Heads up: the Swedish Left Party (renamed Communists) have just announced that they will not be backing down on their commitment to vote down PM Stefan Löfven at 10am on Monday morning in a No Confidence motion.
The following parties are supporting the motion: V (comm) M (con) KD (con) SD (anti-immigration)
There doesn’t seem to be any firm rules for pubs: so much so that buying a beer is a whole new mystery each time. I have been to pubs that that are booking only; pubs that have abolished bookings; pubs that have abolished bar service; and pubs that have bar service only.
Some pubs have apps and others don’t, in some you need to wear a mask and not in others. Some pubs allow only six to a table outside, whereas others allow up to thirty. Screens are in place in some pubs whereas others have removed all their screens to improve airflow.
Somewhere in the pubs there is usually beer, but it’s not always clear how you find it.
There doesn’t seem to be any firm rules for pubs: so much so that buying a beer is a whole new mystery each time. I have been to pubs that that are booking only; pubs that have abolished bookings; pubs that have abolished bar service; and pubs that have bar service only.
Some pubs have apps and others don’t, in some you need to wear a mask and not in others. Some pubs allow only six to a table outside, whereas others allow up to thirty. Screens are in place in some pubs whereas others have removed all their screens to improve airflow.
Somewhere in the pubs there is usually beer, but it’s not always clear how you find it.
The funny thing is, the pub my dad goes to was quite strict when it was all out doors. But now they've stopped giving a f***. And I can see the logic. When everyone's outside, it's very easy for the Old Bill to spot bad behaviour.
No one working in No. 10 is obeying lockdown and covid restrictions claims Julia Harley-Brewer. They don't bother with social distancing, screens or masks and have even set up a bar for socialising:
"A furious Whitehall source alerted me to this hypocrisy. They said: 'If those in Downing Street had to wear masks all day, or tried to run a business while sticking to social-distancing rules, or were forced to sit looking at a screen at home all day, would they be slower to keep the rest of us under those restrictions?
'No wonder they don't understand why four more weeks of lockdown is a big deal for so many people, and why it may be a death-blow for countless more businesses.' "
Tbh face coverings and social distancing observation have pretty much stopped where I work.
Yes, also at my office. Ditto the pub I frequent. Compliance is very low generally now, outside of Nick Palmer’s circle of friends apparently. Real world observation supports the view that people support restrictions on other people.
Still quite high in shops and supermarkets, though, I find.
The one that gets me is the 'masks on to enter a pub/restaurant' rule. It strikes me as utterly insane and making no difference whatsoever.
We should make a list of stupid and unnecessary rules we've had to put up with over the last year. Top of my list would be
- the closure of outdoor gyms to protect against a virus that spreads indoors among the obese - the checking in at pubs and restaurants - making people buy rip-off private tests rather than government ones when they get home from travelling.
And there's a nice riverside walk near me where the council has stopped joggers and cyclists between 10 am and 3 pm because apparently the virus spreads outdoors at 10:01 but not at 9:59.
Have you encountered the directional rule which foxes the virus? I was told by a barmaid that I had to walk counterclockwise around her bar to the gents rather than clockwise, which was a shorter distance. She and I were the only people in the pub.
I do understand: it is because, despite all its other flaws, the virus is at least a careful adherent to one-way systems.
No one working in No. 10 is obeying lockdown and covid restrictions claims Julia Harley-Brewer. They don't bother with social distancing, screens or masks and have even set up a bar for socialising:
"A furious Whitehall source alerted me to this hypocrisy. They said: 'If those in Downing Street had to wear masks all day, or tried to run a business while sticking to social-distancing rules, or were forced to sit looking at a screen at home all day, would they be slower to keep the rest of us under those restrictions?
'No wonder they don't understand why four more weeks of lockdown is a big deal for so many people, and why it may be a death-blow for countless more businesses.' "
Tbh face coverings and social distancing observation have pretty much stopped where I work.
Yes, also at my office. Ditto the pub I frequent. Compliance is very low generally now, outside of Nick Palmer’s circle of friends apparently. Real world observation supports the view that people support restrictions on other people.
Still quite high in shops and supermarkets, though, I find.
The one that gets me is the 'masks on to enter a pub/restaurant' rule. It strikes me as utterly insane and making no difference whatsoever.
We should make a list of stupid and unnecessary rules we've had to put up with over the last year. Top of my list would be
- the closure of outdoor gyms to protect against a virus that spreads indoors among the obese - the checking in at pubs and restaurants - making people buy rip-off private tests rather than government ones when they get home from travelling.
And there's a nice riverside walk near me where the council has stopped joggers and cyclists between 10 am and 3 pm because apparently the virus spreads outdoors at 10:01 but not at 9:59.
Have you encountered the directional rule which foxes the virus? I was told by a barmaid that I had to walk counterclockwise around her bar to the gents rather than clockwise, which was a shorter distance. She and I were the only people in the pub.
I do understand: it is because, despite all its other flaws, the virus is at least a careful adherent to one-way systems.
No one working in No. 10 is obeying lockdown and covid restrictions claims Julia Harley-Brewer. They don't bother with social distancing, screens or masks and have even set up a bar for socialising:
"A furious Whitehall source alerted me to this hypocrisy. They said: 'If those in Downing Street had to wear masks all day, or tried to run a business while sticking to social-distancing rules, or were forced to sit looking at a screen at home all day, would they be slower to keep the rest of us under those restrictions?
'No wonder they don't understand why four more weeks of lockdown is a big deal for so many people, and why it may be a death-blow for countless more businesses.' "
Tbh face coverings and social distancing observation have pretty much stopped where I work.
Yes, also at my office. Ditto the pub I frequent. Compliance is very low generally now, outside of Nick Palmer’s circle of friends apparently. Real world observation supports the view that people support restrictions on other people.
Still quite high in shops and supermarkets, though, I find.
The one that gets me is the 'masks on to enter a pub/restaurant' rule. It strikes me as utterly insane and making no difference whatsoever.
We should make a list of stupid and unnecessary rules we've had to put up with over the last year. Top of my list would be
- the closure of outdoor gyms to protect against a virus that spreads indoors among the obese - the checking in at pubs and restaurants - making people buy rip-off private tests rather than government ones when they get home from travelling.
And there's a nice riverside walk near me where the council has stopped joggers and cyclists between 10 am and 3 pm because apparently the virus spreads outdoors at 10:01 but not at 9:59.
Have you encountered the directional rule which foxes the virus? I was told by a barmaid that I had to walk counterclockwise around her bar to the gents rather than clockwise, which was a shorter distance. She and I were the only people in the pub.
I do understand: it is because, despite all its other flaws, the virus is at least a careful adherent to one-way systems.
No one working in No. 10 is obeying lockdown and covid restrictions claims Julia Harley-Brewer. They don't bother with social distancing, screens or masks and have even set up a bar for socialising:
"A furious Whitehall source alerted me to this hypocrisy. They said: 'If those in Downing Street had to wear masks all day, or tried to run a business while sticking to social-distancing rules, or were forced to sit looking at a screen at home all day, would they be slower to keep the rest of us under those restrictions?
'No wonder they don't understand why four more weeks of lockdown is a big deal for so many people, and why it may be a death-blow for countless more businesses.' "
Tbh face coverings and social distancing observation have pretty much stopped where I work.
Yes, also at my office. Ditto the pub I frequent. Compliance is very low generally now, outside of Nick Palmer’s circle of friends apparently. Real world observation supports the view that people support restrictions on other people.
Still quite high in shops and supermarkets, though, I find.
The one that gets me is the 'masks on to enter a pub/restaurant' rule. It strikes me as utterly insane and making no difference whatsoever.
We should make a list of stupid and unnecessary rules we've had to put up with over the last year. Top of my list would be
- the closure of outdoor gyms to protect against a virus that spreads indoors among the obese - the checking in at pubs and restaurants - making people buy rip-off private tests rather than government ones when they get home from travelling.
And there's a nice riverside walk near me where the council has stopped joggers and cyclists between 10 am and 3 pm because apparently the virus spreads outdoors at 10:01 but not at 9:59.
Have you encountered the directional rule which foxes the virus? I was told by a barmaid that I had to walk counterclockwise around her bar to the gents rather than clockwise, which was a shorter distance. She and I were the only people in the pub.
I do understand: it is because, despite all its other flaws, the virus is at least a careful adherent to one-way systems.
No one working in No. 10 is obeying lockdown and covid restrictions claims Julia Harley-Brewer. They don't bother with social distancing, screens or masks and have even set up a bar for socialising:
"A furious Whitehall source alerted me to this hypocrisy. They said: 'If those in Downing Street had to wear masks all day, or tried to run a business while sticking to social-distancing rules, or were forced to sit looking at a screen at home all day, would they be slower to keep the rest of us under those restrictions?
'No wonder they don't understand why four more weeks of lockdown is a big deal for so many people, and why it may be a death-blow for countless more businesses.' "
Tbh face coverings and social distancing observation have pretty much stopped where I work.
Yes, also at my office. Ditto the pub I frequent. Compliance is very low generally now, outside of Nick Palmer’s circle of friends apparently. Real world observation supports the view that people support restrictions on other people.
Still quite high in shops and supermarkets, though, I find.
The one that gets me is the 'masks on to enter a pub/restaurant' rule. It strikes me as utterly insane and making no difference whatsoever.
We should make a list of stupid and unnecessary rules we've had to put up with over the last year. Top of my list would be
- the closure of outdoor gyms to protect against a virus that spreads indoors among the obese - the checking in at pubs and restaurants - making people buy rip-off private tests rather than government ones when they get home from travelling.
And there's a nice riverside walk near me where the council has stopped joggers and cyclists between 10 am and 3 pm because apparently the virus spreads outdoors at 10:01 but not at 9:59.
Have you encountered the directional rule which foxes the virus? I was told by a barmaid that I had to walk counterclockwise around her bar to the gents rather than clockwise, which was a shorter distance. She and I were the only people in the pub.
I do understand: it is because, despite all its other flaws, the virus is at least a careful adherent to one-way systems.
No one working in No. 10 is obeying lockdown and covid restrictions claims Julia Harley-Brewer. They don't bother with social distancing, screens or masks and have even set up a bar for socialising:
"A furious Whitehall source alerted me to this hypocrisy. They said: 'If those in Downing Street had to wear masks all day, or tried to run a business while sticking to social-distancing rules, or were forced to sit looking at a screen at home all day, would they be slower to keep the rest of us under those restrictions?
'No wonder they don't understand why four more weeks of lockdown is a big deal for so many people, and why it may be a death-blow for countless more businesses.' "
Tbh face coverings and social distancing observation have pretty much stopped where I work.
Yes, also at my office. Ditto the pub I frequent. Compliance is very low generally now, outside of Nick Palmer’s circle of friends apparently. Real world observation supports the view that people support restrictions on other people.
Still quite high in shops and supermarkets, though, I find.
The one that gets me is the 'masks on to enter a pub/restaurant' rule. It strikes me as utterly insane and making no difference whatsoever.
It's what's been referred to elsewhere as "Covid theatre" - a useless ritual performance. Same as having to put a gag back on when you have to get out of your seat to go to the loo, or to walk through a hotel lobby on the way to your room. Like a lot of the rules, a classic example of something-must-be-done-ism.
I also think that, psychologically, lots of people enjoy bossing others around and feeling superior to them in minor ways - a nannying complex. Certainly the past year has been paradise for people like that.
No one working in No. 10 is obeying lockdown and covid restrictions claims Julia Harley-Brewer. They don't bother with social distancing, screens or masks and have even set up a bar for socialising:
"A furious Whitehall source alerted me to this hypocrisy. They said: 'If those in Downing Street had to wear masks all day, or tried to run a business while sticking to social-distancing rules, or were forced to sit looking at a screen at home all day, would they be slower to keep the rest of us under those restrictions?
'No wonder they don't understand why four more weeks of lockdown is a big deal for so many people, and why it may be a death-blow for countless more businesses.' "
Tbh face coverings and social distancing observation have pretty much stopped where I work.
Yes, also at my office. Ditto the pub I frequent. Compliance is very low generally now, outside of Nick Palmer’s circle of friends apparently. Real world observation supports the view that people support restrictions on other people.
Still quite high in shops and supermarkets, though, I find.
The one that gets me is the 'masks on to enter a pub/restaurant' rule. It strikes me as utterly insane and making no difference whatsoever.
We should make a list of stupid and unnecessary rules we've had to put up with over the last year. Top of my list would be
- the closure of outdoor gyms to protect against a virus that spreads indoors among the obese - the checking in at pubs and restaurants - making people buy rip-off private tests rather than government ones when they get home from travelling.
And there's a nice riverside walk near me where the council has stopped joggers and cyclists between 10 am and 3 pm because apparently the virus spreads outdoors at 10:01 but not at 9:59.
Have you encountered the directional rule which foxes the virus? I was told by a barmaid that I had to walk counterclockwise around her bar to the gents rather than clockwise, which was a shorter distance. She and I were the only people in the pub.
I do understand: it is because, despite all its other flaws, the virus is at least a careful adherent to one-way systems.
Hence why unlocking is irreversible...
Very clever! I latched onto that right away.
Well you know me, I a door a good pun.
Depends on your threshold for ‘good’.
My threshold for a good pun is somewhat higher than Boris Johnson’s for seeing competence in a cabinet minister.
No one working in No. 10 is obeying lockdown and covid restrictions claims Julia Harley-Brewer. They don't bother with social distancing, screens or masks and have even set up a bar for socialising:
"A furious Whitehall source alerted me to this hypocrisy. They said: 'If those in Downing Street had to wear masks all day, or tried to run a business while sticking to social-distancing rules, or were forced to sit looking at a screen at home all day, would they be slower to keep the rest of us under those restrictions?
'No wonder they don't understand why four more weeks of lockdown is a big deal for so many people, and why it may be a death-blow for countless more businesses.' "
Tbh face coverings and social distancing observation have pretty much stopped where I work.
Yes, also at my office. Ditto the pub I frequent. Compliance is very low generally now, outside of Nick Palmer’s circle of friends apparently. Real world observation supports the view that people support restrictions on other people.
Still quite high in shops and supermarkets, though, I find.
The one that gets me is the 'masks on to enter a pub/restaurant' rule. It strikes me as utterly insane and making no difference whatsoever.
It's what's been referred to elsewhere as "Covid theatre" - a useless ritual performance. Same as having to put a gag back on when you have to get out of your seat to go to the loo, or to walk through a hotel lobby on the way to your room. Like a lot of the rules, a classic example of something-must-be-done-ism.
I also think that, psychologically, lots of people enjoy bossing others around and feeling superior to them in minor ways - a nannying complex. Certainly the past year has been paradise for people like that.
Indeed. The curtain twitching in real life, reflected on here, has been most distasteful.
No one working in No. 10 is obeying lockdown and covid restrictions claims Julia Harley-Brewer. They don't bother with social distancing, screens or masks and have even set up a bar for socialising:
"A furious Whitehall source alerted me to this hypocrisy. They said: 'If those in Downing Street had to wear masks all day, or tried to run a business while sticking to social-distancing rules, or were forced to sit looking at a screen at home all day, would they be slower to keep the rest of us under those restrictions?
'No wonder they don't understand why four more weeks of lockdown is a big deal for so many people, and why it may be a death-blow for countless more businesses.' "
Tbh face coverings and social distancing observation have pretty much stopped where I work.
Yes, also at my office. Ditto the pub I frequent. Compliance is very low generally now, outside of Nick Palmer’s circle of friends apparently. Real world observation supports the view that people support restrictions on other people.
Still quite high in shops and supermarkets, though, I find.
The one that gets me is the 'masks on to enter a pub/restaurant' rule. It strikes me as utterly insane and making no difference whatsoever.
We should make a list of stupid and unnecessary rules we've had to put up with over the last year. Top of my list would be
- the closure of outdoor gyms to protect against a virus that spreads indoors among the obese - the checking in at pubs and restaurants - making people buy rip-off private tests rather than government ones when they get home from travelling.
And there's a nice riverside walk near me where the council has stopped joggers and cyclists between 10 am and 3 pm because apparently the virus spreads outdoors at 10:01 but not at 9:59.
Have you encountered the directional rule which foxes the virus? I was told by a barmaid that I had to walk counterclockwise around her bar to the gents rather than clockwise, which was a shorter distance. She and I were the only people in the pub.
I do understand: it is because, despite all its other flaws, the virus is at least a careful adherent to one-way systems.
Hence why unlocking is irreversible...
Very clever! I latched onto that right away.
Well you know me, I a door a good pun.
Depends on your threshold for ‘good’.
My threshold for a good pun is somewhat higher than Boris Johnson’s for seeing competence in a cabinet minister.
No one working in No. 10 is obeying lockdown and covid restrictions claims Julia Harley-Brewer. They don't bother with social distancing, screens or masks and have even set up a bar for socialising:
"A furious Whitehall source alerted me to this hypocrisy. They said: 'If those in Downing Street had to wear masks all day, or tried to run a business while sticking to social-distancing rules, or were forced to sit looking at a screen at home all day, would they be slower to keep the rest of us under those restrictions?
'No wonder they don't understand why four more weeks of lockdown is a big deal for so many people, and why it may be a death-blow for countless more businesses.' "
Tbh face coverings and social distancing observation have pretty much stopped where I work.
Yes, also at my office. Ditto the pub I frequent. Compliance is very low generally now, outside of Nick Palmer’s circle of friends apparently. Real world observation supports the view that people support restrictions on other people.
Still quite high in shops and supermarkets, though, I find.
The one that gets me is the 'masks on to enter a pub/restaurant' rule. It strikes me as utterly insane and making no difference whatsoever.
We should make a list of stupid and unnecessary rules we've had to put up with over the last year. Top of my list would be
- the closure of outdoor gyms to protect against a virus that spreads indoors among the obese - the checking in at pubs and restaurants - making people buy rip-off private tests rather than government ones when they get home from travelling.
And there's a nice riverside walk near me where the council has stopped joggers and cyclists between 10 am and 3 pm because apparently the virus spreads outdoors at 10:01 but not at 9:59.
Have you encountered the directional rule which foxes the virus? I was told by a barmaid that I had to walk counterclockwise around her bar to the gents rather than clockwise, which was a shorter distance. She and I were the only people in the pub.
I do understand: it is because, despite all its other flaws, the virus is at least a careful adherent to one-way systems.
Hence why unlocking is irreversible...
Very clever! I latched onto that right away.
Well you know me, I a door a good pun.
Depends on your threshold for ‘good’.
My threshold for a good pun is somewhat higher than Boris Johnson’s for seeing competence in a cabinet minister.
So, just about ground level.
The cabinet is indeed jamb packed with knobs.
And door knockers, on the basis their arrival signals the bell’s end.
It doesn't seem that long ago that tories on here were giving each other one speed hand jobs (with eye contact) over the vaccine program compared to Europe. And now, the fucking place is opening up later than most European countries. What was it all for?
It doesn't seem that long ago that tories on here were giving each other one speed hand jobs (with eye contact) over the vaccine program compared to Europe. And now, the fucking place is opening up later than most European countries. What was it all for?
No one working in No. 10 is obeying lockdown and covid restrictions claims Julia Harley-Brewer. They don't bother with social distancing, screens or masks and have even set up a bar for socialising:
"A furious Whitehall source alerted me to this hypocrisy. They said: 'If those in Downing Street had to wear masks all day, or tried to run a business while sticking to social-distancing rules, or were forced to sit looking at a screen at home all day, would they be slower to keep the rest of us under those restrictions?
'No wonder they don't understand why four more weeks of lockdown is a big deal for so many people, and why it may be a death-blow for countless more businesses.' "
Tbh face coverings and social distancing observation have pretty much stopped where I work.
Yes, also at my office. Ditto the pub I frequent. Compliance is very low generally now, outside of Nick Palmer’s circle of friends apparently. Real world observation supports the view that people support restrictions on other people.
Still quite high in shops and supermarkets, though, I find.
The one that gets me is the 'masks on to enter a pub/restaurant' rule. It strikes me as utterly insane and making no difference whatsoever.
It's what's been referred to elsewhere as "Covid theatre" - a useless ritual performance. Same as having to put a gag back on when you have to get out of your seat to go to the loo, or to walk through a hotel lobby on the way to your room. Like a lot of the rules, a classic example of something-must-be-done-ism.
"Covid theatre" - I like that - yes, virtue signalling as it pertains to the pandemic. Will be with us for a long time, I fear. When legal restrictions are eventually removed should one ignore or mock this tendency?
It doesn't seem that long ago that tories on here were giving each other one speed hand jobs (with eye contact) over the vaccine program compared to Europe. And now, the fucking place is opening up later than most European countries. What was it all for?
Back when Boris was still plotting how to get past Dave and then Theresa to achieve his life’s dream of sitting in the Big Chair, the received wisdom including on PB was that he’d do OK in the south but his posh boy shtick was less to wash the further north you went.
Yet things seem to have turned out precisely the opposite, at least this side of Hadrian’s Wall
Back when Boris was still plotting how to get past Dave and then Theresa to achieve his life’s dream of sitting in the Big Chair, the received wisdom including on PB was that he’d do OK in the south but his posh boy shtick was less to wash the further north you went.
Yet things seem to have turned out precisely the opposite, at least this side of Hadrian’s Wall
Heads up: the Swedish Left Party (renamed Communists) have just announced that they will not be backing down on their commitment to vote down PM Stefan Löfven at 10am on Monday morning in a No Confidence motion.
The following parties are supporting the motion: V (comm) M (con) KD (con) SD (anti-immigration)
Likely new GE.
Left Party supporting an election at which the Swedish Democrats have a good chance of entering government.
No one working in No. 10 is obeying lockdown and covid restrictions claims Julia Harley-Brewer. They don't bother with social distancing, screens or masks and have even set up a bar for socialising:
"A furious Whitehall source alerted me to this hypocrisy. They said: 'If those in Downing Street had to wear masks all day, or tried to run a business while sticking to social-distancing rules, or were forced to sit looking at a screen at home all day, would they be slower to keep the rest of us under those restrictions?
'No wonder they don't understand why four more weeks of lockdown is a big deal for so many people, and why it may be a death-blow for countless more businesses.' "
Tbh face coverings and social distancing observation have pretty much stopped where I work.
Yes, also at my office. Ditto the pub I frequent. Compliance is very low generally now, outside of Nick Palmer’s circle of friends apparently. Real world observation supports the view that people support restrictions on other people.
Still quite high in shops and supermarkets, though, I find.
The one that gets me is the 'masks on to enter a pub/restaurant' rule. It strikes me as utterly insane and making no difference whatsoever.
We should make a list of stupid and unnecessary rules we've had to put up with over the last year. Top of my list would be
- the closure of outdoor gyms to protect against a virus that spreads indoors among the obese - the checking in at pubs and restaurants - making people buy rip-off private tests rather than government ones when they get home from travelling.
And there's a nice riverside walk near me where the council has stopped joggers and cyclists between 10 am and 3 pm because apparently the virus spreads outdoors at 10:01 but not at 9:59.
Near where I live, the Council banned joggers and cyclists between 10am and 3pm - mainly because of the number of idiots who seem unable to steer a bike or run into people. Apparently, there is a human right to ride at 30mph on what is a pavement, about 5 foot wide in places. And do so in a mob - Fat men in lycra on fixies.
As for the people who go "I can't stop when I'm jogging, so I have to plough through people" - well, if you can't stop and start, you can't run. Learn.
The actual, real cyclists are on the quiet roads, much like the real runners.
No one working in No. 10 is obeying lockdown and covid restrictions claims Julia Harley-Brewer. They don't bother with social distancing, screens or masks and have even set up a bar for socialising:
"A furious Whitehall source alerted me to this hypocrisy. They said: 'If those in Downing Street had to wear masks all day, or tried to run a business while sticking to social-distancing rules, or were forced to sit looking at a screen at home all day, would they be slower to keep the rest of us under those restrictions?
'No wonder they don't understand why four more weeks of lockdown is a big deal for so many people, and why it may be a death-blow for countless more businesses.' "
Tbh face coverings and social distancing observation have pretty much stopped where I work.
Yes, also at my office. Ditto the pub I frequent. Compliance is very low generally now, outside of Nick Palmer’s circle of friends apparently. Real world observation supports the view that people support restrictions on other people.
Still quite high in shops and supermarkets, though, I find.
The one that gets me is the 'masks on to enter a pub/restaurant' rule. It strikes me as utterly insane and making no difference whatsoever.
We should make a list of stupid and unnecessary rules we've had to put up with over the last year. Top of my list would be
- the closure of outdoor gyms to protect against a virus that spreads indoors among the obese - the checking in at pubs and restaurants - making people buy rip-off private tests rather than government ones when they get home from travelling.
And there's a nice riverside walk near me where the council has stopped joggers and cyclists between 10 am and 3 pm because apparently the virus spreads outdoors at 10:01 but not at 9:59.
Near where I live, the Council banned joggers and cyclists between 10am and 3pm - mainly because of the number of idiots who seem unable to steer a bike or run into people. Apparently, there is a human right to ride at 30mph on what is a pavement, about 5 foot wide in places. And do so in a mob - Fat men in lycra on fixies.
As for the people who go "I can't stop when I'm jogging, so I have to plough through people" - well, if you can't stop and start, you can't run. Learn.
The actual, real cyclists are on the quiet roads, much like the real runners.
I ride a bike and run as well.
Really? Very old fashioned bike without pedals, I take it?
Back when Boris was still plotting how to get past Dave and then Theresa to achieve his life’s dream of sitting in the Big Chair, the received wisdom including on PB was that he’d do OK in the south but his posh boy shtick was less to wash the further north you went.
Yet things seem to have turned out precisely the opposite, at least this side of Hadrian’s Wall
No one working in No. 10 is obeying lockdown and covid restrictions claims Julia Harley-Brewer. They don't bother with social distancing, screens or masks and have even set up a bar for socialising:
"A furious Whitehall source alerted me to this hypocrisy. They said: 'If those in Downing Street had to wear masks all day, or tried to run a business while sticking to social-distancing rules, or were forced to sit looking at a screen at home all day, would they be slower to keep the rest of us under those restrictions?
'No wonder they don't understand why four more weeks of lockdown is a big deal for so many people, and why it may be a death-blow for countless more businesses.' "
Tbh face coverings and social distancing observation have pretty much stopped where I work.
Yes, also at my office. Ditto the pub I frequent. Compliance is very low generally now, outside of Nick Palmer’s circle of friends apparently. Real world observation supports the view that people support restrictions on other people.
Still quite high in shops and supermarkets, though, I find.
The one that gets me is the 'masks on to enter a pub/restaurant' rule. It strikes me as utterly insane and making no difference whatsoever.
We should make a list of stupid and unnecessary rules we've had to put up with over the last year. Top of my list would be
- the closure of outdoor gyms to protect against a virus that spreads indoors among the obese - the checking in at pubs and restaurants - making people buy rip-off private tests rather than government ones when they get home from travelling.
And there's a nice riverside walk near me where the council has stopped joggers and cyclists between 10 am and 3 pm because apparently the virus spreads outdoors at 10:01 but not at 9:59.
Near where I live, the Council banned joggers and cyclists between 10am and 3pm - mainly because of the number of idiots who seem unable to steer a bike or run into people. Apparently, there is a human right to ride at 30mph on what is a pavement, about 5 foot wide in places. And do so in a mob - Fat men in lycra on fixies.
As for the people who go "I can't stop when I'm jogging, so I have to plough through people" - well, if you can't stop and start, you can't run. Learn.
The actual, real cyclists are on the quiet roads, much like the real runners.
Heads up: the Swedish Left Party (renamed Communists) have just announced that they will not be backing down on their commitment to vote down PM Stefan Löfven at 10am on Monday morning in a No Confidence motion.
The following parties are supporting the motion: V (comm) M (con) KD (con) SD (anti-immigration)
Likely new GE.
Left Party supporting an election at which the Swedish Democrats have a good chance of entering government.
Yepp. Complete idiocy. Mind you, supposed lefty George Galloway has spent the last two decades helping the nastier elements in society.
Note: I doubt that the mainstream centre-right Moderates and Christian Democrats will go for a full coalition with the Sweden Democrats - more likely confidence and supply; just as the 2 liberal parties (Centre and Liberals) give Löfven confidence and supply under the “January agreement”.
No one working in No. 10 is obeying lockdown and covid restrictions claims Julia Harley-Brewer. They don't bother with social distancing, screens or masks and have even set up a bar for socialising:
"A furious Whitehall source alerted me to this hypocrisy. They said: 'If those in Downing Street had to wear masks all day, or tried to run a business while sticking to social-distancing rules, or were forced to sit looking at a screen at home all day, would they be slower to keep the rest of us under those restrictions?
'No wonder they don't understand why four more weeks of lockdown is a big deal for so many people, and why it may be a death-blow for countless more businesses.' "
Tbh face coverings and social distancing observation have pretty much stopped where I work.
Yes, also at my office. Ditto the pub I frequent. Compliance is very low generally now, outside of Nick Palmer’s circle of friends apparently. Real world observation supports the view that people support restrictions on other people.
Still quite high in shops and supermarkets, though, I find.
The one that gets me is the 'masks on to enter a pub/restaurant' rule. It strikes me as utterly insane and making no difference whatsoever.
We should make a list of stupid and unnecessary rules we've had to put up with over the last year. Top of my list would be
- the closure of outdoor gyms to protect against a virus that spreads indoors among the obese - the checking in at pubs and restaurants - making people buy rip-off private tests rather than government ones when they get home from travelling.
And there's a nice riverside walk near me where the council has stopped joggers and cyclists between 10 am and 3 pm because apparently the virus spreads outdoors at 10:01 but not at 9:59.
Near where I live, the Council banned joggers and cyclists between 10am and 3pm - mainly because of the number of idiots who seem unable to steer a bike or run into people. Apparently, there is a human right to ride at 30mph on what is a pavement, about 5 foot wide in places. And do so in a mob - Fat men in lycra on fixies.
As for the people who go "I can't stop when I'm jogging, so I have to plough through people" - well, if you can't stop and start, you can't run. Learn.
The actual, real cyclists are on the quiet roads, much like the real runners.
I ride a bike and run as well.
Really? Very old fashioned bike without pedals, I take it?
LOL
The number of morons who seem to think that because it is a public right of way, that they don't have to give a damn about others....
No one working in No. 10 is obeying lockdown and covid restrictions claims Julia Harley-Brewer. They don't bother with social distancing, screens or masks and have even set up a bar for socialising:
"A furious Whitehall source alerted me to this hypocrisy. They said: 'If those in Downing Street had to wear masks all day, or tried to run a business while sticking to social-distancing rules, or were forced to sit looking at a screen at home all day, would they be slower to keep the rest of us under those restrictions?
'No wonder they don't understand why four more weeks of lockdown is a big deal for so many people, and why it may be a death-blow for countless more businesses.' "
Tbh face coverings and social distancing observation have pretty much stopped where I work.
Yes, also at my office. Ditto the pub I frequent. Compliance is very low generally now, outside of Nick Palmer’s circle of friends apparently. Real world observation supports the view that people support restrictions on other people.
Still quite high in shops and supermarkets, though, I find.
The one that gets me is the 'masks on to enter a pub/restaurant' rule. It strikes me as utterly insane and making no difference whatsoever.
We should make a list of stupid and unnecessary rules we've had to put up with over the last year. Top of my list would be
- the closure of outdoor gyms to protect against a virus that spreads indoors among the obese - the checking in at pubs and restaurants - making people buy rip-off private tests rather than government ones when they get home from travelling.
And there's a nice riverside walk near me where the council has stopped joggers and cyclists between 10 am and 3 pm because apparently the virus spreads outdoors at 10:01 but not at 9:59.
Near where I live, the Council banned joggers and cyclists between 10am and 3pm - mainly because of the number of idiots who seem unable to steer a bike or run into people. Apparently, there is a human right to ride at 30mph on what is a pavement, about 5 foot wide in places. And do so in a mob - Fat men in lycra on fixies.
As for the people who go "I can't stop when I'm jogging, so I have to plough through people" - well, if you can't stop and start, you can't run. Learn.
The actual, real cyclists are on the quiet roads, much like the real runners.
I ride a bike and run as well.
Call it the Dura_Ace by-law.
If that gentleman is to be believed, he achieves interesting velocities in suitable locations.
No one working in No. 10 is obeying lockdown and covid restrictions claims Julia Harley-Brewer. They don't bother with social distancing, screens or masks and have even set up a bar for socialising:
"A furious Whitehall source alerted me to this hypocrisy. They said: 'If those in Downing Street had to wear masks all day, or tried to run a business while sticking to social-distancing rules, or were forced to sit looking at a screen at home all day, would they be slower to keep the rest of us under those restrictions?
'No wonder they don't understand why four more weeks of lockdown is a big deal for so many people, and why it may be a death-blow for countless more businesses.' "
Tbh face coverings and social distancing observation have pretty much stopped where I work.
Yes, also at my office. Ditto the pub I frequent. Compliance is very low generally now, outside of Nick Palmer’s circle of friends apparently. Real world observation supports the view that people support restrictions on other people.
Still quite high in shops and supermarkets, though, I find.
The one that gets me is the 'masks on to enter a pub/restaurant' rule. It strikes me as utterly insane and making no difference whatsoever.
It's what's been referred to elsewhere as "Covid theatre" - a useless ritual performance. Same as having to put a gag back on when you have to get out of your seat to go to the loo, or to walk through a hotel lobby on the way to your room. Like a lot of the rules, a classic example of something-must-be-done-ism.
It seems churlish to complain about small inconveniences in the context of a big event such as the pandemic but there does come a point where it gets silly. I remember litter bins in London disappearing after a bomb was put in one and they took ages to come back. It was quite irritating. You'd have to walk around with detritus in your pocket.
Back when Boris was still plotting how to get past Dave and then Theresa to achieve his life’s dream of sitting in the Big Chair, the received wisdom including on PB was that he’d do OK in the south but his posh boy shtick was less to wash the further north you went.
Yet things seem to have turned out precisely the opposite, at least this side of Hadrian’s Wall
No one working in No. 10 is obeying lockdown and covid restrictions claims Julia Harley-Brewer. They don't bother with social distancing, screens or masks and have even set up a bar for socialising:
"A furious Whitehall source alerted me to this hypocrisy. They said: 'If those in Downing Street had to wear masks all day, or tried to run a business while sticking to social-distancing rules, or were forced to sit looking at a screen at home all day, would they be slower to keep the rest of us under those restrictions?
'No wonder they don't understand why four more weeks of lockdown is a big deal for so many people, and why it may be a death-blow for countless more businesses.' "
Tbh face coverings and social distancing observation have pretty much stopped where I work.
Yes, also at my office. Ditto the pub I frequent. Compliance is very low generally now, outside of Nick Palmer’s circle of friends apparently. Real world observation supports the view that people support restrictions on other people.
Still quite high in shops and supermarkets, though, I find.
The one that gets me is the 'masks on to enter a pub/restaurant' rule. It strikes me as utterly insane and making no difference whatsoever.
We should make a list of stupid and unnecessary rules we've had to put up with over the last year. Top of my list would be
- the closure of outdoor gyms to protect against a virus that spreads indoors among the obese - the checking in at pubs and restaurants - making people buy rip-off private tests rather than government ones when they get home from travelling.
And there's a nice riverside walk near me where the council has stopped joggers and cyclists between 10 am and 3 pm because apparently the virus spreads outdoors at 10:01 but not at 9:59.
Near where I live, the Council banned joggers and cyclists between 10am and 3pm - mainly because of the number of idiots who seem unable to steer a bike or run into people. Apparently, there is a human right to ride at 30mph on what is a pavement, about 5 foot wide in places. And do so in a mob - Fat men in lycra on fixies.
As for the people who go "I can't stop when I'm jogging, so I have to plough through people" - well, if you can't stop and start, you can't run. Learn.
The actual, real cyclists are on the quiet roads, much like the real runners.
I ride a bike and run as well.
I was out for a cycle earlier today.
On one path, maybe 3m wide, I used my bell to let the dog-walker ahead of me know that I was about to pass, they kept to one side and their dog under control and acknowledged me in a friendly way as I passed.
Later, on the esplanade, at a point where it's about 8m wide, I had to use my bell to let a walker know I was around when they walked towards my path backwards, and I had abuse shouted in my direction as I passed.
From these experiences I conclude that there is a wide variety of people in the world, and we should avoid making generalisations about "cyclists", etc.
No one working in No. 10 is obeying lockdown and covid restrictions claims Julia Harley-Brewer. They don't bother with social distancing, screens or masks and have even set up a bar for socialising:
"A furious Whitehall source alerted me to this hypocrisy. They said: 'If those in Downing Street had to wear masks all day, or tried to run a business while sticking to social-distancing rules, or were forced to sit looking at a screen at home all day, would they be slower to keep the rest of us under those restrictions?
'No wonder they don't understand why four more weeks of lockdown is a big deal for so many people, and why it may be a death-blow for countless more businesses.' "
Tbh face coverings and social distancing observation have pretty much stopped where I work.
Yes, also at my office. Ditto the pub I frequent. Compliance is very low generally now, outside of Nick Palmer’s circle of friends apparently. Real world observation supports the view that people support restrictions on other people.
Still quite high in shops and supermarkets, though, I find.
The one that gets me is the 'masks on to enter a pub/restaurant' rule. It strikes me as utterly insane and making no difference whatsoever.
It's what's been referred to elsewhere as "Covid theatre" - a useless ritual performance. Same as having to put a gag back on when you have to get out of your seat to go to the loo, or to walk through a hotel lobby on the way to your room. Like a lot of the rules, a classic example of something-must-be-done-ism.
"Covid theatre" - I like that - yes, virtue signalling as it pertains to the pandemic. Will be with us for a long time, I fear. When legal restrictions are eventually removed should one ignore or mock this tendency?
It has been a liberating feeling this weekend fucking off the pointless “mask until you sit down” rule. Noone’s challenged. Track and trace also can go and do one.
These sorts of minor protests are important. Every time you see someone wearing a mask when out and about, it’s a reminder to be afraid. Conversely every time you see someone breaking the pointless rules, it’s a cue to self reflect on what on earth you’re doing following them.
Just a single drop in a limitless ocean maybe. But what is an ocean but a multitude of drops.
No one working in No. 10 is obeying lockdown and covid restrictions claims Julia Harley-Brewer. They don't bother with social distancing, screens or masks and have even set up a bar for socialising:
"A furious Whitehall source alerted me to this hypocrisy. They said: 'If those in Downing Street had to wear masks all day, or tried to run a business while sticking to social-distancing rules, or were forced to sit looking at a screen at home all day, would they be slower to keep the rest of us under those restrictions?
'No wonder they don't understand why four more weeks of lockdown is a big deal for so many people, and why it may be a death-blow for countless more businesses.' "
Tbh face coverings and social distancing observation have pretty much stopped where I work.
Yes, also at my office. Ditto the pub I frequent. Compliance is very low generally now, outside of Nick Palmer’s circle of friends apparently. Real world observation supports the view that people support restrictions on other people.
Still quite high in shops and supermarkets, though, I find.
The one that gets me is the 'masks on to enter a pub/restaurant' rule. It strikes me as utterly insane and making no difference whatsoever.
We should make a list of stupid and unnecessary rules we've had to put up with over the last year. Top of my list would be
- the closure of outdoor gyms to protect against a virus that spreads indoors among the obese - the checking in at pubs and restaurants - making people buy rip-off private tests rather than government ones when they get home from travelling.
And there's a nice riverside walk near me where the council has stopped joggers and cyclists between 10 am and 3 pm because apparently the virus spreads outdoors at 10:01 but not at 9:59.
Near where I live, the Council banned joggers and cyclists between 10am and 3pm - mainly because of the number of idiots who seem unable to steer a bike or run into people. Apparently, there is a human right to ride at 30mph on what is a pavement, about 5 foot wide in places. And do so in a mob - Fat men in lycra on fixies.
As for the people who go "I can't stop when I'm jogging, so I have to plough through people" - well, if you can't stop and start, you can't run. Learn.
The actual, real cyclists are on the quiet roads, much like the real runners.
I ride a bike and run as well.
I was out for a cycle earlier today.
On one path, maybe 3m wide, I used my bell to let the dog-walker ahead of me know that I was about to pass, they kept to one side and their dog under control and acknowledged me in a friendly way as I passed.
Later, on the esplanade, at a point where it's about 8m wide, I had to use my bell to let a walker know I was around when they walked towards my path backwards, and I had abuse shouted in my direction as I passed.
From these experiences I conclude that there is a wide variety of people in the world, and we should avoid making generalisations about "cyclists", etc.
Indeed. On the towpath near me, it’s pretty common to find walkers and joggers with earphones in who therefore cannot hear anything. And also commonplace to be abused for passing them on a bike despite giving them oceans of room.
Back when Boris was still plotting how to get past Dave and then Theresa to achieve his life’s dream of sitting in the Big Chair, the received wisdom including on PB was that he’d do OK in the south but his posh boy shtick was less to wash the further north you went.
Yet things seem to have turned out precisely the opposite, at least this side of Hadrian’s Wall
One of the stories that has perked up my Sunday is the snippet in the Mail that the left's candidate to replace poor Sir Keir is Dawn Butler.
The prospect of watching MS Butler pitch for votes in any constituency that is not the innermost of inner city seats is almost too delicious to contemplate.
Back when Boris was still plotting how to get past Dave and then Theresa to achieve his life’s dream of sitting in the Big Chair, the received wisdom including on PB was that he’d do OK in the south but his posh boy shtick was less to wash the further north you went.
Yet things seem to have turned out precisely the opposite, at least this side of Hadrian’s Wall
The theory I've seen is that graduates, especially Oxbridge graduates, probably lived alongside someone like BoJo at a formative time in their lives, and so are innoculated against his charms to an extent. If you've seen the act once, you see though it better the next time.
Must admit that I did the wrong subject at the wrong college in the wrong way to comment, but I can see the logic.
Back when Boris was still plotting how to get past Dave and then Theresa to achieve his life’s dream of sitting in the Big Chair, the received wisdom including on PB was that he’d do OK in the south but his posh boy shtick was less to wash the further north you went.
Yet things seem to have turned out precisely the opposite, at least this side of Hadrian’s Wall
Blyth Valley is north of Hadrian’s Wall.
Blyth where I started my career.
To see whether Boris is doing OK in the south the place to start is to look at the blue and red on a 2019 election map below a line drawn from the Severn to the Humber and it will be clear that Boris in the south is not a catastrophe. Of course he is going to be a catastrophe in the future, but that has always been said. May be right one day, but not right now.
Heads up: the Swedish Left Party (renamed Communists) have just announced that they will not be backing down on their commitment to vote down PM Stefan Löfven at 10am on Monday morning in a No Confidence motion.
The following parties are supporting the motion: V (comm) M (con) KD (con) SD (anti-immigration)
Likely new GE.
Is there a Swedish equivalent of Brenda from Bristol? Birgitt from Bykoping?
Back when Boris was still plotting how to get past Dave and then Theresa to achieve his life’s dream of sitting in the Big Chair, the received wisdom including on PB was that he’d do OK in the south but his posh boy shtick was less to wash the further north you went.
Yet things seem to have turned out precisely the opposite, at least this side of Hadrian’s Wall
The theory I've seen is that graduates, especially Oxbridge graduates, probably lived alongside someone like BoJo at a formative time in their lives, and so are innoculated against his charms to an extent. If you've seen the act once, you see though it better the next time.
Certainly that's true of a relative of mine, who went out on a couple of dates with him when they were students and worked with him on some student rag. She has been one of his serial underestimaters ever since he first ran for Mayor of London.
I on the other hand met him briefly twice professionally in meetings and was quite impressed by his charisma, which is perhaps the most important quality for winning elections.
No surprise the Swedish Liberals and the Greens don't want an election, because the polls show they could lose all their seats by failing to clear the 4% threshold.
No one working in No. 10 is obeying lockdown and covid restrictions claims Julia Harley-Brewer. They don't bother with social distancing, screens or masks and have even set up a bar for socialising:
"A furious Whitehall source alerted me to this hypocrisy. They said: 'If those in Downing Street had to wear masks all day, or tried to run a business while sticking to social-distancing rules, or were forced to sit looking at a screen at home all day, would they be slower to keep the rest of us under those restrictions?
'No wonder they don't understand why four more weeks of lockdown is a big deal for so many people, and why it may be a death-blow for countless more businesses.' "
Tbh face coverings and social distancing observation have pretty much stopped where I work.
Yes, also at my office. Ditto the pub I frequent. Compliance is very low generally now, outside of Nick Palmer’s circle of friends apparently. Real world observation supports the view that people support restrictions on other people.
Still quite high in shops and supermarkets, though, I find.
The one that gets me is the 'masks on to enter a pub/restaurant' rule. It strikes me as utterly insane and making no difference whatsoever.
It's what's been referred to elsewhere as "Covid theatre" - a useless ritual performance. Same as having to put a gag back on when you have to get out of your seat to go to the loo, or to walk through a hotel lobby on the way to your room. Like a lot of the rules, a classic example of something-must-be-done-ism.
It seems churlish to complain about small inconveniences in the context of a big event such as the pandemic but there does come a point where it gets silly. I remember litter bins in London disappearing after a bomb was put in one and they took ages to come back. It was quite irritating. You'd have to walk around with detritus in your pocket.
To my certain knowledge they were rifling through people's shopping bags at London museums as long ago as 1975 in response to the IRA bombing campaign. More recently we have been subjected to "pat down" searches at sports grounds, including sparsely-attended county matches at Lord's. Forty-six years of pointless harassment and it continues to grow.
Heads up: the Swedish Left Party (renamed Communists) have just announced that they will not be backing down on their commitment to vote down PM Stefan Löfven at 10am on Monday morning in a No Confidence motion.
The following parties are supporting the motion: V (comm) M (con) KD (con) SD (anti-immigration)
Likely new GE.
Is there a Swedish equivalent of Brenda from Bristol? Birgitt from Bykoping?
No. Melodrama, hyperbole and overreaction are very un-Swedish attributes. This is the land of ‘lagom”.
“There’s too much politics going on at the moment”, said Brenda. The classic cry of folk who are happy with the status quo.
Back when Boris was still plotting how to get past Dave and then Theresa to achieve his life’s dream of sitting in the Big Chair, the received wisdom including on PB was that he’d do OK in the south but his posh boy shtick was less to wash the further north you went.
Yet things seem to have turned out precisely the opposite, at least this side of Hadrian’s Wall
Blyth Valley is north of Hadrian’s Wall.
Blyth where I started my career.
To see whether Boris is doing OK in the south the place to start is to look at the blue and red on a 2019 election map below a line drawn from the Severn to the Humber and it will be clear that Boris in the south is not a catastrophe. Of course he is going to be a catastrophe in the future, but that has always been said. May be right one day, but not right now.
No surprise the Swedish Liberals and the Greens don't want an election, because the polls show they could lose all their seats by failing to clear the 4% threshold.
In fairness, polls have consistently shown one or two parties falling below the threshold at every election for the last twenty years. They never actually do.
That said, I think the Liberals probably will be kicked out of parliament this time round. Nobody has the faintest clue what they stand for, least of all their elected representatives.
”Stödröster” (support votes) are common in the Swedish PR system, and have saved the Christian Democrats on several occasions (by Moderate Party voters tactically backing them), but the problem is that the liberals have now made enemies of every single one of the bigger parties, so no one wants to back them.
No one working in No. 10 is obeying lockdown and covid restrictions claims Julia Harley-Brewer. They don't bother with social distancing, screens or masks and have even set up a bar for socialising:
"A furious Whitehall source alerted me to this hypocrisy. They said: 'If those in Downing Street had to wear masks all day, or tried to run a business while sticking to social-distancing rules, or were forced to sit looking at a screen at home all day, would they be slower to keep the rest of us under those restrictions?
'No wonder they don't understand why four more weeks of lockdown is a big deal for so many people, and why it may be a death-blow for countless more businesses.' "
Tbh face coverings and social distancing observation have pretty much stopped where I work.
Yes, also at my office. Ditto the pub I frequent. Compliance is very low generally now, outside of Nick Palmer’s circle of friends apparently. Real world observation supports the view that people support restrictions on other people.
Still quite high in shops and supermarkets, though, I find.
The one that gets me is the 'masks on to enter a pub/restaurant' rule. It strikes me as utterly insane and making no difference whatsoever.
It's what's been referred to elsewhere as "Covid theatre" - a useless ritual performance. Same as having to put a gag back on when you have to get out of your seat to go to the loo, or to walk through a hotel lobby on the way to your room. Like a lot of the rules, a classic example of something-must-be-done-ism.
It seems churlish to complain about small inconveniences in the context of a big event such as the pandemic but there does come a point where it gets silly. I remember litter bins in London disappearing after a bomb was put in one and they took ages to come back. It was quite irritating. You'd have to walk around with detritus in your pocket.
You could make like a dog-walker, and hang it on the nearest tree...
Back when Boris was still plotting how to get past Dave and then Theresa to achieve his life’s dream of sitting in the Big Chair, the received wisdom including on PB was that he’d do OK in the south but his posh boy shtick was less to wash the further north you went.
Yet things seem to have turned out precisely the opposite, at least this side of Hadrian’s Wall
The theory I've seen is that graduates, especially Oxbridge graduates, probably lived alongside someone like BoJo at a formative time in their lives, and so are innoculated against his charms to an extent. If you've seen the act once, you see though it better the next time.
Certainly that's true of a relative of mine, who went out on a couple of dates with him when they were students and worked with him on some student rag. She has been one of his serial underestimaters ever since he first ran for Mayor of London.
I on the other hand met him briefly twice professionally in meetings and was quite impressed by his charisma, which is perhaps the most important quality for winning elections.
Though the issue with Boris has never been his ability to win elections. He can make a great first impression, but a terrible fourth, fifth or sixth impression.
Go back to the post-May leadership election. Everyone knew that, if BoJo made it to the membership ballot, he would win and win big, because of the charisma you mention. As has happened. The question with Boris has always been what he would do with that win. That's why there was the talk of manoeuvring the MP stage of the election to keep him out of the final two.
"Great at campaigning, hopeless at governing" has always been the shrewd assessment of the Bozza. The question is still what you do with that assessment.
No one working in No. 10 is obeying lockdown and covid restrictions claims Julia Harley-Brewer. They don't bother with social distancing, screens or masks and have even set up a bar for socialising:
"A furious Whitehall source alerted me to this hypocrisy. They said: 'If those in Downing Street had to wear masks all day, or tried to run a business while sticking to social-distancing rules, or were forced to sit looking at a screen at home all day, would they be slower to keep the rest of us under those restrictions?
'No wonder they don't understand why four more weeks of lockdown is a big deal for so many people, and why it may be a death-blow for countless more businesses.' "
Tbh face coverings and social distancing observation have pretty much stopped where I work.
Yes, also at my office. Ditto the pub I frequent. Compliance is very low generally now, outside of Nick Palmer’s circle of friends apparently. Real world observation supports the view that people support restrictions on other people.
Still quite high in shops and supermarkets, though, I find.
The one that gets me is the 'masks on to enter a pub/restaurant' rule. It strikes me as utterly insane and making no difference whatsoever.
We should make a list of stupid and unnecessary rules we've had to put up with over the last year. Top of my list would be
- the closure of outdoor gyms to protect against a virus that spreads indoors among the obese - the checking in at pubs and restaurants - making people buy rip-off private tests rather than government ones when they get home from travelling.
And there's a nice riverside walk near me where the council has stopped joggers and cyclists between 10 am and 3 pm because apparently the virus spreads outdoors at 10:01 but not at 9:59.
Near where I live, the Council banned joggers and cyclists between 10am and 3pm - mainly because of the number of idiots who seem unable to steer a bike or run into people. Apparently, there is a human right to ride at 30mph on what is a pavement, about 5 foot wide in places. And do so in a mob - Fat men in lycra on fixies.
As for the people who go "I can't stop when I'm jogging, so I have to plough through people" - well, if you can't stop and start, you can't run. Learn.
The actual, real cyclists are on the quiet roads, much like the real runners.
I ride a bike and run as well.
I was out for a cycle earlier today.
On one path, maybe 3m wide, I used my bell to let the dog-walker ahead of me know that I was about to pass, they kept to one side and their dog under control and acknowledged me in a friendly way as I passed.
Later, on the esplanade, at a point where it's about 8m wide, I had to use my bell to let a walker know I was around when they walked towards my path backwards, and I had abuse shouted in my direction as I passed.
From these experiences I conclude that there is a wide variety of people in the world, and we should avoid making generalisations about "cyclists", etc.
Indeed. On the towpath near me, it’s pretty common to find walkers and joggers with earphones in who therefore cannot hear anything. And also commonplace to be abused for passing them on a bike despite giving them oceans of room.
Sometimes people are sufficiently appreciative that I ring it another time for them.
I get all kinds of responses to bell ringing, I get abuse for ringing, and abuse for not ringing. A few weeks ago on the towpath, there was a big guy jogging, I pinged him to go past, and as he turned round I realised it was Tyson Fury, we had a few polite words, and I rode on. He is a regular jogger round here, and does not get any aggro.
No one working in No. 10 is obeying lockdown and covid restrictions claims Julia Harley-Brewer. They don't bother with social distancing, screens or masks and have even set up a bar for socialising:
"A furious Whitehall source alerted me to this hypocrisy. They said: 'If those in Downing Street had to wear masks all day, or tried to run a business while sticking to social-distancing rules, or were forced to sit looking at a screen at home all day, would they be slower to keep the rest of us under those restrictions?
'No wonder they don't understand why four more weeks of lockdown is a big deal for so many people, and why it may be a death-blow for countless more businesses.' "
Tbh face coverings and social distancing observation have pretty much stopped where I work.
Yes, also at my office. Ditto the pub I frequent. Compliance is very low generally now, outside of Nick Palmer’s circle of friends apparently. Real world observation supports the view that people support restrictions on other people.
Still quite high in shops and supermarkets, though, I find.
The one that gets me is the 'masks on to enter a pub/restaurant' rule. It strikes me as utterly insane and making no difference whatsoever.
We should make a list of stupid and unnecessary rules we've had to put up with over the last year. Top of my list would be
- the closure of outdoor gyms to protect against a virus that spreads indoors among the obese - the checking in at pubs and restaurants - making people buy rip-off private tests rather than government ones when they get home from travelling.
And there's a nice riverside walk near me where the council has stopped joggers and cyclists between 10 am and 3 pm because apparently the virus spreads outdoors at 10:01 but not at 9:59.
Near where I live, the Council banned joggers and cyclists between 10am and 3pm - mainly because of the number of idiots who seem unable to steer a bike or run into people. Apparently, there is a human right to ride at 30mph on what is a pavement, about 5 foot wide in places. And do so in a mob - Fat men in lycra on fixies.
As for the people who go "I can't stop when I'm jogging, so I have to plough through people" - well, if you can't stop and start, you can't run. Learn.
The actual, real cyclists are on the quiet roads, much like the real runners.
I ride a bike and run as well.
Fat men on fixies are unlikely to be doing 30mph.
Unless they have just gone off the edge of a cliff.
No one working in No. 10 is obeying lockdown and covid restrictions claims Julia Harley-Brewer. They don't bother with social distancing, screens or masks and have even set up a bar for socialising:
"A furious Whitehall source alerted me to this hypocrisy. They said: 'If those in Downing Street had to wear masks all day, or tried to run a business while sticking to social-distancing rules, or were forced to sit looking at a screen at home all day, would they be slower to keep the rest of us under those restrictions?
'No wonder they don't understand why four more weeks of lockdown is a big deal for so many people, and why it may be a death-blow for countless more businesses.' "
Tbh face coverings and social distancing observation have pretty much stopped where I work.
Yes, also at my office. Ditto the pub I frequent. Compliance is very low generally now, outside of Nick Palmer’s circle of friends apparently. Real world observation supports the view that people support restrictions on other people.
Still quite high in shops and supermarkets, though, I find.
The one that gets me is the 'masks on to enter a pub/restaurant' rule. It strikes me as utterly insane and making no difference whatsoever.
It's what's been referred to elsewhere as "Covid theatre" - a useless ritual performance. Same as having to put a gag back on when you have to get out of your seat to go to the loo, or to walk through a hotel lobby on the way to your room. Like a lot of the rules, a classic example of something-must-be-done-ism.
"Covid theatre" - I like that - yes, virtue signalling as it pertains to the pandemic. Will be with us for a long time, I fear. When legal restrictions are eventually removed should one ignore or mock this tendency?
It has been a liberating feeling this weekend fucking off the pointless “mask until you sit down” rule. Noone’s challenged. Track and trace also can go and do one.
These sorts of minor protests are important. Every time you see someone wearing a mask when out and about, it’s a reminder to be afraid. Conversely every time you see someone breaking the pointless rules, it’s a cue to self reflect on what on earth you’re doing following them.
Just a single drop in a limitless ocean maybe. But what is an ocean but a multitude of drops.
We were invited not to bother to wear a mask in a taxi the other day. We left them on anyway because we were going to a hotel where we knew from past experience that we'd only be obliged to put the evil things back on, but it was nice.
No one working in No. 10 is obeying lockdown and covid restrictions claims Julia Harley-Brewer. They don't bother with social distancing, screens or masks and have even set up a bar for socialising:
"A furious Whitehall source alerted me to this hypocrisy. They said: 'If those in Downing Street had to wear masks all day, or tried to run a business while sticking to social-distancing rules, or were forced to sit looking at a screen at home all day, would they be slower to keep the rest of us under those restrictions?
'No wonder they don't understand why four more weeks of lockdown is a big deal for so many people, and why it may be a death-blow for countless more businesses.' "
Tbh face coverings and social distancing observation have pretty much stopped where I work.
Yes, also at my office. Ditto the pub I frequent. Compliance is very low generally now, outside of Nick Palmer’s circle of friends apparently. Real world observation supports the view that people support restrictions on other people.
Still quite high in shops and supermarkets, though, I find.
The one that gets me is the 'masks on to enter a pub/restaurant' rule. It strikes me as utterly insane and making no difference whatsoever.
It's what's been referred to elsewhere as "Covid theatre" - a useless ritual performance. Same as having to put a gag back on when you have to get out of your seat to go to the loo, or to walk through a hotel lobby on the way to your room. Like a lot of the rules, a classic example of something-must-be-done-ism.
"Covid theatre" - I like that - yes, virtue signalling as it pertains to the pandemic. Will be with us for a long time, I fear. When legal restrictions are eventually removed should one ignore or mock this tendency?
It has been a liberating feeling this weekend fucking off the pointless “mask until you sit down” rule. Noone’s challenged. Track and trace also can go and do one.
These sorts of minor protests are important. Every time you see someone wearing a mask when out and about, it’s a reminder to be afraid. Conversely every time you see someone breaking the pointless rules, it’s a cue to self reflect on what on earth you’re doing following them.
Just a single drop in a limitless ocean maybe. But what is an ocean but a multitude of drops.
We were invited not to bother to wear a mask in a taxi the other day. We left them on anyway because we were going to a hotel where we knew from past experience that we'd only be obliged to put the evil things back on, but it was nice.
There is no legal obligation. Just don’t wear one if you think it’s silly. If challenged, just utter “exempt”.
Galloway is one of those people who cares who runs the Labour Party far more than who runs the country. The fact that he isn't even a member of the Labour Party, and hence it's none of his fucking business who its leader is, doesn't seem to have crossed his mind.
No one working in No. 10 is obeying lockdown and covid restrictions claims Julia Harley-Brewer. They don't bother with social distancing, screens or masks and have even set up a bar for socialising:
"A furious Whitehall source alerted me to this hypocrisy. They said: 'If those in Downing Street had to wear masks all day, or tried to run a business while sticking to social-distancing rules, or were forced to sit looking at a screen at home all day, would they be slower to keep the rest of us under those restrictions?
'No wonder they don't understand why four more weeks of lockdown is a big deal for so many people, and why it may be a death-blow for countless more businesses.' "
Tbh face coverings and social distancing observation have pretty much stopped where I work.
Yes, also at my office. Ditto the pub I frequent. Compliance is very low generally now, outside of Nick Palmer’s circle of friends apparently. Real world observation supports the view that people support restrictions on other people.
Still quite high in shops and supermarkets, though, I find.
The one that gets me is the 'masks on to enter a pub/restaurant' rule. It strikes me as utterly insane and making no difference whatsoever.
It's what's been referred to elsewhere as "Covid theatre" - a useless ritual performance. Same as having to put a gag back on when you have to get out of your seat to go to the loo, or to walk through a hotel lobby on the way to your room. Like a lot of the rules, a classic example of something-must-be-done-ism.
"Covid theatre" - I like that - yes, virtue signalling as it pertains to the pandemic. Will be with us for a long time, I fear. When legal restrictions are eventually removed should one ignore or mock this tendency?
It has been a liberating feeling this weekend fucking off the pointless “mask until you sit down” rule. Noone’s challenged. Track and trace also can go and do one.
These sorts of minor protests are important. Every time you see someone wearing a mask when out and about, it’s a reminder to be afraid. Conversely every time you see someone breaking the pointless rules, it’s a cue to self reflect on what on earth you’re doing following them.
Just a single drop in a limitless ocean maybe. But what is an ocean but a multitude of drops.
We were invited not to bother to wear a mask in a taxi the other day. We left them on anyway because we were going to a hotel where we knew from past experience that we'd only be obliged to put the evil things back on, but it was nice.
There is no legal obligation. Just don’t wear one if you think it’s silly. If challenged, just utter “exempt”.
I have thought about getting myself and husband two of those hidden disability lanyards. Indeed, he is actually entitled to one. It's dealing with other people that stays my hand. Easier to comply with the nonsense and hope it's finally over soon.
Why is it that so often British sports stars were born in another country, like tennis player Cameron Norrie who was born in South Africa? Being born in the UK seems to inoculate many people against sporting success.
No one working in No. 10 is obeying lockdown and covid restrictions claims Julia Harley-Brewer. They don't bother with social distancing, screens or masks and have even set up a bar for socialising:
"A furious Whitehall source alerted me to this hypocrisy. They said: 'If those in Downing Street had to wear masks all day, or tried to run a business while sticking to social-distancing rules, or were forced to sit looking at a screen at home all day, would they be slower to keep the rest of us under those restrictions?
'No wonder they don't understand why four more weeks of lockdown is a big deal for so many people, and why it may be a death-blow for countless more businesses.' "
Tbh face coverings and social distancing observation have pretty much stopped where I work.
Yes, also at my office. Ditto the pub I frequent. Compliance is very low generally now, outside of Nick Palmer’s circle of friends apparently. Real world observation supports the view that people support restrictions on other people.
Still quite high in shops and supermarkets, though, I find.
The one that gets me is the 'masks on to enter a pub/restaurant' rule. It strikes me as utterly insane and making no difference whatsoever.
It's what's been referred to elsewhere as "Covid theatre" - a useless ritual performance. Same as having to put a gag back on when you have to get out of your seat to go to the loo, or to walk through a hotel lobby on the way to your room. Like a lot of the rules, a classic example of something-must-be-done-ism.
"Covid theatre" - I like that - yes, virtue signalling as it pertains to the pandemic. Will be with us for a long time, I fear. When legal restrictions are eventually removed should one ignore or mock this tendency?
It has been a liberating feeling this weekend fucking off the pointless “mask until you sit down” rule. Noone’s challenged. Track and trace also can go and do one.
These sorts of minor protests are important. Every time you see someone wearing a mask when out and about, it’s a reminder to be afraid. Conversely every time you see someone breaking the pointless rules, it’s a cue to self reflect on what on earth you’re doing following them.
Just a single drop in a limitless ocean maybe. But what is an ocean but a multitude of drops.
We were invited not to bother to wear a mask in a taxi the other day. We left them on anyway because we were going to a hotel where we knew from past experience that we'd only be obliged to put the evil things back on, but it was nice.
There is no legal obligation. Just don’t wear one if you think it’s silly. If challenged, just utter “exempt”.
I have thought about getting myself and husband two of those hidden disability lanyards. Indeed, he is actually entitled to one. It's dealing with other people that stays my hand. Easier to comply with the nonsense and hope it's finally over soon.
You don’t need one. You don’t need to provide any evidence at all actually. If you want, just download the pdf and if anyone challenges you just flash your phone screen. We’ve reached the point where if we stay English about this, it’s going to be here forever
No one working in No. 10 is obeying lockdown and covid restrictions claims Julia Harley-Brewer. They don't bother with social distancing, screens or masks and have even set up a bar for socialising:
"A furious Whitehall source alerted me to this hypocrisy. They said: 'If those in Downing Street had to wear masks all day, or tried to run a business while sticking to social-distancing rules, or were forced to sit looking at a screen at home all day, would they be slower to keep the rest of us under those restrictions?
'No wonder they don't understand why four more weeks of lockdown is a big deal for so many people, and why it may be a death-blow for countless more businesses.' "
Tbh face coverings and social distancing observation have pretty much stopped where I work.
Yes, also at my office. Ditto the pub I frequent. Compliance is very low generally now, outside of Nick Palmer’s circle of friends apparently. Real world observation supports the view that people support restrictions on other people.
Still quite high in shops and supermarkets, though, I find.
The one that gets me is the 'masks on to enter a pub/restaurant' rule. It strikes me as utterly insane and making no difference whatsoever.
It's what's been referred to elsewhere as "Covid theatre" - a useless ritual performance. Same as having to put a gag back on when you have to get out of your seat to go to the loo, or to walk through a hotel lobby on the way to your room. Like a lot of the rules, a classic example of something-must-be-done-ism.
"Covid theatre" - I like that - yes, virtue signalling as it pertains to the pandemic. Will be with us for a long time, I fear. When legal restrictions are eventually removed should one ignore or mock this tendency?
It has been a liberating feeling this weekend fucking off the pointless “mask until you sit down” rule. Noone’s challenged. Track and trace also can go and do one.
These sorts of minor protests are important. Every time you see someone wearing a mask when out and about, it’s a reminder to be afraid. Conversely every time you see someone breaking the pointless rules, it’s a cue to self reflect on what on earth you’re doing following them.
Just a single drop in a limitless ocean maybe. But what is an ocean but a multitude of drops.
We were invited not to bother to wear a mask in a taxi the other day. We left them on anyway because we were going to a hotel where we knew from past experience that we'd only be obliged to put the evil things back on, but it was nice.
There is no legal obligation. Just don’t wear one if you think it’s silly. If challenged, just utter “exempt”.
I have thought about getting myself and husband two of those hidden disability lanyards. Indeed, he is actually entitled to one. It's dealing with other people that stays my hand. Easier to comply with the nonsense and hope it's finally over soon.
It’s the businesses I feel for and their staff. Played cricket yesterday, hugs allowed and then stopped off at the pub on the way home. Nine of us, so needed two tables, which were separated by a walkway. Politely instructed that we must under no circumstances block the walkway by moving chairs together. We were outside, in the rain, and had spent the previous 6 hours together. I’m pretty sure the lovely bar staff who served wouldn’t care about it, but I think they are in fear of the law.
Back when Boris was still plotting how to get past Dave and then Theresa to achieve his life’s dream of sitting in the Big Chair, the received wisdom including on PB was that he’d do OK in the south but his posh boy shtick was less to wash the further north you went.
Yet things seem to have turned out precisely the opposite, at least this side of Hadrian’s Wall
Blyth Valley is north of Hadrian’s Wall.
Blyth where I started my career.
So did Andrew Marr. Did you ever bump into him?
He is 13 years younger than me
He doesn't look it.
(I bumped into him in London shortly before he had his stroke - and thought he looked really unwell...)
One of the stories that has perked up my Sunday is the snippet in the Mail that the left's candidate to replace poor Sir Keir is Dawn Butler.
The prospect of watching MS Butler pitch for votes in any constituency that is not the innermost of inner city seats is almost too delicious to contemplate.
Yes, that would be something wondrous to watch. LOTO Butler, on the campaign train in a former red wall seat, filmed calling people she meets as "racist" 2,438 times in a single hour.
I see Netherlands are 12/1 to win the Euros. Since they are already through and the draw could work out quite nicely for them I think those are good odds. The suppose stand out team, France, aren't exactly pulling up trees at the moment and Belgium and Italy will almost certainly be on the other side of the draw.
Quite why (in danger of going out) Portugal are 9/1 is mystery. England 13/2 on current form looks laughable.
No one working in No. 10 is obeying lockdown and covid restrictions claims Julia Harley-Brewer. They don't bother with social distancing, screens or masks and have even set up a bar for socialising:
"A furious Whitehall source alerted me to this hypocrisy. They said: 'If those in Downing Street had to wear masks all day, or tried to run a business while sticking to social-distancing rules, or were forced to sit looking at a screen at home all day, would they be slower to keep the rest of us under those restrictions?
'No wonder they don't understand why four more weeks of lockdown is a big deal for so many people, and why it may be a death-blow for countless more businesses.' "
Tbh face coverings and social distancing observation have pretty much stopped where I work.
Yes, also at my office. Ditto the pub I frequent. Compliance is very low generally now, outside of Nick Palmer’s circle of friends apparently. Real world observation supports the view that people support restrictions on other people.
Still quite high in shops and supermarkets, though, I find.
The one that gets me is the 'masks on to enter a pub/restaurant' rule. It strikes me as utterly insane and making no difference whatsoever.
It's what's been referred to elsewhere as "Covid theatre" - a useless ritual performance. Same as having to put a gag back on when you have to get out of your seat to go to the loo, or to walk through a hotel lobby on the way to your room. Like a lot of the rules, a classic example of something-must-be-done-ism.
"Covid theatre" - I like that - yes, virtue signalling as it pertains to the pandemic. Will be with us for a long time, I fear. When legal restrictions are eventually removed should one ignore or mock this tendency?
It has been a liberating feeling this weekend fucking off the pointless “mask until you sit down” rule. Noone’s challenged. Track and trace also can go and do one.
These sorts of minor protests are important. Every time you see someone wearing a mask when out and about, it’s a reminder to be afraid. Conversely every time you see someone breaking the pointless rules, it’s a cue to self reflect on what on earth you’re doing following them.
Just a single drop in a limitless ocean maybe. But what is an ocean but a multitude of drops.
We were invited not to bother to wear a mask in a taxi the other day. We left them on anyway because we were going to a hotel where we knew from past experience that we'd only be obliged to put the evil things back on, but it was nice.
There is no legal obligation. Just don’t wear one if you think it’s silly. If challenged, just utter “exempt”.
I have thought about getting myself and husband two of those hidden disability lanyards. Indeed, he is actually entitled to one. It's dealing with other people that stays my hand. Easier to comply with the nonsense and hope it's finally over soon.
It’s the businesses I feel for and their staff. Played cricket yesterday, hugs allowed and then stopped off at the pub on the way home. Nine of us, so needed two tables, which were separated by a walkway. Politely instructed that we must under no circumstances block the walkway by moving chairs together. We were outside, in the rain, and had spent the previous 6 hours together. I’m pretty sure the lovely bar staff who served wouldn’t care about it, but I think they are in fear of the law.
The rules are - and have been pretty much since the start - a load of contradictory bullshit.
No one working in No. 10 is obeying lockdown and covid restrictions claims Julia Harley-Brewer. They don't bother with social distancing, screens or masks and have even set up a bar for socialising:
"A furious Whitehall source alerted me to this hypocrisy. They said: 'If those in Downing Street had to wear masks all day, or tried to run a business while sticking to social-distancing rules, or were forced to sit looking at a screen at home all day, would they be slower to keep the rest of us under those restrictions?
'No wonder they don't understand why four more weeks of lockdown is a big deal for so many people, and why it may be a death-blow for countless more businesses.' "
Tbh face coverings and social distancing observation have pretty much stopped where I work.
Yes, also at my office. Ditto the pub I frequent. Compliance is very low generally now, outside of Nick Palmer’s circle of friends apparently. Real world observation supports the view that people support restrictions on other people.
Still quite high in shops and supermarkets, though, I find.
The one that gets me is the 'masks on to enter a pub/restaurant' rule. It strikes me as utterly insane and making no difference whatsoever.
We should make a list of stupid and unnecessary rules we've had to put up with over the last year. Top of my list would be
- the closure of outdoor gyms to protect against a virus that spreads indoors among the obese - the checking in at pubs and restaurants - making people buy rip-off private tests rather than government ones when they get home from travelling.
And there's a nice riverside walk near me where the council has stopped joggers and cyclists between 10 am and 3 pm because apparently the virus spreads outdoors at 10:01 but not at 9:59.
Near where I live, the Council banned joggers and cyclists between 10am and 3pm - mainly because of the number of idiots who seem unable to steer a bike or run into people. Apparently, there is a human right to ride at 30mph on what is a pavement, about 5 foot wide in places. And do so in a mob - Fat men in lycra on fixies.
As for the people who go "I can't stop when I'm jogging, so I have to plough through people" - well, if you can't stop and start, you can't run. Learn.
The actual, real cyclists are on the quiet roads, much like the real runners.
I ride a bike and run as well.
I was out for a cycle earlier today.
On one path, maybe 3m wide, I used my bell to let the dog-walker ahead of me know that I was about to pass, they kept to one side and their dog under control and acknowledged me in a friendly way as I passed.
Later, on the esplanade, at a point where it's about 8m wide, I had to use my bell to let a walker know I was around when they walked towards my path backwards, and I had abuse shouted in my direction as I passed.
From these experiences I conclude that there is a wide variety of people in the world, and we should avoid making generalisations about "cyclists", etc.
I always assumed that Nick Cave's generalisation was correct: "people they ain't no good."
No one working in No. 10 is obeying lockdown and covid restrictions claims Julia Harley-Brewer. They don't bother with social distancing, screens or masks and have even set up a bar for socialising:
"A furious Whitehall source alerted me to this hypocrisy. They said: 'If those in Downing Street had to wear masks all day, or tried to run a business while sticking to social-distancing rules, or were forced to sit looking at a screen at home all day, would they be slower to keep the rest of us under those restrictions?
'No wonder they don't understand why four more weeks of lockdown is a big deal for so many people, and why it may be a death-blow for countless more businesses.' "
Tbh face coverings and social distancing observation have pretty much stopped where I work.
Yes, also at my office. Ditto the pub I frequent. Compliance is very low generally now, outside of Nick Palmer’s circle of friends apparently. Real world observation supports the view that people support restrictions on other people.
Still quite high in shops and supermarkets, though, I find.
The one that gets me is the 'masks on to enter a pub/restaurant' rule. It strikes me as utterly insane and making no difference whatsoever.
We should make a list of stupid and unnecessary rules we've had to put up with over the last year. Top of my list would be
- the closure of outdoor gyms to protect against a virus that spreads indoors among the obese - the checking in at pubs and restaurants - making people buy rip-off private tests rather than government ones when they get home from travelling.
And there's a nice riverside walk near me where the council has stopped joggers and cyclists between 10 am and 3 pm because apparently the virus spreads outdoors at 10:01 but not at 9:59.
Near where I live, the Council banned joggers and cyclists between 10am and 3pm - mainly because of the number of idiots who seem unable to steer a bike or run into people. Apparently, there is a human right to ride at 30mph on what is a pavement, about 5 foot wide in places. And do so in a mob - Fat men in lycra on fixies.
As for the people who go "I can't stop when I'm jogging, so I have to plough through people" - well, if you can't stop and start, you can't run. Learn.
The actual, real cyclists are on the quiet roads, much like the real runners.
I ride a bike and run as well.
I was out for a cycle earlier today.
On one path, maybe 3m wide, I used my bell to let the dog-walker ahead of me know that I was about to pass, they kept to one side and their dog under control and acknowledged me in a friendly way as I passed.
Later, on the esplanade, at a point where it's about 8m wide, I had to use my bell to let a walker know I was around when they walked towards my path backwards, and I had abuse shouted in my direction as I passed.
From these experiences I conclude that there is a wide variety of people in the world, and we should avoid making generalisations about "cyclists", etc.
Indeed. On the towpath near me, it’s pretty common to find walkers and joggers with earphones in who therefore cannot hear anything. And also commonplace to be abused for passing them on a bike despite giving them oceans of room.
As a deaf person of my acquaintance would say from bitter experience - cyclists and joggers often do not seem to consider the possibility that the person in front might not hear them at all. And not all deaf people have visible earpieces these days.
Greetings from (mostly) completely reopened California.
95% of people on the street aren't wearing masks 80% of people in shops aren't wearing them.
Most shops and restaurants still require their employees to wear masks, presumably because until this week it was illegal to ask if an employee had been vaccinated.
Greetings from (mostly) completely reopened California.
95% of people on the street aren't wearing masks 80% of people in shops aren't wearing them.
Most shops and restaurants still require their employees to wear masks, presumably because until this week it was illegal to ask if an employee had been vaccinated.
There are no Ubers.
Cannot wait for this to be the case in England, too!
No one working in No. 10 is obeying lockdown and covid restrictions claims Julia Harley-Brewer. They don't bother with social distancing, screens or masks and have even set up a bar for socialising:
"A furious Whitehall source alerted me to this hypocrisy. They said: 'If those in Downing Street had to wear masks all day, or tried to run a business while sticking to social-distancing rules, or were forced to sit looking at a screen at home all day, would they be slower to keep the rest of us under those restrictions?
'No wonder they don't understand why four more weeks of lockdown is a big deal for so many people, and why it may be a death-blow for countless more businesses.' "
Tbh face coverings and social distancing observation have pretty much stopped where I work.
Yes, also at my office. Ditto the pub I frequent. Compliance is very low generally now, outside of Nick Palmer’s circle of friends apparently. Real world observation supports the view that people support restrictions on other people.
Still quite high in shops and supermarkets, though, I find.
The one that gets me is the 'masks on to enter a pub/restaurant' rule. It strikes me as utterly insane and making no difference whatsoever.
It's what's been referred to elsewhere as "Covid theatre" - a useless ritual performance. Same as having to put a gag back on when you have to get out of your seat to go to the loo, or to walk through a hotel lobby on the way to your room. Like a lot of the rules, a classic example of something-must-be-done-ism.
"Covid theatre" - I like that - yes, virtue signalling as it pertains to the pandemic. Will be with us for a long time, I fear. When legal restrictions are eventually removed should one ignore or mock this tendency?
It has been a liberating feeling this weekend fucking off the pointless “mask until you sit down” rule. Noone’s challenged. Track and trace also can go and do one.
These sorts of minor protests are important. Every time you see someone wearing a mask when out and about, it’s a reminder to be afraid. Conversely every time you see someone breaking the pointless rules, it’s a cue to self reflect on what on earth you’re doing following them.
Just a single drop in a limitless ocean maybe. But what is an ocean but a multitude of drops.
We were invited not to bother to wear a mask in a taxi the other day. We left them on anyway because we were going to a hotel where we knew from past experience that we'd only be obliged to put the evil things back on, but it was nice.
There is no legal obligation. Just don’t wear one if you think it’s silly. If challenged, just utter “exempt”.
I have thought about getting myself and husband two of those hidden disability lanyards. Indeed, he is actually entitled to one. It's dealing with other people that stays my hand. Easier to comply with the nonsense and hope it's finally over soon.
You don’t need one. You don’t need to provide any evidence at all actually. If you want, just download the pdf and if anyone challenges you just flash your phone screen. We’ve reached the point where if we stay English about this, it’s going to be here forever
It's a fair point. I'll have to see whether there are more excuses proffered on July 19th and then take it from there. That said, I suspect I'll be forced to keep wearing one of the wretched things at work for a long time to come, so total liberation isn't imminent regardless, sadly.
On Batley. Someone is circulating anti-Semitic and homophobic messages in an attempt to undermine Labour's support within the Muslim community. That's a fact. Only time will tell if it's effective or not. But there's no point pretending it's not happening, because it is.
The insanity of modern Labour. Their leader, his family and their candidate in Batley are being subjected to anti-Semitic and homophobic abuse. But for fear of offending a section of their base, they prefer to focus on those highlighting the attacks, than the attacks themselves.
'We're haemorrhaging votes among Muslim voters,' one senior Labour official tells me, 'and the reason for that is what Keir has been doing on antisemitism. Nobody really wants to talk about it, but that's the main factor. He challenged Corbyn on it, and there's been a backlash among certain sections of the community. 'The white working class despise Labour,' he tells me. 'They think Labour just don't like them. 'Things like the whole G L B T TQI agenda. The working classes don't like that. They're tired of Labour's identity politics.' Before I spoke to him, I was forwarded a message circulating on WhatsApp groups within the Muslim community. Listing '5 reasons why every citizen should NOT vote for Kim Leadbeater, the Labour candidate' it says, '1) She is a lesbian and will push the G L B T agenda in our town.' Galloway categorically denies involvement in those texts. 'That's completely untrue,' he claims, before pointing out that his most senior campaign worker is herself gay. The same WhatsApp messages targeting Leadbeater also warn: 'Her party leader Keir Starmer is pro-Israel and pro-Zionist. He needs to get a clear message in Batley and Spen.' Galloway campaign staffers also claim members of the Muslim community have been expressing concern to them over the fact Starmer's wife is Jewish, and that their children are being raised in the Jewish faith. Though again, they are unable to say who is circulating this information.
The week on week infection inflation rate falls again. Now down to 31%. That’s the lowest it has been in this wavelet I think.
We ought to be past 60% double jabbed tomorrow as well. I'm 45 and my eight weeks is up imminently. I think that the Zero Covidians are going to need some creative excuses to put off Step 4 again.
No one working in No. 10 is obeying lockdown and covid restrictions claims Julia Harley-Brewer. They don't bother with social distancing, screens or masks and have even set up a bar for socialising:
"A furious Whitehall source alerted me to this hypocrisy. They said: 'If those in Downing Street had to wear masks all day, or tried to run a business while sticking to social-distancing rules, or were forced to sit looking at a screen at home all day, would they be slower to keep the rest of us under those restrictions?
'No wonder they don't understand why four more weeks of lockdown is a big deal for so many people, and why it may be a death-blow for countless more businesses.' "
Tbh face coverings and social distancing observation have pretty much stopped where I work.
Yes, also at my office. Ditto the pub I frequent. Compliance is very low generally now, outside of Nick Palmer’s circle of friends apparently. Real world observation supports the view that people support restrictions on other people.
Still quite high in shops and supermarkets, though, I find.
The one that gets me is the 'masks on to enter a pub/restaurant' rule. It strikes me as utterly insane and making no difference whatsoever.
It's what's been referred to elsewhere as "Covid theatre" - a useless ritual performance. Same as having to put a gag back on when you have to get out of your seat to go to the loo, or to walk through a hotel lobby on the way to your room. Like a lot of the rules, a classic example of something-must-be-done-ism.
"Covid theatre" - I like that - yes, virtue signalling as it pertains to the pandemic. Will be with us for a long time, I fear. When legal restrictions are eventually removed should one ignore or mock this tendency?
It has been a liberating feeling this weekend fucking off the pointless “mask until you sit down” rule. Noone’s challenged. Track and trace also can go and do one.
These sorts of minor protests are important. Every time you see someone wearing a mask when out and about, it’s a reminder to be afraid. Conversely every time you see someone breaking the pointless rules, it’s a cue to self reflect on what on earth you’re doing following them.
Just a single drop in a limitless ocean maybe. But what is an ocean but a multitude of drops.
We were invited not to bother to wear a mask in a taxi the other day. We left them on anyway because we were going to a hotel where we knew from past experience that we'd only be obliged to put the evil things back on, but it was nice.
There is no legal obligation. Just don’t wear one if you think it’s silly. If challenged, just utter “exempt”.
I have thought about getting myself and husband two of those hidden disability lanyards. Indeed, he is actually entitled to one. It's dealing with other people that stays my hand. Easier to comply with the nonsense and hope it's finally over soon.
Our son is severely autistic and thus has a lanyard. We tend to try to avoid going anywhere because quite a few people assume he’s just playing the Lawrence Fox card, due to so many wankers going around lying about it.
No one working in No. 10 is obeying lockdown and covid restrictions claims Julia Harley-Brewer. They don't bother with social distancing, screens or masks and have even set up a bar for socialising:
"A furious Whitehall source alerted me to this hypocrisy. They said: 'If those in Downing Street had to wear masks all day, or tried to run a business while sticking to social-distancing rules, or were forced to sit looking at a screen at home all day, would they be slower to keep the rest of us under those restrictions?
'No wonder they don't understand why four more weeks of lockdown is a big deal for so many people, and why it may be a death-blow for countless more businesses.' "
Tbh face coverings and social distancing observation have pretty much stopped where I work.
Yes, also at my office. Ditto the pub I frequent. Compliance is very low generally now, outside of Nick Palmer’s circle of friends apparently. Real world observation supports the view that people support restrictions on other people.
Still quite high in shops and supermarkets, though, I find.
The one that gets me is the 'masks on to enter a pub/restaurant' rule. It strikes me as utterly insane and making no difference whatsoever.
It's what's been referred to elsewhere as "Covid theatre" - a useless ritual performance. Same as having to put a gag back on when you have to get out of your seat to go to the loo, or to walk through a hotel lobby on the way to your room. Like a lot of the rules, a classic example of something-must-be-done-ism.
"Covid theatre" - I like that - yes, virtue signalling as it pertains to the pandemic. Will be with us for a long time, I fear. When legal restrictions are eventually removed should one ignore or mock this tendency?
It has been a liberating feeling this weekend fucking off the pointless “mask until you sit down” rule. Noone’s challenged. Track and trace also can go and do one.
These sorts of minor protests are important. Every time you see someone wearing a mask when out and about, it’s a reminder to be afraid. Conversely every time you see someone breaking the pointless rules, it’s a cue to self reflect on what on earth you’re doing following them.
Just a single drop in a limitless ocean maybe. But what is an ocean but a multitude of drops.
We were invited not to bother to wear a mask in a taxi the other day. We left them on anyway because we were going to a hotel where we knew from past experience that we'd only be obliged to put the evil things back on, but it was nice.
There is no legal obligation. Just don’t wear one if you think it’s silly. If challenged, just utter “exempt”.
I have thought about getting myself and husband two of those hidden disability lanyards. Indeed, he is actually entitled to one. It's dealing with other people that stays my hand. Easier to comply with the nonsense and hope it's finally over soon.
Our son is severely autistic and thus has a lanyard. We tend to try to avoid going anywhere because quite a few people assume he’s just playing the Lawrence Fox card, due to so many wankers going around lying about it.
Clip clop clip clop. There goes Andy on his moral high horse.
No one working in No. 10 is obeying lockdown and covid restrictions claims Julia Harley-Brewer. They don't bother with social distancing, screens or masks and have even set up a bar for socialising:
"A furious Whitehall source alerted me to this hypocrisy. They said: 'If those in Downing Street had to wear masks all day, or tried to run a business while sticking to social-distancing rules, or were forced to sit looking at a screen at home all day, would they be slower to keep the rest of us under those restrictions?
'No wonder they don't understand why four more weeks of lockdown is a big deal for so many people, and why it may be a death-blow for countless more businesses.' "
Tbh face coverings and social distancing observation have pretty much stopped where I work.
Yes, also at my office. Ditto the pub I frequent. Compliance is very low generally now, outside of Nick Palmer’s circle of friends apparently. Real world observation supports the view that people support restrictions on other people.
Still quite high in shops and supermarkets, though, I find.
The one that gets me is the 'masks on to enter a pub/restaurant' rule. It strikes me as utterly insane and making no difference whatsoever.
It's what's been referred to elsewhere as "Covid theatre" - a useless ritual performance. Same as having to put a gag back on when you have to get out of your seat to go to the loo, or to walk through a hotel lobby on the way to your room. Like a lot of the rules, a classic example of something-must-be-done-ism.
"Covid theatre" - I like that - yes, virtue signalling as it pertains to the pandemic. Will be with us for a long time, I fear. When legal restrictions are eventually removed should one ignore or mock this tendency?
It has been a liberating feeling this weekend fucking off the pointless “mask until you sit down” rule. Noone’s challenged. Track and trace also can go and do one.
These sorts of minor protests are important. Every time you see someone wearing a mask when out and about, it’s a reminder to be afraid. Conversely every time you see someone breaking the pointless rules, it’s a cue to self reflect on what on earth you’re doing following them.
Just a single drop in a limitless ocean maybe. But what is an ocean but a multitude of drops.
We were invited not to bother to wear a mask in a taxi the other day. We left them on anyway because we were going to a hotel where we knew from past experience that we'd only be obliged to put the evil things back on, but it was nice.
There is no legal obligation. Just don’t wear one if you think it’s silly. If challenged, just utter “exempt”.
I have thought about getting myself and husband two of those hidden disability lanyards. Indeed, he is actually entitled to one. It's dealing with other people that stays my hand. Easier to comply with the nonsense and hope it's finally over soon.
Our son is severely autistic and thus has a lanyard. We tend to try to avoid going anywhere because quite a few people assume he’s just playing the Lawrence Fox card, due to so many wankers going around lying about it.
Clip clop clip clop. There goes Andy on his moral high horse.
Fuck off, you denialist cunt. Sick and fucking tired of the denialist wankers now. I’m out.
No one working in No. 10 is obeying lockdown and covid restrictions claims Julia Harley-Brewer. They don't bother with social distancing, screens or masks and have even set up a bar for socialising:
"A furious Whitehall source alerted me to this hypocrisy. They said: 'If those in Downing Street had to wear masks all day, or tried to run a business while sticking to social-distancing rules, or were forced to sit looking at a screen at home all day, would they be slower to keep the rest of us under those restrictions?
'No wonder they don't understand why four more weeks of lockdown is a big deal for so many people, and why it may be a death-blow for countless more businesses.' "
Tbh face coverings and social distancing observation have pretty much stopped where I work.
Yes, also at my office. Ditto the pub I frequent. Compliance is very low generally now, outside of Nick Palmer’s circle of friends apparently. Real world observation supports the view that people support restrictions on other people.
Still quite high in shops and supermarkets, though, I find.
The one that gets me is the 'masks on to enter a pub/restaurant' rule. It strikes me as utterly insane and making no difference whatsoever.
It's what's been referred to elsewhere as "Covid theatre" - a useless ritual performance. Same as having to put a gag back on when you have to get out of your seat to go to the loo, or to walk through a hotel lobby on the way to your room. Like a lot of the rules, a classic example of something-must-be-done-ism.
"Covid theatre" - I like that - yes, virtue signalling as it pertains to the pandemic. Will be with us for a long time, I fear. When legal restrictions are eventually removed should one ignore or mock this tendency?
It has been a liberating feeling this weekend fucking off the pointless “mask until you sit down” rule. Noone’s challenged. Track and trace also can go and do one.
These sorts of minor protests are important. Every time you see someone wearing a mask when out and about, it’s a reminder to be afraid. Conversely every time you see someone breaking the pointless rules, it’s a cue to self reflect on what on earth you’re doing following them.
Just a single drop in a limitless ocean maybe. But what is an ocean but a multitude of drops.
We were invited not to bother to wear a mask in a taxi the other day. We left them on anyway because we were going to a hotel where we knew from past experience that we'd only be obliged to put the evil things back on, but it was nice.
There is no legal obligation. Just don’t wear one if you think it’s silly. If challenged, just utter “exempt”.
I have thought about getting myself and husband two of those hidden disability lanyards. Indeed, he is actually entitled to one. It's dealing with other people that stays my hand. Easier to comply with the nonsense and hope it's finally over soon.
Our son is severely autistic and thus has a lanyard. We tend to try to avoid going anywhere because quite a few people assume he’s just playing the Lawrence Fox card, due to so many wankers going around lying about it.
Clip clop clip clop. There goes Andy on his moral high horse.
Fuck off, you denialist cunt. Sick and fucking tired of the denialist wankers now. I’m out.
Comments
You are fond of the word ‘crass’. Yet real-world observations prove the point: people love rules for other people.
The following parties are supporting the motion:
V (comm)
M (con)
KD (con)
SD (anti-immigration)
Likely new GE.
Some pubs have apps and others don’t, in some you need to wear a mask and not in others. Some pubs allow only six to a table outside, whereas others allow up to thirty. Screens are in place in some pubs whereas others have removed all their screens to improve airflow.
Somewhere in the pubs there is usually beer, but it’s not always clear how you find it.
Cleckheaton has the world's largest Indian Restaurant, in what used to be a Congregational chapel.
Make of that what you will.
Cleckheaton is a nice little town. No wonder that it's a stronghold of the Yellow Peril.
So, just about ground level.
They were urging rebooking of jabs for an eight week gap for those of us under 40 as well.
Yet things seem to have turned out precisely the opposite, at least this side of Hadrian’s Wall
As for the people who go "I can't stop when I'm jogging, so I have to plough through people" - well, if you can't stop and start, you can't run. Learn.
The actual, real cyclists are on the quiet roads, much like the real runners.
I ride a bike and run as well.
Note: I doubt that the mainstream centre-right Moderates and Christian Democrats will go for a full coalition with the Sweden Democrats - more likely confidence and supply; just as the 2 liberal parties (Centre and Liberals) give Löfven confidence and supply under the “January agreement”.
The number of morons who seem to think that because it is a public right of way, that they don't have to give a damn about others....
On one path, maybe 3m wide, I used my bell to let the dog-walker ahead of me know that I was about to pass, they kept to one side and their dog under control and acknowledged me in a friendly way as I passed.
Later, on the esplanade, at a point where it's about 8m wide, I had to use my bell to let a walker know I was around when they walked towards my path backwards, and I had abuse shouted in my direction as I passed.
From these experiences I conclude that there is a wide variety of people in the world, and we should avoid making generalisations about "cyclists", etc.
These sorts of minor protests are important. Every time you see someone wearing a mask when out and about, it’s a reminder to be afraid. Conversely every time you see someone breaking the pointless rules, it’s a cue to self reflect on what on earth you’re doing following them.
Just a single drop in a limitless ocean maybe. But what is an ocean but a multitude of drops.
The prospect of watching MS Butler pitch for votes in any constituency that is not the innermost of inner city seats is almost too delicious to contemplate.
Must admit that I did the wrong subject at the wrong college in the wrong way to comment, but I can see the logic.
https://electionmaps.uk/genelec/2019
I on the other hand met him briefly twice professionally in meetings and was quite impressed by his charisma, which is perhaps the most important quality for winning elections.
Sometimes people are sufficiently appreciative that I ring it another time for them.
“There’s too much politics going on at the moment”, said Brenda. The classic cry of folk who are happy with the status quo.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23234033
They even have the right colours.
That said, I think the Liberals probably will be kicked out of parliament this time round. Nobody has the faintest clue what they stand for, least of all their elected representatives.
”Stödröster” (support votes) are common in the Swedish PR system, and have saved the Christian Democrats on several occasions (by Moderate Party voters tactically backing them), but the problem is that the liberals have now made enemies of every single one of the bigger parties, so no one wants to back them.
Go back to the post-May leadership election. Everyone knew that, if BoJo made it to the membership ballot, he would win and win big, because of the charisma you mention. As has happened. The question with Boris has always been what he would do with that win. That's why there was the talk of manoeuvring the MP stage of the election to keep him out of the final two.
"Great at campaigning, hopeless at governing" has always been the shrewd assessment of the Bozza. The question is still what you do with that assessment.
https://hornit.com/products/hornit-db140
Though don't expect to be popular with the people with doglets.
Especially with the types for whom the doglet is a child-substitute.
A few weeks ago on the towpath, there was a big guy jogging, I pinged him to go past, and as he turned round I realised it was Tyson Fury, we had a few polite words, and I rode on. He is a regular jogger round here, and does not get any aggro.
Unless they have just gone off the edge of a cliff.
2. I'm rather shocked by how well the LibDems did in B&S
(I bumped into him in London shortly before he had his stroke - and thought he looked really unwell...)
H'Angus the Monkey or Gormless the Gull?
Quite why (in danger of going out) Portugal are 9/1 is mystery. England 13/2 on current form looks laughable.
How have they bowled that well and not taken a wicket?
F1: far better race than expected (red bet, once again. I'm making up for last year's bundle of flukes, it seems).
95% of people on the street aren't wearing masks
80% of people in shops aren't wearing them.
Most shops and restaurants still require their employees to wear masks, presumably because until this week it was illegal to ask if an employee had been vaccinated.
There are no Ubers.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-9704175/DAN-HODGES-Whos-spreading-poison-final-nail-Keir-Starmers-coffin.html
On Batley. Someone is circulating anti-Semitic and homophobic messages in an attempt to undermine Labour's support within the Muslim community. That's a fact. Only time will tell if it's effective or not. But there's no point pretending it's not happening, because it is.
The insanity of modern Labour. Their leader, his family and their candidate in Batley are being subjected to anti-Semitic and homophobic abuse. But for fear of offending a section of their base, they prefer to focus on those highlighting the attacks, than the attacks themselves.
'We're haemorrhaging votes among Muslim voters,' one senior Labour official tells me, 'and the reason for that is what Keir has been doing on antisemitism. Nobody really wants to talk about it, but that's the main factor. He challenged Corbyn on it, and there's been a backlash among certain sections of the community.
'The white working class despise Labour,' he tells me. 'They think Labour just don't like them.
'Things like the whole G L B T TQI agenda. The working classes don't like that. They're tired of Labour's identity politics.'
Before I spoke to him, I was forwarded a message circulating on WhatsApp groups within the Muslim community. Listing '5 reasons why every citizen should NOT vote for Kim Leadbeater, the Labour candidate' it says, '1) She is a lesbian and will push the G L B T agenda in our town.' Galloway categorically denies involvement in those texts. 'That's completely untrue,' he claims, before pointing out that his most senior campaign worker is herself gay.
The same WhatsApp messages targeting Leadbeater also warn: 'Her party leader Keir Starmer is pro-Israel and pro-Zionist. He needs to get a clear message in Batley and Spen.'
Galloway campaign staffers also claim members of the Muslim community have been expressing concern to them over the fact Starmer's wife is Jewish, and that their children are being raised in the Jewish faith. Though again, they are unable to say who is circulating this information.
https://enormo-haddock.blogspot.com/2021/06/france-post-race-analysis-2021.html
We tend to try to avoid going anywhere because quite a few people assume he’s just playing the Lawrence Fox card, due to so many wankers going around lying about it.
Sick and fucking tired of the denialist wankers now. I’m out.
Although his decision to get out of the car and piss on the corpse was a bit excessive.
Especially since it smoked and then exploded, which didn’t do his front wing too many favours.