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Well based on your first sentence you could stand as a LD councillorAlastairMeeks said:
I’m going to be slightly coy there. I’m looking out for difficult things that no one wants to do but everyone wants to have done rather than enjoyable things that there are no shortage of volunteers for.Casino_Royale said:
My pleasure.AlastairMeeks said:
Thank you. Yes, 52, but I’ve always wanted to try to use some different skills and this gives me the opportunity to do so.Casino_Royale said:
In all seriousness, congratulations Alastair. Very well deserved.AlastairMeeks said:
30 April is a convenient date for me - it’s my firm’s year end.OldKingCole said:
I picked 30th April too. That was 17 years ago though. The other big event for us that day was that elder son's first child was born that day. Now he's having driving lessons at a 'cardrome' and looking forward to being on the road properly. He and I were messaging each other about automatic cars last night, as per the discussion where.AlastairMeeks said:Meeksit means Meeksit. I suppose today is as good a day as any to announce that I’m retiring on 30 April.
You must have done well to be retiring at 52 (?) or something like that?!
Any thoughts on how you might do that which you’d care to share? What are you considering?0 -
Simpsons in the Strand is suitably British if you're in that frame of mind. I've seen some grumpy comments about it but in my experience it's a classic British dining experience (roast beef from the trolley etc.) with pleasant staff, and not ludicrously expensive for Central London (from memory £30 a head will do it unless you go for expensive wine).Stocky said:Who`s going to be in Parliament Square at 11pm?
I (and Mrs Stocky) are coming down by train this morning and making a couple of days out of it.
Is there anywhere else in London to keep an eye on for action e.g. Traf Square, Buck Palace, Downing Street?
Anyone know where Johnson is making his speech at 10 pm? I think he`s in Sunderland this morning.
And finally, and most importantly, where am I to take Mrs Stocky out for a meal this evening near Westminster? Any recommendations?2 -
Assume that you're aiming higher than being the local dog poo vigilante, though I'm sure it would be appreciated. Good luck either way.AlastairMeeks said:
I’m going to be slightly coy there. I’m looking out for difficult things that no one wants to do but everyone wants to have done rather than enjoyable things that there are no shortage of volunteers for.Casino_Royale said:
My pleasure.AlastairMeeks said:
Thank you. Yes, 52, but I’ve always wanted to try to use some different skills and this gives me the opportunity to do so.Casino_Royale said:
In all seriousness, congratulations Alastair. Very well deserved.AlastairMeeks said:
30 April is a convenient date for me - it’s my firm’s year end.OldKingCole said:
I picked 30th April too. That was 17 years ago though. The other big event for us that day was that elder son's first child was born that day. Now he's having driving lessons at a 'cardrome' and looking forward to being on the road properly. He and I were messaging each other about automatic cars last night, as per the discussion where.AlastairMeeks said:Meeksit means Meeksit. I suppose today is as good a day as any to announce that I’m retiring on 30 April.
You must have done well to be retiring at 52 (?) or something like that?!
Any thoughts on how you might do that which you’d care to share? What are you considering?0 -
In the UK and elsewhere, it tends to be the executive that has that roving role, whilst individual legislators campaign primarily on their own patch. So, we have a he council of ministers who, as national representatives, wish it to be run as 27 national campaigns.Philip_Thompson said:
If the EU is not going to have politicians campaigning from Birmingham to Berlin then it shouldn't have politicians passing laws from Birmingham to Berlin.Pro_Rata said:
I'd agree there should be more of a sense of self reflection in Brussels, but, that said, I do find it odd when leavers criticize the EU for not being the United States of Europe of their imagination.MarqueeMark said:
Imagine the US President, sitting in the White House, announcing gravely that as of tomorrow, "there will only be 49 stars on our slightly-less star spangled banner."not_on_fire said:
It’s the UK, not the EU that has a credibility problem after the Brexit processMarqueeMark said:Europe still has no idea what just happened to its credibility.
They wanted to forge the United States of Europe. But it's like Texas just voted to leave the USA. OK, so Texas might be the most semi-detatched state. But the loss of that large state would have massive repurcussions in the US. The EU? Nobody even lost a day of their pension....
The EU enters February 2020 a far less credible thing.
Because that is what just happened to the EU.
Now imagine the fall-out in the US. The next thing the President would be telling the people is that he was resigning. Before the Senate got a chance to fire his sorry ass, for allowing this humiliation to come about.
The EU? At the most senior level of its management, it just has no concept of fuck up.
It is still a member organisation, an unusually powerful one perhaps, but still.a member organisation, that has lost a member. It is simply not like a USA that has lost a state. It is different.
It is like when you bewail the lack of a politician who campaigns for the EU presidency from Birmingham to Berlin, channelling the spirit of some William Glen federalist erotic dream. The EU presidency is not like that because the EU is not like that, the nation's do not wish it and they are happy with their own domestic democratic power bases, thank you very much.
But we're leaving, so your confusion over what it is we are leaving is, for the present time, rather more moot.
The needs of national sovereignty and the lack of a Europe wide demos have the same root.0 -
Butler is reliably Corbynite without going OTT about it, and I think also there's a feeling that some racial and gender balance with Starmer would be a good idea. I'm considering voting for her.MarqueeMark said:
Burgon is buggered.....Stocky said:Anyone else surprised how well Dawn Butler is doing in CLP nominations? She`s in strong second place. Anything to read into this?
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Thank`s for that Nick. Looks a bit pricey. We`ve been married 17 years.NickPalmer said:
Simpsons in the Strand is suitably British if you're in that frame of mind. I've seen some grumpy comments about it but in my experience it's a classic British dining experience (roast beef from the trolley etc.) with pleasant staff, and not ludicrously expensive for Central London (from memory £30 a head will do it unless you go for expensive wine).Stocky said:Who`s going to be in Parliament Square at 11pm?
I (and Mrs Stocky) are coming down by train this morning and making a couple of days out of it.
Is there anywhere else in London to keep an eye on for action e.g. Traf Square, Buck Palace, Downing Street?
Anyone know where Johnson is making his speech at 10 pm? I think he`s in Sunderland this morning.
And finally, and most importantly, where am I to take Mrs Stocky out for a meal this evening near Westminster? Any recommendations?0 -
The i front page is very much a case of what might have been for remain. When Cummings was focus grouping slogans for leave, he also did it for remain to get an idea of what he might be up against. "A leap in the dark" was by far the most effective slogan for remain.
Alas, George Osborne saw differently and predicted a massive recession.0 -
That`s interesting. Why Butler rather than Raynor?NickPalmer said:
Butler is reliably Corbynite without going OTT about it, and I think also there's a feeling that some racial and gender balance with Starmer would be a good idea. I'm considering voting for her.MarqueeMark said:
Burgon is buggered.....Stocky said:Anyone else surprised how well Dawn Butler is doing in CLP nominations? She`s in strong second place. Anything to read into this?
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My slogan for Remain would have been Fools Rush Out.tlg86 said:The i front page is very much a case of what might have been for remain. When Cummings was focus grouping slogans for leave, he also did it for remain to get an idea of what he might be up against. "A leap in the dark" was by far the most effective slogan for remain.
Alas, George Osborne saw differently and predicted a massive recession.0 -
Congratulations!AlastairMeeks said:Meeksit means Meeksit. I suppose today is as good a day as any to announce that I’m retiring on 30 April.
I enjoy the mix of freelance working and having time to myself that the last two and a bit years have brought. One of the unexpected pleasures has been having the time to enjoy small every day things: my home, garden, lunches with friends, not having to worry about what time it is, avoiding commuter hour, going for a walk if the day is nice rather than hoping the good weather lasts until the weekend etc. It has been a wonderful contrast with what went before and it has given me the mental and creative space to think about what I was doing and what I want to do.
And it also takes time to get your previous work and place of work truly out of your system.
Good luck with whatever you do next!1 -
Haha; One pub per month. Would take years to get round all the reasonable eateries in the Northen part of mid-Essex.MarqueeMark said:
Only taking one month to get round all the local pubs, etc sounds like a full-time job!!OldKingCole said:
I mentioned the U3a. We both belong, belong to quite a few interest groups, but only both belong to one, a Lunch Group where we work round the local pubs etc once per month.DecrepiterJohnL said:
Retirement does mean getting under each other's feet all day but I wonder if there is also a touch of the lottery winners' curse, that now they can afford to do (or have time to do) whatever they want, they discover what they want is two different things. A friend mentioned the other day that he only holidays abroad because his wife likes to; if they could suddenly afford a year cruising round the world, would their marriage last?OldKingCole said:
The wife in a couple we know pointed out to the husband on the day after his retirement that 'they'd married for better or worse, but not for lunch!'.AlastairMeeks said:
He’s threatening to go back to work.MarqueeMark said:Pension-pot holders across the land will remember this day as a national tragedy.
Enjoy Next Phase of Life. I hop your partner is looking forward to it too.
He'd been into computing very early, worked for one of the big companies and consequently did a lot of travelling. Having him home all day needed quite an adjustment.
And he doesn't like golf!0 -
Congratulations to the various PBers contemplating or actually going into retirement. Alastair at 52 might consider something political - I started at 47 and had a lot of fun, and there are European campaigns if that takes your fancy. The main thing that retirees say to me is that it's important to have a central, preferably new, interest - just assuming one will enjoy doing a favourite hobby all day doesn't usually work.1
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So being a prison visitor, keeping an eye on detainees in police stations, while also fostering difficult teenagers, then?!AlastairMeeks said:
I’m going to be slightly coy there. I’m looking out for difficult things that no one wants to do but everyone wants to have done rather than enjoyable things that there are no shortage of volunteers for.Casino_Royale said:
My pleasure.AlastairMeeks said:
Thank you. Yes, 52, but I’ve always wanted to try to use some different skills and this gives me the opportunity to do so.Casino_Royale said:
In all seriousness, congratulations Alastair. Very well deserved.AlastairMeeks said:
30 April is a convenient date for me - it’s my firm’s year end.OldKingCole said:
I picked 30th April too. That was 17 years ago though. The other big event for us that day was that elder son's first child was born that day. Now he's having driving lessons at a 'cardrome' and looking forward to being on the road properly. He and I were messaging each other about automatic cars last night, as per the discussion where.AlastairMeeks said:Meeksit means Meeksit. I suppose today is as good a day as any to announce that I’m retiring on 30 April.
You must have done well to be retiring at 52 (?) or something like that?!
Any thoughts on how you might do that which you’d care to share? What are you considering?0 -
Well, there's an incentive to hang around a good few more years then!OldKingCole said:Haha; One pub per month. Would take years to get round all the reasonable eateries in the Northen part of mid-Essex.
Although, you might want to step it up to two a month. Live a little.....0 -
The rejoin campaign, “back to the future”.AlastairMeeks said:
My slogan for Remain would have been Fools Rush Out.tlg86 said:The i front page is very much a case of what might have been for remain. When Cummings was focus grouping slogans for leave, he also did it for remain to get an idea of what he might be up against. "A leap in the dark" was by far the most effective slogan for remain.
Alas, George Osborne saw differently and predicted a massive recession.
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Nothing against Rayner, but I see her as a loyalist rather than a left-winger. I accpet that we need Starmer or Nandy at the top of the ticket, but a signal to the Corbynites (like me) that we're not throwing everything overboard would be good for unity. And race is mildly relevant too at about the same level as gender - it's odd that we've never had a senior black MP in either leader or deputy slots.Stocky said:
That`s interesting. Why Butler rather than Raynor?NickPalmer said:
Butler is reliably Corbynite without going OTT about it, and I think also there's a feeling that some racial and gender balance with Starmer would be a good idea. I'm considering voting for her.MarqueeMark said:
Burgon is buggered.....Stocky said:Anyone else surprised how well Dawn Butler is doing in CLP nominations? She`s in strong second place. Anything to read into this?
I might vote for Rayner in the end, but certainly I think there should be a contest, and Butler would be an interesting contrast. I don't share the dislike of Burgon that seems common here, but he's a bit One True Faith for me.0 -
Maintaining political balance on pb.com?Cyclefree said:
So being a prison visitor, keeping an eye on detainees in police stations, while also fostering difficult teenagers, then?!AlastairMeeks said:
I’m going to be slightly coy there. I’m looking out for difficult things that no one wants to do but everyone wants to have done rather than enjoyable things that there are no shortage of volunteers for.Casino_Royale said:
My pleasure.AlastairMeeks said:
Thank you. Yes, 52, but I’ve always wanted to try to use some different skills and this gives me the opportunity to do so.Casino_Royale said:
In all seriousness, congratulations Alastair. Very well deserved.AlastairMeeks said:
30 April is a convenient date for me - it’s my firm’s year end.OldKingCole said:
I picked 30th April too. That was 17 years ago though. The other big event for us that day was that elder son's first child was born that day. Now he's having driving lessons at a 'cardrome' and looking forward to being on the road properly. He and I were messaging each other about automatic cars last night, as per the discussion where.AlastairMeeks said:Meeksit means Meeksit. I suppose today is as good a day as any to announce that I’m retiring on 30 April.
You must have done well to be retiring at 52 (?) or something like that?!
Any thoughts on how you might do that which you’d care to share? What are you considering?1 -
That's a big advantage of the U3a. All sorts of interest groups which one can join; some 'intellectual', some less so, some physical...... ramblingNickPalmer said:Congratulations to the various PBers contemplating or actually going into retirement. Alastair at 52 might consider something political - I started at 47 and had a lot of fun, and there are European campaigns if that takes your fancy. The main thing that retirees say to me is that it's important to have a central, preferably new, interest - just assuming one will enjoy doing a favourite hobby all day doesn't usually work.
Ours has a a 'Grumpy Old Men' group, which is actually alleged to be very cheerful. Must admit I've never been.0 -
Well, we can be a disinterested observer of their fuck ups as of 11pm.....SouthamObserver said:
So what?MarqueeMark said:
Imagine the US President, sitting in the White House, announcing gravely that as of tomorrow, "there will only be 49 stars on our slightly-less star spangled banner."not_on_fire said:
It’s the UK, not the EU that has a credibility problem after the Brexit processMarqueeMark said:Europe still has no idea what just happened to its credibility.
They wanted to forge the United States of Europe. But it's like Texas just voted to leave the USA. OK, so Texas might be the most semi-detatched state. But the loss of that large state would have massive repurcussions in the US. The EU? Nobody even lost a day of their pension....
The EU enters February 2020 a far less credible thing.
Because that is what just happened to the EU.
Now imagine the fall-out in the US. The next thing the President would be telling the people is that he was resigning. Before the Senate got a chance to fire his sorry ass, for allowing this humiliation to come about.
The EU? At the most senior level of its management, it just has no concept of fuck up.0 -
Alternatievely, the near impossible challenge of growing pots of citrus fruit in our climate.....Cyclefree said:
So being a prison visitor, keeping an eye on detainees in police stations, while also fostering difficult teenagers, then?!AlastairMeeks said:
I’m going to be slightly coy there. I’m looking out for difficult things that no one wants to do but everyone wants to have done rather than enjoyable things that there are no shortage of volunteers for.Casino_Royale said:
My pleasure.AlastairMeeks said:
Thank you. Yes, 52, but I’ve always wanted to try to use some different skills and this gives me the opportunity to do so.Casino_Royale said:
In all seriousness, congratulations Alastair. Very well deserved.AlastairMeeks said:
30 April is a convenient date for me - it’s my firm’s year end.OldKingCole said:
I picked 30th April too. That was 17 years ago though. The other big event for us that day was that elder son's first child was born that day. Now he's having driving lessons at a 'cardrome' and looking forward to being on the road properly. He and I were messaging each other about automatic cars last night, as per the discussion where.AlastairMeeks said:Meeksit means Meeksit. I suppose today is as good a day as any to announce that I’m retiring on 30 April.
You must have done well to be retiring at 52 (?) or something like that?!
Any thoughts on how you might do that which you’d care to share? What are you considering?0 -
What an odd thing to be mad about. Politicians have been weighing in on it for years and Boris might as well have been speaking out about himself, so anger ar Javid would be remarkably phony even for him.DecrepiterJohnL said:The Prime Minister is narked with the Chancellor. It's just like old times.
Downing Street anger over 'ill-disciplined' Javid’s attempt to hijack HS2 decision
Boris Johnson’s relationship with Sajid Javid under renewed strain after Chancellor's intervention in rail project row
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/01/30/downing-street-anger-ill-disciplined-javids-attempt-hijack-hs2/0 -
Burgon is appalling.NickPalmer said:
Nothing against Rayner, but I see her as a loyalist rather than a left-winger. I accpet that we need Starmer or Nandy at the top of the ticket, but a signal to the Corbynites (like me) that we're not throwing everything overboard would be good for unity. And race is mildly relevant too at about the same level as gender - it's odd that we've never had a senior black MP in either leader or deputy slots.Stocky said:
That`s interesting. Why Butler rather than Raynor?NickPalmer said:
Butler is reliably Corbynite without going OTT about it, and I think also there's a feeling that some racial and gender balance with Starmer would be a good idea. I'm considering voting for her.MarqueeMark said:
Burgon is buggered.....Stocky said:Anyone else surprised how well Dawn Butler is doing in CLP nominations? She`s in strong second place. Anything to read into this?
I might vote for Rayner in the end, but certainly I think there should be a contest, and Butler would be an interesting contrast. I don't share the dislike of Burgon that seems common here, but he's a bit One True Faith for me.1 -
A critic being at the heart of it would not be a bad idea if only to ensure alternative views get heard of course. Cummings is the kind of cool and edgy alternative thinker whose mind is completely closed even as they act like they are open to anythingGallowgate said:
Ah, so you’re going to be working for Dom Cummings to sort Brexit out! It all makes sense now.AlastairMeeks said:
I’m going to be slightly coy there. I’m looking out for difficult things that no one wants to do but everyone wants to have done rather than enjoyable things that there are no shortage of volunteers for.Casino_Royale said:
My pleasure.AlastairMeeks said:
Thank you. Yes, 52, but I’ve always wanted to try to use some different skills and this gives me the opportunity to do so.Casino_Royale said:
In all seriousness, congratulations Alastair. Very well deserved.AlastairMeeks said:
30 April is a convenient date for me - it’s my firm’s year end.OldKingCole said:
I picked 30th April too. That was 17 years ago though. The other big event for us that day was that elder son's first child was born that day. Now he's having driving lessons at a 'cardrome' and looking forward to being on the road properly. He and I were messaging each other about automatic cars last night, as per the discussion where.AlastairMeeks said:Meeksit means Meeksit. I suppose today is as good a day as any to announce that I’m retiring on 30 April.
You must have done well to be retiring at 52 (?) or something like that?!
Any thoughts on how you might do that which you’d care to share? What are you considering?
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I joined the U3A many years ago to study philosophy. Very stimulating. I retired 24 years ago on an old fashioned final salary inflation proof pension. But I've done a lot since. Still skiing.OldKingCole said:
You'll be very welcome. Gives my wife and I lots of opportunities for interestssquareroot2 said:
I retire today, finally at 66.5.. I am going to join the U3A.AlastairMeeks said:
30 April is a convenient date for me - it’s my firm’s year end.OldKingCole said:
I picked 30th April too. That was 17 years ago though. The other big event for us that day was that elder son's first child was born that day. Now he's having driving lessons at a 'cardrome' and looking forward to being on the road properly. He and I were messaging each other about automatic cars last night, as per the discussion where.AlastairMeeks said:Meeksit means Meeksit. I suppose today is as good a day as any to announce that I’m retiring on 30 April.
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Seriously, have you thought about doing something in the financial education field. I don’t mean the Martin Lewis- here are the best deals stuff. But people are woefully ignorant or naive about financial matters and, this is my bugbear, about falling for scams, not asking obvious questions, etc - particularly in relation to long-term investments.AlastairMeeks said:
I’m going to be slightly coy there. I’m looking out for difficult things that no one wants to do but everyone wants to have done rather than enjoyable things that there are no shortage of volunteers for.Casino_Royale said:
My pleasure.AlastairMeeks said:
Thank you. Yes, 52, but I’ve always wanted to try to use some different skills and this gives me the opportunity to do so.Casino_Royale said:
In all seriousness, congratulations Alastair. Very well deserved.AlastairMeeks said:
30 April is a convenient date for me - it’s my firm’s year end.OldKingCole said:
I picked 30th April too. That was 17 years ago though. The other big event for us that day was that elder son's first child was born that day. Now he's having driving lessons at a 'cardrome' and looking forward to being on the road properly. He and I were messaging each other about automatic cars last night, as per the discussion where.AlastairMeeks said:Meeksit means Meeksit. I suppose today is as good a day as any to announce that I’m retiring on 30 April.
You must have done well to be retiring at 52 (?) or something like that?!
Any thoughts on how you might do that which you’d care to share? What are you considering?
Think of the steel workers diddled out of their pensions by crooks - obvious to me and you - but not most people.
There is room, it seems to me, for a way of giving or making available advice about what to do and about what not to do - if presented in a different and compelling / interesting way - rather than the dreary “eyes glazing over” way this stuff is usually presented. It is something I have wondered about for a while - how to make this available to people before they get into a mess rather than after when they appear as sad stories on Radio 4’s money programmes.
Just a thought.1 -
I was taught that one needed a critic/candid friend in any management team. Someone to say 'Yebbut' and point out the cliff-edge, or even just the marshy ground!kle4 said:
A critic being at the heart of it would not be a bad idea if only to ensure alternative views get heard of course. Cummings is the kind of cool and edgy alternative thinker whose mind is completely closed even as they act like they are open to anythingGallowgate said:
Ah, so you’re going to be working for Dom Cummings to sort Brexit out! It all makes sense now.AlastairMeeks said:
I’m going to be slightly coy there. I’m looking out for difficult things that no one wants to do but everyone wants to have done rather than enjoyable things that there are no shortage of volunteers for.Casino_Royale said:
My pleasure.AlastairMeeks said:
Thank you. Yes, 52, but I’ve always wanted to try to use some different skills and this gives me the opportunity to do so.Casino_Royale said:
In all seriousness, congratulations Alastair. Very well deserved.AlastairMeeks said:
30 April is a convenient date for me - it’s my firm’s year end.OldKingCole said:
I picked 30th April too. That was 17 years ago though. The other big event for us that day was that elder son's first child was born that day. Now he's having driving lessons at a 'cardrome' and looking forward to being on the road properly. He and I were messaging each other about automatic cars last night, as per the discussion where.AlastairMeeks said:Meeksit means Meeksit. I suppose today is as good a day as any to announce that I’m retiring on 30 April.
You must have done well to be retiring at 52 (?) or something like that?!
Any thoughts on how you might do that which you’d care to share? What are you considering?
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But if Brexit is itself by far the biggest fuck up, we won't be disinterested observers.MarqueeMark said:
Well, we can be a disinterested observer of their fuck ups as of 11pm.....SouthamObserver said:
So what?MarqueeMark said:
Imagine the US President, sitting in the White House, announcing gravely that as of tomorrow, "there will only be 49 stars on our slightly-less star spangled banner."not_on_fire said:
It’s the UK, not the EU that has a credibility problem after the Brexit processMarqueeMark said:Europe still has no idea what just happened to its credibility.
They wanted to forge the United States of Europe. But it's like Texas just voted to leave the USA. OK, so Texas might be the most semi-detatched state. But the loss of that large state would have massive repurcussions in the US. The EU? Nobody even lost a day of their pension....
The EU enters February 2020 a far less credible thing.
Because that is what just happened to the EU.
Now imagine the fall-out in the US. The next thing the President would be telling the people is that he was resigning. Before the Senate got a chance to fire his sorry ass, for allowing this humiliation to come about.
The EU? At the most senior level of its management, it just has no concept of fuck up.
And we're not.0 -
Time and lack of direction. His lack of vision and spraying of cash on big name issues will work for a bit, but as a man with no plan eventually he'll muck up in pursuit of a good headline. Wont be for some time.Paristonda said:Sad day for those like me who never wanted to leave the EU, but I don't mind brexiteers celebrating or marking the occasion. Steve Baker's comments on it were good.
I do also feel relief in a way that the whole mess is behind us. I think the heat will go out of brexit as a news story very quickly, and the PM will have a lot more room to manoeuvre in the next stage of the negotiations. He will compromise in certain areas to enable a mid level trade agreement to be signed, enough to avoid any sort of dramatic cliff edges in 2021. I also don't see rejoin being a mainstream idea in the next couple decades.
It probably means Boris will be the first tory PM in decades not to be destroyed over Europe, so what will bring him down instead?0 -
The Standard loved it last month.Stocky said:
Thank`s for that Nick. Looks a bit pricey. We`ve been married 17 years.NickPalmer said:
Simpsons in the Strand is suitably British if you're in that frame of mind. I've seen some grumpy comments about it but in my experience it's a classic British dining experience (roast beef from the trolley etc.) with pleasant staff, and not ludicrously expensive for Central London (from memory £30 a head will do it unless you go for expensive wine).Stocky said:Who`s going to be in Parliament Square at 11pm?
I (and Mrs Stocky) are coming down by train this morning and making a couple of days out of it.
Is there anywhere else in London to keep an eye on for action e.g. Traf Square, Buck Palace, Downing Street?
Anyone know where Johnson is making his speech at 10 pm? I think he`s in Sunderland this morning.
And finally, and most importantly, where am I to take Mrs Stocky out for a meal this evening near Westminster? Any recommendations?
Jimi Famurewa reviews Simpson's in the Strand: A waistband-bursting riot that delights beyond nostalgia
Though from memory, it was not cheap. Ah, here we are:
But it was that carved beef that we couldn’t stop talking about, even as an enjoyably daft, mint chocolate baked Alaska was set ablaze at the table and the 160 quid bill arrived, trailed by squidgy blocks of rosemary fudge. It is, of course, a fairly hilarious figure for essentially two courses each and not much booze.
Yet even my mum — who had been muttering playful disparagements about the prices all afternoon — conceded that it was completely worth it; worth it for the exceptional cooking, worth it for the thrumming, unstuffy atmosphere and worth it for that glow-giving, Yuletide sense of occasion.
https://www.standard.co.uk/go/london/restaurants/jimi-famurewa-restaurant-review-simpsons-in-the-strand-covent-garden-a4306781.html
I think NP might have been mixing it up with the nearby McDonald's. Joe Allen's is often good for pre- and post-theatre.
https://www.joeallen.co.uk/0 -
I’m actually rather sad today.0
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I did it at 54 - teacher - never a single regret and never been as prosperous in so many ways!Casino_Royale said:
In all seriousness, congratulations Alastair. Very well deserved.AlastairMeeks said:
30 April is a convenient date for me - it’s my firm’s year end.OldKingCole said:
I picked 30th April too. That was 17 years ago though. The other big event for us that day was that elder son's first child was born that day. Now he's having driving lessons at a 'cardrome' and looking forward to being on the road properly. He and I were messaging each other about automatic cars last night, as per the discussion where.AlastairMeeks said:Meeksit means Meeksit. I suppose today is as good a day as any to announce that I’m retiring on 30 April.
You must have done well to be retiring at 52 (?) or something like that?!0 -
I know quite a few people who retired, became cllrs for 10-20 years, then retired properly. Keeps you busy, can be varied, helps people (can sit in the local pension committee perhaps?)HYUFD said:
Well based on your first sentence you could stand as a LD councillorAlastairMeeks said:
I’m going to be slightly coy there. I’m looking out for difficult things that no one wants to do but everyone wants to have done rather than enjoyable things that there are no shortage of volunteers for.Casino_Royale said:
My pleasure.AlastairMeeks said:
Thank you. Yes, 52, but I’ve always wanted to try to use some different skills and this gives me the opportunity to do so.Casino_Royale said:
In all seriousness, congratulations Alastair. Very well deserved.AlastairMeeks said:
30 April is a convenient date for me - it’s my firm’s year end.OldKingCole said:
I picked 30th April too. That was 17 years ago though. The other big event for us that day was that elder son's first child was born that day. Now he's having driving lessons at a 'cardrome' and looking forward to being on the road properly. He and I were messaging each other about automatic cars last night, as per the discussion where.AlastairMeeks said:Meeksit means Meeksit. I suppose today is as good a day as any to announce that I’m retiring on 30 April.
You must have done well to be retiring at 52 (?) or something like that?!
Any thoughts on how you might do that which you’d care to share? What are you considering?
If you make it through the first term you will know if it's a gig for the long term or if the aggravations are not worth it1 -
-
-
Good luck with that. In practice the candid friend or devil's advocate is "not a team player". Arse-licking works, even when everyone knows that is what is going on. These days, diversity is the great, erm, diverse hope of the management gurus but let's see.OldKingCole said:
I was taught that one needed a critic/candid friend in any management team. Someone to say 'Yebbut' and point out the cliff-edge, or even just the marshy ground!kle4 said:
A critic being at the heart of it would not be a bad idea if only to ensure alternative views get heard of course. Cummings is the kind of cool and edgy alternative thinker whose mind is completely closed even as they act like they are open to anythingGallowgate said:
Ah, so you’re going to be working for Dom Cummings to sort Brexit out! It all makes sense now.AlastairMeeks said:
I’m going to be slightly coy there. I’m looking out for difficult things that no one wants to do but everyone wants to have done rather than enjoyable things that there are no shortage of volunteers for.Casino_Royale said:
My pleasure.AlastairMeeks said:
Thank you. Yes, 52, but I’ve always wanted to try to use some different skills and this gives me the opportunity to do so.Casino_Royale said:
In all seriousness, congratulations Alastair. Very well deserved.AlastairMeeks said:
30 April is a convenient date for me - it’s my firm’s year end.OldKingCole said:
I picked 30th April too. That was 17 years ago though. The other big event for us that day was that elder son's first child was born that day. Now he's having driving lessons at a 'cardrome' and looking forward to being on the road properly. He and I were messaging each other about automatic cars last night, as per the discussion where.AlastairMeeks said:Meeksit means Meeksit. I suppose today is as good a day as any to announce that I’m retiring on 30 April.
You must have done well to be retiring at 52 (?) or something like that?!
Any thoughts on how you might do that which you’d care to share? What are you considering?0 -
CAB advisor?????kle4 said:
I know quite a few people who retired, became cllrs for 10-20 years, then retired properly. Keeps you busy, can be varied, helps people (can sit in the local pension committee perhaps?)HYUFD said:
Well based on your first sentence you could stand as a LD councillorAlastairMeeks said:
I’m going to be slightly coy there. I’m looking out for difficult things that no one wants to do but everyone wants to have done rather than enjoyable things that there are no shortage of volunteers for.Casino_Royale said:
My pleasure.AlastairMeeks said:
Thank you. Yes, 52, but I’ve always wanted to try to use some different skills and this gives me the opportunity to do so.Casino_Royale said:
In all seriousness, congratulations Alastair. Very well deserved.AlastairMeeks said:
30 April is a convenient date for me - it’s my firm’s year end.OldKingCole said:
I picked 30th April too. That was 17 years ago though. The other big event for us that day was that elder son's first child was born that day. Now he's having driving lessons at a 'cardrome' and looking forward to being on the road properly. He and I were messaging each other about automatic cars last night, as per the discussion where.AlastairMeeks said:Meeksit means Meeksit. I suppose today is as good a day as any to announce that I’m retiring on 30 April.
You must have done well to be retiring at 52 (?) or something like that?!
Any thoughts on how you might do that which you’d care to share? What are you considering?
If you make it through the first term you will know if it's a gig for the long term or if the aggravations are not worth it0 -
Tell me about it!! Citrus plants and lavender are the two plants I have never had any success with. I can grow parsley outside through the winter; I even managed to get a sunflower flowering outside in December a few years ago. I’m brilliant with all sorts of plants. But lavender and citrus: no chance. I can do without lavender, TBH. It has become a bit of a cliche.MarqueeMark said:
Alternatievely, the near impossible challenge of growing pots of citrus fruit in our climate.....Cyclefree said:
So being a prison visitor, keeping an eye on detainees in police stations, while also fostering difficult teenagers, then?!AlastairMeeks said:
I’m going to be slightly coy there. I’m looking out for difficult things that no one wants to do but everyone wants to have done rather than enjoyable things that there are no shortage of volunteers for.Casino_Royale said:
My pleasure.AlastairMeeks said:
Thank you. Yes, 52, but I’ve always wanted to try to use some different skills and this gives me the opportunity to do so.Casino_Royale said:
In all seriousness, congratulations Alastair. Very well deserved.AlastairMeeks said:
30 April is a convenient date for me - it’s my firm’s year end.OldKingCole said:
I picked 30th April too. That was 17 years ago though. The other big event for us that day was that elder son's first child was born that day. Now he's having driving lessons at a 'cardrome' and looking forward to being on the road properly. He and I were messaging each other about automatic cars last night, as per the discussion where.AlastairMeeks said:Meeksit means Meeksit. I suppose today is as good a day as any to announce that I’m retiring on 30 April.
You must have done well to be retiring at 52 (?) or something like that?!
Any thoughts on how you might do that which you’d care to share? What are you considering?
But the smell of mandarins in winter in Naples is such a potent memory for me. I have been trying to recreate it ever since.......0 -
A good friend of mine, the leading advocate in corporate matters at the Scottish bar for many, many years, retires today. We were out for a few drinks last night and he was complaining that he'd had no less than 3 eulogies from Judges which he had found deeply embarrassing.
It made me think about retirement as of course does Alastair's announcement this morning. My provisional view is that I am a boring old bugger with insufficient interests to fill my time if I retired. Its not that I like my work especially but it is stimulating and keeps me active. I think my plan is to gradually slow down and do a little less but not stop. This has financial attractions as well.
My son still has 1 year to do at school and then 3-4 years of University. That needs funding. After that I may have more options but its nose to the grindstone for a while yet.0 -
New consultancy firm of Meeks and Cyclefree incoming?1
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I think Europe could also do for Johnson indirectly. In his short time as PM he has stored up a lot of problems: with Northern Ireland, Scotland, business, farmers, public finances. It's quite likely these will come back to bite him.Paristonda said:Sad day for those like me who never wanted to leave the EU, but I don't mind brexiteers celebrating or marking the occasion. Steve Baker's comments on it were good.
I do also feel relief in a way that the whole mess is behind us. I think the heat will go out of brexit as a news story very quickly, and the PM will have a lot more room to manoeuvre in the next stage of the negotiations. He will compromise in certain areas to enable a mid level trade agreement to be signed, enough to avoid any sort of dramatic cliff edges in 2021. I also don't see rejoin being a mainstream idea in the next couple decades.
It probably means Boris will be the first tory PM in decades not to be destroyed over Europe, so what will bring him down instead?
Against that, he has a secure base with English nationalists0 -
Begs the question what he is going to be doing a deal on or whether he wants a trade agreement.HYUFD said:1 -
Man, I need to start earning more, as I currently expect not to retire but instead just die at my desk.0
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I've been on both sorts of teams. You are right; the 'candid friend' is often not popular. The other thing to remember in a team is Truman's aphorism' it's surprising what can be achieved when no one person is anxious to take the credit'.DecrepiterJohnL said:
Good luck with that. In practice the candid friend or devil's advocate is "not a team player". Arse-licking works, even when everyone knows that is what is going on. These days, diversity is the great, erm, diverse hope of the management gurus but let's see.OldKingCole said:
I was taught that one needed a critic/candid friend in any management team. Someone to say 'Yebbut' and point out the cliff-edge, or even just the marshy ground!kle4 said:
A critic being at the heart of it would not be a bad idea if only to ensure alternative views get heard of course. Cummings is the kind of cool and edgy alternative thinker whose mind is completely closed even as they act like they are open to anythingGallowgate said:
Ah, so you’re going to be working for Dom Cummings to sort Brexit out! It all makes sense now.AlastairMeeks said:
I’m going to be slightly coy there. I’m looking out for difficult things that no one wants to do but everyone wants to have done rather than enjoyable things that there are no shortage of volunteers for.Casino_Royale said:
My pleasure.AlastairMeeks said:
Thank you. Yes, 52, but I’ve always wanted to try to use some different skills and this gives me the opportunity to do so.Casino_Royale said:
In all seriousness, congratulations Alastair. Very well deserved.AlastairMeeks said:
30 April is a convenient date for me - it’s my firm’s year end.OldKingCole said:
I picked 30th April too. That was 17 years ago though. The other big event for us that day was that elder son's first child was born that day. Now he's having driving lessons at a 'cardrome' and looking forward to being on the road properly. He and I were messaging each other about automatic cars last night, as per the discussion where.AlastairMeeks said:Meeksit means Meeksit. I suppose today is as good a day as any to announce that I’m retiring on 30 April.
You must have done well to be retiring at 52 (?) or something like that?!
Any thoughts on how you might do that which you’d care to share? What are you considering?
Or something like that.
Again, can be difficult to achieve!0 -
Pretty childish of him, really.HYUFD said:
And his line about staying as a shareholder so they could have 'influence', laughable.0 -
Plus you get allowances now to top up your pensionkle4 said:
I know quite a few people who retired, became cllrs for 10-20 years, then retired properly. Keeps you busy, can be varied, helps people (can sit in the local pension committee perhaps?)HYUFD said:
Well based on your first sentence you could stand as a LD councillorAlastairMeeks said:
I’m going to be slightly coy there. I’m looking out for difficult things that no one wants to do but everyone wants to have done rather than enjoyable things that there are no shortage of volunteers for.Casino_Royale said:
My pleasure.AlastairMeeks said:
Thank you. Yes, 52, but I’ve always wanted to try to use some different skills and this gives me the opportunity to do so.Casino_Royale said:
In all seriousness, congratulations Alastair. Very well deserved.AlastairMeeks said:
30 April is a convenient date for me - it’s my firm’s year end.OldKingCole said:
I picked 30th April too. That was 17 years ago though. The other big event for us that day was that elder son's first child was born that day. Now he's having driving lessons at a 'cardrome' and looking forward to being on the road properly. He and I were messaging each other about automatic cars last night, as per the discussion where.AlastairMeeks said:Meeksit means Meeksit. I suppose today is as good a day as any to announce that I’m retiring on 30 April.
You must have done well to be retiring at 52 (?) or something like that?!
Any thoughts on how you might do that which you’d care to share? What are you considering?
If you make it through the first term you will know if it's a gig for the long term or if the aggravations are not worth it0 -
My old college - really good riposte for the snowflakes.HYUFD said:4 -
Gove's Euroscepticism is founded on his blaming the CFP for the demise of his family's business. For Gove, it is personal. I'd bear that in mind and look to see what other ministers are saying.Jonathan said:
Begs the question what he is going to be doing a deal on or whether he wants a trade agreement.HYUFD said:0 -
I’m going to stick my neck out. There is a reasonable chance he too could be destroyed by the European question - if Brexit ie the post-departure trade relationship does not go well, there is a bad recession and it is all those new Tory seats which are the ones suffering the most. This last election might end up being more like 1987 than 1997 - for the Tories.kle4 said:
Time and lack of direction. His lack of vision and spraying of cash on big name issues will work for a bit, but as a man with no plan eventually he'll muck up in pursuit of a good headline. Wont be for some time.Paristonda said:Sad day for those like me who never wanted to leave the EU, but I don't mind brexiteers celebrating or marking the occasion. Steve Baker's comments on it were good.
I do also feel relief in a way that the whole mess is behind us. I think the heat will go out of brexit as a news story very quickly, and the PM will have a lot more room to manoeuvre in the next stage of the negotiations. He will compromise in certain areas to enable a mid level trade agreement to be signed, enough to avoid any sort of dramatic cliff edges in 2021. I also don't see rejoin being a mainstream idea in the next couple decades.
It probably means Boris will be the first tory PM in decades not to be destroyed over Europe, so what will bring him down instead?
Merely resolving the question of whether in or out does not resolve the European question at all. What happens next will. And on that we - and possibly also Boris - have no real idea.0 -
It wont be good for unity if the Corbynites like you are still in the party. The Labour Party needs to move towards the centre, and the Corbynites still within will leave the party well and truly split.NickPalmer said:
Nothing against Rayner, but I see her as a loyalist rather than a left-winger. I accpet that we need Starmer or Nandy at the top of the ticket, but a signal to the Corbynites (like me) that we're not throwing everything overboard would be good for unity. And race is mildly relevant too at about the same level as gender - it's odd that we've never had a senior black MP in either leader or deputy slots.Stocky said:
That`s interesting. Why Butler rather than Raynor?NickPalmer said:
Butler is reliably Corbynite without going OTT about it, and I think also there's a feeling that some racial and gender balance with Starmer would be a good idea. I'm considering voting for her.MarqueeMark said:
Burgon is buggered.....Stocky said:Anyone else surprised how well Dawn Butler is doing in CLP nominations? She`s in strong second place. Anything to read into this?
I might vote for Rayner in the end, but certainly I think there should be a contest, and Butler would be an interesting contrast. I don't share the dislike of Burgon that seems common here, but he's a bit One True Faith for me.0 -
That’s all very well, but the time long past to say what you don’t want. He has to decide what he does want if he is to achieve a deal.HYUFD said:0 -
That is sadly the reality. I've found the more people focus on saying the right things management wise the less it's true, like being insistent on not having a blame culture.DecrepiterJohnL said:
Good luck with that. In practice the candid friend or devil's advocate is "not a team player". Arse-licking works, even when everyone knows that is what is going on. These days, diversity is the great, erm, diverse hope of the management gurus but let's see.OldKingCole said:
I was taught that one needed a critic/candid friend in any management team. Someone to say 'Yebbut' and point out the cliff-edge, or even just the marshy ground!kle4 said:
A critic being at the heart of it would not be a bad idea if only to ensure alternative views get heard of course. Cummings is the kind of cool and edgy alternative thinker whose mind is completely closed even as they act like they are open to anythingGallowgate said:
Ah, so you’re going to be working for Dom Cummings to sort Brexit out! It all makes sense now.AlastairMeeks said:
I’m going to be slightly coy there. I’m looking out for difficult things that no one wants to do but everyone wants to have done rather than enjoyable things that there are no shortage of volunteers for.Casino_Royale said:
My pleasure.AlastairMeeks said:
Thank you. Yes, 52, but I’ve always wanted to try to use some different skills and this gives me the opportunity to do so.Casino_Royale said:
In all seriousness, congratulations Alastair. Very well deserved.AlastairMeeks said:
30 April is a convenient date for me - it’s my firm’s year end.OldKingCole said:
I picked 30th April too. That was 17 years ago though. The other big event for us that day was that elder son's first child was born that day. Now he's having driving lessons at a 'cardrome' and looking forward to being on the road properly. He and I were messaging each other about automatic cars last night, as per the discussion where.AlastairMeeks said:Meeksit means Meeksit. I suppose today is as good a day as any to announce that I’m retiring on 30 April.
You must have done well to be retiring at 52 (?) or something like that?!
Any thoughts on how you might do that which you’d care to share? What are you considering?0 -
Nice one. I dropped out a fair bit younger than you are now and it's been good. Mind you, I was a bit "burnt out" (as they say) so had little choice. Hope you do embrace something gritty and unpleasant rather than soft and fluffy. I felt the same, once I'd got my bearings, and my top idea was to teach literacy and numeracy in prisons. I have not done so - which is disappointing (to myself) and far from the first time time I have proved to be all trimmings and no turkey.AlastairMeeks said:I’m going to be slightly coy there. I’m looking out for difficult things that no one wants to do but everyone wants to have done rather than enjoyable things that there are no shortage of volunteers for.
0 -
That's a very good idea in my opinion. I'm finding on the council that there are lots of things that I'd really like to spend a day studying and discussing to get them optimal, but I'm having to take leave from my day job to do it, as the council is really designed for retired people and staff don't like evening/weekend meetings. There are some really professional councillors in all parties and there's a lot to get one's teeth into. The main snag is the dire budgetary squeeze from central government and of course the limits of local government power - but one can do more tan I'd expected.kle4 said:
I know quite a few people who retired, became cllrs for 10-20 years, then retired properly. Keeps you busy, can be varied, helps people (can sit in the local pension committee perhaps?)HYUFD said:
Well based on your first sentence you could stand as a LD councillor
If you make it through the first term you will know if it's a gig for the long term or if the aggravations are not worth it2 -
Gove's wishful thinking is probably genuine. Father was screwed by the EU etc. He probably doesn't want to admit even to himself that he will do exactly the same.HYUFD said:0 -
The point he is making is that if you want to use less carbon-unfriendly energy then you are also willing the consequences of that choice. If we stopped heating our homes with our gas boilers we’d reduce our carbon footprint but we’d also be cold. Most of us don’t want the latter however much we say we want the former. No reason why students should be excused from understanding that.Nigelb said:
Pretty childish of him, really.HYUFD said:
And his line about staying as a shareholder so they could have 'influence', laughable.
I have had similar conversations with my 3 when they moan about being cold (I am always turning the heating right down) while dressing as if it were 30 degrees outside.1 -
Cabinet members like you can be practically full time of course, and last stats I saw was around 20-25 hours a week for most councillors. You get out of it what you put into it.NickPalmer said:
That's a very good idea in my opinion. I'm finding on the council that there are lots of things that I'd really like to spend a day studying and discussing to get them optimal, but I'm having to take leave from my day job to do it, as the council is really designed for retired people and staff don't like evening/weekend meetings. There are some really professional councillors in all parties and there's a lot to get one's teeth into. The main snag is the dire budgetary squeeze from central government and of course the limits of local government power - but one can do more tan I'd expected.kle4 said:
I know quite a few people who retired, became cllrs for 10-20 years, then retired properly. Keeps you busy, can be varied, helps people (can sit in the local pension committee perhaps?)HYUFD said:
Well based on your first sentence you could stand as a LD councillor
If you make it through the first term you will know if it's a gig for the long term or if the aggravations are not worth it
Whether people like also depends on how much quick and direct action individuals expected, even as opposition. I'm amazed that parties dont get more questions from people they persuade to stand. But there's always being an independent. Id recommend it if people like meeting others, fixing problems however small, and community organising. Downsides are public demands, bureaucracy and so on.1 -
Here’s one solicitor who won’t be able to retire in his 50s.
Slaughter and May is discussing the prospects of a future trainee with the Solicitors Regulation Authority over messages he wrote on social media as a teenager.
The future trainee, who RollOnFriday is identifying only as 'Jabo', was reported to Slaughter and May and the SRA by a whistleblower, who identified themselves only as 'Anonymous Source'. An email from Anonymous Source on Wednesday evening informed the firm and the profession’s regulator that "This individual has posted some seriously offensive material".
https://www.rollonfriday.com/news-content/exclusive-slaughter-and-may-discusses-trainees-racist-and-sexist-social-media-sra
I reckon he’s going to be severely punished by S&M.
(I’ll get my coat.)1 -
I'm not a member but is moving to the centre all it is cracked up to be?squareroot2 said:
It wont be good for unity if the Corbynites like you are still in the party. The Labour Party needs to move towards the centre, and the Corbynites still within will leave the party well and truly split.NickPalmer said:
Nothing against Rayner, but I see her as a loyalist rather than a left-winger. I accpet that we need Starmer or Nandy at the top of the ticket, but a signal to the Corbynites (like me) that we're not throwing everything overboard would be good for unity. And race is mildly relevant too at about the same level as gender - it's odd that we've never had a senior black MP in either leader or deputy slots.Stocky said:
That`s interesting. Why Butler rather than Raynor?NickPalmer said:
Butler is reliably Corbynite without going OTT about it, and I think also there's a feeling that some racial and gender balance with Starmer would be a good idea. I'm considering voting for her.MarqueeMark said:
Burgon is buggered.....Stocky said:Anyone else surprised how well Dawn Butler is doing in CLP nominations? She`s in strong second place. Anything to read into this?
I might vote for Rayner in the end, but certainly I think there should be a contest, and Butler would be an interesting contrast. I don't share the dislike of Burgon that seems common here, but he's a bit One True Faith for me.
If Labour's problem at the election was Corbyn personally, as many reports have it, and not policy, then why change? If voters liked the policies but not the lack of focus in the "all must have prizes" manifesto, then why move to the centre?
For a start, even if Labour does nothing, Boris is moving the centre, or some of it, leftwards: end of austerity; investment in infrastructure; nationalising the means of production railways. It even looks as if Boris might pinch Labour's wheeze of counting assets on the national balance sheet to make nationalisation cheap and privatisation expensive. Corbyn's going, along with his fascination for all points abroad. That might be enough.0 -
Less so in this case.kle4 said:
The drying up of investment in fossil fuel companies will do quite a lot to cut production and usage over the next decade or so (it's already started to have a significant effect on coal plants).
One could correctly argue that in this case it's merely a gesture, but it's a gesture in the right direction.
And the bursar is supposed to be one of the grownups.0 -
Didn’t his father point out that Gove’s memory on this was - ahem - incorrect?DecrepiterJohnL said:
Gove's Euroscepticism is founded on his blaming the CFP for the demise of his family's business. For Gove, it is personal. I'd bear that in mind and look to see what other ministers are saying.Jonathan said:
Begs the question what he is going to be doing a deal on or whether he wants a trade agreement.HYUFD said:
Not quite sure why fishing is such a fetish for some Tories - it seems to me to be the epitome of being obsessed by the few rather than the many - but this article may be of interest - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/promises-to-uk-fishing-industry-were-just-another-brexit-fantasy-tm7z96v53.0 -
No one cares about Fishing. Less than 11k people are employed in the industry. For context more than 10k people rely on the Nissan factory in
SunderlandWashington alone.0 -
And yet the six made sure that the three were thoroughly screwed when they joined.Cyclefree said:
Didn’t his father point out that Gove’s memory on this was - ahem - incorrect?DecrepiterJohnL said:
Gove's Euroscepticism is founded on his blaming the CFP for the demise of his family's business. For Gove, it is personal. I'd bear that in mind and look to see what other ministers are saying.Jonathan said:
Begs the question what he is going to be doing a deal on or whether he wants a trade agreement.HYUFD said:
Not quite sure why fishing is such a fetish for some Tories - it seems to me to be the epitome of being obsessed by the few rather than the many - but this article may be of interest - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/promises-to-uk-fishing-industry-were-just-another-brexit-fantasy-tm7z96v53.0 -
Questionable whether it’s even worth learning on a manual now. I have a manual licence but haven’t driven one for 15 years.OldKingCole said:
I picked 30th April too. That was 17 years ago though. The other big event for us that day was that elder son's first child was born that day. Now he's having driving lessons at a 'cardrome' and looking forward to being on the road properly. He and I were messaging each other about automatic cars last night, as per the discussion where.AlastairMeeks said:Meeksit means Meeksit. I suppose today is as good a day as any to announce that I’m retiring on 30 April.
0 -
The shares will likely be held not on an individual basis but through funds etc and the college’s investments will be managed by others in accordance with all sorts of legal and fiduciary requirements. So yes it is not something that can be done by one person at a moment’s notice.DecrepiterJohnL said:0 -
Congratulations Alastair. I don’t know how old you are but from your picture it looks like you have several good decades ahead of you, free from the shackles of work.AlastairMeeks said:
30 April is a convenient date for me - it’s my firm’s year end.OldKingCole said:
I picked 30th April too. That was 17 years ago though. The other big event for us that day was that elder son's first child was born that day. Now he's having driving lessons at a 'cardrome' and looking forward to being on the road properly. He and I were messaging each other about automatic cars last night, as per the discussion where.AlastairMeeks said:Meeksit means Meeksit. I suppose today is as good a day as any to announce that I’m retiring on 30 April.
0 -
I think you`re wrong. Whilst it`s true that only a few have a direct interest interest in the industry, it is a totemic issue for leavers, because it`s integral to sovereignty (as leavers see it). It will hurt the gov greatly if they caved in on this. I don`t think they will.Gallowgate said:No one cares about Fishing. Less than 11k people are employed in the industry. For context more than 10k people rely on the Nissan factory in
SunderlandWashington alone.0 -
The average leaver on the street in County Durham doesn’t give two hoots about fishing let’s get real.Stocky said:
I think you`re wrong. Whilst it`s true that only a few have a direct interest interest in the industry, it is a totemic issue for leavers, because it`s integral to sovereignty (as leavers see it). It will hurt the gov greatly if they caved in on this. I don`t think they will.Gallowgate said:No one cares about Fishing. Less than 11k people are employed in the industry. For context more than 10k people rely on the Nissan factory in
SunderlandWashington alone.
This is proper Westminster bubble stuff.0 -
Not been a good few days for Katie Hopkins.
Guy Tricks Katie Hopkins Into Accepting 'C**T' Award
A YouTuber has pranked media commentator Katie Hopkins by making her accept the Campaign to United the Nation Trophy.
If you haven't figured it out yet, Josh Pieters absolutely trolled Ms Hopkins by making her get an award that spells out c***.
https://www.ladbible.com/news/viral-guy-tricks-katie-hopkins-into-accepting-ct-award-202001300 -
It's the Tories' equivalent of mining for Labour?Gallowgate said:
The average leaver on the street in County Durham doesn’t give two hoots about fishing let’s get real.Stocky said:
I think you`re wrong. Whilst it`s true that only a few have a direct interest interest in the industry, it is a totemic issue for leavers, because it`s integral to sovereignty (as leavers see it). It will hurt the gov greatly if they caved in on this. I don`t think they will.Gallowgate said:No one cares about Fishing. Less than 11k people are employed in the industry. For context more than 10k people rely on the Nissan factory in
SunderlandWashington alone.
This is proper Westminster bubble stuff.0 -
I give it 6-12 months before you rock up in a US firm or in a senior in-house role.AlastairMeeks said:
I’d be really interested to hear what you think of it.squareroot2 said:
I retire today, finally at 66.5.. I am going to join the U3A.AlastairMeeks said:
30 April is a convenient date for me - it’s my firm’s year end.OldKingCole said:
I picked 30th April too. That was 17 years ago though. The other big event for us that day was that elder son's first child was born that day. Now he's having driving lessons at a 'cardrome' and looking forward to being on the road properly. He and I were messaging each other about automatic cars last night, as per the discussion where.AlastairMeeks said:Meeksit means Meeksit. I suppose today is as good a day as any to announce that I’m retiring on 30 April.
0 -
That sounds crap to be honest!NickPalmer said:
Simpsons in the Strand is suitably British if you're in that frame of mind. I've seen some grumpy comments about it but in my experience it's a classic British dining experience (roast beef from the trolley etc.) with pleasant staff, and not ludicrously expensive for Central London (from memory £30 a head will do it unless you go for expensive wine).Stocky said:Who`s going to be in Parliament Square at 11pm?
I (and Mrs Stocky) are coming down by train this morning and making a couple of days out of it.
Is there anywhere else in London to keep an eye on for action e.g. Traf Square, Buck Palace, Downing Street?
Anyone know where Johnson is making his speech at 10 pm? I think he`s in Sunderland this morning.
And finally, and most importantly, where am I to take Mrs Stocky out for a meal this evening near Westminster? Any recommendations?
Celebrate Global Britain at Hakkasan Mayfair instead!0 -
Sky: 2 virus cases in England0
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She seems to be the Leave/Right Wing foil for the lefty Remainers who fall for any bit of fake news that backs up their prejudicesTheScreamingEagles said:Not been a good few days for Katie Hopkins.
Guy Tricks Katie Hopkins Into Accepting 'C**T' Award
A YouTuber has pranked media commentator Katie Hopkins by making her accept the Campaign to United the Nation Trophy.
If you haven't figured it out yet, Josh Pieters absolutely trolled Ms Hopkins by making her get an award that spells out c***.
https://www.ladbible.com/news/viral-guy-tricks-katie-hopkins-into-accepting-ct-award-202001300 -
I think that you tend to see things from the perspective of individual self interest.Gallowgate said:
The average leaver on the street in County Durham doesn’t give two hoots about fishing let’s get real.Stocky said:
I think you`re wrong. Whilst it`s true that only a few have a direct interest interest in the industry, it is a totemic issue for leavers, because it`s integral to sovereignty (as leavers see it). It will hurt the gov greatly if they caved in on this. I don`t think they will.Gallowgate said:No one cares about Fishing. Less than 11k people are employed in the industry. For context more than 10k people rely on the Nissan factory in
SunderlandWashington alone.
This is proper Westminster bubble stuff.
This is not what Brexit was about and I still don`t think many remainers have understood this sufficiently. It`s not about self-interest, it`s about identity. I disagree with leavers about this, but have taken the time to understand their position (helped by the fact that I am surrounded by so many!).0 -
Personally I’m just amused by the criticism of Rayner being a that she’s a loyalist. From someone who is the archetype of loyalist “the king is dead, long live the king”.squareroot2 said:
It wont be good for unity if the Corbynites like you are still in the party. The Labour Party needs to move towards the centre, and the Corbynites still within will leave the party well and truly split.NickPalmer said:
Nothing against Rayner, but I see her as a loyalist rather than a left-winger. I accpet that we need Starmer or Nandy at the top of the ticket, but a signal to the Corbynites (like me) that we're not throwing everything overboard would be good for unity. And race is mildly relevant too at about the same level as gender - it's odd that we've never had a senior black MP in either leader or deputy slots.Stocky said:
That`s interesting. Why Butler rather than Raynor?NickPalmer said:
Butler is reliably Corbynite without going OTT about it, and I think also there's a feeling that some racial and gender balance with Starmer would be a good idea. I'm considering voting for her.MarqueeMark said:
Burgon is buggered.....Stocky said:Anyone else surprised how well Dawn Butler is doing in CLP nominations? She`s in strong second place. Anything to read into this?
I might vote for Rayner in the end, but certainly I think there should be a contest, and Butler would be an interesting contrast. I don't share the dislike of Burgon that seems common here, but he's a bit One True Faith for me.0 -
We went there this month and it was over £100 with no alcohol! Lumpy ChineseAnabobazina said:
That sounds crap to be honest!NickPalmer said:
Simpsons in the Strand is suitably British if you're in that frame of mind. I've seen some grumpy comments about it but in my experience it's a classic British dining experience (roast beef from the trolley etc.) with pleasant staff, and not ludicrously expensive for Central London (from memory £30 a head will do it unless you go for expensive wine).Stocky said:Who`s going to be in Parliament Square at 11pm?
I (and Mrs Stocky) are coming down by train this morning and making a couple of days out of it.
Is there anywhere else in London to keep an eye on for action e.g. Traf Square, Buck Palace, Downing Street?
Anyone know where Johnson is making his speech at 10 pm? I think he`s in Sunderland this morning.
And finally, and most importantly, where am I to take Mrs Stocky out for a meal this evening near Westminster? Any recommendations?
Celebrate Global Britain at Hakkasan Mayfair instead!
Coach and Horses pub nearby is lovely though*
Rules in Cov Gdn is meant to be the best British place
*Hakkasan was lovely too0 -
BBC News - First coronavirus cases confirmed in UK
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-513251920 -
Do you think that James from Consett who works on the assembly line at Nissan would trade his job so the 10k who work in Fishing make a bit more profit?Stocky said:
I think that you tend to see things from the perspective of individual self interest.Gallowgate said:
The average leaver on the street in County Durham doesn’t give two hoots about fishing let’s get real.Stocky said:
I think you`re wrong. Whilst it`s true that only a few have a direct interest interest in the industry, it is a totemic issue for leavers, because it`s integral to sovereignty (as leavers see it). It will hurt the gov greatly if they caved in on this. I don`t think they will.Gallowgate said:No one cares about Fishing. Less than 11k people are employed in the industry. For context more than 10k people rely on the Nissan factory in
SunderlandWashington alone.
This is proper Westminster bubble stuff.
This is not what Brexit was about and I still don`t think many remainers have understood this sufficiently. It`s not about self-interest, it`s about identity. I disagree with leavers about this, but have taken the time to understand their position (helped by the fact that I am surrounded by so many!).
The answer is no.
I’m not a deluded Remainer, I worked in County Durham in industry with plenty of Leavers. I know how they think.
Not once have I ever heard them celebrate the fact we’ll be fishing more fish.0 -
The lightweight response was the student organiser who said, “... It’s January and it would be borderline dangerous to switch off the central heating.”. Any sacrifice but the personal.Nigelb said:1 -
I can absolutely guarantee that neither of those is going to happen.matt said:
I give it 6-12 months before you rock up in a US firm or in a senior in-house role.AlastairMeeks said:
I’d be really interested to hear what you think of it.squareroot2 said:
I retire today, finally at 66.5.. I am going to join the U3A.AlastairMeeks said:
30 April is a convenient date for me - it’s my firm’s year end.OldKingCole said:
I picked 30th April too. That was 17 years ago though. The other big event for us that day was that elder son's first child was born that day. Now he's having driving lessons at a 'cardrome' and looking forward to being on the road properly. He and I were messaging each other about automatic cars last night, as per the discussion where.AlastairMeeks said:Meeksit means Meeksit. I suppose today is as good a day as any to announce that I’m retiring on 30 April.
0 -
Gallowgate said:
Do you think that James from Consett who works on the assembly line at Nissan would trade his job so the 10k who work in Fishing make a bit more profit?Stocky said:
I think that you tend to see things from the perspective of individual self interest.Gallowgate said:
The average leaver on the street in County Durham doesn’t give two hoots about fishing let’s get real.Stocky said:
I think you`re wrong. Whilst it`s true that only a few have a direct interest interest in the industry, it is a totemic issue for leavers, because it`s integral to sovereignty (as leavers see it). It will hurt the gov greatly if they caved in on this. I don`t think they will.Gallowgate said:No one cares about Fishing. Less than 11k people are employed in the industry. For context more than 10k people rely on the Nissan factory in
SunderlandWashington alone.
This is proper Westminster bubble stuff.
This is not what Brexit was about and I still don`t think many remainers have understood this sufficiently. It`s not about self-interest, it`s about identity. I disagree with leavers about this, but have taken the time to understand their position (helped by the fact that I am surrounded by so many!).
The answer is no.
I’m not a deluded Remainer, I worked in County Durham in industry with plenty of Leavers. I know how they think.
Not once have I ever heard them celebrate the fact we’ll be fishing more fish.
This isn`t about a worker in fishing making more profit. It`s about whether or not our country has the power to control who can and who can`t fish in our waters.2 -
I suppose that you are not in need of good pensions advice at least!AlastairMeeks said:
I can absolutely guarantee that neither of those is going to happen.matt said:
I give it 6-12 months before you rock up in a US firm or in a senior in-house role.AlastairMeeks said:
I’d be really interested to hear what you think of it.squareroot2 said:
I retire today, finally at 66.5.. I am going to join the U3A.AlastairMeeks said:
30 April is a convenient date for me - it’s my firm’s year end.OldKingCole said:
I picked 30th April too. That was 17 years ago though. The other big event for us that day was that elder son's first child was born that day. Now he's having driving lessons at a 'cardrome' and looking forward to being on the road properly. He and I were messaging each other about automatic cars last night, as per the discussion where.AlastairMeeks said:Meeksit means Meeksit. I suppose today is as good a day as any to announce that I’m retiring on 30 April.
0 -
True. Yet people DO care. Especially Leavers. I sense that it's baked deep into their identity as natives of a rugged Island Nation. We have many times more hairdressers than fishermen but the thought of a cut and blow-dry somehow fails to stir the blood in quite the way that battling the elements for a catch does.Gallowgate said:No one cares about Fishing. Less than 11k people are employed in the industry. For context more than 10k people rely on the Nissan factory in
SunderlandWashington alone.
There is also the proprietorial aspect. Our waters. Our fish. The idea that boats from alien lands can just steam in and snaffle them causes real resentment. It feels to many like nothing less than theft and triggers (I suspect) subliminal thoughts of long ago and the Vikings.1 -
Got to go catch my train to That London. Have a good 11pm.0
-
Yes but that won’t matter if peoples jobs are on the line.Stocky said:Gallowgate said:
Do you think that James from Consett who works on the assembly line at Nissan would trade his job so the 10k who work in Fishing make a bit more profit?Stocky said:
I think that you tend to see things from the perspective of individual self interest.Gallowgate said:
The average leaver on the street in County Durham doesn’t give two hoots about fishing let’s get real.Stocky said:
I think you`re wrong. Whilst it`s true that only a few have a direct interest interest in the industry, it is a totemic issue for leavers, because it`s integral to sovereignty (as leavers see it). It will hurt the gov greatly if they caved in on this. I don`t think they will.Gallowgate said:No one cares about Fishing. Less than 11k people are employed in the industry. For context more than 10k people rely on the Nissan factory in
SunderlandWashington alone.
This is proper Westminster bubble stuff.
This is not what Brexit was about and I still don`t think many remainers have understood this sufficiently. It`s not about self-interest, it`s about identity. I disagree with leavers about this, but have taken the time to understand their position (helped by the fact that I am surrounded by so many!).
The answer is no.
I’m not a deluded Remainer, I worked in County Durham in industry with plenty of Leavers. I know how they think.
Not once have I ever heard them celebrate the fact we’ll be fishing more fish.
This isn`t about a worker in fishing making more profit. It`s about whether or not our country has the power to control who can and who can`t fish in our waters.
It’s all well and good the likes of @Byronic bigging up how much “suffering” leavers are willing to go through.
In reality the answer is “none”.
People voted Brexit because they thought it would make their lives better. To pretend otherwise is missing the point.
People believed their lives would be better with more sovereignty. That may be true but it also may be not.0 -
This - https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/comment/the-times-view-on-the-crisis-in-the-judicial-system-court-in-limbo-djdlvbf33 - is serious and important. Of course, no-one will care - or not enough.
When people get exercised by grooming gangs and the like, it would be worth them remembering that without an effective criminal justice system to try such people within a reasonable time frame, there is no chance of there being any justice - even after investigation.
And yet - after a 40% cut to the Justice budget, the Chancellor wants another 5% on top.0 -
Happy retirement Mr Meeks - may it be long and enjoyable.0
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Congratulations Mr Meeks, I'm sure Meeksit is must deserved and well earned.0
-
I’m sorry but this is romanticized nonsense.kinabalu said:
True. Yet people DO care. Especially Leavers. I sense that it's baked deep into their identity as natives of a rugged Island Nation. We have many times more hairdressers than fishermen but the thought of a cut and blow-dry somehow fails to stir the blood in quite the way that battling the elements for a catch does.Gallowgate said:No one cares about Fishing. Less than 11k people are employed in the industry. For context more than 10k people rely on the Nissan factory in
SunderlandWashington alone.
There is also the proprietorial aspect. Our waters. Our fish. The idea that boats from alien lands can just steam in and snaffle them causes real resentment. It feels to many like nothing less than theft and triggers (I suspect) subliminal thoughts of long ago and the Vikings.
On a fundamental level it all comes down to people believing life would be better outside the EU. Everything else is cotton wool.
And you know what, maybe they’r right?
But to suggest people are willing to suffer in order to protect “fishing rights” which they have no stake in is just fantasy. They might say they would if asked because people generally don’t think things can be worse, but push comes to shove? Not in a million years.0 -
Wasn’t the main motivation to vote Brexit the principle that decisions should be made in the UK and not in Brussels? I don’t recall seeing personal self-interest topping the list of reasons.Gallowgate said:
Yes but that won’t matter if peoples jobs are on the line.Stocky said:Gallowgate said:
Do you think that James from Consett who works on the assembly line at Nissan would trade his job so the 10k who work in Fishing make a bit more profit?Stocky said:
I think that you tend to see things from the perspective of individual self interest.Gallowgate said:
The average leaver on the street in County Durham doesn’t give two hoots about fishing let’s get real.Stocky said:
I think you`re wrong. Whilst it`s true that only a few have a direct interest interest in the industry, it is a totemic issue for leavers, because it`s integral to sovereignty (as leavers see it). It will hurt the gov greatly if they caved in on this. I don`t think they will.Gallowgate said:No one cares about Fishing. Less than 11k people are employed in the industry. For context more than 10k people rely on the Nissan factory in
SunderlandWashington alone.
This is proper Westminster bubble stuff.
This is not what Brexit was about and I still don`t think many remainers have understood this sufficiently. It`s not about self-interest, it`s about identity. I disagree with leavers about this, but have taken the time to understand their position (helped by the fact that I am surrounded by so many!).
The answer is no.
I’m not a deluded Remainer, I worked in County Durham in industry with plenty of Leavers. I know how they think.
Not once have I ever heard them celebrate the fact we’ll be fishing more fish.
This isn`t about a worker in fishing making more profit. It`s about whether or not our country has the power to control who can and who can`t fish in our waters.
It’s all well and good the likes of @Byronic bigging up how much “suffering” leavers are willing to go through.
In reality the answer is “none”.
People voted Brexit because they thought it would make their lives better. To pretend otherwise is missing the point.
People believed their lives would be better with more sovereignty. That may be true but it also may be not.0 -
Because they think decisions will be made to better their lives.RobD said:
Wasn’t the main motivation to vote Brexit the principle that decisions should be made in the UK and not in Brussels? I don’t recall seeing personal self-interest topping the list of reasons.Gallowgate said:
Yes but that won’t matter if peoples jobs are on the line.Stocky said:Gallowgate said:
Do you think that James from Consett who works on the assembly line at Nissan would trade his job so the 10k who work in Fishing make a bit more profit?Stocky said:
I think that you tend to see things from the perspective of individual self interest.Gallowgate said:
The average leaver on the street in County Durham doesn’t give two hoots about fishing let’s get real.Stocky said:
I think you`re wrong. Whilst it`s true that only a few have a direct interest interest in the industry, it is a totemic issue for leavers, because it`s integral to sovereignty (as leavers see it). It will hurt the gov greatly if they caved in on this. I don`t think they will.Gallowgate said:No one cares about Fishing. Less than 11k people are employed in the industry. For context more than 10k people rely on the Nissan factory in
SunderlandWashington alone.
This is proper Westminster bubble stuff.
This is not what Brexit was about and I still don`t think many remainers have understood this sufficiently. It`s not about self-interest, it`s about identity. I disagree with leavers about this, but have taken the time to understand their position (helped by the fact that I am surrounded by so many!).
The answer is no.
I’m not a deluded Remainer, I worked in County Durham in industry with plenty of Leavers. I know how they think.
Not once have I ever heard them celebrate the fact we’ll be fishing more fish.
This isn`t about a worker in fishing making more profit. It`s about whether or not our country has the power to control who can and who can`t fish in our waters.
It’s all well and good the likes of @Byronic bigging up how much “suffering” leavers are willing to go through.
In reality the answer is “none”.
People voted Brexit because they thought it would make their lives better. To pretend otherwise is missing the point.
People believed their lives would be better with more sovereignty. That may be true but it also may be not.
To suggest otherwise is either delusion, dishonesty, or stupidity.0 -
“Borderline dangerous” - what bollocks! I grew up in houses without any central heating at all. Borderline uncomfortable, I grant you.matt said:
The lightweight response was the student organiser who said, “... It’s January and it would be borderline dangerous to switch off the central heating.”. Any sacrifice but the personal.Nigelb said:0 -
Is there polling evidence to back this up, that people would only vote Brexit if it made their own lives better?Gallowgate said:
Because they think decisions will be made to better their lives.RobD said:
Wasn’t the main motivation to vote Brexit the principle that decisions should be made in the UK and not in Brussels? I don’t recall seeing personal self-interest topping the list of reasons.Gallowgate said:
Yes but that won’t matter if peoples jobs are on the line.Stocky said:Gallowgate said:
Do you think that James from Consett who works on the assembly line at Nissan would trade his job so the 10k who work in Fishing make a bit more profit?Stocky said:
I think that you tend to see things from the perspective of individual self interest.Gallowgate said:
The average leaver on the street in County Durham doesn’t give two hoots about fishing let’s get real.Stocky said:
I think you`re wrong. Whilst it`s true that only a few have a direct interest interest in the industry, it is a totemic issue for leavers, because it`s integral to sovereignty (as leavers see it). It will hurt the gov greatly if they caved in on this. I don`t think they will.Gallowgate said:No one cares about Fishing. Less than 11k people are employed in the industry. For context more than 10k people rely on the Nissan factory in
SunderlandWashington alone.
This is proper Westminster bubble stuff.
This is not what Brexit was about and I still don`t think many remainers have understood this sufficiently. It`s not about self-interest, it`s about identity. I disagree with leavers about this, but have taken the time to understand their position (helped by the fact that I am surrounded by so many!).
The answer is no.
I’m not a deluded Remainer, I worked in County Durham in industry with plenty of Leavers. I know how they think.
Not once have I ever heard them celebrate the fact we’ll be fishing more fish.
This isn`t about a worker in fishing making more profit. It`s about whether or not our country has the power to control who can and who can`t fish in our waters.
It’s all well and good the likes of @Byronic bigging up how much “suffering” leavers are willing to go through.
In reality the answer is “none”.
People voted Brexit because they thought it would make their lives better. To pretend otherwise is missing the point.
People believed their lives would be better with more sovereignty. That may be true but it also may be not.
To suggest otherwise is either delusion, dishonesty, or stupidity.0 -
@RobD travel to Sunderland and ask workers at Nissan if they are willing to trade their job for “Fishing Rights”.
I don’t think we need polling evidence.0
This discussion has been closed.