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Cheered me up no end. Thanks!

Is a National Government really a possibility - and would it be a good thing?

logical_song said:

Is a National Government really a possibility - and would it be a good thing?

No way would Boris go for that. It would have the political effect of handing back Labour the Red Wall.

logical_song said:

Is a National Government really a possibility - and would it be a good thing?

I am sure we all want the likes Richard Burgon and Dawn Butler having influence over the government strategy....

I see South Korea's numbers are creeping up again.

I have to admit I'm still in a state of shock at the government plans to pay some people 80% of their wage for jobs that have essentially ceased to exist, quite likely permanently.

Other people who lost their job on February 28th, rather than March 1st will get nothing and self-employed not much more.

I can't help but feel that giving everyone a basic income would have been a fairer way if money had to be handed out like this.

DAlexander said:

I have to admit I'm still in a state of shock at the government plans to pay some people 80% of their wage for jobs that have essentially ceased to exist, quite likely permanently.

Other people who lost their job on February 28th, rather than March 1st will get nothing and self-employed not much more.

I can't help but feel that giving everyone a basic income would have been a fairer way if money had to be handed out like this.

You can't win. If they did UBI, say £1000 a month, you would have loads of people on £30-40k a year claiming they now can't exist, can't make the mortgage payments etc, because they budget on the basis of £3k a month rather than £1k.

FrancisUrquhart said:

DAlexander said:

I have to admit I'm still in a state of shock at the government plans to pay some people 80% of their wage for jobs that have essentially ceased to exist, quite likely permanently.

Other people who lost their job on February 28th, rather than March 1st will get nothing and self-employed not much more.

I can't help but feel that giving everyone a basic income would have been a fairer way if money had to be handed out like this.

You can't win. If they did UBI, say £1000 a month, you would have loads of people on £30-40k a year claiming they now can't exist, can't make the mortgage payments etc, because they budget on the basis of £3k a month rather than £1k.

I don't see how giving £2000 to one person and £0 to another in the same financial situation is a fairer scheme than giving both £1000 each.

FrancisUrquhart said:

RobD said:

Are the EU really banning part of the Chancellors rescue package?

Interesting move.

Link?

It was discussed at the tail end of the last thread.

https://twitter.com/Steven_Swinford/status/1241300115094147072

RobD said:

DAlexander said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

DAlexander said:

I have to admit I'm still in a state of shock at the government plans to pay some people 80% of their wage for jobs that have essentially ceased to exist, quite likely permanently.

Other people who lost their job on February 28th, rather than March 1st will get nothing and self-employed not much more.

I can't help but feel that giving everyone a basic income would have been a fairer way if money had to be handed out like this.

You can't win. If they did UBI, say £1000 a month, you would have loads of people on £30-40k a year claiming they now can't exist, can't make the mortgage payments etc, because they budget on the basis of £3k a month rather than £1k.

I don't see how giving £2000 to one person and £0 to another in the same financial situation is a fairer scheme than giving both £1000 each.

Because this intervention is to deal with the reaction to the government's advice to stay at home. It's not related to someone getting the sack three months ago for some other random reason.

Why would there be a different motivation to stay home if you lost your job on 28th Feb rather than 1st March?

How will the scheme encourage a self employed worker to stay at home?

Can't say I enjoyed the Header but I do agree with it. If you offered me a deep recession, a debt crisis and no growth for the next 10 years - but no hyper inflation and no breakdown of society - I would take it.

Link below is about weaknesses in the government's response -

https://www.buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/10-days-that-changed-britains-coronavirus-approach

DAlexander said:

RobD said:

DAlexander said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

DAlexander said:

I have to admit I'm still in a state of shock at the government plans to pay some people 80% of their wage for jobs that have essentially ceased to exist, quite likely permanently.

Other people who lost their job on February 28th, rather than March 1st will get nothing and self-employed not much more.

I can't help but feel that giving everyone a basic income would have been a fairer way if money had to be handed out like this.

You can't win. If they did UBI, say £1000 a month, you would have loads of people on £30-40k a year claiming they now can't exist, can't make the mortgage payments etc, because they budget on the basis of £3k a month rather than £1k.

I don't see how giving £2000 to one person and £0 to another in the same financial situation is a fairer scheme than giving both £1000 each.

Because this intervention is to deal with the reaction to the government's advice to stay at home. It's not related to someone getting the sack three months ago for some other random reason.

Why would there be a different motivation to stay home if you lost your job on 28th Feb rather than 1st March?

How will the scheme encourage a self employed worker to stay at home?

The scheme is to compensate people who would otherwise lose their jobs because of the government's advice. I am not sure how someone who lost their job a long time a go can claim it was caused by that advice.

Help for the self employed is definitely an area that needs improvement.

Beibheirli_C said:

FPT:

Casino_Royale said:

Beibheirli_C said:

williamglenn said:

Do you think the root cause could be a form of British nationalism that denies English nationhood? Before the recent fetishisation of "the UK", we knew very well what England was.

Surely the English have been running the show since well before the Act of Union? The UK Parliament has always been composed of 3/4 English seats and the rest of the country gets maybe up to 25%.

So any wounds are likely self-inflicted...

How do you explain the Gordon Brown adminstration then?

Scottish MPs occupied several key offices of state and ministries.

That does not alter the fact that the bulk of MPs were English as was a large number of his cabinet.

I don't think there's a single factor behind how our national identity got mangled, but the way unionists have demonised Englishness and used British nationalism as a way to dilute it is definitely in the mix.

Yorkcity said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

logical_song said:

Is a National Government really a possibility - and would it be a good thing?

I am sure we all want the likes Richard Burgon and Dawn Butler having influence over the government strategy....

Sir Kier Starmer and Lisa Nandy would be an asset to a national unity government imo.
Even BJ hero Churchil had a better government with prominent Labour cabinet members.

Nandy has gone right down in my estimate during the leadership race.

In all honesty, we don't really have the lots of the likes of say a Steve Webb sitting on the opposition benches, somebody with really expert knowledge.

RobD said:

Are the EU really banning part of the Chancellors rescue package?

Interesting move.

No. That will be fake news.

CYCLEFREE’s GARDENING CORNER

In response to @MattW’s question re pruning of forsythia.

1. Get some sharp clean secateurs so the cut is a clean one. You don’t want to be tearing at the twigs or branches.

2. No problem with pruning now - or you could wait until it’s finished flowering. The advantage of pruning now is that the stems with flowers you cut off can be put in the house to brighten it. The forsythia will still flower next year. It’s a tough old plant.

3. Lop off all the long extra stems that are sticking out. Then gradually cut down to the height and width you want. Aim to make it a rounded shape - a bit like a rounded arch - so that it looks pleasing to you and so as you pass it there aren’t bits sticking into you or catching. There is no magic to this - just step back every few minutes just to look at it form different angles.

4. The key to this is to remember that all plants will grow up to the light so if you leave the they will just reach for the sky. If untouched this ends up leaving you with lots of flowers at the top and bare branches at the bottom. So by cutting at the top and cutting the shoots heading skywards you force the plant to send out side shoots which will flower and it will look rounder and squatter and fatter so you get a burst of really bright yellow sunshine just where you want it.

5. Cut just above a flower or bud - a nice neat cut and sloping downwards. This minimises the possibility of any infection. Cut right down to the base any stems which look empty or straggly.

Plants are fine with pruning. It generally makes them stronger. Forsythia is as tough as old boots.

From previous thread, but feels relevant to this one too, re entropy and the 2nd law of thermodynamics.

geoffw said:

DavidL said:

I am not sure that entropy has yet pushed its way onto our list of problems.

Oh, I am sure that it has. What is the effect of this pandemic if not the obliteration of order in our world? It is like a thorough shuffle of a sorted pack of cards. Or like a wave washing over a sandcastle leaving a disarray of grains of sand. As people have said, tomorrow's world will not be the status quo ante. Much energy (enthalpy) will be spent to restore the myriad of damaged structures (human, social and commercial) to a semblance of the earlier order. Increasing entropy is an irresistible force of nature, just appearing in the guise of a virus epidemic.

Direct aid limits are raised to 800,000 EUR, which is consistent with the Times story.

https://news.bloombergtax.com/daily-tax-report-international/eu-eases-rules-more-on-government-handouts-for-virus-tax-relief

I've only just noticed your avatar, @williamglenn ... very good!

RobD said:

I've only just noticed your avatar, @williamglenn ... very good!

LOL. Tis too.

Cyclefree said:

CYCLEFREE’s GARDENING CORNER

In response to @MattW’s question re pruning of forsythia.

1. Get some sharp clean secateurs so the cut is a clean one. You don’t want to be tearing at the twigs or branches.

2. No problem with pruning now - or you could wait until it’s finished flowering. The advantage of pruning now is that the stems with flowers you cut off can be put in the house to brighten it. The forsythia will still flower next year. It’s a tough old plant.

3. Lop off all the long extra stems that are sticking out. Then gradually cut down to the height and width you want. Aim to make it a rounded shape - a bit like a rounded arch - so that it looks pleasing to you and so as you pass it there aren’t bits sticking into you or catching. There is no magic to this - just step back every few minutes just to look at it form different angles.

4. The key to this is to remember that all plants will grow up to the light so if you leave the they will just reach for the sky. If untouched this ends up leaving you with lots of flowers at the top and bare branches at the bottom. So by cutting at the top and cutting the shoots heading skywards you force the plant to send out side shoots which will flower and it will look rounder and squatter and fatter so you get a burst of really bright yellow sunshine just where you want it.

5. Cut just above a flower or bud - a nice neat cut and sloping downwards. This minimises the possibility of any infection. Cut right down to the base any stems which look empty or straggly.

Plants are fine with pruning. It generally makes them stronger. Forsythia is as tough as old boots.

Monty's back on Friday evenings.

RobD said:

williamglenn said:

felix said:

RobD said:

Are the EU really banning part of the Chancellors rescue package?

Interesting move.

What is this?

It seems to be a nonsense story briefed to the Times in order to stir up some anti-EU feeling.

Is there a source saying it is untrue?

Repeated FPT: Is this EU story actually true or fake news?

Sounds like the Danish scheme was approved in 24 hrs despite also being against the rules. If this is just a journalist realising its against some rules that can be waived its fake news and pathetic journalism trying to sow division at a time like this.

I dont have access to the Times so not sure if the EU are genuinely trying to stop the aid or someone is just quoting existing rules which are already being waived in the exceptional circumstances?

RobD said:

Are the EU really banning part of the Chancellors rescue package?

Interesting move.

Boris needs to the the E.U to do one.

noneoftheabove said:

RobD said:

williamglenn said:

felix said:

RobD said:

Are the EU really banning part of the Chancellors rescue package?

Interesting move.

What is this?

It seems to be a nonsense story briefed to the Times in order to stir up some anti-EU feeling.

Is there a source saying it is untrue?

Repeated FPT: Is this EU story actually true or fake news?

Sounds like the Danish scheme was approved in 24 hrs despite also being against the rules. If this is just a journalist realising its against some rules that can be waived its fake news and pathetic journalism trying to sow division at a time like this.

I dont have access to the Times so not sure if the EU are genuinely trying to stop the aid or someone is just quoting existing rules which are already being waived in the exceptional circumstances?

The story from Bloomberg suggests the rules were only just changed to the limit described in the Times article.

I really enjoyed this tweet.
https://twitter.com/toaster_pastry/status/1241206661114499074?s=21

kinabalu said:

geoffw said:

Oh, I am sure that it has. What is the effect of this pandemic if not the obliteration of order in our world? It is like a thorough shuffle of a sorted pack of cards. Or like a wave washing over a sandcastle leaving a disarray of grains of sand. As people have said, tomorrow's world will not be the status quo ante. Much energy (enthalpy) will be spent to restore the myriad of damaged structures (human, social and commercial) to a semblance of the earlier order. Increasing entropy is an irresistible force of nature, just appearing in the guise of a virus epidemic.

I like that. Did you write it?
Who else?
(edit: the quotes are buggered up, apologies)

williamglenn said:

felix said:

RobD said:

Are the EU really banning part of the Chancellors rescue package?

Interesting move.

What is this?

It seems to be a nonsense story briefed to the Times in order to stir up some anti-EU feeling.

If it is true it will blow the pro eu camp out of the water

Outrageous and unlike me to say this but 'they can get stuffed'

Gallowgate said:

Well I’ve reached a crisis point. I’ve run out of people to swipe left or right on, on Tinder.

I know little to nothing about the Tinder machine, but can't you pay to extend your range?

kinabalu said:

RobD said:

Is there a source saying it is untrue?

Yes - a brain cell.

That is not an answer. Please provide link to denial

Cyclefree said:

CYCLEFREE’s GARDENING CORNER

In response to @MattW’s question re pruning of forsythia.

1. Get some sharp clean secateurs so the cut is a clean one. You don’t want to be tearing at the twigs or branches.

2. No problem with pruning now - or you could wait until it’s finished flowering. The advantage of pruning now is that the stems with flowers you cut off can be put in the house to brighten it. The forsythia will still flower next year. It’s a tough old plant.

3. Lop off all the long extra stems that are sticking out. Then gradually cut down to the height and width you want. Aim to make it a rounded shape - a bit like a rounded arch - so that it looks pleasing to you and so as you pass it there aren’t bits sticking into you or catching. There is no magic to this - just step back every few minutes just to look at it form different angles.

4. The key to this is to remember that all plants will grow up to the light so if you leave the they will just reach for the sky. If untouched this ends up leaving you with lots of flowers at the top and bare branches at the bottom. So by cutting at the top and cutting the shoots heading skywards you force the plant to send out side shoots which will flower and it will look rounder and squatter and fatter so you get a burst of really bright yellow sunshine just where you want it.

5. Cut just above a flower or bud - a nice neat cut and sloping downwards. This minimises the possibility of any infection. Cut right down to the base any stems which look empty or straggly.

Plants are fine with pruning. It generally makes them stronger. Forsythia is as tough as old boots.

How is your daughter coping?

This whole thing could have second waves, and other countries getting their peaks later, and countries will want to limit movement for long after until it becomes part of the psyche. This morning I'm wondering which will be the first party to come up with a "progressive" low-immigration policy. People won't be moving about for a long time after this. You could come up with a Greta Thunberg argument or something that a smaller, more local world is more environmentally friendly.

williamglenn said:

felix said:

RobD said:

Are the EU really banning part of the Chancellors rescue package?

Interesting move.

What is this?

It seems to be a nonsense story briefed to the Times in order to stir up some anti-EU feeling.

Entirely predictable I'm afraid. The Brexit evangelists are nothing if not exhibitionists. They'll feel that the virus crisis has stolen their limelight and are desperate to be centre of attention again.

One thing that has been discussed here, but so far I have seen no data for, is the number of tests being carried out in Germany. I have no Idea why the Robert Koch Institute is not publishing this. I find it hard to believe that only positive test results are being sent to them.

I heard this morning on a radio program the figure 100 000 test in the last week. I doubt this is an exact figure but if it is halfway accurate then this is much higher than in the UK, roughly three times as many. This corroberates a bit of the idea that the German testing is picking up more positives in young/middle aged adults than in other countries, leading to a much lower death rate.

Another interesting thing is that the Johns Hopkins positive case numbers are starting to diverge from the RKI numbers. THis was even the second news item in the DLF radio news this morning, without really explaining why. It would seem strange if private organisations test results were being published somewhere without the RKI being informed.

RobD said:

MarqueeMark said:

Gallowgate said:

Well I’ve reached a crisis point. I’ve run out of people to swipe left or right on, on Tinder.

In these difficult times, there's always Grindr....

I'm not sure these apps are appropriate in our new social-distancing world.

Everyone has the ability to live broadcast these days...

FrancisUrquhart said:

NickPalmer said:

Thanks to Davoid for adding to the general merriment . But seriously, we do need to be thinking about these things.

Isn't another possibility that Chinese production of most things (including tinned food) recovers (IF they have overcome the virus) and people short of domestic goods to buy swirch to buying Chinese exports on a scale not yet seen? As a result, the renminbi shoots up, the Chinese population accelerates to first world standards, and the rest of the world gets poorer - but not necessarily dramatically so.

This "Chinese economy to the rescue" scenario may sound unliukely, but it's actually pretty much what's happened with consumer goods already - they would be far more expensive except that we've all switched to buying cheaper Asian-made exports.

People worried about chlorinated chicken are going to buy food from a country that incredibly low food hygiene standards, regularly has large scale food scandals due to counterfeit and tampering, such as the contaminated milk powder and where the lack of even the most minimal animal welfare standards more than likely was the source for this outbreak in the first place.

Well its a theory.

If there had been chlorinated pangolin, none of this would have happened. Just sayin'

Stark_Dawning said:

RobD said:

Stark_Dawning said:

williamglenn said:

felix said:

RobD said:

Are the EU really banning part of the Chancellors rescue package?

Interesting move.

What is this?

It seems to be a nonsense story briefed to the Times in order to stir up some anti-EU feeling.

Entirely predictable I'm afraid. The Brexit evangelists are nothing if not exhibitionists. They'll feel that the virus crisis has stolen their limelight and are desperate to be centre of attention again.

Would be glad to see an actual denial.

Even if the story was utterly baseless, a denial would still be spun as 'EU in humiliating U-turn amid Brit fury over lethal red tape' (or whatever). I wouldn't bother if I were them.

No, it would be a sensible move by the EU. But from what I can see, the state aid limit was only just raised to the figure described in the Times article.

Stark_Dawning said:

RobD said:

Stark_Dawning said:

williamglenn said:

felix said:

RobD said:

Are the EU really banning part of the Chancellors rescue package?

Interesting move.

What is this?

It seems to be a nonsense story briefed to the Times in order to stir up some anti-EU feeling.

Entirely predictable I'm afraid. The Brexit evangelists are nothing if not exhibitionists. They'll feel that the virus crisis has stolen their limelight and are desperate to be centre of attention again.

Would be glad to see an actual denial.

Even if the story was utterly baseless, a denial would still be spun as 'EU in humiliating U-turn amid Brit fury over lethal red tape' (or whatever). I wouldn't bother if I were them.

Then the damage is done

eristdoof said:

One thing that has been discussed here, but so far I have seen no data for, is the number of tests being carried out in Germany. I have no Idea why the Robert Koch Institute is not publishing this. I find it hard to believe that only positive test results are being sent to them.

I heard this morning on a radio program the figure 100 000 test in the last week. I doubt this is an exact figure but if it is halfway accurate then this is much higher than in the UK, roughly three times as many. This corroberates a bit of the idea that the German testing is picking up more positives in young/middle aged adults than in other countries, leading to a much lower death rate.

Another interesting thing is that the Johns Hopkins positive case numbers are starting to diverge from the RKI numbers. THis was even the second news item in the DLF radio news this morning, without really explaining why. It would seem strange if private organisations test results were being published somewhere without the RKI being informed.

It is very strange that the Germans aren't releasing the testing numbers. Perhaps they don't think it is important for the public to know the number of exact number of negatives, rather more important to simply reassure the public that significant testing is being conducted.

At the end of the day, over the past 3 weeks on here we have taken the UK figures and really over analyzed each day, and it doesn't really help the situation.

NickPalmer said:

Thanks to Davoid for adding to the general merriment . But seriously, we do need to be thinking about these things.

Isn't another possibility that Chinese production of most things (including tinned food) recovers (IF they have overcome the virus) and people short of domestic goods to buy swirch to buying Chinese exports on a scale not yet seen? As a result, the renminbi shoots up, the Chinese population accelerates to first world standards, and the rest of the world gets poorer - but not necessarily dramatically so.

This "Chinese economy to the rescue" scenario may sound unliukely, but it's actually pretty much what's happened with consumer goods already - they would be far more expensive except that we've all switched to buying cheaper Asian-made exports.

An alternative possibility is that countries default on debt owned by China.

How much of the US national debt is owned by China as an example.

Is helping every actor in the market really market distorting? Is this a state aid issue?

RobD said:

FrancisUrquhart said:

NickPalmer said:

Thanks to Davoid for adding to the general merriment . But seriously, we do need to be thinking about these things.

Isn't another possibility that Chinese production of most things (including tinned food) recovers (IF they have overcome the virus) and people short of domestic goods to buy swirch to buying Chinese exports on a scale not yet seen? As a result, the renminbi shoots up, the Chinese population accelerates to first world standards, and the rest of the world gets poorer - but not necessarily dramatically so.

This "Chinese economy to the rescue" scenario may sound unliukely, but it's actually pretty much what's happened with consumer goods already - they would be far more expensive except that we've all switched to buying cheaper Asian-made exports.

People worried about chlorinated chicken are going to buy food from a country that incredibly low food hygiene standards, regularly has large scale food scandals due to counterfeit and tampering, such as the contaminated milk powder and where the lack of even the most minimal animal welfare standards more than likely was the source for this outbreak in the first place.

Well its a theory.

If there had been chlorinated pangolin, none of this would have happened. Just sayin'

This is very funny. Also very true.

RobD said:

Big_G_NorthWales said:

Stark_Dawning said:

Big_G_NorthWales said:

Stark_Dawning said:

williamglenn said:

felix said:

RobD said:

Are the EU really banning part of the Chancellors rescue package?

Interesting move.

What is this?

It seems to be a nonsense story briefed to the Times in order to stir up some anti-EU feeling.

Entirely predictable I'm afraid. The Brexit evangelists are nothing if not exhibitionists. They'll feel that the virus crisis has stolen their limelight and are desperate to be centre of attention again.

Then provide a link to denial of the story

If true it a devastating own goal and will see any support for the EU collapse

Dear oh dear.

Please provide the denial then the issue is dealt with

I'll let you in on a little secret, Big_G.... I don't think there is one. That's why he's just mouthing off about Brexiteers instead.

And this is the problem with the EU

It is so easy to believe the story and in the absence of a denial it must be assumed this is their position, and devastating for their remaining support in the UK

williamglenn said:

Big_G_NorthWales said:

Stark_Dawning said:

Big_G_NorthWales said:

Stark_Dawning said:

williamglenn said:

felix said:

RobD said:

Are the EU really banning part of the Chancellors rescue package?

Interesting move.

What is this?

It seems to be a nonsense story briefed to the Times in order to stir up some anti-EU feeling.

Entirely predictable I'm afraid. The Brexit evangelists are nothing if not exhibitionists. They'll feel that the virus crisis has stolen their limelight and are desperate to be centre of attention again.

Then provide a link to denial of the story

If true it a devastating own goal and will see any support for the EU collapse

Dear oh dear.

Please provide the denial then the issue is dealt with

The story doesn't make sense in its own terms because it says that "selective tax advantages" will be allowed.

In that case provide the denial

Big_G_NorthWales said:

RobD said:

Big_G_NorthWales said:

Stark_Dawning said:

Big_G_NorthWales said:

Stark_Dawning said:

williamglenn said:

felix said:

RobD said:

Are the EU really banning part of the Chancellors rescue package?

Interesting move.

What is this?

It seems to be a nonsense story briefed to the Times in order to stir up some anti-EU feeling.

Entirely predictable I'm afraid. The Brexit evangelists are nothing if not exhibitionists. They'll feel that the virus crisis has stolen their limelight and are desperate to be centre of attention again.

Then provide a link to denial of the story

If true it a devastating own goal and will see any support for the EU collapse

Dear oh dear.

Please provide the denial then the issue is dealt with

I'll let you in on a little secret, Big_G.... I don't think there is one. That's why he's just mouthing off about Brexiteers instead.

And this is the problem with the EU

It is so easy to believe the story and in the absence of a denial it must be assumed this is their position, and devastating for their remaining support in the UK

If the EU had to deny every dubious claim about them promulgated by the British media they'd need a press department the size of the Chinese army.

MarqueeMark said:

Cyclefree said:

CYCLEFREE’s GARDENING CORNER

In response to @MattW’s question re pruning of forsythia.

1. Get some sharp clean secateurs so the cut is a clean one. You don’t want to be tearing at the twigs or branches.

2. No problem with pruning now - or you could wait until it’s finished flowering. The advantage of pruning now is that the stems with flowers you cut off can be put in the house to brighten it. The forsythia will still flower next year. It’s a tough old plant.

3. Lop off all the long extra stems that are sticking out. Then gradually cut down to the height and width you want. Aim to make it a rounded shape - a bit like a rounded arch - so that it looks pleasing to you and so as you pass it there aren’t bits sticking into you or catching. There is no magic to this - just step back every few minutes just to look at it form different angles.

4. The key to this is to remember that all plants will grow up to the light so if you leave the they will just reach for the sky. If untouched this ends up leaving you with lots of flowers at the top and bare branches at the bottom. So by cutting at the top and cutting the shoots heading skywards you force the plant to send out side shoots which will flower and it will look rounder and squatter and fatter so you get a burst of really bright yellow sunshine just where you want it.

5. Cut just above a flower or bud - a nice neat cut and sloping downwards. This minimises the possibility of any infection. Cut right down to the base any stems which look empty or straggly.

Plants are fine with pruning. It generally makes them stronger. Forsythia is as tough as old boots.

Next week: wisteria?

Wisteria is easy... In August cut the stems back to five buds each, leaving any you intend to form new branches. Train as required. In January trim the same stems back to three buds. Otherwise leave well alone.

MarqueeMark said:

Gallowgate said:

Well I’ve reached a crisis point. I’ve run out of people to swipe left or right on, on Tinder.

In these difficult times, there's always Grindr....

or Bristlr