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The 2021 StJohn PB Christmas Crossword (Est. 2006) – politicalbetting.com

SystemSystem Posts: 11,002
edited January 2022 in General
imageThe 2021 StJohn PB Christmas Crossword (Est. 2006) – politicalbetting.com

ACROSS

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  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,777
    Morning everyone. Please feel free to offer answers to the clues in the comments thread.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 66,729
    edited December 2021
    1 across can't be Boris Johnson. It isn't power that's corrupted him.

    Thanks for the crossword @stjohn and hope you have a good Christmas.
  • 1A - ROBERT WALPOLE

    Merry Christmas everybody!
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,777
    1 PM reveals all power corrupts without honour - right? (6,7)

    ROBERT WALPOLE - anagram (indicated by corrupts) of “all power” around (without) “OBE” (honour) “Rt” (right). R (OBE + RT) WALPOLE.

    Baron John Dalberg-Acton stated, “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are always bad men.
  • IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830
    2 Bingo
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,777
    2 Crosby by-election’s penultimate DECLARATION OF WINNER (5)

    BINGO - Bing (Crosby, crooner) by- (next to) “O” (election’s penultimate letter). Bing O.

    Bingo is what a winner declares when playing the game Bingo.

    The Crosby by-election in 1981 was the first electoral success of the newly formed SDP and was won by Shirley Williams.
  • IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830
    7 EEC
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,777
    7 Greece’s part of this once (3)

    EEC - part of Gr(EEC)e.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 66,729
    stjohn said:

    2 Crosby by-election’s penultimate DECLARATION OF WINNER (5)

    BINGO - Bing (Crosby, crooner) by- (next to) “O” (election’s penultimate letter). Bing O.

    Bingo is what a winner declares when playing the game Bingo.

    The Crosby by-election in 1981 was the first electoral success of the newly formed SDP and was won by Shirley Williams.

    Appropriate that it was Bingo given it gave the nation a full House.
  • IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830
    stjohn said:

    7 Greece’s part of this once (3)

    EEC - part of Gr(EEC)e.

    Explaining slows you down

    Off to breakfast, Merrie Xmas one and all
  • 25 Down - (P)EEL
  • stodgestodge Posts: 12,741
    Morning all :)

    Merry Christmas from downtown East London.

    The PB Christmas Crossword reminds us for all the uncertainties of life, there are some things on which we can surely rely.

    I shall however swerve attempting to resolve that puzzle and spend some time on tomorrow's racing which has a number of tricky little conundrums to resolve not least the King George at sunny Sunbury.
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,777
    25 PM skips starter for fish (3)

    EEL - (P)eel (PM, Robert Peel, without his starting letter).
  • SandraMcSandraMc Posts: 582
    5 Down Loser Los = the spanish Er = queen

    Thanks for the crossword
  • geoffwgeoffw Posts: 8,092
    Not being as clever as Ishmael, I'm grateful for the explainers.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 18,080
    edited December 2021
    Morning all.

    Happy Christmas.

    Can't do any crossword, so I'm refocussing to my Christmas boiled heggs.
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,777
    5 HE DIDN’T SUCCEED the Spanish Queen (5)

    LOSER - Los (the Spanish) ER (Queen. Elizabeth Regina).
  • 24 A - BERLIN WALL
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,777
    24 DIVISION IN EUROPE, ONCE Blair left New Labour's leadership in disarray (6,4)

    BERLIN WALL - anagram (indicated by, in disarray) of Blair L (left) New L (Labour’s leadership)
  • 26 A - ISIS
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,777
    26 TERRORISTS twin aims, rejecting alternatives (4)

    ISIS - aims aims with alternative letters rejected.
  • SandraMcSandraMc Posts: 582
    9 Across Crossbench angry = cross somewhere to sit= bench
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,777
    9 Angry substitute gets SOMEWHERE TO SIT IN ANOTHER PLACE (10)

    CROSSBENCH - Cross (angry) + bench (substitute, as a verb).

    Another place here is The House of Lords.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 18,080
    Political turkey report.

    How did everyone get on with the turkey shortage that was going to bring the UK to its knees?

    I did my traditional "filling in the corners" run around Morrisons at teatime yesterday, and they were selling off the last three dozen turkeys, geese and ducks at 75% off. The lady in front of me had phones around her friends and had 7 in the trolley, plus staff discount.
  • SandraMcSandraMc Posts: 582
    4 down Who's Who Dr. Who and primarily spin = letter s
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,777
    4 Primarily, spin doctors take in THE ELITE (4,3)

    WHO’S WHO - S (first letter of Spin) taken in by Who Who (doctors) . WHO (S) WHO.
  • stjohn said:

    9 Angry substitute gets SOMEWHERE TO SIT IN ANOTHER PLACE (10)

    CROSSBENCH - Cross (angry) + bench (substitute, as a verb).

    Another place here is The House of Lords.

    Um is there a "quick" version, as opposed to cryptic version?

    Anyway, Merry Christmas to all PBers and their loved ones! :)
  • MattWMattW Posts: 18,080
    25 Kip ?
  • FoxyFoxy Posts: 44,051
    MattW said:

    Political turkey report.

    How did everyone get on with the turkey shortage that was going to bring the UK to its knees?

    I did my traditional "filling in the corners" run around Morrisons at teatime yesterday, and they were selling off the last three dozen turkeys, geese and ducks at 75% off. The lady in front of me had phones around her friends and had 7 in the trolley, plus staff discount.

    I believe that we solved it with Omicron reduced festivities 🤣🤣🤣
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,777
    MattW said:

    25 Kip ?

    No. But already solved correctly.
  • SandraMcSandraMc Posts: 582
    Is 3 down rock layer? Clarke worked with Roy Mason, perhaps? Anagram of Clarke and Roy. Mason = rock layer?
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,777
    3 Clarke worked with Roy MASON PERHAPS? (4,5)

    ROCK LAYER - anagrams of “Clarke” and “Roy” indicated by worked with.
  • 3 Down - ROCK LAYER
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 75,841
    8 across ADON ?
  • SandraMcSandraMc Posts: 582
    Must go and get on with lunch preparation. Bye for now.
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,777
    Pulpstar said:

    8 across ADON ?

    No.
  • 10 Canon Law
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,777
    10 Conservative PM introduces a new SET OF RULES ENFORCED BY MINISTERS (5,3)

    CANON LAW - Con (Conservative) + Law (PM, Andrew Bonar Law) with the letters A and N (new) introduced. [C (a n) on] Law

    Canon Law is a set of ecclesiastical rules that is enforced by church ministers.
  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758
    stjohn said:

    1 PM reveals all power corrupts without honour - right? (6,7)

    ROBERT WALPOLE - anagram (indicated by corrupts) of “all power” around (without) “OBE” (honour) “Rt” (right). R (OBE + RT) WALPOLE.

    Baron John Dalberg-Acton stated, “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are always bad men.

    More interesting do great men become bad or do bad men become great?

    My guess is the latter. To become great you need to push the boundaries and be unconstrained by convention. Of course not everyone bad becomes great, but it is necessary not sufficient (for a given definition of bad)
  • MattWMattW Posts: 18,080
    edited December 2021
    6 Down.

    Overclaim?

    Tis a word that fits meaning and clue, but not an elegant one.

    Lots of other good over- words - overcooks, overbaked, overtrust.
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,777
    MattW said:

    6 Down.

    Overclaim?

    Tis a word that fits meaning and clue, but not an elegant one.

    Lots of other good over- words - overcooks, overbaked, overtrust.

    One of your suggestions is correct.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 18,080
    23 Tea Party member should be chimp, but I bet it isn't.
  • 8 Hain
  • IshmaelZIshmaelZ Posts: 21,830
    stjohn said:

    Pulpstar said:

    8 across ADON ?

    No.
    Hain?
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,777
    MattW said:

    23 Tea Party member should be chimp, but I bet it isn't.

    Not chimp.
  • stjohn said:

    9 Angry substitute gets SOMEWHERE TO SIT IN ANOTHER PLACE (10)

    CROSSBENCH - Cross (angry) + bench (substitute, as a verb).

    Another place here is The House of Lords.

    Um is there a "quick" version, as opposed to cryptic version?

    Anyway, Merry Christmas to all PBers and their loved ones! :)
    It normally takes me a couple of hours looking at the solutions and explanations as they roll in, after which I'm still mystified so just assume that if the number of letters in the answer is the same as one or two words in the clue, it is probably an anagram.
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,777
    8 Cable polled LABOUR GRANDEE (4)

    HAIN - (C)hain, meaning cable with the first letter removed (polled, as in lopped the top off).

    Lord Peter HAIN is a Labour grandee.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 18,080
    stjohn said:

    MattW said:

    6 Down.

    Overclaim?

    Tis a word that fits meaning and clue, but not an elegant one.

    Lots of other good over- words - overcooks, overbaked, overtrust.

    One of your suggestions is correct.
    I'm going for overcooks as it fits both halves of the definition better.

    And retiring whilst I'm ahead. :smile:
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,777
    MattW said:

    stjohn said:

    MattW said:

    6 Down.

    Overclaim?

    Tis a word that fits meaning and clue, but not an elegant one.

    Lots of other good over- words - overcooks, overbaked, overtrust.

    One of your suggestions is correct.
    I'm going for overcooks as it fits both halves of the definition better.

    And retiring whilst I'm ahead. :smile:
    Well, you are nearly half right.😀
  • MattW said:

    stjohn said:

    MattW said:

    6 Down.

    Overclaim?

    Tis a word that fits meaning and clue, but not an elegant one.

    Lots of other good over- words - overcooks, overbaked, overtrust.

    One of your suggestions is correct.
    I'm going for overcooks as it fits both halves of the definition better.

    And retiring whilst I'm ahead. :smile:
    I reckon overthrust

    Trust = Trussed
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,777
    6 RELY TOO MUCH, saying it’s more than oven-ready (9)

    OVERTRUST - saying or sounding like “over trussed”, describing e.g. a chicken that’s overly prepared for the oven, with the wings and legs tied too much or too tight.

    Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal was said to be “oven-ready”.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 18,080
    stjohn said:

    MattW said:

    stjohn said:

    MattW said:

    6 Down.

    Overclaim?

    Tis a word that fits meaning and clue, but not an elegant one.

    Lots of other good over- words - overcooks, overbaked, overtrust.

    One of your suggestions is correct.
    I'm going for overcooks as it fits both halves of the definition better.

    And retiring whilst I'm ahead. :smile:
    Well, you are nearly half right.😀
    That's ahead on last year. :smiley:
  • 13A - GERALD FORD
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,777

    13A - GERALD FORD

    No.
  • MattW said:

    23 Tea Party member should be chimp, but I bet it isn't.

    ALICE

    C(aught) in A LIE
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,777
    23 TEA PARTY MEMBER caught in a lie (5)

    ALICE - c (caught) inside ‘a lie”. A LI (C) E

    Alice in Wonderland attended, so was a member of the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.
  • Happy Xmas all.
  • 14 Irregular
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,777
    edited December 2021
    14 PATCHY resistance after weapon return splits militants (9)

    IRREGULAR - R (resistance) after “regul” (luger [weapon - German pistol] letters return) splits or divides IRA (militants). [IR (REGUL) A] + R
  • 17 I think, for once, it is actually Kier?
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,777
    17 VAT announcement of Labour leader (4)

    KIER - a type of vat. Sounds like (announcement of) Keir (Starmer, current Labour leader) or (Hardie, the first Labour leader).
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 66,729
    England have announced four changes to the tributes players for the Boxing Day Test.

    Ashes: England-Australia Melbourne Test - tourists make four changes for Boxing Day

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/59789912
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 41,670
    stjohn said:

    MattW said:

    23 Tea Party member should be chimp, but I bet it isn't.

    Not chimp.
    chump

  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,777
    malcolmg said:

    stjohn said:

    MattW said:

    23 Tea Party member should be chimp, but I bet it isn't.

    Not chimp.
    chump

    No. Solved already.
  • SandraMcSandraMc Posts: 582
    Is 27 Across Lord Privy Seal?
  • stjohnstjohn Posts: 1,777
    edited December 2021
    27 Dictator’s praise can secure A SENIOR POSITION IN GOVERNMENT (4,5,4)

    LORD PRIVY SEAL - Lord (sounds like “laud” meaning praise - when spoken by a dictator, or someone dictating), + privy (can, toilet), + seal (secure).

    According to Wikipedia, it's the 5th of the Great Offices of State in the United Kingdom. Current role holder is The Rt Hon Baroness Evans of Bowes Park.
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 41,670
    stjohn said:

    malcolmg said:

    stjohn said:

    MattW said:

    23 Tea Party member should be chimp, but I bet it isn't.

    Not chimp.
    chump

    No. Solved already.
    Thanks, sorry St John , I was being facetious there to the previous "chimp"
  • SandyRentoolSandyRentool Posts: 20,392
    I'm no good at crosswords so I'll leave it to the experts.

    Merry Christmas to all PBers, whatever the colour of your rosette.
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 27,835
    Merry Christmas!
    Santa left 2 positive cases this morning.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 66,729
    edited December 2021
    malcolmg said:

    stjohn said:

    malcolmg said:

    stjohn said:

    MattW said:

    23 Tea Party member should be chimp, but I bet it isn't.

    Not chimp.
    chump

    No. Solved already.
    Thanks, sorry St John , I was being facetious there to the previous "chimp"
    You were trying to be a champ, but we're just left with chump while trying to pun about chimps. The best option now is to go and chomp on some festive fare.

    Sadly there is no word 'chemp' so I can't extend that series of puns...
  • dixiedean said:

    Merry Christmas!
    Santa left 2 positive cases this morning.

    Merry Christmas.

    Sorry to hear that. I hope it’s not too serious.

    I’ve been looking at the crossword for too long. My first thought was that you’d received a decent quantity of fine wine!
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 27,835
    ydoethur said:

    England have announced four changes to the tributes players for the Boxing Day Test.

    Ashes: England-Australia Melbourne Test - tourists make four changes for Boxing Day

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/59789912

    Their batters, bowlers and fielders?
    What's the fourth?
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 14,874
    dixiedean said:

    ydoethur said:

    England have announced four changes to the tributes players for the Boxing Day Test.

    Ashes: England-Australia Melbourne Test - tourists make four changes for Boxing Day

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/59789912

    Their batters, bowlers and fielders?
    What's the fourth?
    Selectors...
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 66,729
    The moment you have peeled the potatoes, peeled and cored the parsnips, parboiled them, smothered them in butter and put them in roasting tray, and then go to put them in the oven...

    ..to find the tray you've selected is just half an inch too large...
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 66,729
    dixiedean said:

    ydoethur said:

    England have announced four changes to the tributes players for the Boxing Day Test.

    Ashes: England-Australia Melbourne Test - tourists make four changes for Boxing Day

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/59789912

    Their batters, bowlers and fielders?
    What's the fourth?
    I'd take a change in the result. But the only way that could change is Aus finally winning by an innings.
  • dixiedeandixiedean Posts: 27,835
    ydoethur said:

    dixiedean said:

    ydoethur said:

    England have announced four changes to the tributes players for the Boxing Day Test.

    Ashes: England-Australia Melbourne Test - tourists make four changes for Boxing Day

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/59789912

    Their batters, bowlers and fielders?
    What's the fourth?
    I'd take a change in the result. But the only way that could change is Aus finally winning by an innings.
    Or the entire team succumbing to Omicron.
    Mind you. They'd get an eleven out of the spectators to beat us.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 66,729
    dixiedean said:

    ydoethur said:

    dixiedean said:

    ydoethur said:

    England have announced four changes to the tributes players for the Boxing Day Test.

    Ashes: England-Australia Melbourne Test - tourists make four changes for Boxing Day

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/59789912

    Their batters, bowlers and fielders?
    What's the fourth?
    I'd take a change in the result. But the only way that could change is Aus finally winning by an innings.
    Or the entire team succumbing to Omicron.
    Mind you. They'd get an eleven out of the spectators to beat us.
    At the moment an XI of kangaroos, sheep and cattle from a random station near Tennant Creek would beat us...
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 38,517
    ydoethur said:

    The moment you have peeled the potatoes, peeled and cored the parsnips, parboiled them, smothered them in butter and put them in roasting tray, and then go to put them in the oven...

    ..to find the tray you've selected is just half an inch too large...

    About thirty years ago, my parents had a new oven fitted. It came with a range of trays, one of which was ideal for the turkey that Christmas. As dad was getting it out partway through cooking, the tray bent in the middle, depositing all the hot fat and oil straight onto his foot.

    To this day he's proud he didn't drop the turkey, and fortunately the slippers he was wearing saved him from the worst. His foot still has scars to this day.

    So, one thing you don't want with Christmas dinner: roast foot!
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 66,729

    ydoethur said:

    The moment you have peeled the potatoes, peeled and cored the parsnips, parboiled them, smothered them in butter and put them in roasting tray, and then go to put them in the oven...

    ..to find the tray you've selected is just half an inch too large...

    About thirty years ago, my parents had a new oven fitted. It came with a range of trays, one of which was ideal for the turkey that Christmas. As dad was getting it out partway through cooking, the tray bent in the middle, depositing all the hot fat and oil straight onto his foot.

    To this day he's proud he didn't drop the turkey, and fortunately the slippers he was wearing saved him from the worst. His foot still has scars to this day.

    So, one thing you don't want with Christmas dinner: roast foot!
    Ouch.

    Fortunately this year we're got a small Turkey, nine pounds. So it's not too bad in terms of getting it in and out of the oven.
  • James Webb Telescope launch in 10 minutes!
  • PolruanPolruan Posts: 2,083
    Happy Christmas to all on PB (not reading any more until I've had a first go at the crossword without spoilers)
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 66,729
    edited December 2021
    Anyway, one Christmas present for us all - the change in the weather has boosted the amount of wind power enormously, so coupled with reduced demand we're getting 38% of our electricity from it at the moment.
  • Casablanca, ya beauty.

    Merry Christmas.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 66,729

    For anybody interested, the James Webb space telescope is about to launch:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nT7JGZMbtM

    Blast off!

    Have to say as well, this BBC correspondent doing the commentary is really, really good. Clear, concise, knowledgeable, calm and also a perfect voice for it with excellent diction.
  • stodgestodge Posts: 12,741
    Afternoon all :)

    Still musing on the King George but inclining towards FRODON to follow up last year's success. Available at 7s in a couple of places.

    If you've not already assumed I flirt with insanity (I am very nearly Barking), I've also had a tenner on England to win the third test at 11/2. A bit counter intuitive maybe but the old "backs to the wall" narrative comes to the fore.
  • SandraMcSandraMc Posts: 582

    ydoethur said:

    The moment you have peeled the potatoes, peeled and cored the parsnips, parboiled them, smothered them in butter and put them in roasting tray, and then go to put them in the oven...

    ..to find the tray you've selected is just half an inch too large...

    About thirty years ago, my parents had a new oven fitted. It came with a range of trays, one of which was ideal for the turkey that Christmas. As dad was getting it out partway through cooking, the tray bent in the middle, depositing all the hot fat and oil straight onto his foot.

    To this day he's proud he didn't drop the turkey, and fortunately the slippers he was wearing saved him from the worst. His foot still has scars to this day.

    So, one thing you don't want with Christmas dinner: roast foot!
    We've cooked a goose only once. I knew it was a fatty bird but we weren't prepared for how fatty. In getting it out of the oven, my husband spilt fat everywhere ruining a good pair of shoes. When I went to help, I started slidding around in the spilt fat and the two of us ended up clinging on to the kitchen units like something out of a comedy sketch. That put me off cooking goose. (Although I did enjoy smoked goose at The Gay Hussar. Aah, those times!)

    Back to the crossword: 1 Down: Reaganonics? Anagram of Cameron plus is and ag = against.
    20 Across Usage New York is in US Times = Ages
    21 Down Sun up?
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 41,670
    stodge said:

    Afternoon all :)

    Still musing on the King George but inclining towards FRODON to follow up last year's success. Available at 7s in a couple of places.

    If you've not already assumed I flirt with insanity (I am very nearly Barking), I've also had a tenner on England to win the third test at 11/2. A bit counter intuitive maybe but the old "backs to the wall" narrative comes to the fore.

    I fancy Clan Des Obeaux but the odds are far too short.
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 43,594
    ydoethur said:

    For anybody interested, the James Webb space telescope is about to launch:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nT7JGZMbtM

    Blast off!

    Have to say as well, this BBC correspondent doing the commentary is really, really good. Clear, concise, knowledgeable, calm and also a perfect voice for it with excellent diction.
    The decisions not to have cameras on the launcher and telescope....

    The deployment would be awesome in 4K. If it works.....
  • MattWMattW Posts: 18,080
    edited December 2021

    ydoethur said:

    The moment you have peeled the potatoes, peeled and cored the parsnips, parboiled them, smothered them in butter and put them in roasting tray, and then go to put them in the oven...

    ..to find the tray you've selected is just half an inch too large...

    About thirty years ago, my parents had a new oven fitted. It came with a range of trays, one of which was ideal for the turkey that Christmas. As dad was getting it out partway through cooking, the tray bent in the middle, depositing all the hot fat and oil straight onto his foot.

    To this day he's proud he didn't drop the turkey, and fortunately the slippers he was wearing saved him from the worst. His foot still has scars to this day.

    So, one thing you don't want with Christmas dinner: roast foot!
    That would terrify me. Diabetic people are very vulnerable to foot injuries, and the difficulty of healing thereof.

    Only ever had one, and that was a fairly mild shoe rubbing which ended up as an ulcer with a need for a minor op. Since I had an epidural I got to watch. V. interesting.
  • stodgestodge Posts: 12,741
    malcolmg said:

    stodge said:

    Afternoon all :)

    Still musing on the King George but inclining towards FRODON to follow up last year's success. Available at 7s in a couple of places.

    If you've not already assumed I flirt with insanity (I am very nearly Barking), I've also had a tenner on England to win the third test at 11/2. A bit counter intuitive maybe but the old "backs to the wall" narrative comes to the fore.

    I fancy Clan Des Obeaux but the odds are far too short.
    When Megan Nicholls said on ITV Racing last Saturday how well the horse was, the price collapsed. I can't forget he was beaten eight lengths in this last year and this looks a stronger renewal.

    You're absolutely right - 3/1 is ridiculous.
  • ydoethurydoethur Posts: 66,729

    ydoethur said:

    For anybody interested, the James Webb space telescope is about to launch:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nT7JGZMbtM

    Blast off!

    Have to say as well, this BBC correspondent doing the commentary is really, really good. Clear, concise, knowledgeable, calm and also a perfect voice for it with excellent diction.
    The decisions not to have cameras on the launcher and telescope....

    The deployment would be awesome in 4K. If it works.....
    The downer really was all the cloud so you could only see about the first 10 seconds before they switched to CGI.
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 38,517

    ydoethur said:

    For anybody interested, the James Webb space telescope is about to launch:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nT7JGZMbtM

    Blast off!

    Have to say as well, this BBC correspondent doing the commentary is really, really good. Clear, concise, knowledgeable, calm and also a perfect voice for it with excellent diction.
    The decisions not to have cameras on the launcher and telescope....

    The deployment would be awesome in 4K. If it works.....
    It's something SpaceX now do excellently (although not at first).
  • JosiasJessopJosiasJessop Posts: 38,517
    MattW said:

    ydoethur said:

    The moment you have peeled the potatoes, peeled and cored the parsnips, parboiled them, smothered them in butter and put them in roasting tray, and then go to put them in the oven...

    ..to find the tray you've selected is just half an inch too large...

    About thirty years ago, my parents had a new oven fitted. It came with a range of trays, one of which was ideal for the turkey that Christmas. As dad was getting it out partway through cooking, the tray bent in the middle, depositing all the hot fat and oil straight onto his foot.

    To this day he's proud he didn't drop the turkey, and fortunately the slippers he was wearing saved him from the worst. His foot still has scars to this day.

    So, one thing you don't want with Christmas dinner: roast foot!
    That would terrify me. Diabetic people are very vulnerable to foot injuries, and the difficulty of healing thereof.

    Only ever had one, and that was a fairly mild shoe rubbing which ended up as an ulcer with a need for a minor op. Since I had an epidural I got to watch. V. interesting.
    Ouch. TBF it's not something that ever occurred to me. What exactly is the problem with diabetes and foot injuries? Is it the same for Type 1 and Type 2?
  • malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 41,670
    stodge said:

    malcolmg said:

    stodge said:

    Afternoon all :)

    Still musing on the King George but inclining towards FRODON to follow up last year's success. Available at 7s in a couple of places.

    If you've not already assumed I flirt with insanity (I am very nearly Barking), I've also had a tenner on England to win the third test at 11/2. A bit counter intuitive maybe but the old "backs to the wall" narrative comes to the fore.

    I fancy Clan Des Obeaux but the odds are far too short.
    When Megan Nicholls said on ITV Racing last Saturday how well the horse was, the price collapsed. I can't forget he was beaten eight lengths in this last year and this looks a stronger renewal.

    You're absolutely right - 3/1 is ridiculous.
    He had a very hard race at Wetherby not long before last time, be fresh as a daisy this year. I have a free £5 bet on BET365 so will strick that on him anyway.
  • TresTres Posts: 2,160
    edited December 2021

    MattW said:

    ydoethur said:

    The moment you have peeled the potatoes, peeled and cored the parsnips, parboiled them, smothered them in butter and put them in roasting tray, and then go to put them in the oven...

    ..to find the tray you've selected is just half an inch too large...

    About thirty years ago, my parents had a new oven fitted. It came with a range of trays, one of which was ideal for the turkey that Christmas. As dad was getting it out partway through cooking, the tray bent in the middle, depositing all the hot fat and oil straight onto his foot.

    To this day he's proud he didn't drop the turkey, and fortunately the slippers he was wearing saved him from the worst. His foot still has scars to this day.

    So, one thing you don't want with Christmas dinner: roast foot!
    That would terrify me. Diabetic people are very vulnerable to foot injuries, and the difficulty of healing thereof.

    Only ever had one, and that was a fairly mild shoe rubbing which ended up as an ulcer with a need for a minor op. Since I had an epidural I got to watch. V. interesting.
    Ouch. TBF it's not something that ever occurred to me. What exactly is the problem with diabetes and foot injuries? Is it the same for Type 1 and Type 2?
    Diabetes worsens blood circulation and makes feet less sensitive. So problems with cuts and bruises on the feet may go unnoticed and feet are typically the most vulnerable part of the body to circulation issues which makes healing from wounds etc. take longer.
  • OT watching Bond film as is traditional. No Time To Die. No idea what is happening. Its plot is as mystifying as the crossword.
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