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Could Reform’s Tice surprise us on Thursday? – politicalbetting.com

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  • LeonLeon Posts: 46,247
    This is the second Xmassy function I’ve had scrubbed today

    I was meant to be going to Eastnor Castle on Friday for a get together. Cancelled

    Very melancholy

    To cheer myself up I have bought an iPad Pro 12.9 with the magic keyboard. Sensational. They’ve (finally) managed to reinvent the iPad. Or very near

  • RobD said:

    RobD said:

    I still can't book a booster jab through the website and I haven't got time to be ringing my GP FFS. I'm 6+ months from my 2nd jab now. What a shambles.

    You should definitely try calling if you want it and can't book it.
    Like I said, I haven't got time to be sitting on hold for hours.
    Ouch, is it that bad? I'd not feel bad about doing it while at work, and just having the phone on speaker until I hear someone talking.
    Booked my booster at 2am last night, just in case. Though I won't actually be jabbed for four weeks!
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 39,145

    kinabalu said:

    Farooq said:

    Seems a better gig for Nandy. Her northern credentials were wasted on Foreign Affairs.
    I cannot see what anyone finds impressive about her. Seems a complete lightweight to me.
    She's not a North London hand wringer. So that's a good start.
    Is there something in particular that you don't like about north Londoners, or is it just old-fashioned northern prejudice?
    I want Labour to be fronted by politicians who can connect with working people up and down the country. Attending dinner parties in Islington where you can demonstrate your wokeness is not the way to achieve this.
    Have you ever been to Islington?
    Look, I'm using shorthand. This type of wank can occur in other parts of London. And even in other parts of the country.

    As King's Cross station is in Islington then yes, I've been there.
    You're not really getting the proper Islo vibe at Kings Cross station.
    Yes, you even have to pop across to St.Pancras if you want a decent glass of champagne.
    JohnO and myself have had several PB Tory lunches at the champagne bar in St Pancras.

    Nothing is too good for the working man and their elected representatives.
    Is that the one in the south-western corner, which was formerly the ticket offices, with the little carvings of railway locomotives around the top of the wall? Is it recommended?
  • Carnyx said:

    kinabalu said:

    Farooq said:

    Seems a better gig for Nandy. Her northern credentials were wasted on Foreign Affairs.
    I cannot see what anyone finds impressive about her. Seems a complete lightweight to me.
    She's not a North London hand wringer. So that's a good start.
    Is there something in particular that you don't like about north Londoners, or is it just old-fashioned northern prejudice?
    I want Labour to be fronted by politicians who can connect with working people up and down the country. Attending dinner parties in Islington where you can demonstrate your wokeness is not the way to achieve this.
    Have you ever been to Islington?
    Look, I'm using shorthand. This type of wank can occur in other parts of London. And even in other parts of the country.

    As King's Cross station is in Islington then yes, I've been there.
    You're not really getting the proper Islo vibe at Kings Cross station.
    Yes, you even have to pop across to St.Pancras if you want a decent glass of champagne.
    JohnO and myself have had several PB Tory lunches at the champagne bar in St Pancras.

    Nothing is too good for the working man and their elected representatives.
    Is that the one in the south-western corner, which was formerly the ticket offices, with the little carvings of railway locomotives around the top of the wall? Is it recommended?
    The champagne bar is alongside the Eurostar platforms, just south of the Midland platforms.
  • IshmaelZ said:

    Ratters said:

    It seems like Starmer is using a position of relative strength (ahead in most polls) to make the Shadow Cabinet more recognisable and more serious.

    I think that is very astute: he has quite probably had these changes in mind for months, but thought if he made them while well behind in the polls they'd look like a sign of weakness
    Very much agree with you both.

    And hope you are well @IshmaelZ
  • I am not a member of the conservative party so I can freelance !!!
  • IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830

    Somehow the public has been conned into the idea that Boris Johnson, of Eton is somehow more working class than the son of a toolmaker and a nurse, who worked off his own back to become one of the most powerful and successful lawyers in the UK

    Own bat, not back. DPP doesn't mean you are any good as a lawyer. I have despised him ever since he used his position to "raise his profile" by giving a press conference saying he was going to prosecute Trousers Huhne - something which clearly had the potential to prejudice potential jurors. Not as much as I despise Johnson for dropping NZ-R in it, but almost as much
  • AslanAslan Posts: 1,673
    I remember when people like Leon were accused of bedwetting over the original COVID.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 66,751
    Still got a fuckload of snow here but it seems to be thawing, am listening to a torrent pouring off the roof and hoping it won't crash through the conservatory roof if it all slips at once.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 24,585
    Ratters said:

    It seems like Starmer is using a position of relative strength (ahead in most polls) to make the Shadow Cabinet more recognisable and more serious.

    He has been rather ruthless over the months, lulling the swivel-eyed into a false sense of security. Of course he may pay for that later.

    A chastened Rayner cut a solitary figure today, and didn't she sound like a refugee from the Hacienda club.
  • FarooqFarooq Posts: 10,775

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    IshmaelZ said:

    isam said:

    isam said:

    isam said:

    Well he’s losing on the measure to a PM that’s in a hole. I had a billion pounds at 8/1 with a mate that Sir Keir would win Best PM this week w R&W too, bah
    You're a troll. And not a very good one!
    All the best with your illness
    Not clever Sam. Whatever the disagreements we all have amongst ourselves on here there are certain things that just aren't acceptable. Not many perhaps but that is definitely one of them.
    I’ve had close friends die from mental illness, and had my moments myself, but why should I be dug out by someone who makes stuff up, claims to be depressed, then gets a free hit when he starts ripping into me? For all I know he’s making it all up or is another poster pretending
    Honest, mate, I can see all that, but just leaaave it aaaaht. not wurf it. Ignore.
    I can see iSam's point as well. We all feel sorry for Correct Horse Wotsit, and hope he gets well, but that doesn't give him free rein to dish out abuse and yet whine when he gets it back. Doesn't work like that

    Otherwise we could all pretend to be bipolar alcoholics and demand protection from the tiniest scintilla of criticism
    You of all people should know there are degrees of acceptable and unacceptable behaviour on here. Attacking people for their views or what they say is one thing. Picking on their personal mental or health issues is quite another. CHB called Sam a troll. To reply by referencing personal issues is way over the top. And for the record people have done it to you in the past and I and others have said exactly the same thing then.
    Whatever, yawn

    As a more general observation - rereading the thread - there seems an unusual amount of petty bickering and offence-taking by many, even those who are generally more robust. I suspect we are all fucking rattled by Omicron, and truly fearful - if we are honest. This prickly PB atmosphere is a by product

    Everyone I have spoken to in the last couple of days is scared. Everyone
    Undoubtedly you are referring to me there. And you are right - up to a point. I am deeply fearful of restrictions returning, and people cancelling Christmas parties unilaterally doesn’t help. And nor does a normally rational and interesting guy endlessly posting doom porn on the internet.
    Interesting, yeah. But rational? Umm?
  • IshmaelZ said:

    Somehow the public has been conned into the idea that Boris Johnson, of Eton is somehow more working class than the son of a toolmaker and a nurse, who worked off his own back to become one of the most powerful and successful lawyers in the UK

    Own bat, not back. DPP doesn't mean you are any good as a lawyer. I have despised him ever since he used his position to "raise his profile" by giving a press conference saying he was going to prosecute Trousers Huhne - something which clearly had the potential to prejudice potential jurors. Not as much as I despise Johnson for dropping NZ-R in it, but almost as much
    Apologies for the slip and thank you for your correction.
  • IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830

    IshmaelZ said:

    Ratters said:

    It seems like Starmer is using a position of relative strength (ahead in most polls) to make the Shadow Cabinet more recognisable and more serious.

    I think that is very astute: he has quite probably had these changes in mind for months, but thought if he made them while well behind in the polls they'd look like a sign of weakness
    Very much agree with you both.

    And hope you are well @IshmaelZ
    yeahnobbadnyou?
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 26,279
    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    IshmaelZ said:

    isam said:

    isam said:

    isam said:

    Well he’s losing on the measure to a PM that’s in a hole. I had a billion pounds at 8/1 with a mate that Sir Keir would win Best PM this week w R&W too, bah
    You're a troll. And not a very good one!
    All the best with your illness
    Not clever Sam. Whatever the disagreements we all have amongst ourselves on here there are certain things that just aren't acceptable. Not many perhaps but that is definitely one of them.
    I’ve had close friends die from mental illness, and had my moments myself, but why should I be dug out by someone who makes stuff up, claims to be depressed, then gets a free hit when he starts ripping into me? For all I know he’s making it all up or is another poster pretending
    Honest, mate, I can see all that, but just leaaave it aaaaht. not wurf it. Ignore.
    I can see iSam's point as well. We all feel sorry for Correct Horse Wotsit, and hope he gets well, but that doesn't give him free rein to dish out abuse and yet whine when he gets it back. Doesn't work like that

    Otherwise we could all pretend to be bipolar alcoholics and demand protection from the tiniest scintilla of criticism
    You of all people should know there are degrees of acceptable and unacceptable behaviour on here. Attacking people for their views or what they say is one thing. Picking on their personal mental or health issues is quite another. CHB called Sam a troll. To reply by referencing personal issues is way over the top. And for the record people have done it to you in the past and I and others have said exactly the same thing then.
    Whatever, yawn

    As a more general observation - rereading the thread - there seems an unusual amount of petty bickering and offence-taking by many, even those who are generally more robust. I suspect we are all fucking rattled by Omicron, and truly fearful - if we are honest. This prickly PB atmosphere is a by product

    Everyone I have spoken to in the last couple of days is scared. Everyone
    "Everyone being scared" must be a London thing I think.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 66,751
    Aslan said:

    I remember when people like Leon were accused of bedwetting over the original COVID.

    You mean, when the likes of Eadric predicted 2 million dead in Britain alone? Yes, that prediction looks much better with hindsight.
  • IshmaelZ said:

    IshmaelZ said:

    Ratters said:

    It seems like Starmer is using a position of relative strength (ahead in most polls) to make the Shadow Cabinet more recognisable and more serious.

    I think that is very astute: he has quite probably had these changes in mind for months, but thought if he made them while well behind in the polls they'd look like a sign of weakness
    Very much agree with you both.

    And hope you are well @IshmaelZ
    yeahnobbadnyou?
    Fine, bit down now but trying to keep my spirits up. Still on the same pills and will be for some months more yet
  • AslanAslan Posts: 1,673
    Carnyx said:

    rcs1000 said:

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    FFS the Christmas Party I got all excited about..... has just been cancelled.

    OMICRON

    I wonder how much this is happening across the country, and the world. Sad sad sad

    Why has it been cancelled due to omnicron? Under what piece of policy or guidance has it been cancelled?
    Generalised fear, nothing specific


    To quote:

    "I am so sorry to say that with news around the new covid variant we have decided not to go ahead with the festivities at the Ivy.

    "As much as we would love to, whilst the effects of the new variant are still unclear, we thought it unwise to go ahead."

    I guess I can understand their caution. If it turns out Omicron the Wild has a 90% CFR and they kill all their invitees..... but still.

    Depressing and bleak
    Ummm: I thought they'd just halved the guest list to enable better social distancing.
    Quartered surely.
    Would they hang them and draw them at the same time?
  • TomsToms Posts: 2,478
    edited November 2021

    I still can't book a booster jab through the website and I haven't got time to be ringing my GP FFS. I'm 6+ months from my 2nd jab now. What a shambles.

    The venue numbers for jabs keeps expanding. At Bedford. I had my 1st jab---one of all three---when there were only two local sites. I had my booster---it was a walk-in job---just around the corner at my local (splendid) pharmacy.

    What I am saying is to have a look around. Check out your pharmacies (Boots would have done ours, for instance) Of course maybe you have done. If so then forget I've said anything.
  • IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830
    Pulpstar said:

    Leon said:

    pigeon said:

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    FFS the Christmas Party I got all excited about..... has just been cancelled.

    OMICRON

    I wonder how much this is happening across the country, and the world. Sad sad sad

    Why has it been cancelled due to omnicron? Under what piece of policy or guidance has it been cancelled?
    Generalised fear, nothing specific


    To quote:

    "I am so sorry to say that with news around the new covid variant we have decided not to go ahead with the festivities at the Ivy.

    "As much as we would love to, whilst the effects of the new variant are still unclear, we thought it unwise to go ahead."

    I guess I can understand their caution. If it turns out Omicron the Wild has a 90% CFR and they kill all their invitees..... but still.

    Depressing and bleak
    I don't understand their caution at all, unless whoever's organising it is harbouring genuine concerns about being sued if something goes wrong.

    I mean honestly - if the world wets itself every time this virus mutates then we might just as well lock ourselves up in our homes, drink ourselves to death and be done with it.

    Certainly our works do isn't getting scrubbed unless the wretched Government actually forces restaurants to close at some point in the next two-and-a-half weeks. And that, mercifully, appears highly unlikely. They're not that scared of this thing if their principal response to it consists of useless pieces of floral print cotton or blue paper strapped across people's faces.

    Yes, that’s my position, too. And they could at least have asked the invitees our opinion, as happened to TimS

    At this rate there won’t be any Xmas parties for the next 30 years, as Covid variants inevitably spring up every November
    There'll be christmas parties next year as new variants become "one of those things". Probably an annual profits for big pharma booster campaign too
    edgy, love it...
  • RobDRobD Posts: 58,941
    ydoethur said:

    Aslan said:

    I remember when people like Leon were accused of bedwetting over the original COVID.

    You mean, when the likes of Eadric predicted 2 million dead in Britain alone? Yes, that prediction looks much better with hindsight.
    Was Eadric talking about OMICRON?
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 66,751
    Leon said:

    This is the second Xmassy function I’ve had scrubbed today

    I was meant to be going to Eastnor Castle on Friday for a get together. Cancelled

    Very melancholy

    To cheer myself up I have bought an iPad Pro 12.9 with the magic keyboard. Sensational. They’ve (finally) managed to reinvent the iPad. Or very near

    Is that why you were thinking of Newent in an earlier thread?

    I love Eastnor Castle. Amazing place.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 75,842
    People genuinely confuse what is fearful at a population level and individual level.

    If you're vaccinated, remotely halfway fit and below about 90, there's no need to restrict yourself for anything. The rules like mask wearing are for the population level effect; honestly I think it's a big overreaction for people to cancel heading to christmas parties were they going to do so otherwise. But the Gov't can't mandate them !
  • Carnyx said:

    kinabalu said:

    Farooq said:

    Seems a better gig for Nandy. Her northern credentials were wasted on Foreign Affairs.
    I cannot see what anyone finds impressive about her. Seems a complete lightweight to me.
    She's not a North London hand wringer. So that's a good start.
    Is there something in particular that you don't like about north Londoners, or is it just old-fashioned northern prejudice?
    I want Labour to be fronted by politicians who can connect with working people up and down the country. Attending dinner parties in Islington where you can demonstrate your wokeness is not the way to achieve this.
    Have you ever been to Islington?
    Look, I'm using shorthand. This type of wank can occur in other parts of London. And even in other parts of the country.

    As King's Cross station is in Islington then yes, I've been there.
    You're not really getting the proper Islo vibe at Kings Cross station.
    Yes, you even have to pop across to St.Pancras if you want a decent glass of champagne.
    JohnO and myself have had several PB Tory lunches at the champagne bar in St Pancras.

    Nothing is too good for the working man and their elected representatives.
    Is that the one in the south-western corner, which was formerly the ticket offices, with the little carvings of railway locomotives around the top of the wall? Is it recommended?
    Searcys, it is on the upper level opposite the Eurostar platforms.

    Price wise it is very good and food is enjoyable, it's a great place to while away an afternoon with friends when you don't want the hassle of going to an expensive/busy part of London for food and drinks.

    (Although JohnO and myself would recommend the Plum and Spilt Milk restaurant in the Great Northern Hotel.)
  • LeonLeon Posts: 46,247

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    IshmaelZ said:

    isam said:

    isam said:

    isam said:

    Well he’s losing on the measure to a PM that’s in a hole. I had a billion pounds at 8/1 with a mate that Sir Keir would win Best PM this week w R&W too, bah
    You're a troll. And not a very good one!
    All the best with your illness
    Not clever Sam. Whatever the disagreements we all have amongst ourselves on here there are certain things that just aren't acceptable. Not many perhaps but that is definitely one of them.
    I’ve had close friends die from mental illness, and had my moments myself, but why should I be dug out by someone who makes stuff up, claims to be depressed, then gets a free hit when he starts ripping into me? For all I know he’s making it all up or is another poster pretending
    Honest, mate, I can see all that, but just leaaave it aaaaht. not wurf it. Ignore.
    I can see iSam's point as well. We all feel sorry for Correct Horse Wotsit, and hope he gets well, but that doesn't give him free rein to dish out abuse and yet whine when he gets it back. Doesn't work like that

    Otherwise we could all pretend to be bipolar alcoholics and demand protection from the tiniest scintilla of criticism
    You of all people should know there are degrees of acceptable and unacceptable behaviour on here. Attacking people for their views or what they say is one thing. Picking on their personal mental or health issues is quite another. CHB called Sam a troll. To reply by referencing personal issues is way over the top. And for the record people have done it to you in the past and I and others have said exactly the same thing then.
    Whatever, yawn

    As a more general observation - rereading the thread - there seems an unusual amount of petty bickering and offence-taking by many, even those who are generally more robust. I suspect we are all fucking rattled by Omicron, and truly fearful - if we are honest. This prickly PB atmosphere is a by product

    Everyone I have spoken to in the last couple of days is scared. Everyone
    Undoubtedly you are referring to me there. And you are right - up to a point. I am deeply fearful of restrictions returning, and people cancelling Christmas parties unilaterally doesn’t help. And nor does a normally rational and interesting guy endlessly posting doom porn on the internet.
    Yes, you’re one of the people i am referring to, but there are many others. FWIW I do not endlessly post doom porn. I sometimes make dark jokes but you’ll just have to cope with those, because they are the way I cope with my own fears (which certainly exist)

    I actually try to be honest and truthful on here, when it comes to serious shit like Covid, and I post good news when I see it (not least, because it cheers me up too).

    Trouble is, as soon as Omicron emerged I got a bad feeling, and the news has not really improved much since. It was and is a deeply ominous development. I am praying that the first real hard data dispels the gloom
  • JonathanJonathan Posts: 20,901
    Very late, but glad about Yvette Cooper.
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 19,611
    Andy_JS said:

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    IshmaelZ said:

    isam said:

    isam said:

    isam said:

    Well he’s losing on the measure to a PM that’s in a hole. I had a billion pounds at 8/1 with a mate that Sir Keir would win Best PM this week w R&W too, bah
    You're a troll. And not a very good one!
    All the best with your illness
    Not clever Sam. Whatever the disagreements we all have amongst ourselves on here there are certain things that just aren't acceptable. Not many perhaps but that is definitely one of them.
    I’ve had close friends die from mental illness, and had my moments myself, but why should I be dug out by someone who makes stuff up, claims to be depressed, then gets a free hit when he starts ripping into me? For all I know he’s making it all up or is another poster pretending
    Honest, mate, I can see all that, but just leaaave it aaaaht. not wurf it. Ignore.
    I can see iSam's point as well. We all feel sorry for Correct Horse Wotsit, and hope he gets well, but that doesn't give him free rein to dish out abuse and yet whine when he gets it back. Doesn't work like that

    Otherwise we could all pretend to be bipolar alcoholics and demand protection from the tiniest scintilla of criticism
    You of all people should know there are degrees of acceptable and unacceptable behaviour on here. Attacking people for their views or what they say is one thing. Picking on their personal mental or health issues is quite another. CHB called Sam a troll. To reply by referencing personal issues is way over the top. And for the record people have done it to you in the past and I and others have said exactly the same thing then.
    Whatever, yawn

    As a more general observation - rereading the thread - there seems an unusual amount of petty bickering and offence-taking by many, even those who are generally more robust. I suspect we are all fucking rattled by Omicron, and truly fearful - if we are honest. This prickly PB atmosphere is a by product

    Everyone I have spoken to in the last couple of days is scared. Everyone
    "Everyone being scared" must be a London thing I think.
    I’m in London and I haven’t encountered this omnipresent fear yet - although if people start cancelling parties despite there being no guidance to do so, fear will rapidly spread.
  • CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 39,145

    Carnyx said:

    kinabalu said:

    Farooq said:

    Seems a better gig for Nandy. Her northern credentials were wasted on Foreign Affairs.
    I cannot see what anyone finds impressive about her. Seems a complete lightweight to me.
    She's not a North London hand wringer. So that's a good start.
    Is there something in particular that you don't like about north Londoners, or is it just old-fashioned northern prejudice?
    I want Labour to be fronted by politicians who can connect with working people up and down the country. Attending dinner parties in Islington where you can demonstrate your wokeness is not the way to achieve this.
    Have you ever been to Islington?
    Look, I'm using shorthand. This type of wank can occur in other parts of London. And even in other parts of the country.

    As King's Cross station is in Islington then yes, I've been there.
    You're not really getting the proper Islo vibe at Kings Cross station.
    Yes, you even have to pop across to St.Pancras if you want a decent glass of champagne.
    JohnO and myself have had several PB Tory lunches at the champagne bar in St Pancras.

    Nothing is too good for the working man and their elected representatives.
    Is that the one in the south-western corner, which was formerly the ticket offices, with the little carvings of railway locomotives around the top of the wall? Is it recommended?
    Searcys, it is on the upper level opposite the Eurostar platforms.

    Price wise it is very good and food is enjoyable, it's a great place to while away an afternoon with friends when you don't want the hassle of going to an expensive/busy part of London for food and drinks.

    (Although JohnO and myself would recommend the Plum and Spilt Milk restaurant in the Great Northern Hotel.)
    Many thanks!
  • GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 19,072
    Off to London this weekend and staying in Southend. Can anyone recommend any art galleries or arty things that are off the tourist route/obvious? I would like to surprise my artist girlfriend.
  • Jonathan said:

    Very late, but glad about Yvette Cooper.

    What from her near five year role as Shadow Home Secretary between 2011 and 2016 makes you glad she's back in the role?
  • RobD said:

    RobD said:

    I still can't book a booster jab through the website and I haven't got time to be ringing my GP FFS. I'm 6+ months from my 2nd jab now. What a shambles.

    You should definitely try calling if you want it and can't book it.
    Like I said, I haven't got time to be sitting on hold for hours.
    Ouch, is it that bad? I'd not feel bad about doing it while at work, and just having the phone on speaker until I hear someone talking.
    Tricky to do while teaching.
  • Ratters said:

    It seems like Starmer is using a position of relative strength (ahead in most polls) to make the Shadow Cabinet more recognisable and more serious.

    He has been rather ruthless over the months, lulling the swivel-eyed into a false sense of security. Of course he may pay for that later.

    A chastened Rayner cut a solitary figure today, and didn't she sound like a refugee from the Hacienda club.
    She did want to be Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, which has "non-job" written all over it. Was Roy Hattersley the last one who was really a senior member of the Shadow Cabinet?

    Much the same is true for the Conservatives, of course.
  • pigeonpigeon Posts: 4,087
    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    IshmaelZ said:

    isam said:

    isam said:

    isam said:

    Well he’s losing on the measure to a PM that’s in a hole. I had a billion pounds at 8/1 with a mate that Sir Keir would win Best PM this week w R&W too, bah
    You're a troll. And not a very good one!
    All the best with your illness
    Not clever Sam. Whatever the disagreements we all have amongst ourselves on here there are certain things that just aren't acceptable. Not many perhaps but that is definitely one of them.
    I’ve had close friends die from mental illness, and had my moments myself, but why should I be dug out by someone who makes stuff up, claims to be depressed, then gets a free hit when he starts ripping into me? For all I know he’s making it all up or is another poster pretending
    Honest, mate, I can see all that, but just leaaave it aaaaht. not wurf it. Ignore.
    I can see iSam's point as well. We all feel sorry for Correct Horse Wotsit, and hope he gets well, but that doesn't give him free rein to dish out abuse and yet whine when he gets it back. Doesn't work like that

    Otherwise we could all pretend to be bipolar alcoholics and demand protection from the tiniest scintilla of criticism
    You of all people should know there are degrees of acceptable and unacceptable behaviour on here. Attacking people for their views or what they say is one thing. Picking on their personal mental or health issues is quite another. CHB called Sam a troll. To reply by referencing personal issues is way over the top. And for the record people have done it to you in the past and I and others have said exactly the same thing then.
    Whatever, yawn

    As a more general observation - rereading the thread - there seems an unusual amount of petty bickering and offence-taking by many, even those who are generally more robust. I suspect we are all fucking rattled by Omicron, and truly fearful - if we are honest. This prickly PB atmosphere is a by product

    Everyone I have spoken to in the last couple of days is scared. Everyone
    I for one am not scared. Thoroughly fed up of the whole thing, yes, but not scared. I'm not going to start being scared either, unless and until there is a good reason to be scared.

    Nor do I think that any of us can afford to be scared every time there's a piece of bad news about the virus. Because there will be a regular stream of bad news about the virus - people mithering about variants, panicking whenever this statistic or that one heads in the wrong direction, poring and clucking over some new piece of research or another - for years. If you get into an endless cycle of pointless panicking it'll drive you round the bend. Totally loopy.

    It'll take the boffins some weeks to begin to get to grips with what serious implications - IF ANY - arise from this new variant. In the meantime, the fact that the Zombie Apocalypse hasn't started in Johannesburg, along with the majority of learned opinion, suggests that this is not an unmitigated disaster. And, therefore, the process for dealing with the pandemic in Britain has not fundamentally changed. Keep calm, carry on, and book your next jab as soon as you become eligible.

    And I wish they'd not elected to reimpose mask mandates. They're practically worthless, as the evidence of the giant comparative experiment we've been doing since July between England, Wales and Scotland suggests, and the decision has only served to piss off the less nervous part of the population and make the more nervous part of it wet themselves again, to absolutely no useful effect.
  • RobDRobD Posts: 58,941

    RobD said:

    RobD said:

    I still can't book a booster jab through the website and I haven't got time to be ringing my GP FFS. I'm 6+ months from my 2nd jab now. What a shambles.

    You should definitely try calling if you want it and can't book it.
    Like I said, I haven't got time to be sitting on hold for hours.
    Ouch, is it that bad? I'd not feel bad about doing it while at work, and just having the phone on speaker until I hear someone talking.
    Tricky to do while teaching.
    Yeah, but I was under the impression he had an office job.
  • isamisam Posts: 40,730
    Leon said:

    I've just been accused of making up my mental health problems, quite honestly I was having a very good start to the week after seeing the counsellor and now this has happened :(


    You have our sincere sympathies, but if you abuse and antagonise other commenters, you will eventually get the same back. It’s human nature. Consider refraining from provocative comments and all will be well
    Exactly
  • FarooqFarooq Posts: 10,775
    I wonder if the PoliticalBetting meetup is still on. That'll sort out the fearties from the Bravehearts.
  • RobD said:

    RobD said:

    RobD said:

    I still can't book a booster jab through the website and I haven't got time to be ringing my GP FFS. I'm 6+ months from my 2nd jab now. What a shambles.

    You should definitely try calling if you want it and can't book it.
    Like I said, I haven't got time to be sitting on hold for hours.
    Ouch, is it that bad? I'd not feel bad about doing it while at work, and just having the phone on speaker until I hear someone talking.
    Tricky to do while teaching.
    Yeah, but I was under the impression he had an office job.
    He has a very busy and important role, he's a solicitor, there is no spare time when you have to bill clients in six minute intervals.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 46,247

    Off to London this weekend and staying in Southend. Can anyone recommend any art galleries or arty things that are off the tourist route/obvious? I would like to surprise my artist girlfriend.

    The John Soane Museum
    Dulwich Gallery
    The rehung Courtauld
    The Saatchi in Chelsea
    Kenwood House and the art inside - 2 or 3 masterpieces in a tiny collection, in an exquisite house
    Wander down Dover St and check the private galleries

  • GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 19,072

    RobD said:

    RobD said:

    RobD said:

    I still can't book a booster jab through the website and I haven't got time to be ringing my GP FFS. I'm 6+ months from my 2nd jab now. What a shambles.

    You should definitely try calling if you want it and can't book it.
    Like I said, I haven't got time to be sitting on hold for hours.
    Ouch, is it that bad? I'd not feel bad about doing it while at work, and just having the phone on speaker until I hear someone talking.
    Tricky to do while teaching.
    Yeah, but I was under the impression he had an office job.
    He has a very busy and important role, he's a solicitor, there is no spare time when you have to bill clients in six minute intervals.
    Not yet!
  • JonathanJonathan Posts: 20,901

    Jonathan said:

    Very late, but glad about Yvette Cooper.

    What from her near five year role as Shadow Home Secretary between 2011 and 2016 makes you glad she's back in the role?
    Experience and a sharp edge. She is well positioned to deal with Tories failures in this key area.
  • isamisam Posts: 40,730
    I only heard of the row because the BBC news at 6 were talking about it - then I looked Centrist Twitter and it was a non story 7 hours previously!
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 24,585

    I am not a member of the conservative party so I can freelance !!!
    Very good
  • RobD said:

    RobD said:

    RobD said:

    I still can't book a booster jab through the website and I haven't got time to be ringing my GP FFS. I'm 6+ months from my 2nd jab now. What a shambles.

    You should definitely try calling if you want it and can't book it.
    Like I said, I haven't got time to be sitting on hold for hours.
    Ouch, is it that bad? I'd not feel bad about doing it while at work, and just having the phone on speaker until I hear someone talking.
    Tricky to do while teaching.
    Yeah, but I was under the impression he had an office job.
    I too need to contact my doctor, and I keep missing the five second gap between the phones opening at 8:30 and the queue filling up to the point where it will take half an hour to get though, by which time I am taking a register and giving out form notices.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 46,247
    pigeon said:

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    IshmaelZ said:

    isam said:

    isam said:

    isam said:

    Well he’s losing on the measure to a PM that’s in a hole. I had a billion pounds at 8/1 with a mate that Sir Keir would win Best PM this week w R&W too, bah
    You're a troll. And not a very good one!
    All the best with your illness
    Not clever Sam. Whatever the disagreements we all have amongst ourselves on here there are certain things that just aren't acceptable. Not many perhaps but that is definitely one of them.
    I’ve had close friends die from mental illness, and had my moments myself, but why should I be dug out by someone who makes stuff up, claims to be depressed, then gets a free hit when he starts ripping into me? For all I know he’s making it all up or is another poster pretending
    Honest, mate, I can see all that, but just leaaave it aaaaht. not wurf it. Ignore.
    I can see iSam's point as well. We all feel sorry for Correct Horse Wotsit, and hope he gets well, but that doesn't give him free rein to dish out abuse and yet whine when he gets it back. Doesn't work like that

    Otherwise we could all pretend to be bipolar alcoholics and demand protection from the tiniest scintilla of criticism
    You of all people should know there are degrees of acceptable and unacceptable behaviour on here. Attacking people for their views or what they say is one thing. Picking on their personal mental or health issues is quite another. CHB called Sam a troll. To reply by referencing personal issues is way over the top. And for the record people have done it to you in the past and I and others have said exactly the same thing then.
    Whatever, yawn

    As a more general observation - rereading the thread - there seems an unusual amount of petty bickering and offence-taking by many, even those who are generally more robust. I suspect we are all fucking rattled by Omicron, and truly fearful - if we are honest. This prickly PB atmosphere is a by product

    Everyone I have spoken to in the last couple of days is scared. Everyone
    I for one am not scared. Thoroughly fed up of the whole thing, yes, but not scared. I'm not going to start being scared either, unless and until there is a good reason to be scared.

    Nor do I think that any of us can afford to be scared every time there's a piece of bad news about the virus. Because there will be a regular stream of bad news about the virus - people mithering about variants, panicking whenever this statistic or that one heads in the wrong direction, poring and clucking over some new piece of research or another - for years. If you get into an endless cycle of pointless panicking it'll drive you round the bend. Totally loopy.

    It'll take the boffins some weeks to begin to get to grips with what serious implications - IF ANY - arise from this new variant. In the meantime, the fact that the Zombie Apocalypse hasn't started in Johannesburg, along with the majority of learned opinion, suggests that this is not an unmitigated disaster. And, therefore, the process for dealing with the pandemic in Britain has not fundamentally changed. Keep calm, carry on, and book your next jab as soon as you become eligible.

    And I wish they'd not elected to reimpose mask mandates. They're practically worthless, as the evidence of the giant comparative experiment we've been doing since July between England, Wales and Scotland suggests, and the decision has only served to piss off the less nervous part of the population and make the more nervous part of it wet themselves again, to absolutely no useful effect.
    I’m not scared of the Plague per se. It is what it is. Nothing I can do about it, so I don’t fret, even tho it is disquieting

    What I am scared of is another potential lockdown. Because the last 2 - especially the winter one - sent my almost into mental breakdown. Can I hack another one? I genuinely don’t know. It was horrific

    And here I CAN do something. I can escape. I could plan an exit route. But where? And when? And how? And what about those I leave behind?

    Somehow, having actual options makes it properly scary. The clock ticks. The stone door slides down and Indiana Jones wonders when to roll under or get crushed. But then he has to go back to get the cat, as Alien prowls the spaceship

    SCARY
  • Farooq said:

    I wonder if the PoliticalBetting meetup is still on. That'll sort out the fearties from the Bravehearts.

    I'll be there, I bought some new shoes just for the occasion.
  • Nigelb said:

    Angela Merkel has left Germans wondering how well they really know the chancellor who has governed them for 16 years, after picking a song by the punk rocker Nina Hagen as the soundtrack for her military leaving ceremony.…
    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/29/angela-merkel-punk-pick-for-leaving-ceremony-raises-eyebrows

    Gwan yersel’ Ange!
    Nina a fellow Osti of course.
  • Anyone else surprised by David Lammy going to foreign affairs?

    No, he can shoot the breeze with his French counterparts about good ol' Queen Marie Curie.
  • Farooq said:

    I wonder if the PoliticalBetting meetup is still on. That'll sort out the fearties from the Bravehearts.

    Still on
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 19,611
    Pulpstar said:

    People genuinely confuse what is fearful at a population level and individual level.

    If you're vaccinated, remotely halfway fit and below about 90, there's no need to restrict yourself for anything. The rules like mask wearing are for the population level effect; honestly I think it's a big overreaction for people to cancel heading to christmas parties were they going to do so otherwise. But the Gov't can't mandate them !

    It seems highly irrational to me for healthy vaccinated people to send their children to school every day, but not attend a Christmas party.
  • isamisam Posts: 40,730
    edited November 2021

    Off to London this weekend and staying in Southend. Can anyone recommend any art galleries or arty things that are off the tourist route/obvious? I would like to surprise my artist girlfriend.

    Leigh on Sea is probably as arty as it gets near there. Nice stroll from Southend. I think there is a little art gallery opposite the Peterboat pub.

    Prittlewell Sq is pretty
  • NickPalmerNickPalmer Posts: 21,263
    pigeon said:



    Certainly our works do isn't getting scrubbed unless the wretched Government actually forces restaurants to close at some point in the next two-and-a-half weeks. And that, mercifully, appears highly unlikely.

    My office offered a works do, but almost nobody wanted to come in for it (and this was in discussion pre-Omicron). We're having a Zoom works do instead, with people toasting each other and munching mince pies in front of the screen. Possibly a quiz.

    I've heard of the drunken orgies that works dos in Britain are supposed to feature (Swiss ones were more sedate, sadly). Not sure that quite works by Zoom?
  • FarooqFarooq Posts: 10,775

    Farooq said:

    I wonder if the PoliticalBetting meetup is still on. That'll sort out the fearties from the Bravehearts.

    I'll be there, I bought some new shoes just for the occasion.
    If it's those you pictured some weeks ago, you can count me in the "feartie" column
  • IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830

    Jonathan said:

    Very late, but glad about Yvette Cooper.

    What from her near five year role as Shadow Home Secretary between 2011 and 2016 makes you glad she's back in the role?
    HIPs don't lie
  • Farooq said:

    Farooq said:

    I wonder if the PoliticalBetting meetup is still on. That'll sort out the fearties from the Bravehearts.

    I'll be there, I bought some new shoes just for the occasion.
    If it's those you pictured some weeks ago, you can count me in the "feartie" column
    No, those are for my dinner at The Ritz the following week.
  • LeonLeon Posts: 46,247

    pigeon said:



    Certainly our works do isn't getting scrubbed unless the wretched Government actually forces restaurants to close at some point in the next two-and-a-half weeks. And that, mercifully, appears highly unlikely.

    My office offered a works do, but almost nobody wanted to come in for it (and this was in discussion pre-Omicron). We're having a Zoom works do instead, with people toasting each other and munching mince pies in front of the screen. Possibly a quiz.

    I've heard of the drunken orgies that works dos in Britain are supposed to feature (Swiss ones were more sedate, sadly). Not sure that quite works by Zoom?
    I cannot think of a sadder social engagement than “a Christmas office works do on Zoom”. I picture a solitary David Brent in a paper hat, his sad eyes staring into space, as he nibbles a walnut

    This is not aimed at you NPXMP, this is just a wider observation. We are losing the knack of human society. We are letting our natural urge to socialise be crushed by vague fears. Bad
  • Very scary. I was in a pub somewhere in London Bridge earlier. I was the only one in.

    No one is safe until everyone is safe. Let's go global with the vaccines 👍
  • GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 19,072

    pigeon said:



    Certainly our works do isn't getting scrubbed unless the wretched Government actually forces restaurants to close at some point in the next two-and-a-half weeks. And that, mercifully, appears highly unlikely.

    My office offered a works do, but almost nobody wanted to come in for it (and this was in discussion pre-Omicron). We're having a Zoom works do instead, with people toasting each other and munching mince pies in front of the screen. Possibly a quiz.

    I've heard of the drunken orgies that works dos in Britain are supposed to feature (Swiss ones were more sedate, sadly). Not sure that quite works by Zoom?
    That sounds depressing as owt
  • CookieCookie Posts: 11,183

    RobD said:

    RobD said:

    Leon said:

    FFS the Christmas Party I got all excited about..... has just been cancelled.

    OMICRON

    I wonder how much this is happening across the country, and the world. Sad sad sad

    Yep - same here.
    Why? There is no guidance or policy that precludes holding parties.
    I think people's attitudes are not only governed by HMG guidance.
    So people are cancelling parties through fear rather than guidance?
    Maybe, maybe out of caution.
    Is this now a widespread thing? People unilaterally cancelling Christmas parties out of ‘caution’ despite their guests being willing to attend?
    People at
    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    IshmaelZ said:

    isam said:

    isam said:

    isam said:

    Well he’s losing on the measure to a PM that’s in a hole. I had a billion pounds at 8/1 with a mate that Sir Keir would win Best PM this week w R&W too, bah
    You're a troll. And not a very good one!
    All the best with your illness
    Not clever Sam. Whatever the disagreements we all have amongst ourselves on here there are certain things that just aren't acceptable. Not many perhaps but that is definitely one of them.
    I’ve had close friends die from mental illness, and had my moments myself, but why should I be dug out by someone who makes stuff up, claims to be depressed, then gets a free hit when he starts ripping into me? For all I know he’s making it all up or is another poster pretending
    Honest, mate, I can see all that, but just leaaave it aaaaht. not wurf it. Ignore.
    I can see iSam's point as well. We all feel sorry for Correct Horse Wotsit, and hope he gets well, but that doesn't give him free rein to dish out abuse and yet whine when he gets it back. Doesn't work like that

    Otherwise we could all pretend to be bipolar alcoholics and demand protection from the tiniest scintilla of criticism
    You of all people should know there are degrees of acceptable and unacceptable behaviour on here. Attacking people for their views or what they say is one thing. Picking on their personal mental or health issues is quite another. CHB called Sam a troll. To reply by referencing personal issues is way over the top. And for the record people have done it to you in the past and I and others have said exactly the same thing then.
    Whatever, yawn

    As a more general observation - rereading the thread - there seems an unusual amount of petty bickering and offence-taking by many, even those who are generally more robust. I suspect we are all fucking rattled by Omicron, and truly fearful - if we are honest. This prickly PB atmosphere is a by product

    Everyone I have spoken to in the last couple of days is scared. Everyone
    I'm not scared of Omicron. But I am scared of what the government will do in response to fears of Omicron.

    We were discussing the work Christmas Party this morning. General surprise and disapproval in the team that it had been cancelled yet. Hilarity when I pointed out that hospitality was not yet facing restrictions. Someone grudgingly pointed out that we were at tables of six and it was table service; "maybe if we don't mingle and stick to our bubble" it'll be ok.
    Not impressed with the attitude there to be honest.
  • CookieCookie Posts: 11,183
    Cookie said:

    RobD said:

    RobD said:

    Leon said:

    FFS the Christmas Party I got all excited about..... has just been cancelled.

    OMICRON

    I wonder how much this is happening across the country, and the world. Sad sad sad

    Yep - same here.
    Why? There is no guidance or policy that precludes holding parties.
    I think people's attitudes are not only governed by HMG guidance.
    So people are cancelling parties through fear rather than guidance?
    Maybe, maybe out of caution.
    Is this now a widespread thing? People unilaterally cancelling Christmas parties out of ‘caution’ despite their guests being willing to attend?
    People at
    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    IshmaelZ said:

    isam said:

    isam said:

    isam said:

    Well he’s losing on the measure to a PM that’s in a hole. I had a billion pounds at 8/1 with a mate that Sir Keir would win Best PM this week w R&W too, bah
    You're a troll. And not a very good one!
    All the best with your illness
    Not clever Sam. Whatever the disagreements we all have amongst ourselves on here there are certain things that just aren't acceptable. Not many perhaps but that is definitely one of them.
    I’ve had close friends die from mental illness, and had my moments myself, but why should I be dug out by someone who makes stuff up, claims to be depressed, then gets a free hit when he starts ripping into me? For all I know he’s making it all up or is another poster pretending
    Honest, mate, I can see all that, but just leaaave it aaaaht. not wurf it. Ignore.
    I can see iSam's point as well. We all feel sorry for Correct Horse Wotsit, and hope he gets well, but that doesn't give him free rein to dish out abuse and yet whine when he gets it back. Doesn't work like that

    Otherwise we could all pretend to be bipolar alcoholics and demand protection from the tiniest scintilla of criticism
    You of all people should know there are degrees of acceptable and unacceptable behaviour on here. Attacking people for their views or what they say is one thing. Picking on their personal mental or health issues is quite another. CHB called Sam a troll. To reply by referencing personal issues is way over the top. And for the record people have done it to you in the past and I and others have said exactly the same thing then.
    Whatever, yawn

    As a more general observation - rereading the thread - there seems an unusual amount of petty bickering and offence-taking by many, even those who are generally more robust. I suspect we are all fucking rattled by Omicron, and truly fearful - if we are honest. This prickly PB atmosphere is a by product

    Everyone I have spoken to in the last couple of days is scared. Everyone
    I'm not scared of Omicron. But I am scared of what the government will do in response to fears of Omicron.

    We were discussing the work Christmas Party this morning. General surprise and disapproval in the team that it had been cancelled yet. Hilarity when I pointed out that hospitality was not yet facing restrictions. Someone grudgingly pointed out that we were at tables of six and it was table service; "maybe if we don't mingle and stick to our bubble" it'll be ok.
    Not impressed with the attitude there to be honest.
    *had NOT been cancelled yet*
  • CiceroCicero Posts: 2,179
    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    IshmaelZ said:

    isam said:

    isam said:

    isam said:

    Well he’s losing on the measure to a PM that’s in a hole. I had a billion pounds at 8/1 with a mate that Sir Keir would win Best PM this week w R&W too, bah
    You're a troll. And not a very good one!
    All the best with your illness
    Not clever Sam. Whatever the disagreements we all have amongst ourselves on here there are certain things that just aren't acceptable. Not many perhaps but that is definitely one of them.
    I’ve had close friends die from mental illness, and had my moments myself, but why should I be dug out by someone who makes stuff up, claims to be depressed, then gets a free hit when he starts ripping into me? For all I know he’s making it all up or is another poster pretending
    Honest, mate, I can see all that, but just leaaave it aaaaht. not wurf it. Ignore.
    I can see iSam's point as well. We all feel sorry for Correct Horse Wotsit, and hope he gets well, but that doesn't give him free rein to dish out abuse and yet whine when he gets it back. Doesn't work like that

    Otherwise we could all pretend to be bipolar alcoholics and demand protection from the tiniest scintilla of criticism
    You of all people should know there are degrees of acceptable and unacceptable behaviour on here. Attacking people for their views or what they say is one thing. Picking on their personal mental or health issues is quite another. CHB called Sam a troll. To reply by referencing personal issues is way over the top. And for the record people have done it to you in the past and I and others have said exactly the same thing then.
    Whatever, yawn

    As a more general observation - rereading the thread - there seems an unusual amount of petty bickering and offence-taking by many, even those who are generally more robust. I suspect we are all fucking rattled by Omicron, and truly fearful - if we are honest. This prickly PB atmoared. Everyone
    Well, speaking personally, I am not that scared. But then I have double AZ and a Pfizer booster and I live in a country which has a functioniung healthcare system.

    Omicron, and doubtless other variants besides are just a fact of life, unless we can vaccinate Africa as well as any other continent. Having met the Head of the Oxford vaccination team, Sir Andrew Pollard, recently, I learned that ultimately its a numbers game. In a way we were very lucky that Coronaviruses in general had been the focus of such research and that so much was alredy known about the structure of the virus, which is why it took such an incredibly short time to develop vaccines, (by the way a truly incredible acheivment). The point is that a great deal is known about what the virus can do, in particular there seems to be a trade off between virulence and contagion, which seems to be what we see with Omicron. However, in any event the combination of the different types of vaccine should still give high response, no matter what the variant. Boosters, like flu shots may become the norm, but the exposure of so many to previous variants is most lilkely going to make this a whole lot less dangerous. Just be thankful that the lethality of this was so low, and not like -say- Ebola that would have been more like a 30% death rate. We have, in fact, been very lucky and we should remember that.
  • ThomasNasheThomasNashe Posts: 4,920
    pigeon said:

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    IshmaelZ said:

    isam said:

    isam said:

    isam said:

    Well he’s losing on the measure to a PM that’s in a hole. I had a billion pounds at 8/1 with a mate that Sir Keir would win Best PM this week w R&W too, bah
    You're a troll. And not a very good one!
    All the best with your illness
    Not clever Sam. Whatever the disagreements we all have amongst ourselves on here there are certain things that just aren't acceptable. Not many perhaps but that is definitely one of them.
    I’ve had close friends die from mental illness, and had my moments myself, but why should I be dug out by someone who makes stuff up, claims to be depressed, then gets a free hit when he starts ripping into me? For all I know he’s making it all up or is another poster pretending
    Honest, mate, I can see all that, but just leaaave it aaaaht. not wurf it. Ignore.
    I can see iSam's point as well. We all feel sorry for Correct Horse Wotsit, and hope he gets well, but that doesn't give him free rein to dish out abuse and yet whine when he gets it back. Doesn't work like that

    Otherwise we could all pretend to be bipolar alcoholics and demand protection from the tiniest scintilla of criticism
    You of all people should know there are degrees of acceptable and unacceptable behaviour on here. Attacking people for their views or what they say is one thing. Picking on their personal mental or health issues is quite another. CHB called Sam a troll. To reply by referencing personal issues is way over the top. And for the record people have done it to you in the past and I and others have said exactly the same thing then.
    Whatever, yawn

    As a more general observation - rereading the thread - there seems an unusual amount of petty bickering and offence-taking by many, even those who are generally more robust. I suspect we are all fucking rattled by Omicron, and truly fearful - if we are honest. This prickly PB atmosphere is a by product

    Everyone I have spoken to in the last couple of days is scared. Everyone
    I for one am not scared. Thoroughly fed up of the whole thing, yes, but not scared. I'm not going to start being scared either, unless and until there is a good reason to be scared.

    Nor do I think that any of us can afford to be scared every time there's a piece of bad news about the virus. Because there will be a regular stream of bad news about the virus - people mithering about variants, panicking whenever this statistic or that one heads in the wrong direction, poring and clucking over some new piece of research or another - for years. If you get into an endless cycle of pointless panicking it'll drive you round the bend. Totally loopy.

    It'll take the boffins some weeks to begin to get to grips with what serious implications - IF ANY - arise from this new variant. In the meantime, the fact that the Zombie Apocalypse hasn't started in Johannesburg, along with the majority of learned opinion, suggests that this is not an unmitigated disaster. And, therefore, the process for dealing with the pandemic in Britain has not fundamentally changed. Keep calm, carry on, and book your next jab as soon as you become eligible.

    And I wish they'd not elected to reimpose mask mandates. They're practically worthless, as the evidence of the giant comparative experiment we've been doing since July between England, Wales and Scotland suggests, and the decision has only served to piss off the less nervous part of the population and make the more nervous part of it wet themselves again, to absolutely no useful effect.
    We need lots more data, but from my lay perspective what seems to be emerging is that it's extremely transmissible but relatively mild in impact. There just don't seem to be the stories of hospitals filling up, mad scrambles for oxygen etc. that characterised the early days of delta. At the same time, I think there must be thousands of undiagnosed cases - mild or asymptomatic - that we just don't know about. The fact that one Portuguese football team accounts for all 13 known cases in the country suggests as much.

    In the end, it could be good news - if this variant knocks out more malignant versions. But yes, I could be wrong - and we need more data before any firm conclusions can be drawn.
  • Leon said:

    pigeon said:



    Certainly our works do isn't getting scrubbed unless the wretched Government actually forces restaurants to close at some point in the next two-and-a-half weeks. And that, mercifully, appears highly unlikely.

    My office offered a works do, but almost nobody wanted to come in for it (and this was in discussion pre-Omicron). We're having a Zoom works do instead, with people toasting each other and munching mince pies in front of the screen. Possibly a quiz.

    I've heard of the drunken orgies that works dos in Britain are supposed to feature (Swiss ones were more sedate, sadly). Not sure that quite works by Zoom?
    I cannot think of a sadder social engagement than “a Christmas office works do on Zoom”. I picture a solitary David Brent in a paper hat, his sad eyes staring into space, as he nibbles a walnut

    This is not aimed at you NPXMP, this is just a wider observation. We are losing the knack of human society. We are letting our natural urge to socialise be crushed by vague fears. Bad
    I don't think it's irrational, unfortunately. Speaking as someone who recently had Covid and spent over a week feeling like shit, missed a week of work, couldn't hug my kids for ten days, couldn't leave the house for ten days, there really aren't many nights out that are worth risking a high probability of that. Of course now I've had it and am bursting with antibodies I'm probably one of the least worried by Omicron people out there. But the rest of you should steer clear of it.
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 19,611
    pigeon said:

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    IshmaelZ said:

    isam said:

    isam said:

    isam said:

    Well he’s losing on the measure to a PM that’s in a hole. I had a billion pounds at 8/1 with a mate that Sir Keir would win Best PM this week w R&W too, bah
    You're a troll. And not a very good one!
    All the best with your illness
    Not clever Sam. Whatever the disagreements we all have amongst ourselves on here there are certain things that just aren't acceptable. Not many perhaps but that is definitely one of them.
    I’ve had close friends die from mental illness, and had my moments myself, but why should I be dug out by someone who makes stuff up, claims to be depressed, then gets a free hit when he starts ripping into me? For all I know he’s making it all up or is another poster pretending
    Honest, mate, I can see all that, but just leaaave it aaaaht. not wurf it. Ignore.
    I can see iSam's point as well. We all feel sorry for Correct Horse Wotsit, and hope he gets well, but that doesn't give him free rein to dish out abuse and yet whine when he gets it back. Doesn't work like that

    Otherwise we could all pretend to be bipolar alcoholics and demand protection from the tiniest scintilla of criticism
    You of all people should know there are degrees of acceptable and unacceptable behaviour on here. Attacking people for their views or what they say is one thing. Picking on their personal mental or health issues is quite another. CHB called Sam a troll. To reply by referencing personal issues is way over the top. And for the record people have done it to you in the past and I and others have said exactly the same thing then.
    Whatever, yawn

    As a more general observation - rereading the thread - there seems an unusual amount of petty bickering and offence-taking by many, even those who are generally more robust. I suspect we are all fucking rattled by Omicron, and truly fearful - if we are honest. This prickly PB atmosphere is a by product

    Everyone I have spoken to in the last couple of days is scared. Everyone
    I for one am not scared. Thoroughly fed up of the whole thing, yes, but not scared. I'm not going to start being scared either, unless and until there is a good reason to be scared.

    Nor do I think that any of us can afford to be scared every time there's a piece of bad news about the virus. Because there will be a regular stream of bad news about the virus - people mithering about variants, panicking whenever this statistic or that one heads in the wrong direction, poring and clucking over some new piece of research or another - for years. If you get into an endless cycle of pointless panicking it'll drive you round the bend. Totally loopy.

    It'll take the boffins some weeks to begin to get to grips with what serious implications - IF ANY - arise from this new variant. In the meantime, the fact that the Zombie Apocalypse hasn't started in Johannesburg, along with the majority of learned opinion, suggests that this is not an unmitigated disaster. And, therefore, the process for dealing with the pandemic in Britain has not fundamentally changed. Keep calm, carry on, and book your next jab as soon as you become eligible.

    And I wish they'd not elected to reimpose mask mandates. They're practically worthless, as the evidence of the giant comparative experiment we've been doing since July between England, Wales and Scotland suggests, and the decision has only served to piss off the less nervous part of the population and make the more nervous part of it wet themselves again, to absolutely no useful effect.
    It’s a fair point you make about the masks. The effect of non-FF3 mask wearing in shops is only going to be marginal, the act of their reimposing it had an effect on mental health in terms of reopening again the drumbeat of restrictions returning at any minute.
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 19,611
    Leon said:

    pigeon said:

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    IshmaelZ said:

    isam said:

    isam said:

    isam said:

    Well he’s losing on the measure to a PM that’s in a hole. I had a billion pounds at 8/1 with a mate that Sir Keir would win Best PM this week w R&W too, bah
    You're a troll. And not a very good one!
    All the best with your illness
    Not clever Sam. Whatever the disagreements we all have amongst ourselves on here there are certain things that just aren't acceptable. Not many perhaps but that is definitely one of them.
    I’ve had close friends die from mental illness, and had my moments myself, but why should I be dug out by someone who makes stuff up, claims to be depressed, then gets a free hit when he starts ripping into me? For all I know he’s making it all up or is another poster pretending
    Honest, mate, I can see all that, but just leaaave it aaaaht. not wurf it. Ignore.
    I can see iSam's point as well. We all feel sorry for Correct Horse Wotsit, and hope he gets well, but that doesn't give him free rein to dish out abuse and yet whine when he gets it back. Doesn't work like that

    Otherwise we could all pretend to be bipolar alcoholics and demand protection from the tiniest scintilla of criticism
    You of all people should know there are degrees of acceptable and unacceptable behaviour on here. Attacking people for their views or what they say is one thing. Picking on their personal mental or health issues is quite another. CHB called Sam a troll. To reply by referencing personal issues is way over the top. And for the record people have done it to you in the past and I and others have said exactly the same thing then.
    Whatever, yawn

    As a more general observation - rereading the thread - there seems an unusual amount of petty bickering and offence-taking by many, even those who are generally more robust. I suspect we are all fucking rattled by Omicron, and truly fearful - if we are honest. This prickly PB atmosphere is a by product

    Everyone I have spoken to in the last couple of days is scared. Everyone
    I for one am not scared. Thoroughly fed up of the whole thing, yes, but not scared. I'm not going to start being scared either, unless and until there is a good reason to be scared.

    Nor do I think that any of us can afford to be scared every time there's a piece of bad news about the virus. Because there will be a regular stream of bad news about the virus - people mithering about variants, panicking whenever this statistic or that one heads in the wrong direction, poring and clucking over some new piece of research or another - for years. If you get into an endless cycle of pointless panicking it'll drive you round the bend. Totally loopy.

    It'll take the boffins some weeks to begin to get to grips with what serious implications - IF ANY - arise from this new variant. In the meantime, the fact that the Zombie Apocalypse hasn't started in Johannesburg, along with the majority of learned opinion, suggests that this is not an unmitigated disaster. And, therefore, the process for dealing with the pandemic in Britain has not fundamentally changed. Keep calm, carry on, and book your next jab as soon as you become eligible.

    And I wish they'd not elected to reimpose mask mandates. They're practically worthless, as the evidence of the giant comparative experiment we've been doing since July between England, Wales and Scotland suggests, and the decision has only served to piss off the less nervous part of the population and make the more nervous part of it wet themselves again, to absolutely no useful effect.
    I’m not scared of the Plague per se. It is what it is. Nothing I can do about it, so I don’t fret, even tho it is disquieting

    What I am scared of is another potential lockdown. Because the last 2 - especially the winter one - sent my almost into mental breakdown. Can I hack another one? I genuinely don’t know. It was horrific

    And here I CAN do something. I can escape. I could plan an exit route. But where? And when? And how? And what about those I leave behind?

    Somehow, having actual options makes it properly scary. The clock ticks. The stone door slides down and Indiana Jones wonders when to roll under or get crushed. But then he has to go back to get the cat, as Alien prowls the spaceship

    SCARY
    Well that’s where we a very similar - I am as terrified as you of restrictions. Like you, the last winter restrictions nearly broke me - and I am someone who is normally mentally healthy.
  • FarooqFarooq Posts: 10,775

    pigeon said:

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    IshmaelZ said:

    isam said:

    isam said:

    isam said:

    Well he’s losing on the measure to a PM that’s in a hole. I had a billion pounds at 8/1 with a mate that Sir Keir would win Best PM this week w R&W too, bah
    You're a troll. And not a very good one!
    All the best with your illness
    Not clever Sam. Whatever the disagreements we all have amongst ourselves on here there are certain things that just aren't acceptable. Not many perhaps but that is definitely one of them.
    I’ve had close friends die from mental illness, and had my moments myself, but why should I be dug out by someone who makes stuff up, claims to be depressed, then gets a free hit when he starts ripping into me? For all I know he’s making it all up or is another poster pretending
    Honest, mate, I can see all that, but just leaaave it aaaaht. not wurf it. Ignore.
    I can see iSam's point as well. We all feel sorry for Correct Horse Wotsit, and hope he gets well, but that doesn't give him free rein to dish out abuse and yet whine when he gets it back. Doesn't work like that

    Otherwise we could all pretend to be bipolar alcoholics and demand protection from the tiniest scintilla of criticism
    You of all people should know there are degrees of acceptable and unacceptable behaviour on here. Attacking people for their views or what they say is one thing. Picking on their personal mental or health issues is quite another. CHB called Sam a troll. To reply by referencing personal issues is way over the top. And for the record people have done it to you in the past and I and others have said exactly the same thing then.
    Whatever, yawn

    As a more general observation - rereading the thread - there seems an unusual amount of petty bickering and offence-taking by many, even those who are generally more robust. I suspect we are all fucking rattled by Omicron, and truly fearful - if we are honest. This prickly PB atmosphere is a by product

    Everyone I have spoken to in the last couple of days is scared. Everyone
    I for one am not scared. Thoroughly fed up of the whole thing, yes, but not scared. I'm not going to start being scared either, unless and until there is a good reason to be scared.

    Nor do I think that any of us can afford to be scared every time there's a piece of bad news about the virus. Because there will be a regular stream of bad news about the virus - people mithering about variants, panicking whenever this statistic or that one heads in the wrong direction, poring and clucking over some new piece of research or another - for years. If you get into an endless cycle of pointless panicking it'll drive you round the bend. Totally loopy.

    It'll take the boffins some weeks to begin to get to grips with what serious implications - IF ANY - arise from this new variant. In the meantime, the fact that the Zombie Apocalypse hasn't started in Johannesburg, along with the majority of learned opinion, suggests that this is not an unmitigated disaster. And, therefore, the process for dealing with the pandemic in Britain has not fundamentally changed. Keep calm, carry on, and book your next jab as soon as you become eligible.

    And I wish they'd not elected to reimpose mask mandates. They're practically worthless, as the evidence of the giant comparative experiment we've been doing since July between England, Wales and Scotland suggests, and the decision has only served to piss off the less nervous part of the population and make the more nervous part of it wet themselves again, to absolutely no useful effect.
    It’s a fair point you make about the masks. The effect of non-FF3 mask wearing in shops is only going to be marginal, the act of their reimposing it had an effect on mental health in terms of reopening again the drumbeat of restrictions returning at any minute.
    I've been meaning to ask, is there any evidence for detrimental mental health effects of people wearing masks in shops? We know that masks save people from infecting others and that the effect is far from "marginal", but I'm intrigued as to whether your other claim is similarly anti-science, a guess, or well-grounded.
  • algarkirkalgarkirk Posts: 10,342
    On the issue of how the OB&S by election, where Richard Tice will not be much of a factor, I wonder if general sentiment has stabilised a bit in the last day or two, to increase the chance of a Tory win (already probable), decrease Labour's chance and ensure a low turnout.

    Recent GE polling shows over the last couple of weeks, as close to a tie between Lab and Con as you can get, and the 6 point Lab lead of 11-12 Nov looks very much like steady as she goes within the three point each way margin of error.

    It's 37% for both Lab and Con. I would not be unhappy if Labour squeak home at OB&S but don't think they will.
  • pigeonpigeon Posts: 4,087
    Leon said:

    pigeon said:

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    IshmaelZ said:

    isam said:

    isam said:

    isam said:

    Well he’s losing on the measure to a PM that’s in a hole. I had a billion pounds at 8/1 with a mate that Sir Keir would win Best PM this week w R&W too, bah
    You're a troll. And not a very good one!
    All the best with your illness
    Not clever Sam. Whatever the disagreements we all have amongst ourselves on here there are certain things that just aren't acceptable. Not many perhaps but that is definitely one of them.
    I’ve had close friends die from mental illness, and had my moments myself, but why should I be dug out by someone who makes stuff up, claims to be depressed, then gets a free hit when he starts ripping into me? For all I know he’s making it all up or is another poster pretending
    Honest, mate, I can see all that, but just leaaave it aaaaht. not wurf it. Ignore.
    I can see iSam's point as well. We all feel sorry for Correct Horse Wotsit, and hope he gets well, but that doesn't give him free rein to dish out abuse and yet whine when he gets it back. Doesn't work like that

    Otherwise we could all pretend to be bipolar alcoholics and demand protection from the tiniest scintilla of criticism
    You of all people should know there are degrees of acceptable and unacceptable behaviour on here. Attacking people for their views or what they say is one thing. Picking on their personal mental or health issues is quite another. CHB called Sam a troll. To reply by referencing personal issues is way over the top. And for the record people have done it to you in the past and I and others have said exactly the same thing then.
    Whatever, yawn

    As a more general observation - rereading the thread - there seems an unusual amount of petty bickering and offence-taking by many, even those who are generally more robust. I suspect we are all fucking rattled by Omicron, and truly fearful - if we are honest. This prickly PB atmosphere is a by product

    Everyone I have spoken to in the last couple of days is scared. Everyone
    I for one am not scared. Thoroughly fed up of the whole thing, yes, but not scared. I'm not going to start being scared either, unless and until there is a good reason to be scared.

    Nor do I think that any of us can afford to be scared every time there's a piece of bad news about the virus. Because there will be a regular stream of bad news about the virus - people mithering about variants, panicking whenever this statistic or that one heads in the wrong direction, poring and clucking over some new piece of research or another - for years. If you get into an endless cycle of pointless panicking it'll drive you round the bend. Totally loopy.

    It'll take the boffins some weeks to begin to get to grips with what serious implications - IF ANY - arise from this new variant. In the meantime, the fact that the Zombie Apocalypse hasn't started in Johannesburg, along with the majority of learned opinion, suggests that this is not an unmitigated disaster. And, therefore, the process for dealing with the pandemic in Britain has not fundamentally changed. Keep calm, carry on, and book your next jab as soon as you become eligible.

    And I wish they'd not elected to reimpose mask mandates. They're practically worthless, as the evidence of the giant comparative experiment we've been doing since July between England, Wales and Scotland suggests, and the decision has only served to piss off the less nervous part of the population and make the more nervous part of it wet themselves again, to absolutely no useful effect.
    I’m not scared of the Plague per se. It is what it is. Nothing I can do about it, so I don’t fret, even tho it is disquieting

    What I am scared of is another potential lockdown. Because the last 2 - especially the winter one - sent my almost into mental breakdown. Can I hack another one? I genuinely don’t know. It was horrific

    And here I CAN do something. I can escape. I could plan an exit route. But where? And when? And how? And what about those I leave behind?

    Somehow, having actual options makes it properly scary. The clock ticks. The stone door slides down and Indiana Jones wonders when to roll under or get crushed. But then he has to go back to get the cat, as Alien prowls the spaceship

    SCARY
    I'm as confident as I can be (not quite certain - I have a scientific background, so certainty is a big thing for me - but very confident nonetheless) that there won't be another lockdown. The country can't afford it, it would wreck what's left of the Government's reputation, a large chunk of the Tory Party (and possibly the Cabinet itself) would go into open revolt, and above all the protection against serious illness offered by inoculation and past infection amongst the population at large is too high.

    The numbers of Covid patients in hospital are fluctuating around in the high thousands and there are no signs now, and not much likelihood in the future, of a serious illness spike as seen last January repeating itself. Without a tsunami wave of Covid patients, the justification for Draconian measures to Protect The NHS™ doesn't exist.

    There was every reason to suppose before Omicronpanic commenced that we were through the worst of this - and there's still every reason to suppose that now.

  • Aaron Bastani
    @AaronBastani
    ·
    1h
    Starmer really is a dud. Tories felt massively exposed over HS2 and Labour had open door to directly talk to seats they lost in 2019.

    The party had a great 48 hours on it and then…stopped saying anything. Now Labour starts the week with a re-shuffle. Looking out not in?
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 19,611

    pigeon said:



    Certainly our works do isn't getting scrubbed unless the wretched Government actually forces restaurants to close at some point in the next two-and-a-half weeks. And that, mercifully, appears highly unlikely.

    My office offered a works do, but almost nobody wanted to come in for it (and this was in discussion pre-Omicron). We're having a Zoom works do instead, with people toasting each other and munching mince pies in front of the screen. Possibly a quiz.

    I've heard of the drunken orgies that works dos in Britain are supposed to feature (Swiss ones were more sedate, sadly). Not sure that quite works by Zoom?
    Zoom parties are the nadir of lockdown hell. I’m amazed anyone can face one ever again!
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 91,392
    Aslan said:

    I remember when people like Leon were accused of bedwetting over the original COVID.

    Stopped clocks come to mind. Caution and or fear is not an irrational response to a situation like this, and it will be the right call at times. Doesn't mean caution or fear will always be the right call.
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 19,611

    Very scary. I was in a pub somewhere in London Bridge earlier. I was the only one in.

    No one is safe until everyone is safe. Let's go global with the vaccines 👍

    You were in a pub on a freezing cold Monday night and that was evidence of widespread fear? I will be at a party this week. I wonder whether my experiences will meet yours. We’ll see.
  • ThomasNasheThomasNashe Posts: 4,920


    Aaron Bastani
    @AaronBastani
    ·
    1h
    Starmer really is a dud. Tories felt massively exposed over HS2 and Labour had open door to directly talk to seats they lost in 2019.

    The party had a great 48 hours on it and then…stopped saying anything. Now Labour starts the week with a re-shuffle. Looking out not in?

    He's certainly annoying all the right people.
  • darkagedarkage Posts: 4,746
    I saw very little mask wearing today; either in shops or the various public transport I was on. i conclude from this that people aren't bothered about the threat from the new variant; and will only follow the rules on mask wearing being bought in tomorrow because they have to.
  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758
    rcs1000 said:

    Cookie said:

    RobD said:

    London doesn't have any real problems evidently, we all drink champagne and earn £4 million a year, no working class people here, no poverty or problems.

    The hypocrisy is genuinely astounding

    Who are you addressing this to? I've no sense of the context.
    I was in London at the weekend. It may have its problems but it also drips with wealth in a way you rarely encounter anywhere else.
    Los Angeles says 'hi!"
    Laguna doesn’t drip wealth… but might quietly show an ankle if you ask nicely
  • Leon said:

    pigeon said:

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    IshmaelZ said:

    isam said:

    isam said:

    isam said:

    Well he’s losing on the measure to a PM that’s in a hole. I had a billion pounds at 8/1 with a mate that Sir Keir would win Best PM this week w R&W too, bah
    You're a troll. And not a very good one!
    All the best with your illness
    Not clever Sam. Whatever the disagreements we all have amongst ourselves on here there are certain things that just aren't acceptable. Not many perhaps but that is definitely one of them.
    I’ve had close friends die from mental illness, and had my moments myself, but why should I be dug out by someone who makes stuff up, claims to be depressed, then gets a free hit when he starts ripping into me? For all I know he’s making it all up or is another poster pretending
    Honest, mate, I can see all that, but just leaaave it aaaaht. not wurf it. Ignore.
    I can see iSam's point as well. We all feel sorry for Correct Horse Wotsit, and hope he gets well, but that doesn't give him free rein to dish out abuse and yet whine when he gets it back. Doesn't work like that

    Otherwise we could all pretend to be bipolar alcoholics and demand protection from the tiniest scintilla of criticism
    You of all people should know there are degrees of acceptable and unacceptable behaviour on here. Attacking people for their views or what they say is one thing. Picking on their personal mental or health issues is quite another. CHB called Sam a troll. To reply by referencing personal issues is way over the top. And for the record people have done it to you in the past and I and others have said exactly the same thing then.
    Whatever, yawn

    As a more general observation - rereading the thread - there seems an unusual amount of petty bickering and offence-taking by many, even those who are generally more robust. I suspect we are all fucking rattled by Omicron, and truly fearful - if we are honest. This prickly PB atmosphere is a by product

    Everyone I have spoken to in the last couple of days is scared. Everyone
    I for one am not scared. Thoroughly fed up of the whole thing, yes, but not scared. I'm not going to start being scared either, unless and until there is a good reason to be scared.

    Nor do I think that any of us can afford to be scared every time there's a piece of bad news about the virus. Because there will be a regular stream of bad news about the virus - people mithering about variants, panicking whenever this statistic or that one heads in the wrong direction, poring and clucking over some new piece of research or another - for years. If you get into an endless cycle of pointless panicking it'll drive you round the bend. Totally loopy.

    It'll take the boffins some weeks to begin to get to grips with what serious implications - IF ANY - arise from this new variant. In the meantime, the fact that the Zombie Apocalypse hasn't started in Johannesburg, along with the majority of learned opinion, suggests that this is not an unmitigated disaster. And, therefore, the process for dealing with the pandemic in Britain has not fundamentally changed. Keep calm, carry on, and book your next jab as soon as you become eligible.

    And I wish they'd not elected to reimpose mask mandates. They're practically worthless, as the evidence of the giant comparative experiment we've been doing since July between England, Wales and Scotland suggests, and the decision has only served to piss off the less nervous part of the population and make the more nervous part of it wet themselves again, to absolutely no useful effect.
    I’m not scared of the Plague per se. It is what it is. Nothing I can do about it, so I don’t fret, even tho it is disquieting

    What I am scared of is another potential lockdown. Because the last 2 - especially the winter one - sent my almost into mental breakdown. Can I hack another one? I genuinely don’t know. It was horrific

    And here I CAN do something. I can escape. I could plan an exit route. But where? And when? And how? And what about those I leave behind?

    Somehow, having actual options makes it properly scary. The clock ticks. The stone door slides down and Indiana Jones wonders when to roll under or get crushed. But then he has to go back to get the cat, as Alien prowls the spaceship

    SCARY
    Well that’s where we a very similar - I am as terrified as you of restrictions. Like you, the last winter restrictions nearly broke me - and I am someone who is normally mentally healthy.
    I aint doing it!! No lockdown for me. Mates will be around my house if pubs shut. Unless the omni turns out to massively avoid the vax (as in huge spike in hospitalisations) then we should collectively say no.

    I'm done.

    We have to start getting some fecking perspective: mental health, jobs, education, treatment for every other illness etc etc etc.

    I am confident, so far, that Javid will not buckle to the zero-omni brigade.
  • GardenwalkerGardenwalker Posts: 20,812
    I’m feeling more positive about Omicron tonight.

    The government’s has decided to power up the booster programme, so I should be able to get a shot in the next week or two.

    The extra NPIs are annoying, but reasonably trifling.

    A lot of the noise about Omicron has died down. Maybe it’s not as bad as people feared.
  • Scott_xPScott_xP Posts: 32,739
    Has anyone else concluded that December 14 (ten isolation days to Christmas) is the last day of Doing Things and after that it’s basically saving ourselves for Christmas
    https://twitter.com/gabyhinsliff/status/1465432390898171912
  • Very scary. I was in a pub somewhere in London Bridge earlier. I was the only one in.

    No one is safe until everyone is safe. Let's go global with the vaccines 👍

    You were in a pub on a freezing cold Monday night and that was evidence of widespread fear? I will be at a party this week. I wonder whether my experiences will meet yours. We’ll see.
    Good luck with it. Warmer weather soon. Old people don't like cold weather 🌨️
  • pigeonpigeon Posts: 4,087

    pigeon said:



    Certainly our works do isn't getting scrubbed unless the wretched Government actually forces restaurants to close at some point in the next two-and-a-half weeks. And that, mercifully, appears highly unlikely.

    My office offered a works do, but almost nobody wanted to come in for it (and this was in discussion pre-Omicron). We're having a Zoom works do instead, with people toasting each other and munching mince pies in front of the screen. Possibly a quiz.

    I've heard of the drunken orgies that works dos in Britain are supposed to feature (Swiss ones were more sedate, sadly). Not sure that quite works by Zoom?
    I somehow doubt that our convivial evening in a local restaurant is likely to degenerate into an orgy. The last Christmas party we had was in 2019 and that was notably unlike a romp from the reign of Caligula.

    The notion of trying to replicate the event with a takeaway eaten in front of a laptop sounds hugely depressing, but each to their own I suppose.
  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758

    Charles said:

    This is beginning to look like a serious Shadow Cabinet.

    Yep. :+1:

    Sir K has just made himself look a very serious player.
    None of them are stand out though. Cooper overrated IMHO. Lammey’s a fool. Reeves is solid although dull. I like Ashworth, and Nandy should do a good job (she was overpromoted before).

    But the actual Cabinet isn’t much better - Sunak, Wallace, Saj are all decent. Truss is ok although I don’t see why people get excited about her. Most of the rest I don’t know who they are or wish I didn’t…
    It's not a Shadow Cabinet to give one nightmares, is it? You don't look at the big hitters and think "they're not remotely up to it, don't insult me by putting them forward to run the country". Decent turnaround in less than two years.

    And doing it while Labour are nosing ahead in the polls is a smart move by Starmer.
    The politics is great.

    But I’m looking at both sides and thing: f*** me, my granny could do a better job and she’s been dead since ‘78
  • pigeonpigeon Posts: 4,087
    Scott_xP said:

    Has anyone else concluded that December 14 (ten isolation days to Christmas) is the last day of Doing Things and after that it’s basically saving ourselves for Christmas
    https://twitter.com/gabyhinsliff/status/1465432390898171912

    QTWTAIN
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 91,392


    Aaron Bastani
    @AaronBastani
    ·
    1h
    Starmer really is a dud. Tories felt massively exposed over HS2 and Labour had open door to directly talk to seats they lost in 2019.

    The party had a great 48 hours on it and then…stopped saying anything. Now Labour starts the week with a re-shuffle. Looking out not in?

    I'm not quite sure if he means that looking out not in is a bad thing, which would be silly, or if he is being sarcastic by implying Starmer is looking in rather than out, which would be a very weird criticism from a Corbynite.
  • maaarshmaaarsh Posts: 3,391

    I’m feeling more positive about Omicron tonight.

    The government’s has decided to power up the booster programme, so I should be able to get a shot in the next week or two.

    The extra NPIs are annoying, but reasonably trifling.

    A lot of the noise about Omicron has died down. Maybe it’s not as bad as people feared.

    Everyday that passes without South Africa showing any real sign of distress makes the worst fears less likely. Certainly some of the early fag packet estimates on growth advantage over Delta look like mince, and there's no signal it's causing worse symptoms yet.
  • FarooqFarooq Posts: 10,775

    I’m feeling more positive about Omicron tonight.

    The government’s has decided to power up the booster programme, so I should be able to get a shot in the next week or two.

    The extra NPIs are annoying, but reasonably trifling.

    A lot of the noise about Omicron has died down. Maybe it’s not as bad as people feared.

    Sssshhhh, they aren't reasonably trifling, they are the worst thing that ever happened, destroying your mental health the moment the cloth touches your nose.
    I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by maskness
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 19,611
    Farooq said:

    pigeon said:

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    IshmaelZ said:

    isam said:

    isam said:

    isam said:

    Well he’s losing on the measure to a PM that’s in a hole. I had a billion pounds at 8/1 with a mate that Sir Keir would win Best PM this week w R&W too, bah
    You're a troll. And not a very good one!
    All the best with your illness
    Not clever Sam. Whatever the disagreements we all have amongst ourselves on here there are certain things that just aren't acceptable. Not many perhaps but that is definitely one of them.
    I’ve had close friends die from mental illness, and had my moments myself, but why should I be dug out by someone who makes stuff up, claims to be depressed, then gets a free hit when he starts ripping into me? For all I know he’s making it all up or is another poster pretending
    Honest, mate, I can see all that, but just leaaave it aaaaht. not wurf it. Ignore.
    I can see iSam's point as well. We all feel sorry for Correct Horse Wotsit, and hope he gets well, but that doesn't give him free rein to dish out abuse and yet whine when he gets it back. Doesn't work like that

    Otherwise we could all pretend to be bipolar alcoholics and demand protection from the tiniest scintilla of criticism
    You of all people should know there are degrees of acceptable and unacceptable behaviour on here. Attacking people for their views or what they say is one thing. Picking on their personal mental or health issues is quite another. CHB called Sam a troll. To reply by referencing personal issues is way over the top. And for the record people have done it to you in the past and I and others have said exactly the same thing then.
    Whatever, yawn

    As a more general observation - rereading the thread - there seems an unusual amount of petty bickering and offence-taking by many, even those who are generally more robust. I suspect we are all fucking rattled by Omicron, and truly fearful - if we are honest. This prickly PB atmosphere is a by product

    Everyone I have spoken to in the last couple of days is scared. Everyone
    I for one am not scared. Thoroughly fed up of the whole thing, yes, but not scared. I'm not going to start being scared either, unless and until there is a good reason to be scared.

    Nor do I think that any of us can afford to be scared every time there's a piece of bad news about the virus. Because there will be a regular stream of bad news about the virus - people mithering about variants, panicking whenever this statistic or that one heads in the wrong direction, poring and clucking over some new piece of research or another - for years. If you get into an endless cycle of pointless panicking it'll drive you round the bend. Totally loopy.

    It'll take the boffins some weeks to begin to get to grips with what serious implications - IF ANY - arise from this new variant. In the meantime, the fact that the Zombie Apocalypse hasn't started in Johannesburg, along with the majority of learned opinion, suggests that this is not an unmitigated disaster. And, therefore, the process for dealing with the pandemic in Britain has not fundamentally changed. Keep calm, carry on, and book your next jab as soon as you become eligible.

    And I wish they'd not elected to reimpose mask mandates. They're practically worthless, as the evidence of the giant comparative experiment we've been doing since July between England, Wales and Scotland suggests, and the decision has only served to piss off the less nervous part of the population and make the more nervous part of it wet themselves again, to absolutely no useful effect.
    It’s a fair point you make about the masks. The effect of non-FF3 mask wearing in shops is only going to be marginal, the act of their reimposing it had an effect on mental health in terms of reopening again the drumbeat of restrictions returning at any minute.
    I've been meaning to ask, is there any evidence for detrimental mental health effects of people wearing masks in shops? We know that masks save people from infecting others and that the effect is far from "marginal", but I'm intrigued as to whether your other claim is similarly anti-science, a guess, or well-grounded.
    Sorry my post was mangled, I tried to edit it but too late.

    I’ll try again: the overall effect of mandating masks in shops is only ever going to be marginal, but the fact they did it affects mental health severely due to the revived spectre of lockdown restrictions being reimposed at any moment.
  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758

    Shaun Bailey was so useless he lost against a useless non-entity, that is a ringing endorsement of the Tories eh @Charles

    Shaun Bailey is a bit shit. But was put up as a sacrificial candidate in what was seen as a no hope contest. And still managed to give Khan a bit of a scare
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 75,842
    How quickly did delta replace alpha here ?
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 20,398
    This morning we agreed a date for team Christmas drinks. No Omicron hesitancy for us.

    Coincidentally, it is 10 days after my booster jab, so I'll be sorted.
  • TomsToms Posts: 2,478
    A couple of weeks ago we were walking at dusk just near the river. At such times in Winter one often sees a fine sunset for 10 minutes or so. Then we were treated to a truly spectacular display. A scattering of clouds all across the sky reflected rosy-fingered light from the retreating Sun. A colossal waxing crescent moon shone, and, slightly higher, Jupiter lurked. That park is a Victorian bequest and the waning light played through the trees denuded branches. God's own movie set.

    Anyway, the only downside was the cars scuttling along the embankment like cockroaches heading home to their tea.
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 19,611
    pigeon said:

    Scott_xP said:

    Has anyone else concluded that December 14 (ten isolation days to Christmas) is the last day of Doing Things and after that it’s basically saving ourselves for Christmas
    https://twitter.com/gabyhinsliff/status/1465432390898171912

    QTWTAIN
    pigeon said:

    pigeon said:



    Certainly our works do isn't getting scrubbed unless the wretched Government actually forces restaurants to close at some point in the next two-and-a-half weeks. And that, mercifully, appears highly unlikely.

    My office offered a works do, but almost nobody wanted to come in for it (and this was in discussion pre-Omicron). We're having a Zoom works do instead, with people toasting each other and munching mince pies in front of the screen. Possibly a quiz.

    I've heard of the drunken orgies that works dos in Britain are supposed to feature (Swiss ones were more sedate, sadly). Not sure that quite works by Zoom?
    I somehow doubt that our convivial evening in a local restaurant is likely to degenerate into an orgy. The last Christmas party we had was in 2019 and that was notably unlike a romp from the reign of Caligula.

    The notion of trying to replicate the event with a takeaway eaten in front of a laptop sounds hugely depressing, but each to their own I suppose.
    Although not quite as depressing as an orgy via zoom, which I heard a number of French swingers’ clubs tried with very limited success during the last lockdown.
  • maaarshmaaarsh Posts: 3,391
    Pulpstar said:

    How quickly did delta replace alpha here ?

    https://twitter.com/Simmons__/status/1464925316451868676
  • pigeonpigeon Posts: 4,087

    Leon said:

    pigeon said:

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    IshmaelZ said:

    isam said:

    isam said:

    isam said:

    Well he’s losing on the measure to a PM that’s in a hole. I had a billion pounds at 8/1 with a mate that Sir Keir would win Best PM this week w R&W too, bah
    You're a troll. And not a very good one!
    All the best with your illness
    Not clever Sam. Whatever the disagreements we all have amongst ourselves on here there are certain things that just aren't acceptable. Not many perhaps but that is definitely one of them.
    I’ve had close friends die from mental illness, and had my moments myself, but why should I be dug out by someone who makes stuff up, claims to be depressed, then gets a free hit when he starts ripping into me? For all I know he’s making it all up or is another poster pretending
    Honest, mate, I can see all that, but just leaaave it aaaaht. not wurf it. Ignore.
    I can see iSam's point as well. We all feel sorry for Correct Horse Wotsit, and hope he gets well, but that doesn't give him free rein to dish out abuse and yet whine when he gets it back. Doesn't work like that

    Otherwise we could all pretend to be bipolar alcoholics and demand protection from the tiniest scintilla of criticism
    You of all people should know there are degrees of acceptable and unacceptable behaviour on here. Attacking people for their views or what they say is one thing. Picking on their personal mental or health issues is quite another. CHB called Sam a troll. To reply by referencing personal issues is way over the top. And for the record people have done it to you in the past and I and others have said exactly the same thing then.
    Whatever, yawn

    As a more general observation - rereading the thread - there seems an unusual amount of petty bickering and offence-taking by many, even those who are generally more robust. I suspect we are all fucking rattled by Omicron, and truly fearful - if we are honest. This prickly PB atmosphere is a by product

    Everyone I have spoken to in the last couple of days is scared. Everyone
    I for one am not scared. Thoroughly fed up of the whole thing, yes, but not scared. I'm not going to start being scared either, unless and until there is a good reason to be scared.

    Nor do I think that any of us can afford to be scared every time there's a piece of bad news about the virus. Because there will be a regular stream of bad news about the virus - people mithering about variants, panicking whenever this statistic or that one heads in the wrong direction, poring and clucking over some new piece of research or another - for years. If you get into an endless cycle of pointless panicking it'll drive you round the bend. Totally loopy.

    It'll take the boffins some weeks to begin to get to grips with what serious implications - IF ANY - arise from this new variant. In the meantime, the fact that the Zombie Apocalypse hasn't started in Johannesburg, along with the majority of learned opinion, suggests that this is not an unmitigated disaster. And, therefore, the process for dealing with the pandemic in Britain has not fundamentally changed. Keep calm, carry on, and book your next jab as soon as you become eligible.

    And I wish they'd not elected to reimpose mask mandates. They're practically worthless, as the evidence of the giant comparative experiment we've been doing since July between England, Wales and Scotland suggests, and the decision has only served to piss off the less nervous part of the population and make the more nervous part of it wet themselves again, to absolutely no useful effect.
    I’m not scared of the Plague per se. It is what it is. Nothing I can do about it, so I don’t fret, even tho it is disquieting

    What I am scared of is another potential lockdown. Because the last 2 - especially the winter one - sent my almost into mental breakdown. Can I hack another one? I genuinely don’t know. It was horrific

    And here I CAN do something. I can escape. I could plan an exit route. But where? And when? And how? And what about those I leave behind?

    Somehow, having actual options makes it properly scary. The clock ticks. The stone door slides down and Indiana Jones wonders when to roll under or get crushed. But then he has to go back to get the cat, as Alien prowls the spaceship

    SCARY
    Well that’s where we a very similar - I am as terrified as you of restrictions. Like you, the last winter restrictions nearly broke me - and I am someone who is normally mentally healthy.
    I aint doing it!! No lockdown for me. Mates will be around my house if pubs shut. Unless the omni turns out to massively avoid the vax (as in huge spike in hospitalisations) then we should collectively say no.

    I'm done.

    We have to start getting some fecking perspective: mental health, jobs, education, treatment for every other illness etc etc etc.

    I am confident, so far, that Javid will not buckle to the zero-omni brigade.
    I am concerned that we will end up with these stupid masks absolutely everywhere before very long - and that we'll be stuck with them for months - but that's as far as the Government can go without causing serious ructions. I, like you, don't think that Javid (or Sunak) will put up with a return to social distancing unless the new variant really does turn out to be a horror show, which I'm not expecting.

    Once you start enforcing limitations on social contact then that hits the entire hospitality, entertainment and cultural sector twice over, through the abolition of large parties of guests and the imposition of capacity limits. It'll render many businesses unviable again, and we'll be back to demands for massive cash support for businesses and the reinstatement of the furlough scheme. Nobody wants to be scrambling to find another £100bn or £200bn down the back of the Treasury sofa.
  • AnabobazinaAnabobazina Posts: 19,611
    Farooq said:

    I’m feeling more positive about Omicron tonight.

    The government’s has decided to power up the booster programme, so I should be able to get a shot in the next week or two.

    The extra NPIs are annoying, but reasonably trifling.

    A lot of the noise about Omicron has died down. Maybe it’s not as bad as people feared.

    Sssshhhh, they aren't reasonably trifling, they are the worst thing that ever happened, destroying your mental health the moment the cloth touches your nose.
    I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by maskness
    I think you need to re-read my post!
  • FarooqFarooq Posts: 10,775

    Farooq said:

    pigeon said:

    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    IshmaelZ said:

    isam said:

    isam said:

    isam said:

    Well he’s losing on the measure to a PM that’s in a hole. I had a billion pounds at 8/1 with a mate that Sir Keir would win Best PM this week w R&W too, bah
    You're a troll. And not a very good one!
    All the best with your illness
    Not clever Sam. Whatever the disagreements we all have amongst ourselves on here there are certain things that just aren't acceptable. Not many perhaps but that is definitely one of them.
    I’ve had close friends die from mental illness, and had my moments myself, but why should I be dug out by someone who makes stuff up, claims to be depressed, then gets a free hit when he starts ripping into me? For all I know he’s making it all up or is another poster pretending
    Honest, mate, I can see all that, but just leaaave it aaaaht. not wurf it. Ignore.
    I can see iSam's point as well. We all feel sorry for Correct Horse Wotsit, and hope he gets well, but that doesn't give him free rein to dish out abuse and yet whine when he gets it back. Doesn't work like that

    Otherwise we could all pretend to be bipolar alcoholics and demand protection from the tiniest scintilla of criticism
    You of all people should know there are degrees of acceptable and unacceptable behaviour on here. Attacking people for their views or what they say is one thing. Picking on their personal mental or health issues is quite another. CHB called Sam a troll. To reply by referencing personal issues is way over the top. And for the record people have done it to you in the past and I and others have said exactly the same thing then.
    Whatever, yawn

    As a more general observation - rereading the thread - there seems an unusual amount of petty bickering and offence-taking by many, even those who are generally more robust. I suspect we are all fucking rattled by Omicron, and truly fearful - if we are honest. This prickly PB atmosphere is a by product

    Everyone I have spoken to in the last couple of days is scared. Everyone
    I for one am not scared. Thoroughly fed up of the whole thing, yes, but not scared. I'm not going to start being scared either, unless and until there is a good reason to be scared.

    Nor do I think that any of us can afford to be scared every time there's a piece of bad news about the virus. Because there will be a regular stream of bad news about the virus - people mithering about variants, panicking whenever this statistic or that one heads in the wrong direction, poring and clucking over some new piece of research or another - for years. If you get into an endless cycle of pointless panicking it'll drive you round the bend. Totally loopy.

    It'll take the boffins some weeks to begin to get to grips with what serious implications - IF ANY - arise from this new variant. In the meantime, the fact that the Zombie Apocalypse hasn't started in Johannesburg, along with the majority of learned opinion, suggests that this is not an unmitigated disaster. And, therefore, the process for dealing with the pandemic in Britain has not fundamentally changed. Keep calm, carry on, and book your next jab as soon as you become eligible.

    And I wish they'd not elected to reimpose mask mandates. They're practically worthless, as the evidence of the giant comparative experiment we've been doing since July between England, Wales and Scotland suggests, and the decision has only served to piss off the less nervous part of the population and make the more nervous part of it wet themselves again, to absolutely no useful effect.
    It’s a fair point you make about the masks. The effect of non-FF3 mask wearing in shops is only going to be marginal, the act of their reimposing it had an effect on mental health in terms of reopening again the drumbeat of restrictions returning at any minute.
    I've been meaning to ask, is there any evidence for detrimental mental health effects of people wearing masks in shops? We know that masks save people from infecting others and that the effect is far from "marginal", but I'm intrigued as to whether your other claim is similarly anti-science, a guess, or well-grounded.
    Sorry my post was mangled, I tried to edit it but too late.

    I’ll try again: the overall effect of mandating masks in shops is only ever going to be marginal, but the fact they did it affects mental health severely due to the revived spectre of lockdown restrictions being reimposed at any moment.
    On mask efficacy, you're wrong. That's just the science.
    On mental health, I suspect you're wrong, but I asking. I don't think wearing a mask in a supermarket causes any harm, let along severe harm. But I stress that here, I have no science to back me up. It's just an extraordinary claim and I find it a little silly. But I'm prepared to hear evidence to the contrary. That was my question.
  • Andy_JSAndy_JS Posts: 26,279
    The Queen has just a few hours left as Barbados head of state.
  • MexicanpeteMexicanpete Posts: 24,585
    edited November 2021
    Leon said:

    Leon said:

    IshmaelZ said:

    isam said:

    isam said:

    isam said:

    Well he’s losing on the measure to a PM that’s in a hole. I had a billion pounds at 8/1 with a mate that Sir Keir would win Best PM this week w R&W too, bah
    You're a troll. And not a very good one!
    All the best with your illness
    Not clever Sam. Whatever the disagreements we all have amongst ourselves on here there are certain things that just aren't acceptable. Not many perhaps but that is definitely one of them.
    I’ve had close friends die from mental illness, and had my moments myself, but why should I be dug out by someone who makes stuff up, claims to be depressed, then gets a free hit when he starts ripping into me? For all I know he’s making it all up or is another poster pretending
    Honest, mate, I can see all that, but just leaaave it aaaaht. not wurf it. Ignore.
    I can see iSam's point as well. We all feel sorry for Correct Horse Wotsit, and hope he gets well, but that doesn't give him free rein to dish out abuse and yet whine when he gets it back. Doesn't work like that

    Otherwise we could all pretend to be bipolar alcoholics and demand protection from the tiniest scintilla of criticism
    You of all people should know there are degrees of acceptable and unacceptable behaviour on here. Attacking people for their views or what they say is one thing. Picking on their personal mental or health issues is quite another. CHB called Sam a troll. To reply by referencing personal issues is way over the top. And for the record people have done it to you in the past and I and others have said exactly the same thing then.
    Whatever, yawn

    As a more general observation - rereading the thread - there seems an unusual amount of petty bickering and offence-taking by many, even those who are generally more robust. I suspect we are all fucking rattled by Omicron, and truly fearful - if we are honest. This prickly PB atmosphere is a by product

    Everyone I have spoken to in the last couple of days is scared. Everyone
    You often wear your heart on your sleeve and document your demons on this board,
    cheerleading Isam on this one is somewhat ironic and it really isn't a good look.

    It is not like the original comment that triggered both Isam and yourself was more than mild banter. The responses on the other hand would have been best left unwritten.
    ydoethur said:

    Leon said:

    This is the second Xmassy function I’ve had scrubbed today

    I was meant to be going to Eastnor Castle on Friday for a get together. Cancelled

    Very melancholy

    To cheer myself up I have bought an iPad Pro 12.9 with the magic keyboard. Sensational. They’ve (finally) managed to reinvent the iPad. Or very near

    Is that why you were thinking of Newent in an earlier thread?

    I love Eastnor Castle. Amazing place.
    You didn't have to do cross country runs to the obelisk and back then?
  • kle4kle4 Posts: 91,392
    Andy_JS said:

    The Queen has just a few hours left as Barbados head of state.

    Well that gave me a fright until I got to the end of the sentence.
This discussion has been closed.