Not sure where the other deaths were (care homes?)
Looks like France is about 3-4 weeks from peak? It won't be as bad as ours, because they do have vaccines (if not enough), but it will be a rough few weeks for them
The problem is that they haven't got close to vaccinating the vulnerable groups.
Really? Who the hell have they been vaxxing then?!
They've used the vast majority of their AZ on younger people.
Idiotique!
I was saying this a little while back - the way the cases was creeping up reminded me of the UK just before our latest wave.
I have a very nasty feeling that we are about to see what would have happened here without the vaccinations coming in - the hardest lockdowns barely hold the new variants.
Trouble is, if it gets that bad, I can see them seizing all our vials, including Pfizer, in blind panic
Who's doing the seizing though? The French would have to invade Belgium first.
I can see it happening with armed police, forcing the Belgians to cough up. Yes
Picture it: 2500 French people are dying every day, the health system is collapsing (and maybe similar things are happening in Belgium itself, Germany, Italy, Poland)
At that point the choice is: save French lives or save British lives, we can't do both. Sending the vaccines to the UK will be morally impossible for the EU, no matter how strong the UK's "legal right" to the jabs, no matter how superior our contract.
It will cause international uproar, it will start a vaccine war, but in the face of mass death, I think the French would do it. And the Belgians might simply agree
I do hope not. Every time the French invade Belgium they burn my cousin’s castle to the ground. And we’ve just had it refurbished!
I think we've all been in that situation in fairness.
My ex, a year and a half younger than me (I’m 47) and her husband (the bloke she dumped me for) both just informed the world via FB that they got vaccinated. Gits.
Find a woman at least ten years younger than your ex, and bed her. Then make sure your ex knows, preferably with a photo of the new one
Drives them absolutely MAD.
The hatred many women feel for considerably younger women is quite startling
The flaw in that plan might be my wife who is not 10 year younger. Actually I picked up my now spouse on the rebound from now jabbed ex and it is universally recognised by those in the know that I managed a significant upgrade. Nice idea though.
Good for you! Keep my plan in reserve, just in case
Wouldn’t it be almost illegal and certainly a bit gross in your case?
Apropos of nothing, did you ever find out if SeanT’s new squeeze actually was your cousin?
Fortunately it wasn’t. I wouldn’t wish that even on him!
Not sure where the other deaths were (care homes?)
Looks like France is about 3-4 weeks from peak? It won't be as bad as ours, because they do have vaccines (if not enough), but it will be a rough few weeks for them
The problem is that they haven't got close to vaccinating the vulnerable groups.
Really? Who the hell have they been vaxxing then?!
They've used the vast majority of their AZ on younger people.
Idiotique!
I was saying this a little while back - the way the cases was creeping up reminded me of the UK just before our latest wave.
I have a very nasty feeling that we are about to see what would have happened here without the vaccinations coming in - the hardest lockdowns barely hold the new variants.
Trouble is, if it gets that bad, I can see them seizing all our vials, including Pfizer, in blind panic
Who's doing the seizing though? The French would have to invade Belgium first.
I can see it happening with armed police, forcing the Belgians to cough up. Yes
Picture it: 2500 French people are dying every day, the health system is collapsing (and maybe similar things are happening in Belgium itself, Germany, Italy, Poland)
At that point the choice is: save French lives or save British lives, we can't do both. Sending the vaccines to the UK will be morally impossible for the EU, no matter how strong the UK's "legal right" to the jabs, no matter how superior our contract.
It will cause international uproar, it will start a vaccine war, but in the face of mass death, I think the French would do it. And the Belgians might simply agree
I do hope not. Every time the French invade Belgium they burn my cousin’s castle to the ground. And we’ve just had it refurbished!
Either you feel very strongly about this, or the second one should have had ‘German’ substituted for ‘French’ to be even handed.
I believe the French have burnt it down 14 times? The Germans never...
Not sure where the other deaths were (care homes?)
Looks like France is about 3-4 weeks from peak? It won't be as bad as ours, because they do have vaccines (if not enough), but it will be a rough few weeks for them
The problem is that they haven't got close to vaccinating the vulnerable groups.
Really? Who the hell have they been vaxxing then?!
They've used the vast majority of their AZ on younger people.
Idiotique!
I was saying this a little while back - the way the cases was creeping up reminded me of the UK just before our latest wave.
I have a very nasty feeling that we are about to see what would have happened here without the vaccinations coming in - the hardest lockdowns barely hold the new variants.
Trouble is, if it gets that bad, I can see them seizing all our vials, including Pfizer, in blind panic
Who's doing the seizing though? The French would have to invade Belgium first.
I can see it happening with armed police, forcing the Belgians to cough up. Yes
Picture it: 2500 French people are dying every day, the health system is collapsing (and maybe similar things are happening in Belgium itself, Germany, Italy, Poland)
At that point the choice is: save French lives or save British lives, we can't do both. Sending the vaccines to the UK will be morally impossible for the EU, no matter how strong the UK's "legal right" to the jabs, no matter how superior our contract.
It will cause international uproar, it will start a vaccine war, but in the face of mass death, I think the French would do it. And the Belgians might simply agree
I do hope not. Every time the French invade Belgium they burn my cousin’s castle to the ground. And we’ve just had it refurbished!
I think we've all been in that situation in fairness.
There’s no need to rub our faces in your wealth, sir. Some of us have mortgages.
Not sure where the other deaths were (care homes?)
Looks like France is about 3-4 weeks from peak? It won't be as bad as ours, because they do have vaccines (if not enough), but it will be a rough few weeks for them
The problem is that they haven't got close to vaccinating the vulnerable groups.
Really? Who the hell have they been vaxxing then?!
They've used the vast majority of their AZ on younger people.
Idiotique!
I was saying this a little while back - the way the cases was creeping up reminded me of the UK just before our latest wave.
I have a very nasty feeling that we are about to see what would have happened here without the vaccinations coming in - the hardest lockdowns barely hold the new variants.
Trouble is, if it gets that bad, I can see them seizing all our vials, including Pfizer, in blind panic
Who's doing the seizing though? The French would have to invade Belgium first.
I can see it happening with armed police, forcing the Belgians to cough up. Yes
Picture it: 2500 French people are dying every day, the health system is collapsing (and maybe similar things are happening in Belgium itself, Germany, Italy, Poland)
At that point the choice is: save French lives or save British lives, we can't do both. Sending the vaccines to the UK will be morally impossible for the EU, no matter how strong the UK's "legal right" to the jabs, no matter how superior our contract.
It will cause international uproar, it will start a vaccine war, but in the face of mass death, I think the French would do it. And the Belgians might simply agree
I do hope not. Every time the French invade Belgium they burn my cousin’s castle to the ground. And we’ve just had it refurbished!
Not sure where the other deaths were (care homes?)
Looks like France is about 3-4 weeks from peak? It won't be as bad as ours, because they do have vaccines (if not enough), but it will be a rough few weeks for them
The problem is that they haven't got close to vaccinating the vulnerable groups.
Really? Who the hell have they been vaxxing then?!
They've used the vast majority of their AZ on younger people.
Idiotique!
I was saying this a little while back - the way the cases was creeping up reminded me of the UK just before our latest wave.
I have a very nasty feeling that we are about to see what would have happened here without the vaccinations coming in - the hardest lockdowns barely hold the new variants.
Trouble is, if it gets that bad, I can see them seizing all our vials, including Pfizer, in blind panic
If it gets that bad, they still have to get arms jabbed. Perhaps it would act as a persuader.
But if it gets that bad and their people want the jabs, if we're still doing all right I doubt if we'd grudge them.
But we desperately need those Pfizer jabs, I believe, because they are the second doses for many Brits.
Without them their immunity wanes and we have to restart the whole damn vax programme
I fear that this is what the French minister is referring to when he says we won't get our second doses. We won't get them, because the French/EU will steal them
Not sure where the other deaths were (care homes?)
Looks like France is about 3-4 weeks from peak? It won't be as bad as ours, because they do have vaccines (if not enough), but it will be a rough few weeks for them
The problem is that they haven't got close to vaccinating the vulnerable groups.
Really? Who the hell have they been vaxxing then?!
They've used the vast majority of their AZ on younger people.
Idiotique!
I was saying this a little while back - the way the cases was creeping up reminded me of the UK just before our latest wave.
I have a very nasty feeling that we are about to see what would have happened here without the vaccinations coming in - the hardest lockdowns barely hold the new variants.
Trouble is, if it gets that bad, I can see them seizing all our vials, including Pfizer, in blind panic
Who's doing the seizing though? The French would have to invade Belgium first.
I can see it happening with armed police, forcing the Belgians to cough up. Yes
Picture it: 2500 French people are dying every day, the health system is collapsing (and maybe similar things are happening in Belgium itself, Germany, Italy, Poland)
At that point the choice is: save French lives or save British lives, we can't do both. Sending the vaccines to the UK will be morally impossible for the EU, no matter how strong the UK's "legal right" to the jabs, no matter how superior our contract.
It will cause international uproar, it will start a vaccine war, but in the face of mass death, I think the French would do it. And the Belgians might simply agree
I do hope not. Every time the French invade Belgium they burn my cousin’s castle to the ground. And we’ve just had it refurbished!
I think we've all been in that situation in fairness.
Not sure where the other deaths were (care homes?)
Looks like France is about 3-4 weeks from peak? It won't be as bad as ours, because they do have vaccines (if not enough), but it will be a rough few weeks for them
The problem is that they haven't got close to vaccinating the vulnerable groups.
Really? Who the hell have they been vaxxing then?!
They've used the vast majority of their AZ on younger people.
Idiotique!
I was saying this a little while back - the way the cases was creeping up reminded me of the UK just before our latest wave.
I have a very nasty feeling that we are about to see what would have happened here without the vaccinations coming in - the hardest lockdowns barely hold the new variants.
Trouble is, if it gets that bad, I can see them seizing all our vials, including Pfizer, in blind panic
Who's doing the seizing though? The French would have to invade Belgium first.
I can see it happening with armed police, forcing the Belgians to cough up. Yes
Picture it: 2500 French people are dying every day, the health system is collapsing (and maybe similar things are happening in Belgium itself, Germany, Italy, Poland)
At that point the choice is: save French lives or save British lives, we can't do both. Sending the vaccines to the UK will be morally impossible for the EU, no matter how strong the UK's "legal right" to the jabs, no matter how superior our contract.
It will cause international uproar, it will start a vaccine war, but in the face of mass death, I think the French would do it. And the Belgians might simply agree
I do hope not. Every time the French invade Belgium they burn my cousin’s castle to the ground. And we’ve just had it refurbished!
I think we've all been in that situation in fairness.
Do bouncy castles count here?
I was thinking sand castles...those Frogs can be beastly.
Not sure where the other deaths were (care homes?)
Looks like France is about 3-4 weeks from peak? It won't be as bad as ours, because they do have vaccines (if not enough), but it will be a rough few weeks for them
The problem is that they haven't got close to vaccinating the vulnerable groups.
Really? Who the hell have they been vaxxing then?!
They've used the vast majority of their AZ on younger people.
Idiotique!
I was saying this a little while back - the way the cases was creeping up reminded me of the UK just before our latest wave.
I have a very nasty feeling that we are about to see what would have happened here without the vaccinations coming in - the hardest lockdowns barely hold the new variants.
Trouble is, if it gets that bad, I can see them seizing all our vials, including Pfizer, in blind panic
Who's doing the seizing though? The French would have to invade Belgium first.
I can see it happening with armed police, forcing the Belgians to cough up. Yes
Picture it: 2500 French people are dying every day, the health system is collapsing (and maybe similar things are happening in Belgium itself, Germany, Italy, Poland)
At that point the choice is: save French lives or save British lives, we can't do both. Sending the vaccines to the UK will be morally impossible for the EU, no matter how strong the UK's "legal right" to the jabs, no matter how superior our contract.
It will cause international uproar, it will start a vaccine war, but in the face of mass death, I think the French would do it. And the Belgians might simply agree
I do hope not. Every time the French invade Belgium they burn my cousin’s castle to the ground. And we’ve just had it refurbished!
I think we've all been in that situation in fairness.
There’s no need to rub our faces in your wealth, sir. Some of us have mortgages.
My definition of castle may be somewhat more...modest, that the good Charles'. And for Belgium I may need to substitute for Burnham-on-Sea.
Not sure where the other deaths were (care homes?)
Looks like France is about 3-4 weeks from peak? It won't be as bad as ours, because they do have vaccines (if not enough), but it will be a rough few weeks for them
The problem is that they haven't got close to vaccinating the vulnerable groups.
Really? Who the hell have they been vaxxing then?!
They've used the vast majority of their AZ on younger people.
Idiotique!
I was saying this a little while back - the way the cases was creeping up reminded me of the UK just before our latest wave.
I have a very nasty feeling that we are about to see what would have happened here without the vaccinations coming in - the hardest lockdowns barely hold the new variants.
Trouble is, if it gets that bad, I can see them seizing all our vials, including Pfizer, in blind panic
Who's doing the seizing though? The French would have to invade Belgium first.
I can see it happening with armed police, forcing the Belgians to cough up. Yes
Picture it: 2500 French people are dying every day, the health system is collapsing (and maybe similar things are happening in Belgium itself, Germany, Italy, Poland)
At that point the choice is: save French lives or save British lives, we can't do both. Sending the vaccines to the UK will be morally impossible for the EU, no matter how strong the UK's "legal right" to the jabs, no matter how superior our contract.
It will cause international uproar, it will start a vaccine war, but in the face of mass death, I think the French would do it. And the Belgians might simply agree
I do hope not. Every time the French invade Belgium they burn my cousin’s castle to the ground. And we’ve just had it refurbished!
I think we've all been in that situation in fairness.
There’s no need to rub our faces in your wealth, sir. Some of us have mortgages.
My definition of castle may be somewhat more...modest, that the good Charles'. And for Belgium I may need to substitute for Burnham-on-Sea.
Scotland really messed up this year. From the little I've seen, they look like the best team in the Six Nations.
Yep. Lost by a point to Wales with 14 men for most of the second half. By 3 to Ireland in the last few minutes. They were super close to coming into this game for a Grand Slam.
Gibraltar, which is perhaps the first country in the world to vaccinate all adults, had 1 new case today
1
Why can't we all go on holidays there?
It's a British territory, so it should have the same rules as the channel isles quite frankly.
I assume that you're joking.
It's a market town with a small mountain attached. Somewhat lacking in space for about sixteen million fat Brits to flop about on beaches and get pissed.
Not sure where the other deaths were (care homes?)
Looks like France is about 3-4 weeks from peak? It won't be as bad as ours, because they do have vaccines (if not enough), but it will be a rough few weeks for them
The problem is that they haven't got close to vaccinating the vulnerable groups.
Really? Who the hell have they been vaxxing then?!
They've used the vast majority of their AZ on younger people.
Idiotique!
I was saying this a little while back - the way the cases was creeping up reminded me of the UK just before our latest wave.
I have a very nasty feeling that we are about to see what would have happened here without the vaccinations coming in - the hardest lockdowns barely hold the new variants.
Trouble is, if it gets that bad, I can see them seizing all our vials, including Pfizer, in blind panic
Who's doing the seizing though? The French would have to invade Belgium first.
I can see it happening with armed police, forcing the Belgians to cough up. Yes
Picture it: 2500 French people are dying every day, the health system is collapsing (and maybe similar things are happening in Belgium itself, Germany, Italy, Poland)
At that point the choice is: save French lives or save British lives, we can't do both. Sending the vaccines to the UK will be morally impossible for the EU, no matter how strong the UK's "legal right" to the jabs, no matter how superior our contract.
It will cause international uproar, it will start a vaccine war, but in the face of mass death, I think the French would do it. And the Belgians might simply agree
I do hope not. Every time the French invade Belgium they burn my cousin’s castle to the ground. And we’ve just had it refurbished!
Either you feel very strongly about this, or the second one should have had ‘German’ substituted for ‘French’ to be even handed.
I believe the French have burnt it down 14 times? The Germans never...
So, let's get this straight. Your cousin's castle is repeatedly besieged by a garlic eating mob with torches.
Gibraltar, which is perhaps the first country in the world to vaccinate all adults, had 1 new case today
1
Why can't we all go on holidays there?
It's a British territory, so it should have the same rules as the channel isles quite frankly.
I assume that you're joking.
It's a market town with a small mountain attached. Somewhat lacking in space for about sixteen million fat Brits to flop about on beaches and get pissed.
Nah. It was a popular holiday destination last summer. We even had a holiday booked there for November, which we had to can.
Sure, not *everyone* can go there but it can cope with a few thousand guests each week.
I know this isn't particularly exciting to say but provided the weather is good holidays within the British isles can be delightful.
I'm nearly 40 and *still* the best memories I have of family holidays are from Cornwall.
It was like a paradise to me. In some ways, it still is.
Feeling it brother xD
I had a wonderful family holiday, doing a lazy road trip around Essex, Suffolk. Cambs, last year. The food was consistently excellent, the hotels ancient and lovely, the countryside often stunning - rivers, meadows, hills - and we ended in the sublime grandeur of Cambridge, one of the loveliest small cities in the world
We did have cracking weather, however. It really helps
I know this isn't particularly exciting to say but provided the weather is good holidays within the British isles can be delightful.
I'm nearly 40 and *still* the best memories I have of family holidays are from Cornwall.
It was like a paradise to me. In some ways, it still is.
Feeling it brother xD
I had a wonderful family holiday, doing a lazy road trip around Essex, Suffolk. Cambs, last year. The food was consistently excellent, the hotels ancient and lovely, the countryside often stunning - rivers, meadows, hills - and we ended in the sublime grandeur of Cambridge, one of the loveliest small cities in the world
We did have cracking weather, however. It really helps
Yeah, here's the thing, I've travelled a fair bit - not as much as you, to be fair, but a good amount - and I've still not found anywhere else I'd rather live.
Sure, our weather is shite much of the time but we get a green and verdant landscape in return and, boy oh boy, was Jerusalem build'ed here: it's beautiful, sublime, safe, with gorgeous architecture, great food and delicious beer and with so much history and heritage. It's cosy. It's embracing. It's home.
Gibraltar, which is perhaps the first country in the world to vaccinate all adults, had 1 new case today
1
Why can't we all go on holidays there?
It's a British territory, so it should have the same rules as the channel isles quite frankly.
I assume that you're joking.
It's a market town with a small mountain attached. Somewhat lacking in space for about sixteen million fat Brits to flop about on beaches and get pissed.
I lived there for 8 months... wouldn’t fancy it for a holiday
Hey, Casino, don't worry! Me and my squad of ultimate Wokeists will protect you! Check it out! Independently targeting particle beam phalanx. Vwap! Fry half a Parliamentary constituency with this puppy! We got tactical smart missiles, phase-plasma pulse rifles, RPGs, we got sonic electronic statue breakers! We got nukes, we got knives, sharp sticks, leaflets with dodgy bar charts...
Hey, Casino, don't worry! Me and my squad of ultimate Wokeists will protect you! Check it out! Independently targeting particle beam phalanx. Vwap! Fry half a Parliamentary constituency with this puppy! We got tactical smart missiles, phase-plasma pulse rifles, RPGs, we got sonic electronic statue breakers! We got nukes, we got knives, sharp sticks, leaflets with dodgy bar charts...
Yeah, here's the thing, I've travelled a fair bit - not as much as you, to be fair, but a good amount - and I've still not found anywhere else I'd rather live.
Sure, our weather is shite much of the time but we get a green and verdant landscape in return and, boy oh boy, was Jerusalem build'ed here: it's beautiful, sublime, safe, with gorgeous architecture, great food and delicious beer and with so much history and heritage. It's cosy. It's embracing. It's home.
Call me a little Englander but what's patriotism?
For me, THAT is patriotism.
There's nothing wrong with loving your country but there has also to be a recognition other countries have beauty, architecture, food, beer, history and heritage. Not the same as ours but nonetheless it identifies them.
I have had the great good fortune to have seen many beautiful places in many countries - I've seen beautiful places both natural and man-made and eaten fantastic food. I'm also conscious there is so much more to experience and a sadness I won't get to it all.
I know this isn't particularly exciting to say but provided the weather is good holidays within the British isles can be delightful.
I'm nearly 40 and *still* the best memories I have of family holidays are from Cornwall.
It was like a paradise to me. In some ways, it still is.
Feeling it brother xD
I had a wonderful family holiday, doing a lazy road trip around Essex, Suffolk. Cambs, last year. The food was consistently excellent, the hotels ancient and lovely, the countryside often stunning - rivers, meadows, hills - and we ended in the sublime grandeur of Cambridge, one of the loveliest small cities in the world
We did have cracking weather, however. It really helps
Yeah, here's the thing, I've travelled a fair bit - not as much as you, to be fair, but a good amount - and I've still not found anywhere else I'd rather live.
Sure, our weather is shite much of the time but we get a green and verdant landscape in return and, boy oh boy, was Jerusalem build'ed here: it's beautiful, sublime, safe, with gorgeous architecture, great food and delicious beer and with so much history and heritage. It's cosy. It's embracing. It's home.
Call me a little Englander but what's patriotism?
For me, THAT is patriotism.
I have not travelled much, but for me Sarlat and surrounding area beats anywhere else I have been.
I know this isn't particularly exciting to say but provided the weather is good holidays within the British isles can be delightful.
I'm nearly 40 and *still* the best memories I have of family holidays are from Cornwall.
It was like a paradise to me. In some ways, it still is.
Feeling it brother xD
I had a wonderful family holiday, doing a lazy road trip around Essex, Suffolk. Cambs, last year. The food was consistently excellent, the hotels ancient and lovely, the countryside often stunning - rivers, meadows, hills - and we ended in the sublime grandeur of Cambridge, one of the loveliest small cities in the world
We did have cracking weather, however. It really helps
Yeah, here's the thing, I've travelled a fair bit - not as much as you, to be fair, but a good amount - and I've still not found anywhere else I'd rather live.
Sure, our weather is shite much of the time but we get a green and verdant landscape in return and, boy oh boy, was Jerusalem build'ed here: it's beautiful, sublime, safe, with gorgeous architecture, great food and delicious beer and with so much history and heritage. It's cosy. It's embracing. It's home.
Call me a little Englander but what's patriotism?
For me, THAT is patriotism.
Britain is beautiful, but I mean Britain. One reason among many I want Scotland to stay is that it provides us with proper wilderness, great mountains, the marvellous melancholy beauty of the Hebrides, such an incredible contrast with the softer loveliness of the south: Dorset and Suffolk, Herefordshire and Devon, Hampshire and Sussex.
Plus Edinburgh and Glasgow are both hugely impressive in different ways, a good foil to the sometimes overbearing world city of London.
Taken in the round the UK is a splendid place to live, despite its many flaws and some pig ugly towns.
I couldn't live here year in year out however. You have to get off the island. Especially in winter.
If I were a nasty person, I would be asking our scientists to develop a Covid strain that only affected arrogant cheese eating surrender monkeys. Fortunately, I’m not a nasty person. However, if I’m denied my Pfizer second jag next month ......
Unless Salmond's Alba party experiences a Brexit Party surge in polls , there will be no obvious justification for including him in any Debates held before 6th May.
They don't have any choice until we know how effective the vaccines are against the SA and other variants.
I think the main problem is with bulk importation of the variants. We already know that the vaccines are a bit less effective against the currently known variants, but they work nonetheless. There are also concerns about a new variant emerging which can escape the vaccines altogether but that seems much less likely.
Anyway, different rumours going round about holidays. Some suggest Hancock, Patel and other sceptical ministers are pressing to have them called off completely. Others to the effect that holidays abroad may still be possible, but only to destinations that have the virus crushed as thoroughly as we do - great if you're looking forward to visiting any of the British overseas territories, Israel, and perhaps one or two others (Dubai? The Seychelles?) But unlikely to help much with the European mass market destinations any time soon.
Yeah, here's the thing, I've travelled a fair bit - not as much as you, to be fair, but a good amount - and I've still not found anywhere else I'd rather live.
Sure, our weather is shite much of the time but we get a green and verdant landscape in return and, boy oh boy, was Jerusalem build'ed here: it's beautiful, sublime, safe, with gorgeous architecture, great food and delicious beer and with so much history and heritage. It's cosy. It's embracing. It's home.
Call me a little Englander but what's patriotism?
For me, THAT is patriotism.
There's nothing wrong with loving your country but there has also to be a recognition other countries have beauty, architecture, food, beer, history and heritage. Not the same as ours but nonetheless it identifies them.
I have had the great good fortune to have seen many beautiful places in many countries - I've seen beautiful places both natural and man-made and eaten fantastic food. I'm also conscious there is so much more to experience and a sadness I won't get to it all.
I've seen most of them, to be honest. And yes almost every country offers something, Except Denmark
Gibraltar, which is perhaps the first country in the world to vaccinate all adults, had 1 new case today
1
Why can't we all go on holidays there?
It's a British territory, so it should have the same rules as the channel isles quite frankly.
I assume that you're joking.
It's a market town with a small mountain attached. Somewhat lacking in space for about sixteen million fat Brits to flop about on beaches and get pissed.
We definitely got the wrong end of the Treaty of Amiens - we kept Gibraltar, Spain got Menorca.
I know this isn't particularly exciting to say but provided the weather is good holidays within the British isles can be delightful.
I'm nearly 40 and *still* the best memories I have of family holidays are from Cornwall.
It was like a paradise to me. In some ways, it still is.
Feeling it brother xD
I had a wonderful family holiday, doing a lazy road trip around Essex, Suffolk. Cambs, last year. The food was consistently excellent, the hotels ancient and lovely, the countryside often stunning - rivers, meadows, hills - and we ended in the sublime grandeur of Cambridge, one of the loveliest small cities in the world
We did have cracking weather, however. It really helps
Yeah, here's the thing, I've travelled a fair bit - not as much as you, to be fair, but a good amount - and I've still not found anywhere else I'd rather live.
Sure, our weather is shite much of the time but we get a green and verdant landscape in return and, boy oh boy, was Jerusalem build'ed here: it's beautiful, sublime, safe, with gorgeous architecture, great food and delicious beer and with so much history and heritage. It's cosy. It's embracing. It's home.
Call me a little Englander but what's patriotism?
For me, THAT is patriotism.
Britain is beautiful, but I mean Britain. One reason among many I want Scotland to stay is that it provides us with proper wilderness, great mountains, the marvellous melancholy beauty of the Hebrides, such an incredible contrast with the softer loveliness of the south: Dorset and Suffolk, Herefordshire and Devon, Hampshire and Sussex.
Plus Edinburgh and Glasgow are both hugely impressive in different ways, a good foil to the sometimes overbearing world city of London.
Taken in the round the UK is a splendid place to live, despite its many flaws and some pig ugly towns.
I couldn't live here year in year out however. You have to get off the island. Especially in winter.
I agree with much of that. And, yes, many of our crap towns are shite. I'm not sure how much of that is their fault - they've often had some awful planning decisions and economic calamities forced on them since the 60s - but it's true.
I can cope with November and December. It's the run up to Christmas, there are a lot of set pieces like Guy Fawkes, Rememberance Day and Advent and it's kind of exciting. It's January and February that are absolute toilet.
Why people want to make it worse with going "dry" I don't know. I try and hunker down and then ramp up once the Six Nations starts, with the ales.
I know this isn't particularly exciting to say but provided the weather is good holidays within the British isles can be delightful.
I'm nearly 40 and *still* the best memories I have of family holidays are from Cornwall.
It was like a paradise to me. In some ways, it still is.
Feeling it brother xD
I had a wonderful family holiday, doing a lazy road trip around Essex, Suffolk. Cambs, last year. The food was consistently excellent, the hotels ancient and lovely, the countryside often stunning - rivers, meadows, hills - and we ended in the sublime grandeur of Cambridge, one of the loveliest small cities in the world
We did have cracking weather, however. It really helps
Yeah, here's the thing, I've travelled a fair bit - not as much as you, to be fair, but a good amount - and I've still not found anywhere else I'd rather live.
Sure, our weather is shite much of the time but we get a green and verdant landscape in return and, boy oh boy, was Jerusalem build'ed here: it's beautiful, sublime, safe, with gorgeous architecture, great food and delicious beer and with so much history and heritage. It's cosy. It's embracing. It's home.
Call me a little Englander but what's patriotism?
For me, THAT is patriotism.
Britain is beautiful, but I mean Britain. One reason among many I want Scotland to stay is that it provides us with proper wilderness, great mountains, the marvellous melancholy beauty of the Hebrides, such an incredible contrast with the softer loveliness of the south: Dorset and Suffolk, Herefordshire and Devon, Hampshire and Sussex.
Plus Edinburgh and Glasgow are both hugely impressive in different ways, a good foil to the sometimes overbearing world city of London.
Taken in the round the UK is a splendid place to live, despite its many flaws and some pig ugly towns.
I couldn't live here year in year out however. You have to get off the island. Especially in winter.
I love Dorset. If there only was a decent road from Ayrshire for a non stressful drive there.
Not sure where the other deaths were (care homes?)
Looks like France is about 3-4 weeks from peak? It won't be as bad as ours, because they do have vaccines (if not enough), but it will be a rough few weeks for them
The problem is that they haven't got close to vaccinating the vulnerable groups.
Really? Who the hell have they been vaxxing then?!
They've used the vast majority of their AZ on younger people.
Idiotique!
I was saying this a little while back - the way the cases was creeping up reminded me of the UK just before our latest wave.
I have a very nasty feeling that we are about to see what would have happened here without the vaccinations coming in - the hardest lockdowns barely hold the new variants.
Trouble is, if it gets that bad, I can see them seizing all our vials, including Pfizer, in blind panic
Who's doing the seizing though? The French would have to invade Belgium first.
I can see it happening with armed police, forcing the Belgians to cough up. Yes
Picture it: 2500 French people are dying every day, the health system is collapsing (and maybe similar things are happening in Belgium itself, Germany, Italy, Poland)
At that point the choice is: save French lives or save British lives, we can't do both. Sending the vaccines to the UK will be morally impossible for the EU, no matter how strong the UK's "legal right" to the jabs, no matter how superior our contract.
It will cause international uproar, it will start a vaccine war, but in the face of mass death, I think the French would do it. And the Belgians might simply agree
To get to 2,500 French deaths each day would take at least two months even under worst case scenarios.
Its not going to happen.
And in two months we're going to be awash with vaccines.
Not sure where the other deaths were (care homes?)
Looks like France is about 3-4 weeks from peak? It won't be as bad as ours, because they do have vaccines (if not enough), but it will be a rough few weeks for them
The problem is that they haven't got close to vaccinating the vulnerable groups.
Really? Who the hell have they been vaxxing then?!
They've used the vast majority of their AZ on younger people.
Idiotique!
I was saying this a little while back - the way the cases was creeping up reminded me of the UK just before our latest wave.
I have a very nasty feeling that we are about to see what would have happened here without the vaccinations coming in - the hardest lockdowns barely hold the new variants.
Trouble is, if it gets that bad, I can see them seizing all our vials, including Pfizer, in blind panic
Who's doing the seizing though? The French would have to invade Belgium first.
I can see it happening with armed police, forcing the Belgians to cough up. Yes
Picture it: 2500 French people are dying every day, the health system is collapsing (and maybe similar things are happening in Belgium itself, Germany, Italy, Poland)
At that point the choice is: save French lives or save British lives, we can't do both. Sending the vaccines to the UK will be morally impossible for the EU, no matter how strong the UK's "legal right" to the jabs, no matter how superior our contract.
It will cause international uproar, it will start a vaccine war, but in the face of mass death, I think the French would do it. And the Belgians might simply agree
I do hope not. Every time the French invade Belgium they burn my cousin’s castle to the ground. And we’ve just had it refurbished!
Either you feel very strongly about this, or the second one should have had ‘German’ substituted for ‘French’ to be even handed.
I believe the French have burnt it down 14 times? The Germans never...
So, let's get this straight. Your cousin's castle is repeatedly besieged by a garlic eating mob with torches.
I can’t see how people can back the Tories at EVS in Hartlepool. Labour have always held the seat, retained it by 8% less than 18 months ago, and that was with Jez the turnoff in charge rather than Super Keir. There’s also no chance of Brexit not happening by voting Labour now, even if they don’t support it.
Yes, there maybe local factors that put off backing what seems enormous value Lab EVS, I’m not convinced, but I don’t get how people can think it’s a better than 50% chance the Tories will take it
Labour have not always held the seat. It was Tory before 1945 and fell to them again in 1959. Labour majorities earlier in the 1950s - and when gained in 1964 - were pretty small.
Gibraltar, which is perhaps the first country in the world to vaccinate all adults, had 1 new case today
1
Why can't we all go on holidays there?
It's a British territory, so it should have the same rules as the channel isles quite frankly.
I assume that you're joking.
It's a market town with a small mountain attached. Somewhat lacking in space for about sixteen million fat Brits to flop about on beaches and get pissed.
We definitely got the wrong end of the Treaty of Amiens - we kept Gibraltar, Spain got Menorca.
Gibraltar is strategic days. Still has value now and through that and the Cyprus bases we can basically lock down oversight of the Med.
I know this isn't particularly exciting to say but provided the weather is good holidays within the British isles can be delightful.
I'm nearly 40 and *still* the best memories I have of family holidays are from Cornwall.
It was like a paradise to me. In some ways, it still is.
Feeling it brother xD
I had a wonderful family holiday, doing a lazy road trip around Essex, Suffolk. Cambs, last year. The food was consistently excellent, the hotels ancient and lovely, the countryside often stunning - rivers, meadows, hills - and we ended in the sublime grandeur of Cambridge, one of the loveliest small cities in the world
We did have cracking weather, however. It really helps
Yeah, here's the thing, I've travelled a fair bit - not as much as you, to be fair, but a good amount - and I've still not found anywhere else I'd rather live.
Sure, our weather is shite much of the time but we get a green and verdant landscape in return and, boy oh boy, was Jerusalem build'ed here: it's beautiful, sublime, safe, with gorgeous architecture, great food and delicious beer and with so much history and heritage. It's cosy. It's embracing. It's home.
Call me a little Englander but what's patriotism?
For me, THAT is patriotism.
Britain is beautiful, but I mean Britain. One reason among many I want Scotland to stay is that it provides us with proper wilderness, great mountains, the marvellous melancholy beauty of the Hebrides, such an incredible contrast with the softer loveliness of the south: Dorset and Suffolk, Herefordshire and Devon, Hampshire and Sussex.
Plus Edinburgh and Glasgow are both hugely impressive in different ways, a good foil to the sometimes overbearing world city of London.
Taken in the round the UK is a splendid place to live, despite its many flaws and some pig ugly towns.
I couldn't live here year in year out however. You have to get off the island. Especially in winter.
I love Dorset. If there only was a decent road from Ayrshire for a non stressful drive there.
Dorset is ridiculously, hauntingly beautiful in places, like Tolkien's Shire
I know this isn't particularly exciting to say but provided the weather is good holidays within the British isles can be delightful.
I'm nearly 40 and *still* the best memories I have of family holidays are from Cornwall.
It was like a paradise to me. In some ways, it still is.
Yes, we did the family holiday in Cornwall in the 60s and 70s. Took us the thick end of nine hours to get there on the single carriageway roads.
Hart's Ice Cream Parlour - The Harbour, St Ives. For a 8-year old with a passion for ice cream, that was heaven.
It's MUCH easier to get there these days, particularly since they've dualled the A30s.
In the early 80s my Dad got us all up at 3am to go down there in August, and it still took 5 hours. But we got there by 8-8.30am and avoided the 20-mile tailbacks.
Such great great memories. I love Cornwall. I miss Dobwalls.
I can’t see how people can back the Tories at EVS in Hartlepool. Labour have always held the seat, retained it by 8% less than 18 months ago, and that was with Jez the turnoff in charge rather than Super Keir. There’s also no chance of Brexit not happening by voting Labour now, even if they don’t support it.
Yes, there maybe local factors that put off backing what seems enormous value Lab EVS, I’m not convinced, but I don’t get how people can think it’s a better than 50% chance the Tories will take it
Labour have not always held the seat. It was Tory before 1945 and fell to them again in 1959. Labour majorities earlier in the 1950s - and when gained in 1964 - were pretty small.
I think it was a seat set up in 1974, and has always been Labour. But yes the old seat was Tory at times so you are kind of right
Gibraltar, which is perhaps the first country in the world to vaccinate all adults, had 1 new case today
1
Why can't we all go on holidays there?
It's a British territory, so it should have the same rules as the channel isles quite frankly.
I assume that you're joking.
It's a market town with a small mountain attached. Somewhat lacking in space for about sixteen million fat Brits to flop about on beaches and get pissed.
We definitely got the wrong end of the Treaty of Amiens - we kept Gibraltar, Spain got Menorca.
24 Sep 1708 Minorca (Menorca) Island occupied by British forces, in the name of (Bourbon) King Carlos (III). Aug 1712 British take over administration. 13 Jul 1713 Formally ceded to U.K. by the Treaty of Utrecht. 1714 British colony. 28 May 1756 - 10 Feb 1763 French occupation. 5 Feb 1782 Spanish occupation. 20 Jan 1783 Restored to Spain by the Treaty of Paris. 15 Nov 1798 - 27 Mar 1802 British occupation. 27 Mar 1802 Restored to Spain by the Peace of Amiens.
Yeah, here's the thing, I've travelled a fair bit - not as much as you, to be fair, but a good amount - and I've still not found anywhere else I'd rather live.
Sure, our weather is shite much of the time but we get a green and verdant landscape in return and, boy oh boy, was Jerusalem build'ed here: it's beautiful, sublime, safe, with gorgeous architecture, great food and delicious beer and with so much history and heritage. It's cosy. It's embracing. It's home.
Call me a little Englander but what's patriotism?
For me, THAT is patriotism.
There's nothing wrong with loving your country but there has also to be a recognition other countries have beauty, architecture, food, beer, history and heritage. Not the same as ours but nonetheless it identifies them.
I have had the great good fortune to have seen many beautiful places in many countries - I've seen beautiful places both natural and man-made and eaten fantastic food. I'm also conscious there is so much more to experience and a sadness I won't get to it all.
I've seen most of them, to be honest. And yes almost every country offers something, Except Denmark
I know this isn't particularly exciting to say but provided the weather is good holidays within the British isles can be delightful.
I'm nearly 40 and *still* the best memories I have of family holidays are from Cornwall.
It was like a paradise to me. In some ways, it still is.
Feeling it brother xD
I had a wonderful family holiday, doing a lazy road trip around Essex, Suffolk. Cambs, last year. The food was consistently excellent, the hotels ancient and lovely, the countryside often stunning - rivers, meadows, hills - and we ended in the sublime grandeur of Cambridge, one of the loveliest small cities in the world
We did have cracking weather, however. It really helps
Yeah, here's the thing, I've travelled a fair bit - not as much as you, to be fair, but a good amount - and I've still not found anywhere else I'd rather live.
Sure, our weather is shite much of the time but we get a green and verdant landscape in return and, boy oh boy, was Jerusalem build'ed here: it's beautiful, sublime, safe, with gorgeous architecture, great food and delicious beer and with so much history and heritage. It's cosy. It's embracing. It's home.
Call me a little Englander but what's patriotism?
For me, THAT is patriotism.
Britain is beautiful, but I mean Britain. One reason among many I want Scotland to stay is that it provides us with proper wilderness, great mountains, the marvellous melancholy beauty of the Hebrides, such an incredible contrast with the softer loveliness of the south: Dorset and Suffolk, Herefordshire and Devon, Hampshire and Sussex.
Plus Edinburgh and Glasgow are both hugely impressive in different ways, a good foil to the sometimes overbearing world city of London.
Taken in the round the UK is a splendid place to live, despite its many flaws and some pig ugly towns.
I couldn't live here year in year out however. You have to get off the island. Especially in winter.
I agree with much of that. And, yes, many of our crap towns are shite. I'm not sure how much of that is their fault - they've often had some awful planning decisions and economic calamities forced on them since the 60s - but it's true.
I can cope with November and December. It's the run up to Christmas, there are a lot of set pieces like Guy Fawkes, Rememberance Day and Advent and it's kind of exciting. It's January and February that are absolute toilet.
Why people want to make it worse with going "dry" I don't know. I try and hunker down and then ramp up once the Six Nations starts, with the ales.
My least favourite month is August. Until a few years ago I hated it. It always felt tired and hot and grubby somehow, like an end of season holiday resort.
I think it was due to all the concrete where I was living, because once I moved to Devon my antipathy to August faded, and now it's just like any other month, emotionally.
Gibraltar, which is perhaps the first country in the world to vaccinate all adults, had 1 new case today
1
Why can't we all go on holidays there?
It's a British territory, so it should have the same rules as the channel isles quite frankly.
It's also tiny and the high street reminded me of Catford Shopping centre on a sunny day...not in a good way!
I really like it. It's not everyone's taste but it's like a little British Monaco with a couple of nice beaches and lots of home comforts. Also, it has pubs.
I'm also a fan of the Living Daylights and love the Bond links. The top of the rock is fantastic, as is the military history.
Bermuda is next on my list but, expensive. And maybe might feel too American - which will annoy me.
Gibraltar, which is perhaps the first country in the world to vaccinate all adults, had 1 new case today
1
Why can't we all go on holidays there?
It's a British territory, so it should have the same rules as the channel isles quite frankly.
It's also tiny and the high street reminded me of Catford Shopping centre on a sunny day...not in a good way!
I really like it. It's not everyone's taste but it's like a little British Monaco with a couple of nice beaches and lots of home comforts. Also, it has pubs.
I'm also a fan of the Living Daylights and love the Bond links. The top of the rock is fantastic, as is the military history.
Bermuda is next on my list but, expensive. And maybe might feel too American - which will annoy me.
I’ve a friend who’s a teacher in Bermuda. I am constantly reminded on Facebook how glorious his life is over there.
I know this isn't particularly exciting to say but provided the weather is good holidays within the British isles can be delightful.
I'm nearly 40 and *still* the best memories I have of family holidays are from Cornwall.
It was like a paradise to me. In some ways, it still is.
Feeling it brother xD
I had a wonderful family holiday, doing a lazy road trip around Essex, Suffolk. Cambs, last year. The food was consistently excellent, the hotels ancient and lovely, the countryside often stunning - rivers, meadows, hills - and we ended in the sublime grandeur of Cambridge, one of the loveliest small cities in the world
We did have cracking weather, however. It really helps
Yeah, here's the thing, I've travelled a fair bit - not as much as you, to be fair, but a good amount - and I've still not found anywhere else I'd rather live.
Sure, our weather is shite much of the time but we get a green and verdant landscape in return and, boy oh boy, was Jerusalem build'ed here: it's beautiful, sublime, safe, with gorgeous architecture, great food and delicious beer and with so much history and heritage. It's cosy. It's embracing. It's home.
Call me a little Englander but what's patriotism?
For me, THAT is patriotism.
Britain is beautiful, but I mean Britain. One reason among many I want Scotland to stay is that it provides us with proper wilderness, great mountains, the marvellous melancholy beauty of the Hebrides, such an incredible contrast with the softer loveliness of the south: Dorset and Suffolk, Herefordshire and Devon, Hampshire and Sussex.
Plus Edinburgh and Glasgow are both hugely impressive in different ways, a good foil to the sometimes overbearing world city of London.
Taken in the round the UK is a splendid place to live, despite its many flaws and some pig ugly towns.
I couldn't live here year in year out however. You have to get off the island. Especially in winter.
I agree with much of that. And, yes, many of our crap towns are shite. I'm not sure how much of that is their fault - they've often had some awful planning decisions and economic calamities forced on them since the 60s - but it's true.
I can cope with November and December. It's the run up to Christmas, there are a lot of set pieces like Guy Fawkes, Rememberance Day and Advent and it's kind of exciting. It's January and February that are absolute toilet.
Why people want to make it worse with going "dry" I don't know. I try and hunker down and then ramp up once the Six Nations starts, with the ales.
I go dry in January to prove to myself I can. And to loose a bit of the weight I have inevitably put on in December.
I know this isn't particularly exciting to say but provided the weather is good holidays within the British isles can be delightful.
I'm nearly 40 and *still* the best memories I have of family holidays are from Cornwall.
It was like a paradise to me. In some ways, it still is.
Feeling it brother xD
I had a wonderful family holiday, doing a lazy road trip around Essex, Suffolk. Cambs, last year. The food was consistently excellent, the hotels ancient and lovely, the countryside often stunning - rivers, meadows, hills - and we ended in the sublime grandeur of Cambridge, one of the loveliest small cities in the world
We did have cracking weather, however. It really helps
Yeah, here's the thing, I've travelled a fair bit - not as much as you, to be fair, but a good amount - and I've still not found anywhere else I'd rather live.
Sure, our weather is shite much of the time but we get a green and verdant landscape in return and, boy oh boy, was Jerusalem build'ed here: it's beautiful, sublime, safe, with gorgeous architecture, great food and delicious beer and with so much history and heritage. It's cosy. It's embracing. It's home.
Call me a little Englander but what's patriotism?
For me, THAT is patriotism.
Britain is beautiful, but I mean Britain. One reason among many I want Scotland to stay is that it provides us with proper wilderness, great mountains, the marvellous melancholy beauty of the Hebrides, such an incredible contrast with the softer loveliness of the south: Dorset and Suffolk, Herefordshire and Devon, Hampshire and Sussex.
Plus Edinburgh and Glasgow are both hugely impressive in different ways, a good foil to the sometimes overbearing world city of London.
Taken in the round the UK is a splendid place to live, despite its many flaws and some pig ugly towns.
I couldn't live here year in year out however. You have to get off the island. Especially in winter.
I love Dorset. If there only was a decent road from Ayrshire for a non stressful drive there.
Dorset is ridiculously, hauntingly beautiful in places, like Tolkien's Shire
I mean, where else do you get *anything* like that on earth?
Screw heaven, not real. Real version of heaven? One you can touch and feel and experience in all its joy?
Gibraltar, which is perhaps the first country in the world to vaccinate all adults, had 1 new case today
1
Why can't we all go on holidays there?
It's a British territory, so it should have the same rules as the channel isles quite frankly.
I assume that you're joking.
It's a market town with a small mountain attached. Somewhat lacking in space for about sixteen million fat Brits to flop about on beaches and get pissed.
We definitely got the wrong end of the Treaty of Amiens - we kept Gibraltar, Spain got Menorca.
Gibraltar is strategic days. Still has value now and through that and the Cyprus bases we can basically lock down oversight of the Med.
Some suggestions that the Government might have another go at the failed experiment with Malta, and attempt to formally integrate Gibraltar into the UK. Would give it representation in Parliament, although it would retain a very high degree of autonomy.
Such a novel arrangement might, perhaps, be called DevoMax, and getting it to work in a way acceptable to all concerned could provide a model to use in the future...
Yeah, here's the thing, I've travelled a fair bit - not as much as you, to be fair, but a good amount - and I've still not found anywhere else I'd rather live.
Sure, our weather is shite much of the time but we get a green and verdant landscape in return and, boy oh boy, was Jerusalem build'ed here: it's beautiful, sublime, safe, with gorgeous architecture, great food and delicious beer and with so much history and heritage. It's cosy. It's embracing. It's home.
Call me a little Englander but what's patriotism?
For me, THAT is patriotism.
There's nothing wrong with loving your country but there has also to be a recognition other countries have beauty, architecture, food, beer, history and heritage. Not the same as ours but nonetheless it identifies them.
I have had the great good fortune to have seen many beautiful places in many countries - I've seen beautiful places both natural and man-made and eaten fantastic food. I'm also conscious there is so much more to experience and a sadness I won't get to it all.
It's a weird left-wing phenomenon that loving your own country as uniquely sublime somehow means you must hate or disrespect all others..
The correct answer is "go anywhere you like, two weeks mandatory hotel quarantine for anyone coming back into the country from anywhere, regardless of reasons (possibly cut short by a couple of negative PCR tests) ".
That's fair and reasonable, and would let a reasonable chunk of people (especially those who could work from their quarantine hotels) have holidays at minimal risk. It also means its possible for those who really want to travel (eg to see family) to do so, it's just going to be a bit inconvenient.
Instead of which ministers are messing around with various levels of complex restrictions depending on the purpose of your travel etc. The virus doesn't care about the purpose of your travel for crying out loud.
Beyond this, the media circus should be told to shut up and do one on this issue - it's much more important that we get complete domestic normally (inc. things like no masks, being allowed to sing in choirs/churches) than that it's easy to spend a week getting hammered at a resort in Spain.
The only exception to this could possibly be countries with similar levels of vaccination and cases to us - but looking at the current global situation, that's not looking promising for the next year or so.
I know this isn't particularly exciting to say but provided the weather is good holidays within the British isles can be delightful.
I'm nearly 40 and *still* the best memories I have of family holidays are from Cornwall.
It was like a paradise to me. In some ways, it still is.
Feeling it brother xD
I had a wonderful family holiday, doing a lazy road trip around Essex, Suffolk. Cambs, last year. The food was consistently excellent, the hotels ancient and lovely, the countryside often stunning - rivers, meadows, hills - and we ended in the sublime grandeur of Cambridge, one of the loveliest small cities in the world
We did have cracking weather, however. It really helps
Yeah, here's the thing, I've travelled a fair bit - not as much as you, to be fair, but a good amount - and I've still not found anywhere else I'd rather live.
Sure, our weather is shite much of the time but we get a green and verdant landscape in return and, boy oh boy, was Jerusalem build'ed here: it's beautiful, sublime, safe, with gorgeous architecture, great food and delicious beer and with so much history and heritage. It's cosy. It's embracing. It's home.
Call me a little Englander but what's patriotism?
For me, THAT is patriotism.
Britain is beautiful, but I mean Britain. One reason among many I want Scotland to stay is that it provides us with proper wilderness, great mountains, the marvellous melancholy beauty of the Hebrides, such an incredible contrast with the softer loveliness of the south: Dorset and Suffolk, Herefordshire and Devon, Hampshire and Sussex.
Plus Edinburgh and Glasgow are both hugely impressive in different ways, a good foil to the sometimes overbearing world city of London.
Taken in the round the UK is a splendid place to live, despite its many flaws and some pig ugly towns.
I couldn't live here year in year out however. You have to get off the island. Especially in winter.
I love Dorset. If there only was a decent road from Ayrshire for a non stressful drive there.
Dorset is ridiculously, hauntingly beautiful in places, like Tolkien's Shire
I mean, where else do you get *anything* like that on earth?
Screw heaven, not real. Real version of heaven? One you can touch and feel and experience in all its joy?
Dorset. Gorgeous. It's like heroin for the soul.
Stop it - you're making me feel like I don't deserve to live here.
Gibraltar, which is perhaps the first country in the world to vaccinate all adults, had 1 new case today
1
Why can't we all go on holidays there?
It's a British territory, so it should have the same rules as the channel isles quite frankly.
I assume that you're joking.
It's a market town with a small mountain attached. Somewhat lacking in space for about sixteen million fat Brits to flop about on beaches and get pissed.
We definitely got the wrong end of the Treaty of Amiens - we kept Gibraltar, Spain got Menorca.
Gibraltar is strategic days. Still has value now and through that and the Cyprus bases we can basically lock down oversight of the Med.
Some suggestions that the Government might have another go at the failed experiment with Malta, and attempt to formally integrate Gibraltar into the UK. Would give it representation in Parliament, although it would retain a very high degree of autonomy.
Such a novel arrangement might, perhaps, be called DevoMax, and getting it to work in a way acceptable to all concerned could provide a model to use in the future...
I'd have throught the Gibraltarians are pretty content with their current arrangements, with the degree of separation part of the point?
Gibraltar, which is perhaps the first country in the world to vaccinate all adults, had 1 new case today
1
Why can't we all go on holidays there?
It's a British territory, so it should have the same rules as the channel isles quite frankly.
I assume that you're joking.
It's a market town with a small mountain attached. Somewhat lacking in space for about sixteen million fat Brits to flop about on beaches and get pissed.
We definitely got the wrong end of the Treaty of Amiens - we kept Gibraltar, Spain got Menorca.
Gibraltar is strategic days. Still has value now and through that and the Cyprus bases we can basically lock down oversight of the Med.
Some suggestions that the Government might have another go at the failed experiment with Malta, and attempt to formally integrate Gibraltar into the UK. Would give it representation in Parliament, although it would retain a very high degree of autonomy.
Such a novel arrangement might, perhaps, be called DevoMax, and getting it to work in a way acceptable to all concerned could provide a model to use in the future...
I'd have throught the Gibraltarians are pretty content with their current arrangements, with the degree of separation part of the point?
Quite probably yes. Just read it somewhere, remembered it, thought would share.
Gibraltar, which is perhaps the first country in the world to vaccinate all adults, had 1 new case today
1
Why can't we all go on holidays there?
It's a British territory, so it should have the same rules as the channel isles quite frankly.
I assume that you're joking.
It's a market town with a small mountain attached. Somewhat lacking in space for about sixteen million fat Brits to flop about on beaches and get pissed.
We definitely got the wrong end of the Treaty of Amiens - we kept Gibraltar, Spain got Menorca.
Gibraltar is strategic days. Still has value now and through that and the Cyprus bases we can basically lock down oversight of the Med.
Some suggestions that the Government might have another go at the failed experiment with Malta, and attempt to formally integrate Gibraltar into the UK. Would give it representation in Parliament, although it would retain a very high degree of autonomy.
Such a novel arrangement might, perhaps, be called DevoMax, and getting it to work in a way acceptable to all concerned could provide a model to use in the future...
Wouldn't mind having another crack at Malta, to be honest.
It's a weird left-wing phenomenon that loving your own country as uniquely sublime somehow means you must hate or disrespect all others..
The Right seem uniquely sensitive about this and flags as well if I'm being honest.
The notion of a Government Minister, who really should be dealing with other more serious issues such as housing, proclaiming by diktat what flags can fly and when they have to fly from certain buildings is absurd.
The trouble is the Right, like the Left, love telling people what to do on the basis they know best.
Further to the discussion of Sridhar earlier on PB:
"Given that Scotland's chief medical officer Gregor Smith was forced to warn in January that 'misinformation' over Covid vaccines is one 'of the biggest dangers' Scotland faces, Steerpike hopes professor Sridhar adopts a more collaborative approach in the future..."
She has a very pleasant face, though I'm not sure why they chose that photo - she looks startled, like someone unexpectedly snapped a picture of her in Pizza Express when she was trying to decide whether to order the doughballs.
Comments
2. It might not have to do well at all if the Scottish parliament is on a knife edge
Really, really thick - planting narratives that will feed complacency.
Today he's been pretending that India are now behaving like USA.
Twat. A self-appointe fluffer for EU.
Ireland next: meh
England dismal
Italy, sigh
By 3 to Ireland in the last few minutes.
They were super close to coming into this game for a Grand Slam.
https://twitter.com/PoliticsForAlI/status/1375537978773270529?s=20
It's a British territory, so it should have the same rules as the channel isles quite frankly.
Or are we included?
Sorry Wales, they are gong to nick this.....
Lower down: Ministers consider cancelling all summer holidays abroad, Whitehall source tells i
I'm nearly 40 and *still* the best memories I have of family holidays are from Cornwall.
It was like a paradise to me. In some ways, it still is.
https://twitter.com/wallaceme/status/1375528251452485638?s=20
Who could he mean?
It's a market town with a small mountain attached. Somewhat lacking in space for about sixteen million fat Brits to flop about on beaches and get pissed.
Is there anything you're not telling us here?
Sure, not *everyone* can go there but it can cope with a few thousand guests each week.
I had a wonderful family holiday, doing a lazy road trip around Essex, Suffolk. Cambs, last year. The food was consistently excellent, the hotels ancient and lovely, the countryside often stunning - rivers, meadows, hills - and we ended in the sublime grandeur of Cambridge, one of the loveliest small cities in the world
We did have cracking weather, however. It really helps
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-27/india-covid-19-australians-stuck-abroad-flights-vaccination/100028384
Although we went to St Austell once as well, and got on the wrong train home - my earliest memory of panic
Last year we went here... near you?
http://upper-house.co.uk/
Sure, our weather is shite much of the time but we get a green and verdant landscape in return and, boy oh boy, was Jerusalem build'ed here: it's beautiful, sublime, safe, with gorgeous architecture, great food and delicious beer and with so much history and heritage. It's cosy. It's embracing. It's home.
Call me a little Englander but what's patriotism?
For me, THAT is patriotism.
I have had the great good fortune to have seen many beautiful places in many countries - I've seen beautiful places both natural and man-made and eaten fantastic food. I'm also conscious there is so much more to experience and a sadness I won't get to it all.
And reckon than more than one PBer may turn up in Hartlepool this spring for the special festival of democracy.
Plus Edinburgh and Glasgow are both hugely impressive in different ways, a good foil to the sometimes overbearing world city of London.
Taken in the round the UK is a splendid place to live, despite its many flaws and some pig ugly towns.
I couldn't live here year in year out however. You have to get off the island. Especially in winter.
Fortunately, I’m not a nasty person.
However, if I’m denied my Pfizer second jag next month ......
Anyway, different rumours going round about holidays. Some suggest Hancock, Patel and other sceptical ministers are pressing to have them called off completely. Others to the effect that holidays abroad may still be possible, but only to destinations that have the virus crushed as thoroughly as we do - great if you're looking forward to visiting any of the British overseas territories, Israel, and perhaps one or two others (Dubai? The Seychelles?) But unlikely to help much with the European mass market destinations any time soon.
I can cope with November and December. It's the run up to Christmas, there are a lot of set pieces like Guy Fawkes, Rememberance Day and Advent and it's kind of exciting. It's January and February that are absolute toilet.
Why people want to make it worse with going "dry" I don't know. I try and hunker down and then ramp up once the Six Nations starts, with the ales.
And reject it, obviously (focus on the “red list”).
But they wouldn’t be doing their jobs if they didn’t consider it
All a matter of perspective.
Hart's Ice Cream Parlour - The Harbour, St Ives. For a 8-year old with a passion for ice cream, that was heaven.
Its not going to happen.
And in two months we're going to be awash with vaccines.
But we’re lizards, not parasites
In the early 80s my Dad got us all up at 3am to go down there in August, and it still took 5 hours. But we got there by 8-8.30am and avoided the 20-mile tailbacks.
Such great great memories. I love Cornwall. I miss Dobwalls.
I may be mistaken though.
the name of (Bourbon) King Carlos (III).
Aug 1712 British take over administration.
13 Jul 1713 Formally ceded to U.K. by the Treaty of Utrecht.
1714 British colony.
28 May 1756 - 10 Feb 1763 French occupation.
5 Feb 1782 Spanish occupation.
20 Jan 1783 Restored to Spain by the Treaty of Paris.
15 Nov 1798 - 27 Mar 1802 British occupation.
27 Mar 1802 Restored to Spain by the Peace of Amiens.
https://www.worldstatesmen.org/Spain.html#Minorca
I think it was due to all the concrete where I was living, because once I moved to Devon my antipathy to August faded, and now it's just like any other month, emotionally.
I'm also a fan of the Living Daylights and love the Bond links. The top of the rock is fantastic, as is the military history.
Bermuda is next on my list but, expensive. And maybe might feel too American - which will annoy me.
I quite enjoy dry January in a perverse way.
Screw heaven, not real. Real version of heaven? One you can touch and feel and experience in all its joy?
Dorset. Gorgeous. It's like heroin for the soul.
Such a novel arrangement might, perhaps, be called DevoMax, and getting it to work in a way acceptable to all concerned could provide a model to use in the future...
https://twitter.com/GuidoFawkes/status/1375546775856156677?s=19
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIFF1d3yxNU
The correct answer is "go anywhere you like, two weeks mandatory hotel quarantine for anyone coming back into the country from anywhere, regardless of reasons (possibly cut short by a couple of negative PCR tests) ".
That's fair and reasonable, and would let a reasonable chunk of people (especially those who could work from their quarantine hotels) have holidays at minimal risk. It also means its possible for those who really want to travel (eg to see family) to do so, it's just going to be a bit inconvenient.
Instead of which ministers are messing around with various levels of complex restrictions depending on the purpose of your travel etc. The virus doesn't care about the purpose of your travel for crying out loud.
Beyond this, the media circus should be told to shut up and do one on this issue - it's much more important that we get complete domestic normally (inc. things like no masks, being allowed to sing in choirs/churches) than that it's easy to spend a week getting hammered at a resort in Spain.
The only exception to this could possibly be countries with similar levels of vaccination and cases to us - but looking at the current global situation, that's not looking promising for the next year or so.
The notion of a Government Minister, who really should be dealing with other more serious issues such as housing, proclaiming by diktat what flags can fly and when they have to fly from certain buildings is absurd.
The trouble is the Right, like the Left, love telling people what to do on the basis they know best.
"Given that Scotland's chief medical officer Gregor Smith was forced to warn in January that 'misinformation' over Covid vaccines is one 'of the biggest dangers' Scotland faces, Steerpike hopes professor Sridhar adopts a more collaborative approach in the future..."
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/scottish-covid-adviser-s-vaccine-confusion