I am fascinated by the network of connections in the party gate scandal.
We have Paul Brand and Pippa Crerar who are getting most of the scoops, both married to people who work in government. Also the Paul Brand, Peston, Stratton connection.
Then we have Big Dom, who got Dishy Rishi his job.
I feel like we need one of those spider web things you see in the detective movies.
And the biggest players hollowing out and bringing down Boris? Rishi’s spin twins.
Thanks everyone for the advice on port. Really appreciated. Looks like I should have asked the question 30 years ago. Fingers crossed the Tawny is ok. How about the LBV? I assume you only keep Vintage? I really know nothing about them other than liking the taste.
In terms of looking after it - probably not well. They lie on their sides in my garage. They get turned occasionally.
Thought about it because of my 2 visits to Portugal last year where I had port after every single meal (I don't eat breakfast) and it reminded me to open them.
I am not sure where @Leon got the 'turn regularly' idea from. Move as little as possible was always my understanding.
I think you’re right. I was definitely told in Oporto it should be turned. But the only reference I can find is here - which is a guy saying (near the end) - that it’s bollocks. Don’t turn
Admitting your wrong twice in one day that has to be a record for anyone on PB. Anyway didn't matter as it only got turned about once a year as the whim took me and it tastes ok anyway. Posts will get slurred later tonight.
Thanks again for your advice. Really appreciated.
For the last 2 years I have been making sloe gin, which is another reason I thought of it. Being super mean, as the sloes were obviously foraged, I was loathed to throw them away so I then made liqueur chocolates with them after bottling.
I also made Elderflower champagne the year before last from my garden. Tasted of dishwater, but surprising it turned it into a fantastic sorbet, otherwise it was down the drain. Marmalade next. Nothing like homemade marmalade.
This BYOB party is actually jaw-dropping. What were they thinking of? At least Cummings had some kind of excuse.
That he wanted to lock down in a house with a garden and was too dim both to see this might be problematic and to think up a vaguely plausible pretext is not really an 'excuse.'
This BYOB party is actually jaw-dropping. What were they thinking of? At least Cummings had some kind of excuse.
And add. They are really lucky this didn't come out two years ago during the lockdown. GIven the numbers involved, I am surprised it didn't.
I think as long as Cummings was on board, they were unlikely to. Note that all the most significant tranches of leaked information have stopped in December 2020, so far.
Because there is always an expert on here on everything here is a question about port. I have 2 bottles I have had for a long time that I have never got around to drinking and wondered whether they were worth anything significant now or whether I should just down them (I don't think I could appreciate a really expensive bottle so it would be wasted on me so would be inclined to sell if worth a lot):
Croft 20 yr old Tawny Port bottled in 1988 (so I assume 1968).
Dow 1995 Late Bottle Vintage Bottled in 2000.
Not worth anything special. Only vintage port (not including late bottled vintage) improves in the bottle
I'd be surprised if the Tawny Port is drinkable. That is VERY old for non vintage
Not sure, 20-year old tawny port is already rather special (better than nearly all vintage port in my experience). Dunno how well it would last in bottle, but there's an easy way to find out!
Fortified wines will often last a pretty long time. I remember drinking an '08 Madeira.
That's 1908.
The process of oxidation is complete with Madeira, so it can last very well when open. Port less so.
Madeira goes very well with rich puddings like Christmas puds.
Thanks everyone for the advice on port. Really appreciated. Looks like I should have asked the question 30 years ago. Fingers crossed the Tawny is ok. How about the LBV? I assume you only keep Vintage? I really know nothing about them other than liking the taste.
In terms of looking after it - probably not well. They lie on their sides in my garage. They get turned occasionally.
Thought about it because of my 2 visits to Portugal last year where I had port after every single meal (I don't eat breakfast) and it reminded me to open them.
I am not sure where @Leon got the 'turn regularly' idea from. Move as little as possible was always my understanding.
I think you’re right. I was definitely told in Oporto it should be turned. But the only reference I can find is here - which is a guy saying (near the end) - that it’s bollocks. Don’t turn
Admitting your wrong twice in one day that has to be a record for anyone on PB. Anyway didn't matter as it only got turned about once a year as the whim took me and it tastes ok anyway. Posts will get slurred later tonight.
Thanks again for your advice. Really appreciated.
For the last 2 years I have been making sloe gin, which is another reason I thought of it. Being super mean as the sloes were obviously foraged, I was loathed to throw them away so I then made liqueur chocolates with them after bottling.
I also made Elderflower champagne the year before last from my garden. Tasted of dishwater, but surprising it turned it into a fantastic sorbet, otherwise it was down the drain. Marmalade next. Nothing like homemade marmalade.
I the full realisation I will come to regret asking:
The Tories need to "do a Theresa" and get rid of Boris asap.
Why? The Tories are still polling mid 30s, roughly where they were under Cameron midterm. Under May by midterm in 2019 the Tories were polling well under 30%.
There is no poll showing any alternative Tory leader getting the Tories back to 40%+
You miss the point that Boris is associated with sleaze and ignoring rules together with lying and sooner rather than later he will be a negative for the conservatives and a real threat to many conservative mps seats
This is not sustainable no matter who may be his replacement
If Labour was 10% ahead and polling showed Sunak getting the Tories back in front you might have a point.
As it is Labour are less than 5% ahead midterm and no polling shows Sunak getting the Tories back in front either and other alternative leaders do worse than Boris
As a church-goer, you must feel offended by Boris's lack of moral compass?
OK I have opened the Tawny Port and it tastes ok. Not being a connoisseur I can't tell you if it is any good, but it tastes of port which is about all I was after and a plus after the comments that it might be ruined.
Now if anyone comes back and tells me I should have kept it I'm going to be mightily miffed.
The Tories need to "do a Theresa" and get rid of Boris asap.
Why? The Tories are still polling mid 30s, roughly where they were under Cameron midterm. Under May by midterm in 2019 the Tories were polling well under 30%.
There is no poll showing any alternative Tory leader getting the Tories back to 40%+
You miss the point that Boris is associated with sleaze and ignoring rules together with lying and sooner rather than later he will be a negative for the conservatives and a real threat to many conservative mps seats
This is not sustainable no matter who may be his replacement
If Labour was 10% ahead and polling showed Sunak getting the Tories back in front you might have a point.
As it is Labour are less than 5% ahead midterm and no polling shows Sunak getting the Tories back in front either and other alternative leaders do worse than Boris
As a church-goer, you must feel offended by Boris's lack of moral compass?
He is not running for Pope or Archbishop of Canterbury
What do we think Scott Morrison will do about Djokovic? I suspect he'll let him stay now and hope he gets knocked out in the 1st round.
Let’s ask our Aussie election expert HY. 🙂
So if the Morrison government don’t pull rank now and deport the worlds greatest Tennis player, is this going to prove very damaging to the government in your opinion HYUFD?
I expect the Immigration Minister will deport him
I agree. They basically now have no choice. It seems they would have preferred the court to have backed them, the judiciary to have deported him, how do you understand what went wrong with governments case in court?
It seems to me the Aussie people don’t like one rule for us one rule for VIP, like this country with No 10 parties, and the Federal government thought they could profiteer from that feeling, especially as Victoria let him in. But the judiciary saw it other way around, Federal government exercising powers indiscriminately and inconsistently and unfairly? And that’s becoming the damaging attack the government’s opponents are using that can only be trumped by the deportation.
Like I said this morning, if federal government were more proactive with Victoria and tennis leaders month ago, none of this circus need have happened. However this missing the main point - reason Scott Morrison loses election is his governments border and covid policies have lacked clarity for long time.
What do we think Scott Morrison will do about Djokovic? I suspect he'll let him stay now and hope he gets knocked out in the 1st round.
Let’s ask our Aussie election expert HY. 🙂
So if the Morrison government don’t pull rank now and deport the worlds greatest Tennis player, is this going to prove very damaging to the government in your opinion HYUFD?
I expect the Immigration Minister will deport him
I agree. They basically now have no choice. It seems they would have preferred the court to have backed them, the judiciary to have deported him, how do you understand what went wrong with governments case in court?
It seems to me the Aussie people don’t like one rule for us one rule for VIP, like this country with No 10 parties, and the Federal government thought they could profiteer from that feeling, especially as Victoria let him in. But the judiciary saw it other way around, Federal government exercising powers indiscriminately and inconsistently and unfairly? And that’s becoming the damaging attack the government’s opponents are using that can only be trumped by the deportation.
Like I said this morning, if federal government were more proactive with Victoria and tennis leaders month ago, none of this circus need have happened. However this missing the main point - reason Scott Morrison loses election is his governments border and covid policies have lacked clarity for long time.
Tennis Australia were informed by letter twice that a prior infection was not a valid excuse. It seems that they are to blame for this fiasco.
OK I have opened the Tawny Port and it tastes ok. Not being a connoisseur I can't tell you if it is any good, but it tastes of port which is about all I was after and a plus after the comments that it might be ruined.
Now if anyone comes back and tells me I should have kept it I'm going to be mightily miffed.
Still have to pick at the word "lockdown". Even during the first "you must stay at home" mandate you didn't have to stay at home. You could go out and exercise and go and shop without someone from the government* telling you that you couldn't. Out running in those first few weeks, or bobbing into town to pick up takeaway was very very odd - but not lockdown.
So only China actually does ‘lockdown’?
Bollocks. If I can’t meet friends indoors, or in a pub, and people are working from home, that’s a lockdown. A total perversion of normal human life
If you can meet people OUTSIDE, you are not "locked down", are you? FFS!
Yes you are. You're quibbling with semantics Sunil.
"Now you're talking semantics. What if I told you insane was working a 50-hour week for 50 years, at the end of which they tell you to piss off. Ending up in some retirement village, hoping to die rather than suffering the indignity of trying to make it to the toilet on time. Wouldn't you consider that to be insane?"
This BYOB party is actually jaw-dropping. What were they thinking of? At least Cummings had some kind of excuse.
And add. They are really lucky this didn't come out two years ago during the lockdown. GIven the numbers involved, I am surprised it didn't.
Flip it around.
Lots of people have known about this for ages, but it didn't leak until now. It's a smart bit of mutually assured destruction kompromat. So:
1 Whose idea was the party? (I'm sure the PM will blame the Civil Servants... Chinny reckon, but he'd probably get away with it.) 2 Who knew? (Lots of people, but who?) 3 When did they know? (At the time.) 4 Why did they keep shtum for so long? 5 Are we bothered that the PM hasn't told us the truth about this? Or more relevantly, is anyone who doesn't already dislike the PM bothered?
Still have to pick at the word "lockdown". Even during the first "you must stay at home" mandate you didn't have to stay at home. You could go out and exercise and go and shop without someone from the government* telling you that you couldn't. Out running in those first few weeks, or bobbing into town to pick up takeaway was very very odd - but not lockdown.
So only China actually does ‘lockdown’?
Bollocks. If I can’t meet friends indoors, or in a pub, and people are working from home, that’s a lockdown. A total perversion of normal human life
Since Putin took over he has done a lot to modernise Russia's armed forces, and improve the basic competence and organisation of the Russian state. The Trump Presidency did a lot to bolster Russia's international prestige (see for example Syria) and to weaken NATO.
But the economic fundamentals are moving against Russia in many ways, particularly with the increasing pace of efforts to move away from fossil fuels. In many ways, therefore, now is the best chance Putin has to establish new realities to defend Russia's standing as it's petro-economy declines. If Russia can seize the Ukrainian Black Sea coast, then he heads off the risk of a naval competitor arising in the Black Sea. If Russia can show that NATO, and particularly the US, does not have the resolve to stand against Russian expansionism, then it might encourage some politicians in Eastern Europe to seek an accommodation.
Or he might simply be trying to create a bit of panic as leverage in having Nordstream 2 brought into operation.
That's one of the problems with dealing with a dictatorship. The key debates happen in private in the dictator's head, rather than in the open, so it's really hard to know what the objectives are and the costs willing to be incurred to reach those objectives.
It's more than a little unreal that we're at the stage where the press is wondering what invasion routes the Russians might use to encircle Kiev.
The Tories need to "do a Theresa" and get rid of Boris asap.
Why? The Tories are still polling mid 30s, roughly where they were under Cameron midterm. Under May by midterm in 2019 the Tories were polling well under 30%.
There is no poll showing any alternative Tory leader getting the Tories back to 40%+
You miss the point that Boris is associated with sleaze and ignoring rules together with lying and sooner rather than later he will be a negative for the conservatives and a real threat to many conservative mps seats
This is not sustainable no matter who may be his replacement
If Labour was 10% ahead and polling showed Sunak getting the Tories back in front you might have a point.
As it is Labour are less than 5% ahead midterm and no polling shows Sunak getting the Tories back in front either and other alternative leaders do worse than Boris
As a church-goer, you must feel offended by Boris's lack of moral compass?
He is not running for Pope or Archbishop of Canterbury
So what's the point of going to church if you can support such a dodgy, shady character as our PM?
The Tories need to "do a Theresa" and get rid of Boris asap.
Why? The Tories are still polling mid 30s, roughly where they were under Cameron midterm. Under May by midterm in 2019 the Tories were polling well under 30%.
There is no poll showing any alternative Tory leader getting the Tories back to 40%+
You miss the point that Boris is associated with sleaze and ignoring rules together with lying and sooner rather than later he will be a negative for the conservatives and a real threat to many conservative mps seats
This is not sustainable no matter who may be his replacement
If Labour was 10% ahead and polling showed Sunak getting the Tories back in front you might have a point.
As it is Labour are less than 5% ahead midterm and no polling shows Sunak getting the Tories back in front either and other alternative leaders do worse than Boris
As a church-goer, you must feel offended by Boris's lack of moral compass?
He is not running for Pope or Archbishop of Canterbury
But given that BoJo's CV has been all about failing upwards, Pope is one of the few roles available to him that might count as further promotion.
The Tories need to "do a Theresa" and get rid of Boris asap.
Why? The Tories are still polling mid 30s, roughly where they were under Cameron midterm. Under May by midterm in 2019 the Tories were polling well under 30%.
There is no poll showing any alternative Tory leader getting the Tories back to 40%+
You miss the point that Boris is associated with sleaze and ignoring rules together with lying and sooner rather than later he will be a negative for the conservatives and a real threat to many conservative mps seats
This is not sustainable no matter who may be his replacement
If Labour was 10% ahead and polling showed Sunak getting the Tories back in front you might have a point.
As it is Labour are less than 5% ahead midterm and no polling shows Sunak getting the Tories back in front either and other alternative leaders do worse than Boris
As a church-goer, you must feel offended by Boris's lack of moral compass?
He is not running for Pope or Archbishop of Canterbury
But given that BoJo's CV has been all about failing upwards, Pope is one of the few roles available to him that might count as further promotion.
Though the celibacy thing might be a problem.
Back to the Borgias again. Fat old bloke bonking someone young enough to be his daughter.
What do we think Scott Morrison will do about Djokovic? I suspect he'll let him stay now and hope he gets knocked out in the 1st round.
Let’s ask our Aussie election expert HY. 🙂
So if the Morrison government don’t pull rank now and deport the worlds greatest Tennis player, is this going to prove very damaging to the government in your opinion HYUFD?
I expect the Immigration Minister will deport him
I agree. They basically now have no choice. It seems they would have preferred the court to have backed them, the judiciary to have deported him, how do you understand what went wrong with governments case in court?
It seems to me the Aussie people don’t like one rule for us one rule for VIP, like this country with No 10 parties, and the Federal government thought they could profiteer from that feeling, especially as Victoria let him in. But the judiciary saw it other way around, Federal government exercising powers indiscriminately and inconsistently and unfairly? And that’s becoming the damaging attack the government’s opponents are using that can only be trumped by the deportation.
Like I said this morning, if federal government were more proactive with Victoria and tennis leaders month ago, none of this circus need have happened. However this missing the main point - reason Scott Morrison loses election is his governments border and covid policies have lacked clarity for long time.
Tennis Australia were informed by letter twice that a prior infection was not a valid excuse. It seems that they are to blame for this fiasco.
it not true Under Morrisons government federal law in immigration and battling covid is just not clear and consistent enough like the judiciary keep ruling? Novak circus, like in this court, this case is now illuminating that the federal government should support states with clarity as regards covid and border policies - which they haven’t been doing. Federal government haven’t got involved in clarity, but criticise decisions of others.
The federal government have made their own failings the issue. And probably worse for rest of us, emboldened and boosted the anti vaxxers. And Farage. 😕
Just think - in the week prior to Christmas it was being confidently briefed that we were looking at a post-Christmas lockdown of some sort. Rule of six. Children's birthday parties to be illegal. Schools staying open if we were lucky. And we had that weird day where whatever was being proposed couldn't get through cabinet and then wasn't announced - much to the fury of many in the media and sage.
In the counterfactual world (aka: Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) where the cabinet lost its nerve, we'd now be in week one or two of a second winter lockdown, with government sources confidently telling us that cases were starting to fall because of the tough measures they'd put in place.
Of course, you've still got Jason Leitch saying it's the restrictions wot's making the difference...
Not entirely sure that points to the SG removing everything they added recently, but I wouldn't put it past them to argue the two contradictory points.
Still have to pick at the word "lockdown". Even during the first "you must stay at home" mandate you didn't have to stay at home. You could go out and exercise and go and shop without someone from the government* telling you that you couldn't. Out running in those first few weeks, or bobbing into town to pick up takeaway was very very odd - but not lockdown.
So only China actually does ‘lockdown’?
Bollocks. If I can’t meet friends indoors, or in a pub, and people are working from home, that’s a lockdown. A total perversion of normal human life
Let's establish some simple rules shall we:
Lockdown means a general restriction on people to meet with who they like, when they like, where they like.
So a curfew is a form of lockdown.
Mask mandates on public transport, by contrast, are not lockdowns.
That is a restriction, but not a lockdown.
Likewise, requirements to show vaccination status before going to a mass gathering are a restriction, not a lockdown.
And, for the record, mask mandates in shops and public transport do not count as "Christmas cancelled" (for the benefit of @MISTY/@Contrarian).
Cases - Are rising (some missing data from the regions), but R is plunging towards 1.0. North East is still seeing more of the wave, but that is beginning to fade as well. Admissions - Are bouncing around, but R is heading downward. North East is the area seeing a definite rise still - but is the only region in England to do so. MV beds - level(ish) Death - rising slowly.
I suspect the deaths picture is still very skewed by Christmas reporting lags because the underlying trend, smoothed over a couple of weeks, has definitely been down (from around 130 per day to closer to 80-90). I also suspect - though can't be sure - that a lot of the reported deaths will be Delta still.
The stats on Omicron severity as well as the ventilated patient data suggest to me that deaths should continue to fall as Delta patients leave the system.
What happens if you redo the curve to eliminate 'died with' and chart only 'died of'?
Does such data even exist?
Not really. Death certificates will list COVID in the "causes" section - but may well have multiple causes. Medically it is very hard to tell, often, exactly what of bunch of different conditions was a *singular cause*. As opposed to several things that happened all at once....
Would "was on the way to the covid test centre, when run over by a bus" be a covid mention on the death certificate? (Asking for a friend...)
Would a positive COVID test be recorded against such a death? - down to the doctor filling in the death certificate. Probably wouldn't put it under causes.... But the deaths are counted for certificates "mentioning" COVID...
I still don't understand this.
From questioning this issue before *I think* what is on the death certificate is a different matter to what is included in the Covid death stats. Foxy confirmed that someone dying of Covid would be listed as such on the death certificate whether or not death happened within 28 days of a positive test. E.g a death OF Covid 100 days after a positive test would be given as Covid on the death certificate but would NOT be included in the Covid death stats.
I think that must be right or what would be the point of the 28 days?
We have two measures of COVID deaths, deaths within 28 days and deaths mentioning COVID on the death certificate.
Why are we still pursuing with the 28 days thing? Why not just report Covid deaths as per the death certificate?
It'd be honest, but make the UK look worse than it actually is.
I would have thought it would break the other way but I'm far from sure.
Isn't 28 days the international standard in practice?
OK I have opened the Tawny Port and it tastes ok. Not being a connoisseur I can't tell you if it is any good, but it tastes of port which is about all I was after and a plus after the comments that it might be ruined.
Now if anyone comes back and tells me I should have kept it I'm going to be mightily miffed.
Thanks everyone for the advice on port. Really appreciated. Looks like I should have asked the question 30 years ago. Fingers crossed the Tawny is ok. How about the LBV? I assume you only keep Vintage? I really know nothing about them other than liking the taste.
In terms of looking after it - probably not well. They lie on their sides in my garage. They get turned occasionally.
Thought about it because of my 2 visits to Portugal last year where I had port after every single meal (I don't eat breakfast) and it reminded me to open them.
I am not sure where @Leon got the 'turn regularly' idea from. Move as little as possible was always my understanding.
I think you’re right. I was definitely told in Oporto it should be turned. But the only reference I can find is here - which is a guy saying (near the end) - that it’s bollocks. Don’t turn
Admitting your wrong twice in one day that has to be a record for anyone on PB. Anyway didn't matter as it only got turned about once a year as the whim took me and it tastes ok anyway. Posts will get slurred later tonight.
Thanks again for your advice. Really appreciated.
For the last 2 years I have been making sloe gin, which is another reason I thought of it. Being super mean, as the sloes were obviously foraged, I was loathed to throw them away so I then made liqueur chocolates with them after bottling.
I also made Elderflower champagne the year before last from my garden. Tasted of dishwater, but surprising it turned it into a fantastic sorbet, otherwise it was down the drain. Marmalade next. Nothing like homemade marmalade.
I'm now trying to work out where the idea you should turn the bottle comes from. You did it, I was told it (in Portugal!), that guy online with his proud cellar of vintage port does it as well, yet it seems to be nonsense. No one else advises this
A weird little meme that came from where and has survived how?
Odd
As for sloe gin: top tip, it goes REALLY well with dry champagne or dry English fizz. A brilliantly easy to make a heady and delicious cocktail
EDIT: I see it has been named "the sloegasm"! Very apt
What do we think Scott Morrison will do about Djokovic? I suspect he'll let him stay now and hope he gets knocked out in the 1st round.
Let’s ask our Aussie election expert HY. 🙂
So if the Morrison government don’t pull rank now and deport the worlds greatest Tennis player, is this going to prove very damaging to the government in your opinion HYUFD?
I expect the Immigration Minister will deport him
I agree. They basically now have no choice. It seems they would have preferred the court to have backed them, the judiciary to have deported him, how do you understand what went wrong with governments case in court?
It seems to me the Aussie people don’t like one rule for us one rule for VIP, like this country with No 10 parties, and the Federal government thought they could profiteer from that feeling, especially as Victoria let him in. But the judiciary saw it other way around, Federal government exercising powers indiscriminately and inconsistently and unfairly? And that’s becoming the damaging attack the government’s opponents are using that can only be trumped by the deportation.
Like I said this morning, if federal government were more proactive with Victoria and tennis leaders month ago, none of this circus need have happened. However this missing the main point - reason Scott Morrison loses election is his governments border and covid policies have lacked clarity for long time.
Tennis Australia were informed by letter twice that a prior infection was not a valid excuse. It seems that they are to blame for this fiasco.
it not true Under Morrisons government federal law in immigration and battling covid is just not clear and consistent enough like the judiciary keep ruling? Novak circus, like in this court, this case is now illuminating that the federal government should support states with clarity as regards covid and border policies - which they haven’t been doing. Federal government haven’t got involved in clarity, but criticise decisions of others.
The federal government have made their own failings the issue. And probably worse for rest of us, emboldened and boosted the anti vaxxers. And Farage. 😕
This BYOB party is actually jaw-dropping. What were they thinking of? At least Cummings had some kind of excuse.
And add. They are really lucky this didn't come out two years ago during the lockdown. GIven the numbers involved, I am surprised it didn't.
Flip it around.
Lots of people have known about this for ages, but it didn't leak until now. It's a smart bit of mutually assured destruction kompromat. So:
1 Whose idea was the party? (I'm sure the PM will blame the Civil Servants... Chinny reckon, but he'd probably get away with it.) 2 Who knew? (Lots of people, but who?) 3 When did they know? (At the time.) 4 Why did they keep shtum for so long? 5 Are we bothered that the PM hasn't told us the truth about this? Or more relevantly, is anyone who doesn't already dislike the PM bothered?
It's a good set of questions but I think we can cut to the chase with question no 4. The people knowing about the party would include, I presume, journalists. Why weren't they interested, particularly as it would be even more explosive than Cummings' exploits rolling out at the same time?
On the whose idea/knew/is bothered questions, anyone with the slightest awareness would have klaxons going off and would make sure they were nowhere near the garden of 10 Downing Street.
Thanks everyone for the advice on port. Really appreciated. Looks like I should have asked the question 30 years ago. Fingers crossed the Tawny is ok. How about the LBV? I assume you only keep Vintage? I really know nothing about them other than liking the taste.
In terms of looking after it - probably not well. They lie on their sides in my garage. They get turned occasionally.
Thought about it because of my 2 visits to Portugal last year where I had port after every single meal (I don't eat breakfast) and it reminded me to open them.
I am not sure where @Leon got the 'turn regularly' idea from. Move as little as possible was always my understanding.
I think you’re right. I was definitely told in Oporto it should be turned. But the only reference I can find is here - which is a guy saying (near the end) - that it’s bollocks. Don’t turn
Admitting your wrong twice in one day that has to be a record for anyone on PB. Anyway didn't matter as it only got turned about once a year as the whim took me and it tastes ok anyway. Posts will get slurred later tonight.
Thanks again for your advice. Really appreciated.
For the last 2 years I have been making sloe gin, which is another reason I thought of it. Being super mean, as the sloes were obviously foraged, I was loathed to throw them away so I then made liqueur chocolates with them after bottling.
I also made Elderflower champagne the year before last from my garden. Tasted of dishwater, but surprising it turned it into a fantastic sorbet, otherwise it was down the drain. Marmalade next. Nothing like homemade marmalade.
I'm now trying to work out where the idea you should turn the bottle comes from. You did it, I was told it (in Portugal!), that guy online with his proud cellar of vintage port does it as well, yet it seems to be nonsense. No one else advises this
A weird little meme that came from where and has survived how?
Odd
As for sloe gin: top tip, it goes REALLY well with dry champagne or dry English fizz. A brilliantly easy to make a heady and delicious cocktail
EDIT: I see it has been named "the sloegasm"! Very apt
Still have to pick at the word "lockdown". Even during the first "you must stay at home" mandate you didn't have to stay at home. You could go out and exercise and go and shop without someone from the government* telling you that you couldn't. Out running in those first few weeks, or bobbing into town to pick up takeaway was very very odd - but not lockdown.
So only China actually does ‘lockdown’?
Bollocks. If I can’t meet friends indoors, or in a pub, and people are working from home, that’s a lockdown. A total perversion of normal human life
Let's establish some simple rules shall we:
Lockdown means a general restriction on people to meet with who they like, when they like, where they like.
So a curfew is a form of lockdown.
Mask mandates on public transport, by contrast, are not lockdowns.
That is a restriction, but not a lockdown.
Likewise, requirements to show vaccination status before going to a mass gathering are a restriction, not a lockdown.
And, for the record, mask mandates in shops and public transport do not count as "Christmas cancelled" (for the benefit of @MISTY/@Contrarian).
Yes, we went through this, and yes I agree with you
The idea we didn't have "a lockdown" last winter "because we were still allowed to exercise and to shop" is insulting piffle
Maybe they aren't on "real lockdown" in Xi'an, given that one member of every household is still allowed out once every three days? Those Chinese, so pathetically feeble, can't do proper lockdowns
Given the vast amount of money that property developers donate to the good cause of the Conservative Party, it's brave of Gove to threaten them in the way he has.
So I suspect they won't have to cough up in the end. Or if they do, it will be in such a way as to not affect their grotesque profits.
Expect to pay a hidden "cover historic costs" fee of £5000 in all new house sales for the next few years.
This BYOB party is actually jaw-dropping. What were they thinking of? At least Cummings had some kind of excuse.
And add. They are really lucky this didn't come out two years ago during the lockdown. GIven the numbers involved, I am surprised it didn't.
Flip it around.
Lots of people have known about this for ages, but it didn't leak until now. It's a smart bit of mutually assured destruction kompromat. So:
1 Whose idea was the party? (I'm sure the PM will blame the Civil Servants... Chinny reckon, but he'd probably get away with it.) 2 Who knew? (Lots of people, but who?) 3 When did they know? (At the time.) 4 Why did they keep shtum for so long? 5 Are we bothered that the PM hasn't told us the truth about this? Or more relevantly, is anyone who doesn't already dislike the PM bothered?
Thanks everyone for the advice on port. Really appreciated. Looks like I should have asked the question 30 years ago. Fingers crossed the Tawny is ok. How about the LBV? I assume you only keep Vintage? I really know nothing about them other than liking the taste.
In terms of looking after it - probably not well. They lie on their sides in my garage. They get turned occasionally.
Thought about it because of my 2 visits to Portugal last year where I had port after every single meal (I don't eat breakfast) and it reminded me to open them.
I am not sure where @Leon got the 'turn regularly' idea from. Move as little as possible was always my understanding.
I think you’re right. I was definitely told in Oporto it should be turned. But the only reference I can find is here - which is a guy saying (near the end) - that it’s bollocks. Don’t turn
Admitting your wrong twice in one day that has to be a record for anyone on PB. Anyway didn't matter as it only got turned about once a year as the whim took me and it tastes ok anyway. Posts will get slurred later tonight.
Thanks again for your advice. Really appreciated.
For the last 2 years I have been making sloe gin, which is another reason I thought of it. Being super mean as the sloes were obviously foraged, I was loathed to throw them away so I then made liqueur chocolates with them after bottling.
I also made Elderflower champagne the year before last from my garden. Tasted of dishwater, but surprising it turned it into a fantastic sorbet, otherwise it was down the drain. Marmalade next. Nothing like homemade marmalade.
I the full realisation I will come to regret asking:
How do you know what dishwater tastes like?
Only imagination I'm afraid. Wish the answer could have been more exciting.
When your hotel room has a kitchenette, the hotel wants to be covid-safe, but didn’t get the memo about aerosol importance. That’s really a toaster wrapped in clingfilm. The cutlery is similarly wrapped.
Still have to pick at the word "lockdown". Even during the first "you must stay at home" mandate you didn't have to stay at home. You could go out and exercise and go and shop without someone from the government* telling you that you couldn't. Out running in those first few weeks, or bobbing into town to pick up takeaway was very very odd - but not lockdown.
So only China actually does ‘lockdown’?
Bollocks. If I can’t meet friends indoors, or in a pub, and people are working from home, that’s a lockdown. A total perversion of normal human life
Let's establish some simple rules shall we:
Lockdown means a general restriction on people to meet with who they like, when they like, where they like.
So a curfew is a form of lockdown.
Mask mandates on public transport, by contrast, are not lockdowns.
That is a restriction, but not a lockdown.
Likewise, requirements to show vaccination status before going to a mass gathering are a restriction, not a lockdown.
And, for the record, mask mandates in shops and public transport do not count as "Christmas cancelled" (for the benefit of @MISTY/@Contrarian).
Yes, we went through this, and yes I agree with you
The idea we didn't have "a lockdown" last winter "because we were still allowed to exercise and to shop" is insulting piffle
Maybe they aren't on "real lockdown" in Xi'an, given that one member of every household is still allowed out once every three days? Those Chinese, so pathetically feeble, can't do proper lockdowns
In spring 2020 I was locked down. You went on holiday.
Still have to pick at the word "lockdown". Even during the first "you must stay at home" mandate you didn't have to stay at home. You could go out and exercise and go and shop without someone from the government* telling you that you couldn't. Out running in those first few weeks, or bobbing into town to pick up takeaway was very very odd - but not lockdown.
So only China actually does ‘lockdown’?
Bollocks. If I can’t meet friends indoors, or in a pub, and people are working from home, that’s a lockdown. A total perversion of normal human life
Let's establish some simple rules shall we:
Lockdown means a general restriction on people to meet with who they like, when they like, where they like.
So a curfew is a form of lockdown.
Mask mandates on public transport, by contrast, are not lockdowns.
That is a restriction, but not a lockdown.
Likewise, requirements to show vaccination status before going to a mass gathering are a restriction, not a lockdown.
And, for the record, mask mandates in shops and public transport do not count as "Christmas cancelled" (for the benefit of @MISTY/@Contrarian).
Yes, we went through this, and yes I agree with you
The idea we didn't have "a lockdown" last winter "because we were still allowed to exercise and to shop" is insulting piffle
Maybe they aren't on "real lockdown" in Xi'an, given that one member of every household is still allowed out once every three days? Those Chinese, so pathetically feeble, can't do proper lockdowns
Well yes, we can further subdivide lockdown into: Diamond, Platinum and Gold variants. (Gold being a lot less hard than diamonds or platinum.)
In the Diamond variant (as practiced in Xi'an), you basically 'aint leaving your house/apartment except on your designated day and then one household member and then only to shop.
Thanks everyone for the advice on port. Really appreciated. Looks like I should have asked the question 30 years ago. Fingers crossed the Tawny is ok. How about the LBV? I assume you only keep Vintage? I really know nothing about them other than liking the taste.
In terms of looking after it - probably not well. They lie on their sides in my garage. They get turned occasionally.
Thought about it because of my 2 visits to Portugal last year where I had port after every single meal (I don't eat breakfast) and it reminded me to open them.
I am not sure where @Leon got the 'turn regularly' idea from. Move as little as possible was always my understanding.
I think you’re right. I was definitely told in Oporto it should be turned. But the only reference I can find is here - which is a guy saying (near the end) - that it’s bollocks. Don’t turn
Admitting your wrong twice in one day that has to be a record for anyone on PB. Anyway didn't matter as it only got turned about once a year as the whim took me and it tastes ok anyway. Posts will get slurred later tonight.
Thanks again for your advice. Really appreciated.
For the last 2 years I have been making sloe gin, which is another reason I thought of it. Being super mean as the sloes were obviously foraged, I was loathed to throw them away so I then made liqueur chocolates with them after bottling.
I also made Elderflower champagne the year before last from my garden. Tasted of dishwater, but surprising it turned it into a fantastic sorbet, otherwise it was down the drain. Marmalade next. Nothing like homemade marmalade.
I the full realisation I will come to regret asking:
How do you know what dishwater tastes like?
Only imagination I'm afraid. Wish the answer could have been more exciting.
I had visions of you downing a sinkful for a bet...
Still have to pick at the word "lockdown". Even during the first "you must stay at home" mandate you didn't have to stay at home. You could go out and exercise and go and shop without someone from the government* telling you that you couldn't. Out running in those first few weeks, or bobbing into town to pick up takeaway was very very odd - but not lockdown.
So only China actually does ‘lockdown’?
Bollocks. If I can’t meet friends indoors, or in a pub, and people are working from home, that’s a lockdown. A total perversion of normal human life
Let's establish some simple rules shall we:
Lockdown means a general restriction on people to meet with who they like, when they like, where they like.
So a curfew is a form of lockdown.
Mask mandates on public transport, by contrast, are not lockdowns.
That is a restriction, but not a lockdown.
Likewise, requirements to show vaccination status before going to a mass gathering are a restriction, not a lockdown.
And, for the record, mask mandates in shops and public transport do not count as "Christmas cancelled" (for the benefit of @MISTY/@Contrarian).
Yes, we went through this, and yes I agree with you
The idea we didn't have "a lockdown" last winter "because we were still allowed to exercise and to shop" is insulting piffle
Maybe they aren't on "real lockdown" in Xi'an, given that one member of every household is still allowed out once every three days? Those Chinese, so pathetically feeble, can't do proper lockdowns
In spring 2020 I was locked down. You went on holiday.
Only because he wasn't invited to the Rose Garden drinks party...
When your hotel room has a kitchenette, the hotel wants to be covid-safe, but didn’t get the memo about aerosol importance. That’s really a toaster wrapped in clingfilm. The cutlery is similarly wrapped.
Looks like a breakdown or a practical joke. Is the stapler set in jelly?
Any reason why England only legislation can’t be conducted on Monday and Tuesday, with UK wide legislation conducted on Wednesday, Thursday on Friday?
Having an English parliament using the HoC facilities? It's possible, but you'd still have to elect a separate load of Members of the English Parliament (yeah, that needs a better acronym) otherwise the Scottish separatists would endlessly whinge about their MPs being second class.
Any reason why England only legislation can’t be conducted on Monday and Tuesday, with UK wide legislation conducted on Wednesday, Thursday on Friday?
Having an English parliament using the HoC facilities? It's possible, but you'd still have to elect a separate load of Members of the English Parliament (yeah, that needs a better acronym) otherwise the Scottish separatists would endlessly whinge about their MPs being second class.
What about using Westminster Hall?
How about the UK government meets 4 days a week in HoC. Monday or Friday is for the English only MPs, who also serve as England's UKMPs. No additional elections or facilities required.
I think the neat solution, and desirable as it requires fewer politicians, is to make all the devolved Parliaments - including the English one - meet for 1-2 days a week and consist of the national contingents from the UK Parliament.
Imagine the resources that could be saved.
The devolved Parliaments are a bit of a dog's breakfast that needs significant reform, anyway.
Align powers / responsibilities at the same time.
Though I don't see BJ getting a round tuit.
Why would he? There is no interest in England, beyond theoretical discussions amongst politics geeks, in constitutional reform, and there's no political benefit to be had for the Prime Minister or his party in obsessing over the minutiae of the devolved settlements.
Still have to pick at the word "lockdown". Even during the first "you must stay at home" mandate you didn't have to stay at home. You could go out and exercise and go and shop without someone from the government* telling you that you couldn't. Out running in those first few weeks, or bobbing into town to pick up takeaway was very very odd - but not lockdown.
So only China actually does ‘lockdown’?
Bollocks. If I can’t meet friends indoors, or in a pub, and people are working from home, that’s a lockdown. A total perversion of normal human life
Let's establish some simple rules shall we:
Lockdown means a general restriction on people to meet with who they like, when they like, where they like.
So a curfew is a form of lockdown.
Mask mandates on public transport, by contrast, are not lockdowns.
That is a restriction, but not a lockdown.
Likewise, requirements to show vaccination status before going to a mass gathering are a restriction, not a lockdown.
And, for the record, mask mandates in shops and public transport do not count as "Christmas cancelled" (for the benefit of @MISTY/@Contrarian).
Yes, we went through this, and yes I agree with you
The idea we didn't have "a lockdown" last winter "because we were still allowed to exercise and to shop" is insulting piffle
Maybe they aren't on "real lockdown" in Xi'an, given that one member of every household is still allowed out once every three days? Those Chinese, so pathetically feeble, can't do proper lockdowns
Were we allowed out "once every three days"?
No. So we we weren't locked down. Some of us even went as far as Penarth...
Still have to pick at the word "lockdown". Even during the first "you must stay at home" mandate you didn't have to stay at home. You could go out and exercise and go and shop without someone from the government* telling you that you couldn't. Out running in those first few weeks, or bobbing into town to pick up takeaway was very very odd - but not lockdown.
So only China actually does ‘lockdown’?
Bollocks. If I can’t meet friends indoors, or in a pub, and people are working from home, that’s a lockdown. A total perversion of normal human life
Let's establish some simple rules shall we:
Lockdown means a general restriction on people to meet with who they like, when they like, where they like.
So a curfew is a form of lockdown.
Mask mandates on public transport, by contrast, are not lockdowns.
That is a restriction, but not a lockdown.
Likewise, requirements to show vaccination status before going to a mass gathering are a restriction, not a lockdown.
And, for the record, mask mandates in shops and public transport do not count as "Christmas cancelled" (for the benefit of @MISTY/@Contrarian).
Yes, we went through this, and yes I agree with you
The idea we didn't have "a lockdown" last winter "because we were still allowed to exercise and to shop" is insulting piffle
Maybe they aren't on "real lockdown" in Xi'an, given that one member of every household is still allowed out once every three days? Those Chinese, so pathetically feeble, can't do proper lockdowns
In spring 2020 I was locked down. You went on holiday.
Only because he wasn't invited to the Rose Garden drinks party...
How’s flu hospitalisationz this year Foxy, average?
When your hotel room has a kitchenette, the hotel wants to be covid-safe, but didn’t get the memo about aerosol importance. That’s really a toaster wrapped in clingfilm. The cutlery is similarly wrapped.
Looks like a breakdown or a practical joke. Is the stapler set in jelly?
Oh no, they are completely serious. In Portugal, 80% of people are wearing masks on the street, even though there is no rule making them.
Still have to pick at the word "lockdown". Even during the first "you must stay at home" mandate you didn't have to stay at home. You could go out and exercise and go and shop without someone from the government* telling you that you couldn't. Out running in those first few weeks, or bobbing into town to pick up takeaway was very very odd - but not lockdown.
So only China actually does ‘lockdown’?
Bollocks. If I can’t meet friends indoors, or in a pub, and people are working from home, that’s a lockdown. A total perversion of normal human life
Let's establish some simple rules shall we:
Lockdown means a general restriction on people to meet with who they like, when they like, where they like.
So a curfew is a form of lockdown.
Mask mandates on public transport, by contrast, are not lockdowns.
That is a restriction, but not a lockdown.
Likewise, requirements to show vaccination status before going to a mass gathering are a restriction, not a lockdown.
And, for the record, mask mandates in shops and public transport do not count as "Christmas cancelled" (for the benefit of @MISTY/@Contrarian).
Yes, we went through this, and yes I agree with you
The idea we didn't have "a lockdown" last winter "because we were still allowed to exercise and to shop" is insulting piffle
Maybe they aren't on "real lockdown" in Xi'an, given that one member of every household is still allowed out once every three days? Those Chinese, so pathetically feeble, can't do proper lockdowns
In spring 2020 I was locked down. You went on holiday.
Only because he wasn't invited to the Rose Garden drinks party...
How’s flu hospitalisationz this year Foxy, average?
Very low. Indeed good evidence that people are being more careful.
In my hospital we have 260 covid cases, 6 with either Flu or RSV.
This may have more to do with Omicron. Some of the NZ boffins are crapping themselves at the thought of Omicron getting loose in the country before they've boosted all the elderly and jabbed all the primary school kids. They think that'd result in a slaughter.
Relative to how well they've dodged deaths so far, of course, it probably would feel like a slaughter. However, unless they never allow another human being to set foot in the country from overseas again, they're not going to save all the people who can't have vaccines or don't respond to them very well forever. The variant will get in, and it will go about its lethal business. Adjusting to that fact may prove rather difficult for the country when it happens.
The Tories need to "do a Theresa" and get rid of Boris asap.
Why? The Tories are still polling mid 30s, roughly where they were under Cameron midterm. Under May by midterm in 2019 the Tories were polling well under 30%.
There is no poll showing any alternative Tory leader getting the Tories back to 40%+
Yes, it's interesting how small the gap is between Johnson and Sunak compared to Starmer in best PM polling, Starmer is 1% ahead of Johnson but Sunak is only 3% ahead of Starmer in today's poll.
EXCL: Email obtained by @itvnews proves over 100 staff were invited to drinks party in No 10 garden at height of lockdown to “make the most of the lovely weather”.
We’re told PM and his wife attended, with staff invited to “bring your own booze!”
· 8m Replying to @PaulBrandITV Email was sent by the PM's Principal Private Secretary Martin Reynolds. 30-40 staff attended, eating picnic food and drinking in the garden.
Less than an hour earlier, Oliver Dowden had told the public at the daily press conference to stick to meeting in pairs outdoors.
This is the party Cummings was going on about, isn't it?
It's perfectly possible that the source is someone who isn't Dom.
Whomever is leaking is unaware of the mantra that snitches get stitches.
'Whoever'?
I'm blaming autocorrect.
I've already used a grocer's apostrophe the other day.
Whomsoever ... or Whosoever if one wants to be a teensy bit archaic.
All credit to Leon and Ben for admitting they got it wrong lockdowns. A rare sight on PB.
The likes of Chris should take note.
I got it wrong for a different reason tho. I said lockdowns were useless from about mid-December, it was obvious Omicron was way too infectious. I don't think we should have even gone to Plan B. We fucked hospitality for no reason, and Whitty and Co should be ashamed
But I didn't expect HMG to show so much backbone. Good for them! They proved me wrong
I am now feeling very very very very cautiously optimistic about this. We are nearly halfway through winter. Yes January is bumpy but no it is not apocalyptic
Is this 2 year shitshow finally coming to an end? Barring another variant (please God, spare us) then it looks that way
*genuflecting to the angry demon of Covid Hubris*
Yes, sorry, I should have clarified that you were wrong for a different reason.
The Tories need to "do a Theresa" and get rid of Boris asap.
Why? The Tories are still polling mid 30s, roughly where they were under Cameron midterm. Under May by midterm in 2019 the Tories were polling well under 30%.
There is no poll showing any alternative Tory leader getting the Tories back to 40%+
Yes, it's interesting how small the gap is between Johnson and Sunak compared to Starmer in best PM polling, Starmer is 1% ahead of Johnson but Sunak is only 3% ahead of Starmer in today's poll.
Is Johnson the problem or are the Conservatives the problem? A lot hangs on the answer to that question. If Johnson is the problem, he can be replaced. Starmer will be keen to make the Conservatives the problem, precisely because Johnson might be replaced.
Still have to pick at the word "lockdown". Even during the first "you must stay at home" mandate you didn't have to stay at home. You could go out and exercise and go and shop without someone from the government* telling you that you couldn't. Out running in those first few weeks, or bobbing into town to pick up takeaway was very very odd - but not lockdown.
The “we were never locked down” cliche. Absolute garbage. It was illegal to have guests in your own home at one point. All schools and pubs were forcibly closed by the government.
Still have to pick at the word "lockdown". Even during the first "you must stay at home" mandate you didn't have to stay at home. You could go out and exercise and go and shop without someone from the government* telling you that you couldn't. Out running in those first few weeks, or bobbing into town to pick up takeaway was very very odd - but not lockdown.
So only China actually does ‘lockdown’?
Bollocks. If I can’t meet friends indoors, or in a pub, and people are working from home, that’s a lockdown. A total perversion of normal human life
Absolutely. Risible nonsense from Rochdale, I’m afraid.
EXCL: Email obtained by @itvnews proves over 100 staff were invited to drinks party in No 10 garden at height of lockdown to “make the most of the lovely weather”.
We’re told PM and his wife attended, with staff invited to “bring your own booze!”
· 8m Replying to @PaulBrandITV Email was sent by the PM's Principal Private Secretary Martin Reynolds. 30-40 staff attended, eating picnic food and drinking in the garden.
Less than an hour earlier, Oliver Dowden had told the public at the daily press conference to stick to meeting in pairs outdoors.
This is the party Cummings was going on about, isn't it?
It's perfectly possible that the source is someone who isn't Dom.
Whomever is leaking is unaware of the mantra that snitches get stitches.
'Whoever'?
I'm blaming autocorrect.
I've already used a grocer's apostrophe the other day.
Whomsoever ... or Whosoever if one wants to be a teensy bit archaic.
Whomever is correct if in the oblique (accusative/dative case). "Leaking to whomever..."
From the article - so the person responsible is being shifted rather than fired or resigning.
Reynolds, who previously served as Johnson’s private secretary at the Foreign Office, is expected to be moved to a new position in the civil service. One official said he was being lined up for an ambassadorial role.
The Tories need to "do a Theresa" and get rid of Boris asap.
Why? The Tories are still polling mid 30s, roughly where they were under Cameron midterm. Under May by midterm in 2019 the Tories were polling well under 30%.
There is no poll showing any alternative Tory leader getting the Tories back to 40%+
Yes, it's interesting how small the gap is between Johnson and Sunak compared to Starmer in best PM polling, Starmer is 1% ahead of Johnson but Sunak is only 3% ahead of Starmer in today's poll.
One issue for Tory plotters is that while Sunak outposts Starmer at present, it may just be a case of the grass is greener. The problematic practical issue is that it would be Sunak and AN Other, and the Tory membership may well prefer that AN Other.
This may have more to do with Omicron. Some of the NZ boffins are crapping themselves at the thought of Omicron getting loose in the country before they've boosted all the elderly and jabbed all the primary school kids. They think that'd result in a slaughter.
Relative to how well they've dodged deaths so far, of course, it probably would feel like a slaughter. However, unless they never allow another human being to set foot in the country from overseas again, they're not going to save all the people who can't have vaccines or don't respond to them very well forever. The variant will get in, and it will go about its lethal business. Adjusting to that fact may prove rather difficult for the country when it happens.
To be fair, New Zealand's vaccination numbers look pretty strong given they started months after the UK and Israel.
From the article - so the person responsible is being shifted rather than fired or resigning.
Reynolds, who previously served as Johnson’s private secretary at the Foreign Office, is expected to be moved to a new position in the civil service. One official said he was being lined up for an ambassadorial role.
...which presumably involves hosting lots of parties.
From the article - so the person responsible is being shifted rather than fired or resigning.
Reynolds, who previously served as Johnson’s private secretary at the Foreign Office, is expected to be moved to a new position in the civil service. One official said he was being lined up for an ambassadorial role.
You know that test journalists apply (certainly political hacks) to work out if something has cut through? I just hopped in the shower and came out to 28 WhatsApp messages - every single one about ‘bring your own booze’, most from Tory voters. None repeatable. https://twitter.com/KateEMcCann/status/1480643268664827906
When your hotel room has a kitchenette, the hotel wants to be covid-safe, but didn’t get the memo about aerosol importance. That’s really a toaster wrapped in clingfilm. The cutlery is similarly wrapped.
The Tories need to "do a Theresa" and get rid of Boris asap.
Why? The Tories are still polling mid 30s, roughly where they were under Cameron midterm. Under May by midterm in 2019 the Tories were polling well under 30%.
There is no poll showing any alternative Tory leader getting the Tories back to 40%+
Yes, it's interesting how small the gap is between Johnson and Sunak compared to Starmer in best PM polling, Starmer is 1% ahead of Johnson but Sunak is only 3% ahead of Starmer in today's poll.
One issue for Tory plotters is that while Sunak outposts Starmer at present, it may just be a case of the grass is greener. The problematic practical issue is that it would be Sunak and AN Other, and the Tory membership may well prefer that AN Other.
I suspect that's the thing behind the current haste - unless things move quickly AN Other may actually be a person with a reputation behind it rather than candidate b.
Still have to pick at the word "lockdown". Even during the first "you must stay at home" mandate you didn't have to stay at home. You could go out and exercise and go and shop without someone from the government* telling you that you couldn't. Out running in those first few weeks, or bobbing into town to pick up takeaway was very very odd - but not lockdown.
The “we were never locked down” cliche. Absolute garbage. It was illegal to have guests in your own home at one point. All schools and pubs were forcibly closed by the government.
Get real.
You get real. Being allowed out for unlimited exercise or to go shop is not locked down. We had restrictions - a lot of them. But the door was not locked with the police saying you can't go out.
Still have to pick at the word "lockdown". Even during the first "you must stay at home" mandate you didn't have to stay at home. You could go out and exercise and go and shop without someone from the government* telling you that you couldn't. Out running in those first few weeks, or bobbing into town to pick up takeaway was very very odd - but not lockdown.
So only China actually does ‘lockdown’?
Bollocks. If I can’t meet friends indoors, or in a pub, and people are working from home, that’s a lockdown. A total perversion of normal human life
Let's establish some simple rules shall we:
Lockdown means a general restriction on people to meet with who they like, when they like, where they like.
So a curfew is a form of lockdown.
Mask mandates on public transport, by contrast, are not lockdowns.
That is a restriction, but not a lockdown.
Likewise, requirements to show vaccination status before going to a mass gathering are a restriction, not a lockdown.
And, for the record, mask mandates in shops and public transport do not count as "Christmas cancelled" (for the benefit of @MISTY/@Contrarian).
Yes, we went through this, and yes I agree with you
The idea we didn't have "a lockdown" last winter "because we were still allowed to exercise and to shop" is insulting piffle
Maybe they aren't on "real lockdown" in Xi'an, given that one member of every household is still allowed out once every three days? Those Chinese, so pathetically feeble, can't do proper lockdowns
In spring 2020 I was locked down. You went on holiday.
In spring 2020 we were all locked down, and yet nearly all of us went on holiday. A surreal holiday of zero work, silent streets, and endless, glorious, unearthly sunshine....
I will remember that first lockdown until I die. I shall do my living utmost to forget the other two
You know that test journalists apply (certainly political hacks) to work out if something has cut through? I just hopped in the shower and came out to 28 WhatsApp messages - every single one about ‘bring your own booze’, most from Tory voters. None repeatable. https://twitter.com/KateEMcCann/status/1480643268664827906
Still have to pick at the word "lockdown". Even during the first "you must stay at home" mandate you didn't have to stay at home. You could go out and exercise and go and shop without someone from the government* telling you that you couldn't. Out running in those first few weeks, or bobbing into town to pick up takeaway was very very odd - but not lockdown.
The “we were never locked down” cliche. Absolute garbage. It was illegal to have guests in your own home at one point. All schools and pubs were forcibly closed by the government.
Get real.
You get real. Being allowed out for unlimited exercise or to go shop is not locked down. We had restrictions - a lot of them. But the door was not locked with the police saying you can't go out.
Go shop?!?!
Your idea of lockdown would've led to mass starvation.
I think my definition still stands: if you have to meet your friends in a freezing Scottish park then you are locked down.
Still have to pick at the word "lockdown". Even during the first "you must stay at home" mandate you didn't have to stay at home. You could go out and exercise and go and shop without someone from the government* telling you that you couldn't. Out running in those first few weeks, or bobbing into town to pick up takeaway was very very odd - but not lockdown.
So only China actually does ‘lockdown’?
Bollocks. If I can’t meet friends indoors, or in a pub, and people are working from home, that’s a lockdown. A total perversion of normal human life
Let's establish some simple rules shall we:
Lockdown means a general restriction on people to meet with who they like, when they like, where they like.
So a curfew is a form of lockdown.
Mask mandates on public transport, by contrast, are not lockdowns.
That is a restriction, but not a lockdown.
Likewise, requirements to show vaccination status before going to a mass gathering are a restriction, not a lockdown.
And, for the record, mask mandates in shops and public transport do not count as "Christmas cancelled" (for the benefit of @MISTY/@Contrarian).
Yes, we went through this, and yes I agree with you
The idea we didn't have "a lockdown" last winter "because we were still allowed to exercise and to shop" is insulting piffle
Maybe they aren't on "real lockdown" in Xi'an, given that one member of every household is still allowed out once every three days? Those Chinese, so pathetically feeble, can't do proper lockdowns
Absolutely- no doubt some people will try to argue that however. Many of us were at breaking point during the winter lockdown. It was utter hell for many. Yet according to ‘Rochdale Pioneers’, the bloke on the internet, it was not a lockdown.
When your hotel room has a kitchenette, the hotel wants to be covid-safe, but didn’t get the memo about aerosol importance. That’s really a toaster wrapped in clingfilm. The cutlery is similarly wrapped.
That's insane genius levels of crazy covid WTAF
Catholicism. Protestants keep their toasters in the cupboard.
Still have to pick at the word "lockdown". Even during the first "you must stay at home" mandate you didn't have to stay at home. You could go out and exercise and go and shop without someone from the government* telling you that you couldn't. Out running in those first few weeks, or bobbing into town to pick up takeaway was very very odd - but not lockdown.
The “we were never locked down” cliche. Absolute garbage. It was illegal to have guests in your own home at one point. All schools and pubs were forcibly closed by the government.
Get real.
You get real. Being allowed out for unlimited exercise or to go shop is not locked down. We had restrictions - a lot of them. But the door was not locked with the police saying you can't go out.
Go shop?!?!
Your idea of lockdown would've led to mass starvation.
I think my definition still stands: if you have to meet your friends in a freezing Scottish park then you are locked down.
What's wrong with freezing Scottish parks? It's good for you. None of this nasty UV skin cancer shite.
Still have to pick at the word "lockdown". Even during the first "you must stay at home" mandate you didn't have to stay at home. You could go out and exercise and go and shop without someone from the government* telling you that you couldn't. Out running in those first few weeks, or bobbing into town to pick up takeaway was very very odd - but not lockdown.
The “we were never locked down” cliche. Absolute garbage. It was illegal to have guests in your own home at one point. All schools and pubs were forcibly closed by the government.
Get real.
You get real. Being allowed out for unlimited exercise or to go shop is not locked down. We had restrictions - a lot of them. But the door was not locked with the police saying you can't go out.
You are in a lunatic minority of about one, on this point. Everyone else thinks that shut pubs, shut restaurants, working from home, schools closed, etc etc etc, is a lockdown. Even if the government generously allows us out for "unlimited exercise"
Give up, you come across as bonkers, which is a shame, as I don't think you are
When your hotel room has a kitchenette, the hotel wants to be covid-safe, but didn’t get the memo about aerosol importance. That’s really a toaster wrapped in clingfilm. The cutlery is similarly wrapped.
That's insane genius levels of crazy covid WTAF
I hope the person dispensing the cling film didn’t have Covid.
Was it even unlimited exercise? I thought there was a period where you were only supposed to go out once a day for it. And it had to be local, which wasn't exactly helpful if you were in the middle of London, or whatever.
Locked down or not locked down is a semantic point to some degree, people will have their own definitions. But while lockdown as a phrase is applied too widely where restrictions would make more sense, it seems pretty reasonable to regard severe limitations on where you can go and for what reason you can leave your house as lockdown at the least.
What is beyond that? Literally not being permitted to leave for any reason? It's setting a preposterous standard, like if we applied a scale as to what constituted a beating, where being hit 100 times didn't count because, hey, it could have been 1000 times.
Wouldn't surprise me at all. The sort of fellow who finds he has left his wallet at home when it's his turn to buy a round.
Apparently he had a reputation for doing that at the Telegraph - the interns had to buy the drinks.
Would have thought if Johnson had just survived a near death illness, he would be taking it easy on the parties. Another of the oddities with this story.
From the article - so the person responsible is being shifted rather than fired or resigning.
Reynolds, who previously served as Johnson’s private secretary at the Foreign Office, is expected to be moved to a new position in the civil service. One official said he was being lined up for an ambassadorial role.
Still have to pick at the word "lockdown". Even during the first "you must stay at home" mandate you didn't have to stay at home. You could go out and exercise and go and shop without someone from the government* telling you that you couldn't. Out running in those first few weeks, or bobbing into town to pick up takeaway was very very odd - but not lockdown.
The “we were never locked down” cliche. Absolute garbage. It was illegal to have guests in your own home at one point. All schools and pubs were forcibly closed by the government.
Get real.
You get real. Being allowed out for unlimited exercise or to go shop is not locked down. We had restrictions - a lot of them. But the door was not locked with the police saying you can't go out.
Go shop?!?!
Your idea of lockdown would've led to mass starvation.
I think my definition still stands: if you have to meet your friends in a freezing Scottish park then you are locked down.
What's wrong with freezing Scottish parks? It's good for you. None of this nasty UV skin cancer shite.
When it got really depressing was when some of them had barriers round them, like kids playparks.
Was it even unlimited exercise? I thought there was a period where you were only supposed to go out once a day for it. And it had to be local, which wasn't exactly helpful if you were in the middle of London, or whatever.
Twice a day for exercise is loads I think. Day that ended I did 10k in the morning and 10k in the evening.
When your hotel room has a kitchenette, the hotel wants to be covid-safe, but didn’t get the memo about aerosol importance. That’s really a toaster wrapped in clingfilm. The cutlery is similarly wrapped.
That's insane genius levels of crazy covid WTAF
I hope the person dispensing the cling film didn’t have Covid.
Thankfully, the cleaning materials are kept scrupulously, er, clean.
Was it even unlimited exercise? I thought there was a period where you were only supposed to go out once a day for it. And it had to be local, which wasn't exactly helpful if you were in the middle of London, or whatever.
Yes, it wasn't actual law, but at one point the government was advising exercise of just one hour, max
And at other moments you were only allowed to meet one other person, outside. And you couldn't sit on a park bench and chat together
"It has been regularly reported in the media and remarked by people that we were only permitted one hour of exercise per day during the full lockdown. But one of the main drivers for a historian is curiosity, and I am curious to track back why our belief in what we are actually allowed is so different from the reality.
“Revisiting the actual sources confirms that the law passed to underpin the lockdown allowed exercise as one of the excuses for leaving your home, but this was not limited by frequency, length, distance or time. This law has been embellished, and phrased as only one form of exercise being permitted for each person per day. Although Boris Johnson stated ‘one form of exercise’ would be permitted in his public broadcast on March 22 to announce the start of lockdown, he also did not specify a time limit.
“So where does the credence for the one hour of exercise emerge from? It appears that the hour was first suggested by Michael Gove when interviewed outside his house on 29 March by Andrew Marr. Gove mentioned his own 25-minute run that day, and suggested: ‘I would have thought that for most people, a walk of up to an hour, or a run of 30 minutes or a cycle ride of between that, depending on their level of fitness is appropriate’.
“It seems surprising that such a statement went on to underpin the so called rule of one hour of exercise a day, but historians know that myths generally have very flimsy foundations.
“What is interesting is the fact most people respected this restriction, despite the fact it was never legally enforceable
Still have to pick at the word "lockdown". Even during the first "you must stay at home" mandate you didn't have to stay at home. You could go out and exercise and go and shop without someone from the government* telling you that you couldn't. Out running in those first few weeks, or bobbing into town to pick up takeaway was very very odd - but not lockdown.
The “we were never locked down” cliche. Absolute garbage. It was illegal to have guests in your own home at one point. All schools and pubs were forcibly closed by the government.
Get real.
You get real. Being allowed out for unlimited exercise or to go shop is not locked down. We had restrictions - a lot of them. But the door was not locked with the police saying you can't go out.
Go shop?!?!
Your idea of lockdown would've led to mass starvation.
I think my definition still stands: if you have to meet your friends in a freezing Scottish park then you are locked down.
What's wrong with freezing Scottish parks? It's good for you. None of this nasty UV skin cancer shite.
My worst ever sun burn was on a freezing Scottish mountain. Lesson learnt for 18-year old Eabhal.
He will as long as he continues to refuse to impose any new restrictions, especially not on the vaccinated. If he does not his base will still back him, if he does however the hypocrisy and restrictions will move many of them back to RefUK or DK and a VONC would be inevitable
Comments
And add. They are really lucky this didn't come out two years ago during the lockdown. GIven the numbers involved, I am surprised it didn't.
Thanks again for your advice. Really appreciated.
For the last 2 years I have been making sloe gin, which is another reason I thought of it. Being super mean, as the sloes were obviously foraged, I was loathed to throw them away so I then made liqueur chocolates with them after bottling.
I also made Elderflower champagne the year before last from my garden. Tasted of dishwater, but surprising it turned it into a fantastic sorbet, otherwise it was down the drain. Marmalade next. Nothing like homemade marmalade.
Madeira goes very well with rich puddings like Christmas puds.
How do you know what dishwater tastes like?
It seems to me the Aussie people don’t like one rule for us one rule for VIP, like this country with No 10 parties, and the Federal government thought they could profiteer from that feeling, especially as Victoria let him in. But the judiciary saw it other way around, Federal government exercising powers indiscriminately and inconsistently and unfairly? And that’s becoming the damaging attack the government’s opponents are using that can only be trumped by the deportation.
Like I said this morning, if federal government were more proactive with Victoria and tennis leaders month ago, none of this circus need have happened. However this missing the main point - reason Scott Morrison loses election is his governments border and covid policies have lacked clarity for long time.
Lots of people have known about this for ages, but it didn't leak until now. It's a smart bit of mutually assured destruction kompromat. So:
1 Whose idea was the party? (I'm sure the PM will blame the Civil Servants... Chinny reckon, but he'd probably get away with it.)
2 Who knew? (Lots of people, but who?)
3 When did they know? (At the time.)
4 Why did they keep shtum for so long?
5 Are we bothered that the PM hasn't told us the truth about this? Or more relevantly, is anyone who doesn't already dislike the PM bothered?
But the economic fundamentals are moving against Russia in many ways, particularly with the increasing pace of efforts to move away from fossil fuels. In many ways, therefore, now is the best chance Putin has to establish new realities to defend Russia's standing as it's petro-economy declines. If Russia can seize the Ukrainian Black Sea coast, then he heads off the risk of a naval competitor arising in the Black Sea. If Russia can show that NATO, and particularly the US, does not have the resolve to stand against Russian expansionism, then it might encourage some politicians in Eastern Europe to seek an accommodation.
Or he might simply be trying to create a bit of panic as leverage in having Nordstream 2 brought into operation.
That's one of the problems with dealing with a dictatorship. The key debates happen in private in the dictator's head, rather than in the open, so it's really hard to know what the objectives are and the costs willing to be incurred to reach those objectives.
It's more than a little unreal that we're at the stage where the press is wondering what invasion routes the Russians might use to encircle Kiev.
Though the celibacy thing might be a problem.
The federal government have made their own failings the issue. And probably worse for rest of us, emboldened and boosted the anti vaxxers. And Farage. 😕
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-59936338
Not entirely sure that points to the SG removing everything they added recently, but I wouldn't put it past them to argue the two contradictory points.
Lockdown means a general restriction on people to meet with who they like, when they like, where they like.
So a curfew is a form of lockdown.
Mask mandates on public transport, by contrast, are not lockdowns.
That is a restriction, but not a lockdown.
Likewise, requirements to show vaccination status before going to a mass gathering are a restriction, not a lockdown.
And, for the record, mask mandates in shops and public transport do not count as "Christmas cancelled" (for the benefit of @MISTY/@Contrarian).
Rather like RC divorce being a pretence that the marriage never really happened.
A weird little meme that came from where and has survived how?
Odd
As for sloe gin: top tip, it goes REALLY well with dry champagne or dry English fizz. A brilliantly easy to make a heady and delicious cocktail
EDIT: I see it has been named "the sloegasm"! Very apt
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/christmas/christmas-drinks/a551248/sloegasm-cocktail/
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-delta-outbreak-epidemiologist-warns-government-to-delay-school-return/PJTNJDQYOSMBPBSVZMVHM6TXZQ/
On the whose idea/knew/is bothered questions, anyone with the slightest awareness would have klaxons going off and would make sure they were nowhere near the garden of 10 Downing Street.
The idea we didn't have "a lockdown" last winter "because we were still allowed to exercise and to shop" is insulting piffle
Maybe they aren't on "real lockdown" in Xi'an, given that one member of every household is still allowed out once every three days? Those Chinese, so pathetically feeble, can't do proper lockdowns
This has been sat on for quite a while.
When your hotel room has a kitchenette, the hotel wants to be covid-safe, but didn’t get the memo about aerosol importance. That’s really a toaster wrapped in clingfilm. The cutlery is similarly wrapped.
In the Diamond variant (as practiced in Xi'an), you basically 'aint leaving your house/apartment except on your designated day and then one household member and then only to shop.
Etc. etc.
https://twitter.com/REWearmouth/status/1480638326537342979
No. So we we weren't locked down. Some of us even went as far as Penarth...
In my hospital we have 260 covid cases, 6 with either Flu or RSV.
I mean the Channel 4 interviewer was a bit of a dick, but she was appallingly inarticulate.
Relative to how well they've dodged deaths so far, of course, it probably would feel like a slaughter. However, unless they never allow another human being to set foot in the country from overseas again, they're not going to save all the people who can't have vaccines or don't respond to them very well forever. The variant will get in, and it will go about its lethal business. Adjusting to that fact may prove rather difficult for the country when it happens.
Still, kudos for saying so.
Get real.
Didn't take his own fucking bottle though...
Reynolds, who previously served as Johnson’s private secretary at the Foreign Office, is expected to be moved to a new position in the civil service. One official said he was being lined up for an ambassadorial role.
https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-data-and-statistics/covid-19-vaccine-data#total-vaccinations
They have only just started the boosters but have already got to half a million people.
https://twitter.com/KateEMcCann/status/1480643268664827906
I will remember that first lockdown until I die. I shall do my living utmost to forget the other two
Your idea of lockdown would've led to mass starvation.
I think my definition still stands: if you have to meet your friends in a freezing Scottish park then you are locked down.
Protestants keep their toasters in the cupboard.
(Yes, I did want to be Bernard Woolley when I was younger. What gave it away?)
Give up, you come across as bonkers, which is a shame, as I don't think you are
Dom Cummings followed the guidelines and looked after his family. End of story.
https://twitter.com/OliverDowden/status/1264221876374646786
Were they all civil servants working at Downing Street plus Boris and Carrie as alleged, or were journalists and politicians also in attendance
What is beyond that? Literally not being permitted to leave for any reason? It's setting a preposterous standard, like if we applied a scale as to what constituted a beating, where being hit 100 times didn't count because, hey, it could have been 1000 times.
Would have thought if Johnson had just survived a near death illness, he would be taking it easy on the parties. Another of the oddities with this story.
That was pretty fucking bleak.
The PM attended. He should resign for not only breaching the rules himself but failing to shut the gathering down.
Johnson looks to be presiding over a debauched circus of entitled cretins.
Thankfully, the cleaning materials are kept scrupulously, er, clean.
Important spot from @rowenamason that our leaked email says "WE thought it would be nice to make the most of the lovely weather."
Who is "we"? The Principal Private Secretary serves the PM and often conveys messages on his behalf. Were the drinks partly Boris Johnson's idea?
https://twitter.com/PaulBrandITV/status/1480627031365013504
And at other moments you were only allowed to meet one other person, outside. And you couldn't sit on a park bench and chat together
Looking back, our obedience was remarkable
https://www.reading.ac.uk/news-and-events/releases/PR841058.aspx
"It has been regularly reported in the media and remarked by people that we were only permitted one hour of exercise per day during the full lockdown. But one of the main drivers for a historian is curiosity, and I am curious to track back why our belief in what we are actually allowed is so different from the reality.
“Revisiting the actual sources confirms that the law passed to underpin the lockdown allowed exercise as one of the excuses for leaving your home, but this was not limited by frequency, length, distance or time. This law has been embellished, and phrased as only one form of exercise being permitted for each person per day. Although Boris Johnson stated ‘one form of exercise’ would be permitted in his public broadcast on March 22 to announce the start of lockdown, he also did not specify a time limit.
“So where does the credence for the one hour of exercise emerge from? It appears that the hour was first suggested by Michael Gove when interviewed outside his house on 29 March by Andrew Marr. Gove mentioned his own 25-minute run that day, and suggested: ‘I would have thought that for most people, a walk of up to an hour, or a run of 30 minutes or a cycle ride of between that, depending on their level of fitness is appropriate’.
“It seems surprising that such a statement went on to underpin the so called rule of one hour of exercise a day, but historians know that myths generally have very flimsy foundations.
“What is interesting is the fact most people respected this restriction, despite the fact it was never legally enforceable
Wear goggles.