Here We Go (Again) – politicalbetting.com

System

Here We Go (Again) – politicalbetting.com

It’s time once again to talk about a key institution: one which politicians feel it necessary to praise and support, whatever their private views, one which many feel we cannot live without, a rather dysfunctional, arrogant one, repeatedly making the same mistakes, mistakes which have caused great harm to those directly affected, repeatedly refusing to learn the lessons and change its ways, hostile to outsiders, an organisation whose senior members rarely seem to bear the consequences of the problems they oversee.

Read the full story here

tlg86

First.

I have to say, I think I'm with @contrarian this evening. Whilst I agree with the measures taken - and, indeed, I wish we'd been locked down since October - the reality is that this is pretty much over. Sure, the government isn't allowing commercial activities to return for another month, but you can ask only so much of people.

We're going to my sister's for Sunday lunch tomorrow. Whereas I was really worried about Christmas, and I was angry at the government for not cancelling it sooner, we're now in a completely different world. My parents had their first doses six weeks ago. They want to see the grandchildren.

MarqueeMark

"Reportedly, it is Cressida Dick, the current Met Chief, who may have to take the fall, it being so much easier to blame a woman for men’s failings if one is conveniently to hand."

Other views are available.

dixiedean

Third.
The remarkable level of trust in the Police in this country I always find surprising.

dixiedean

Third.
The remarkable level of trust in the Police in this country I always find surprising.

And fourth as well apparently.
I can't say it often enough it seems.

londonpubman

Covid: the government won't move on 12 April.

If the deaths and hospitalisations continue to fall as they are plus we have a good few weeks for vaccinations as I understand is anticipated, then Boris MAY have scope to make a call at Easter to move 17 May changes forward by a week and 21 June by two weeks.

This may well be being discussed behind the scenes but at the moment, quite rightly, caution must prevail.

tlg86

dixiedean said:

Third.
The remarkable level of trust in the Police in this country I always find surprising.

They trust them to do a bad job?

I'd have thought a big part of it is that most people don't encounter them very often.

ydoethur

FPT

Anabobazina said:

ydoethur said:

Northern_Al said:

contrarian said:

Richard_Tyndall said:

contrarian said:

rcs1000 said:

@moonshine

You asked about a 20 year old socialising, and making their own choices about the risks they are prepared to run.

Let me take a step back. Imagine you build a factory and it belches out noxious and toxic emissions. You might be prepared to work in the factory and run the risk of being affected by those emissions, but the emissions don't stop at the factory gates. Those fumes drift beyond, and they can get other people sick.

We therefore have rules about the emissions factories are allowed to emit.

Your 20 year old, if they have CV19, they might not even notice, or it might be a mild sniffle. They aren't going to be negatively affected (or at least not much), but they are a walking talking negartive externality spewer. And in democratic societies, we have rules that restrict negative externalities.

If it were possible to segment the risk, so that 20 year olds were unable to pass CV19 onto other people, it would be amazing. But the reality is that your 20 year old probably lives at home with their parents, or socialises with people who live with their parents. How do you stop those externalities spreading?

You can't, you never could, and you never will. And in the vast majority of cases, for a parent under 65, the result is so what. Covid is 99% survivable.

In return for being allowed to enjoy their youth young people join armed forces, work for low pay, embark on careers and take on the burdens, obligations and responsibilities the previous generations leave. Without question.

IF we change the social contract on them, as what is the most selfish generation in history undoubtedly has, we shouldn't be surprised if they turn around and change it on us.

What a truly dumb comment. Do you think older people suddenly appear on earth without having being young themselves - and in all likelihood grown up in far poorer circumstances than most people today? Are the old just created by spontaneous generation?

I think, for many and varied reasons, you need to grow up.

Look at the facts.

Boomers were not locked down. They were never placed under house arrest. They were not furloughed. Their educations were not destroyed. They were not ordered to wear masks for hours every day. They were not locked up at university, or cheated out of money in return for substandard lectures the Open university could provide. Their job opportunities were not shattered by fiat. They were not burdened by enormous and crushing debts. Their protests were not stopped by covid laws. They were not told they could not exercise.

All over a disease that does not affect them.

What we have done to our young people is abominable, and still, apparently, it is not enough.

Around 100,000 'boomers' died of Covid, though, and many others got seriously ill. Luckily Big G wasn't one of them. I guess the sacrifices of the old don't count to you, because their useful life was pretty much over anyway.

You arguments manage to be both crap and repulsive.

And wrong, of course. Gideon Wise and many others could point out this disease *does* affect the rest of us - frequently badly.

Very rarely in younger groups unless they have an underlying health condition. Yes, there are examples of it affecting the young and healthy badly, but it’s rare. Frequently is stretching a point.

I’m not sure I agree. But it depends on what you mean by ‘badly.’ When it is symptomatic it frequently seems far worse than flu, and certainly it’s more infectious. But that’s different from the older age groups, where it isn’t so much ‘bad’ as lethal.

I agree that if it only infected people in the way that it affects people of our generation (I think you’re slightly older than me but of a comparable generation) it probably wouldn’t be a major public health emergency, but it’s completely ridiculous and frankly dishonest to say it ‘doesn’t affect them’ as contrarian did.

moonshine

tlg86 said:

First.

I have to say, I think I'm with @contrarian this evening. Whilst I agree with the measures taken - and, indeed, I wish we'd been locked down since October - the reality is that this is pretty much over. Sure, the government isn't allowing commercial activities to return for another month, but you can ask only so much of people.

We're going to my sister's for Sunday lunch tomorrow. Whereas I was really worried about Christmas, and I was angry at the government for not cancelling it sooner, we're now in a completely different world. My parents had their first doses six weeks ago. They want to see the grandchildren.

Ditto. They’re more at risk on the motorway driving to you than from covid now. This seems to have escaped the perception of some normally quite intelligent posters. My only conclusion is that Cummings is the most skilled political communicator of our age, so apparently effective was his job at scaring everyone witless. A shame he wasn’t paying attention about a month earlier, when I and many others made out like bandits by shorting the market.

solarflare

Of course if you want to give people booster shots in any numbers then I presume you have yet another incentive to want to give the general population their actual 1st/2nd doses as soon as possible so that you can then move onto the booster phase.

Richard_Tyndall

Sadly a very good article.

Stocky

tlg86 said:

First.

I have to say, I think I'm with @contrarian this evening. Whilst I agree with the measures taken - and, indeed, I wish we'd been locked down since October - the reality is that this is pretty much over. Sure, the government isn't allowing commercial activities to return for another month, but you can ask only so much of people.

We're going to my sister's for Sunday lunch tomorrow. Whereas I was really worried about Christmas, and I was angry at the government for not cancelling it sooner, we're now in a completely different world. My parents had their first doses six weeks ago. They want to see the grandchildren.

Yet a dear family friend (who has had her jab) when visiting my mum (who has also had a jab) in her nursing home (where all the carers have had jabs) has to put up with a fixed floor-to-ceiling perspex screen AND they both have to wear masks.

Black_Rook

tlg86 said:

First.

I have to say, I think I'm with @contrarian this evening. Whilst I agree with the measures taken - and, indeed, I wish we'd been locked down since October - the reality is that this is pretty much over. Sure, the government isn't allowing commercial activities to return for another month, but you can ask only so much of people.

We're going to my sister's for Sunday lunch tomorrow. Whereas I was really worried about Christmas, and I was angry at the government for not cancelling it sooner, we're now in a completely different world. My parents had their first doses six weeks ago. They want to see the grandchildren.

I'm going to be sticking to my current routines until I've had the jab, but mostly because I've dodged the bullet for a year now, I'm in my mid-40s and feel at non-negligible risk of getting quite ill with this thing, I'm hoping that it may not be very long now until I get my first jab, and I've no wish to fall at the final fence.

All that having been said, I can understand why the calculus would be different for other people. I expect that Mothers' Day will be a cause for widespread disobedience of the rules.

ydoethur

On topic, a brilliant thread header @Cyclefree, as always.

What a tragedy that your diagnosis that nothing will change is so very plausible.

kle4

Unlike Cyclefree I have not looked into this area much, but I have read the Henriques report, and some of the basic misunderstandings of investigative procedure and presumption of innocence, and the some police's flagrant lack of regard for such things in response to points made in the report, was eye opening.

The hard nosed but true point that the criminal justice system is not about providing therapy to victims (or alleged victims) is one I don't think politicians have the guts to make, even as they don't seem to be providing oversight of police or adequate support from the overall process in the first place.

It's weird, as I've met a few senior police officers, who have typically been able, thoughtful and diligent. Yet as a whole, I don't think we're well served, in many ways.

ydoethur

Black_Rook said:

tlg86 said:

First.

I have to say, I think I'm with @contrarian this evening. Whilst I agree with the measures taken - and, indeed, I wish we'd been locked down since October - the reality is that this is pretty much over. Sure, the government isn't allowing commercial activities to return for another month, but you can ask only so much of people.

We're going to my sister's for Sunday lunch tomorrow. Whereas I was really worried about Christmas, and I was angry at the government for not cancelling it sooner, we're now in a completely different world. My parents had their first doses six weeks ago. They want to see the grandchildren.

I'm going to be sticking to my current routines until I've had the jab, but mostly because I've dodged the bullet for a year now, I'm in my mid-40s and feel at non-negligible risk of getting quite ill with this thing, I'm hoping that it may not be very long now until I get my first jab, and I've no wish to fall at the final fence.

All that having been said, I can understand why the calculus would be different for other people. I expect that Mothers' Day will be a cause for widespread disobedience of the rules.

The butcher this morning said an awful lot of people had been in yesterday buying large joints for Sunday.

It’s understandable people want to relax the rules, especially if the most vulnerable have been vaccinated - after all, we’re all fed up with lockdown - but I hope it doesn’t cause any problems.

moonshine

Stocky said:

tlg86 said:

First.

I have to say, I think I'm with @contrarian this evening. Whilst I agree with the measures taken - and, indeed, I wish we'd been locked down since October - the reality is that this is pretty much over. Sure, the government isn't allowing commercial activities to return for another month, but you can ask only so much of people.

We're going to my sister's for Sunday lunch tomorrow. Whereas I was really worried about Christmas, and I was angry at the government for not cancelling it sooner, we're now in a completely different world. My parents had their first doses six weeks ago. They want to see the grandchildren.

Yet a dear family friend (who has had her jab) when visiting my mum (who has also had a jab) in her nursing home (where all the carers have had jabs) has to put up with a fixed floor-to-ceiling perspex screen AND they both have to wear masks.

It’s an obscenity aimed at providing political cover for the appalling policies in place for the care sector in wave 1, which were akin to asking society’s most very vulnerable to go over the top holding broomsticks.

kle4

I know some feel Cyclefree is a bit too harsh on these issues, but in matters of policing and justice I think it is an area where utterly high standards and expectations are necessary given the powers they hold, and admitted political failures in these matters a seperate (albeit very important) issue to the things that can and should be addressed by the police themselves.

Malmesbury

MarqueeMark said:

"Reportedly, it is Cressida Dick, the current Met Chief, who may have to take the fall, it being so much easier to blame a woman for men’s failings if one is conveniently to hand."

Other views are available.

Well, when De Mendes was killed, it was apparently unfair to blame Cressida for that. After all the operational commander is not responsible... or something

Nor was she responsible when officers under her command mounted a sustained smear campaign against De Mendes. To the point they complained that the media wasn't spinning their lines about him...

Why should she be held responsible this time?

Stocky

moonshine said:

Stocky said:

tlg86 said:

First.

I have to say, I think I'm with @contrarian this evening. Whilst I agree with the measures taken - and, indeed, I wish we'd been locked down since October - the reality is that this is pretty much over. Sure, the government isn't allowing commercial activities to return for another month, but you can ask only so much of people.

We're going to my sister's for Sunday lunch tomorrow. Whereas I was really worried about Christmas, and I was angry at the government for not cancelling it sooner, we're now in a completely different world. My parents had their first doses six weeks ago. They want to see the grandchildren.

Yet a dear family friend (who has had her jab) when visiting my mum (who has also had a jab) in her nursing home (where all the carers have had jabs) has to put up with a fixed floor-to-ceiling perspex screen AND they both have to wear masks.

It’s an obscenity aimed at providing political cover for the appalling policies in place for the care sector in wave 1, which were akin to asking society’s most very vulnerable to go over the top holding broomsticks.

It's that plus the care homes being, in effect, run by their indemnity insurance companies. Goodness knows how they think a successful claim could arise from Covid.

Litigant: "My granny has Covid and it's your fault"
Insurance company: "Can you please present your proof of who she caught it from"
Litigant: "Err"

Anabobazina

I thought Contrarian’s comments on the earlier thread were characteristically intemperate and blunt. He will probably soften them later.

However, Big G’s original post about his shopping trip brought to mind the archetypal guy who criticises the traffic ahead for holding him up on the M6. You aren’t looking at the traffic, mate, you are the traffic.

ydoethur

Anabobazina said:

I thought Contrarian’s comments on the earlier thread were characteristically intemperate and blunt. He will probably soften them later.

Really? That would be a dramatic break with tradition.

RobD

Anabobazina said:

I thought Contrarian’s comments on the earlier thread were characteristically intemperate and blunt. He will probably soften them later.

However, Big G’s original post about his shopping trip brought to mind the archetypal guy who criticises the traffic ahead for holding him up on the M6. You aren’t looking at the traffic, mate, you are the traffic.

I'm not sure I see the relevance. He's done/doing his part, he was complaining that others aren't.

Black_Rook

ydoethur said:

Black_Rook said:

tlg86 said:

First.

I have to say, I think I'm with @contrarian this evening. Whilst I agree with the measures taken - and, indeed, I wish we'd been locked down since October - the reality is that this is pretty much over. Sure, the government isn't allowing commercial activities to return for another month, but you can ask only so much of people.

We're going to my sister's for Sunday lunch tomorrow. Whereas I was really worried about Christmas, and I was angry at the government for not cancelling it sooner, we're now in a completely different world. My parents had their first doses six weeks ago. They want to see the grandchildren.

I'm going to be sticking to my current routines until I've had the jab, but mostly because I've dodged the bullet for a year now, I'm in my mid-40s and feel at non-negligible risk of getting quite ill with this thing, I'm hoping that it may not be very long now until I get my first jab, and I've no wish to fall at the final fence.

All that having been said, I can understand why the calculus would be different for other people. I expect that Mothers' Day will be a cause for widespread disobedience of the rules.

The butcher this morning said an awful lot of people had been in yesterday buying large joints for Sunday.

It’s understandable people want to relax the rules, especially if the most vulnerable have been vaccinated - after all, we’re all fed up with lockdown - but I hope it doesn’t cause any problems.

Given the very high level indeed of vaccine take-up in the older age groups, I doubt that it will cause any systemic issues. If it does result in a small number of additional serious illnesses, amongst those for whom vaccination hasn't quite proven sufficient to protect them, then that's probably only bringing them forward slightly in any case: if families weren't visiting Granny tomorrow they'd only be doing it in another two or three weeks, after the stay at home order is formally binned on the 29th.

Morris_Dancer

F1: very sad news.

Murray Walker has passed away. RIP.

https://twitter.com/BRDCSilverstone/status/1370795537029603330

ydoethur

Malmesbury said:

MarqueeMark said:

"Reportedly, it is Cressida Dick, the current Met Chief, who may have to take the fall, it being so much easier to blame a woman for men’s failings if one is conveniently to hand."

Other views are available.

Well, when De Mendes was killed, it was apparently unfair to blame Cressida for that. After all the operational commander is not responsible... or something

Nor was she responsible when officers under her command mounted a sustained smear campaign against De Mendes. To the point they complained that the media wasn't spinning their lines about him...

Why should she be held responsible this time?

Or when the jury at the coroner’s inquest refused to rule no crime had been committed despite clear directions to do so and plainly stated the officers concerned had all committed perjury.

JohnLilburne

Anabobazina said:

I thought Contrarian’s comments on the earlier thread were characteristically intemperate and blunt. He will probably soften them later.

However, Big G’s original post about his shopping trip brought to mind the archetypal guy who criticises the traffic ahead for holding him up on the M6. You aren’t looking at the traffic, mate, you are the traffic.

Supermarkets on Saturday are hell. I normally avoid them, even before COVID, but of course BigG needed painkillers.

JohnLilburne

londonpubman said:

Covid: the government won't move on 12 April.

If the deaths and hospitalisations continue to fall as they are plus we have a good few weeks for vaccinations as I understand is anticipated, then Boris MAY have scope to make a call at Easter to move 17 May changes forward by a week and 21 June by two weeks.

This may well be being discussed behind the scenes but at the moment, quite rightly, caution must prevail.

Indeed. I presume Easter is being avoided deliberately.

kle4

Morris_Dancer said:

F1: very sad news.

Murray Walker has passed away. RIP.

https://twitter.com/BRDCSilverstone/status/1370795537029603330

Sad news. Don't really watch F1 much anymore, but he always made it memorable back in the day.

Malmesbury

ydoethur said:

Malmesbury said:

MarqueeMark said:

"Reportedly, it is Cressida Dick, the current Met Chief, who may have to take the fall, it being so much easier to blame a woman for men’s failings if one is conveniently to hand."

Other views are available.

Well, when De Mendes was killed, it was apparently unfair to blame Cressida for that. After all the operational commander is not responsible... or something

Nor was she responsible when officers under her command mounted a sustained smear campaign against De Mendes. To the point they complained that the media wasn't spinning their lines about him...

Why should she be held responsible this time?

Or when the jury at the coroner’s inquest refused to rule no crime had been committed despite clear directions to do so and plainly stated the officers concerned had all committed perjury.

I was told by a London Underground employee that the CCTV had been working. Until the investigation of the shooting discovered it had mysterious malfunctioned....

One of the saving graces of the British Police is the utter incompetence with which they approach a cover up. Imagine a 5 year old child, Jackson Pollock'd with jam, pretending innocence....

Remember Forest Gate and the mysterious appearance and disappearance of images from a laptop?

Anabobazina

ydoethur said:

Anabobazina said:

I thought Contrarian’s comments on the earlier thread were characteristically intemperate and blunt. He will probably soften them later.

Really? That would be a dramatic break with tradition.

Not so. He often rolls back and indeed will take a point when he thinks you have one. He’s not a troll. He has very strident views but you can debate him.

Anabobazina

JohnLilburne said:

londonpubman said:

Covid: the government won't move on 12 April.

If the deaths and hospitalisations continue to fall as they are plus we have a good few weeks for vaccinations as I understand is anticipated, then Boris MAY have scope to make a call at Easter to move 17 May changes forward by a week and 21 June by two weeks.

This may well be being discussed behind the scenes but at the moment, quite rightly, caution must prevail.

Indeed. I presume Easter is being avoided deliberately.

If Easter is warm it will be barbecue central.

Anabobazina

kle4 said:

Morris_Dancer said:

F1: very sad news.

Murray Walker has passed away. RIP.

https://twitter.com/BRDCSilverstone/status/1370795537029603330

Sad news. Don't really watch F1 much anymore, but he always made it memorable back in the day.

Yup. RIP Murray. An absolute giant of TV sport.

Morris_Dancer

Mr. kle4, aye, Murray Walker had some great lines.

"There's nothing wrong with the car, except that it's on fire."

And there's this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGxVe3-Z5wo

RobD

Anabobazina said:

ydoethur said:

Anabobazina said:

I thought Contrarian’s comments on the earlier thread were characteristically intemperate and blunt. He will probably soften them later.

Really? That would be a dramatic break with tradition.

Not so. He often rolls back and indeed will take a point when he thinks you have one. He’s not a troll. He has very strident views but you can debate him.

Calling someone a "self entitled, pompous ungrateful shit" isn't a debate.

ydoethur

Anabobazina said:

JohnLilburne said:

londonpubman said:

Covid: the government won't move on 12 April.

If the deaths and hospitalisations continue to fall as they are plus we have a good few weeks for vaccinations as I understand is anticipated, then Boris MAY have scope to make a call at Easter to move 17 May changes forward by a week and 21 June by two weeks.

This may well be being discussed behind the scenes but at the moment, quite rightly, caution must prevail.

Indeed. I presume Easter is being avoided deliberately.

If Easter is warm it will be barbecue central.

That would be a good thing, given outside mixing seems to be safe enough but indoor mixing ain’t great and would be the alternative.

Anabobazina

RobD said:

Anabobazina said:

I thought Contrarian’s comments on the earlier thread were characteristically intemperate and blunt. He will probably soften them later.

However, Big G’s original post about his shopping trip brought to mind the archetypal guy who criticises the traffic ahead for holding him up on the M6. You aren’t looking at the traffic, mate, you are the traffic.

I'm not sure I see the relevance. He's done/doing his part, he was complaining that others aren't.

“I went shopping and the shop was busy.”

RobD

Anabobazina said:

RobD said:

Anabobazina said:

I thought Contrarian’s comments on the earlier thread were characteristically intemperate and blunt. He will probably soften them later.

However, Big G’s original post about his shopping trip brought to mind the archetypal guy who criticises the traffic ahead for holding him up on the M6. You aren’t looking at the traffic, mate, you are the traffic.

I'm not sure I see the relevance. He's done/doing his part, he was complaining that others aren't.

“I went shopping and the shop was busy.”

So? People are allowed to go shopping. Had he been ignoring social distancing himself you might have a point.

Anabobazina

RobD said:

Anabobazina said:

ydoethur said:

Anabobazina said:

I thought Contrarian’s comments on the earlier thread were characteristically intemperate and blunt. He will probably soften them later.

Really? That would be a dramatic break with tradition.

Not so. He often rolls back and indeed will take a point when he thinks you have one. He’s not a troll. He has very strident views but you can debate him.

Calling someone a "self entitled, pompous ungrateful shit" isn't a debate.

I have already criticised what he said. As I said, I hope he will roll back from it soon.

londonpubman

JohnLilburne said:

londonpubman said:

Covid: the government won't move on 12 April.

If the deaths and hospitalisations continue to fall as they are plus we have a good few weeks for vaccinations as I understand is anticipated, then Boris MAY have scope to make a call at Easter to move 17 May changes forward by a week and 21 June by two weeks.

This may well be being discussed behind the scenes but at the moment, quite rightly, caution must prevail.

Indeed. I presume Easter is being avoided deliberately.

Yes the current timings have been chosen to avoid exposure to Bank Holidays, but the government could move forward the 17 May and 21 June changes forward by one/two weeks respectively and still avoid the early May and late May bank holidays.

ydoethur

Morris_Dancer said:

Mr. kle4, aye, Murray Walker had some great lines.

"There's nothing wrong with the car, except that it's on fire."

And there's this:

(Snip)

My favourite Walkerism was, ‘the car in front is unique, except for the one behind it which is identical.’

Anabobazina

JohnLilburne said:

Anabobazina said:

I thought Contrarian’s comments on the earlier thread were characteristically intemperate and blunt. He will probably soften them later.

However, Big G’s original post about his shopping trip brought to mind the archetypal guy who criticises the traffic ahead for holding him up on the M6. You aren’t looking at the traffic, mate, you are the traffic.

Supermarkets on Saturday are hell. I normally avoid them, even before COVID, but of course BigG needed painkillers.

You can buy painkillers at the chemist, or the newsagent. I’m not criticising his going shopping, but it does recall the Traffic Paradox.

kle4

ydoethur said:

Morris_Dancer said:

Mr. kle4, aye, Murray Walker had some great lines.

"There's nothing wrong with the car, except that it's on fire."

And there's this:

(Snip)

My favourite Walkerism was, ‘the car in front is unique, except for the one behind it which is identical.’

I have a vague feeling that he invented the idea someone could outbrake themselves (rather than another person - that is, they just braked too late), but perhaps that was an already silly racing term.

Anabobazina

RobD said:

Anabobazina said:

RobD said:

Anabobazina said:

I thought Contrarian’s comments on the earlier thread were characteristically intemperate and blunt. He will probably soften them later.

However, Big G’s original post about his shopping trip brought to mind the archetypal guy who criticises the traffic ahead for holding him up on the M6. You aren’t looking at the traffic, mate, you are the traffic.

I'm not sure I see the relevance. He's done/doing his part, he was complaining that others aren't.

“I went shopping and the shop was busy.”

So? People are allowed to go shopping. Had he been ignoring social distancing himself you might have a point.

He’s allowed to go shopping, sure. We all are. Yet social distancing isn’t possible in supermarkets on Saturdays, in my experience.

stodge

ydoethur said:

The butcher this morning said an awful lot of people had been in yesterday buying large joints for Sunday.

It’s understandable people want to relax the rules, especially if the most vulnerable have been vaccinated - after all, we’re all fed up with lockdown - but I hope it doesn’t cause any problems.

The last time I looked it's not illegal to buy a nice joint of meat for Mother's Day. If there is going to be a widespread lack of observance of current restrictions tomorrow, so be it, that's a matter for law enforcement to see if the law is being enforced.

Last year, the lockdown in East London collapsed within three weeks and as others have said, there are clear signs of the current restrictions being less than fully observed by some people. The limitations on what people can do and where they can congregate have had a big impact on getting the virus back under control as they did last year.

I expect a small rise in new cases next week and the following week with the return to school but the overall trends in deaths and hospitalisations continue to be encouraging and they, along with the vaccination numbers, show we are on the right track.

RobD

Anabobazina said:

RobD said:

Anabobazina said:

RobD said:

Anabobazina said:

I thought Contrarian’s comments on the earlier thread were characteristically intemperate and blunt. He will probably soften them later.

However, Big G’s original post about his shopping trip brought to mind the archetypal guy who criticises the traffic ahead for holding him up on the M6. You aren’t looking at the traffic, mate, you are the traffic.

I'm not sure I see the relevance. He's done/doing his part, he was complaining that others aren't.

“I went shopping and the shop was busy.”

So? People are allowed to go shopping. Had he been ignoring social distancing himself you might have a point.

He’s allowed to go shopping, sure. We all are. Yet social distancing isn’t possible in supermarkets on Saturdays, in my experience.

Entirely possible if you have control on the number of people going in. Big_G was bemoaning the lack of that.

ydoethur

stodge said:

ydoethur said:

The butcher this morning said an awful lot of people had been in yesterday buying large joints for Sunday.

It’s understandable people want to relax the rules, especially if the most vulnerable have been vaccinated - after all, we’re all fed up with lockdown - but I hope it doesn’t cause any problems.

The last time I looked it's not illegal to buy a nice joint of meat for Mother's Day. If there is going to be a widespread lack of observance of current restrictions tomorrow, so be it, that's a matter for law enforcement to see if the law is being enforced.

Last year, the lockdown in East London collapsed within three weeks and as others have said, there are clear signs of the current restrictions being less than fully observed by some people. The limitations on what people can do and where they can congregate have had a big impact on getting the virus back under control as they did last year.

I expect a small rise in new cases next week and the following week with the return to school but the overall trends in deaths and hospitalisations continue to be encouraging and they, along with the vaccination numbers, show we are on the right track.

And we want to stay on it.

tlg86

Anabobazina said:

RobD said:

Anabobazina said:

RobD said:

Anabobazina said:

I thought Contrarian’s comments on the earlier thread were characteristically intemperate and blunt. He will probably soften them later.

However, Big G’s original post about his shopping trip brought to mind the archetypal guy who criticises the traffic ahead for holding him up on the M6. You aren’t looking at the traffic, mate, you are the traffic.

I'm not sure I see the relevance. He's done/doing his part, he was complaining that others aren't.

“I went shopping and the shop was busy.”

So? People are allowed to go shopping. Had he been ignoring social distancing himself you might have a point.

He’s allowed to go shopping, sure. We all are. Yet social distancing isn’t possible in supermarkets on Saturdays, in my experience.

I've seen couples going shopping who really don't need to be going together, but those with kids often have little choice but to take them.

And the idea that we were going to be made to queue up outside in the winter was always a non-starter.

Anabobazina

It would be better if they allowed pubs to open over the Easter weekend, but I can live with 12 April.

FrancisUrquhart

Former Formula 1 commentator Murray Walker has died at the age of 97.

Anabobazina

RobD said:

Anabobazina said:

RobD said:

Anabobazina said:

RobD said:

Anabobazina said:

I thought Contrarian’s comments on the earlier thread were characteristically intemperate and blunt. He will probably soften them later.

However, Big G’s original post about his shopping trip brought to mind the archetypal guy who criticises the traffic ahead for holding him up on the M6. You aren’t looking at the traffic, mate, you are the traffic.

I'm not sure I see the relevance. He's done/doing his part, he was complaining that others aren't.

“I went shopping and the shop was busy.”

So? People are allowed to go shopping. Had he been ignoring social distancing himself you might have a point.

He’s allowed to go shopping, sure. We all are. Yet social distancing isn’t possible in supermarkets on Saturdays, in my experience.

Entirely possible if you have control on the number of people going in. Big_G was bemoaning the lack of that.

Not possible around here. Too much demand.

RobD

Anabobazina said:

RobD said:

Anabobazina said:

RobD said:

Anabobazina said:

RobD said:

Anabobazina said:

I thought Contrarian’s comments on the earlier thread were characteristically intemperate and blunt. He will probably soften them later.

However, Big G’s original post about his shopping trip brought to mind the archetypal guy who criticises the traffic ahead for holding him up on the M6. You aren’t looking at the traffic, mate, you are the traffic.

I'm not sure I see the relevance. He's done/doing his part, he was complaining that others aren't.

“I went shopping and the shop was busy.”

So? People are allowed to go shopping. Had he been ignoring social distancing himself you might have a point.

He’s allowed to go shopping, sure. We all are. Yet social distancing isn’t possible in supermarkets on Saturdays, in my experience.

Entirely possible if you have control on the number of people going in. Big_G was bemoaning the lack of that.

Not possible around here. Too much demand.

It's supply and demand, isn't it? If you make people wait outside an hour, suddenly you make it far less attractive. Now I see why they don't want to do that to their customers, but saying it is not possible just isn't true.

FrancisUrquhart

Last week's ref would currently be awarding no-try, despite the video evidence.

Richard_Nabavi

That's a classy rant from the indomitable Ms CycleFree. And spot-on, as well.

Black_Rook

RobD said:

Anabobazina said:

RobD said:

Anabobazina said:

RobD said:

Anabobazina said:

RobD said:

Anabobazina said:

I thought Contrarian’s comments on the earlier thread were characteristically intemperate and blunt. He will probably soften them later.

However, Big G’s original post about his shopping trip brought to mind the archetypal guy who criticises the traffic ahead for holding him up on the M6. You aren’t looking at the traffic, mate, you are the traffic.

I'm not sure I see the relevance. He's done/doing his part, he was complaining that others aren't.

“I went shopping and the shop was busy.”

So? People are allowed to go shopping. Had he been ignoring social distancing himself you might have a point.

He’s allowed to go shopping, sure. We all are. Yet social distancing isn’t possible in supermarkets on Saturdays, in my experience.

Entirely possible if you have control on the number of people going in. Big_G was bemoaning the lack of that.

Not possible around here. Too much demand.

It's supply and demand, isn't it? If you make people wait outside an hour, suddenly you make it far less attractive. Now I see why they don't want to do that to their customers, but saying it is not possible just isn't true.

I think it depends entirely on how diligent the store management are being. At our local Tesco they still can and do make the customers wait outside when it's busy - though it's a whacking great store so you're unlucky if you have to.

SandyRentool

I see that some posters are planning on being irresponsible twats tomorrow.

Shame.

BluestBlue

RobD said:

Anabobazina said:

ydoethur said:

Anabobazina said:

I thought Contrarian’s comments on the earlier thread were characteristically intemperate and blunt. He will probably soften them later.

Really? That would be a dramatic break with tradition.

Not so. He often rolls back and indeed will take a point when he thinks you have one. He’s not a troll. He has very strident views but you can debate him.

Calling someone a "self entitled, pompous ungrateful shit" isn't a debate.

Depends if one's using the word in line with the medieval or the early modern meaning of its French etymon debatre...

< avoidance of doubt marker >: Obviously contrarian was being a knob

kle4

SandyRentool said:

I see that some posters are planning on being irresponsible twats tomorrow.

Shame.

I plan on being so every day, but lose my nerve.

Time_to_Leave

kle4 said:

SandyRentool said:

I see that some posters are planning on being irresponsible twats tomorrow.

Shame.

I plan on being so every day, but lose my nerve.

I find it comes naturally.

tlg86

SandyRentool said:

I see that some posters are planning on being irresponsible twats tomorrow.

Shame.

You would not believe the arguments I had with my parents in the run up to Christmas.

Personally I wouldn't be breaking the rules to see friends, but I live with my parents, so I might as well go too. It's either that or go without dinner tomorrow.

Stocky

kle4 said:

SandyRentool said:

I see that some posters are planning on being irresponsible twats tomorrow.

Shame.

I plan on being so every day, but lose my nerve.

According to Sandy, then, you are a would-be twat. Sort of second degree ...

kle4

Stocky said:

kle4 said:

SandyRentool said:

I see that some posters are planning on being irresponsible twats tomorrow.

Shame.

I plan on being so every day, but lose my nerve.

According to Sandy, then, you are a would-be twat. Sort of second degree ...

I actually missed what people are planning, does 14th March hold some significance?

Big_G_NorthWales

RobD said:

Anabobazina said:

RobD said:

Anabobazina said:

RobD said:

Anabobazina said:

I thought Contrarian’s comments on the earlier thread were characteristically intemperate and blunt. He will probably soften them later.

However, Big G’s original post about his shopping trip brought to mind the archetypal guy who criticises the traffic ahead for holding him up on the M6. You aren’t looking at the traffic, mate, you are the traffic.

I'm not sure I see the relevance. He's done/doing his part, he was complaining that others aren't.

“I went shopping and the shop was busy.”

So? People are allowed to go shopping. Had he been ignoring social distancing himself you might have a point.

He’s allowed to go shopping, sure. We all are. Yet social distancing isn’t possible in supermarkets on Saturdays, in my experience.

Entirely possible if you have control on the number of people going in. Big_G was bemoaning the lack of that.

And for clarification I was in need of paracetamol having had a painful tooth extraction and used my home supply.

I was in considerable pain and Asda has the chemist near the entry door.

I socially distanced all the time, there was nobody at the counter waiting, I paid the chemist and left

I was not joining the crowd for shopping as it was a medical emergency

tlg86

kle4 said:

Stocky said:

kle4 said:

SandyRentool said:

I see that some posters are planning on being irresponsible twats tomorrow.

Shame.

I plan on being so every day, but lose my nerve.

According to Sandy, then, you are a would-be twat. Sort of second degree ...

I actually missed what people are planning, does 14th March hold some significance?

It's Mothering Sunday (not Mother's Day).

Foxy

kle4 said:

Stocky said:

kle4 said:

SandyRentool said:

I see that some posters are planning on being irresponsible twats tomorrow.

Shame.

I plan on being so every day, but lose my nerve.

According to Sandy, then, you are a would-be twat. Sort of second degree ...

I actually missed what people are planning, does 14th March hold some significance?

Mothering Sunday.

Big_G_NorthWales

Foxy said:

kle4 said:

Stocky said:

kle4 said:

SandyRentool said:

I see that some posters are planning on being irresponsible twats tomorrow.

Shame.

I plan on being so every day, but lose my nerve.

According to Sandy, then, you are a would-be twat. Sort of second degree ...

I actually missed what people are planning, does 14th March hold some significance?

Mothering Sunday.

Mother's Day is TOMORROW on Sunday, March 14 2021. Known by its religious name, Mothering Sunday, it has become more commercialised over the years.

londonpubman

Big_G_NorthWales said:

RobD said:

Anabobazina said:

RobD said:

Anabobazina said:

RobD said:

Anabobazina said:

I thought Contrarian’s comments on the earlier thread were characteristically intemperate and blunt. He will probably soften them later.

However, Big G’s original post about his shopping trip brought to mind the archetypal guy who criticises the traffic ahead for holding him up on the M6. You aren’t looking at the traffic, mate, you are the traffic.

I'm not sure I see the relevance. He's done/doing his part, he was complaining that others aren't.

“I went shopping and the shop was busy.”

So? People are allowed to go shopping. Had he been ignoring social distancing himself you might have a point.

He’s allowed to go shopping, sure. We all are. Yet social distancing isn’t possible in supermarkets on Saturdays, in my experience.

Entirely possible if you have control on the number of people going in. Big_G was bemoaning the lack of that.

And for clarification I was in need of paracetamol having had a painful tooth extraction and used my home supply.

I was in considerable pain and Asda has the chemist near the entry door.

I socially distanced all the time, there was nobody at the counter waiting, I paid the chemist and left

I was not joining the crowd for shopping as it was a medical emergency

Don't forget to 'stay local' Big G!

kle4

tlg86 said:

kle4 said:

Stocky said:

kle4 said:

SandyRentool said:

I see that some posters are planning on being irresponsible twats tomorrow.

Shame.

I plan on being so every day, but lose my nerve.

According to Sandy, then, you are a would-be twat. Sort of second degree ...

I actually missed what people are planning, does 14th March hold some significance?

It's Mothering Sunday (not Mother's Day).

Never heard of it (as distinct from Mother's Day). My late mother must have either been disappointed in me, or had no interest in it to teach me it existed.

HYUFD

https://twitter.com/ElectionMapsUK/status/1370805082615386116?s=20

Big_G_NorthWales

londonpubman said:

Big_G_NorthWales said:

RobD said:

Anabobazina said:

RobD said:

Anabobazina said:

RobD said:

Anabobazina said:

I thought Contrarian’s comments on the earlier thread were characteristically intemperate and blunt. He will probably soften them later.

However, Big G’s original post about his shopping trip brought to mind the archetypal guy who criticises the traffic ahead for holding him up on the M6. You aren’t looking at the traffic, mate, you are the traffic.

I'm not sure I see the relevance. He's done/doing his part, he was complaining that others aren't.

“I went shopping and the shop was busy.”

So? People are allowed to go shopping. Had he been ignoring social distancing himself you might have a point.

He’s allowed to go shopping, sure. We all are. Yet social distancing isn’t possible in supermarkets on Saturdays, in my experience.

Entirely possible if you have control on the number of people going in. Big_G was bemoaning the lack of that.

And for clarification I was in need of paracetamol having had a painful tooth extraction and used my home supply.

I was in considerable pain and Asda has the chemist near the entry door.

I socially distanced all the time, there was nobody at the counter waiting, I paid the chemist and left

I was not joining the crowd for shopping as it was a medical emergency

Don't forget to 'stay local' Big G!

My Asda is within 3 miles so local yes

As I am a male I do not want to anger Drakeford otherwise he may confine me to a 6.00pm curfew

RobD

HYUFD said:

https://twitter.com/ElectionMapsUK/status/1370805082615386116?s=20

LD surge klaxon.

YBarddCwsc

kle4 said:

Stocky said:

kle4 said:

SandyRentool said:

I see that some posters are planning on being irresponsible twats tomorrow.

Shame.

I plan on being so every day, but lose my nerve.

According to Sandy, then, you are a would-be twat. Sort of second degree ...

I actually missed what people are planning, does 14th March hold some significance?

3.14 ...... it is π day.

Time_to_Leave

HYUFD said:

https://twitter.com/ElectionMapsUK/status/1370805082615386116?s=20

I’m amazed anyone who isn’t a member says “Reform Party” unprompted.

MattW

YBarddCwsc said:

kle4 said:

Stocky said:

kle4 said:

SandyRentool said:

I see that some posters are planning on being irresponsible twats tomorrow.

Shame.

I plan on being so every day, but lose my nerve.

According to Sandy, then, you are a would-be twat. Sort of second degree ...

I actually missed what people are planning, does 14th March hold some significance?

3.14 ...... it is π day.

Pork pies. YAY.

tlg86

kle4 said:

tlg86 said:

kle4 said:

Stocky said:

kle4 said:

SandyRentool said:

I see that some posters are planning on being irresponsible twats tomorrow.

Shame.

I plan on being so every day, but lose my nerve.

According to Sandy, then, you are a would-be twat. Sort of second degree ...

I actually missed what people are planning, does 14th March hold some significance?

It's Mothering Sunday (not Mother's Day).

Never heard of it (as distinct from Mother's Day). My late mother must have either been disappointed in me, or had no interest in it to teach me it existed.

It's religious:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mothering_Sunday

My mum has given me special dispensation to not go hunting for a card that says "On Mothering Sunday" due to COVID.

Mind you, my mum never goes to church so she got "no religion" on the Census form.

Floater

RobD said:

HYUFD said:

https://twitter.com/ElectionMapsUK/status/1370805082615386116?s=20

LD surge klaxon.

Labour clearly not surging

Daveyboy1961

Back on Topic,

I've often despaired about the Criminal Justice system. The police as far as I can tell, don't really "investigate" all aspects of an event. They rely on forensics to get suspicious about someone and then spend massive amounts af money and time looking for corroborative evidence to suit their suspicions. They ignore any counter evidence that's found and usually don't tell anyone else about it. They then hand it over to the CPS who decide whether to prosecute on percentage chances of whether a conviction can be won, not about whether they think the accused is really guilty or not. It seems 2 organisations are paid vast sums of money to convict, whereas the accused has to rely on unfunded defence counsels. costing the accused all he has. It is hardly a balanced system.

I remember the rape trial that was overturned when it was found that the police had hidden the contents of a phone from the defence. The CPS didn't care about any other previous cases which had already been convicted. They had their +50% chances and the phones had been lost by then.

Philip_Thompson

YBarddCwsc said:

kle4 said:

Stocky said:

kle4 said:

SandyRentool said:

I see that some posters are planning on being irresponsible twats tomorrow.

Shame.

I plan on being so every day, but lose my nerve.

According to Sandy, then, you are a would-be twat. Sort of second degree ...

I actually missed what people are planning, does 14th March hold some significance?

3.14 ...... it is π day.

Maybe in America.

BluestBlue

HYUFD said:

https://twitter.com/ElectionMapsUK/status/1370805082615386116?s=20

Ah, the sound of the Great British Public resolutely refusing to give a tinker's cuss about Boris' wallpaper...

Black_Rook

BluestBlue said:

HYUFD said:

https://twitter.com/ElectionMapsUK/status/1370805082615386116?s=20

Ah, the sound of the Great British Public resolutely refusing to give a tinker's cuss about Boris' wallpaper...

What's all this wallpaper business anyway?

MaxPB

HYUFD said:

https://twitter.com/ElectionMapsUK/status/1370805082615386116?s=20

The big YouGov lead definitely looking prescient, rather than an outlier.

Mortimer

Black_Rook said:

tlg86 said:

First.

I have to say, I think I'm with @contrarian this evening. Whilst I agree with the measures taken - and, indeed, I wish we'd been locked down since October - the reality is that this is pretty much over. Sure, the government isn't allowing commercial activities to return for another month, but you can ask only so much of people.

We're going to my sister's for Sunday lunch tomorrow. Whereas I was really worried about Christmas, and I was angry at the government for not cancelling it sooner, we're now in a completely different world. My parents had their first doses six weeks ago. They want to see the grandchildren.

I'm going to be sticking to my current routines until I've had the jab, but mostly because I've dodged the bullet for a year now, I'm in my mid-40s and feel at non-negligible risk of getting quite ill with this thing, I'm hoping that it may not be very long now until I get my first jab, and I've no wish to fall at the final fence.

All that having been said, I can understand why the calculus would be different for other people. I expect that Mothers' Day will be a cause for widespread disobedience of the rules.

I'm going for a walk with Mum and Dad. My other half is doing the same with hers.

Happy to be called selfish by the judgy curtain twitcher types. Parents have all been jabbed (24 days and counting) and are very much looking forward to the visits. The boost to all our well being is worth it.

Mortimer

RobD said:

HYUFD said:

https://twitter.com/ElectionMapsUK/status/1370805082615386116?s=20

LD surge klaxon.

Joking apart, thats a fab poll for the Tories. LDS on 10 and Lab on 32 would be my ideal.

MattW

Thank you for the piece, Ms C.

Offtopic:

Sad news about Murray Walker.

The commentary I would like to listen to again is part 2 of the Pinchcliffe Grand Prix - UK Edition.

Anabobazina

SandyRentool said:

I see that some posters are planning on being irresponsible twats tomorrow.

Shame.

I’m having lunch with my household family.

But I think the irony of you calling others twats after writing a post like that is lost on you.

Shame.

stodge

Big_G_NorthWales said:

And for clarification I was in need of paracetamol having had a painful tooth extraction and used my home supply.

I was in considerable pain and Asda has the chemist near the entry door.

I socially distanced all the time, there was nobody at the counter waiting, I paid the chemist and left

I was not joining the crowd for shopping as it was a medical emergency

As I'm not an Asda shopper - I mean, I live in East Ham, I can only report my experiences at Tesco's, Sainsbury's and the non-existent Fortnum & Mason's in the Barking Road.

Tesco's have a traffic light which most people don't see but the staff are very keen on face coverings - Sainsbury's occupies a strict crowd control regime and sometimes I've had to stay outside while Mrs Stodge has ventured in (and vice versa when it's anything heavy).

Pulpstar

Won't be seeing my Mum, but hope the card arrived today !

MattW

JohnLilburne said:

Anabobazina said:

I thought Contrarian’s comments on the earlier thread were characteristically intemperate and blunt. He will probably soften them later.

However, Big G’s original post about his shopping trip brought to mind the archetypal guy who criticises the traffic ahead for holding him up on the M6. You aren’t looking at the traffic, mate, you are the traffic.

Supermarkets on Saturday are hell. I normally avoid them, even before COVID, but of course BigG needed painkillers.

Our big Aldi is deserted at 9pm.

Mortimer

MattW said:

JohnLilburne said:

Anabobazina said:

I thought Contrarian’s comments on the earlier thread were characteristically intemperate and blunt. He will probably soften them later.

However, Big G’s original post about his shopping trip brought to mind the archetypal guy who criticises the traffic ahead for holding him up on the M6. You aren’t looking at the traffic, mate, you are the traffic.

Supermarkets on Saturday are hell. I normally avoid them, even before COVID, but of course BigG needed painkillers.

Our big Aldi is deserted at 9pm.

Round here, supermarkets are quieter on the weekend than the weekdays.

9am weekdays are the worst. The older generation doing their daily shop!

ydoethur

Black_Rook said:

BluestBlue said:

HYUFD said:

https://twitter.com/ElectionMapsUK/status/1370805082615386116?s=20

Ah, the sound of the Great British Public resolutely refusing to give a tinker's cuss about Boris' wallpaper...

What's all this wallpaper business anyway?

Is it trying to paper over the innumerable cracks in his administration?

GarethoftheVale2

HYUFD said:

https://twitter.com/ElectionMapsUK/status/1370805082615386116?s=20

I know there are some extenuating circumstances but after almost a year in charge, Starmer is a whole 1% above Corbyn. Does this mean he is under threat? I would say not at the moment but he needs to be ruthless after the May elections and kick most of the shadow cabinet to the curb.

Floater

https://twitter.com/MacaesBruno/status/1370812131906584578

ydoethur

GarethoftheVale2 said:

HYUFD said:

https://twitter.com/ElectionMapsUK/status/1370805082615386116?s=20

I know there are some extenuating circumstances but after almost a year in charge, Starmer is a whole 1% above Corbyn. Does this mean he is under threat? I would say not at the moment but he needs to be ruthless after the May elections and kick most of the shadow cabinet to the curb.

Corbyn wasn’t under threat when five sixths of his party voted against him in a confidence motion and he was exposed for having repeatedly spun his story on train travel and lied about his support for Islamic terrorism.

The last Labour leader to have been toppled by main force was George Lansbury in 1935. And some failed or superannuated leaders in the meanwhile clung on when most wanted them out - Attlee, Wilson, Callaghan, Brown...

I don’t think the one wing which might be a threat have the votes to force a challenge - certainly they have no candidate.

For good or ill Labour are stuck with Starmer unless he quits. And I don’t think he will.

The question is, whether and how he can improve his personal ratings.

Pagan2

Floater said:

https://twitter.com/MacaesBruno/status/1370812131906584578

They could always use some of those stockpiled azn vaccines

BluestBlue

Oh, Keith:

https://twitter.com/Survation/status/1370804687222538242

Gallowgate

To be honest, I go to Tesco with my girlfriend because frankly there's f*ck all else to do, so shoot me. 🤷‍♂️

Mortimer

Stocky said:

tlg86 said:

First.

I have to say, I think I'm with @contrarian this evening. Whilst I agree with the measures taken - and, indeed, I wish we'd been locked down since October - the reality is that this is pretty much over. Sure, the government isn't allowing commercial activities to return for another month, but you can ask only so much of people.

We're going to my sister's for Sunday lunch tomorrow. Whereas I was really worried about Christmas, and I was angry at the government for not cancelling it sooner, we're now in a completely different world. My parents had their first doses six weeks ago. They want to see the grandchildren.

Yet a dear family friend (who has had her jab) when visiting my mum (who has also had a jab) in her nursing home (where all the carers have had jabs) has to put up with a fixed floor-to-ceiling perspex screen AND they both have to wear masks.

I had a conversation yesterday with a business colleague who asked what precautions he thought we ought to take for an event in September.

There is a degree of Stockholm syndrome setting in; a good % of the population seem to enjoy the restrictions, the rules, and the doomongering. Odd.

turbotubbs

tlg86 said:

Anabobazina said:

RobD said:

Anabobazina said:

RobD said:

Anabobazina said:

I thought Contrarian’s comments on the earlier thread were characteristically intemperate and blunt. He will probably soften them later.

However, Big G’s original post about his shopping trip brought to mind the archetypal guy who criticises the traffic ahead for holding him up on the M6. You aren’t looking at the traffic, mate, you are the traffic.

I'm not sure I see the relevance. He's done/doing his part, he was complaining that others aren't.

“I went shopping and the shop was busy.”

So? People are allowed to go shopping. Had he been ignoring social distancing himself you might have a point.

He’s allowed to go shopping, sure. We all are. Yet social distancing isn’t possible in supermarkets on Saturdays, in my experience.

I've seen couples going shopping who really don't need to be going together, but those with kids often have little choice but to take them.

And the idea that we were going to be made to queue up outside in the winter was always a non-starter.

We have to at our Waitrose. I did this morning, in shorts (my choice - no one mandates the shorts...)

ydoethur

Gallowgate said:

To be honest, I go to Tesco with my girlfriend because frankly there's f*ck all else to do, so shoot me. 🤷‍♂️

Tesco?

As a traitor to the North by failing to shop at Morrison’s you are hereby sentenced to be shop...

Edit - that was an autocorrect but I like it so much I’m leaving it.

Mortimer

turbotubbs said:

tlg86 said:

Anabobazina said:

RobD said:

Anabobazina said:

RobD said:

Anabobazina said:

I thought Contrarian’s comments on the earlier thread were characteristically intemperate and blunt. He will probably soften them later.

However, Big G’s original post about his shopping trip brought to mind the archetypal guy who criticises the traffic ahead for holding him up on the M6. You aren’t looking at the traffic, mate, you are the traffic.

I'm not sure I see the relevance. He's done/doing his part, he was complaining that others aren't.

“I went shopping and the shop was busy.”

So? People are allowed to go shopping. Had he been ignoring social distancing himself you might have a point.

He’s allowed to go shopping, sure. We all are. Yet social distancing isn’t possible in supermarkets on Saturdays, in my experience.

I've seen couples going shopping who really don't need to be going together, but those with kids often have little choice but to take them.

And the idea that we were going to be made to queue up outside in the winter was always a non-starter.

We have to at our Waitrose. I did this morning, in shorts (my choice - no one mandates the shorts...)

'Excuse me sir, those legs are just too covered up for this establishment....'

Razedabode

I see a tussle has broken out at the Sarah Everand memorial.

The met is in serious trouble, isn’t it?