Thinking about my next cycle trip in France and thinking about the Midi canal. Any advice. It is a little short for me. Alternative is to start at Bordeaux but that is a bit too long.
Figeac and Cahors north of Toulouse are nice places in the Lot Valley.
And another thing about Corbyn's supposed "extraordinary" performance in 2017. Not only did he win 55 seats fewer than Theresa May (as mentioned up-thread), but consider this:
Brown in 2010 = 258 seats Corbyn in 2017 = 262 seats
Trump has again said he will pardon violent criminal rioters who assaulted and injured police officers during the Jan 6th riot. On "day one" of regaining office.
How is this possible? How? How can Americans be about to elect someone who care this little about law and order? And from the GOP party!!
Sometime you have to pinch yourself to check this is not a mad dream.
Incredible.
Because violent rebellion against people you disagree with is glorified in American culture. There's nothing you can say against the January 6th rioters that you can't say against the Founding Fathers that Americans are taught to idolise from Kindergarten on, except that the rioters owned fewer slaves and weren't supported by the French. As Thomas Jefferson said, "a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical" and as Patrick Henry said, "If this be treason, make the most of it." There's a direct line from those statements to the January 6th protestors.
In fact, of course, both the Founding Fathers and the January 6th rioters were violent, racist, seditious quasi-traitors.
Indeed, if the American colonists had accepted King George III as their monarch they would not be having this presidential election at all but still be a Commonwealth realm with his Glorious Majesty King Charles III as their head of state like us, their cousins to the north and Australia and NZ. That is why there are no Tories left in the USA, the loyalists to the Crown mainly went to Canada after the War of Independence.
Their love of gun rights is also not unrelated to their rebellion against British rule and tea and stamp duties imposed by Westminster on them. They had to fight for their independence from the King and the British redcoats he sent to try and crush their rebellion.
Even their high level of Protestant evangelical religion in relation to most of the West is a product of their dislike of Popes and the Puritans who left for America on the Mayflower were disillusioned with what they saw as the Arminian and Episcopal nature of the C of E under the Stuarts (and most were sympathetic to Oliver Cromwell, another rebel ready to fight for his cause)
Has anyone else ever sat next to someone at a random bar and thought “that must be so-and-so from PB”?
I wonder if I once met @rcs1000 at the Groucho: a quivering, drug-addled transgender wreck desperately trying to sell car park software to Damien Hirst
No but I sometimes get deja vu when reading the Speccie. (Hope the daughter at St Andrew's has a great time).
Has anyone else ever sat next to someone at a random bar and thought “that must be so-and-so from PB”?
I wonder if I once met @rcs1000 at the Groucho: a quivering, drug-addled transgender wreck desperately trying to sell car park software to Damien Hirst
I know someone who retired early on the back of selling a warehouse on a Gloucestershire industrial estate to Hirst. Hirst makes a fabulous living knocking out life size copies of his most notable works to Chinese trillionaires and needed a place close to home to knock them out, as it were.
In my last two holidays I worked every day (I'm working now!) and only work a third-day on Saturday so I can food shop. I don't know how a "working week" works in the era of WFH and email.
In my last two holidays I worked every day (I'm working now!) and only work a third-day on Saturday so I can food shop. I don't know how a "working week" works in the era of WFH and email.
In my last two holidays I worked every day (I'm working now!) and only work a third-day on Saturday so I can food shop. I don't know how a "working week" works in the era of WFH and email.
This isn't good.
I switch off my email when I go on leave, and my phone. Nothing happens.
I do wonder how much of the link we have to mental health issues and burnout is linked to this. 15 years ago, you simply couldn't be contacted on holiday - unless you had a Crackberry.
Many people nowadays include a 'wellbeing statement' on their emails that they have sent it a time convenient for them, but that there is no expectation for someone to respond outside their usual working hours, presumably to tell people they don't need to do so, but it's easy to see that in some organisations the culture will be very different even if they ostensibly have a similar internal policy.
I think some countries may be instituting laws around being contacted outside working hours? That seems a bigger win than a 4 day week to me.
I am unconvinced of the 4 day week.
The work doesn't reduce and, in some respects, it's more stressful.
Depends on circumstances, though. For some, family care is easier with four work days, even if they are longer. For some, commuting is unpleasant enough that saving one return journey a week is worth doing.
In an ideal world, employers and employees would work through these things themselves, but a forceful government nudge to take the question seriously doesn't seem out of order.
What would change things massively, and is almost certain not to happen, would be for the train companies to sell three-day and four-day ‘season’ tickets. Now that everying is electronic, it’s not technically difficult to sell tickets for 250, 200,150 trips per year - but right now they’re making a fortune on the margin on four-day commuters, and selling expensive day-tickets to two-day commuters.
Northern are happy to sell cheap Advances to me for the two days a week I go to the office.
Has anyone else ever sat next to someone at a random bar and thought “that must be so-and-so from PB”?
I wonder if I once met @rcs1000 at the Groucho: a quivering, drug-addled transgender wreck desperately trying to sell car park software to Damien Hirst
I know someone who retired early on the back of selling a warehouse on a Gloucestershire industrial estate to Hirst. Hirst makes a fabulous living knocking out life size copies of his most notable works to Chinese trillionaires and needed a place close to home to knock them out, as it were.
I am not keen on the 4 day week. Personally I have a 5 day week but have the ability to get stuff done occasionally in the working day, life admin etc. If a report or some other urgent task needs to be done I will put in the extra time, evenings, early mornings, weekends etc. I keep on top of all my work and speak to my manager for about 20 minutes every other week. I think on average it is about 36 hours a week in front of the computer but I am thinking about work for a lot more than that. I go in to the office 1 day a week, potentially rising to 2 due to corporate changes but I don't feel any pressure to go to the office.
A lot of people I have worked with have changed to a 4 day week under "compressed hours" but if they take it seriously they keep missing out on important meetings.
One thing that I keep noticing is people are doing school runs etc and childcare while they are working and this is affecting their attentiveness, if not necessarily their performance. It seems to be permitted, I think it is just a case that the organisation has no choice, people aren't paid enough to pay for childcare as well, even on £50k+ (in the south east).
Ms. Abbot may be hoping for a financial success like that of Vermont's senior senator, Socialist Bernie Sanders. His book sales have made him a millionaire. He and his wife now own three houses. Abbot may feel she deserves at least two.
Sanders has changed his standard line attacking millionaires and billionaires. He now just attacks the latter.
Ms. Abbot may be hoping for a financial success like Vermont's senior senator, Socialist Bernie Sanders. His book sales have made him a millionaire. He and his wife now own three houses. Abbot may feel she deserves at least two.
Sanders has changed his standard line attacking millionaires and billionaires. He now just attacks the latter.
The other thing is that , I suspect that if the economy goes badly and there are redundancies, hiring freezes etc, then the 4 day week will probably be forgotten for a while.
In my last two holidays I worked every day (I'm working now!) and only work a third-day on Saturday so I can food shop. I don't know how a "working week" works in the era of WFH and email.
This isn't good.
I switch off my email when I go on leave, and my phone. Nothing happens.
I do wonder how much of the link we have to mental health issues and burnout is linked to this. 15 years ago, you simply couldn't be contacted on holiday - unless you had a Crackberry.
Many people nowadays include a 'wellbeing statement' on their emails that they have sent it a time convenient for them, but that there is no expectation for someone to respond outside their usual working hours, presumably to tell people they don't need to do so, but it's easy to see that in some organisations the culture will be very different even if they ostensibly have a similar internal policy.
I think some countries may be instituting laws around being contacted outside working hours? That seems a bigger win than a 4 day week to me.
I am unconvinced of the 4 day week.
The work doesn't reduce and, in some respects, it's more stressful.
Depends on circumstances, though. For some, family care is easier with four work days, even if they are longer. For some, commuting is unpleasant enough that saving one return journey a week is worth doing.
In an ideal world, employers and employees would work through these things themselves, but a forceful government nudge to take the question seriously doesn't seem out of order.
What would change things massively, and is almost certain not to happen, would be for the train companies to sell three-day and four-day ‘season’ tickets. Now that everying is electronic, it’s not technically difficult to sell tickets for 250, 200,150 trips per year - but right now they’re making a fortune on the margin on four-day commuters, and selling expensive day-tickets to two-day commuters.
Northern are happy to sell cheap Advances to me for the two days a week I go to the office.
For a while I was getting £7 return to London. Now it is more like £35 on the advances at times that aren't brilliant. There is a '2 day a week' season ticket but it works out at £50 a day, so the advances are still better value.
On the subject of 4 day weeks, one of the more crazy things is a friend of mine has been a teaching assistant for the past 5 years, and done a degree in this time - so has reached quite a high level of skill/experience. But still, the pay is less than the minimum wage for some reason I cannot understand. She would like to carry on but there is no flexibility at all and the pay is terrible. So she is now quitting to become a nanny.
Sitting at the Fever Tree cocktail bar in Edinburgh Airport. Right next to me is a slight, and slightly elderly man, with a cultured Scottish accent, a neat corduroy jacket, and a genuinely cool Homburg hat
Or at least, this is how I like to imagine him. Kind of a short ageing very polite Scottish intellectual Elvis Costello, with great taste in hats
I’m over 6 ft but I guess there are worse doppelgängers to be attached to. As it happens I’m currently stretching a Borsalino to fit my enormous napper for a forthcoming trip to Berlin.
I’d only hang around in Edinburgh Airport under duress, and need several drinks.
Labour’s plan to impose VAT on private school fees in January faces a High Court legal challenge over claims it breaches human rights law.
Lawyers have written to HM Treasury arguing the policy discriminates against special needs children and has threatened court action if it is not dropped.
The letter says so-called SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) children risk being forced out of private school if their parents can no longer afford higher fees, with the state sector unable to meet their more demanding educational needs.
It marks the first official legal challenge to Labour’s plans which have come under heavy criticism. Further legal claims in relation to military families and those who attend faith schools may also be put forward at a later date, The Telegraph understands....
...Sinclairslaw will also today launch a crowdfunding campaign to fund the legal challenge, with fears the cost of litigation could reach several hundred thousand of pounds.
How strange....clearly he thinks the new government will do nothing that might require legal oversight / challenge...what are all the idiots who have backed him over the years going to do now.
They were never anything other than a left wing pressure group - and a pretty remarkably unsuccessful one at that.
I suppose Jo Maugham is hoping it will give him more time to beat animals to death.
On the subject of 4 day weeks, one of the more crazy things is a friend of mine has been a teaching assistant for the past 5 years, and done a degree in this time - so has reached quite a high level of skill/experience. But still, the pay is less than the minimum wage for some reason I cannot understand. She would like to carry on but there is no flexibility at all and the pay is terrible. So she is now quitting to become a nanny.
The usual ruse is to have contracts for lesson hours and term time only. So the hourly rate is within the rules, but the number of hours and days you can do is horribly limited.
Jobs in schools used to be very family-friendly, compared with other options. You can't choose your holidays, but they do line up with when the kids are off school. That's become less useful as other roles have allowed more flexibility and WFH.
In my last two holidays I worked every day (I'm working now!) and only work a third-day on Saturday so I can food shop. I don't know how a "working week" works in the era of WFH and email.
From someone who burned-out hard doing much the same thing - I'd advise you to stop doing that.
Sitting at the Fever Tree cocktail bar in Edinburgh Airport. Right next to me is a slight, and slightly elderly man, with a cultured Scottish accent, a neat corduroy jacket, and a genuinely cool Homburg hat
Or at least, this is how I like to imagine him. Kind of a short ageing very polite Scottish intellectual Elvis Costello, with great taste in hats
I’m over 6 ft but I guess there are worse doppelgängers to be attached to. As it happens I’m currently stretching a Borsalino to fit my enormous napper for a forthcoming trip to Berlin.
I’d only hang around in Edinburgh Airport under duress, and need several drinks.
Why back in 1962 my to be wife and I went for evening meals there and to be honest we enjoyed them and the restaurant
Ms. Abbot may be hoping for a financial success like that of Vermont's senior senator, Socialist Bernie Sanders. His book sales have made him a millionaire. He and his wife now own three houses. Abbot may feel she deserves at least two.
Sanders has changed his standard line attacking millionaires and billionaires. He now just attacks the latter.
Sitting at the Fever Tree cocktail bar in Edinburgh Airport. Right next to me is a slight, and slightly elderly man, with a cultured Scottish accent, a neat corduroy jacket, and a genuinely cool Homburg hat
Or at least, this is how I like to imagine him. Kind of a short ageing very polite Scottish intellectual Elvis Costello, with great taste in hats
I’m over 6 ft but I guess there are worse doppelgängers to be attached to. As it happens I’m currently stretching a Borsalino to fit my enormous napper for a forthcoming trip to Berlin.
I’d only hang around in Edinburgh Airport under duress, and need several drinks.
Leon's neighbour has the vibe he is always mildly nervous about polis inquiries as to what he got up to out of hours when Head of Drama at Fettes or Gordonstoun in the 1980s.
Sitting at the Fever Tree cocktail bar in Edinburgh Airport. Right next to me is a slight, and slightly elderly man, with a cultured Scottish accent, a neat corduroy jacket, and a genuinely cool Homburg hat
Or at least, this is how I like to imagine him. Kind of a short ageing very polite Scottish intellectual Elvis Costello, with great taste in hats
I’m over 6 ft but I guess there are worse doppelgängers to be attached to. As it happens I’m currently stretching a Borsalino to fit my enormous napper for a forthcoming trip to Berlin.
I’d only hang around in Edinburgh Airport under duress, and need several drinks.
Leon's neighbour has the vibe he is always mildly nervous about polis inquiries as to what he got up to out of hours when Head of Drama at Fettes or Gordonstoun in the 1980s.
In my last two holidays I worked every day (I'm working now!) and only work a third-day on Saturday so I can food shop. I don't know how a "working week" works in the era of WFH and email.
From someone who burned-out hard doing much the same thing - I'd advise you to stop doing that.
I myself am a workaholic. Mind you I've been clean these forty years.
In my last two holidays I worked every day (I'm working now!) and only work a third-day on Saturday so I can food shop. I don't know how a "working week" works in the era of WFH and email.
From someone who burned-out hard doing much the same thing - I'd advise you to stop doing that.
Everyone has a different approach but when I was under immense pressure for a few years I found I needed to take one day a week off work, used to be Saturday in my case, to 'reset'. I've worked through holidays as well when under a lot of pressure. Sometimes you have to do what you need to do. In the end the reality was that the job I was doing didn't suit me but it took a burnout to realise that. It wasn't an entirely bad experience, I learned a lot from it on reflection.
Sitting at the Fever Tree cocktail bar in Edinburgh Airport. Right next to me is a slight, and slightly elderly man, with a cultured Scottish accent, a neat corduroy jacket, and a genuinely cool Homburg hat
Or at least, this is how I like to imagine him. Kind of a short ageing very polite Scottish intellectual Elvis Costello, with great taste in hats
I’m over 6 ft but I guess there are worse doppelgängers to be attached to. As it happens I’m currently stretching a Borsalino to fit my enormous napper for a forthcoming trip to Berlin.
I’d only hang around in Edinburgh Airport under duress, and need several drinks.
Why back in 1962 my to be wife and I went for evening meals there and to be honest we enjoyed them and the restaurant
It was probably much nicer then, or at least more interesting.
Sitting at the Fever Tree cocktail bar in Edinburgh Airport. Right next to me is a slight, and slightly elderly man, with a cultured Scottish accent, a neat corduroy jacket, and a genuinely cool Homburg hat
Or at least, this is how I like to imagine him. Kind of a short ageing very polite Scottish intellectual Elvis Costello, with great taste in hats
I’m over 6 ft but I guess there are worse doppelgängers to be attached to. As it happens I’m currently stretching a Borsalino to fit my enormous napper for a forthcoming trip to Berlin.
I’d only hang around in Edinburgh Airport under duress, and need several drinks.
Why back in 1962 my to be wife and I went for evening meals there and to be honest we enjoyed them and the restaurant
It was probably much nicer then, or at least more interesting.
In 1962 air travel was a luxury thing. So standards of catering and ancillary services matched that.
Today, airports cater for people who need to drink 7 pints of crap lager at 6:30am before they get their flight.
Sitting at the Fever Tree cocktail bar in Edinburgh Airport. Right next to me is a slight, and slightly elderly man, with a cultured Scottish accent, a neat corduroy jacket, and a genuinely cool Homburg hat
Or at least, this is how I like to imagine him. Kind of a short ageing very polite Scottish intellectual Elvis Costello, with great taste in hats
I’m over 6 ft but I guess there are worse doppelgängers to be attached to. As it happens I’m currently stretching a Borsalino to fit my enormous napper for a forthcoming trip to Berlin.
I’d only hang around in Edinburgh Airport under duress, and need several drinks.
Leon's neighbour has the vibe he is always mildly nervous about polis inquiries as to what he got up to out of hours when Head of Drama at Fettes or Gordonstoun in the 1980s.
Surreptitiously checking extradition treaties on his iPhone.
The datapoint for white people becoming more dispersed doesn't pass a sanity check.
I mean, this is from The Times. Who can we trust? A venerated newspaper doing research or williamglenn’s intuition?
You could think for yourself?
Yes, but do you have any facts to back up your intuition.
My impression is that Leicester and Leics are becoming less segregated, with middle class Asians moving out to the county, and a number of inner city neighbourhoods becoming more students.
Sitting at the Fever Tree cocktail bar in Edinburgh Airport. Right next to me is a slight, and slightly elderly man, with a cultured Scottish accent, a neat corduroy jacket, and a genuinely cool Homburg hat
Or at least, this is how I like to imagine him. Kind of a short ageing very polite Scottish intellectual Elvis Costello, with great taste in hats
I’m over 6 ft but I guess there are worse doppelgängers to be attached to. As it happens I’m currently stretching a Borsalino to fit my enormous napper for a forthcoming trip to Berlin.
I’d only hang around in Edinburgh Airport under duress, and need several drinks.
Why back in 1962 my to be wife and I went for evening meals there and to be honest we enjoyed them and the restaurant
It was probably much nicer then, or at least more interesting.
In 1962 air travel was a luxury thing. So standards of catering and ancillary services matched that.
Today, airports cater for people who need to drink 7 pints of crap lager at 6:30am before they get their flight.
I remember my first flight (to Edinburgh, emergency return home as granny seriously ill, I think) - on a Vanguard. G-APEB. When the terminal was a lot smaller *and* north of the airfield runways (near the Raff bit, in fact, off the Queensferry road). I wasn't drinking in the 1960s, so can't comment on that aspect!
The datapoint for white people becoming more dispersed doesn't pass a sanity check.
I mean, this is from The Times. Who can we trust? A venerated newspaper doing research or williamglenn’s intuition?
You could think for yourself?
Yes, but do you have any facts to back up your intuition.
My impression is that Leicester and Leics are becoming less segregated, with middle class Asians moving out to the county, and a number of inner city neighbourhoods becoming more students.
The recent inter-ethnic unrest is just an example of teething troubles?
Sitting at the Fever Tree cocktail bar in Edinburgh Airport. Right next to me is a slight, and slightly elderly man, with a cultured Scottish accent, a neat corduroy jacket, and a genuinely cool Homburg hat
Or at least, this is how I like to imagine him. Kind of a short ageing very polite Scottish intellectual Elvis Costello, with great taste in hats
I’m over 6 ft but I guess there are worse doppelgängers to be attached to. As it happens I’m currently stretching a Borsalino to fit my enormous napper for a forthcoming trip to Berlin.
I’d only hang around in Edinburgh Airport under duress, and need several drinks.
Why back in 1962 my to be wife and I went for evening meals there and to be honest we enjoyed them and the restaurant
It was probably much nicer then, or at least more interesting.
In 1962 air travel was a luxury thing. So standards of catering and ancillary services matched that.
Today, airports cater for people who need to drink 7 pints of crap lager at 6:30am before they get their flight.
I don't know why air travel can't be just as luxurious today as it was then.
Under incitement to violence laws, can I describe someone as "having a punchable face"? I ask because the fella in question is a major public figure.
Everyone has a punchable face, except perhaps David Coulthard.
I see your point here.
In it's more usual sense, which public figure has the least punchable face? I would propose Michael Palin as having the least punchable face in the country. The mere idea of him being punched in the face is causing me a pang of sadness.
Sitting at the Fever Tree cocktail bar in Edinburgh Airport. Right next to me is a slight, and slightly elderly man, with a cultured Scottish accent, a neat corduroy jacket, and a genuinely cool Homburg hat
Or at least, this is how I like to imagine him. Kind of a short ageing very polite Scottish intellectual Elvis Costello, with great taste in hats
I’m over 6 ft but I guess there are worse doppelgängers to be attached to. As it happens I’m currently stretching a Borsalino to fit my enormous napper for a forthcoming trip to Berlin.
I’d only hang around in Edinburgh Airport under duress, and need several drinks.
Why back in 1962 my to be wife and I went for evening meals there and to be honest we enjoyed them and the restaurant
It was probably much nicer then, or at least more interesting.
In 1962 air travel was a luxury thing. So standards of catering and ancillary services matched that.
Today, airports cater for people who need to drink 7 pints of crap lager at 6:30am before they get their flight.
I don't know why air travel can't be just as luxurious today as it was then.
It can if you are willing to pay. Remember air travel used to be incredibly expensive, now it has been commercialised for the masses, but if you are willing to pay you can charter flights / pay into schemes that run small scale regular private flights.
Sitting at the Fever Tree cocktail bar in Edinburgh Airport. Right next to me is a slight, and slightly elderly man, with a cultured Scottish accent, a neat corduroy jacket, and a genuinely cool Homburg hat
Sitting at the Fever Tree cocktail bar in Edinburgh Airport. Right next to me is a slight, and slightly elderly man, with a cultured Scottish accent, a neat corduroy jacket, and a genuinely cool Homburg hat
Or at least, this is how I like to imagine him. Kind of a short ageing very polite Scottish intellectual Elvis Costello, with great taste in hats
I’m over 6 ft but I guess there are worse doppelgängers to be attached to. As it happens I’m currently stretching a Borsalino to fit my enormous napper for a forthcoming trip to Berlin.
I’d only hang around in Edinburgh Airport under duress, and need several drinks.
Why back in 1962 my to be wife and I went for evening meals there and to be honest we enjoyed them and the restaurant
Did you have prawns marie rose, steak au poivre and Black Forest gateau?
In my last two holidays I worked every day (I'm working now!) and only work a third-day on Saturday so I can food shop. I don't know how a "working week" works in the era of WFH and email.
From someone who burned-out hard doing much the same thing - I'd advise you to stop doing that.
If you’re unlucky, your life is controlled by a talentless boss who expects you to work an eight day week because, having no friends, and family that despise and ignore him, he has no interests outside work, and assumes everyone is like him (or her).
Sitting at the Fever Tree cocktail bar in Edinburgh Airport. Right next to me is a slight, and slightly elderly man, with a cultured Scottish accent, a neat corduroy jacket, and a genuinely cool Homburg hat
Or at least, this is how I like to imagine him. Kind of a short ageing very polite Scottish intellectual Elvis Costello, with great taste in hats
I’m over 6 ft but I guess there are worse doppelgängers to be attached to. As it happens I’m currently stretching a Borsalino to fit my enormous napper for a forthcoming trip to Berlin.
I’d only hang around in Edinburgh Airport under duress, and need several drinks.
Why back in 1962 my to be wife and I went for evening meals there and to be honest we enjoyed them and the restaurant
Did you have prawns marie rose, steak au poivre and Black Forest gateau?
Sitting at the Fever Tree cocktail bar in Edinburgh Airport. Right next to me is a slight, and slightly elderly man, with a cultured Scottish accent, a neat corduroy jacket, and a genuinely cool Homburg hat
Or at least, this is how I like to imagine him. Kind of a short ageing very polite Scottish intellectual Elvis Costello, with great taste in hats
I’m over 6 ft but I guess there are worse doppelgängers to be attached to. As it happens I’m currently stretching a Borsalino to fit my enormous napper for a forthcoming trip to Berlin.
I’d only hang around in Edinburgh Airport under duress, and need several drinks.
Why back in 1962 my to be wife and I went for evening meals there and to be honest we enjoyed them and the restaurant
It was probably much nicer then, or at least more interesting.
In 1962 air travel was a luxury thing. So standards of catering and ancillary services matched that.
Today, airports cater for people who need to drink 7 pints of crap lager at 6:30am before they get their flight.
I don't know why air travel can't be just as luxurious today as it was then.
Because too many people expect £19.99 flights to sleazy resorts where they can get pissed whilst wearing a union jack vest.
Ms. Abbot may be hoping for a financial success like that of Vermont's senior senator, Socialist Bernie Sanders. His book sales have made him a millionaire. He and his wife now own three houses. Abbot may feel she deserves at least two.
Sanders has changed his standard line attacking millionaires and billionaires. He now just attacks the latter.
Under incitement to violence laws, can I describe someone as "having a punchable face"? I ask because the fella in question is a major public figure.
Everyone has a punchable face, except perhaps David Coulthard.
I see your point here.
In it's more usual sense, which public figure has the least punchable face? I would propose Michael Palin as having the least punchable face in the country. The mere idea of him being punched in the face is causing me a pang of sadness.
It must be something to do with coming from Sheffield.
On the subject of 4 day weeks, one of the more crazy things is a friend of mine has been a teaching assistant for the past 5 years, and done a degree in this time - so has reached quite a high level of skill/experience. But still, the pay is less than the minimum wage for some reason I cannot understand. She would like to carry on but there is no flexibility at all and the pay is terrible. So she is now quitting to become a nanny.
It's because TA's at my place work a 39 hour week. But it is pro rata'd down to a 32 hour week due to term time only. There is no opportunity whatsoever to get extra hours. Historically, pay is so low because it is done by females, most of whom are mother's, so it fits in with childcare. But Aldi will do that too now. And pay more.
On the subject of 4 day weeks, one of the more crazy things is a friend of mine has been a teaching assistant for the past 5 years, and done a degree in this time - so has reached quite a high level of skill/experience. But still, the pay is less than the minimum wage for some reason I cannot understand. She would like to carry on but there is no flexibility at all and the pay is terrible. So she is now quitting to become a nanny.
It's because TA's at my place work a 39 hour week. But it is pro rata'd down to a 32 hour week due to term time only. There is no opportunity whatsoever to get extra hours. Historically, pay is so low because it is done by females, most of whom are mother's, so it fits in with childcare. But Aldi will do that too now. And pay more.
Will Aldi let you take 6 weeks off in the summer to look after your children? I presume not, or at least not if too many people in one shop want it.
In my last two holidays I worked every day (I'm working now!) and only work a third-day on Saturday so I can food shop. I don't know how a "working week" works in the era of WFH and email.
From someone who burned-out hard doing much the same thing - I'd advise you to stop doing that.
If you’re unlucky, your life is controlled by a talentless boss who expects you to work an eight day week because, having no friends, and family that despise and ignore him, he has no interests outside work, and assumes everyone is like him (or her).
Overall we should be looking at working fewer hours as standard. It's been a long, long time since the last step change in this area (when did the 5.5 day week with a half-day on Saturday before the footie cease to be 'normal'? Early 1960s?)
But in terms of individual working patterns, I think any movement towards flexibility is a good thing. Some people are more motivated and productive doing a four day week of longer days. Others would probably quite like a seven day week doing a little bit each day. Some people like to be able to 'switch off' when they leave the office or go on holiday. Others feel more empowered keeping in touch and dealing with stuff when it comes up, regardless of the time.
There really is no one-size-fits-all and I think a lot of the uninspiring overall productivity levels we've had for years are down to a lot of people feeling pretty miserable and unmotivated because they're forced into working routines that don't serve them particularly well.
Whenever I've managed a team I've tried to offer as much flexibility as is practically possible (and extend recruitment into getting different types of people on board wherever I can to cover all bases).
In my last two holidays I worked every day (I'm working now!) and only work a third-day on Saturday so I can food shop. I don't know how a "working week" works in the era of WFH and email.
From someone who burned-out hard doing much the same thing - I'd advise you to stop doing that.
You know, this is a really interesting debate to me and actually I think the single biggest issue our “always on” work culture faces.
The key thing in all this is to set your own boundaries, because very rarely will someone else set them for you. Having the confidence to do so is the hardest part of the modern workplace, in my opinion. And also realising that it is not a race to work the longest. Some people cope better with being switched on for longer, but longer hours does not always equal higher quality work. It’s a balancing act and everyone has their own place on that spectrum.
The datapoint for white people becoming more dispersed doesn't pass a sanity check.
I mean, this is from The Times. Who can we trust? A venerated newspaper doing research or williamglenn’s intuition?
You could think for yourself?
Yes, but do you have any facts to back up your intuition.
My impression is that Leicester and Leics are becoming less segregated, with middle class Asians moving out to the county, and a number of inner city neighbourhoods becoming more students.
The recent inter-ethnic unrest is just an example of teething troubles?
I didn't say there weren't frictions, but that is a different question.
Sitting at the Fever Tree cocktail bar in Edinburgh Airport. Right next to me is a slight, and slightly elderly man, with a cultured Scottish accent, a neat corduroy jacket, and a genuinely cool Homburg hat
Or at least, this is how I like to imagine him. Kind of a short ageing very polite Scottish intellectual Elvis Costello, with great taste in hats
I’m over 6 ft but I guess there are worse doppelgängers to be attached to. As it happens I’m currently stretching a Borsalino to fit my enormous napper for a forthcoming trip to Berlin.
I’d only hang around in Edinburgh Airport under duress, and need several drinks.
Why back in 1962 my to be wife and I went for evening meals there and to be honest we enjoyed them and the restaurant
Did you have prawns marie rose, steak au poivre and Black Forest gateau?
Seriously, memories of the old airport ...
Quite possibly but cannot recall as we were gazing into each others eyes all night !!!!
The fever tree bar is actually very nice, albeit wildly overpriced. But aren’t they always
Next to me was a youngish American (who seemed quite an experienced traveller) saying to someone on his phone: “ah I’m good. I’m good. I’ve got a gin and tonic as big as my head. Europeans really how how to do airports”
I’m guessing his favourable impression is largely a function of everything in Europe being half the price of the USA these days. But still. For the awareness of the site
The fever tree bar is actually very nice, albeit wildly overpriced. But aren’t they always
Next to me was a youngish American (who seemed quite an experienced traveller) saying to someone on his phone: “ah I’m good. I’m good. I’ve got a gin and tonic as big as my head. Europeans really how how to do airports”
I’m guessing his favourable impression is largely a function of everything in Europe being half the price of the USA these days. But still. For the awareness of the site
And American airports on the whole are utter shit (unless you do the private lounges). I can't think of a really good one. The best major Northern American is IMO Vancouver.
Sitting at the Fever Tree cocktail bar in Edinburgh Airport. Right next to me is a slight, and slightly elderly man, with a cultured Scottish accent, a neat corduroy jacket, and a genuinely cool Homburg hat
Or at least, this is how I like to imagine him. Kind of a short ageing very polite Scottish intellectual Elvis Costello, with great taste in hats
I’m over 6 ft but I guess there are worse doppelgängers to be attached to. As it happens I’m currently stretching a Borsalino to fit my enormous napper for a forthcoming trip to Berlin.
I’d only hang around in Edinburgh Airport under duress, and need several drinks.
Why back in 1962 my to be wife and I went for evening meals there and to be honest we enjoyed them and the restaurant
It was probably much nicer then, or at least more interesting.
In 1962 air travel was a luxury thing. So standards of catering and ancillary services matched that.
Today, airports cater for people who need to drink 7 pints of crap lager at 6:30am before they get their flight.
I don't know why air travel can't be just as luxurious today as it was then.
It can be. You just fly first class and spend airport time in the VIP lounge. Leave cattle class and 'spoons to the steerage class.
The fever tree bar is actually very nice, albeit wildly overpriced. But aren’t they always
Next to me was a youngish American (who seemed quite an experienced traveller) saying to someone on his phone: “ah I’m good. I’m good. I’ve got a gin and tonic as big as my head. Europeans really how how to do airports”
I’m guessing his favourable impression is largely a function of everything in Europe being half the price of the USA these days. But still. For the awareness of the site
And American airports on the whole are utter shit (unless you do the private lounges). I can't think of a really good one. The best major Northern American is IMO Vancouver.
On the USA, I may need to go to Salt Lake City for a research meeting next year. Any top tips on where to see if I can wrangle a day off?
The fever tree bar is actually very nice, albeit wildly overpriced. But aren’t they always
Next to me was a youngish American (who seemed quite an experienced traveller) saying to someone on his phone: “ah I’m good. I’m good. I’ve got a gin and tonic as big as my head. Europeans really how how to do airports”
I’m guessing his favourable impression is largely a function of everything in Europe being half the price of the USA these days. But still. For the awareness of the site
And American airports on the whole are utter shit (unless you do the private lounges). I can't think of a really good one. The best major Northern American is IMO Vancouver.
The worst part is not the bars and restaurants, but how sparse and expensive the convenience stores are. $13.50 for a chicken wrap to take away at "Hudson News". No thanks.
In my last two holidays I worked every day (I'm working now!) and only work a third-day on Saturday so I can food shop. I don't know how a "working week" works in the era of WFH and email.
From someone who burned-out hard doing much the same thing - I'd advise you to stop doing that.
You know, this is a really interesting debate to me and actually I think the single biggest issue our “always on” work culture faces.
The key thing in all this is to set your own boundaries, because very rarely will someone else set them for you. Having the confidence to do so is the hardest part of the modern workplace, in my opinion. And also realising that it is not a race to work the longest. Some people cope better with being switched on for longer, but longer hours does not always equal higher quality work. It’s a balancing act and everyone has their own place on that spectrum.
Our university dept was run by a secretary that worked 9-5 precisely with lunch from 1300 for an hour. It didn't matter what was going down, even the Dean dropping by, she had her lunch on time, and never in the office.
The fever tree bar is actually very nice, albeit wildly overpriced. But aren’t they always
Next to me was a youngish American (who seemed quite an experienced traveller) saying to someone on his phone: “ah I’m good. I’m good. I’ve got a gin and tonic as big as my head. Europeans really how how to do airports”
I’m guessing his favourable impression is largely a function of everything in Europe being half the price of the USA these days. But still. For the awareness of the site
And American airports on the whole are utter shit (unless you do the private lounges). I can't think of a really good one. The best major Northern American is IMO Vancouver.
On the USA, I may need to go to Salt Lake City for a research meeting next year. Any top tips on where to see if I can wrangle a day off?
My experience of Salt Lake City has been it was quite nice place but rather dull, with the feeling that many people are being that way as you are potential new blood for the Moron church. The salt flats I guess. But the cool things to visit are a quite a drive out of town e.g. Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks are a 3hr drive.
The fever tree bar is actually very nice, albeit wildly overpriced. But aren’t they always
Next to me was a youngish American (who seemed quite an experienced traveller) saying to someone on his phone: “ah I’m good. I’m good. I’ve got a gin and tonic as big as my head. Europeans really how how to do airports”
I’m guessing his favourable impression is largely a function of everything in Europe being half the price of the USA these days. But still. For the awareness of the site
And American airports on the whole are utter shit (unless you do the private lounges). I can't think of a really good one. The best major Northern American is IMO Vancouver.
The worst part is not the bars and restaurants, but how sparse and expensive the convenience stores are. $13.50 for a chicken wrap to take away at "Hudson News". No thanks.
Yes, they often make the rip offs at UK airports seem reasonable. When I was travelling much more than I do now, I just paid into one of those private lounge schemes, as it basically works out cheaper to do so. Can get a nice meal, few drinks and a shower.
The fever tree bar is actually very nice, albeit wildly overpriced. But aren’t they always
Next to me was a youngish American (who seemed quite an experienced traveller) saying to someone on his phone: “ah I’m good. I’m good. I’ve got a gin and tonic as big as my head. Europeans really how how to do airports”
I’m guessing his favourable impression is largely a function of everything in Europe being half the price of the USA these days. But still. For the awareness of the site
And American airports on the whole are utter shit (unless you do the private lounges). I can't think of a really good one. The best major Northern American is IMO Vancouver.
On the USA, I may need to go to Salt Lake City for a research meeting next year. Any top tips on where to see if I can wrangle a day off?
My experience of Salt Lake City has been it was quite nice place but rather dull, with the feeling that many people are being that way as you are potential new blood for the Moron church. The salt flats I guess. But the cool things to visit are a quite a drive out of town e.g. Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks are a 3hr drive.
The fever tree bar is actually very nice, albeit wildly overpriced. But aren’t they always
Next to me was a youngish American (who seemed quite an experienced traveller) saying to someone on his phone: “ah I’m good. I’m good. I’ve got a gin and tonic as big as my head. Europeans really how how to do airports”
I’m guessing his favourable impression is largely a function of everything in Europe being half the price of the USA these days. But still. For the awareness of the site
And American airports on the whole are utter shit (unless you do the private lounges). I can't think of a really good one. The best major Northern American is IMO Vancouver.
On the USA, I may need to go to Salt Lake City for a research meeting next year. Any top tips on where to see if I can wrangle a day off?
I spent a week in Provo just down the road a few years ago. It is right in the centre of some incredible scenery.
If you’re there in a cold season then Alta and Sundance, of festival fame, are small and posh ski resorts in huge empty mountain landscapes. But honestly I would hire a car, head south then east into the wonderland that is canyonlands, arches and capitol reef national parks and stay in Moab, which has some decent restaurants.
Long drives are fine. The drive is the experience.
On the subject of 4 day weeks, one of the more crazy things is a friend of mine has been a teaching assistant for the past 5 years, and done a degree in this time - so has reached quite a high level of skill/experience. But still, the pay is less than the minimum wage for some reason I cannot understand. She would like to carry on but there is no flexibility at all and the pay is terrible. So she is now quitting to become a nanny.
It's because TA's at my place work a 39 hour week. But it is pro rata'd down to a 32 hour week due to term time only. There is no opportunity whatsoever to get extra hours. Historically, pay is so low because it is done by females, most of whom are mother's, so it fits in with childcare. But Aldi will do that too now. And pay more.
Will Aldi let you take 6 weeks off in the summer to look after your children? I presume not, or at least not if too many people in one shop want it.
Probably dovetails quite nicely with students working during their holidays. In any case, Aldi have decided to try to make it work, because it comes out positive for them.
Public sector organisations tend to be rubbish at this sort of thinking. Partly unions, partly a lack of time to stop and think, but also because "more expensive but better = better value" is too often not on anyone's radar.
Sitting at the Fever Tree cocktail bar in Edinburgh Airport. Right next to me is a slight, and slightly elderly man, with a cultured Scottish accent, a neat corduroy jacket, and a genuinely cool Homburg hat
Or at least, this is how I like to imagine him. Kind of a short ageing very polite Scottish intellectual Elvis Costello, with great taste in hats
I’m over 6 ft but I guess there are worse doppelgängers to be attached to. As it happens I’m currently stretching a Borsalino to fit my enormous napper for a forthcoming trip to Berlin.
I’d only hang around in Edinburgh Airport under duress, and need several drinks.
Why back in 1962 my to be wife and I went for evening meals there and to be honest we enjoyed them and the restaurant
It was probably much nicer then, or at least more interesting.
In 1962 air travel was a luxury thing. So standards of catering and ancillary services matched that.
Today, airports cater for people who need to drink 7 pints of crap lager at 6:30am before they get their flight.
I don't know why air travel can't be just as luxurious today as it was then.
The fever tree bar is actually very nice, albeit wildly overpriced. But aren’t they always
Next to me was a youngish American (who seemed quite an experienced traveller) saying to someone on his phone: “ah I’m good. I’m good. I’ve got a gin and tonic as big as my head. Europeans really how how to do airports”
I’m guessing his favourable impression is largely a function of everything in Europe being half the price of the USA these days. But still. For the awareness of the site
The fever tree bar is actually very nice, albeit wildly overpriced. But aren’t they always
Next to me was a youngish American (who seemed quite an experienced traveller) saying to someone on his phone: “ah I’m good. I’m good. I’ve got a gin and tonic as big as my head. Europeans really how how to do airports”
I’m guessing his favourable impression is largely a function of everything in Europe being half the price of the USA these days. But still. For the awareness of the site
And American airports on the whole are utter shit (unless you do the private lounges). I can't think of a really good one. The best major Northern American is IMO Vancouver.
On the USA, I may need to go to Salt Lake City for a research meeting next year. Any top tips on where to see if I can wrangle a day off?
I attended a conference at Snowbird way back in 2007. I don't ski, but still went up the cable car to Hidden Mountain.
The fever tree bar is actually very nice, albeit wildly overpriced. But aren’t they always
Next to me was a youngish American (who seemed quite an experienced traveller) saying to someone on his phone: “ah I’m good. I’m good. I’ve got a gin and tonic as big as my head. Europeans really how how to do airports”
I’m guessing his favourable impression is largely a function of everything in Europe being half the price of the USA these days. But still. For the awareness of the site
And American airports on the whole are utter shit (unless you do the private lounges). I can't think of a really good one. The best major Northern American is IMO Vancouver.
They are pretty crap. Sometimes impressive architecturally, but even then horribly expensive
European airports are usually superior, and cheaper. Tho the fast food in the USA is maybe more varied, and sometimes they nail it
The fever tree bar is actually very nice, albeit wildly overpriced. But aren’t they always
Next to me was a youngish American (who seemed quite an experienced traveller) saying to someone on his phone: “ah I’m good. I’m good. I’ve got a gin and tonic as big as my head. Europeans really how how to do airports”
I’m guessing his favourable impression is largely a function of everything in Europe being half the price of the USA these days. But still. For the awareness of the site
The fever tree bar is actually very nice, albeit wildly overpriced. But aren’t they always
Next to me was a youngish American (who seemed quite an experienced traveller) saying to someone on his phone: “ah I’m good. I’m good. I’ve got a gin and tonic as big as my head. Europeans really how how to do airports”
I’m guessing his favourable impression is largely a function of everything in Europe being half the price of the USA these days. But still. For the awareness of the site
And American airports on the whole are utter shit (unless you do the private lounges). I can't think of a really good one. The best major Northern American is IMO Vancouver.
They are pretty crap. Sometimes impressive architecturally, but even then horribly expensive
European airports are usually superior, and cheaper. Tho the fast food in the USA is maybe more varied, and sometimes they nail it
American Airports are made worse by the horrific experience of dealing with TSA, and the airports where even if you are just changing flight you still have to be processed again e.g. Atlanta.
The fever tree bar is actually very nice, albeit wildly overpriced. But aren’t they always
Next to me was a youngish American (who seemed quite an experienced traveller) saying to someone on his phone: “ah I’m good. I’m good. I’ve got a gin and tonic as big as my head. Europeans really how how to do airports”
I’m guessing his favourable impression is largely a function of everything in Europe being half the price of the USA these days. But still. For the awareness of the site
Comments
More detail on appeal against vat on private school fees
https://educationnottaxation.org/legal/?s=09
It's even sillier than some of Cummings' ideas, which is saying something.
Heck, it's so silly even Spielman might have blinked at it.
And introducing it mid year is so demented that Nick Gibb would probably have passed on it.
But it is very difficult to imagine a sane and impartial judge will find it is illegal.
Brown in 2010 = 258 seats
Corbyn in 2017 = 262 seats
Their love of gun rights is also not unrelated to their rebellion against British rule and tea and stamp duties imposed by Westminster on them. They had to fight for their independence from the King and the British redcoats he sent to try and crush their rebellion.
Even their high level of Protestant evangelical religion in relation to most of the West is a product of their dislike of Popes and the Puritans who left for America on the Mayflower were disillusioned with what they saw as the Arminian and Episcopal nature of the C of E under the Stuarts (and most were sympathetic to Oliver Cromwell, another rebel ready to fight for his cause)
A worthy successor to "Brexit means Brexit".
Ted Heath gave us a three day week.
Laughable man
At least 1,000 Damien Hirst artworks were painted years later than claimed
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/article/2024/may/22/damien-hirst-artworks-painted-years-later-currency-artist
Turns Out the Diamond Skull That Damien Hirst and White Cube Said They Sold for $100 Million in 2007 Still Belongs to Them
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/damien-hirst-skull-storage-2064567
A lot of people I have worked with have changed to a 4 day week under "compressed hours" but if they take it seriously they keep missing out on important meetings.
One thing that I keep noticing is people are doing school runs etc and childcare while they are working and this is affecting their attentiveness, if not necessarily their performance. It seems to be permitted, I think it is just a case that the organisation has no choice, people aren't paid enough to pay for childcare as well, even on £50k+ (in the south east).
Sanders has changed his standard line attacking millionaires and billionaires. He now just attacks the latter.
(Incidentally, his Wikipedia biography, judging by a quick glance through it, gives me more reason to worry about the political bias in that source. If you doubt me, compare it to this somewhat less positive Politico story;
https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/05/24/bernie-sanders-millionaires-226982/ )
I’d only hang around in Edinburgh Airport under duress, and need several drinks.
I suppose Jo Maugham is hoping it will give him more time to beat animals to death.
I mean, I love Wales but you won't find me extolling the virtues of Holyhead Station.
And I'm sure @Hyufd would be struggling to find positives about Luton Airport.
But at least in the case of Holyhead Station, it would be a sin of omission.
Luton was a building site when I went there, so judging it is difficult.
Jobs in schools used to be very family-friendly, compared with other options. You can't choose your holidays, but they do line up with when the kids are off school. That's become less useful as other roles have allowed more flexibility and WFH.
Today, airports cater for people who need to drink 7 pints of crap lager at 6:30am before they get their flight.
My impression is that Leicester and Leics are becoming less segregated, with middle class Asians moving out to the county, and a number of inner city neighbourhoods becoming more students.
In it's more usual sense, which public figure has the least punchable face? I would propose Michael Palin as having the least punchable face in the country. The mere idea of him being punched in the face is causing me a pang of sadness.
Seriously, memories of the old airport ...
There is no opportunity whatsoever to get extra hours.
Historically, pay is so low because it is done by females, most of whom are mother's, so it fits in with childcare.
But Aldi will do that too now. And pay more.
Overall we should be looking at working fewer hours as standard. It's been a long, long time since the last step change in this area (when did the 5.5 day week with a half-day on Saturday before the footie cease to be 'normal'? Early 1960s?)
But in terms of individual working patterns, I think any movement towards flexibility is a good thing. Some people are more motivated and productive doing a four day week of longer days. Others would probably quite like a seven day week doing a little bit each day. Some people like to be able to 'switch off' when they leave the office or go on holiday. Others feel more empowered keeping in touch and dealing with stuff when it comes up, regardless of the time.
There really is no one-size-fits-all and I think a lot of the uninspiring overall productivity levels we've had for years are down to a lot of people feeling pretty miserable and unmotivated because they're forced into working routines that don't serve them particularly well.
Whenever I've managed a team I've tried to offer as much flexibility as is practically possible (and extend recruitment into getting different types of people on board wherever I can to cover all bases).
The key thing in all this is to set your own boundaries, because very rarely will someone else set them for you. Having the confidence to do so is the hardest part of the modern workplace, in my opinion. And also realising that it is not a race to work the longest. Some people cope better with being switched on for longer, but longer hours does not always equal higher quality work. It’s a balancing act and everyone has their own place on that spectrum.
The fever tree bar is actually very nice, albeit wildly overpriced. But aren’t they always
Next to me was a youngish American (who seemed quite an experienced traveller) saying to someone on his phone: “ah I’m good. I’m good. I’ve got a gin and tonic as big as my head. Europeans really how how to do airports”
I’m guessing his favourable impression is largely a function of everything in Europe being half the price of the USA these days. But still. For the awareness of the site
Everyone just worked around it.
If you’re there in a cold season then Alta and Sundance, of festival fame, are small and posh ski resorts in huge empty mountain landscapes. But honestly I would hire a car, head south then east into the wonderland that is canyonlands, arches and capitol reef national parks and stay in Moab, which has some decent restaurants.
Long drives are fine. The drive is the experience.
Public sector organisations tend to be rubbish at this sort of thinking. Partly unions, partly a lack of time to stop and think, but also because "more expensive but better = better value" is too often not on anyone's radar.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_busiest_airports_in_the_United_Kingdom
And Glasgow airport is a nightmare to get to.
European airports are usually superior, and cheaper. Tho the fast food in the USA is maybe
more varied, and sometimes they nail it
Tbilisi
Yerevan
Edinburgh
Shangri La
Orly