been challenged about it in recent months; hilariously, I was actually wearing a face covering at the time.
In other news, Camden's night life is back. Been out there Friday last week with my friends and then again yesterday with my wife's friends. Bars and pubs are all packed, not many people milling about outdoors but everywhere had queues to get in, The Underworld has been refurbished and you can wear canvas shoes risk free and use the gents.
Londoners have got their confidence back. What I don't see as much is out of towners like people from Essex heading into Liverpool Street on Fridays for a night in one of Leicester Square's more commercial bars/clubs. Hopefully as we head into the summer this crowd will be back too, despite the fights/piss/rowdiness London needs the two sizes too small polo shirt wearing crowd.
I have seen the same. Camden Market today is RAMMED despite the lousy weather: completely back to pre-pandemic levels, indeed possibly busier than normal for a very wintry, wet Sunday. Barely possible to drive through, all the pubs full at 4.30pm
Another thing I have noticed: gentrification has sped along, up from Camden High Street, down Kentish Town Road, all the way to Tufnell Park and even tentatively as far as - yes - Archway, previously a dystopian urban Toilet.
This seems to be a post-demic thing, or at least the process has been vastly speeded up by the plague. What used to be crappy pound stores, betting shops, charity outlets, is now all trendy bars, Vietnamese pho pop-ups, organic grocers, new cafes, wine shops, fancy clothes stores.
Intriguing
Of course this leaves the Big Question: how is CENTRAL London doing?
The City was still incredibly quiet the last time I was there a couple of weeks ago. And Canary Wharf.
Yes, it's a major concern. Central London is THE motor
We need tourists back
Commuters are definitely returning
Out here in the blue wall, people are quietly having fun while remaining cautious in shops - masks almost universal in Sainsbury. A friend's funeral is getting a good turnout, but some of the elderly folk are not coming. Generally it all seems quite sensible - enjoy life as you usually would, but if you're concerned about gettting the bug, avoid unnecessary exposure that doesn't stop you having fun.
My office will reopen at the end of March, with most people planning to come in two days a week, permanently - nobody is very keen, but it 's recognised that 100% wfh has its drawbacks. An interesting side-effect has been that some people are working overtime as needed without claiming TOIL - as one said, "I'm saving two hours a day on commuting, I'm not fussed if I need to spend half an hour extra finishing a report."
Why are people still wearing masks in shops ?
Do they actually think it will do any good or has it become some sort of weird social habit ?
Because they do indeed do good.
I gave someone a piece of my mind yesterday who came near me without a mask. Thankfully 80%+ of people around here are all still wearing masks and many do so even outdoors.
Why? Because we know that this killer virus isn't done with us yet and we're not selfish.
In what context did you give them a piece of your mind? In hospital? Then fair enough. Almost anywhere else you are bang out of order. And rude to be honest.
There are far more not wearing masks and I simply do not see anyone brave or foolish enough to challenge them
Anyone comes near me in a shop without a mask they get a broadside. And my titanium tipped pole.
But fortunately most everyone wears them around here and virtually all the shop assistants. Whenever anyone approaches on the pavement we all cross the road: it has become a thing.
If you did that to me you'd get a punch in the face tbh. A very, very hard punch in the face.
Why bother? Just make a complaint under section 4a of the Public Order Act 1986 and she gets six months.
In reality maskless people are all around Heathener and he/she does nothing about it, maybe tuts under their mask sometimes and basks in the glory of their own self satisfaction and virtue.
Leaving aside the unpleasant and aggressive tone of his/her posts, what on Earth is he/she on about? Mask mandates were abolished weeks ago.
They are completely barmy. So many people have made masks some totem of COVID virtue and decided that those who don't wear them are evil murderers. The government shares some of the blame and so does the media. There still seems to be some expectation out there that it will be possible to not get it and wearing masks in some locations but not others will prevent infections.
The one that still drives me barmy is people wearing them between the pub door and the bar. As if Covid only lurks in doorways.
In Scotland this is still the law. And they never had the no mask freedom day that we did.
Surprise surprise, anything approaching fun in Edinburgh was (relatively) deserted when I was there earlier in the month.
I was out with a lass a few weeks ago who got up from the pub table, put on her mask, walked three feet to the door, and then removed her mask as she opened it. I think that holds my all time covid record for the shortest period of maskery. I doubt it was even a second.
(I have seen her since - this time she had entirely abandoned the mask)
In other news, Camden's night life is back. Been out there Friday last week with my friends and then again yesterday with my wife's friends. Bars and pubs are all packed, not many people milling about outdoors but everywhere had queues to get in, The Underworld has been refurbished and you can wear canvas shoes risk free and use the gents.
Londoners have got their confidence back. What I don't see as much is out of towners like people from Essex heading into Liverpool Street on Fridays for a night in one of Leicester Square's more commercial bars/clubs. Hopefully as we head into the summer this crowd will be back too, despite the fights/piss/rowdiness London needs the two sizes too small polo shirt wearing crowd.
I have seen the same. Camden Market today is RAMMED despite the lousy weather: completely back to pre-pandemic levels, indeed possibly busier than normal for a very wintry, wet Sunday. Barely possible to drive through, all the pubs full at 4.30pm
Another thing I have noticed: gentrification has sped along, up from Camden High Street, down Kentish Town Road, all the way to Tufnell Park and even tentatively as far as - yes - Archway, previously a dystopian urban Toilet.
This seems to be a post-demic thing, or at least the process has been vastly speeded up by the plague. What used to be crappy pound stores, betting shops, charity outlets, is now all trendy bars, Vietnamese pho pop-ups, organic grocers, new cafes, wine shops, fancy clothes stores.
Intriguing
Of course this leaves the Big Question: how is CENTRAL London doing?
The City was still incredibly quiet the last time I was there a couple of weeks ago. And Canary Wharf.
Yes, it's a major concern. Central London is THE motor
We need tourists back
Commuters are definitely returning
Out here in the blue wall, people are quietly having fun while remaining cautious in shops - masks almost universal in Sainsbury. A friend's funeral is getting a good turnout, but some of the elderly folk are not coming. Generally it all seems quite sensible - enjoy life as you usually would, but if you're concerned about gettting the bug, avoid unnecessary exposure that doesn't stop you having fun.
My office will reopen at the end of March, with most people planning to come in two days a week, permanently - nobody is very keen, but it 's recognised that 100% wfh has its drawbacks. An interesting side-effect has been that some people are working overtime as needed without claiming TOIL - as one said, "I'm saving two hours a day on commuting, I'm not fussed if I need to spend half an hour extra finishing a report."
Why are people still wearing masks in shops ?
Do they actually think it will do any good or has it become some sort of weird social habit ?
Because they do indeed do good.
I gave someone a piece of my mind yesterday who came near me without a mask. Thankfully 80%+ of people around here are all still wearing masks and many do so even outdoors.
Why? Because we know that this killer virus isn't done with us yet and we're not selfish.
In what context did you give them a piece of your mind? In hospital? Then fair enough. Almost anywhere else you are bang out of order. And rude to be honest.
There are far more not wearing masks and I simply do not see anyone brave or foolish enough to challenge them
Anyone comes near me in a shop without a mask they get a broadside. And my titanium tipped pole.
But fortunately most everyone wears them around here and virtually all the shop assistants. Whenever anyone approaches on the pavement we all cross the road: it has become a thing.
If you did that to me you'd get a punch in the face tbh. A very, very hard punch in the face.
Gloating about violence. How pathetic.
No gloating, just reality. Anyone who attacks me physically for not wearing a mask would get a retaliation.
That just makes you sound like a thug. Someone hits you (presumably lightly) with a pole, and you punch them hard in the face.
If you're like that in irl, then you're a nutter. If you're not like that, then you're just a prick on the Internet pretending to be a hard man.
Although it is an offence to hit somebody with a pole so it might legitimately be argued punching them back is self defence.
It *might*, although you are very unlikely to be killed by being hit with a walking pole. A smack to the face or head can kill.
As ever in a violent situation, be the bigger man and de-escalate if you can. Only attack back if you genuinely feel threatened.
Heathener is in the wrong. Max attacking back - harder - would also be in the wrong. Possibly more wrong.
As the saying goes, "everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face". Then the fight or flight adrenaline kicks in and you either find yourself running away, or swinging your fists. It's not something you think about, it's just automatic.
However, as a general rule, if you don't want to get punched in the face, don't hit people with sticks.
Charles will probably turn out to be a slightly more popular king than it appears now. An even more outspokenly multicultural view on religion and environmentalism than his mother, for the left, and an old-Britain traditionalism on issues like architecture, and somewhat general rural-tweediness, for the right. Quite a reasonable balance and mix, in fact.
Yes, I think Charles will be a decent enough king though probably not so popular. Not that popularity matters, we have had plenty of unpopular monarchs over the years. Republicanism is nothing new.
I also don't think Charles would have prorogued Parliament as the Queen did (not least as he is probably a closet Remainer while the Queen was more pro Brexit).
Charles would have no choice . He couldn’t refuse and put himself in the middle of a political storm .
Proroguing Parliament is not the same as refusing to sign an Act passed by Parliament. Even the Supreme Court ruled it was unconstitutional.
Remember Charles is a Cambridge graduate while the Queen never went to university, he will be more aware when he can use his powers and not
Cambridge graduate? I wonder how he achieved admission to Fen poly? I got 4A’s at A level, with a distinction in the chemistry special paper and still didn’t get in. Reckon he exceeded my grades?
Prince Charles got a B and C A levels which were perfectly respectable when he took them in the 1960s pre grade inflation. Indeed even most Oxbridge undergraduates did not have straight As then
You are not seriously suggesting that if he wasn't Prince Charles he would have got in with those grades are you? Mine were substantially better, not that much later and in the Sciences yet it was considered absolutely pointless to apply to Oxbridge from my background. I didn't want to be close to home so didn't apply to Imperial so my next best option was Manchester for Maths which I got into. But even there there was discrimination on background. A group of us took a Maths A level early and all got grade As. All the others were asked for the minimum requirement to get in to Manchester (one additional E), presumably as they had proved themselves having taken the A level after 1 year and getting an A in Maths. I was asked for 2 Bs and an E on top of my A. No interviews were involved and my O Levels were at least as good. The only difference was I was originally a Secondary school boy and they were Grammar school all the time at school.
Who you are sadly counted then and of course still does to a lesser extent.
Excuse me for being self-indulgent but pb is nothing if not eclectic. I know Sunday evenings is a classic crisis moment but I'm honestly tempted to phone in the office tomorrow and quit my job with immediate effect. Frankly, I've had it. Bit risky but I have savings to tide me over for quite a bit and I honestly think if I simply carry on with the same cycle of drudgery nothing will ever change. Stare in to the abyss long enough and the abyss with stare back in to you.
Life is short. If you're miserable and there's not a desperate necessity for you to stay put, then jack it in.
Caveat: if you have a contractual notice period then it would presumably be a good idea to fulfil it, rather than simply walking away?
In other news, Camden's night life is back. Been out there Friday last week with my friends and then again yesterday with my wife's friends. Bars and pubs are all packed, not many people milling about outdoors but everywhere had queues to get in, The Underworld has been refurbished and you can wear canvas shoes risk free and use the gents.
Londoners have got their confidence back. What I don't see as much is out of towners like people from Essex heading into Liverpool Street on Fridays for a night in one of Leicester Square's more commercial bars/clubs. Hopefully as we head into the summer this crowd will be back too, despite the fights/piss/rowdiness London needs the two sizes too small polo shirt wearing crowd.
I have seen the same. Camden Market today is RAMMED despite the lousy weather: completely back to pre-pandemic levels, indeed possibly busier than normal for a very wintry, wet Sunday. Barely possible to drive through, all the pubs full at 4.30pm
Another thing I have noticed: gentrification has sped along, up from Camden High Street, down Kentish Town Road, all the way to Tufnell Park and even tentatively as far as - yes - Archway, previously a dystopian urban Toilet.
This seems to be a post-demic thing, or at least the process has been vastly speeded up by the plague. What used to be crappy pound stores, betting shops, charity outlets, is now all trendy bars, Vietnamese pho pop-ups, organic grocers, new cafes, wine shops, fancy clothes stores.
Intriguing
Of course this leaves the Big Question: how is CENTRAL London doing?
The City was still incredibly quiet the last time I was there a couple of weeks ago. And Canary Wharf.
Yes, it's a major concern. Central London is THE motor
We need tourists back
Commuters are definitely returning
Out here in the blue wall, people are quietly having fun while remaining cautious in shops - masks almost universal in Sainsbury. A friend's funeral is getting a good turnout, but some of the elderly folk are not coming. Generally it all seems quite sensible - enjoy life as you usually would, but if you're concerned about gettting the bug, avoid unnecessary exposure that doesn't stop you having fun.
My office will reopen at the end of March, with most people planning to come in two days a week, permanently - nobody is very keen, but it 's recognised that 100% wfh has its drawbacks. An interesting side-effect has been that some people are working overtime as needed without claiming TOIL - as one said, "I'm saving two hours a day on commuting, I'm not fussed if I need to spend half an hour extra finishing a report."
Why are people still wearing masks in shops ?
Do they actually think it will do any good or has it become some sort of weird social habit ?
Because they do indeed do good.
I gave someone a piece of my mind yesterday who came near me without a mask. Thankfully 80%+ of people around here are all still wearing masks and many do so even outdoors.
Why? Because we know that this killer virus isn't done with us yet and we're not selfish.
In what context did you give them a piece of your mind? In hospital? Then fair enough. Almost anywhere else you are bang out of order. And rude to be honest.
There are far more not wearing masks and I simply do not see anyone brave or foolish enough to challenge them
Anyone comes near me in a shop without a mask they get a broadside. And my titanium tipped pole.
But fortunately most everyone wears them around here and virtually all the shop assistants. Whenever anyone approaches on the pavement we all cross the road: it has become a thing.
If you did that to me you'd get a punch in the face tbh. A very, very hard punch in the face.
Gloating about violence. How pathetic.
No gloating, just reality. Anyone who attacks me physically for not wearing a mask would get a retaliation.
That just makes you sound like a thug. Someone hits you (presumably lightly) with a pole, and you punch them hard in the face.
If you're like that in irl, then you're a nutter. If you're not like that, then you're just a prick on the Internet pretending to be a hard man.
Not really, it's self defence. You think it's right that anyone would attack someone else unprovoked yet condemn anyone who would defend themselves.
In most cases there are other ways of getting out of a situation aside from attacking back, which should be the last resort.
Your first thought is apparently to escalate.
To make it clear: in this hypothetical situation, Heathener would be in the wrong. You might well be more in the wrong if your 'very. very hard punch in the face' was a dramatic escalation over the provoking incident.
So Russia invades part of Ukraine and you're one of those people who thinks Ukraine would be wrong to defend themselves. Got it.
One thing I noticed last night on the way home, street lamps in the suburbs seem to have been switched off. It seems as though the electricity capacity situation is worse than the government is letting on.
Been going on for years. Local authorities saving money
In other news, Camden's night life is back. Been out there Friday last week with my friends and then again yesterday with my wife's friends. Bars and pubs are all packed, not many people milling about outdoors but everywhere had queues to get in, The Underworld has been refurbished and you can wear canvas shoes risk free and use the gents.
Londoners have got their confidence back. What I don't see as much is out of towners like people from Essex heading into Liverpool Street on Fridays for a night in one of Leicester Square's more commercial bars/clubs. Hopefully as we head into the summer this crowd will be back too, despite the fights/piss/rowdiness London needs the two sizes too small polo shirt wearing crowd.
I have seen the same. Camden Market today is RAMMED despite the lousy weather: completely back to pre-pandemic levels, indeed possibly busier than normal for a very wintry, wet Sunday. Barely possible to drive through, all the pubs full at 4.30pm
Another thing I have noticed: gentrification has sped along, up from Camden High Street, down Kentish Town Road, all the way to Tufnell Park and even tentatively as far as - yes - Archway, previously a dystopian urban Toilet.
This seems to be a post-demic thing, or at least the process has been vastly speeded up by the plague. What used to be crappy pound stores, betting shops, charity outlets, is now all trendy bars, Vietnamese pho pop-ups, organic grocers, new cafes, wine shops, fancy clothes stores.
Intriguing
Of course this leaves the Big Question: how is CENTRAL London doing?
The City was still incredibly quiet the last time I was there a couple of weeks ago. And Canary Wharf.
Yes, it's a major concern. Central London is THE motor
We need tourists back
Commuters are definitely returning
Out here in the blue wall, people are quietly having fun while remaining cautious in shops - masks almost universal in Sainsbury. A friend's funeral is getting a good turnout, but some of the elderly folk are not coming. Generally it all seems quite sensible - enjoy life as you usually would, but if you're concerned about gettting the bug, avoid unnecessary exposure that doesn't stop you having fun.
My office will reopen at the end of March, with most people planning to come in two days a week, permanently - nobody is very keen, but it 's recognised that 100% wfh has its drawbacks. An interesting side-effect has been that some people are working overtime as needed without claiming TOIL - as one said, "I'm saving two hours a day on commuting, I'm not fussed if I need to spend half an hour extra finishing a report."
Why are people still wearing masks in shops ?
Do they actually think it will do any good or has it become some sort of weird social habit ?
Because shops have asked them to, such as Waitrose etc. And yes, some folk do believe they will help prevent them catching Covid. This should be the future. I have no beef with people wearing masks. I get annoyed at people being upset if I don’t.
I suppose that depends on if you want to live the rest of your life in fear of covid.
Not that it will do those people any good as everyone will still come into contact with it.
It clearly upsets you you that people still wear masks, not sure why, it's personal preference.
You assume people who do are living "in fear" of covid. They are not. There are still plenty of cases so I pop my mask on in a crowded shop or public transport. Why take a risk? If it doesn't have any effect then so be it, but there is no downside to putting it on for a couple of minutes as far as I can see.
I'm in my early 70's and whenever it has been allowed we have been eating out 3 or 4 times a week , travelling around , staying in hotels, going abroad, going to concerts, meeting friends etc but acting cautiously and wearing a mask when we feel it's wise to do so. We haven't yet caught Covid and could easily carry on as we are for years if necessary. it's not impacting on what we do in the least.
I’m not upset that people wear masks. I’m very upset that I am still required to at work and expected to at my preferred supermarket. I think it’s reasonable that I shouldn’t have to, but my employer and John Lewis don’t seem to agree.
Do they still insist on masks in your local John Lewis??
They don't in John Lewis Newcastle, nor the Waitrose in Ponteland.
Unless it’s changed, it’s company policy to ask customers to wear masks. They are not enforcing, but still want you to.
Not sure the staff are even wearing masks round here, from what I remember from a few weeks ago.
It must be a quiet news day again, as PB is dominated by sodding masks (again), the Royal Family (again) and manly violence (a new one). I take it war hasn't started yet, but whether it does or it doesn't, Macron is to blame.
Obviously the fault of Macron...
Watching RT News. They are going heavy on Donbas refugees and Ukraines desire for nuclear weapons, which seems a distortion of Zelensky saying that if the Budapest agreement is torn up then all articles are defunct.
Excuse me for being self-indulgent but pb is nothing if not eclectic. I know Sunday evenings is a classic crisis moment but I'm honestly tempted to phone in the office tomorrow and quit my job with immediate effect. Frankly, I've had it. Bit risky but I have savings to tide me over for quite a bit and I honestly think if I simply carry on with the same cycle of drudgery nothing will ever change. Stare in to the abyss long enough and the abyss with stare back in to you.
In the long run, the only thing that matters is the people we're around, and the time we're around them. If you're not happy with who you're around, and you feel as if you're wasting your time, you're better off quitting now and finding something else to do - we're on this Earth a short time and every moment is too precious to waste doing something you hate. If you have the resources to do something else, or just sit back and do nothing while you decide what it is you really want to do, then do it. You can always find another job if you need the money. You'll never get the years back you spend at a job you hate.
Charles will probably turn out to be a slightly more popular king than it appears now. An even more outspokenly multicultural view on religion and environmentalism than his mother, for the left, and an old-Britain traditionalism on issues like architecture, and somewhat general rural-tweediness, for the right. Quite a reasonable balance and mix, in fact.
Yes, I think Charles will be a decent enough king though probably not so popular. Not that popularity matters, we have had plenty of unpopular monarchs over the years. Republicanism is nothing new.
I also don't think Charles would have prorogued Parliament as the Queen did (not least as he is probably a closet Remainer while the Queen was more pro Brexit).
Charles would have no choice . He couldn’t refuse and put himself in the middle of a political storm .
Proroguing Parliament is not the same as refusing to sign an Act passed by Parliament. Even the Supreme Court ruled it was unconstitutional.
Remember Charles is a Cambridge graduate while the Queen never went to university, he will be more aware when he can use his powers and not
Cambridge graduate? I wonder how he achieved admission to Fen poly? I got 4A’s at A level, with a distinction in the chemistry special paper and still didn’t get in. Reckon he exceeded my grades?
Prince Charles got a B and C A levels which were perfectly respectable when he took them in the 1960s pre grade inflation. Indeed even most Oxbridge undergraduates did not have straight As then
You are not seriously suggesting that if he wasn't Prince Charles he would have got in with those grades are you? Mine were substantially better, not that much later and in the Sciences yet it was considered absolutely pointless to apply to Oxbridge from my background. I didn't want to be close to home so didn't apply to Imperial so my next best option was Manchester for Maths which I got into. But even there there was discrimination on background. A group of us took a Maths A level early and all got grade As. All the others were asked for the minimum requirement to get in to Manchester (one additional E), presumably as they had proved themselves having taken the A level after 1 year and getting an A in Maths. I was asked for 2 Bs and an E on top of my A. No interviews were involved and my O Levels were at least as good. The only difference was I was originally a Secondary school boy and they were Grammar school all the time at school.
Who you are sadly counted then and of course still does to a lesser extent.
So you did not apply to Oxbridge then? Had you applied with your grades you may well have got in.
Nowadays at some Oxbridge colleges if anything there is reverse discrimination, at many colleges if 2 pupils, 1 private and 1 state, get equal grades and did equally well at interview they will always take the state candidate.
In other news, Camden's night life is back. Been out there Friday last week with my friends and then again yesterday with my wife's friends. Bars and pubs are all packed, not many people milling about outdoors but everywhere had queues to get in, The Underworld has been refurbished and you can wear canvas shoes risk free and use the gents.
Londoners have got their confidence back. What I don't see as much is out of towners like people from Essex heading into Liverpool Street on Fridays for a night in one of Leicester Square's more commercial bars/clubs. Hopefully as we head into the summer this crowd will be back too, despite the fights/piss/rowdiness London needs the two sizes too small polo shirt wearing crowd.
I have seen the same. Camden Market today is RAMMED despite the lousy weather: completely back to pre-pandemic levels, indeed possibly busier than normal for a very wintry, wet Sunday. Barely possible to drive through, all the pubs full at 4.30pm
Another thing I have noticed: gentrification has sped along, up from Camden High Street, down Kentish Town Road, all the way to Tufnell Park and even tentatively as far as - yes - Archway, previously a dystopian urban Toilet.
This seems to be a post-demic thing, or at least the process has been vastly speeded up by the plague. What used to be crappy pound stores, betting shops, charity outlets, is now all trendy bars, Vietnamese pho pop-ups, organic grocers, new cafes, wine shops, fancy clothes stores.
Intriguing
Of course this leaves the Big Question: how is CENTRAL London doing?
The City was still incredibly quiet the last time I was there a couple of weeks ago. And Canary Wharf.
Yes, it's a major concern. Central London is THE motor
We need tourists back
Commuters are definitely returning
Out here in the blue wall, people are quietly having fun while remaining cautious in shops - masks almost universal in Sainsbury. A friend's funeral is getting a good turnout, but some of the elderly folk are not coming. Generally it all seems quite sensible - enjoy life as you usually would, but if you're concerned about gettting the bug, avoid unnecessary exposure that doesn't stop you having fun.
My office will reopen at the end of March, with most people planning to come in two days a week, permanently - nobody is very keen, but it 's recognised that 100% wfh has its drawbacks. An interesting side-effect has been that some people are working overtime as needed without claiming TOIL - as one said, "I'm saving two hours a day on commuting, I'm not fussed if I need to spend half an hour extra finishing a report."
Why are people still wearing masks in shops ?
Do they actually think it will do any good or has it become some sort of weird social habit ?
Because shops have asked them to, such as Waitrose etc. And yes, some folk do believe they will help prevent them catching Covid. This should be the future. I have no beef with people wearing masks. I get annoyed at people being upset if I don’t.
I suppose that depends on if you want to live the rest of your life in fear of covid.
Not that it will do those people any good as everyone will still come into contact with it.
It clearly upsets you you that people still wear masks, not sure why, it's personal preference.
You assume people who do are living "in fear" of covid. They are not. There are still plenty of cases so I pop my mask on in a crowded shop or public transport. Why take a risk? If it doesn't have any effect then so be it, but there is no downside to putting it on for a couple of minutes as far as I can see.
I'm in my early 70's and whenever it has been allowed we have been eating out 3 or 4 times a week , travelling around , staying in hotels, going abroad, going to concerts, meeting friends etc but acting cautiously and wearing a mask when we feel it's wise to do so. We haven't yet caught Covid and could easily carry on as we are for years if necessary. it's not impacting on what we do in the least.
I’m not upset that people wear masks. I’m very upset that I am still required to at work and expected to at my preferred supermarket. I think it’s reasonable that I shouldn’t have to, but my employer and John Lewis don’t seem to agree.
Do they still insist on masks in your local John Lewis??
They don't in John Lewis Newcastle, nor the Waitrose in Ponteland.
Unless it’s changed, it’s company policy to ask customers to wear masks. They are not enforcing, but still want you to.
Not sure the staff are even wearing masks round here, from what I remember from a few weeks ago.
At mine it’s a mix, but it’s still the company policy as a whole. Maybe I should just stop, but people make me feel guilty...
It must be a quiet news day again, as PB is dominated by sodding masks (again), the Royal Family (again) and manly violence (a new one). I take it war hasn't started yet, but whether it does or it doesn't, Macron is to blame.
Say that again and I'll rip your face off.
We are in a phoney war period. What comes after a phoney war?
Excuse me for being self-indulgent but pb is nothing if not eclectic. I know Sunday evenings is a classic crisis moment but I'm honestly tempted to phone in the office tomorrow and quit my job with immediate effect. Frankly, I've had it. Bit risky but I have savings to tide me over for quite a bit and I honestly think if I simply carry on with the same cycle of drudgery nothing will ever change. Stare in to the abyss long enough and the abyss with stare back in to you.
I know the feeling, and believe me I have been very fucking tempted myself over the last few months. In fact, one of the things I want to do this week is work out what my minimum required income from self employment would need to be if I go down that route.
However:
I would strongly advise you to serve out any notice period. Don't burn your bridges too far yet. You may need a reference from them later.
It must be a quiet news day again, as PB is dominated by sodding masks (again), the Royal Family (again) and manly violence (a new one). I take it war hasn't started yet, but whether it does or it doesn't, Macron is to blame.
Say that again and I'll rip your face off.
We are in a phoney war period. What comes after a phoney war?
I am looking forward to getting rid of the things, and I'm using mine on fewer occasions.
Having said that: in future, if I have a cough or cold, then I might well wear one when going into crowded places. It seems reasonable and only polite.
On a related note, I can see companies being less keen on staff coming in when they are obviously unwell. No more struggling in and coughing guts up at the desk because there's a deadline that needs to be met ...
Why go into crowds at all when you are coughing and have a cold? A bloke came on the bus the other day and was sneezing and spluttering his head off. Everyone scattered. The sneezer was masked. Most of the other people weren’t. If you are coughing and spluttering, keep away from people.
In other news, Camden's night life is back. Been out there Friday last week with my friends and then again yesterday with my wife's friends. Bars and pubs are all packed, not many people milling about outdoors but everywhere had queues to get in, The Underworld has been refurbished and you can wear canvas shoes risk free and use the gents.
Londoners have got their confidence back. What I don't see as much is out of towners like people from Essex heading into Liverpool Street on Fridays for a night in one of Leicester Square's more commercial bars/clubs. Hopefully as we head into the summer this crowd will be back too, despite the fights/piss/rowdiness London needs the two sizes too small polo shirt wearing crowd.
I have seen the same. Camden Market today is RAMMED despite the lousy weather: completely back to pre-pandemic levels, indeed possibly busier than normal for a very wintry, wet Sunday. Barely possible to drive through, all the pubs full at 4.30pm
Another thing I have noticed: gentrification has sped along, up from Camden High Street, down Kentish Town Road, all the way to Tufnell Park and even tentatively as far as - yes - Archway, previously a dystopian urban Toilet.
This seems to be a post-demic thing, or at least the process has been vastly speeded up by the plague. What used to be crappy pound stores, betting shops, charity outlets, is now all trendy bars, Vietnamese pho pop-ups, organic grocers, new cafes, wine shops, fancy clothes stores.
Intriguing
Of course this leaves the Big Question: how is CENTRAL London doing?
The City was still incredibly quiet the last time I was there a couple of weeks ago. And Canary Wharf.
Yes, it's a major concern. Central London is THE motor
We need tourists back
Commuters are definitely returning
Out here in the blue wall, people are quietly having fun while remaining cautious in shops - masks almost universal in Sainsbury. A friend's funeral is getting a good turnout, but some of the elderly folk are not coming. Generally it all seems quite sensible - enjoy life as you usually would, but if you're concerned about gettting the bug, avoid unnecessary exposure that doesn't stop you having fun.
My office will reopen at the end of March, with most people planning to come in two days a week, permanently - nobody is very keen, but it 's recognised that 100% wfh has its drawbacks. An interesting side-effect has been that some people are working overtime as needed without claiming TOIL - as one said, "I'm saving two hours a day on commuting, I'm not fussed if I need to spend half an hour extra finishing a report."
Why are people still wearing masks in shops ?
Do they actually think it will do any good or has it become some sort of weird social habit ?
Because they do indeed do good.
I gave someone a piece of my mind yesterday who came near me without a mask. Thankfully 80%+ of people around here are all still wearing masks and many do so even outdoors.
Why? Because we know that this killer virus isn't done with us yet and we're not selfish.
In what context did you give them a piece of your mind? In hospital? Then fair enough. Almost anywhere else you are bang out of order. And rude to be honest.
There are far more not wearing masks and I simply do not see anyone brave or foolish enough to challenge them
Anyone comes near me in a shop without a mask they get a broadside. And my titanium tipped pole.
But fortunately most everyone wears them around here and virtually all the shop assistants. Whenever anyone approaches on the pavement we all cross the road: it has become a thing.
If you did that to me you'd get a punch in the face tbh. A very, very hard punch in the face.
Gloating about violence. How pathetic.
No gloating, just reality. Anyone who attacks me physically for not wearing a mask would get a retaliation.
That just makes you sound like a thug. Someone hits you (presumably lightly) with a pole, and you punch them hard in the face.
If you're like that in irl, then you're a nutter. If you're not like that, then you're just a prick on the Internet pretending to be a hard man.
Sorry but in the hypothetical scenario surely the person assaulting MaxPB with a stick is the one in the wrong and the provocateur ?
If someone did that to me I wouldn’t immediately hit them but if I was concerned for my safety I might. I’d sooner remove myself from the risk. They’re carrying a sharp stick after all and using it as a weapon.
It depends on the circumstances and the strength of the 'hit'. But Max's reply about a 'very, very hard punch in the face' is stupid.
Lives have been ruined and taken by that sort of attitude.
I mean, imagine if it was an accident, and Max saw the person was wearing a mask, and therefore punched her 'very, very hard in the face'.
As ever, if you can, deescalate a violent situation. Run away if necessary. Only attack back if you cannot.
Max evidently goes for escalation.
If someone wants to start something they need to be prepared for the situation to be ended. Someone hitting me with a titanium stick would be starting something. They need to be prepared to be hit in the face very hard. If they aren't they shouldn't be going around hitting people with sticks.
And if they shrug off the hit to the face, and decide to end it by doing worse to you? Or if you've utterly misinterpreted the situation and it wasn't an attack, and you've just hit an old lady hard in the face after she slipped and her pole went flying?
Always try to de-escalate. If your first instinct is to hit people very hard in the face, get anger management help - as should Heathener by the sounds of it.
Excuse me for being self-indulgent but pb is nothing if not eclectic. I know Sunday evenings is a classic crisis moment but I'm honestly tempted to phone in the office tomorrow and quit my job with immediate effect. Frankly, I've had it. Bit risky but I have savings to tide me over for quite a bit and I honestly think if I simply carry on with the same cycle of drudgery nothing will ever change. Stare in to the abyss long enough and the abyss with stare back in to you.
Fine to make the decision now, less wise to act immediately. There's probably notice periods and stuff involved, and if you have stuck it for however long you can stick it for another month while you make plans. But yes if you have it and can viably make a living elsewhere, do it.
Excuse me for being self-indulgent but pb is nothing if not eclectic. I know Sunday evenings is a classic crisis moment but I'm honestly tempted to phone in the office tomorrow and quit my job with immediate effect. Frankly, I've had it. Bit risky but I have savings to tide me over for quite a bit and I honestly think if I simply carry on with the same cycle of drudgery nothing will ever change. Stare in to the abyss long enough and the abyss with stare back in to you.
In the long run, the only thing that matters is the people we're around, and the time we're around them. If you're not happy with who you're around, and you feel as if you're wasting your time, you're better off quitting now and finding something else to do - we're on this Earth a short time and every moment is too precious to waste doing something you hate. If you have the resources to do something else, or just sit back and do nothing while you decide what it is you really want to do, then do it. You can always find another job if you need the money. You'll never get the years back you spend at a job you hate.
yes echo this , we spend a huge part of our lives at work so its imperative you like the work and your conditions and colleagues (or at least not hate any of these) . Everyone has bad days and arguments in work but if you are convinced its more than a reaction to a bad day then go for it.
In other news, Camden's night life is back. Been out there Friday last week with my friends and then again yesterday with my wife's friends. Bars and pubs are all packed, not many people milling about outdoors but everywhere had queues to get in, The Underworld has been refurbished and you can wear canvas shoes risk free and use the gents.
Londoners have got their confidence back. What I don't see as much is out of towners like people from Essex heading into Liverpool Street on Fridays for a night in one of Leicester Square's more commercial bars/clubs. Hopefully as we head into the summer this crowd will be back too, despite the fights/piss/rowdiness London needs the two sizes too small polo shirt wearing crowd.
I have seen the same. Camden Market today is RAMMED despite the lousy weather: completely back to pre-pandemic levels, indeed possibly busier than normal for a very wintry, wet Sunday. Barely possible to drive through, all the pubs full at 4.30pm
Another thing I have noticed: gentrification has sped along, up from Camden High Street, down Kentish Town Road, all the way to Tufnell Park and even tentatively as far as - yes - Archway, previously a dystopian urban Toilet.
This seems to be a post-demic thing, or at least the process has been vastly speeded up by the plague. What used to be crappy pound stores, betting shops, charity outlets, is now all trendy bars, Vietnamese pho pop-ups, organic grocers, new cafes, wine shops, fancy clothes stores.
Intriguing
Of course this leaves the Big Question: how is CENTRAL London doing?
The City was still incredibly quiet the last time I was there a couple of weeks ago. And Canary Wharf.
Yes, it's a major concern. Central London is THE motor
We need tourists back
Commuters are definitely returning
Out here in the blue wall, people are quietly having fun while remaining cautious in shops - masks almost universal in Sainsbury. A friend's funeral is getting a good turnout, but some of the elderly folk are not coming. Generally it all seems quite sensible - enjoy life as you usually would, but if you're concerned about gettting the bug, avoid unnecessary exposure that doesn't stop you having fun.
My office will reopen at the end of March, with most people planning to come in two days a week, permanently - nobody is very keen, but it 's recognised that 100% wfh has its drawbacks. An interesting side-effect has been that some people are working overtime as needed without claiming TOIL - as one said, "I'm saving two hours a day on commuting, I'm not fussed if I need to spend half an hour extra finishing a report."
Why are people still wearing masks in shops ?
Do they actually think it will do any good or has it become some sort of weird social habit ?
Because shops have asked them to, such as Waitrose etc. And yes, some folk do believe they will help prevent them catching Covid. This should be the future. I have no beef with people wearing masks. I get annoyed at people being upset if I don’t.
I suppose that depends on if you want to live the rest of your life in fear of covid.
Not that it will do those people any good as everyone will still come into contact with it.
It clearly upsets you you that people still wear masks, not sure why, it's personal preference.
You assume people who do are living "in fear" of covid. They are not. There are still plenty of cases so I pop my mask on in a crowded shop or public transport. Why take a risk? If it doesn't have any effect then so be it, but there is no downside to putting it on for a couple of minutes as far as I can see.
I'm in my early 70's and whenever it has been allowed we have been eating out 3 or 4 times a week , travelling around , staying in hotels, going abroad, going to concerts, meeting friends etc but acting cautiously and wearing a mask when we feel it's wise to do so. We haven't yet caught Covid and could easily carry on as we are for years if necessary. it's not impacting on what we do in the least.
I’m not upset that people wear masks. I’m very upset that I am still required to at work and expected to at my preferred supermarket. I think it’s reasonable that I shouldn’t have to, but my employer and John Lewis don’t seem to agree.
Do they still insist on masks in your local John Lewis??
They don't in John Lewis Newcastle, nor the Waitrose in Ponteland.
As far as I’m aware no supermarkets near me (north London) impose masks. I haven’t worn one anywhere other than the tube for weeks.
Charles will probably turn out to be a slightly more popular king than it appears now. An even more outspokenly multicultural view on religion and environmentalism than his mother, for the left, and an old-Britain traditionalism on issues like architecture, and somewhat general rural-tweediness, for the right. Quite a reasonable balance and mix, in fact.
Yes, I think Charles will be a decent enough king though probably not so popular. Not that popularity matters, we have had plenty of unpopular monarchs over the years. Republicanism is nothing new.
I also don't think Charles would have prorogued Parliament as the Queen did (not least as he is probably a closet Remainer while the Queen was more pro Brexit).
Charles would have no choice . He couldn’t refuse and put himself in the middle of a political storm .
Proroguing Parliament is not the same as refusing to sign an Act passed by Parliament. Even the Supreme Court ruled it was unconstitutional.
Remember Charles is a Cambridge graduate while the Queen never went to university, he will be more aware when he can use his powers and not
Cambridge graduate? I wonder how he achieved admission to Fen poly? I got 4A’s at A level, with a distinction in the chemistry special paper and still didn’t get in. Reckon he exceeded my grades?
I believe HMQ got some pretty solid grounding in constitutional law from some distinguished private tutors. Charlie is patently thick as fuck, Cambridge or not.
I have heard similar, via a friend who knew one of his tutors.
Odd then, that when he has often spoken out on 'unfashionable' topics, such as the environment (built and natural), he has generally been proven to be on the 'right' side.
Actually I partly agree with this. I think the reason is his youth in the 1960's - he seemed to have a formative, slightly more radical patch, and then a more traditionalist period. As a result, however intelligent he is or not, I think his overall perspective on a lot of things looks quite well-balanced.
If he could vote Charles would probably be a LD I would imagine, occasionally voting Green or Tory
Do you think he’d happily vote for this Tory admin ?
No, as I said he would probably also be a Remainer and LD voter. I suspect Charles would get on better with a PM Starmer than PM Boris. Charles will also be more of a reformer as monarch than his mother.
The Queen was probably a Brexiteer, Charles probably not
Top marks in the PB Ridiculous and Pointless Speculation competition
I am looking forward to getting rid of the things, and I'm using mine on fewer occasions.
Having said that: in future, if I have a cough or cold, then I might well wear one when going into crowded places. It seems reasonable and only polite.
On a related note, I can see companies being less keen on staff coming in when they are obviously unwell. No more struggling in and coughing guts up at the desk because there's a deadline that needs to be met ...
Why go into crowds at all when you are coughing and have a cold? A bloke came on the bus the other day and was sneezing and spluttering his head off. Everyone scattered. The sneezer was masked. Most of the other people weren’t. If you are coughing and spluttering, keep away from people.
I agree, but sometimes you can be coughing and spluttering but there are still things that need doing. e.g. picking up the little 'un from school.
This Ukrainian crisis seems to have bought out the worse in Macron (and Germany for that matter)
Sad state of affairs that will fundamentally shift the dial for the west
There's been an opinion poll in Ukraine on how the role of other countries in the crisis is perceived. 60% believe the US 'protects Ukraine interests' and 58% think so of the UK. Only 26% think so of France, and 13% of Germany.
Excuse me for being self-indulgent but pb is nothing if not eclectic. I know Sunday evenings is a classic crisis moment but I'm honestly tempted to phone in the office tomorrow and quit my job with immediate effect. Frankly, I've had it. Bit risky but I have savings to tide me over for quite a bit and I honestly think if I simply carry on with the same cycle of drudgery nothing will ever change. Stare in to the abyss long enough and the abyss with stare back in to you.
I don’t know what you do, but isn’t it feasible to job search while performing your current role? Takes a bit of discipline but probably less risky (and you will likely get a better outcome)
Charles will probably turn out to be a slightly more popular king than it appears now. An even more outspokenly multicultural view on religion and environmentalism than his mother, for the left, and an old-Britain traditionalism on issues like architecture, and somewhat general rural-tweediness, for the right. Quite a reasonable balance and mix, in fact.
Yes, I think Charles will be a decent enough king though probably not so popular. Not that popularity matters, we have had plenty of unpopular monarchs over the years. Republicanism is nothing new.
I also don't think Charles would have prorogued Parliament as the Queen did (not least as he is probably a closet Remainer while the Queen was more pro Brexit).
Charles would have no choice . He couldn’t refuse and put himself in the middle of a political storm .
Proroguing Parliament is not the same as refusing to sign an Act passed by Parliament. Even the Supreme Court ruled it was unconstitutional.
Remember Charles is a Cambridge graduate while the Queen never went to university, he will be more aware when he can use his powers and not
Cambridge graduate? I wonder how he achieved admission to Fen poly? I got 4A’s at A level, with a distinction in the chemistry special paper and still didn’t get in. Reckon he exceeded my grades?
I believe HMQ got some pretty solid grounding in constitutional law from some distinguished private tutors. Charlie is patently thick as fuck, Cambridge or not.
I have heard similar, via a friend who knew one of his tutors.
Odd then, that when he has often spoken out on 'unfashionable' topics, such as the environment (built and natural), he has generally been proven to be on the 'right' side.
Actually I partly agree with this. I think the reason is his youth in the 1960's - he seemed to have a formative, slightly more radical patch, and then a more traditionalist period. As a result, however intelligent he is or not, I think his overall perspective on a lot of things looks quite well-balanced.
If he could vote Charles would probably be a LD I would imagine, occasionally voting Green or Tory
Do you think he’d happily vote for this Tory admin ?
No, as I said he would probably also be a Remainer and LD voter. I suspect Charles would get on better with a PM Starmer than PM Boris. Charles will also be more of a reformer as monarch than his mother.
The Queen was probably a Brexiteer, Charles probably not
Top marks in the PB Ridiculous and Pointless Speculation competition
It's a thought actually, but I take it the Queen and Charles didn't get a vote in the referendum?
In other news, Camden's night life is back. Been out there Friday last week with my friends and then again yesterday with my wife's friends. Bars and pubs are all packed, not many people milling about outdoors but everywhere had queues to get in, The Underworld has been refurbished and you can wear canvas shoes risk free and use the gents.
Londoners have got their confidence back. What I don't see as much is out of towners like people from Essex heading into Liverpool Street on Fridays for a night in one of Leicester Square's more commercial bars/clubs. Hopefully as we head into the summer this crowd will be back too, despite the fights/piss/rowdiness London needs the two sizes too small polo shirt wearing crowd.
I have seen the same. Camden Market today is RAMMED despite the lousy weather: completely back to pre-pandemic levels, indeed possibly busier than normal for a very wintry, wet Sunday. Barely possible to drive through, all the pubs full at 4.30pm
Another thing I have noticed: gentrification has sped along, up from Camden High Street, down Kentish Town Road, all the way to Tufnell Park and even tentatively as far as - yes - Archway, previously a dystopian urban Toilet.
This seems to be a post-demic thing, or at least the process has been vastly speeded up by the plague. What used to be crappy pound stores, betting shops, charity outlets, is now all trendy bars, Vietnamese pho pop-ups, organic grocers, new cafes, wine shops, fancy clothes stores.
Intriguing
Of course this leaves the Big Question: how is CENTRAL London doing?
The City was still incredibly quiet the last time I was there a couple of weeks ago. And Canary Wharf.
Yes, it's a major concern. Central London is THE motor
We need tourists back
Commuters are definitely returning
Out here in the blue wall, people are quietly having fun while remaining cautious in shops - masks almost universal in Sainsbury. A friend's funeral is getting a good turnout, but some of the elderly folk are not coming. Generally it all seems quite sensible - enjoy life as you usually would, but if you're concerned about gettting the bug, avoid unnecessary exposure that doesn't stop you having fun.
My office will reopen at the end of March, with most people planning to come in two days a week, permanently - nobody is very keen, but it 's recognised that 100% wfh has its drawbacks. An interesting side-effect has been that some people are working overtime as needed without claiming TOIL - as one said, "I'm saving two hours a day on commuting, I'm not fussed if I need to spend half an hour extra finishing a report."
Why are people still wearing masks in shops ?
Do they actually think it will do any good or has it become some sort of weird social habit ?
Because shops have asked them to, such as Waitrose etc. And yes, some folk do believe they will help prevent them catching Covid. This should be the future. I have no beef with people wearing masks. I get annoyed at people being upset if I don’t.
I suppose that depends on if you want to live the rest of your life in fear of covid.
Not that it will do those people any good as everyone will still come into contact with it.
It clearly upsets you you that people still wear masks, not sure why, it's personal preference.
You assume people who do are living "in fear" of covid. They are not. There are still plenty of cases so I pop my mask on in a crowded shop or public transport. Why take a risk? If it doesn't have any effect then so be it, but there is no downside to putting it on for a couple of minutes as far as I can see.
I'm in my early 70's and whenever it has been allowed we have been eating out 3 or 4 times a week , travelling around , staying in hotels, going abroad, going to concerts, meeting friends etc but acting cautiously and wearing a mask when we feel it's wise to do so. We haven't yet caught Covid and could easily carry on as we are for years if necessary. it's not impacting on what we do in the least.
I’m not upset that people wear masks. I’m very upset that I am still required to at work and expected to at my preferred supermarket. I think it’s reasonable that I shouldn’t have to, but my employer and John Lewis don’t seem to agree.
Do they still insist on masks in your local John Lewis??
They don't in John Lewis Newcastle, nor the Waitrose in Ponteland.
Unless it’s changed, it’s company policy to ask customers to wear masks. They are not enforcing, but still want you to.
Not sure the staff are even wearing masks round here, from what I remember from a few weeks ago.
Our local surgery, pharmacy, dentist and optician all insist on masks being worn when visiting their premises.
Charles will probably turn out to be a slightly more popular king than it appears now. An even more outspokenly multicultural view on religion and environmentalism than his mother, for the left, and an old-Britain traditionalism on issues like architecture, and somewhat general rural-tweediness, for the right. Quite a reasonable balance and mix, in fact.
Yes, I think Charles will be a decent enough king though probably not so popular. Not that popularity matters, we have had plenty of unpopular monarchs over the years. Republicanism is nothing new.
I also don't think Charles would have prorogued Parliament as the Queen did (not least as he is probably a closet Remainer while the Queen was more pro Brexit).
Charles would have no choice . He couldn’t refuse and put himself in the middle of a political storm .
Proroguing Parliament is not the same as refusing to sign an Act passed by Parliament. Even the Supreme Court ruled it was unconstitutional.
Remember Charles is a Cambridge graduate while the Queen never went to university, he will be more aware when he can use his powers and not
Cambridge graduate? I wonder how he achieved admission to Fen poly? I got 4A’s at A level, with a distinction in the chemistry special paper and still didn’t get in. Reckon he exceeded my grades?
I believe HMQ got some pretty solid grounding in constitutional law from some distinguished private tutors. Charlie is patently thick as fuck, Cambridge or not.
I have heard similar, via a friend who knew one of his tutors.
Odd then, that when he has often spoken out on 'unfashionable' topics, such as the environment (built and natural), he has generally been proven to be on the 'right' side.
Actually I partly agree with this. I think the reason is his youth in the 1960's - he seemed to have a formative, slightly more radical patch, and then a more traditionalist period. As a result, however intelligent he is or not, I think his overall perspective on a lot of things looks quite well-balanced.
If he could vote Charles would probably be a LD I would imagine, occasionally voting Green or Tory
Do you think he’d happily vote for this Tory admin ?
No, as I said he would probably also be a Remainer and LD voter. I suspect Charles would get on better with a PM Starmer than PM Boris. Charles will also be more of a reformer as monarch than his mother.
The Queen was probably a Brexiteer, Charles probably not
Top marks in the PB Ridiculous and Pointless Speculation competition
It's a thought actually, but I take it the Queen and Charles didn't get a vote in the referendum?
IIRC the Monarch is the only non incarcerated adult that is disenfranchised. I guess Charles could if he so wished.
Excuse me for being self-indulgent but pb is nothing if not eclectic. I know Sunday evenings is a classic crisis moment but I'm honestly tempted to phone in the office tomorrow and quit my job with immediate effect. Frankly, I've had it. Bit risky but I have savings to tide me over for quite a bit and I honestly think if I simply carry on with the same cycle of drudgery nothing will ever change. Stare in to the abyss long enough and the abyss with stare back in to you.
I don’t know what you do, but isn’t it feasible to job search while performing your current role? Takes a bit of discipline but probably less risky (and you will likely get a better outcome)
It depends on the toll on your mental health in the current role.
I’ve been tempted myself, and once a week I think ‘fuck this,I’m done’ , but strategically I want two more years then I’ll start drawdown and get something part time and not demanding.
Excuse me for being self-indulgent but pb is nothing if not eclectic. I know Sunday evenings is a classic crisis moment but I'm honestly tempted to phone in the office tomorrow and quit my job with immediate effect. Frankly, I've had it. Bit risky but I have savings to tide me over for quite a bit and I honestly think if I simply carry on with the same cycle of drudgery nothing will ever change. Stare in to the abyss long enough and the abyss with stare back in to you.
Do what's right for you, but try to do it the right way. Serve any notice. Leave without burning bridges.
An anecdote: I was fed up with one job, and was planning to resign so I could go walking for a year. I stuck it out, and a round of redundancies came along. I got made redundant instead of resigning, and the redundancy paid for the walk. If I'd resigned when I'd initially planned, I'd not have got the money. But that was more luck than judgement.
If I were you, I'd sit down and do two things. Write down the pros and cons of staying a while longer and leaving immediately. Put it in the drawer for a couple of days, then come back to it and see how you feel about them. I don't know your situation, but might the organisation be able to fix the reasons for your unhappiness if they knew?
Also, create an exit plan. How will you do it, what will you say. Finally, from experience savings don't last as long as you expect. Plan carefully.
Excuse me for being self-indulgent but pb is nothing if not eclectic. I know Sunday evenings is a classic crisis moment but I'm honestly tempted to phone in the office tomorrow and quit my job with immediate effect. Frankly, I've had it. Bit risky but I have savings to tide me over for quite a bit and I honestly think if I simply carry on with the same cycle of drudgery nothing will ever change. Stare in to the abyss long enough and the abyss with stare back in to you.
Do what's right for you, but try to do it the right way. Serve any notice. Leave without burning bridges.
An anecdote: I was fed up with one job, and was planning to resign so I could go walking for a year. I stuck it out, and a round of redundancies came along. I got made redundant instead of resigning, and the redundancy paid for the walk. If I'd resigned when I'd initially planned, I'd not have got the money. But that was more luck than judgement.
If I were you, I'd sit down and do two things. Write down the pros and cons of staying a while longer and leaving immediately. Put it in the drawer for a couple of days, then come back to it and see how you feel about them. I don't know your situation, but might the organisation be able to fix the reasons for your unhappiness if they knew?
Also, create an exit plan. How will you do it, what will you say. Finally, from experience savings don't last as long as you expect. Plan carefully.
Something similar happened to me. I could have fought the redundancy but was happy to go. Went travelling for 7 weeks.
Do Royal warrants expire on the death of a Monarch?
I assume so...
I believe the Prince of wales has his own warrants. In any event (IIRC) they expire after 3 years anyway
He does, but that doesn't really help.
By Appointment to Her Majesty the Queen will no longer apply, and nor will By Appointment to the Prince of Wales.
My erstwhile employer has had one for more than 3 years, but that might involve some kind of annual fee
Years ago a family friend had a trifecta of warrants - he used to renew every so often (just to demonstrate that the various royal households were still using the product)
They have a website and everything… up to 5 years is the answer
Excuse me for being self-indulgent but pb is nothing if not eclectic. I know Sunday evenings is a classic crisis moment but I'm honestly tempted to phone in the office tomorrow and quit my job with immediate effect. Frankly, I've had it. Bit risky but I have savings to tide me over for quite a bit and I honestly think if I simply carry on with the same cycle of drudgery nothing will ever change. Stare in to the abyss long enough and the abyss with stare back in to you.
If its that bad then go for it. If you're that unhappy in the job then better for both parties to go do something else.
MUNICH — The Kremlin on Sunday used a telephone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron to broadcast an array of provocative, unproven allegations of belligerence by Ukraine and NATO countries, insisting the West was “pushing Kyiv towards a military solution to the so-called Donbass problem.”
Moscow’s unfounded claims, put forward while Russia has mobilized more than 100,000 troops and sophisticated weapons on the Ukrainian border, sharply raised the danger that Putin might use fabricated charges to justify a military attack.
It is always good to try and avoid war by way of dialogue, but it seems like Putin is using Macron as a tool.
I guess it depends whether having agreed something Putin goes ahead with his invasion and THAT leaves the Ukraine and the West in a weaker position than not agreeing anything and Putin going ahead anyway.
There is plenty of risk with Macron's approach, but for now it looks less risky than not doing it.
Obviously we don't want to negotiate with blackmailers but as no-one will come to Ukraine's defence, it doesn't help Ukraine if the country is destroyed and maybe hundreds of thousands are killed and then we say, now we are going to apply sanctions. We should try to do what we can to stop the catastrophe happening until it's too late.
In other news, Camden's night life is back. Been out there Friday last week with my friends and then again yesterday with my wife's friends. Bars and pubs are all packed, not many people milling about outdoors but everywhere had queues to get in, The Underworld has been refurbished and you can wear canvas shoes risk free and use the gents.
Londoners have got their confidence back. What I don't see as much is out of towners like people from Essex heading into Liverpool Street on Fridays for a night in one of Leicester Square's more commercial bars/clubs. Hopefully as we head into the summer this crowd will be back too, despite the fights/piss/rowdiness London needs the two sizes too small polo shirt wearing crowd.
I have seen the same. Camden Market today is RAMMED despite the lousy weather: completely back to pre-pandemic levels, indeed possibly busier than normal for a very wintry, wet Sunday. Barely possible to drive through, all the pubs full at 4.30pm
Another thing I have noticed: gentrification has sped along, up from Camden High Street, down Kentish Town Road, all the way to Tufnell Park and even tentatively as far as - yes - Archway, previously a dystopian urban Toilet.
This seems to be a post-demic thing, or at least the process has been vastly speeded up by the plague. What used to be crappy pound stores, betting shops, charity outlets, is now all trendy bars, Vietnamese pho pop-ups, organic grocers, new cafes, wine shops, fancy clothes stores.
Intriguing
Of course this leaves the Big Question: how is CENTRAL London doing?
The City was still incredibly quiet the last time I was there a couple of weeks ago. And Canary Wharf.
Yes, it's a major concern. Central London is THE motor
We need tourists back
Commuters are definitely returning
Out here in the blue wall, people are quietly having fun while remaining cautious in shops - masks almost universal in Sainsbury. A friend's funeral is getting a good turnout, but some of the elderly folk are not coming. Generally it all seems quite sensible - enjoy life as you usually would, but if you're concerned about gettting the bug, avoid unnecessary exposure that doesn't stop you having fun.
My office will reopen at the end of March, with most people planning to come in two days a week, permanently - nobody is very keen, but it 's recognised that 100% wfh has its drawbacks. An interesting side-effect has been that some people are working overtime as needed without claiming TOIL - as one said, "I'm saving two hours a day on commuting, I'm not fussed if I need to spend half an hour extra finishing a report."
Why are people still wearing masks in shops ?
Do they actually think it will do any good or has it become some sort of weird social habit ?
Because shops have asked them to, such as Waitrose etc. And yes, some folk do believe they will help prevent them catching Covid. This should be the future. I have no beef with people wearing masks. I get annoyed at people being upset if I don’t.
I suppose that depends on if you want to live the rest of your life in fear of covid.
Not that it will do those people any good as everyone will still come into contact with it.
It clearly upsets you you that people still wear masks, not sure why, it's personal preference.
You assume people who do are living "in fear" of covid. They are not. There are still plenty of cases so I pop my mask on in a crowded shop or public transport. Why take a risk? If it doesn't have any effect then so be it, but there is no downside to putting it on for a couple of minutes as far as I can see.
I'm in my early 70's and whenever it has been allowed we have been eating out 3 or 4 times a week , travelling around , staying in hotels, going abroad, going to concerts, meeting friends etc but acting cautiously and wearing a mask when we feel it's wise to do so. We haven't yet caught Covid and could easily carry on as we are for years if necessary. it's not impacting on what we do in the least.
I’m not upset that people wear masks. I’m very upset that I am still required to at work and expected to at my preferred supermarket. I think it’s reasonable that I shouldn’t have to, but my employer and John Lewis don’t seem to agree.
Do they still insist on masks in your local John Lewis??
They don't in John Lewis Newcastle, nor the Waitrose in Ponteland.
Unless it’s changed, it’s company policy to ask customers to wear masks. They are not enforcing, but still want you to.
I didn't wear a mask in Waitrose today, I think for the first time. Hardly anyone else was, either, including some of the staff.
Years ago a family friend had a trifecta of warrants - he used to renew every so often (just to demonstrate that the various royal households were still using the product)
The Rover factory in Solihull had all 3 crests on it for a while.
Charles will probably turn out to be a slightly more popular king than it appears now. An even more outspokenly multicultural view on religion and environmentalism than his mother, for the left, and an old-Britain traditionalism on issues like architecture, and somewhat general rural-tweediness, for the right. Quite a reasonable balance and mix, in fact.
Yes, I think Charles will be a decent enough king though probably not so popular. Not that popularity matters, we have had plenty of unpopular monarchs over the years. Republicanism is nothing new.
I also don't think Charles would have prorogued Parliament as the Queen did (not least as he is probably a closet Remainer while the Queen was more pro Brexit).
Charles would have no choice . He couldn’t refuse and put himself in the middle of a political storm .
Proroguing Parliament is not the same as refusing to sign an Act passed by Parliament. Even the Supreme Court ruled it was unconstitutional.
Remember Charles is a Cambridge graduate while the Queen never went to university, he will be more aware when he can use his powers and not
Cambridge graduate? I wonder how he achieved admission to Fen poly? I got 4A’s at A level, with a distinction in the chemistry special paper and still didn’t get in. Reckon he exceeded my grades?
I believe HMQ got some pretty solid grounding in constitutional law from some distinguished private tutors. Charlie is patently thick as fuck, Cambridge or not.
I have heard similar, via a friend who knew one of his tutors.
To be fair, you were probably applying for a course where solid academics were a necessity.
I got in to study Philosophy with far more modest grades.
Excuse me for being self-indulgent but pb is nothing if not eclectic. I know Sunday evenings is a classic crisis moment but I'm honestly tempted to phone in the office tomorrow and quit my job with immediate effect. Frankly, I've had it. Bit risky but I have savings to tide me over for quite a bit and I honestly think if I simply carry on with the same cycle of drudgery nothing will ever change. Stare in to the abyss long enough and the abyss with stare back in to you.
I don’t know what you do, but isn’t it feasible to job search while performing your current role? Takes a bit of discipline but probably less risky (and you will likely get a better outcome)
It depends on the toll on your mental health in the current role.
I’ve been tempted myself, and once a week I think ‘fuck this,I’m done’ , but strategically I want two more years then I’ll start drawdown and get something part time and not demanding.
Yes I'm the same. 35 months and I can afford to retire (with possibly some part time work). At the moment I'm fighting alternate tedium and flat out juggling two jobs at once.
One thing I noticed last night on the way home, street lamps in the suburbs seem to have been switched off. It seems as though the electricity capacity situation is worse than the government is letting on.
In other news, Camden's night life is back. Been out there Friday last week with my friends and then again yesterday with my wife's friends. Bars and pubs are all packed, not many people milling about outdoors but everywhere had queues to get in, The Underworld has been refurbished and you can wear canvas shoes risk free and use the gents.
Londoners have got their confidence back. What I don't see as much is out of towners like people from Essex heading into Liverpool Street on Fridays for a night in one of Leicester Square's more commercial bars/clubs. Hopefully as we head into the summer this crowd will be back too, despite the fights/piss/rowdiness London needs the two sizes too small polo shirt wearing crowd.
I have seen the same. Camden Market today is RAMMED despite the lousy weather: completely back to pre-pandemic levels, indeed possibly busier than normal for a very wintry, wet Sunday. Barely possible to drive through, all the pubs full at 4.30pm
Another thing I have noticed: gentrification has sped along, up from Camden High Street, down Kentish Town Road, all the way to Tufnell Park and even tentatively as far as - yes - Archway, previously a dystopian urban Toilet.
This seems to be a post-demic thing, or at least the process has been vastly speeded up by the plague. What used to be crappy pound stores, betting shops, charity outlets, is now all trendy bars, Vietnamese pho pop-ups, organic grocers, new cafes, wine shops, fancy clothes stores.
Intriguing
Of course this leaves the Big Question: how is CENTRAL London doing?
The City was still incredibly quiet the last time I was there a couple of weeks ago. And Canary Wharf.
Yes, it's a major concern. Central London is THE motor
We need tourists back
Commuters are definitely returning
Out here in the blue wall, people are quietly having fun while remaining cautious in shops - masks almost universal in Sainsbury. A friend's funeral is getting a good turnout, but some of the elderly folk are not coming. Generally it all seems quite sensible - enjoy life as you usually would, but if you're concerned about gettting the bug, avoid unnecessary exposure that doesn't stop you having fun.
My office will reopen at the end of March, with most people planning to come in two days a week, permanently - nobody is very keen, but it 's recognised that 100% wfh has its drawbacks. An interesting side-effect has been that some people are working overtime as needed without claiming TOIL - as one said, "I'm saving two hours a day on commuting, I'm not fussed if I need to spend half an hour extra finishing a report."
Why are people still wearing masks in shops ?
Do they actually think it will do any good or has it become some sort of weird social habit ?
Because they do indeed do good.
I gave someone a piece of my mind yesterday who came near me without a mask. Thankfully 80%+ of people around here are all still wearing masks and many do so even outdoors.
Why? Because we know that this killer virus isn't done with us yet and we're not selfish.
In what context did you give them a piece of your mind? In hospital? Then fair enough. Almost anywhere else you are bang out of order. And rude to be honest.
There are far more not wearing masks and I simply do not see anyone brave or foolish enough to challenge them
Anyone comes near me in a shop without a mask they get a broadside. And my titanium tipped pole.
But fortunately most everyone wears them around here and virtually all the shop assistants. Whenever anyone approaches on the pavement we all cross the road: it has become a thing.
If you did that to me you'd get a punch in the face tbh. A very, very hard punch in the face.
Gloating about violence. How pathetic.
No gloating, just reality. Anyone who attacks me physically for not wearing a mask would get a retaliation.
That just makes you sound like a thug. Someone hits you (presumably lightly) with a pole, and you punch them hard in the face.
If you're like that in irl, then you're a nutter. If you're not like that, then you're just a prick on the Internet pretending to be a hard man.
Although it is an offence to hit somebody with a pole so it might legitimately be argued punching them back is self defence.
It *might*, although you are very unlikely to be killed by being hit with a walking pole. A smack to the face or head can kill.
As ever in a violent situation, be the bigger man and de-escalate if you can. Only attack back if you genuinely feel threatened.
Heathener is in the wrong. Max attacking back - harder - would also be in the wrong. Possibly more wrong.
As the saying goes, "everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face". Then the fight or flight adrenaline kicks in and you either find yourself running away, or swinging your fists. It's not something you think about, it's just automatic.
However, as a general rule, if you don't want to get punched in the face, don't hit people with sticks.
I've always managed to steer clear of violent situations. The closest I came was when I was a teenager and was walking down the street in my home town and saw a group of neds hassling a guy walking down the street some way ahead of me. The situation appeared to be escalating and I realised that the guy they were picking on was my older brother, who is a rather eccentric guy who neds would often feel a compulsive need to hassle when we were younger. Seeing as how I am not a very brave person or at all handy in a fight I was worried that my natural inclination would have been to leave my brother to his fate but I am happy to say that without really thinking about what I was doing I immediately went to his aid. I found myself telling the schemie fucks that they shouldn't start anything because I'd seen the polis by the garage round the corner, and luckily they believed me and fucked off.
Charles will probably turn out to be a slightly more popular king than it appears now. An even more outspokenly multicultural view on religion and environmentalism than his mother, for the left, and an old-Britain traditionalism on issues like architecture, and somewhat general rural-tweediness, for the right. Quite a reasonable balance and mix, in fact.
Yes, I think Charles will be a decent enough king though probably not so popular. Not that popularity matters, we have had plenty of unpopular monarchs over the years. Republicanism is nothing new.
I also don't think Charles would have prorogued Parliament as the Queen did (not least as he is probably a closet Remainer while the Queen was more pro Brexit).
Charles would have no choice . He couldn’t refuse and put himself in the middle of a political storm .
Proroguing Parliament is not the same as refusing to sign an Act passed by Parliament. Even the Supreme Court ruled it was unconstitutional.
Remember Charles is a Cambridge graduate while the Queen never went to university, he will be more aware when he can use his powers and not
Cambridge graduate? I wonder how he achieved admission to Fen poly? I got 4A’s at A level, with a distinction in the chemistry special paper and still didn’t get in. Reckon he exceeded my grades?
I believe HMQ got some pretty solid grounding in constitutional law from some distinguished private tutors. Charlie is patently thick as fuck, Cambridge or not.
I have heard similar, via a friend who knew one of his tutors.
To be fair, you were probably applying for a course where solid academics were a necessity.
I got in to study Philosophy with far more modest grades.
Yes, natural sciences. I’ll admit I didn’t shine at the interview, and to defend those who selected, they explicitly said that any of us who came to interview would have excelled, but there were only so many places. My headteacher wanted me to take a year out and apply again, but I was 18, had spent 7 years at an all boys school and wanted to get to uni ASAP. I don’t regret it, but the idea of Charles getting in by anything other than who his mum was is laughable.
In other news, Camden's night life is back. Been out there Friday last week with my friends and then again yesterday with my wife's friends. Bars and pubs are all packed, not many people milling about outdoors but everywhere had queues to get in, The Underworld has been refurbished and you can wear canvas shoes risk free and use the gents.
Londoners have got their confidence back. What I don't see as much is out of towners like people from Essex heading into Liverpool Street on Fridays for a night in one of Leicester Square's more commercial bars/clubs. Hopefully as we head into the summer this crowd will be back too, despite the fights/piss/rowdiness London needs the two sizes too small polo shirt wearing crowd.
I have seen the same. Camden Market today is RAMMED despite the lousy weather: completely back to pre-pandemic levels, indeed possibly busier than normal for a very wintry, wet Sunday. Barely possible to drive through, all the pubs full at 4.30pm
Another thing I have noticed: gentrification has sped along, up from Camden High Street, down Kentish Town Road, all the way to Tufnell Park and even tentatively as far as - yes - Archway, previously a dystopian urban Toilet.
This seems to be a post-demic thing, or at least the process has been vastly speeded up by the plague. What used to be crappy pound stores, betting shops, charity outlets, is now all trendy bars, Vietnamese pho pop-ups, organic grocers, new cafes, wine shops, fancy clothes stores.
Intriguing
Of course this leaves the Big Question: how is CENTRAL London doing?
The City was still incredibly quiet the last time I was there a couple of weeks ago. And Canary Wharf.
Yes, it's a major concern. Central London is THE motor
We need tourists back
Commuters are definitely returning
Out here in the blue wall, people are quietly having fun while remaining cautious in shops - masks almost universal in Sainsbury. A friend's funeral is getting a good turnout, but some of the elderly folk are not coming. Generally it all seems quite sensible - enjoy life as you usually would, but if you're concerned about gettting the bug, avoid unnecessary exposure that doesn't stop you having fun.
My office will reopen at the end of March, with most people planning to come in two days a week, permanently - nobody is very keen, but it 's recognised that 100% wfh has its drawbacks. An interesting side-effect has been that some people are working overtime as needed without claiming TOIL - as one said, "I'm saving two hours a day on commuting, I'm not fussed if I need to spend half an hour extra finishing a report."
Why are people still wearing masks in shops ?
Do they actually think it will do any good or has it become some sort of weird social habit ?
Because shops have asked them to, such as Waitrose etc. And yes, some folk do believe they will help prevent them catching Covid. This should be the future. I have no beef with people wearing masks. I get annoyed at people being upset if I don’t.
I suppose that depends on if you want to live the rest of your life in fear of covid.
Not that it will do those people any good as everyone will still come into contact with it.
It clearly upsets you you that people still wear masks, not sure why, it's personal preference.
You assume people who do are living "in fear" of covid. They are not. There are still plenty of cases so I pop my mask on in a crowded shop or public transport. Why take a risk? If it doesn't have any effect then so be it, but there is no downside to putting it on for a couple of minutes as far as I can see.
I'm in my early 70's and whenever it has been allowed we have been eating out 3 or 4 times a week , travelling around , staying in hotels, going abroad, going to concerts, meeting friends etc but acting cautiously and wearing a mask when we feel it's wise to do so. We haven't yet caught Covid and could easily carry on as we are for years if necessary. it's not impacting on what we do in the least.
I’m not upset that people wear masks. I’m very upset that I am still required to at work and expected to at my preferred supermarket. I think it’s reasonable that I shouldn’t have to, but my employer and John Lewis don’t seem to agree.
Do they still insist on masks in your local John Lewis??
They don't in John Lewis Newcastle, nor the Waitrose in Ponteland.
Unless it’s changed, it’s company policy to ask customers to wear masks. They are not enforcing, but still want you to.
I didn't wear a mask in Waitrose today, I think for the first time. Hardly anyone else was, either, including some of the staff.
Its good to hear staff are not being forced then - you go around some companies and its obvious some staff are forced - Macdonalds in Nottingham they were all masked up . I think this is evil personally . I wont go in a restaurant if staff are forced to wear a mask
Excuse me for being self-indulgent but pb is nothing if not eclectic. I know Sunday evenings is a classic crisis moment but I'm honestly tempted to phone in the office tomorrow and quit my job with immediate effect. Frankly, I've had it. Bit risky but I have savings to tide me over for quite a bit and I honestly think if I simply carry on with the same cycle of drudgery nothing will ever change. Stare in to the abyss long enough and the abyss with stare back in to you.
I don’t know what you do, but isn’t it feasible to job search while performing your current role? Takes a bit of discipline but probably less risky (and you will likely get a better outcome)
It depends on the toll on your mental health in the current role.
I’ve been tempted myself, and once a week I think ‘fuck this,I’m done’ , but strategically I want two more years then I’ll start drawdown and get something part time and not demanding.
Yes I'm the same. 35 months and I can afford to retire (with possibly some part time work). At the moment I'm fighting alternate tedium and flat out juggling two jobs at once.
That’s the same timescale my wife is looking at. I just don’t feel I want to go on that long doing this.
Charles will probably turn out to be a slightly more popular king than it appears now. An even more outspokenly multicultural view on religion and environmentalism than his mother, for the left, and an old-Britain traditionalism on issues like architecture, and somewhat general rural-tweediness, for the right. Quite a reasonable balance and mix, in fact.
Yes, I think Charles will be a decent enough king though probably not so popular. Not that popularity matters, we have had plenty of unpopular monarchs over the years. Republicanism is nothing new.
I also don't think Charles would have prorogued Parliament as the Queen did (not least as he is probably a closet Remainer while the Queen was more pro Brexit).
Charles would have no choice . He couldn’t refuse and put himself in the middle of a political storm .
Proroguing Parliament is not the same as refusing to sign an Act passed by Parliament. Even the Supreme Court ruled it was unconstitutional.
Remember Charles is a Cambridge graduate while the Queen never went to university, he will be more aware when he can use his powers and not
Cambridge graduate? I wonder how he achieved admission to Fen poly? I got 4A’s at A level, with a distinction in the chemistry special paper and still didn’t get in. Reckon he exceeded my grades?
I believe HMQ got some pretty solid grounding in constitutional law from some distinguished private tutors. Charlie is patently thick as fuck, Cambridge or not.
I have heard similar, via a friend who knew one of his tutors.
To be fair, you were probably applying for a course where solid academics were a necessity.
I got in to study Philosophy with far more modest grades.
Dare I ask what the criteria was for studying Philosophy? Raw cognitive ability? Creativity?
Charles will probably turn out to be a slightly more popular king than it appears now. An even more outspokenly multicultural view on religion and environmentalism than his mother, for the left, and an old-Britain traditionalism on issues like architecture, and somewhat general rural-tweediness, for the right. Quite a reasonable balance and mix, in fact.
Yes, I think Charles will be a decent enough king though probably not so popular. Not that popularity matters, we have had plenty of unpopular monarchs over the years. Republicanism is nothing new.
I also don't think Charles would have prorogued Parliament as the Queen did (not least as he is probably a closet Remainer while the Queen was more pro Brexit).
Charles would have no choice . He couldn’t refuse and put himself in the middle of a political storm .
Proroguing Parliament is not the same as refusing to sign an Act passed by Parliament. Even the Supreme Court ruled it was unconstitutional.
Remember Charles is a Cambridge graduate while the Queen never went to university, he will be more aware when he can use his powers and not
Cambridge graduate? I wonder how he achieved admission to Fen poly? I got 4A’s at A level, with a distinction in the chemistry special paper and still didn’t get in. Reckon he exceeded my grades?
I believe HMQ got some pretty solid grounding in constitutional law from some distinguished private tutors. Charlie is patently thick as fuck, Cambridge or not.
I have heard similar, via a friend who knew one of his tutors.
To be fair, you were probably applying for a course where solid academics were a necessity.
I got in to study Philosophy with far more modest grades.
Dare I ask what the criteria was for studying Philosophy? Raw cognitive ability? Creativity?
My dad knew a man in a factory drawing office for thirty or so years. When the man retired, he turned to my dad and said: "I've hated every single day I've worked here."
Leaving my dad wondering why he had not left decades earlier if he hated the job so much. The modern workplace may have virtually ended the job for life, but it has made it easier to move jobs if you are unhappy.
It's a tad distasteful to discuss what happens on the death of a monarch who has served this country inexhaustibly.
However ... the idea that we should all be forced into mourning is an utter joke. I think the Queen has been amazing. But has she been perfect? No. She has presided over some disastrous errors of judgement.
And as an institution the monarchy can bog off. It's thoroughly corrupt. When the Queen goes a lot of stuff will come out and I hope it ends this stupid sycophancy and preferably the whole institution of it. It's patently bonkers in this present era.
The monarchy will ... outlive
We'll see.
I think they're in big trouble. When she does eventually go an awful lot of shit is going to come out.
William seems like a decent bloke though, grounded with a nice wife. The rest can all bugger off.
I think the world is moving on, with this and so many other things. The OK, Boomer generation's constant complaining about 'woke' this and 'woke' that, which surfaces on here quite a lot (especially when Leon is on the sauce) is like Custer's last stand. Or Canute's as a better analogy.
We've seen what you did to the world and we're moving on.
TBF Cnut was on the woke or at least realistic side - making the point to the PBTories of his time that the tide was moving in.
My dad knew a man in a factory drawing office for thirty or so years. When the man retired, he turned to my dad and said: "I've hated every single day I've worked here."
Leaving my dad wondering why he had not left decades earlier if he hated the job so much. The modern workplace may have virtually ended the job for life, but it has made it easier to move jobs if you are unhappy.
And the pensions reforms. In the old day you were robbed blind if you moved jobs.
In other news, Camden's night life is back. Been out there Friday last week with my friends and then again yesterday with my wife's friends. Bars and pubs are all packed, not many people milling about outdoors but everywhere had queues to get in, The Underworld has been refurbished and you can wear canvas shoes risk free and use the gents.
Londoners have got their confidence back. What I don't see as much is out of towners like people from Essex heading into Liverpool Street on Fridays for a night in one of Leicester Square's more commercial bars/clubs. Hopefully as we head into the summer this crowd will be back too, despite the fights/piss/rowdiness London needs the two sizes too small polo shirt wearing crowd.
I have seen the same. Camden Market today is RAMMED despite the lousy weather: completely back to pre-pandemic levels, indeed possibly busier than normal for a very wintry, wet Sunday. Barely possible to drive through, all the pubs full at 4.30pm
Another thing I have noticed: gentrification has sped along, up from Camden High Street, down Kentish Town Road, all the way to Tufnell Park and even tentatively as far as - yes - Archway, previously a dystopian urban Toilet.
This seems to be a post-demic thing, or at least the process has been vastly speeded up by the plague. What used to be crappy pound stores, betting shops, charity outlets, is now all trendy bars, Vietnamese pho pop-ups, organic grocers, new cafes, wine shops, fancy clothes stores.
Intriguing
Of course this leaves the Big Question: how is CENTRAL London doing?
The City was still incredibly quiet the last time I was there a couple of weeks ago. And Canary Wharf.
Yes, it's a major concern. Central London is THE motor
We need tourists back
Commuters are definitely returning
Out here in the blue wall, people are quietly having fun while remaining cautious in shops - masks almost universal in Sainsbury. A friend's funeral is getting a good turnout, but some of the elderly folk are not coming. Generally it all seems quite sensible - enjoy life as you usually would, but if you're concerned about gettting the bug, avoid unnecessary exposure that doesn't stop you having fun.
My office will reopen at the end of March, with most people planning to come in two days a week, permanently - nobody is very keen, but it 's recognised that 100% wfh has its drawbacks. An interesting side-effect has been that some people are working overtime as needed without claiming TOIL - as one said, "I'm saving two hours a day on commuting, I'm not fussed if I need to spend half an hour extra finishing a report."
Why are people still wearing masks in shops ?
Do they actually think it will do any good or has it become some sort of weird social habit ?
Because they do indeed do good.
I gave someone a piece of my mind yesterday who came near me without a mask. Thankfully 80%+ of people around here are all still wearing masks and many do so even outdoors.
Why? Because we know that this killer virus isn't done with us yet and we're not selfish.
In what context did you give them a piece of your mind? In hospital? Then fair enough. Almost anywhere else you are bang out of order. And rude to be honest.
There are far more not wearing masks and I simply do not see anyone brave or foolish enough to challenge them
Anyone comes near me in a shop without a mask they get a broadside. And my titanium tipped pole.
But fortunately most everyone wears them around here and virtually all the shop assistants. Whenever anyone approaches on the pavement we all cross the road: it has become a thing.
If you did that to me you'd get a punch in the face tbh. A very, very hard punch in the face.
Why bother? Just make a complaint under section 4a of the Public Order Act 1986 and she gets six months.
In reality maskless people are all around Heathener and he/she does nothing about it, maybe tuts under their mask sometimes and basks in the glory of their own self satisfaction and virtue.
Leaving aside the unpleasant and aggressive tone of his/her posts, what on Earth is he/she on about? Mask mandates were abolished weeks ago.
They are completely barmy. So many people have made masks some totem of COVID virtue and decided that those who don't wear them are evil murderers. The government shares some of the blame and so does the media. There still seems to be some expectation out there that it will be possible to not get it and wearing masks in some locations but not others will prevent infections.
The one that still drives me barmy is people wearing them between the pub door and the bar. As if Covid only lurks in doorways.
In Scotland this is still the law. And they never had the no mask freedom day that we did.
Surprise surprise, anything approaching fun in Edinburgh was (relatively) deserted when I was there earlier in the month.
MUNICH — The Kremlin on Sunday used a telephone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron to broadcast an array of provocative, unproven allegations of belligerence by Ukraine and NATO countries, insisting the West was “pushing Kyiv towards a military solution to the so-called Donbass problem.”
Moscow’s unfounded claims, put forward while Russia has mobilized more than 100,000 troops and sophisticated weapons on the Ukrainian border, sharply raised the danger that Putin might use fabricated charges to justify a military attack.
In other news, Camden's night life is back. Been out there Friday last week with my friends and then again yesterday with my wife's friends. Bars and pubs are all packed, not many people milling about outdoors but everywhere had queues to get in, The Underworld has been refurbished and you can wear canvas shoes risk free and use the gents.
Londoners have got their confidence back. What I don't see as much is out of towners like people from Essex heading into Liverpool Street on Fridays for a night in one of Leicester Square's more commercial bars/clubs. Hopefully as we head into the summer this crowd will be back too, despite the fights/piss/rowdiness London needs the two sizes too small polo shirt wearing crowd.
I have seen the same. Camden Market today is RAMMED despite the lousy weather: completely back to pre-pandemic levels, indeed possibly busier than normal for a very wintry, wet Sunday. Barely possible to drive through, all the pubs full at 4.30pm
Another thing I have noticed: gentrification has sped along, up from Camden High Street, down Kentish Town Road, all the way to Tufnell Park and even tentatively as far as - yes - Archway, previously a dystopian urban Toilet.
This seems to be a post-demic thing, or at least the process has been vastly speeded up by the plague. What used to be crappy pound stores, betting shops, charity outlets, is now all trendy bars, Vietnamese pho pop-ups, organic grocers, new cafes, wine shops, fancy clothes stores.
Intriguing
Of course this leaves the Big Question: how is CENTRAL London doing?
The City was still incredibly quiet the last time I was there a couple of weeks ago. And Canary Wharf.
Yes, it's a major concern. Central London is THE motor
We need tourists back
Commuters are definitely returning
Out here in the blue wall, people are quietly having fun while remaining cautious in shops - masks almost universal in Sainsbury. A friend's funeral is getting a good turnout, but some of the elderly folk are not coming. Generally it all seems quite sensible - enjoy life as you usually would, but if you're concerned about gettting the bug, avoid unnecessary exposure that doesn't stop you having fun.
My office will reopen at the end of March, with most people planning to come in two days a week, permanently - nobody is very keen, but it 's recognised that 100% wfh has its drawbacks. An interesting side-effect has been that some people are working overtime as needed without claiming TOIL - as one said, "I'm saving two hours a day on commuting, I'm not fussed if I need to spend half an hour extra finishing a report."
Why are people still wearing masks in shops ?
Do they actually think it will do any good or has it become some sort of weird social habit ?
Because they do indeed do good.
I gave someone a piece of my mind yesterday who came near me without a mask. Thankfully 80%+ of people around here are all still wearing masks and many do so even outdoors.
Why? Because we know that this killer virus isn't done with us yet and we're not selfish.
In what context did you give them a piece of your mind? In hospital? Then fair enough. Almost anywhere else you are bang out of order. And rude to be honest.
There are far more not wearing masks and I simply do not see anyone brave or foolish enough to challenge them
Anyone comes near me in a shop without a mask they get a broadside. And my titanium tipped pole.
But fortunately most everyone wears them around here and virtually all the shop assistants. Whenever anyone approaches on the pavement we all cross the road: it has become a thing.
If you did that to me you'd get a punch in the face tbh. A very, very hard punch in the face.
Gloating about violence. How pathetic.
No gloating, just reality. Anyone who attacks me physically for not wearing a mask would get a retaliation.
That just makes you sound like a thug. Someone hits you (presumably lightly) with a pole, and you punch them hard in the face.
If you're like that in irl, then you're a nutter. If you're not like that, then you're just a prick on the Internet pretending to be a hard man.
Although it is an offence to hit somebody with a pole so it might legitimately be argued punching them back is self defence.
It *might*, although you are very unlikely to be killed by being hit with a walking pole. A smack to the face or head can kill.
As ever in a violent situation, be the bigger man and de-escalate if you can. Only attack back if you genuinely feel threatened.
Heathener is in the wrong. Max attacking back - harder - would also be in the wrong. Possibly more wrong.
As the saying goes, "everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face". Then the fight or flight adrenaline kicks in and you either find yourself running away, or swinging your fists. It's not something you think about, it's just automatic.
However, as a general rule, if you don't want to get punched in the face, don't hit people with sticks.
I've always managed to steer clear of violent situations. The closest I came was when I was a teenager and was walking down the street in my home town and saw a group of neds hassling a guy walking down the street some way ahead of me. The situation appeared to be escalating and I realised that the guy they were picking on was my older brother, who is a rather eccentric guy who neds would often feel a compulsive need to hassle when we were younger. Seeing as how I am not a very brave person or at all handy in a fight I was worried that my natural inclination would have been to leave my brother to his fate but I am happy to say that without really thinking about what I was doing I immediately went to his aid. I found myself telling the schemie fucks that they shouldn't start anything because I'd seen the polis by the garage round the corner, and luckily they believed me and fucked off.
Brotherly love is so moving. My fav youtube video of it in sport!
It's a tad distasteful to discuss what happens on the death of a monarch who has served this country inexhaustibly.
However ... the idea that we should all be forced into mourning is an utter joke. I think the Queen has been amazing. But has she been perfect? No. She has presided over some disastrous errors of judgement.
And as an institution the monarchy can bog off. It's thoroughly corrupt. When the Queen goes a lot of stuff will come out and I hope it ends this stupid sycophancy and preferably the whole institution of it. It's patently bonkers in this present era.
The monarchy will ... outlive
We'll see.
I think they're in big trouble. When she does eventually go an awful lot of shit is going to come out.
William seems like a decent bloke though, grounded with a nice wife. The rest can all bugger off.
I think the world is moving on, with this and so many other things. The OK, Boomer generation's constant complaining about 'woke' this and 'woke' that, which surfaces on here quite a lot (especially when Leon is on the sauce) is like Custer's last stand. Or Canute's as a better analogy.
We've seen what you did to the world and we're moving on.
TBF Cnut was on the woke or at least realistic side - making the point to the PBTories of his time that the tide was moving in.
Also is @Heathener in fact moving on? My impression from their postings is of a grumpy mid 60s woman with a walking pole.
And I do think Billy and Katie are overrated. Balding billionaire and social climber doesn't really do it for me.
Excuse me for being self-indulgent but pb is nothing if not eclectic. I know Sunday evenings is a classic crisis moment but I'm honestly tempted to phone in the office tomorrow and quit my job with immediate effect. Frankly, I've had it. Bit risky but I have savings to tide me over for quite a bit and I honestly think if I simply carry on with the same cycle of drudgery nothing will ever change. Stare in to the abyss long enough and the abyss with stare back in to you.
I don’t know what you do, but isn’t it feasible to job search while performing your current role? Takes a bit of discipline but probably less risky (and you will likely get a better outcome)
It depends on the toll on your mental health in the current role.
I’ve been tempted myself, and once a week I think ‘fuck this,I’m done’ , but strategically I want two more years then I’ll start drawdown and get something part time and not demanding.
Yes I'm the same. 35 months and I can afford to retire (with possibly some part time work). At the moment I'm fighting alternate tedium and flat out juggling two jobs at once.
That’s the same timescale my wife is looking at. I just don’t feel I want to go on that long doing this.
I love my job , never a dull day and always interesting.
In other news, Camden's night life is back. Been out there Friday last week with my friends and then again yesterday with my wife's friends. Bars and pubs are all packed, not many people milling about outdoors but everywhere had queues to get in, The Underworld has been refurbished and you can wear canvas shoes risk free and use the gents.
Londoners have got their confidence back. What I don't see as much is out of towners like people from Essex heading into Liverpool Street on Fridays for a night in one of Leicester Square's more commercial bars/clubs. Hopefully as we head into the summer this crowd will be back too, despite the fights/piss/rowdiness London needs the two sizes too small polo shirt wearing crowd.
I have seen the same. Camden Market today is RAMMED despite the lousy weather: completely back to pre-pandemic levels, indeed possibly busier than normal for a very wintry, wet Sunday. Barely possible to drive through, all the pubs full at 4.30pm
Another thing I have noticed: gentrification has sped along, up from Camden High Street, down Kentish Town Road, all the way to Tufnell Park and even tentatively as far as - yes - Archway, previously a dystopian urban Toilet.
This seems to be a post-demic thing, or at least the process has been vastly speeded up by the plague. What used to be crappy pound stores, betting shops, charity outlets, is now all trendy bars, Vietnamese pho pop-ups, organic grocers, new cafes, wine shops, fancy clothes stores.
Intriguing
Of course this leaves the Big Question: how is CENTRAL London doing?
The City was still incredibly quiet the last time I was there a couple of weeks ago. And Canary Wharf.
Yes, it's a major concern. Central London is THE motor
We need tourists back
Commuters are definitely returning
Out here in the blue wall, people are quietly having fun while remaining cautious in shops - masks almost universal in Sainsbury. A friend's funeral is getting a good turnout, but some of the elderly folk are not coming. Generally it all seems quite sensible - enjoy life as you usually would, but if you're concerned about gettting the bug, avoid unnecessary exposure that doesn't stop you having fun.
My office will reopen at the end of March, with most people planning to come in two days a week, permanently - nobody is very keen, but it 's recognised that 100% wfh has its drawbacks. An interesting side-effect has been that some people are working overtime as needed without claiming TOIL - as one said, "I'm saving two hours a day on commuting, I'm not fussed if I need to spend half an hour extra finishing a report."
Why are people still wearing masks in shops ?
Do they actually think it will do any good or has it become some sort of weird social habit ?
Because they do indeed do good.
I gave someone a piece of my mind yesterday who came near me without a mask. Thankfully 80%+ of people around here are all still wearing masks and many do so even outdoors.
Why? Because we know that this killer virus isn't done with us yet and we're not selfish.
In what context did you give them a piece of your mind? In hospital? Then fair enough. Almost anywhere else you are bang out of order. And rude to be honest.
There are far more not wearing masks and I simply do not see anyone brave or foolish enough to challenge them
Anyone comes near me in a shop without a mask they get a broadside. And my titanium tipped pole.
But fortunately most everyone wears them around here and virtually all the shop assistants. Whenever anyone approaches on the pavement we all cross the road: it has become a thing.
If you did that to me you'd get a punch in the face tbh. A very, very hard punch in the face.
Gloating about violence. How pathetic.
No gloating, just reality. Anyone who attacks me physically for not wearing a mask would get a retaliation.
That just makes you sound like a thug. Someone hits you (presumably lightly) with a pole, and you punch them hard in the face.
If you're like that in irl, then you're a nutter. If you're not like that, then you're just a prick on the Internet pretending to be a hard man.
Although it is an offence to hit somebody with a pole so it might legitimately be argued punching them back is self defence.
It *might*, although you are very unlikely to be killed by being hit with a walking pole. A smack to the face or head can kill.
As ever in a violent situation, be the bigger man and de-escalate if you can. Only attack back if you genuinely feel threatened.
Heathener is in the wrong. Max attacking back - harder - would also be in the wrong. Possibly more wrong.
As the saying goes, "everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face". Then the fight or flight adrenaline kicks in and you either find yourself running away, or swinging your fists. It's not something you think about, it's just automatic.
However, as a general rule, if you don't want to get punched in the face, don't hit people with sticks.
I've always managed to steer clear of violent situations. The closest I came was when I was a teenager and was walking down the street in my home town and saw a group of neds hassling a guy walking down the street some way ahead of me. The situation appeared to be escalating and I realised that the guy they were picking on was my older brother, who is a rather eccentric guy who neds would often feel a compulsive need to hassle when we were younger. Seeing as how I am not a very brave person or at all handy in a fight I was worried that my natural inclination would have been to leave my brother to his fate but I am happy to say that without really thinking about what I was doing I immediately went to his aid. I found myself telling the schemie fucks that they shouldn't start anything because I'd seen the polis by the garage round the corner, and luckily they believed me and fucked off.
Brotherly love is so moving. My fav youtube video of it in sport!
In other news, Camden's night life is back. Been out there Friday last week with my friends and then again yesterday with my wife's friends. Bars and pubs are all packed, not many people milling about outdoors but everywhere had queues to get in, The Underworld has been refurbished and you can wear canvas shoes risk free and use the gents.
Londoners have got their confidence back. What I don't see as much is out of towners like people from Essex heading into Liverpool Street on Fridays for a night in one of Leicester Square's more commercial bars/clubs. Hopefully as we head into the summer this crowd will be back too, despite the fights/piss/rowdiness London needs the two sizes too small polo shirt wearing crowd.
I have seen the same. Camden Market today is RAMMED despite the lousy weather: completely back to pre-pandemic levels, indeed possibly busier than normal for a very wintry, wet Sunday. Barely possible to drive through, all the pubs full at 4.30pm
Another thing I have noticed: gentrification has sped along, up from Camden High Street, down Kentish Town Road, all the way to Tufnell Park and even tentatively as far as - yes - Archway, previously a dystopian urban Toilet.
This seems to be a post-demic thing, or at least the process has been vastly speeded up by the plague. What used to be crappy pound stores, betting shops, charity outlets, is now all trendy bars, Vietnamese pho pop-ups, organic grocers, new cafes, wine shops, fancy clothes stores.
Intriguing
Of course this leaves the Big Question: how is CENTRAL London doing?
The City was still incredibly quiet the last time I was there a couple of weeks ago. And Canary Wharf.
Yes, it's a major concern. Central London is THE motor
We need tourists back
Commuters are definitely returning
Out here in the blue wall, people are quietly having fun while remaining cautious in shops - masks almost universal in Sainsbury. A friend's funeral is getting a good turnout, but some of the elderly folk are not coming. Generally it all seems quite sensible - enjoy life as you usually would, but if you're concerned about gettting the bug, avoid unnecessary exposure that doesn't stop you having fun.
My office will reopen at the end of March, with most people planning to come in two days a week, permanently - nobody is very keen, but it 's recognised that 100% wfh has its drawbacks. An interesting side-effect has been that some people are working overtime as needed without claiming TOIL - as one said, "I'm saving two hours a day on commuting, I'm not fussed if I need to spend half an hour extra finishing a report."
Why are people still wearing masks in shops ?
Do they actually think it will do any good or has it become some sort of weird social habit ?
Because they do indeed do good.
I gave someone a piece of my mind yesterday who came near me without a mask. Thankfully 80%+ of people around here are all still wearing masks and many do so even outdoors.
Why? Because we know that this killer virus isn't done with us yet and we're not selfish.
In what context did you give them a piece of your mind? In hospital? Then fair enough. Almost anywhere else you are bang out of order. And rude to be honest.
There are far more not wearing masks and I simply do not see anyone brave or foolish enough to challenge them
Anyone comes near me in a shop without a mask they get a broadside. And my titanium tipped pole.
But fortunately most everyone wears them around here and virtually all the shop assistants. Whenever anyone approaches on the pavement we all cross the road: it has become a thing.
If you did that to me you'd get a punch in the face tbh. A very, very hard punch in the face.
Gloating about violence. How pathetic.
No gloating, just reality. Anyone who attacks me physically for not wearing a mask would get a retaliation.
That just makes you sound like a thug. Someone hits you (presumably lightly) with a pole, and you punch them hard in the face.
If you're like that in irl, then you're a nutter. If you're not like that, then you're just a prick on the Internet pretending to be a hard man.
Although it is an offence to hit somebody with a pole so it might legitimately be argued punching them back is self defence.
It *might*, although you are very unlikely to be killed by being hit with a walking pole. A smack to the face or head can kill.
As ever in a violent situation, be the bigger man and de-escalate if you can. Only attack back if you genuinely feel threatened.
Heathener is in the wrong. Max attacking back - harder - would also be in the wrong. Possibly more wrong.
As the saying goes, "everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face". Then the fight or flight adrenaline kicks in and you either find yourself running away, or swinging your fists. It's not something you think about, it's just automatic.
However, as a general rule, if you don't want to get punched in the face, don't hit people with sticks.
I've always managed to steer clear of violent situations. The closest I came was when I was a teenager and was walking down the street in my home town and saw a group of neds hassling a guy walking down the street some way ahead of me. The situation appeared to be escalating and I realised that the guy they were picking on was my older brother, who is a rather eccentric guy who neds would often feel a compulsive need to hassle when we were younger. Seeing as how I am not a very brave person or at all handy in a fight I was worried that my natural inclination would have been to leave my brother to his fate but I am happy to say that without really thinking about what I was doing I immediately went to his aid. I found myself telling the schemie fucks that they shouldn't start anything because I'd seen the polis by the garage round the corner, and luckily they believed me and fucked off.
In my limited experience of fighting, I find the hind brain takes over very quickly and rational decision making goes out the door. Maybe you run away, maybe you go in swinging. But you are not thinking rationally when you make split second, adrenaline fueled decisions. This is why fighting is so dangerous, and why it's best to not get into one in the first place.
It's all just muscle memory. If you whack someone with a stick for not wearing a mask, and that person happens to train in a boxing gym three times a week, they could knock you out without even thinking about it, because they drill the same move over and over and the muscle memory kicks in.
De-escalating fights is always good, not doing anything to start one is even better.
Comments
At least, I'm sure he has. Sometimes. On minor things, perhaps...
Mountain restaurants - no problem. No masks enforced.
The reason for this idiocy is simple - the resort knows that if the coppers call they will be policing the gondolas not the restaurants.
This is an example of where we are. Companies are enforcing laws because they are worried about getting prosecuted not because of rationality, common sense and science. This adherence to laws which are absurd is surely a mark of authoritarianism.
Your first thought is apparently to escalate.
To make it clear: in this hypothetical situation, Heathener would be in the wrong. You might well be more in the wrong if your 'very. very hard punch in the face' was a dramatic escalation over the provoking incident.
(*) Okay, Peruvian.
https://twitter.com/olgatokariuk/status/1494612833455251459
'Someone downthread said that no-one had tried to justify why masks should be dropped. So I'll have a go in three hits. I admit not many have justified removal of mask mandates - and I think that is because, like banning peanuts from certain environments like schools where one child is allergic, it is seen as 'low cost' or 'not a huge deal'.
1) Philosophical. In my view that is not a sensible or desirable policy for a whole society to adapt permanently to for a transient event, nor is it justified to protect a tiny minority of immuno-supressed individuals who live with the chance of catching the flu every-day, anyway. Since the chance of medical collapse has gone, the analogy of masks to protect the vulnerable would be banning peanuts across the country because some are allergic. imposing restrictions on the many in the small chance that it might prevent the odd infection for a tiny minority of unvaccinated individuals is unwieldy.
2) Scientific and epidemiological. For a start, the cloth I wear over my face does little to nothing to stop any spread. It isn't properly fitted, I don't replace it frequently enough. I have seen much worse than my own. So they largely don't work in the real world. Secondly, we have a vaccine wall which will protect us far more. A pandemic exit wave will burn out in population whether vaccinated or not; we've done wonders, we need to have confidence in science
3) Socio-political. Masks to me are a symbol of fear, concern, or general alertness - and I am sure that I am not alone. The crisis is over. I don't want people covering to the whims of authority forever and a day. Fear makes society far too easy to mould by those who govern a fearful society is not a free society. It is suboptimal.
To conclude; I think the problem is that people have come to see any covid as terrible, and therefore support any measures to supress it, no matter how onerous. This is foolish. We will not be rid of it. Living with it is the only way through.'
I am looking forward to getting rid of the things, and I'm using mine on fewer occasions.
Having said that: in future, if I have a cough or cold, then I might well wear one when going into crowded places. It seems reasonable and only polite.
On a related note, I can see companies being less keen on staff coming in when they are obviously unwell. No more struggling in and coughing guts up at the desk because there's a deadline that needs to be met ...
Through NATO and wishing to be a global power US has huge amount of skin in the game. That bit we can all agree on. So the next question, are they being excluded in front our eyes, as you suggest, or are they choosing to work through actors and others as a front.
If I was US pres right now, I would keep hands off deal making and use actors instead, partly it would keep Moscow guessing what my view is, it would make it seem Europe sorting its own peace without it being dictated by Washington - that’s brilliantly diplomatic - and I couldn’t be seen as blocker or wrecker if talks breaks down, quite fairly it needs to look like Ukraine and Europe powers red lines, not mine in Washington.
The other odd bit, where Washington been pushing the invasion certain, Major and imminent hype has been spooking Ukraine more than Moscow - almost to the extent you wonder if London and Washington on back hander for amplifying rattle of sabre, are they trying to pressurise Ukraine too? Bonkers I know, yet over last few weeks you can visibly see it, Ukraine honestly rattled and woken up by the Washington announcements,
Do you think he’d happily vote for this Tory admin ?
No more PPE for me;
When I get these silly masks off
Whoah, how happy I will happy I will be.
No more handsan in the foyer
No more spraying after class
If I see that Indie SAGE mob
I'll shove a spray gun up their arse.
The Queen was probably a Brexiteer, Charles probably not
He may well be.
There are not guards at the door checking, but the company policy as a whole is still to wear masks.
(I have seen her since - this time she had entirely abandoned the mask)
However, as a general rule, if you don't want to get punched in the face, don't hit people with sticks.
My train of thought was, Benson n Hedges used to have a royal warrant...
Who you are sadly counted then and of course still does to a lesser extent.
Caveat: if you have a contractual notice period then it would presumably be a good idea to fulfil it, rather than simply walking away?
Watching RT News. They are going heavy on Donbas refugees and Ukraines desire for nuclear weapons, which seems a distortion of Zelensky saying that if the Budapest agreement is torn up then all articles are defunct.
Nowadays at some Oxbridge colleges if anything there is reverse discrimination, at many colleges if 2 pupils, 1 private and 1 state, get equal grades and did equally well at interview they will always take the state candidate.
Hence only 25% of students accepted to study at Oxbridge now went to private schools, despite the fact about 1/3 of A* grades at A level go to private school pupils
https://www.ft.com/content/bbb7fe58-0908-4f8e-bb1a-081a42a045b7
William went to St Andrews of course, arguably now posher than Oxbridge
We are in a phoney war period. What comes after a phoney war?
However:
I would strongly advise you to serve out any notice period. Don't burn your bridges too far yet. You may need a reference from them later.
Well, it did last time anyway.
Always try to de-escalate. If your first instinct is to hit people very hard in the face, get anger management help - as should Heathener by the sounds of it.
To repeat: people die after being hit in the face. for instance, this current court case:
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/man-died-alleged-one-punch-23108904
By Appointment to Her Majesty the Queen will no longer apply, and nor will By Appointment to the Prince of Wales.
My erstwhile employer has had one for more than 3 years, but that might involve some kind of annual fee
I’ve been tempted myself, and once a week I think ‘fuck this,I’m done’ , but strategically I want two more years then I’ll start drawdown and get something part time and not demanding.
An anecdote: I was fed up with one job, and was planning to resign so I could go walking for a year. I stuck it out, and a round of redundancies came along. I got made redundant instead of resigning, and the redundancy paid for the walk. If I'd resigned when I'd initially planned, I'd not have got the money. But that was more luck than judgement.
If I were you, I'd sit down and do two things. Write down the pros and cons of staying a while longer and leaving immediately. Put it in the drawer for a couple of days, then come back to it and see how you feel about them. I don't know your situation, but might the organisation be able to fix the reasons for your unhappiness if they knew?
Also, create an exit plan. How will you do it, what will you say. Finally, from experience savings don't last as long as you expect. Plan carefully.
They have a website and everything… up to 5 years is the answer
https://www.royalwarrant.org/content/frequently-asked-questions
There is plenty of risk with Macron's approach, but for now it looks less risky than not doing it.
Obviously we don't want to negotiate with blackmailers but as no-one will come to Ukraine's defence, it doesn't help Ukraine if the country is destroyed and maybe hundreds of thousands are killed and then we say, now we are going to apply sanctions. We should try to do what we can to stop the catastrophe happening until it's too late.
I don't know. Could be convinced otherwise.
Before they demolished it.
I got in to study Philosophy with far more modest grades.
Lots of wind, so CCGTs are currently running at about 25% of capacity.
Seeing as how I am not a very brave person or at all handy in a fight I was worried that my natural inclination would have been to leave my brother to his fate but I am happy to say that without really thinking about what I was doing I immediately went to his aid. I found myself telling the schemie fucks that they shouldn't start anything because I'd seen the polis by the garage round the corner, and luckily they believed me and fucked off.
My dad knew a man in a factory drawing office for thirty or so years. When the man retired, he turned to my dad and said: "I've hated every single day I've worked here."
Leaving my dad wondering why he had not left decades earlier if he hated the job so much. The modern workplace may have virtually ended the job for life, but it has made it easier to move jobs if you are unhappy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liCRrheKIOI
And I do think Billy and Katie are overrated. Balding billionaire and social climber doesn't really do it for me.
When there’s room on my horse for two.
It's all just muscle memory. If you whack someone with a stick for not wearing a mask, and that person happens to train in a boxing gym three times a week, they could knock you out without even thinking about it, because they drill the same move over and over and the muscle memory kicks in.
De-escalating fights is always good, not doing anything to start one is even better.
Not gloating.