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Could the new SNP leader declare UDI? – politicalbetting.com

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  • Options
    LeonLeon Posts: 47,815
    TimS said:

    Off topic question:

    I’m soon going to be letting out my place in France as a holiday rental, and planning to do things properly ie nice toiletries in the bathrooms, crisp linens, welcome packs and so on.

    One thing I’d like to do is a glossy illustrated coffee table style book containing all the local information about walks, places to visit, history of the area etc. Much more appealing than a stapled together set of sheets with the WiFi code and number for the local vets.

    Does anyone know a good company for printing books like this in very short runs? I probably only need a dozen or so to start with. I’ve seen sone good self publishing businesses online but they tend to have very large minimum runs of several hundred, or be one off holiday snap printers like photo box that don’t quite have the quality.

    It will get stolen. Seriously. I have friends in this business and at one point I was gonna Airbnb my flat - due to travelling so much - and they all said: don’t leave anything which you care about too much, it will get nicked

    This is esp true of holiday homes - apparently - where guests presume “you won’t mind”
  • Options
    Sean_FSean_F Posts: 36,013
    algarkirk said:

    IanB2 said:

    Freedland:

    Make no mistake, the core story contained in these numbers is yet more confirmation of the disastrous standing of the Conservative party. As loudly and clearly as they can, voters are telling the Tories that their time is up.

    All of which comes as sweet vindication for Keir Starmer and what we might call his receptacle strategy. His aim has been to turn Labour into the acceptable vessel of national discontent with the party that has governed Britain for 14 years. Voter fury, at first Boris Johnson and the partygate revelations and next Liz Truss’s sabotaging of the UK economy, saw trust in the Tories plunge – but it was never automatic that that would translate into support for Labour. Starmer’s central objective has been to remove every obstacle that could stand in the way of a disaffected Conservative contemplating a move towards the main party of opposition.

    Playing safe, saying nothing that could frighten the floating voter, might bring victory – but it doesn’t deliver a mandate.

    There is a subtler problem, more in the realm of vibes than policy. So keen to seem like the adults in an increasingly chaotic room, Starmer and, say, Rachel Reeves do now look the part of PM and chancellor. Voters will be impatient for results from Starmer and Reeves, because of the vague, albeit irrational and indeed unfair, sense that they have been around for years. They will be cut little slack.

    The Tories are so unpopular because so much is broken and there is not enough money to fix it. Right now, that is the Tories’ problem, one that promises to sweep them out of power. But once it has, it will become Labour’s problem. And it could hardly be more daunting.

    This passage of Freedland takes the informed reader to exactly the point which is already clear to them and then stops. We all know that Labour in power inherit all the responsibility for being the government, and that this has lots of problems. The issue is not problems, the question is the routes to resolving them.
    I think voters in most Western democracies tend to have unrealistic expectations of what governments can deliver.

    Instead of being upfront about it, politicians tend to over promise, and under deliver.

    An ageing population means we are constantly paying more to get less. Globalisation means there are people out there who can do your job for half the pay.
  • Options
    LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 15,652
    TimS said:

    TimS said:

    kinabalu said:

    MJW said:

    kinabalu said:

    Olly said:

    kinabalu said:

    George Galloway hangs up on Lewis Goodall after being asked to explain why he said ‘gay relationships aren’t equal’

    https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/george-galloway-hangs-up-asked-explain-gay-relationships-not-normal/

    Galloway's quite the social reactionary, isn't he.
    He is. Hes pretty anti women too if you listen to what he says. Of course that fits in well with the views of his target constituency.
    He's a cliched pale/male/stale unit who loves the sound of his own voice and delivers reactionary platitudes in a pompous manner. Happens to want to nationalize things etc and is on the 'right' side (imo) of Israel/Palestine but I'm extremely averse to him.
    If you're taking a 'side' on Israel/Palestine rather than attempting to understand it it's not the 'right' one.

    In relation to Galloway he's not a two-state solution supporter, he wants Israel to be wiped out by people with views no different to the Nazis. He's on the side of even more mass bloodshed, on an order of magnitude higher than we're even seeing now, so long as his preferred set of fanatics win.
    Yes, amongst many other negatives Galloway is antisemitic. That's clear. Horrid bloke.

    Your first sentence - ok but that's one of those pompous platitudes isn't it.
    There’s one thing we must grudgingly salute about George Galloway.

    And that’s, no joking, his indefatigability. Keeps putting himself and his preposterous hat out there and keeps winning. Compare with Farage’s election track record.

    Shame he’s a narcissistic authoritarian with unpleasant views.
    There's an interesting little documentary that could be done that would look at the last few decades of British politics through the prism of the contrasting fortunes of Farage and Galloway.

    They're so similar in many ways, and yet, one has all the electoral success, while the other has all the lasting political impact.
    Is there a third one? Always good to do things in threes. Someone who has also been a permanent fixture in our politics but not in a conventionally powerful party.
    I think the similarities, and the contrasts, between their political careers are just perfect for a head-to-head. Anyone else is just too different.
  • Options
    ToryJimToryJim Posts: 3,493

    Any word from Chisti?

    Very cryptic tweet put out, but the gist seems to be that he’s got engaged.
  • Options
    algarkirkalgarkirk Posts: 10,736

    Leon said:

    My older daughter, all of 17, has just this minute sternly dismissed “The Tempest” because it exhibits “colonial attitudes”

    What a generation

    Jeez.

    Isn't that partly the point of studying Shakespeare? His imagination was fired by the world around and much of what was going on in Elizabethan/Stuart times is in the plays in some way or other. But also he managed to write about universal human truths and conditions that have stood the test of centuries.
    Shakespeare is fascinating because no-one has a clue really what, if anything, he thought about anything. He just happens to cover the ground more fully than anyone else.
  • Options
    AlsoLeiAlsoLei Posts: 813
    nico679 said:

    Any word from Chisti?

    Bupkis so far .

    If you check the twitter feeds of well known journalists there’s no rumours of anything about to happen .

    Very strange .
    Looks like he's getting married:


  • Options
    IanB2IanB2 Posts: 47,600
    Leon said:

    TimS said:

    Off topic question:

    I’m soon going to be letting out my place in France as a holiday rental, and planning to do things properly ie nice toiletries in the bathrooms, crisp linens, welcome packs and so on.

    One thing I’d like to do is a glossy illustrated coffee table style book containing all the local information about walks, places to visit, history of the area etc. Much more appealing than a stapled together set of sheets with the WiFi code and number for the local vets.

    Does anyone know a good company for printing books like this in very short runs? I probably only need a dozen or so to start with. I’ve seen sone good self publishing businesses online but they tend to have very large minimum runs of several hundred, or be one off holiday snap printers like photo box that don’t quite have the quality.

    It will get stolen. Seriously. I have friends in this business and at one point I was gonna Airbnb my flat - due to travelling so much - and they all said: don’t leave anything which you care about too much, it will get nicked

    This is esp true of holiday homes - apparently - where guests presume “you won’t mind”
    On that we can agree; one of my concerns. The hassle of making your home safe and secure against the damage random guests could do is considerable.

    My brother runs a restaurant with rooms in Surrey, and does well from it. But I always remember that his very first overnight guest left having taken every single lightbulb from the room away with him. In your own home, you don’t want to risk people like that.
  • Options
    nico679nico679 Posts: 5,107
    edited May 5

    Sean_F said:

    Chishti has defected to Reclaim, saying that Laurence Fox has what it takes to be Prime Minister.

    He appears to be marrying an Italian. I think. Cryptic social media updates should be fined.
    He’d better stay as an MP re salary to meet the new visa requirements otherwise Bella will be shipped back to Perugia !

    The fxckwit has the luxury of money so can marry from abroad anyone he likes , as for those who fall in love but don’t meet that they’re fxcked !

  • Options
    IanB2IanB2 Posts: 47,600
    AlsoLei said:

    nico679 said:

    Any word from Chisti?

    Bupkis so far .

    If you check the twitter feeds of well known journalists there’s no rumours of anything about to happen .

    Very strange .
    Looks like he's getting married:


    What a tit.
  • Options
    TimSTimS Posts: 10,023

    TimS said:

    Off topic question:

    I’m soon going to be letting out my place in France as a holiday rental, and planning to do things properly ie nice toiletries in the bathrooms, crisp linens, welcome packs and so on.

    One thing I’d like to do is a glossy illustrated coffee table style book containing all the local information about walks, places to visit, history of the area etc. Much more appealing than a stapled together set of sheets with the WiFi code and number for the local vets.

    Does anyone know a good company for printing books like this in very short runs? I probably only need a dozen or so to start with. I’ve seen sone good self publishing businesses online but they tend to have very large minimum runs of several hundred, or be one off holiday snap printers like photo box that don’t quite have the quality.

    Doesn't Amazon KDP offer this sort of service?
    I’ve looked at them but again it’s more geared towards people who think they’ve written the next man booker prize winner and want to sell thousands of copies. It’s more heavy print focused than picture book (though they do make those too).

    Maybe I just bite the bullet and do one of the minimum print run ones rhat run at about £15 per copy for 250 copies. Just a lot of outlay for books I’ll probably never get through.
  • Options
    nico679nico679 Posts: 5,107
    IanB2 said:

    AlsoLei said:

    nico679 said:

    Any word from Chisti?

    Bupkis so far .

    If you check the twitter feeds of well known journalists there’s no rumours of anything about to happen .

    Very strange .
    Looks like he's getting married:


    What a tit.
    I hope Bella dumps the loser !
  • Options
    TimSTimS Posts: 10,023
    Leon said:

    TimS said:

    Off topic question:

    I’m soon going to be letting out my place in France as a holiday rental, and planning to do things properly ie nice toiletries in the bathrooms, crisp linens, welcome packs and so on.

    One thing I’d like to do is a glossy illustrated coffee table style book containing all the local information about walks, places to visit, history of the area etc. Much more appealing than a stapled together set of sheets with the WiFi code and number for the local vets.

    Does anyone know a good company for printing books like this in very short runs? I probably only need a dozen or so to start with. I’ve seen sone good self publishing businesses online but they tend to have very large minimum runs of several hundred, or be one off holiday snap printers like photo box that don’t quite have the quality.

    It will get stolen. Seriously. I have friends in this business and at one point I was gonna Airbnb my flat - due to travelling so much - and they all said: don’t leave anything which you care about too much, it will get nicked

    This is esp true of holiday homes - apparently - where guests presume “you won’t mind”
    Which points towards the “take a copy as a souvenir” option. Or indeed an inventoried stack of books you can buy.
  • Options
    LeonLeon Posts: 47,815
    IanB2 said:

    Leon said:

    TimS said:

    Off topic question:

    I’m soon going to be letting out my place in France as a holiday rental, and planning to do things properly ie nice toiletries in the bathrooms, crisp linens, welcome packs and so on.

    One thing I’d like to do is a glossy illustrated coffee table style book containing all the local information about walks, places to visit, history of the area etc. Much more appealing than a stapled together set of sheets with the WiFi code and number for the local vets.

    Does anyone know a good company for printing books like this in very short runs? I probably only need a dozen or so to start with. I’ve seen sone good self publishing businesses online but they tend to have very large minimum runs of several hundred, or be one off holiday snap printers like photo box that don’t quite have the quality.

    It will get stolen. Seriously. I have friends in this business and at one point I was gonna Airbnb my flat - due to travelling so much - and they all said: don’t leave anything which you care about too much, it will get nicked

    This is esp true of holiday homes - apparently - where guests presume “you won’t mind”
    On that we can agree; one of my concerns. The hassle of making your home safe and secure against the damage random guests could do is considerable.

    My brother runs a restaurant with rooms in Surrey, and does well from it. But I always remember that his very first overnight guest left having taken every single lightbulb from the room away with him. In your own home, you don’t want to risk people like that.
    Yes. The warnings were so severe and unanimous I abandoned the idea

    If I ever rent out my home I will clear out absolutely everything I own, first

    This is also why house and flat rentals have such shit cutlery and equipment: the absolutely cheapest possible. The crappiest knives. Doesn’t matter if they’re stolen, most won’t bother stealing
  • Options
    viewcodeviewcode Posts: 19,211
    TimS said:

    MattW said:

    TimS said:

    Off topic question:

    I’m soon going to be letting out my place in France as a holiday rental, and planning to do things properly ie nice toiletries in the bathrooms, crisp linens, welcome packs and so on.

    One thing I’d like to do is a glossy illustrated coffee table style book containing all the local information about walks, places to visit, history of the area etc. Much more appealing than a stapled together set of sheets with the WiFi code and number for the local vets.

    Does anyone know a good company for printing books like this in very short runs? I probably only need a dozen or so to start with. I’ve seen sone good self publishing businesses online but they tend to have very large minimum runs of several hundred, or be one off holiday snap printers like photo box that don’t quite have the quality.

    Have you considered letting people take it away as a souvenir to show their friends, who might come as well?

    Good marketing idea if branded to your chateau?

    Could you get a few ads to help pay for it?
    That’s the kind of idea. Make it a proper coffee table book of the sort people will browse through for their pleasure rather than to find out information (which meets a different need to that @ianb2 is talking about, and I agree with him - though I do always read the info sheets because I want to see the owner’s restaurant recommendations).

    Whether it’s free to take home or for sale for an amount that covers the printing cost I’ve not decided yet. But certainly making the place a bit of a micro lifestyle brand will help. I also need to up my instagram game as my posts are not professional enough yet and there’s a big market for rustic barn conversion porn.
    It's not an answer to your question, but if you convert your text to a set of Powerpoint slides in A0 format (841 x 1189mm, 33.11 x 46.81inches), and save it as a ppt/pptx or mutiple pdfs, you can get them printed by your local printer at about £10 each, with discounts for bulk.
  • Options
    FoxyFoxy Posts: 45,038
    IanB2 said:

    Any word from Chisti?

    He is not yet risen.
    It's Orthodox Easter today, so give him time.
  • Options
    kinabalukinabalu Posts: 39,522

    kinabalu said:

    kinabalu said:

    IanB2 said:

    Freedland:

    Make no mistake, the core story contained in these numbers is yet more confirmation of the disastrous standing of the Conservative party. As loudly and clearly as they can, voters are telling the Tories that their time is up.

    All of which comes as sweet vindication for Keir Starmer and what we might call his receptacle strategy. His aim has been to turn Labour into the acceptable vessel of national discontent with the party that has governed Britain for 14 years. Voter fury, at first Boris Johnson and the partygate revelations and next Liz Truss’s sabotaging of the UK economy, saw trust in the Tories plunge – but it was never automatic that that would translate into support for Labour. Starmer’s central objective has been to remove every obstacle that could stand in the way of a disaffected Conservative contemplating a move towards the main party of opposition.

    Playing safe, saying nothing that could frighten the floating voter, might bring victory – but it doesn’t deliver a mandate.

    There is a subtler problem, more in the realm of vibes than policy. So keen to seem like the adults in an increasingly chaotic room, Starmer and, say, Rachel Reeves do now look the part of PM and chancellor. Voters will be impatient for results from Starmer and Reeves, because of the vague, albeit irrational and indeed unfair, sense that they have been around for years. They will be cut little slack.

    The Tories are so unpopular because so much is broken and there is not enough money to fix it. Right now, that is the Tories’ problem, one that promises to sweep them out of power. But once it has, it will become Labour’s problem. And it could hardly be more daunting.

    Yep.
    The first bit is a "yep" but not for me the second bit. I think Starmer will be cut plenty of slack when he takes over. Expectations are muted. A big majority combined with a public not pumped up with unrealistic hopes for radical change - what a terrific political legacy to inherit.

    It's the sweetest of sweet spots. Unusual too. So much so that I can't think of a precedent. Can anybody?
    "You said you would be better than the Tories. Why aren't things better?"

    Within ten days.
    The public aren't quite that infantile - least most of them aren't.
    Absolutely right. It will take two weeks at least.
    :smile: - well I think LostPass meant 10 'working' days.
  • Options
    SirNorfolkPassmoreSirNorfolkPassmore Posts: 6,382

    Sean_F said:

    Chishti has defected to Reclaim, saying that Laurence Fox has what it takes to be Prime Minister.

    He appears to be marrying an Italian. I think. Cryptic social media updates should be fined.
    He's such an attention-seeking twit. Why doesn't he just say he's very happy to say he's now engaged rather than teasing a big announcement, then not even being clear?

    Still, good luck to him and VERY good luck to her.
  • Options
    LeonLeon Posts: 47,815
    TimS said:

    Leon said:

    TimS said:

    Off topic question:

    I’m soon going to be letting out my place in France as a holiday rental, and planning to do things properly ie nice toiletries in the bathrooms, crisp linens, welcome packs and so on.

    One thing I’d like to do is a glossy illustrated coffee table style book containing all the local information about walks, places to visit, history of the area etc. Much more appealing than a stapled together set of sheets with the WiFi code and number for the local vets.

    Does anyone know a good company for printing books like this in very short runs? I probably only need a dozen or so to start with. I’ve seen sone good self publishing businesses online but they tend to have very large minimum runs of several hundred, or be one off holiday snap printers like photo box that don’t quite have the quality.

    It will get stolen. Seriously. I have friends in this business and at one point I was gonna Airbnb my flat - due to travelling so much - and they all said: don’t leave anything which you care about too much, it will get nicked

    This is esp true of holiday homes - apparently - where guests presume “you won’t mind”
    Which points towards the “take a copy as a souvenir” option. Or indeed an inventoried stack of books you can buy.
    If you can easily afford to give it away then go for it: sounds pricey tho

    That said, it IS a nice idea - professionally speaking I’d be impressed as a knappers gazette travel writer
  • Options
    IanB2IanB2 Posts: 47,600
    edited May 5
    Leon said:

    IanB2 said:

    Leon said:

    TimS said:

    Off topic question:

    I’m soon going to be letting out my place in France as a holiday rental, and planning to do things properly ie nice toiletries in the bathrooms, crisp linens, welcome packs and so on.

    One thing I’d like to do is a glossy illustrated coffee table style book containing all the local information about walks, places to visit, history of the area etc. Much more appealing than a stapled together set of sheets with the WiFi code and number for the local vets.

    Does anyone know a good company for printing books like this in very short runs? I probably only need a dozen or so to start with. I’ve seen sone good self publishing businesses online but they tend to have very large minimum runs of several hundred, or be one off holiday snap printers like photo box that don’t quite have the quality.

    It will get stolen. Seriously. I have friends in this business and at one point I was gonna Airbnb my flat - due to travelling so much - and they all said: don’t leave anything which you care about too much, it will get nicked

    This is esp true of holiday homes - apparently - where guests presume “you won’t mind”
    On that we can agree; one of my concerns. The hassle of making your home safe and secure against the damage random guests could do is considerable.

    My brother runs a restaurant with rooms in Surrey, and does well from it. But I always remember that his very first overnight guest left having taken every single lightbulb from the room away with him. In your own home, you don’t want to risk people like that.
    Yes. The warnings were so severe and unanimous I abandoned the idea

    If I ever rent out my home I will clear out absolutely everything I own, first

    This is also why house and flat rentals have such shit cutlery and equipment: the absolutely cheapest possible. The crappiest knives. Doesn’t matter if they’re stolen, most won’t bother stealing
    I’ve been in places like that. I’ve also been in places where they have really good stuff. Where I am now, overlooking a lake in the Italian Marche, the kitchen is stocked with perfectly decent if not exceptional stuff to use, but there’s a cabinet of upmarket plates and glasses in the living room left unlocked, and I’ve nabbed a wine glass from there because I refuse to drink wine from a tumbler. In plenty of my Italian stops I’ve been surprised how trusting hosts are with what they leave in their properties, and as a responsible guest I treat such places with greater care.

    I do let the dog eat off one of their soup bowls, but will give it a good wash before we leave.
  • Options
    TimSTimS Posts: 10,023
    Leon said:

    IanB2 said:

    Leon said:

    TimS said:

    Off topic question:

    I’m soon going to be letting out my place in France as a holiday rental, and planning to do things properly ie nice toiletries in the bathrooms, crisp linens, welcome packs and so on.

    One thing I’d like to do is a glossy illustrated coffee table style book containing all the local information about walks, places to visit, history of the area etc. Much more appealing than a stapled together set of sheets with the WiFi code and number for the local vets.

    Does anyone know a good company for printing books like this in very short runs? I probably only need a dozen or so to start with. I’ve seen sone good self publishing businesses online but they tend to have very large minimum runs of several hundred, or be one off holiday snap printers like photo box that don’t quite have the quality.

    It will get stolen. Seriously. I have friends in this business and at one point I was gonna Airbnb my flat - due to travelling so much - and they all said: don’t leave anything which you care about too much, it will get nicked

    This is esp true of holiday homes - apparently - where guests presume “you won’t mind”
    On that we can agree; one of my concerns. The hassle of making your home safe and secure against the damage random guests could do is considerable.

    My brother runs a restaurant with rooms in Surrey, and does well from it. But I always remember that his very first overnight guest left having taken every single lightbulb from the room away with him. In your own home, you don’t want to risk people like that.
    Yes. The warnings were so severe and unanimous I abandoned the idea

    If I ever rent out my home I will clear out absolutely everything I own, first

    This is also why house and flat rentals have such shit cutlery and equipment: the absolutely cheapest possible. The crappiest knives. Doesn’t matter if they’re stolen, most won’t bother stealing
    I’ll have the interesting experiment of being able to compare the behaviour of various nationalities as the clientele locally are, in descending order of numbers, Parisians, Belgians, Brits, Dutch (but they tend to bring caravans), Swiss then Germans and the odd smattering of Americans. Being British myself I’ll probably get disproportionately more Brits.

    One reason I would rather do higher priced and longer lets is to avoid too much nicking. We’re getting a lockable cabinet for our wines in the cellar.
  • Options
    AlsoLeiAlsoLei Posts: 813
    Leon said:

    TimS said:

    Off topic question:

    I’m soon going to be letting out my place in France as a holiday rental, and planning to do things properly ie nice toiletries in the bathrooms, crisp linens, welcome packs and so on.

    One thing I’d like to do is a glossy illustrated coffee table style book containing all the local information about walks, places to visit, history of the area etc. Much more appealing than a stapled together set of sheets with the WiFi code and number for the local vets.

    Does anyone know a good company for printing books like this in very short runs? I probably only need a dozen or so to start with. I’ve seen sone good self publishing businesses online but they tend to have very large minimum runs of several hundred, or be one off holiday snap printers like photo box that don’t quite have the quality.

    It will get stolen. Seriously. I have friends in this business and at one point I was gonna Airbnb my flat - due to travelling so much - and they all said: don’t leave anything which you care about too much, it will get nicked

    This is esp true of holiday homes - apparently - where guests presume “you won’t mind”
    Might as well get multiple copies printed. KDP will cost you about £8 per copy for an 80 page A5-size book on their premium paper. Other print on demand solutions will likely be a pound or two cheaper, and might be a better option if you don't need the reach of Amazon's storefront.

    You might even want to think about building the price of the book into each booking, and letting visitors take their copy away as a souvenir.
  • Options
    TimSTimS Posts: 10,023
    Leon said:

    TimS said:

    Leon said:

    TimS said:

    Off topic question:

    I’m soon going to be letting out my place in France as a holiday rental, and planning to do things properly ie nice toiletries in the bathrooms, crisp linens, welcome packs and so on.

    One thing I’d like to do is a glossy illustrated coffee table style book containing all the local information about walks, places to visit, history of the area etc. Much more appealing than a stapled together set of sheets with the WiFi code and number for the local vets.

    Does anyone know a good company for printing books like this in very short runs? I probably only need a dozen or so to start with. I’ve seen sone good self publishing businesses online but they tend to have very large minimum runs of several hundred, or be one off holiday snap printers like photo box that don’t quite have the quality.

    It will get stolen. Seriously. I have friends in this business and at one point I was gonna Airbnb my flat - due to travelling so much - and they all said: don’t leave anything which you care about too much, it will get nicked

    This is esp true of holiday homes - apparently - where guests presume “you won’t mind”
    Which points towards the “take a copy as a souvenir” option. Or indeed an inventoried stack of books you can buy.
    If you can easily afford to give it away then go for it: sounds pricey tho

    That said, it IS a nice idea - professionally speaking I’d be impressed as a knappers gazette travel writer
    I’d add the book cost to the advertised rent based on average stay time - perhaps £15 per 3 nights stay. Scarcely noticeable.
  • Options
    IanB2IanB2 Posts: 47,600
    TimS said:

    Leon said:

    IanB2 said:

    Leon said:

    TimS said:

    Off topic question:

    I’m soon going to be letting out my place in France as a holiday rental, and planning to do things properly ie nice toiletries in the bathrooms, crisp linens, welcome packs and so on.

    One thing I’d like to do is a glossy illustrated coffee table style book containing all the local information about walks, places to visit, history of the area etc. Much more appealing than a stapled together set of sheets with the WiFi code and number for the local vets.

    Does anyone know a good company for printing books like this in very short runs? I probably only need a dozen or so to start with. I’ve seen sone good self publishing businesses online but they tend to have very large minimum runs of several hundred, or be one off holiday snap printers like photo box that don’t quite have the quality.

    It will get stolen. Seriously. I have friends in this business and at one point I was gonna Airbnb my flat - due to travelling so much - and they all said: don’t leave anything which you care about too much, it will get nicked

    This is esp true of holiday homes - apparently - where guests presume “you won’t mind”
    On that we can agree; one of my concerns. The hassle of making your home safe and secure against the damage random guests could do is considerable.

    My brother runs a restaurant with rooms in Surrey, and does well from it. But I always remember that his very first overnight guest left having taken every single lightbulb from the room away with him. In your own home, you don’t want to risk people like that.
    Yes. The warnings were so severe and unanimous I abandoned the idea

    If I ever rent out my home I will clear out absolutely everything I own, first

    This is also why house and flat rentals have such shit cutlery and equipment: the absolutely cheapest possible. The crappiest knives. Doesn’t matter if they’re stolen, most won’t bother stealing
    I’ll have the interesting experiment of being able to compare the behaviour of various nationalities as the clientele locally are, in descending order of numbers, Parisians, Belgians, Brits, Dutch (but they tend to bring caravans), Swiss then Germans and the odd smattering of Americans. Being British myself I’ll probably get disproportionately more Brits.

    One reason I would rather do higher priced and longer lets is to avoid too much nicking. We’re getting a lockable cabinet for our wines in the cellar.
    I suspect the secret is to have somewhere to secure to lock away all your valuable and personal stuff, and otherwise accept that a degree of damage is inevitable and factor in the inevitable repair and replacement costs to your calculations. Sites like AirBnB do their best to review guests and allow hosts to be picky about who they allow to stay, but sooner or later there’s always a risk that the guests from hell will arrive.
  • Options
    BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 31,948
    TimS said:

    TimS said:

    Off topic question:

    I’m soon going to be letting out my place in France as a holiday rental, and planning to do things properly ie nice toiletries in the bathrooms, crisp linens, welcome packs and so on.

    One thing I’d like to do is a glossy illustrated coffee table style book containing all the local information about walks, places to visit, history of the area etc. Much more appealing than a stapled together set of sheets with the WiFi code and number for the local vets.

    Does anyone know a good company for printing books like this in very short runs? I probably only need a dozen or so to start with. I’ve seen sone good self publishing businesses online but they tend to have very large minimum runs of several hundred, or be one off holiday snap printers like photo box that don’t quite have the quality.

    Doesn't Amazon KDP offer this sort of service?
    I’ve looked at them but again it’s more geared towards people who think they’ve written the next man booker prize winner and want to sell thousands of copies. It’s more heavy print focused than picture book (though they do make those too).

    Maybe I just bite the bullet and do one of the minimum print run ones rhat run at about £15 per copy for 250 copies. Just a lot of outlay for books I’ll probably never get through.
    How about setting up the text as a series of jpegs alongside the images and printing using Photobox or similar, at least until you can gauge demand.
  • Options
    CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 40,170
    IanB2 said:

    Leon said:

    IanB2 said:

    Leon said:

    TimS said:

    Off topic question:

    I’m soon going to be letting out my place in France as a holiday rental, and planning to do things properly ie nice toiletries in the bathrooms, crisp linens, welcome packs and so on.

    One thing I’d like to do is a glossy illustrated coffee table style book containing all the local information about walks, places to visit, history of the area etc. Much more appealing than a stapled together set of sheets with the WiFi code and number for the local vets.

    Does anyone know a good company for printing books like this in very short runs? I probably only need a dozen or so to start with. I’ve seen sone good self publishing businesses online but they tend to have very large minimum runs of several hundred, or be one off holiday snap printers like photo box that don’t quite have the quality.

    It will get stolen. Seriously. I have friends in this business and at one point I was gonna Airbnb my flat - due to travelling so much - and they all said: don’t leave anything which you care about too much, it will get nicked

    This is esp true of holiday homes - apparently - where guests presume “you won’t mind”
    On that we can agree; one of my concerns. The hassle of making your home safe and secure against the damage random guests could do is considerable.

    My brother runs a restaurant with rooms in Surrey, and does well from it. But I always remember that his very first overnight guest left having taken every single lightbulb from the room away with him. In your own home, you don’t want to risk people like that.
    Yes. The warnings were so severe and unanimous I abandoned the idea

    If I ever rent out my home I will clear out absolutely everything I own, first

    This is also why house and flat rentals have such shit cutlery and equipment: the absolutely cheapest possible. The crappiest knives. Doesn’t matter if they’re stolen, most won’t bother stealing
    I’ve been in places like that. I’ve also been in places where they have really good stuff. Where I am now, overlooking a lake in the Italian Marche, the kitchen is stocked with perfectly decent if not exceptional stuff to use, but there’s a cabinet of upmarket plates and glasses in the living room left unlocked, and I’ve nabbed a wine glass from there because I refuse to drink wine from a tumbler. In plenty of my Italian stops I’ve been surprised how trusting hosts are with what they leave in their properties, and as a responsible guest I treat such places with greater care.

    I do let the dog eat off one of their soup bowls, but will give it a good wash before we leave.
    Oh, what a disappointment. I was reading it and hoping the dog would get a nice crystal glass bowl for his dinner.
  • Options
    TimSTimS Posts: 10,023
    There’s a notable proliferation of Lime Bikes in London at the moment. Like they had a good winter with not too much frost and are now breeding rapidly with the copious rain.

    This outside the Hill Station in @OnlyLivingBoy land just now (when I go there I’m always on the sly lookout for a middle aged man looking mildly left wing with a Sri Lankan wife)



    What’s the collective noun for lime bikes? A grove?
  • Options
    IanB2IanB2 Posts: 47,600
    Carnyx said:

    IanB2 said:

    Leon said:

    IanB2 said:

    Leon said:

    TimS said:

    Off topic question:

    I’m soon going to be letting out my place in France as a holiday rental, and planning to do things properly ie nice toiletries in the bathrooms, crisp linens, welcome packs and so on.

    One thing I’d like to do is a glossy illustrated coffee table style book containing all the local information about walks, places to visit, history of the area etc. Much more appealing than a stapled together set of sheets with the WiFi code and number for the local vets.

    Does anyone know a good company for printing books like this in very short runs? I probably only need a dozen or so to start with. I’ve seen sone good self publishing businesses online but they tend to have very large minimum runs of several hundred, or be one off holiday snap printers like photo box that don’t quite have the quality.

    It will get stolen. Seriously. I have friends in this business and at one point I was gonna Airbnb my flat - due to travelling so much - and they all said: don’t leave anything which you care about too much, it will get nicked

    This is esp true of holiday homes - apparently - where guests presume “you won’t mind”
    On that we can agree; one of my concerns. The hassle of making your home safe and secure against the damage random guests could do is considerable.

    My brother runs a restaurant with rooms in Surrey, and does well from it. But I always remember that his very first overnight guest left having taken every single lightbulb from the room away with him. In your own home, you don’t want to risk people like that.
    Yes. The warnings were so severe and unanimous I abandoned the idea

    If I ever rent out my home I will clear out absolutely everything I own, first

    This is also why house and flat rentals have such shit cutlery and equipment: the absolutely cheapest possible. The crappiest knives. Doesn’t matter if they’re stolen, most won’t bother stealing
    I’ve been in places like that. I’ve also been in places where they have really good stuff. Where I am now, overlooking a lake in the Italian Marche, the kitchen is stocked with perfectly decent if not exceptional stuff to use, but there’s a cabinet of upmarket plates and glasses in the living room left unlocked, and I’ve nabbed a wine glass from there because I refuse to drink wine from a tumbler. In plenty of my Italian stops I’ve been surprised how trusting hosts are with what they leave in their properties, and as a responsible guest I treat such places with greater care.

    I do let the dog eat off one of their soup bowls, but will give it a good wash before we leave.
    Oh, what a disappointment. I was reading it and hoping the dog would get a nice crystal glass bowl for his dinner.
    ..
  • Options
    TimSTimS Posts: 10,023

    TimS said:

    TimS said:

    Off topic question:

    I’m soon going to be letting out my place in France as a holiday rental, and planning to do things properly ie nice toiletries in the bathrooms, crisp linens, welcome packs and so on.

    One thing I’d like to do is a glossy illustrated coffee table style book containing all the local information about walks, places to visit, history of the area etc. Much more appealing than a stapled together set of sheets with the WiFi code and number for the local vets.

    Does anyone know a good company for printing books like this in very short runs? I probably only need a dozen or so to start with. I’ve seen sone good self publishing businesses online but they tend to have very large minimum runs of several hundred, or be one off holiday snap printers like photo box that don’t quite have the quality.

    Doesn't Amazon KDP offer this sort of service?
    I’ve looked at them but again it’s more geared towards people who think they’ve written the next man booker prize winner and want to sell thousands of copies. It’s more heavy print focused than picture book (though they do make those too).

    Maybe I just bite the bullet and do one of the minimum print run ones rhat run at about £15 per copy for 250 copies. Just a lot of outlay for books I’ll probably never get through.
    How about setting up the text as a series of jpegs alongside the images and printing using Photobox or similar, at least until you can gauge demand.
    That’s probably the fallback. I’ll keep searching.
  • Options
    viewcodeviewcode Posts: 19,211
    TimS said:

    ...Does anyone know a good company for printing books like this in very short runs?...

    Oh Lord above, it's obvious (smacks own forehead): dissertation/PhD thesis binding services. Most quality university towns will have a local thesis binding services, which will turn your text into something that looks like a proper hardback thesis.

    Examples
    https://www.oxford-print-centre.co.uk/page/thesis-binding/hardback-thesis-binding.php
    http://www.caromar.ltd.uk/studentservices.htm
    https://www.pprussellsquare.com/web/thesis.php

  • Options
    rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 58,612

    Jess Phillips MP
    @jessphillips
    ·
    34m
    Personal statement coming shortly
  • Options
    IanB2IanB2 Posts: 47,600


    Jess Phillips MP
    @jessphillips
    ·
    34m
    Personal statement coming shortly

    Another surprise marriage?
  • Options
    TimSTimS Posts: 10,023


    Jess Phillips MP
    @jessphillips
    ·
    34m
    Personal statement coming shortly

    A meme is born
  • Options
    Sean_FSean_F Posts: 36,013


    Jess Phillips MP
    @jessphillips
    ·
    34m
    Personal statement coming shortly

    Joining the BNP?
  • Options
    BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 31,948


    Jess Phillips MP
    @jessphillips
    ·
    34m
    Personal statement coming shortly

    Fringe event
  • Options
    TimSTimS Posts: 10,023
    viewcode said:

    TimS said:

    ...Does anyone know a good company for printing books like this in very short runs?...

    Oh Lord above, it's obvious (smacks own forehead): dissertation/PhD thesis binding services. Most quality university towns will have a local thesis binding services, which will turn your text into something that looks like a proper hardback thesis.

    Examples
    https://www.oxford-print-centre.co.uk/page/thesis-binding/hardback-thesis-binding.php
    http://www.caromar.ltd.uk/studentservices.htm
    https://www.pprussellsquare.com/web/thesis.php

    Like this?



    A tad academic for a holiday home but would certainly contribute to the studied poshness of the place.
  • Options
    HeathenerHeathener Posts: 5,431
    edited May 5


    Jess Phillips MP
    @jessphillips
    ·
    34m
    Personal statement coming shortly

    She came out with a slightly unhelpful remark earlier about the role of mayor, saying that even she didn’t know what the heck a mayor does in her city.

    It didn’t sound like the kind of comment to help the new incumbent, nor indeed to respect the outgoing one. Just a bit strange.
  • Options
    malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 42,252

    Something has to happen regarding Scottish Independence. I might be wrong (I'm not a Scotch 😀 expert by a long chalk) but to me it feels like the SNP have sort of lost their mojo and Independence seems a long way down their list of priorities- which is understandable as they've actually been having to run the country once they got into power. The coming election feels like the perfect opportunity to recalibrate themselves and a robust "fuck you" to Westminster by the incoming leadership in the form of a declaration would be a great way to grab attention back towards Independence.

    They will need to do something big to save their skins
  • Options
    BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 31,948
    edited May 5
    I notice Starmer is now referring to the Labour Party as his. He does seem to have got a total grip on it.

    @Keir_Starmer
    Thank you to everyone who put your trust in my changed Labour Party.

    Labour is back in the service of working people and ready to govern.

    https://x.com/Keir_Starmer/status/1787124839687283115
  • Options
    viewcodeviewcode Posts: 19,211
    TimS said:

    viewcode said:

    TimS said:

    ...Does anyone know a good company for printing books like this in very short runs?...

    Oh Lord above, it's obvious (smacks own forehead): dissertation/PhD thesis binding services. Most quality university towns will have a local thesis binding services, which will turn your text into something that looks like a proper hardback thesis.

    Examples
    https://www.oxford-print-centre.co.uk/page/thesis-binding/hardback-thesis-binding.php
    http://www.caromar.ltd.uk/studentservices.htm
    https://www.pprussellsquare.com/web/thesis.php

    Like this?



    A tad academic for a holiday home but would certainly contribute to the studied poshness of the place.
    Is that your own? But yes, exactly like that. Only a different title of course, and it will make the place posh(er)
  • Options
    ToryJimToryJim Posts: 3,493
    IanB2 said:


    Jess Phillips MP
    @jessphillips
    ·
    34m
    Personal statement coming shortly

    Another surprise marriage?
    It’d probably be a surprise to her husband.
  • Options
    StuartinromfordStuartinromford Posts: 14,712


    Jess Phillips MP
    @jessphillips
    ·
    34m
    Personal statement coming shortly

    Unlike UCAS, who are getting rid of them.
  • Options
    StillWatersStillWaters Posts: 7,162
    DavidL said:

    Snigger. The SNP are more broke than a broken thing. They need a contested election with all the costs of that like a hole in the head. They will also have to give an update on their membership numbers again which they could do without.

    Yousaf has left a complete shambles behind him. In fairness to him he inherited exactly the same. What we need now are some more charges. A small soupcon of misery added to the dish.

    Wouldn’t more charges be a bit much? Like a wafer-thin mint?
  • Options
    AlsoLeiAlsoLei Posts: 813

    DavidL said:

    Snigger. The SNP are more broke than a broken thing. They need a contested election with all the costs of that like a hole in the head. They will also have to give an update on their membership numbers again which they could do without.

    Yousaf has left a complete shambles behind him. In fairness to him he inherited exactly the same. What we need now are some more charges. A small soupcon of misery added to the dish.

    Perhaps Humza will be contributing a handy chunk of his £52k pa pension to party coffers?
    The Tories reckon they make money from their leadership contests, don't they? Increases opportunities to engage with party members & beg for donations at the same time.
  • Options
    TimSTimS Posts: 10,023
    viewcode said:

    TimS said:

    viewcode said:

    TimS said:

    ...Does anyone know a good company for printing books like this in very short runs?...

    Oh Lord above, it's obvious (smacks own forehead): dissertation/PhD thesis binding services. Most quality university towns will have a local thesis binding services, which will turn your text into something that looks like a proper hardback thesis.

    Examples
    https://www.oxford-print-centre.co.uk/page/thesis-binding/hardback-thesis-binding.php
    http://www.caromar.ltd.uk/studentservices.htm
    https://www.pprussellsquare.com/web/thesis.php

    Like this?



    A tad academic for a holiday home but would certainly contribute to the studied poshness of the place.
    Is that your own? But yes, exactly like that.
    Only a different title of course, and it will make
    the place posh(er)
    Yes that’s mine, from back in 1998. The good old days.
  • Options
    CarnyxCarnyx Posts: 40,170

    DavidL said:

    Snigger. The SNP are more broke than a broken thing. They need a contested election with all the costs of that like a hole in the head. They will also have to give an update on their membership numbers again which they could do without.

    Yousaf has left a complete shambles behind him. In fairness to him he inherited exactly the same. What we need now are some more charges. A small soupcon of misery added to the dish.

    Perhaps Humza will be contributing a handy chunk of his £52k pa pension to party coffers?
    I rather think your satire has gone over the heads of PB ...
  • Options
    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 114,760


    Jess Phillips MP
    @jessphillips
    ·
    34m
    Personal statement coming shortly

    Unlike UCAS, who are getting rid of them.
    I wish they had abolished 27 years ago, I stressed over mine for weeks.

    In those daysI was genuinely shy and very wet behind the ears.
  • Options
    OnlyLivingBoyOnlyLivingBoy Posts: 15,234
    TimS said:

    There’s a notable proliferation of Lime Bikes in London at the moment. Like they had a good winter with not too much frost and are now breeding rapidly with the copious rain.

    This outside the Hill Station in @OnlyLivingBoy land just now (when I go there I’m always on the sly lookout for a middle aged man looking mildly left wing with a Sri Lankan wife)



    What’s the collective noun for lime bikes? A grove?

    Ah that's a sight for sore eyes thanks. Currently in California en route to Japan but obviously my heart is in SE14 and I'd rather be having a beer and a pizza at the Hill Station.
    Does Telegraph Hill have a higher concentration of Lime Bikes than anywhere else in the world? Quite possibly.
  • Options
    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,847
    Sean_F said:

    algarkirk said:

    IanB2 said:

    Freedland:

    Make no mistake, the core story contained in these numbers is yet more confirmation of the disastrous standing of the Conservative party. As loudly and clearly as they can, voters are telling the Tories that their time is up.

    All of which comes as sweet vindication for Keir Starmer and what we might call his receptacle strategy. His aim has been to turn Labour into the acceptable vessel of national discontent with the party that has governed Britain for 14 years. Voter fury, at first Boris Johnson and the partygate revelations and next Liz Truss’s sabotaging of the UK economy, saw trust in the Tories plunge – but it was never automatic that that would translate into support for Labour. Starmer’s central objective has been to remove every obstacle that could stand in the way of a disaffected Conservative contemplating a move towards the main party of opposition.

    Playing safe, saying nothing that could frighten the floating voter, might bring victory – but it doesn’t deliver a mandate.

    There is a subtler problem, more in the realm of vibes than policy. So keen to seem like the adults in an increasingly chaotic room, Starmer and, say, Rachel Reeves do now look the part of PM and chancellor. Voters will be impatient for results from Starmer and Reeves, because of the vague, albeit irrational and indeed unfair, sense that they have been around for years. They will be cut little slack.

    The Tories are so unpopular because so much is broken and there is not enough money to fix it. Right now, that is the Tories’ problem, one that promises to sweep them out of power. But once it has, it will become Labour’s problem. And it could hardly be more daunting.

    This passage of Freedland takes the informed reader to exactly the point which is already clear to them and then stops. We all know that Labour in power inherit all the responsibility for being the government, and that this has lots of problems. The issue is not problems, the question is the routes to resolving them.
    I think voters in most Western democracies tend to have unrealistic expectations of what governments can deliver.

    Instead of being upfront about it, politicians tend to over promise, and under deliver.

    An ageing population means we are constantly paying more to get less. Globalisation means there are people out there who can do your job for half the pay.
    That's the fundamental truth.
  • Options
    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,847
    Politicians and their egos.

    I will shortly be making a statement.
  • Options
    ydoethurydoethur Posts: 67,594
    Heathener said:


    Jess Phillips MP
    @jessphillips
    ·
    34m
    Personal statement coming shortly

    She came out with a slightly unhelpful remark earlier about the role of mayor, saying that even she didn’t know what the heck a mayor does in her city.

    It didn’t sound like the kind of comment to help the new incumbent, nor indeed to respect the outgoing one. Just a bit strange.
    The last Birmingham mayor did Michael Fabricant. Nuff said.
  • Options
    Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 25,689
    I hope Phess Jillips is not leaving politics, I have a £2 bet on her for Labour leader from years ago.
  • Options
    Sean_FSean_F Posts: 36,013

    Sean_F said:

    algarkirk said:

    IanB2 said:

    Freedland:

    Make no mistake, the core story contained in these numbers is yet more confirmation of the disastrous standing of the Conservative party. As loudly and clearly as they can, voters are telling the Tories that their time is up.

    All of which comes as sweet vindication for Keir Starmer and what we might call his receptacle strategy. His aim has been to turn Labour into the acceptable vessel of national discontent with the party that has governed Britain for 14 years. Voter fury, at first Boris Johnson and the partygate revelations and next Liz Truss’s sabotaging of the UK economy, saw trust in the Tories plunge – but it was never automatic that that would translate into support for Labour. Starmer’s central objective has been to remove every obstacle that could stand in the way of a disaffected Conservative contemplating a move towards the main party of opposition.

    Playing safe, saying nothing that could frighten the floating voter, might bring victory – but it doesn’t deliver a mandate.

    There is a subtler problem, more in the realm of vibes than policy. So keen to seem like the adults in an increasingly chaotic room, Starmer and, say, Rachel Reeves do now look the part of PM and chancellor. Voters will be impatient for results from Starmer and Reeves, because of the vague, albeit irrational and indeed unfair, sense that they have been around for years. They will be cut little slack.

    The Tories are so unpopular because so much is broken and there is not enough money to fix it. Right now, that is the Tories’ problem, one that promises to sweep them out of power. But once it has, it will become Labour’s problem. And it could hardly be more daunting.

    This passage of Freedland takes the informed reader to exactly the point which is already clear to them and then stops. We all know that Labour in power inherit all the responsibility for being the government, and that this has lots of problems. The issue is not problems, the question is the routes to resolving them.
    I think voters in most Western democracies tend to have unrealistic expectations of what governments can deliver.

    Instead of being upfront about it, politicians tend to over promise, and under deliver.

    An ageing population means we are constantly paying more to get less. Globalisation means there are people out there who can do your job for half the pay.
    That's the fundamental truth.
    It remains the case, however, that pretty well anyone, who lives in a Western democracy, who enjoys decent health, and avoids violent crime , has drawn first prize in life’s lottery.
  • Options
    ydoethurydoethur Posts: 67,594


    Jess Phillips MP
    @jessphillips
    ·
    34m
    Personal statement coming shortly

    Unlike UCAS, who are getting rid of them.
    Not before bloody time. What a silly nonsense most of them are, and hardly anyone seemed to read them.
  • Options
    StillWatersStillWaters Posts: 7,162

    DavidL said:

    Bernard Hill has died.

    This scene featuring Bernard Hill gave me the horn.

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

    One of the greatest scenes in all of the films. Although the breaking of Gandalf's staff was a weird addition.
    Gandalf was a bit useless in defending that citadel I seem to remember. Lots of poncing about. Not many fireballs or lightning bolts.
    Olorin’s role was to inspire mankind not to defend them
  • Options
    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,847
    Sean_F said:

    Sean_F said:

    algarkirk said:

    IanB2 said:

    Freedland:

    Make no mistake, the core story contained in these numbers is yet more confirmation of the disastrous standing of the Conservative party. As loudly and clearly as they can, voters are telling the Tories that their time is up.

    All of which comes as sweet vindication for Keir Starmer and what we might call his receptacle strategy. His aim has been to turn Labour into the acceptable vessel of national discontent with the party that has governed Britain for 14 years. Voter fury, at first Boris Johnson and the partygate revelations and next Liz Truss’s sabotaging of the UK economy, saw trust in the Tories plunge – but it was never automatic that that would translate into support for Labour. Starmer’s central objective has been to remove every obstacle that could stand in the way of a disaffected Conservative contemplating a move towards the main party of opposition.

    Playing safe, saying nothing that could frighten the floating voter, might bring victory – but it doesn’t deliver a mandate.

    There is a subtler problem, more in the realm of vibes than policy. So keen to seem like the adults in an increasingly chaotic room, Starmer and, say, Rachel Reeves do now look the part of PM and chancellor. Voters will be impatient for results from Starmer and Reeves, because of the vague, albeit irrational and indeed unfair, sense that they have been around for years. They will be cut little slack.

    The Tories are so unpopular because so much is broken and there is not enough money to fix it. Right now, that is the Tories’ problem, one that promises to sweep them out of power. But once it has, it will become Labour’s problem. And it could hardly be more daunting.

    This passage of Freedland takes the informed reader to exactly the point which is already clear to them and then stops. We all know that Labour in power inherit all the responsibility for being the government, and that this has lots of problems. The issue is not problems, the question is the routes to resolving them.
    I think voters in most Western democracies tend to have unrealistic expectations of what governments can deliver.

    Instead of being upfront about it, politicians tend to over promise, and under deliver.

    An ageing population means we are constantly paying more to get less. Globalisation means there are people out there who can do your job for half the pay.
    That's the fundamental truth.
    It remains the case, however, that pretty well anyone, who lives in a Western democracy, who enjoys decent health, and avoids violent crime , has drawn first prize in life’s lottery.
    Just to annoy the anti-colonialists:

    "Remember that you are an Englishman, and have consequently won first prize in the lottery of life."

    Cecil Rhodes
  • Options
    AlsoLeiAlsoLei Posts: 813


    Jess Phillips MP
    @jessphillips
    ·
    34m
    Personal statement coming shortly

    Unlike UCAS, who are getting rid of them.
    I wish they had abolished 27 years ago, I stressed over mine for weeks.

    In those daysI was genuinely shy and very wet behind the ears.
    The Irish system is like that - only your exam results count, there's no personal statement, no interviews, no letters of recommendations.

    Despite doing sciences, I was always much more of a bullshit artist so it sounded dreadful to me - I applied to English & Scottish universities instead!
  • Options
    Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 25,689

    DavidL said:

    Bernard Hill has died.

    This scene featuring Bernard Hill gave me the horn.

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

    One of the greatest scenes in all of the films. Although the breaking of Gandalf's staff was a weird addition.
    Gandalf was a bit useless in defending that citadel I seem to remember. Lots of poncing about. Not many fireballs or lightning bolts.
    Olorin’s role was to inspire mankind not to defend them
    Well this member of mankind wasn't inspired either.
  • Options
    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 114,760
    AlsoLei said:


    Jess Phillips MP
    @jessphillips
    ·
    34m
    Personal statement coming shortly

    Unlike UCAS, who are getting rid of them.
    I wish they had abolished 27 years ago, I stressed over mine for weeks.

    In those daysI was genuinely shy and very wet behind the ears.
    The Irish system is like that - only your exam results count, there's no personal statement, no interviews, no letters of recommendations.

    Despite doing sciences, I was always much more of a bullshit artist so it sounded dreadful to me - I applied to English & Scottish universities instead!
    The interview I was well prepped for thanks to my school, they told me to avoid the bullshit, just stick to confident/assured.
  • Options
    rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 58,612

    Election Maps UK
    @ElectionMapsUK
    ·
    6h
    Aggregate Result in the 197 Wards where all 5 Major Parties Stood:

    🌹 LAB: 35.7%
    🌳 CON: 22.9%
    🔶 LDM: 13.8%
    🌍 GRN: 10.8%
    ➡️ RFM: 9.6%

    Looks like the Reform polling numbers are real, even if they can't convert it into seats.

    https://twitter.com/ElectionMapsUK/status/1787087915119497467
  • Options
    ydoethurydoethur Posts: 67,594

    AlsoLei said:


    Jess Phillips MP
    @jessphillips
    ·
    34m
    Personal statement coming shortly

    Unlike UCAS, who are getting rid of them.
    I wish they had abolished 27 years ago, I stressed over mine for weeks.

    In those daysI was genuinely shy and very wet behind the ears.
    The Irish system is like that - only your exam results count, there's no personal statement, no interviews, no letters of recommendations.

    Despite doing sciences, I was always much more of a bullshit artist so it sounded dreadful to me - I applied to English & Scottish universities instead!
    The interview I was well prepped for thanks to my school, they told me to avoid the bullshit, just stick to confident/assured.
    Did they tell you to avoid subtlety?
  • Options
    BurgessianBurgessian Posts: 2,469
    Carnyx said:

    DavidL said:

    Snigger. The SNP are more broke than a broken thing. They need a contested election with all the costs of that like a hole in the head. They will also have to give an update on their membership numbers again which they could do without.

    Yousaf has left a complete shambles behind him. In fairness to him he inherited exactly the same. What we need now are some more charges. A small soupcon of misery added to the dish.

    Perhaps Humza will be contributing a handy chunk of his £52k pa pension to party coffers?
    I rather think your satire has gone over the heads of PB ...
    Went over mine.

    BTW, has anyone ever seen @malcolmg in the same room as Graeme McCormick?
  • Options
    SirNorfolkPassmoreSirNorfolkPassmore Posts: 6,382


    Jess Phillips MP
    @jessphillips
    ·
    34m
    Personal statement coming shortly

    May I be the very first to wish Jess and Rehman a lifetime of happiness together.
  • Options
    malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 42,252
    DavidL said:

    kinabalu said:

    George Galloway hangs up on Lewis Goodall after being asked to explain why he said ‘gay relationships aren’t equal’

    https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/george-galloway-hangs-up-asked-explain-gay-relationships-not-normal/

    Galloway's quite the social reactionary, isn't he.
    The only good thing about him is his impression of a cat. Creepy, but good.
    Have to admit David , he is a great orator, his destruction of the US Senators was brilliant. Somewhere along the line he lost the plot but a great speaker.
  • Options
    DM_AndyDM_Andy Posts: 470

    I hope Phess Jillips is not leaving politics, I have a £2 bet on her for Labour leader from years ago.

    Well, I'm sure it was a value bet at the time. The problem with Jess is that she's genuinely stupid, yesterday she was filling the dead hours while we were waiting for Coventry to say that getting a decent swing to Labour in Solihull 'didn't matter because we're never going to win that seat anyway, but maybe it's useful for next time'
  • Options
    AlsoLeiAlsoLei Posts: 813


    Election Maps UK
    @ElectionMapsUK
    ·
    6h
    Aggregate Result in the 197 Wards where all 5 Major Parties Stood:

    🌹 LAB: 35.7%
    🌳 CON: 22.9%
    🔶 LDM: 13.8%
    🌍 GRN: 10.8%
    ➡️ RFM: 9.6%

    Looks like the Reform polling numbers are real, even if they can't convert it into seats.

    https://twitter.com/ElectionMapsUK/status/1787087915119497467

    Interesting. Current polling averages are something like:
    LAB: 44% (+8.3 vs locals)
    CON: 23% (+0.1 vs locals)
    LDM: 9% (-4.8 vs locals)
    GRN: 5% (-5.8 vs locals)
    RFM: 12% (+2.4 vs locals)
  • Options
    Luckyguy1983Luckyguy1983 Posts: 25,689
    DM_Andy said:

    I hope Phess Jillips is not leaving politics, I have a £2 bet on her for Labour leader from years ago.

    Well, I'm sure it was a value bet at the time. The problem with Jess is that she's genuinely stupid, yesterday she was filling the dead hours while we were waiting for Coventry to say that getting a decent swing to Labour in Solihull 'didn't matter because we're never going to win that seat anyway, but maybe it's useful for next time'
    Please don't insult our soon to be Labour leader through a series of remarkable events.
  • Options
    malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 42,252
    legatus said:

    UDI would have no legal standing and over half the population of Scotland would ignore it - though likely to lead to the suspension of Holyrood and Direct Rule from Westminster or the pre-Devolution status quo ante.

    that would be brilliant outcome
  • Options
    StillWatersStillWaters Posts: 7,162
    DougSeal said:

    Andy_JS said:

    Why don't we have an age limit on voting?

    If you're above 75, you've had your time. Give way.

    Am I being serious? Who knows?

    Because older people are wiser than younger people.
    Au contraire. Rapid cognitive decline in the old means that we should restrict their movements over 65 and it is sheer lunacy to let them have the vote after 70. They simply cannot process the information needed to make a sane choice at that age. The voting ages should be 14-69 inclusive.
    On that basis anyone seeking elected office os clearly insane and therefore should lose their vote
  • Options
    Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 60,471
    Good evening

    Scotland like the rest of the UK needs new elections asap

    And on labour seems trouble brewing from the left though I had not heard that Owen Jones was heading up an anti Stamer campaign

    One of the chairs of the left-wing Labour campaign group Momentum has quit her post and the party over Sir Keir Starmer's policy agenda, and his "disgusting response" to the war in Gaza.

    Hilary Schan, who is also a councillor in Worthing, said she will now join the We Deserve Better campaign, headed by journalist Owen Jones, which aims to oust prominent Labour MPs at the next election and put independent and Green Party candidates in their place.

    The announcement comes off the back of a widely successful local election campaign for Labour, but one where it suffered losses in its traditional council seats, especially in areas with large Muslim populations, over its stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict.
  • Options
    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 114,760
    edited May 5
    ydoethur said:

    AlsoLei said:


    Jess Phillips MP
    @jessphillips
    ·
    34m
    Personal statement coming shortly

    Unlike UCAS, who are getting rid of them.
    I wish they had abolished 27 years ago, I stressed over mine for weeks.

    In those daysI was genuinely shy and very wet behind the ears.
    The Irish system is like that - only your exam results count, there's no personal statement, no interviews, no letters of recommendations.

    Despite doing sciences, I was always much more of a bullshit artist so it sounded dreadful to me - I applied to English & Scottish universities instead!
    The interview I was well prepped for thanks to my school, they told me to avoid the bullshit, just stick to confident/assured.
    Did they tell you to avoid subtlety?
    No.

    It was at university I realised I couldn't do subtlety, as my friends observed when it came to love I was transparent as water.

    I arrived at university as a good Muslim boy but by the end of Lent I wasn't.
  • Options
    RogerRoger Posts: 18,971

    DM_Andy said:

    I hope Phess Jillips is not leaving politics, I have a £2 bet on her for Labour leader from years ago.

    Well, I'm sure it was a value bet at the time. The problem with Jess is that she's genuinely stupid, yesterday she was filling the dead hours while we were waiting for Coventry to say that getting a decent swing to Labour in Solihull 'didn't matter because we're never going to win that seat anyway, but maybe it's useful for next time'
    Please don't insult our soon to be Labour leader through a series of remarkable events.
    She'd get my vote
  • Options
    BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 31,948


    Election Maps UK
    @ElectionMapsUK
    ·
    6h
    Aggregate Result in the 197 Wards where all 5 Major Parties Stood:

    🌹 LAB: 35.7%
    🌳 CON: 22.9%
    🔶 LDM: 13.8%
    🌍 GRN: 10.8%
    ➡️ RFM: 9.6%

    Looks like the Reform polling numbers are real, even if they can't convert it into seats.

    https://twitter.com/ElectionMapsUK/status/1787087915119497467

    On those numbers according to Electoral Calculus 162 seat Labour majority:

    🌹 LAB: 406 seats
    🌳 CON: 133
    🔶 LDM: 65
    🌍 GRN: 3
    ➡️ RFM: 0

  • Options
    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 114,760

    Carnyx said:

    DavidL said:

    Snigger. The SNP are more broke than a broken thing. They need a contested election with all the costs of that like a hole in the head. They will also have to give an update on their membership numbers again which they could do without.

    Yousaf has left a complete shambles behind him. In fairness to him he inherited exactly the same. What we need now are some more charges. A small soupcon of misery added to the dish.

    Perhaps Humza will be contributing a handy chunk of his £52k pa pension to party coffers?
    I rather think your satire has gone over the heads of PB ...
    Went over mine.

    BTW, has anyone ever seen @malcolmg in the same room as Graeme McCormick?
    I have just learned Graeme McCormick is a solicitor.

    John Swinney and Unionists should be very afraid.
  • Options
    Alphabet_SoupAlphabet_Soup Posts: 2,781

    AlsoLei said:


    Jess Phillips MP
    @jessphillips
    ·
    34m
    Personal statement coming shortly

    Unlike UCAS, who are getting rid of them.
    I wish they had abolished 27 years ago, I stressed over mine for weeks.

    In those daysI was genuinely shy and very wet behind the ears.
    The Irish system is like that - only your exam results count, there's no personal statement, no interviews, no letters of recommendations.

    Despite doing sciences, I was always much more of a bullshit artist so it sounded dreadful to me - I applied to English & Scottish universities instead!
    The interview I was well prepped for thanks to my school, they told me to avoid the bullshit, just stick to confident/assured.
    My interviewers seemed unduly impressed by the fact that I was captain of the 2nd XV. I gave up rugger the day my offer arrived and haven't touched a ball since.
  • Options
    BurgessianBurgessian Posts: 2,469
    malcolmg said:

    DavidL said:

    kinabalu said:

    George Galloway hangs up on Lewis Goodall after being asked to explain why he said ‘gay relationships aren’t equal’

    https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/george-galloway-hangs-up-asked-explain-gay-relationships-not-normal/

    Galloway's quite the social reactionary, isn't he.
    The only good thing about him is his impression of a cat. Creepy, but good.
    Have to admit David , he is a great orator, his destruction of the US Senators was brilliant. Somewhere along the line he lost the plot but a great speaker.
    Good speaker, I grant you. I was struck by Martin Amis's observation, in the context of Galloway's feud with Christopher Hitchens, that Galloway was simply a "political entrepreneur". Seems a fair description.
  • Options
    IanB2IanB2 Posts: 47,600


    Election Maps UK
    @ElectionMapsUK
    ·
    6h
    Aggregate Result in the 197 Wards where all 5 Major Parties Stood:

    🌹 LAB: 35.7%
    🌳 CON: 22.9%
    🔶 LDM: 13.8%
    🌍 GRN: 10.8%
    ➡️ RFM: 9.6%

    Looks like the Reform polling numbers are real, even if they can't convert it into seats.

    https://twitter.com/ElectionMapsUK/status/1787087915119497467

    With 9.6%, Reform got two seats in Havant.

    With 13.8%, the LibDems pulled in more seats than the Tories.
  • Options
    ToryJimToryJim Posts: 3,493
    AlsoLei said:


    Election Maps UK
    @ElectionMapsUK
    ·
    6h
    Aggregate Result in the 197 Wards where all 5 Major Parties Stood:

    🌹 LAB: 35.7%
    🌳 CON: 22.9%
    🔶 LDM: 13.8%
    🌍 GRN: 10.8%
    ➡️ RFM: 9.6%

    Looks like the Reform polling numbers are real, even if they can't convert it into seats.

    https://twitter.com/ElectionMapsUK/status/1787087915119497467

    Interesting. Current polling averages are something like:
    LAB: 44% (+8.3 vs locals)
    CON: 23% (+0.1 vs locals)
    LDM: 9% (-4.8 vs locals)
    GRN: 5% (-5.8 vs locals)
    RFM: 12% (+2.4 vs locals)
    Wouldn’t the various cross flows of tactical voting account for some of the difference. Plus there are various local factors that might adapt how you vote in local vs national elections.
  • Options
    BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 31,948

    Good evening

    Scotland like the rest of the UK needs new elections asap

    And on labour seems trouble brewing from the left though I had not heard that Owen Jones was heading up an anti Stamer campaign

    One of the chairs of the left-wing Labour campaign group Momentum has quit her post and the party over Sir Keir Starmer's policy agenda, and his "disgusting response" to the war in Gaza.

    Hilary Schan, who is also a councillor in Worthing, said she will now join the We Deserve Better campaign, headed by journalist Owen Jones, which aims to oust prominent Labour MPs at the next election and put independent and Green Party candidates in their place.

    The announcement comes off the back of a widely successful local election campaign for Labour, but one where it suffered losses in its traditional council seats, especially in areas with large Muslim populations, over its stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict.

    Oh dear, you never really give up hope that Labour are going to come a cropper do you Big_G?

    None of this will make a blind bit of difference to the next GE result. It's effect will be like ULEZ in London - net zero.
  • Options
    ydoethurydoethur Posts: 67,594

    ydoethur said:

    AlsoLei said:


    Jess Phillips MP
    @jessphillips
    ·
    34m
    Personal statement coming shortly

    Unlike UCAS, who are getting rid of them.
    I wish they had abolished 27 years ago, I stressed over mine for weeks.

    In those daysI was genuinely shy and very wet behind the ears.
    The Irish system is like that - only your exam results count, there's no personal statement, no interviews, no letters of recommendations.

    Despite doing sciences, I was always much more of a bullshit artist so it sounded dreadful to me - I applied to English & Scottish universities instead!
    The interview I was well prepped for thanks to my school, they told me to avoid the bullshit, just stick to confident/assured.
    Did they tell you to avoid subtlety?
    No.

    It was at university I realised I couldn't do subtlety, as my friends observed when it came to love I was transparent as water.

    I arrived at university as a good Muslim boy but by the end of Lent I wasn't.
    Is that a tradition you Borrowed from Christianity?
  • Options
    darkagedarkage Posts: 4,813
    The SNP situation is the gift that keeps giving.
  • Options
    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 114,760

    AlsoLei said:


    Jess Phillips MP
    @jessphillips
    ·
    34m
    Personal statement coming shortly

    Unlike UCAS, who are getting rid of them.
    I wish they had abolished 27 years ago, I stressed over mine for weeks.

    In those daysI was genuinely shy and very wet behind the ears.
    The Irish system is like that - only your exam results count, there's no personal statement, no interviews, no letters of recommendations.

    Despite doing sciences, I was always much more of a bullshit artist so it sounded dreadful to me - I applied to English & Scottish universities instead!
    The interview I was well prepped for thanks to my school, they told me to avoid the bullshit, just stick to confident/assured.
    My interviewers seemed unduly impressed by the fact that I was captain of the 2nd XV. I gave up rugger the day my offer arrived and haven't touched a ball since.
    I made mine laugh when I told my mother was very disappointed in my university choice as she had been expecting me to study medicine at Sheffield because she thought I would be led astray away from home.

    Honestly her sending me to a private all boys school was mostly to keep me away from girls who might corrupt me.
  • Options
    malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 42,252
    DavidL said:

    Snigger. The SNP are more broke than a broken thing. They need a contested election with all the costs of that like a hole in the head. They will also have to give an update on their membership numbers again which they could do without.

    Yousaf has left a complete shambles behind him. In fairness to him he inherited exactly the same. What we need now are some more charges. A small soupcon of misery added to the dish.

    We have Salmond case against Sturgeon and her coven up shortly , that should be fun
  • Options
    ydoethurydoethur Posts: 67,594

    AlsoLei said:


    Jess Phillips MP
    @jessphillips
    ·
    34m
    Personal statement coming shortly

    Unlike UCAS, who are getting rid of them.
    I wish they had abolished 27 years ago, I stressed over mine for weeks.

    In those daysI was genuinely shy and very wet behind the ears.
    The Irish system is like that - only your exam results count, there's no personal statement, no interviews, no letters of recommendations.

    Despite doing sciences, I was always much more of a bullshit artist so it sounded dreadful to me - I applied to English & Scottish universities instead!
    The interview I was well prepped for thanks to my school, they told me to avoid the bullshit, just stick to confident/assured.
    My interviewers seemed unduly impressed by the fact that I was captain of the 2nd XV. I gave up rugger the day my offer arrived and haven't touched a ball since.
    You turned hetero?
  • Options
    BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 31,948
    ydoethur said:

    ydoethur said:

    AlsoLei said:


    Jess Phillips MP
    @jessphillips
    ·
    34m
    Personal statement coming shortly

    Unlike UCAS, who are getting rid of them.
    I wish they had abolished 27 years ago, I stressed over mine for weeks.

    In those daysI was genuinely shy and very wet behind the ears.
    The Irish system is like that - only your exam results count, there's no personal statement, no interviews, no letters of recommendations.

    Despite doing sciences, I was always much more of a bullshit artist so it sounded dreadful to me - I applied to English & Scottish universities instead!
    The interview I was well prepped for thanks to my school, they told me to avoid the bullshit, just stick to confident/assured.
    Did they tell you to avoid subtlety?
    No.

    It was at university I realised I couldn't do subtlety, as my friends observed when it came to love I was transparent as water.

    I arrived at university as a good Muslim boy but by the end of Lent I wasn't.
    Is that a tradition you Borrowed from Christianity?
    Give up chastity for Lent; some sacrifices are worth it.
  • Options
    Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 55,847


    Election Maps UK
    @ElectionMapsUK
    ·
    6h
    Aggregate Result in the 197 Wards where all 5 Major Parties Stood:

    🌹 LAB: 35.7%
    🌳 CON: 22.9%
    🔶 LDM: 13.8%
    🌍 GRN: 10.8%
    ➡️ RFM: 9.6%

    Looks like the Reform polling numbers are real, even if they can't convert it into seats.

    https://twitter.com/ElectionMapsUK/status/1787087915119497467

    I haven't delved into it, but that would seem to be comparing apples and oranges.

    It would suggest Labour are overpolling, and Greens and LDs underpolling too, so the same would apply to Labour if they stood in all seats too.
  • Options
    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 114,760
    ydoethur said:

    ydoethur said:

    AlsoLei said:


    Jess Phillips MP
    @jessphillips
    ·
    34m
    Personal statement coming shortly

    Unlike UCAS, who are getting rid of them.
    I wish they had abolished 27 years ago, I stressed over mine for weeks.

    In those daysI was genuinely shy and very wet behind the ears.
    The Irish system is like that - only your exam results count, there's no personal statement, no interviews, no letters of recommendations.

    Despite doing sciences, I was always much more of a bullshit artist so it sounded dreadful to me - I applied to English & Scottish universities instead!
    The interview I was well prepped for thanks to my school, they told me to avoid the bullshit, just stick to confident/assured.
    Did they tell you to avoid subtlety?
    No.

    It was at university I realised I couldn't do subtlety, as my friends observed when it came to love I was transparent as water.

    I arrived at university as a good Muslim boy but by the end of Lent I wasn't.
    Is that a tradition you Borrowed from Christianity?
    Kinda.
  • Options
    rcs1000rcs1000 Posts: 54,294
    IanB2 said:


    Election Maps UK
    @ElectionMapsUK
    ·
    6h
    Aggregate Result in the 197 Wards where all 5 Major Parties Stood:

    🌹 LAB: 35.7%
    🌳 CON: 22.9%
    🔶 LDM: 13.8%
    🌍 GRN: 10.8%
    ➡️ RFM: 9.6%

    Looks like the Reform polling numbers are real, even if they can't convert it into seats.

    https://twitter.com/ElectionMapsUK/status/1787087915119497467

    With 9.6%, Reform got two seats in Havant.

    With 13.8%, the LibDems pulled in more seats than the Tories.
    Ummm:

    These seats will have been seats where Reform is more likely to do well, surely? They're much more likely to run candidates in (say) Rotherham than Richmond. So I would be wary about reading too much into this.
  • Options
    ydoethurydoethur Posts: 67,594

    ydoethur said:

    ydoethur said:

    AlsoLei said:


    Jess Phillips MP
    @jessphillips
    ·
    34m
    Personal statement coming shortly

    Unlike UCAS, who are getting rid of them.
    I wish they had abolished 27 years ago, I stressed over mine for weeks.

    In those daysI was genuinely shy and very wet behind the ears.
    The Irish system is like that - only your exam results count, there's no personal statement, no interviews, no letters of recommendations.

    Despite doing sciences, I was always much more of a bullshit artist so it sounded dreadful to me - I applied to English & Scottish universities instead!
    The interview I was well prepped for thanks to my school, they told me to avoid the bullshit, just stick to confident/assured.
    Did they tell you to avoid subtlety?
    No.

    It was at university I realised I couldn't do subtlety, as my friends observed when it came to love I was transparent as water.

    I arrived at university as a good Muslim boy but by the end of Lent I wasn't.
    Is that a tradition you Borrowed from Christianity?
    Kinda.
    I’ll leave it a loan.
  • Options
    malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 42,252

    Ignoring politics today. Currently standing on the pitch at the Millennium Stadium waiting for Springsteen to come on.

    Give us a review Richard, I am going to see him later in the month
  • Options
    BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 31,948
    ydoethur said:

    ydoethur said:

    ydoethur said:

    AlsoLei said:


    Jess Phillips MP
    @jessphillips
    ·
    34m
    Personal statement coming shortly

    Unlike UCAS, who are getting rid of them.
    I wish they had abolished 27 years ago, I stressed over mine for weeks.

    In those daysI was genuinely shy and very wet behind the ears.
    The Irish system is like that - only your exam results count, there's no personal statement, no interviews, no letters of recommendations.

    Despite doing sciences, I was always much more of a bullshit artist so it sounded dreadful to me - I applied to English & Scottish universities instead!
    The interview I was well prepped for thanks to my school, they told me to avoid the bullshit, just stick to confident/assured.
    Did they tell you to avoid subtlety?
    No.

    It was at university I realised I couldn't do subtlety, as my friends observed when it came to love I was transparent as water.

    I arrived at university as a good Muslim boy but by the end of Lent I wasn't.
    Is that a tradition you Borrowed from Christianity?
    Kinda.
    I’ll leave it a loan.
    You've raised my interest now.
  • Options
    TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 114,760
    ydoethur said:

    ydoethur said:

    ydoethur said:

    AlsoLei said:


    Jess Phillips MP
    @jessphillips
    ·
    34m
    Personal statement coming shortly

    Unlike UCAS, who are getting rid of them.
    I wish they had abolished 27 years ago, I stressed over mine for weeks.

    In those daysI was genuinely shy and very wet behind the ears.
    The Irish system is like that - only your exam results count, there's no personal statement, no interviews, no letters of recommendations.

    Despite doing sciences, I was always much more of a bullshit artist so it sounded dreadful to me - I applied to English & Scottish universities instead!
    The interview I was well prepped for thanks to my school, they told me to avoid the bullshit, just stick to confident/assured.
    Did they tell you to avoid subtlety?
    No.

    It was at university I realised I couldn't do subtlety, as my friends observed when it came to love I was transparent as water.

    I arrived at university as a good Muslim boy but by the end of Lent I wasn't.
    Is that a tradition you Borrowed from Christianity?
    Kinda.
    I’ll leave it a loan.
    This is probably TMI but I was definitely think about Jesus/God when I ceased to be a good Muslim.
  • Options
    OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 32,154


    Election Maps UK
    @ElectionMapsUK
    ·
    6h
    Aggregate Result in the 197 Wards where all 5 Major Parties Stood:

    🌹 LAB: 35.7%
    🌳 CON: 22.9%
    🔶 LDM: 13.8%
    🌍 GRN: 10.8%
    ➡️ RFM: 9.6%

    Looks like the Reform polling numbers are real, even if they can't convert it into seats.

    https://twitter.com/ElectionMapsUK/status/1787087915119497467

    On those numbers according to Electoral Calculus 162 seat Labour majority:

    🌹 LAB: 406 seats
    🌳 CON: 133
    🔶 LDM: 65
    🌍 GRN: 3
    ➡️ RFM: 0

    SNP?
    PC?
  • Options
    malcolmgmalcolmg Posts: 42,252

    Why don't we have an age limit on voting?

    If you're above 75, you've had your time. Give way.

    Am I being serious? Who knows?

    More importantly who gives a F***
  • Options
    BenpointerBenpointer Posts: 31,948


    Election Maps UK
    @ElectionMapsUK
    ·
    6h
    Aggregate Result in the 197 Wards where all 5 Major Parties Stood:

    🌹 LAB: 35.7%
    🌳 CON: 22.9%
    🔶 LDM: 13.8%
    🌍 GRN: 10.8%
    ➡️ RFM: 9.6%

    Looks like the Reform polling numbers are real, even if they can't convert it into seats.

    https://twitter.com/ElectionMapsUK/status/1787087915119497467

    On those numbers according to Electoral Calculus 162 seat Labour majority:

    🌹 LAB: 406 seats
    🌳 CON: 133
    🔶 LDM: 65
    🌍 GRN: 3
    ➡️ RFM: 0

    SNP?
    PC?
    Sorry, SNP 16
    PC 4
  • Options
    FF43FF43 Posts: 15,873
    TimS said:

    Off topic question:

    I’m soon going to be letting out my place in France as a holiday rental, and planning to do things properly ie nice toiletries in the bathrooms, crisp linens, welcome packs and so on.

    One thing I’d like to do is a glossy illustrated coffee table style book containing all the local information about walks, places to visit, history of the area etc. Much more appealing than a stapled together set of sheets with the WiFi code and number for the local vets.

    Does anyone know a good company for printing books like this in very short runs? I probably only need a dozen or so to start with. I’ve seen sone good self publishing businesses online but they tend to have very large minimum runs of several hundred, or be one off holiday snap printers like photo box that don’t quite have the quality.

    Something I was involved with in a previous life but no longer up-to-date. Google short run book printing. On these quantities it will be digitally printed (ink jet) rather than offset so check the print quality is good enough for your purposes.
  • Options
    RogerRoger Posts: 18,971
    edited May 5

    TimS said:

    There’s a notable proliferation of Lime Bikes in London at the moment. Like they had a good winter with not too much frost and are now breeding rapidly with the copious rain.

    This outside the Hill Station in @OnlyLivingBoy land just now (when I go there I’m always on the sly lookout for a middle aged man looking mildly left wing with a Sri Lankan wife)



    What’s the collective noun for lime bikes? A grove?

    Ah that's a sight for sore eyes thanks. Currently in California en route to Japan but obviously my heart is in SE14 and I'd rather be having a beer and a pizza at the Hill Station.
    Does Telegraph Hill have a higher concentration of Lime Bikes than anywhere else in the world? Quite possibly.
    It must be Nice. they're spreading like wildfire. I thought they'd call them Citron Vert

    https://www.livingonthecotedazur.com/bye-velo-bleu-hello-lime-pony/
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