Ever so slightly off topic, I was clearing out a corner of my flat this afternoon. 20 years of accumulated crap. Mostly meaningless. Admin. Paperwork. A useless printer. All purged. Yay
But then suddenly I came across a sketch book that belonged to my ex wife (who I loved very much and only split with coz she wanted babies and I didn’t). It was full of her crazy funny eccentric drawings - even pages embroidered with wool. The epic of Gilgamesh in crayon. All her creativity and wit and uniqueness in o one pad of paper
And I sat there and, I confess, I slightly cried. Just a few manly tears but they were real
What is that? I was perfectly content - happy even. Then suddenly a land mine of emotion and memory exploded in my face and I was plunged into intense sadness
What is the psychology? The evolutionary explanation for these emotions? Very strange
It’s gone now. I’m fine again. But wow
Post it back to her.
Maybe I will. For now I’ve carefully and gently stored it out of sight like it’s some precious but dangerous explosive
On topic, this happened to me the other day sitting on a train. Couple get on, looks like they are heading for the airport for a holiday.
She is miffed because he has walked her to the 1713 express train rather than their intended 1731 train. This means they will be early, and thus have to change mid-journey and wait 15 minutes or so to get their original train as the express one isn't stopping at their final station.
Not a full blown row, just a series of half-muttered bitter nips, jibes, barbs and non-sequiturs at each other about the fact somehow they've ended up on this slightly earlier train. Netted out they have to wait the same amount of time either way, either at the original station to get a slightly later train or mid journey to transfer to the original train, but they are guaranteed to get there at the original intended time. Still, this displeases her immensely.
I wasn't really trying to listen in or block them out either way, but was hard to avoid somehow being privy to it. I felt quite sorry for the guy. Not "it's your fault we were late, missed our train and flight and now the holiday is RUINED!!" but instead "it's your fault we were early BECAUSE YOU WOULDN'T LISTEN TO ME, now we have to change trains so that we get to the destination at exactly the original time we intended anyway".
I did wonder (a) how their holiday would go and (b) how much mileage was left in the relationship.
Bickering with a partner is par for the course. Mrs Foxy and I were bickering about the playlist while driving earlier. It's perfectly possible to bicker for decades. 36 years for Me and Mrs Foxy this weekend.
I am suspicious of couples that never argue. There's some weird dynamic usually, such as an oppressive partner, or simply extreme fragility as if one sharp word would end things. It must be so wearing to be walking on eggshells the whole time. Not universally of course, Foxy jr and his partner claim to have never argued in 8 years and seem perfectly content.
"Her Honour Judge Dean is listed as a Diversity and Community Relations Judge (DCRJ), a role that involves promoting diversity and community engagement in the judicial system.
"HHJ Dean covers the area around Snaresbrook Crown Court. She has also supported diversity efforts, such as assisting with visits from Diversity and Community Relations Magistrates at Harrow Crown Court. Additionally, her participation in events like the London Law Collective, where she delivered a keynote speech, highlights her role in inspiring diversity in the legal profession.
"Diversity and Community Relations Judges across England and Wales undertake a huge amount of community engagement in a voluntary capacity. They also seek to encourage legal professionals from under-represented groups to consider a judicial career."
It was probably her wise and expert legal guidance in the field of diversity that allowed the jury to return a verdict of Not Guilty, despite overwhelming evidence of guilt, in just thirty minutes
No, it was probably the fact the jury was from overwhelmingly Labour Walthamstow. Had the jury been from say heavily Reform Basildon the verdict may have been different.
Judges in criminal trials normally sentence on the law and guidelines whatever their political views
Even in Labour Walthamstow what are the chances that all 12 jury members would all be left-wingers? Even in the Colston Four trial there was 1 jury member who wanted them found guilty.
You only need 3 jurors to say 'Not Guilty, you can't change my mind" to guarantee an acquittal (or a retrial in specific situations)
So the jury in the Jones case might have had just three stubborn individuals. And if there was bias, it might have been due to ethnicity rather than politics (but we don't know in this instance, of course)
I posted evidence earlier of racial bias in jurors in the USA. Black American jurors are far more likely to acquit black defendants than white defendants, whereas white jurors show little bias. It would be interesting to find out if there is a similar pattern in the UK
That's not true, 3 can block a guilty verdict, but you need 10 to get a not guilty (technically 9 if there's only 9 left on the jury). If the Jury can't get to a decision as in the Manchester Airport case there is a mistrial and the CPS can try again.
Are you sure? That was my understanding - having literally been the defendant in a trial at the old Bailey! My silk explained it to me
But it was a long time ago and maybe I misremember
Yes, assuming there are 12 jurors at the end of the trial (it differs a bit if someone has been lost) then for a guilty OR a not guilty verdict you need to be 10-2 at least (or 11-1, or 12-0). The difference wihich can cause misunderstanding is that if there is a majority guilty verdict the jury is asked for the score (10-2 etc) but if a not guilty verdict that question is not put.
Any other outcome means a hung jury, which can more or less always mean a retrial if the prosecution wishes. (Eg in the Letby trial the jury was hung on certain counts, one (I think just one) of which were retried.
Ever so slightly off topic, I was clearing out a corner of my flat this afternoon. 20 years of accumulated crap. Mostly meaningless. Admin. Paperwork. A useless printer. All purged. Yay
But then suddenly I came across a sketch book that belonged to my ex wife (who I loved very much and only split with coz she wanted babies and I didn’t). It was full of her crazy funny eccentric drawings - even pages embroidered with wool. The epic of Gilgamesh in crayon. All her creativity and wit and uniqueness in o one pad of paper
And I sat there and, I confess, I slightly cried. Just a few manly tears but they were real
What is that? I was perfectly content - happy even. Then suddenly a land mine of emotion and memory exploded in my face and I was plunged into intense sadness
What is the psychology? The evolutionary explanation for these emotions? Very strange
It’s gone now. I’m fine again. But wow
Is it possible to exist without a printer now?
I use mine regularly but I'm someone who doesn't want to be totally digital (and often can't be in rural Hampshire)
On topic, this happened to me the other day sitting on a train. Couple get on, looks like they are heading for the airport for a holiday.
She is miffed because he has walked her to the 1713 express train rather than their intended 1731 train. This means they will be early, and thus have to change mid-journey and wait 15 minutes or so to get their original train as the express one isn't stopping at their final station.
Not a full blown row, just a series of half-muttered bitter nips, jibes, barbs and non-sequiturs at each other about the fact somehow they've ended up on this slightly earlier train. Netted out they have to wait the same amount of time either way, either at the original station to get a slightly later train or mid journey to transfer to the original train, but they are guaranteed to get there at the original intended time. Still, this displeases her immensely.
I wasn't really trying to listen in or block them out either way, but was hard to avoid somehow being privy to it. I felt quite sorry for the guy. Not "it's your fault we were late, missed our train and flight and now the holiday is RUINED!!" but instead "it's your fault we were early BECAUSE YOU WOULDN'T LISTEN TO ME, now we have to change trains so that we get to the destination at exactly the original time we intended anyway".
I did wonder (a) how their holiday would go and (b) how much mileage was left in the relationship.
Bickering with a partner is par for the course. Mrs Foxy and I were bickering about the playlist while driving earlier. It's perfectly possible to bicker for decades. 36 years for Me and Mrs Foxy this weekend.
I am suspicious of couples that never argue. There's some weird dynamic usually, such as an oppressive partner, or simply extreme fragility as if one sharp word would end things. It must be so wearing to be walking on eggshells the whole time. Not universally of course, Foxy jr and his partner claim to have never argued in 8 years and seem perfectly content.
You're entirely right, of course. I just found it interesting in isolation how this interaction proceeded. Maybe their relationship is rock solid, and I just saw a tiny unrepresentative fragment. But certainly in that moment I did wonder what it was that they saw in each other.
It is better we have juries that sometimes make mistakes, than we don't have juries at all.
And sometimes juries aquit to prevent an injustice. I don't know this particular case, but it will be popcorn time when Palestine Action come before a jury.
How many of the hundreds arrested last weekend actually got charged with anything in the first place?
Three so far, though many more could be charged later. If they are not charged then the government looks ridiculous, and if they are charged even more so. We have a couple of elderly terrorists in my church congregation now.
What made them want to show support specifically for the proscribed terrorist group, rather than simply supporting international action in Palestine?
It is a basic principle. There are lots of people who do not consider what Palestine Action did to be terrorism. I have to say that I am probably one of them. What they did was certainly illegal and I suppose if you want a high crime to pin on them you might reasonably get away with calling it Treason. But a vast number of people - even those like me who oppose what they did - don't see it as terrorism.
And the really important point here is one of free speech. If I or anyone else disagrees with the actions of the Government - including their proscription of a group - we should be allowed to protest against it. As long as we are not ourselves using violent means.
That is why I think it is wrong to be arresting the protestors. Peaceful protest should never be criminalised, nor should criticising and opposing laws which we feel are fundamentally wrong. To link to another current discussion on here, to me it just seems throughly un-British.
I take a subtly different view. That the actions against the military bases were clearly terrorism, they caused tens of millions of pounds worth of damage to the King’s Army.
The government shouldn’t have proscribed the group, but they should have charged those actually damaging and planning to damage aircraft with treason, and they should be expecting to be behind bars for a decade or more
But also that the right to protest is a key facet of British law, but if this government sees fit to proscribe the terrorist group then they should be expected to throw the book at their supporters, and deal with the political fallout that entails. They’ve instead decided to formally proscribe the group but continue to let them protest basically unhindered every weekend.
Again, no Government should have the right to ban peaceful protest. Indeed it is almost the duty of a good citizen to defy that ban and make the law unworkable.
I agree.
My contention is that the government explicitly proscribed this particular group only weeks ago, yet their overt supporters are being let off and not prosecuted.
The problem is the inconsistency, which only adds to the allegations of “two-tier” justice.
Who's been 'let off'?
Apparently several hundred people were arrested over last weekend for supporting “Palestine Action”, but only three have been charged with any offence.
On topic, this happened to me the other day sitting on a train. Couple get on, looks like they are heading for the airport for a holiday.
She is miffed because he has walked her to the 1713 express train rather than their intended 1731 train. This means they will be early, and thus have to change mid-journey and wait 15 minutes or so to get their original train as the express one isn't stopping at their final station.
Not a full blown row, just a series of half-muttered bitter nips, jibes, barbs and non-sequiturs at each other about the fact somehow they've ended up on this slightly earlier train. Netted out they have to wait the same amount of time either way, either at the original station to get a slightly later train or mid journey to transfer to the original train, but they are guaranteed to get there at the original intended time. Still, this displeases her immensely.
I wasn't really trying to listen in or block them out either way, but was hard to avoid somehow being privy to it. I felt quite sorry for the guy. Not "it's your fault we were late, missed our train and flight and now the holiday is RUINED!!" but instead "it's your fault we were early BECAUSE YOU WOULDN'T LISTEN TO ME, now we have to change trains so that we get to the destination at exactly the original time we intended anyway".
I did wonder (a) how their holiday would go and (b) how much mileage was left in the relationship.
Bickering with a partner is par for the course. Mrs Foxy and I were bickering about the playlist while driving earlier. It's perfectly possible to bicker for decades. 36 years for Me and Mrs Foxy this weekend.
I am suspicious of couples that never argue. There's some weird dynamic usually, such as an oppressive partner, or simply extreme fragility as if one sharp word would end things. It must be so wearing to be walking on eggshells the whole time. Not universally of course, Foxy jr and his partner claim to have never argued in 8 years and seem perfectly content.
We rarely argue - rarely enough that when we do have cross words, our son gets upset. There's no oppressive partner in our relationship, or extreme fragility. It's just that I know I'm right. It's just the way our relationship is, and always has been. The fact we've never had money problems probably helps, as I think many arguments have money at, or near, their root.
An ex-colleague of mine said that he and his gf (now wife) used to have monthly scheduled arguments, if they had not had one that month - in order to clear the air of any building tension.
Ever so slightly off topic, I was clearing out a corner of my flat this afternoon. 20 years of accumulated crap. Mostly meaningless. Admin. Paperwork. A useless printer. All purged. Yay
But then suddenly I came across a sketch book that belonged to my ex wife (who I loved very much and only split with coz she wanted babies and I didn’t). It was full of her crazy funny eccentric drawings - even pages embroidered with wool. The epic of Gilgamesh in crayon. All her creativity and wit and uniqueness in o one pad of paper
And I sat there and, I confess, I slightly cried. Just a few manly tears but they were real
What is that? I was perfectly content - happy even. Then suddenly a land mine of emotion and memory exploded in my face and I was plunged into intense sadness
What is the psychology? The evolutionary explanation for these emotions? Very strange
It’s gone now. I’m fine again. But wow
Give it to your daughter and ask her to deal with it as she deems fit. If you want to keep it, drop hints to that effect.
Er, what? Thanks for replying but this was my ex wife’s sketch pad. Nothing to do with my kids (which is a sadness in itself but another story)
It’s the mystery of consciousness. How can molecules and atoms - meat and blood - get together and make memory that makes “sadness” that makes salt water run down my face? And why? What’s the evolutionary purpose? To discourage divorce?!
And these are thoughts, not even thoughts in the moment - memories of previous thoughts….
Sorry. I assumed your daughter was both you and your ex wife’s joint offspring. I should have read your post more closely. (Checks personal IQ and finds failures.)
It is better we have juries that sometimes make mistakes, than we don't have juries at all.
And sometimes juries aquit to prevent an injustice. I don't know this particular case, but it will be popcorn time when Palestine Action come before a jury.
How many of the hundreds arrested last weekend actually got charged with anything in the first place?
Three so far, though many more could be charged later. If they are not charged then the government looks ridiculous, and if they are charged even more so. We have a couple of elderly terrorists in my church congregation now.
What made them want to show support specifically for the proscribed terrorist group, rather than simply supporting international action in Palestine?
It is a basic principle. There are lots of people who do not consider what Palestine Action did to be terrorism. I have to say that I am probably one of them. What they did was certainly illegal and I suppose if you want a high crime to pin on them you might reasonably get away with calling it Treason. But a vast number of people - even those like me who oppose what they did - don't see it as terrorism.
And the really important point here is one of free speech. If I or anyone else disagrees with the actions of the Government - including their proscription of a group - we should be allowed to protest against it. As long as we are not ourselves using violent means.
That is why I think it is wrong to be arresting the protestors. Peaceful protest should never be criminalised, nor should criticising and opposing laws which we feel are fundamentally wrong. To link to another current discussion on here, to me it just seems throughly un-British.
I take a subtly different view. That the actions against the military bases were clearly terrorism, they caused tens of millions of pounds worth of damage to the King’s Army.
The government shouldn’t have proscribed the group, but they should have charged those actually damaging and planning to damage aircraft with treason, and they should be expecting to be behind bars for a decade or more
But also that the right to protest is a key facet of British law, but if this government sees fit to proscribe the terrorist group then they should be expected to throw the book at their supporters, and deal with the political fallout that entails. They’ve instead decided to formally proscribe the group but continue to let them protest basically unhindered every weekend.
Again, no Government should have the right to ban peaceful protest. Indeed it is almost the duty of a good citizen to defy that ban and make the law unworkable.
I agree.
My contention is that the government explicitly proscribed this particular group only weeks ago, yet their overt supporters are being let off and not prosecuted.
The problem is the inconsistency, which only adds to the allegations of “two-tier” justice.
Who's been 'let off'?
Apparently several hundred people were arrested over last weekend for supporting “Palestine Action”, but only three have been charged with any offence.
But all of them have been released on police bail and none of them have had a No Further Action letter yet. So none of them have been 'let off'.
On topic, this happened to me the other day sitting on a train. Couple get on, looks like they are heading for the airport for a holiday.
She is miffed because he has walked her to the 1713 express train rather than their intended 1731 train. This means they will be early, and thus have to change mid-journey and wait 15 minutes or so to get their original train as the express one isn't stopping at their final station.
Not a full blown row, just a series of half-muttered bitter nips, jibes, barbs and non-sequiturs at each other about the fact somehow they've ended up on this slightly earlier train. Netted out they have to wait the same amount of time either way, either at the original station to get a slightly later train or mid journey to transfer to the original train, but they are guaranteed to get there at the original intended time. Still, this displeases her immensely.
I wasn't really trying to listen in or block them out either way, but was hard to avoid somehow being privy to it. I felt quite sorry for the guy. Not "it's your fault we were late, missed our train and flight and now the holiday is RUINED!!" but instead "it's your fault we were early BECAUSE YOU WOULDN'T LISTEN TO ME, now we have to change trains so that we get to the destination at exactly the original time we intended anyway".
I did wonder (a) how their holiday would go and (b) how much mileage was left in the relationship.
Bickering with a partner is par for the course. Mrs Foxy and I were bickering about the playlist while driving earlier. It's perfectly possible to bicker for decades. 36 years for Me and Mrs Foxy this weekend.
I am suspicious of couples that never argue. There's some weird dynamic usually, such as an oppressive partner, or simply extreme fragility as if one sharp word would end things. It must be so wearing to be walking on eggshells the whole time. Not universally of course, Foxy jr and his partner claim to have never argued in 8 years and seem perfectly content.
Happy anniversary @Foxy . You are right, arguing in couples is perfectly normal, you have two individual characters with different life experiences and brains so inevitably there will be clashes. Just don’t do it in public, especially in social situations - I finished with a girlfriend because she would happily kick off at me over dinner etc with friends and I would tell her that whatever happens we deal with it in private later, not only is it fair to others around you as it’s embarrassing for them, but by waiting it often cools the situation before it erupts.
Trump can make life v uncomfortable for Starmer. I’d like to see the US impose a Lucy Connolly tariff.
Yes nothing screams "I love my country" more than seeking a foreign power to engage in a hostile act against it.
I don’t love this country any more
I despise what it has become
Don’t be negative, it’s crappy at the moment, compared to some countries I can’t think of, maybe Denmark but they have high taxes and their women sound like drains when they talk whilst looking attractive.
You despise what it “has become” because you were living in periods where it was the best place to be.
I love the country, I love what it was and what it could be. It’s not great at the moment and could go down several bad routes but I live in hope someone with a brain will find a way back.
I still have a hankering to live in the UK, I have my eyes on a specific house and do consider it, even if for tax reasons I’m limited in time I can spend there. It’s still a great place with a lot of fun people, we don’t take ourselves too seriously. A lot of great pubs and restaurants, great culture, great free museums.
It’s shitty if you don’t have much but where is good if you don’t?
I’ve only lived in Switzerland and France so they are my only good true comparisons and god they have their faults too, and they speak French just to make it worse.
It’s still on the whole, a good place to be.
You misconstrue
I despise the British state and almost every representation of it. I want a revolution (peaceful) where almost everyone in power is driven into exile or maybe put in jail for a long long time
Would I fight for Britain in a war? I’m no longer sure at all
That’s very different from whether it is a pleasant place to live. Lots of despicable countries can be nice places to live
Because Britain - or England or Scotland if you prefer - is not 'The State'. Nor is it the Government or the poltical and chattering classes. It is a society, a history, a culture and a 'terroir' (to use the French wine making term) which is inculcated into our souls by years of exposure and familiarity.
Like you I would not fight for 'the state' nor for any of those who lead or control it. But I would fight for all those other things I listed and for the people that share them with me.
Clearly this is a hypothetical. I am a bit aged to be called up, but as a hypothetical it is interesting
As I said, I genuinely don't know if I would fight any more. To defend this rotten edifice of hypocrisy piled on venality, sired by stupidity? Hmmm
I guess it would depend on the enemy and their intentions. If it was Putin, yeah, I'd fight, if it was some militia of American free speechers, come to help the Brits overthrow the regime, I'd join the Americans
‘If it was Putin, yeah, I'd fight’
I have to ask, for or against?
I sometimes wonder if Putin is already running the British state the way it actively seeks to destroy Britain.
EXCLUSIVE: Newsnight can reveal there has been another Afghan data breach. The Ministry of Defence sent emails to those affected on Friday afternoon 🧵
Let’s just be clear - are the people attacking this case demanding trial by mob? People who are “obviously” guilty as assessed by “evidence” posted on social media?
I’ve just given two two examples this week where the “obvious” “evidence was bullshit.
We either protect our jury system - and it isn’t perfect - or we have mob rule.
Or we have judge rule in trials throughout, which they may well like even less
Ever so slightly off topic, I was clearing out a corner of my flat this afternoon. 20 years of accumulated crap. Mostly meaningless. Admin. Paperwork. A useless printer. All purged. Yay
But then suddenly I came across a sketch book that belonged to my ex wife (who I loved very much and only split with coz she wanted babies and I didn’t). It was full of her crazy funny eccentric drawings - even pages embroidered with wool. The epic of Gilgamesh in crayon. All her creativity and wit and uniqueness in o one pad of paper
And I sat there and, I confess, I slightly cried. Just a few manly tears but they were real
What is that? I was perfectly content - happy even. Then suddenly a land mine of emotion and memory exploded in my face and I was plunged into intense sadness
What is the psychology? The evolutionary explanation for these emotions? Very strange
It’s gone now. I’m fine again. But wow
Is it possible to exist without a printer now?
I use mine regularly but I'm someone who doesn't want to be totally digital (and often can't be in rural Hampshire)
This evening I printed off the pace notes for my race on Sunday, to be stuck on the water bottle that will sit below my bike computer and between my arms. Not a vital task, but a useful one.
Having a printer on hand is really handy - I often print out maps of walks or runs, because I find a paper map easier to read than an electronic one, for various reasons. In fact, if it's also a combined scanner, then it's even more useful.
"Her Honour Judge Dean is listed as a Diversity and Community Relations Judge (DCRJ), a role that involves promoting diversity and community engagement in the judicial system.
"HHJ Dean covers the area around Snaresbrook Crown Court. She has also supported diversity efforts, such as assisting with visits from Diversity and Community Relations Magistrates at Harrow Crown Court. Additionally, her participation in events like the London Law Collective, where she delivered a keynote speech, highlights her role in inspiring diversity in the legal profession.
"Diversity and Community Relations Judges across England and Wales undertake a huge amount of community engagement in a voluntary capacity. They also seek to encourage legal professionals from under-represented groups to consider a judicial career."
It was probably her wise and expert legal guidance in the field of diversity that allowed the jury to return a verdict of Not Guilty, despite overwhelming evidence of guilt, in just thirty minutes
No, it was probably the fact the jury was from overwhelmingly Labour Walthamstow.
How do you know they were from Walthamstow?
I was "called up" for Snaresbrook back in 1994, and I don't live in Walthamstow.
To tie threads together, my ex wife and I only ever had one argument. In four years of marriage. And it lasted two minutes and it was about “who ate all the nice salami” during lockdown 1. Then we started laughing
That’s how perfectly we were matched. We simply never argued and we always made each other laugh. And perhaps that explains why I was so sad earlier
I met a unique person. A soulmate. Don’t ever do that
Re the trial of the Labour councillor acquitted of encouraging violent disorder at Snaresbrook Crown Court. Had be been tried by a jury at Basildon Crown Court I venture he may well have been found guilty.
That is one of the drawbacks of jury trial it can depend on where the jury is drawn from, especially if a political, racial or religious element. However to his credit Jacob Rees Mogg still accepts that as he believes in juries in principle even if he disagreed with verdicts like the slave owner statue damage acquittal in Bristol.
Shame Cleverly and Philp did not follow JRM but jumped on the populist bandwagon earlier before thinking through the logic of their comments ie that all trials should be judge only with no juries at Crown Court level.
Speaking of which JRM owns Cleverly and Philp. JRM is a rightwinger with a brain, not an unthinking populist.
'This is self-evidently not an example of two-tier justice as this Councillor was cleared by a jury. Lucy Connolly offered a guilty plea so did not have a jury trial, although she probably could have done had she pleaded not guilty.' https://x.com/Jacob_Rees_Mogg/status/1956379270445752482
He doesn't actually know the law, though, if he only thinks Connolly could "probably" have had a jury trial had she pleaded not guilty. She could definitely have had a jury trial, as she was charged with an offence potentially (and indeed actually) attracting a sentence of custody of over six months. So had she pleaded not guilty, she'd have had an absolute right to opt to have a jury trial.
That’s a bit harsh. He probably thought she could have but hadn’t researched it so added in a caveat. I’d rather that then a politician who blusters.
It is better we have juries that sometimes make mistakes, than we don't have juries at all.
And sometimes juries aquit to prevent an injustice. I don't know this particular case, but it will be popcorn time when Palestine Action come before a jury.
How many of the hundreds arrested last weekend actually got charged with anything in the first place?
Three so far, though many more could be charged later. If they are not charged then the government looks ridiculous, and if they are charged even more so. We have a couple of elderly terrorists in my church congregation now.
What made them want to show support specifically for the proscribed terrorist group, rather than simply supporting international action in Palestine?
It is a basic principle. There are lots of people who do not consider what Palestine Action did to be terrorism. I have to say that I am probably one of them. What they did was certainly illegal and I suppose if you want a high crime to pin on them you might reasonably get away with calling it Treason. But a vast number of people - even those like me who oppose what they did - don't see it as terrorism.
And the really important point here is one of free speech. If I or anyone else disagrees with the actions of the Government - including their proscription of a group - we should be allowed to protest against it. As long as we are not ourselves using violent means.
That is why I think it is wrong to be arresting the protestors. Peaceful protest should never be criminalised, nor should criticising and opposing laws which we feel are fundamentally wrong. To link to another current discussion on here, to me it just seems throughly un-British.
I take a subtly different view. That the actions against the military bases were clearly terrorism, they caused tens of millions of pounds worth of damage to the King’s Army.
The government shouldn’t have proscribed the group, but they should have charged those actually damaging and planning to damage aircraft with treason, and they should be expecting to be behind bars for a decade or more
But also that the right to protest is a key facet of British law, but if this government sees fit to proscribe the terrorist group then they should be expected to throw the book at their supporters, and deal with the political fallout that entails. They’ve instead decided to formally proscribe the group but continue to let them protest basically unhindered every weekend.
Hang on.
Up until the penultimate paragraph, I'm with you.
You can support (verbally and in your head) what the hell you like. What you cannot do is cross the line into providing aid.
No, the government explicitly proscribed supporting this organisation.
I don’t agree with this, I think that freedom of speech is more important.
But if the government does proscribe the organisation, then those who turn up to support them should be remanded in custody and be expecting decade-long sentences.
What’s actually happening is that they’re continuing their protests every weekend.
The government is more interested in the performance of banning an organisation that in private many Labour MPs support. That’s the problem. Two-tier Keir.
Ever so slightly off topic, I was clearing out a corner of my flat this afternoon. 20 years of accumulated crap. Mostly meaningless. Admin. Paperwork. A useless printer. All purged. Yay
But then suddenly I came across a sketch book that belonged to my ex wife (who I loved very much and only split with coz she wanted babies and I didn’t). It was full of her crazy funny eccentric drawings - even pages embroidered with wool. The epic of Gilgamesh in crayon. All her creativity and wit and uniqueness in o one pad of paper
And I sat there and, I confess, I slightly cried. Just a few manly tears but they were real
What is that? I was perfectly content - happy even. Then suddenly a land mine of emotion and memory exploded in my face and I was plunged into intense sadness
What is the psychology? The evolutionary explanation for these emotions? Very strange
It’s gone now. I’m fine again. But wow
Is it possible to exist without a printer now?
I use mine regularly but I'm someone who doesn't want to be totally digital (and often can't be in rural Hampshire)
This evening I printed off the pace notes for my race on Sunday, to be stuck on the water bottle that will sit below my bike computer and between my arms. Not a vital task, but a useful one.
Having a printer on hand is really handy - I often print out maps of walks or runs, because I find a paper map easier to read than an electronic one, for various reasons. In fact, if it's also a combined scanner, then it's even more useful.
"Her Honour Judge Dean is listed as a Diversity and Community Relations Judge (DCRJ), a role that involves promoting diversity and community engagement in the judicial system.
"HHJ Dean covers the area around Snaresbrook Crown Court. She has also supported diversity efforts, such as assisting with visits from Diversity and Community Relations Magistrates at Harrow Crown Court. Additionally, her participation in events like the London Law Collective, where she delivered a keynote speech, highlights her role in inspiring diversity in the legal profession.
"Diversity and Community Relations Judges across England and Wales undertake a huge amount of community engagement in a voluntary capacity. They also seek to encourage legal professionals from under-represented groups to consider a judicial career."
It was probably her wise and expert legal guidance in the field of diversity that allowed the jury to return a verdict of Not Guilty, despite overwhelming evidence of guilt, in just thirty minutes
No, it was probably the fact the jury was from overwhelmingly Labour Walthamstow. Had the jury been from say heavily Reform Basildon the verdict may have been different.
Judges in criminal trials normally sentence on the law and guidelines whatever their political views
Even in Labour Walthamstow what are the chances that all 12 jury members would all be left-wingers? Even in the Colston Four trial there was 1 jury member who wanted them found guilty.
You only need 3 jurors to say 'Not Guilty, you can't change my mind" to guarantee an acquittal (or a retrial in specific situations)
So the jury in the Jones case might have had just three stubborn individuals. And if there was bias, it might have been due to ethnicity rather than politics (but we don't know in this instance, of course)
I posted evidence earlier of racial bias in jurors in the USA. Black American jurors are far more likely to acquit black defendants than white defendants, whereas white jurors show little bias. It would be interesting to find out if there is a similar pattern in the UK
That's not true, 3 can block a guilty verdict, but you need 10 to get a not guilty (technically 9 if there's only 9 left on the jury). If the Jury can't get to a decision as in the Manchester Airport case there is a mistrial and the CPS can try again.
Are you sure? That was my understanding - having literally been the defendant in a trial at the old Bailey! My silk explained it to me
But it was a long time ago and maybe I misremember
Yes, assuming there are 12 jurors at the end of the trial (it differs a bit if someone has been lost) then for a guilty OR a not guilty verdict you need to be 10-2 at least (or 11-1, or 12-0). The difference wihich can cause misunderstanding is that if there is a majority guilty verdict the jury is asked for the score (10-2 etc) but if a not guilty verdict that question is not put.
Any other outcome means a hung jury, which can more or less always mean a retrial if the prosecution wishes. (Eg in the Letby trial the jury was hung on certain counts, one (I think just one) of which were retried.
Any three can block either verdict.
Letby, in her first trial, the super-long one, was found guilty on 7 charges of murder and 7 charges of attempted murder. She was found not guilty of 2 further charges of attempted murder. The jury was hung on the final 6 attempted murder charges. The CPS took one of those to a retrial, and got a guilty verdict. The CPS is considering bringing further charges not related to those at the first trial.
I love my country, and I'd like to think if we were in a WW2, or even WW1, situation, then I would volunteer. If they'd have me...
But would I fight for my country *whatever the cause*? I'd hope not, if (say) the government was fascist, or communist, or the cause was, in my view, unjust. But plenty of good Germans fought for Hitler, despite the cause being rather dubious, to say the least. And there are probably lots of normally 'good' Russians fighting an unjust war for their country in Ukraine.
Ever so slightly off topic, I was clearing out a corner of my flat this afternoon. 20 years of accumulated crap. Mostly meaningless. Admin. Paperwork. A useless printer. All purged. Yay
But then suddenly I came across a sketch book that belonged to my ex wife (who I loved very much and only split with coz she wanted babies and I didn’t). It was full of her crazy funny eccentric drawings - even pages embroidered with wool. The epic of Gilgamesh in crayon. All her creativity and wit and uniqueness in o one pad of paper
And I sat there and, I confess, I slightly cried. Just a few manly tears but they were real
What is that? I was perfectly content - happy even. Then suddenly a land mine of emotion and memory exploded in my face and I was plunged into intense sadness
What is the psychology? The evolutionary explanation for these emotions? Very strange
It’s gone now. I’m fine again. But wow
Give it to your daughter and ask her to deal with it as she deems fit. If you want to keep it, drop hints to that effect.
Er, what? Thanks for replying but this was my ex wife’s sketch pad. Nothing to do with my kids (which is a sadness in itself but another story)
It’s the mystery of consciousness. How can molecules and atoms - meat and blood - get together and make memory that makes “sadness” that makes salt water run down my face? And why? What’s the evolutionary purpose? To discourage divorce?!
And these are thoughts, not even thoughts in the moment - memories of previous thoughts….
Sorry. I assumed your daughter was both you and your ex wife’s joint offspring. I should have read your post more closely. (Checks personal IQ and finds failures.)
In fairness, it wasn't an unreasonable conclusion to jump to without a careful reading of the post and/or particularly detailed knowledge of Leon's back story.
I cried unexpectedly too today. I was (because they asked) telling the girls the story of our miscarriage before our eldest was born, and suddenly all the rawness of it came back. All is fiine now of course, and if we hadn't lost that one we wouldn't have the ones we have now - but no way of knowing that at the time.
Anyway, keeping it light, I've had a splendid day. Llandudno is wonderful. Like, I imagine, British seaside towns used to be - but somehow hasn't been killed off by cheap trips abroad like others have. And its setting is magical. The Great Orme derives its name from 'worm' in its ancient sense of wingless dragon, and I can completely see why.
Ever so slightly off topic, I was clearing out a corner of my flat this afternoon. 20 years of accumulated crap. Mostly meaningless. Admin. Paperwork. A useless printer. All purged. Yay
But then suddenly I came across a sketch book that belonged to my ex wife (who I loved very much and only split with coz she wanted babies and I didn’t). It was full of her crazy funny eccentric drawings - even pages embroidered with wool. The epic of Gilgamesh in crayon. All her creativity and wit and uniqueness in o one pad of paper
And I sat there and, I confess, I slightly cried. Just a few manly tears but they were real
What is that? I was perfectly content - happy even. Then suddenly a land mine of emotion and memory exploded in my face and I was plunged into intense sadness
What is the psychology? The evolutionary explanation for these emotions? Very strange
It’s gone now. I’m fine again. But wow
Post it back to her.
Maybe I will. For now I’ve carefully and gently stored it out of sight like it’s some precious but dangerous explosive
Reach out to her, say hi, perhaps agree to meet with her for a drink somewhere you’ve been before…
Ever so slightly off topic, I was clearing out a corner of my flat this afternoon. 20 years of accumulated crap. Mostly meaningless. Admin. Paperwork. A useless printer. All purged. Yay
But then suddenly I came across a sketch book that belonged to my ex wife (who I loved very much and only split with coz she wanted babies and I didn’t). It was full of her crazy funny eccentric drawings - even pages embroidered with wool. The epic of Gilgamesh in crayon. All her creativity and wit and uniqueness in o one pad of paper
And I sat there and, I confess, I slightly cried. Just a few manly tears but they were real
What is that? I was perfectly content - happy even. Then suddenly a land mine of emotion and memory exploded in my face and I was plunged into intense sadness
What is the psychology? The evolutionary explanation for these emotions? Very strange
It’s gone now. I’m fine again. But wow
Give it to your daughter and ask her to deal with it as she deems fit. If you want to keep it, drop hints to that effect.
Er, what? Thanks for replying but this was my ex wife’s sketch pad. Nothing to do with my kids (which is a sadness in itself but another story)
It’s the mystery of consciousness. How can molecules and atoms - meat and blood - get together and make memory that makes “sadness” that makes salt water run down my face? And why? What’s the evolutionary purpose? To discourage divorce?!
And these are thoughts, not even thoughts in the moment - memories of previous thoughts….
Sorry. I assumed your daughter was both you and your ex wife’s joint offspring. I should have read your post more closely. (Checks personal IQ and finds failures.)
In fairness, it wasn't an unreasonable conclusion to jump to without a careful reading of the post and/or particularly detailed knowledge of Leon's back story.
I cried unexpectedly too today. I was (because they asked) telling the girls the story of our miscarriage before our eldest was born, and suddenly all the rawness of it came back. All is fiine now of course, and if we hadn't lost that one we wouldn't have the ones we have now - but no way of knowing that at the time.
Anyway, keeping it light, I've had a splendid day. Llandudno is wonderful. Like, I imagine, British seaside towns used to be - but somehow hasn't been killed off by cheap trips abroad like others have. And its setting is magical. The Great Orme derives its name from 'worm' in its ancient sense of wingless dragon, and I can completely see why.
Completely agree on Llandudno, they have avoided the fate of many faded resorts like Colwyn Bay and Rhyl (especially Rhyl).
Ever so slightly off topic, I was clearing out a corner of my flat this afternoon. 20 years of accumulated crap. Mostly meaningless. Admin. Paperwork. A useless printer. All purged. Yay
But then suddenly I came across a sketch book that belonged to my ex wife (who I loved very much and only split with coz she wanted babies and I didn’t). It was full of her crazy funny eccentric drawings - even pages embroidered with wool. The epic of Gilgamesh in crayon. All her creativity and wit and uniqueness in o one pad of paper
And I sat there and, I confess, I slightly cried. Just a few manly tears but they were real
What is that? I was perfectly content - happy even. Then suddenly a land mine of emotion and memory exploded in my face and I was plunged into intense sadness
What is the psychology? The evolutionary explanation for these emotions? Very strange
It’s gone now. I’m fine again. But wow
Give it to your daughter and ask her to deal with it as she deems fit. If you want to keep it, drop hints to that effect.
Er, what? Thanks for replying but this was my ex wife’s sketch pad. Nothing to do with my kids (which is a sadness in itself but another story)
It’s the mystery of consciousness. How can molecules and atoms - meat and blood - get together and make memory that makes “sadness” that makes salt water run down my face? And why? What’s the evolutionary purpose? To discourage divorce?!
And these are thoughts, not even thoughts in the moment - memories of previous thoughts….
Sorry. I assumed your daughter was both you and your ex wife’s joint offspring. I should have read your post more closely. (Checks personal IQ and finds failures.)
In fairness, it wasn't an unreasonable conclusion to jump to without a careful reading of the post and/or particularly detailed knowledge of Leon's back story.
I cried unexpectedly too today. I was (because they asked) telling the girls the story of our miscarriage before our eldest was born, and suddenly all the rawness of it came back. All is fiine now of course, and if we hadn't lost that one we wouldn't have the ones we have now - but no way of knowing that at the time.
Anyway, keeping it light, I've had a splendid day. Llandudno is wonderful. Like, I imagine, British seaside towns used to be - but somehow hasn't been killed off by cheap trips abroad like others have. And its setting is magical. The Great Orme derives its name from 'worm' in its ancient sense of wingless dragon, and I can completely see why.
I think this should be an annual event. A day in summer PBers should talk about when and why they last cried
Not obligatory but a nice contrast to the macho geekery
Also sorry to hear your story, glad it turned out ok in so many ways!
To tie threads together, my ex wife and I only ever had one argument. In four years of marriage. And it lasted two minutes and it was about “who ate all the nice salami” during lockdown 1. Then we started laughing
That’s how perfectly we were matched. We simply never argued and we always made each other laugh. And perhaps that explains why I was so sad earlier
I met a unique person. A soulmate. Don’t ever do that
Sounds like you should still be together but your choice I suppose
On topic, this happened to me the other day sitting on a train. Couple get on, looks like they are heading for the airport for a holiday.
She is miffed because he has walked her to the 1713 express train rather than their intended 1731 train. This means they will be early, and thus have to change mid-journey and wait 15 minutes or so to get their original train as the express one isn't stopping at their final station.
Not a full blown row, just a series of half-muttered bitter nips, jibes, barbs and non-sequiturs at each other about the fact somehow they've ended up on this slightly earlier train. Netted out they have to wait the same amount of time either way, either at the original station to get a slightly later train or mid journey to transfer to the original train, but they are guaranteed to get there at the original intended time. Still, this displeases her immensely.
I wasn't really trying to listen in or block them out either way, but was hard to avoid somehow being privy to it. I felt quite sorry for the guy. Not "it's your fault we were late, missed our train and flight and now the holiday is RUINED!!" but instead "it's your fault we were early BECAUSE YOU WOULDN'T LISTEN TO ME, now we have to change trains so that we get to the destination at exactly the original time we intended anyway".
I did wonder (a) how their holiday would go and (b) how much mileage was left in the relationship.
Bickering with a partner is par for the course. Mrs Foxy and I were bickering about the playlist while driving earlier. It's perfectly possible to bicker for decades. 36 years for Me and Mrs Foxy this weekend.
I am suspicious of couples that never argue. There's some weird dynamic usually, such as an oppressive partner, or simply extreme fragility as if one sharp word would end things. It must be so wearing to be walking on eggshells the whole time. Not universally of course, Foxy jr and his partner claim to have never argued in 8 years and seem perfectly content.
I argue with my wife fairly regularly. My kids long since learned it means nothing; it occasionally disturbs friends, which amuses us.
Ever so slightly off topic, I was clearing out a corner of my flat this afternoon. 20 years of accumulated crap. Mostly meaningless. Admin. Paperwork. A useless printer. All purged. Yay
But then suddenly I came across a sketch book that belonged to my ex wife (who I loved very much and only split with coz she wanted babies and I didn’t). It was full of her crazy funny eccentric drawings - even pages embroidered with wool. The epic of Gilgamesh in crayon. All her creativity and wit and uniqueness in o one pad of paper
And I sat there and, I confess, I slightly cried. Just a few manly tears but they were real
What is that? I was perfectly content - happy even. Then suddenly a land mine of emotion and memory exploded in my face and I was plunged into intense sadness
What is the psychology? The evolutionary explanation for these emotions? Very strange
It’s gone now. I’m fine again. But wow
Give it to your daughter and ask her to deal with it as she deems fit. If you want to keep it, drop hints to that effect.
Er, what? Thanks for replying but this was my ex wife’s sketch pad. Nothing to do with my kids (which is a sadness in itself but another story)
It’s the mystery of consciousness. How can molecules and atoms - meat and blood - get together and make memory that makes “sadness” that makes salt water run down my face? And why? What’s the evolutionary purpose? To discourage divorce?!
And these are thoughts, not even thoughts in the moment - memories of previous thoughts….
Sorry. I assumed your daughter was both you and your ex wife’s joint offspring. I should have read your post more closely. (Checks personal IQ and finds failures.)
In fairness, it wasn't an unreasonable conclusion to jump to without a careful reading of the post and/or particularly detailed knowledge of Leon's back story.
I cried unexpectedly too today. I was (because they asked) telling the girls the story of our miscarriage before our eldest was born, and suddenly all the rawness of it came back. All is fiine now of course, and if we hadn't lost that one we wouldn't have the ones we have now - but no way of knowing that at the time.
Anyway, keeping it light, I've had a splendid day. Llandudno is wonderful. Like, I imagine, British seaside towns used to be - but somehow hasn't been killed off by cheap trips abroad like others have. And its setting is magical. The Great Orme derives its name from 'worm' in its ancient sense of wingless dragon, and I can completely see why.
I think this should be an annual event. A day in summer PBers should talk about when and why they last cried
Not obligatory but a nice contrast to the macho geekery
Also sorry to hear your story, glad it turned out ok in so many ways!
Four years and nine months ago on my own seeing my father in the funeral home in his coffin where I couldn’t conceive that he was him. Will never cry again because nothing else will be worth crying over.
"Her Honour Judge Dean is listed as a Diversity and Community Relations Judge (DCRJ), a role that involves promoting diversity and community engagement in the judicial system.
"HHJ Dean covers the area around Snaresbrook Crown Court. She has also supported diversity efforts, such as assisting with visits from Diversity and Community Relations Magistrates at Harrow Crown Court. Additionally, her participation in events like the London Law Collective, where she delivered a keynote speech, highlights her role in inspiring diversity in the legal profession.
"Diversity and Community Relations Judges across England and Wales undertake a huge amount of community engagement in a voluntary capacity. They also seek to encourage legal professionals from under-represented groups to consider a judicial career."
It was probably her wise and expert legal guidance in the field of diversity that allowed the jury to return a verdict of Not Guilty, despite overwhelming evidence of guilt, in just thirty minutes
No, it was probably the fact the jury was from overwhelmingly Labour Walthamstow. Had the jury been from say heavily Reform Basildon the verdict may have been different.
Judges in criminal trials normally sentence on the law and guidelines whatever their political views
Even in Labour Walthamstow what are the chances that all 12 jury members would all be left-wingers? Even in the Colston Four trial there was 1 jury member who wanted them found guilty.
You only need 3 jurors to say 'Not Guilty, you can't change my mind" to guarantee an acquittal (or a retrial in specific situations)
So the jury in the Jones case might have had just three stubborn individuals. And if there was bias, it might have been due to ethnicity rather than politics (but we don't know in this instance, of course)
I posted evidence earlier of racial bias in jurors in the USA. Black American jurors are far more likely to acquit black defendants than white defendants, whereas white jurors show little bias. It would be interesting to find out if there is a similar pattern in the UK
Stubbornness isn't consistent with a 30 minute verdict. Given the timeframe, it's pretty likely that they were all agreed.
And given the different histories of racism in the UK and USA, a shiny sixpence says that the racial bias issue among juries is less of an effect here than there.
How much is a shiny (=mint condition) sixpence worth nowadays?
Can't see it, Rayner's chance passed when she didn't stand in 2020. The membership remaining is significantly more centre now, Reeves v Streeting for the final two unless Burnham gets into Parliament before Starmer quits.
Yesterday was emotional for the whole family as our eldest got his A level results, but the most remarkable, and touching, thing was his little 11 year old sister who went in with him to the hall of envelopes and emerged weeping profusely while clinging to his arm.
Yesterday was emotional for the whole family as our eldest got his A level results, but the most remarkable, and touching, thing was his little 11 year old sister who went in with him to the hall of envelopes and emerged weeping profusely while clinging to his arm.
Were his results that bad or impossible for her to match?
Can't see it, Rayner's chance passed when she didn't stand in 2020. The membership remaining is significantly more centre now, Reeves v Streeting for the final two unless Burnham gets into Parliament before Starmer quits.
There is no final 2 in Labour, anyone nominated by enough MPs goes straight to the membership and the latest Labourlist poll has Rayner winning any leadership contest comfortably, only Burnham beats her but is not an MP. If the Tories had Labour's election system for its leaders Sunak for example would likely never have become PM and the membership may well have voted Boris back or picked Mordaunt as their leader and PM in late 2022.
Ever so slightly off topic, I was clearing out a corner of my flat this afternoon. 20 years of accumulated crap. Mostly meaningless. Admin. Paperwork. A useless printer. All purged. Yay
But then suddenly I came across a sketch book that belonged to my ex wife (who I loved very much and only split with coz she wanted babies and I didn’t). It was full of her crazy funny eccentric drawings - even pages embroidered with wool. The epic of Gilgamesh in crayon. All her creativity and wit and uniqueness in o one pad of paper
And I sat there and, I confess, I slightly cried. Just a few manly tears but they were real
What is that? I was perfectly content - happy even. Then suddenly a land mine of emotion and memory exploded in my face and I was plunged into intense sadness
What is the psychology? The evolutionary explanation for these emotions? Very strange
It’s gone now. I’m fine again. But wow
Give it to your daughter and ask her to deal with it as she deems fit. If you want to keep it, drop hints to that effect.
Er, what? Thanks for replying but this was my ex wife’s sketch pad. Nothing to do with my kids (which is a sadness in itself but another story)
It’s the mystery of consciousness. How can molecules and atoms - meat and blood - get together and make memory that makes “sadness” that makes salt water run down my face? And why? What’s the evolutionary purpose? To discourage divorce?!
And these are thoughts, not even thoughts in the moment - memories of previous thoughts….
Sorry. I assumed your daughter was both you and your ex wife’s joint offspring. I should have read your post more closely. (Checks personal IQ and finds failures.)
In fairness, it wasn't an unreasonable conclusion to jump to without a careful reading of the post and/or particularly detailed knowledge of Leon's back story.
I cried unexpectedly too today. I was (because they asked) telling the girls the story of our miscarriage before our eldest was born, and suddenly all the rawness of it came back. All is fiine now of course, and if we hadn't lost that one we wouldn't have the ones we have now - but no way of knowing that at the time.
Anyway, keeping it light, I've had a splendid day. Llandudno is wonderful. Like, I imagine, British seaside towns used to be - but somehow hasn't been killed off by cheap trips abroad like others have. And its setting is magical. The Great Orme derives its name from 'worm' in its ancient sense of wingless dragon, and I can completely see why.
I think this should be an annual event. A day in summer PBers should talk about when and why they last cried
Not obligatory but a nice contrast to the macho geekery
Also sorry to hear your story, glad it turned out ok in so many ways!
One of my best friend’s 100 year old mother died on Tuesday night, I confess I let out a sob when he called to tell me. I cry at episodes of Car SOS nowadays though.
"Her Honour Judge Dean is listed as a Diversity and Community Relations Judge (DCRJ), a role that involves promoting diversity and community engagement in the judicial system.
"HHJ Dean covers the area around Snaresbrook Crown Court. She has also supported diversity efforts, such as assisting with visits from Diversity and Community Relations Magistrates at Harrow Crown Court. Additionally, her participation in events like the London Law Collective, where she delivered a keynote speech, highlights her role in inspiring diversity in the legal profession.
"Diversity and Community Relations Judges across England and Wales undertake a huge amount of community engagement in a voluntary capacity. They also seek to encourage legal professionals from under-represented groups to consider a judicial career."
It was probably her wise and expert legal guidance in the field of diversity that allowed the jury to return a verdict of Not Guilty, despite overwhelming evidence of guilt, in just thirty minutes
No, it was probably the fact the jury was from overwhelmingly Labour Walthamstow. Had the jury been from say heavily Reform Basildon the verdict may have been different.
Judges in criminal trials normally sentence on the law and guidelines whatever their political views
Even in Labour Walthamstow what are the chances that all 12 jury members would all be left-wingers? Even in the Colston Four trial there was 1 jury member who wanted them found guilty.
You only need 3 jurors to say 'Not Guilty, you can't change my mind" to guarantee an acquittal (or a retrial in specific situations)
So the jury in the Jones case might have had just three stubborn individuals. And if there was bias, it might have been due to ethnicity rather than politics (but we don't know in this instance, of course)
I posted evidence earlier of racial bias in jurors in the USA. Black American jurors are far more likely to acquit black defendants than white defendants, whereas white jurors show little bias. It would be interesting to find out if there is a similar pattern in the UK
Stubbornness isn't consistent with a 30 minute verdict. Given the timeframe, it's pretty likely that they were all agreed.
And given the different histories of racism in the UK and USA, a shiny sixpence says that the racial bias issue among juries is less of an effect here than there.
How much is a shiny (=mint condition) sixpence worth nowadays?
"Her Honour Judge Dean is listed as a Diversity and Community Relations Judge (DCRJ), a role that involves promoting diversity and community engagement in the judicial system.
"HHJ Dean covers the area around Snaresbrook Crown Court. She has also supported diversity efforts, such as assisting with visits from Diversity and Community Relations Magistrates at Harrow Crown Court. Additionally, her participation in events like the London Law Collective, where she delivered a keynote speech, highlights her role in inspiring diversity in the legal profession.
"Diversity and Community Relations Judges across England and Wales undertake a huge amount of community engagement in a voluntary capacity. They also seek to encourage legal professionals from under-represented groups to consider a judicial career."
It was probably her wise and expert legal guidance in the field of diversity that allowed the jury to return a verdict of Not Guilty, despite overwhelming evidence of guilt, in just thirty minutes
No, it was probably the fact the jury was from overwhelmingly Labour Walthamstow. Had the jury been from say heavily Reform Basildon the verdict may have been different.
Judges in criminal trials normally sentence on the law and guidelines whatever their political views
Even in Labour Walthamstow what are the chances that all 12 jury members would all be left-wingers? Even in the Colston Four trial there was 1 jury member who wanted them found guilty.
You only need 3 jurors to say 'Not Guilty, you can't change my mind" to guarantee an acquittal (or a retrial in specific situations)
So the jury in the Jones case might have had just three stubborn individuals. And if there was bias, it might have been due to ethnicity rather than politics (but we don't know in this instance, of course)
I posted evidence earlier of racial bias in jurors in the USA. Black American jurors are far more likely to acquit black defendants than white defendants, whereas white jurors show little bias. It would be interesting to find out if there is a similar pattern in the UK
That's not true, 3 can block a guilty verdict, but you need 10 to get a not guilty (technically 9 if there's only 9 left on the jury). If the Jury can't get to a decision as in the Manchester Airport case there is a mistrial and the CPS can try again.
Are you sure? That was my understanding - having literally been the defendant in a trial at the old Bailey! My silk explained it to me
But it was a long time ago and maybe I misremember
Yes, assuming there are 12 jurors at the end of the trial (it differs a bit if someone has been lost) then for a guilty OR a not guilty verdict you need to be 10-2 at least (or 11-1, or 12-0). The difference wihich can cause misunderstanding is that if there is a majority guilty verdict the jury is asked for the score (10-2 etc) but if a not guilty verdict that question is not put.
Any other outcome means a hung jury, which can more or less always mean a retrial if the prosecution wishes. (Eg in the Letby trial the jury was hung on certain counts, one (I think just one) of which were retried.
Any three can block either verdict.
Letby, in her first trial, the super-long one, was found guilty on 7 charges of murder and 7 charges of attempted murder. She was found not guilty of 2 further charges of attempted murder. The jury was hung on the final 6 attempted murder charges. The CPS took one of those to a retrial, and got a guilty verdict. The CPS is considering bringing further charges not related to those at the first trial.
Thanks. On the whole I think it would be a good thing if some further fresh charges were brought, giving the new defence team a chance to see what they can do. Then, if acquitted on all charges, all hell will break loose.
Ever so slightly off topic, I was clearing out a corner of my flat this afternoon. 20 years of accumulated crap. Mostly meaningless. Admin. Paperwork. A useless printer. All purged. Yay
But then suddenly I came across a sketch book that belonged to my ex wife (who I loved very much and only split with coz she wanted babies and I didn’t). It was full of her crazy funny eccentric drawings - even pages embroidered with wool. The epic of Gilgamesh in crayon. All her creativity and wit and uniqueness in o one pad of paper
And I sat there and, I confess, I slightly cried. Just a few manly tears but they were real
What is that? I was perfectly content - happy even. Then suddenly a land mine of emotion and memory exploded in my face and I was plunged into intense sadness
What is the psychology? The evolutionary explanation for these emotions? Very strange
It’s gone now. I’m fine again. But wow
Give it to your daughter and ask her to deal with it as she deems fit. If you want to keep it, drop hints to that effect.
Er, what? Thanks for replying but this was my ex wife’s sketch pad. Nothing to do with my kids (which is a sadness in itself but another story)
It’s the mystery of consciousness. How can molecules and atoms - meat and blood - get together and make memory that makes “sadness” that makes salt water run down my face? And why? What’s the evolutionary purpose? To discourage divorce?!
And these are thoughts, not even thoughts in the moment - memories of previous thoughts….
Sorry. I assumed your daughter was both you and your ex wife’s joint offspring. I should have read your post more closely. (Checks personal IQ and finds failures.)
In fairness, it wasn't an unreasonable conclusion to jump to without a careful reading of the post and/or particularly detailed knowledge of Leon's back story.
I cried unexpectedly too today. I was (because they asked) telling the girls the story of our miscarriage before our eldest was born, and suddenly all the rawness of it came back. All is fiine now of course, and if we hadn't lost that one we wouldn't have the ones we have now - but no way of knowing that at the time.
Anyway, keeping it light, I've had a splendid day. Llandudno is wonderful. Like, I imagine, British seaside towns used to be - but somehow hasn't been killed off by cheap trips abroad like others have. And its setting is magical. The Great Orme derives its name from 'worm' in its ancient sense of wingless dragon, and I can completely see why.
I think this should be an annual event. A day in summer PBers should talk about when and why they last cried
Not obligatory but a nice contrast to the macho geekery
Also sorry to hear your story, glad it turned out ok in so many ways!
Thanks, and all in the past now happily - a short, intense sadness which would have been instantly obviated had we known how the future would have turned out - and we had less than three months to wait until we conceived again, and actually most of that time was, as you would hope, the happiness of young newlyweds: but today, very briefly, I felt again the emotion, and my sympathy for 33-year-old me was acute. I got away with it via a faked sneeze and a quick trip to the toilet and managed not to dampen the mood for everyone else.
"Her Honour Judge Dean is listed as a Diversity and Community Relations Judge (DCRJ), a role that involves promoting diversity and community engagement in the judicial system.
"HHJ Dean covers the area around Snaresbrook Crown Court. She has also supported diversity efforts, such as assisting with visits from Diversity and Community Relations Magistrates at Harrow Crown Court. Additionally, her participation in events like the London Law Collective, where she delivered a keynote speech, highlights her role in inspiring diversity in the legal profession.
"Diversity and Community Relations Judges across England and Wales undertake a huge amount of community engagement in a voluntary capacity. They also seek to encourage legal professionals from under-represented groups to consider a judicial career."
It was probably her wise and expert legal guidance in the field of diversity that allowed the jury to return a verdict of Not Guilty, despite overwhelming evidence of guilt, in just thirty minutes
No, it was probably the fact the jury was from overwhelmingly Labour Walthamstow.
How do you know they were from Walthamstow?
I was "called up" for Snaresbrook back in 1994, and I don't live in Walthamstow.
You live in nearly as strong Labour Ilford
But how do you know the jurors were from Walthamstow?
Bit of an off-topic, IT/AI comment - I apologise. But as I was bit bored, I asked 'claude code' to implement the same project I gave two 3rd-year software engineering students as their summer project. End result - almost perfect.
Total cost: $4.00 Total duration: 16m 28.2s
The equivalent cost if we'd been paying the students just above minimum wage would have been ~£6.5k. Once in a while I like to update my 'boiling frog' tests - and it keeps looking a bit iffy. In no way could claude replace someone working on a decent sized codebase yet, but I worry about a lot of agencies who make decent scratch doing basic apps, brochure sites, etc.
Yesterday was emotional for the whole family as our eldest got his A level results, but the most remarkable, and touching, thing was his little 11 year old sister who went in with him to the hall of envelopes and emerged weeping profusely while clinging to his arm.
Were his results that bad or impossible for her to match?
Neither, hopefully. Hard to say what a par score is until both sides have batted.
On topic, this happened to me the other day sitting on a train. Couple get on, looks like they are heading for the airport for a holiday.
She is miffed because he has walked her to the 1713 express train rather than their intended 1731 train. This means they will be early, and thus have to change mid-journey and wait 15 minutes or so to get their original train as the express one isn't stopping at their final station.
Not a full blown row, just a series of half-muttered bitter nips, jibes, barbs and non-sequiturs at each other about the fact somehow they've ended up on this slightly earlier train. Netted out they have to wait the same amount of time either way, either at the original station to get a slightly later train or mid journey to transfer to the original train, but they are guaranteed to get there at the original intended time. Still, this displeases her immensely.
I wasn't really trying to listen in or block them out either way, but was hard to avoid somehow being privy to it. I felt quite sorry for the guy. Not "it's your fault we were late, missed our train and flight and now the holiday is RUINED!!" but instead "it's your fault we were early BECAUSE YOU WOULDN'T LISTEN TO ME, now we have to change trains so that we get to the destination at exactly the original time we intended anyway".
I did wonder (a) how their holiday would go and (b) how much mileage was left in the relationship.
Bickering with a partner is par for the course. Mrs Foxy and I were bickering about the playlist while driving earlier. It's perfectly possible to bicker for decades. 36 years for Me and Mrs Foxy this weekend.
I am suspicious of couples that never argue. There's some weird dynamic usually, such as an oppressive partner, or simply extreme fragility as if one sharp word would end things. It must be so wearing to be walking on eggshells the whole time. Not universally of course, Foxy jr and his partner claim to have never argued in 8 years and seem perfectly content.
I argue with my wife fairly regularly. My kids long since learned it means nothing; it occasionally disturbs friends, which amuses us.
Everyone has their own relationship quirks, but I had a couple of serious girlfriends before Mrs Foxy, and don't recall arguing with any of them, even including the dumping/being dumped.
Indeed it is part of the attraction to Mrs Foxy. She has always been feisty, indeed I think I realised I was in love when she was giving me a serious dressing down (fully deserved!) A few weeks into our relationship.
Ever so slightly off topic, I was clearing out a corner of my flat this afternoon. 20 years of accumulated crap. Mostly meaningless. Admin. Paperwork. A useless printer. All purged. Yay
But then suddenly I came across a sketch book that belonged to my ex wife (who I loved very much and only split with coz she wanted babies and I didn’t). It was full of her crazy funny eccentric drawings - even pages embroidered with wool. The epic of Gilgamesh in crayon. All her creativity and wit and uniqueness in o one pad of paper
And I sat there and, I confess, I slightly cried. Just a few manly tears but they were real
What is that? I was perfectly content - happy even. Then suddenly a land mine of emotion and memory exploded in my face and I was plunged into intense sadness
What is the psychology? The evolutionary explanation for these emotions? Very strange
It’s gone now. I’m fine again. But wow
Give it to your daughter and ask her to deal with it as she deems fit. If you want to keep it, drop hints to that effect.
Er, what? Thanks for replying but this was my ex wife’s sketch pad. Nothing to do with my kids (which is a sadness in itself but another story)
It’s the mystery of consciousness. How can molecules and atoms - meat and blood - get together and make memory that makes “sadness” that makes salt water run down my face? And why? What’s the evolutionary purpose? To discourage divorce?!
And these are thoughts, not even thoughts in the moment - memories of previous thoughts….
Sorry. I assumed your daughter was both you and your ex wife’s joint offspring. I should have read your post more closely. (Checks personal IQ and finds failures.)
In fairness, it wasn't an unreasonable conclusion to jump to without a careful reading of the post and/or particularly detailed knowledge of Leon's back story.
I cried unexpectedly too today. I was (because they asked) telling the girls the story of our miscarriage before our eldest was born, and suddenly all the rawness of it came back. All is fiine now of course, and if we hadn't lost that one we wouldn't have the ones we have now - but no way of knowing that at the time.
Anyway, keeping it light, I've had a splendid day. Llandudno is wonderful. Like, I imagine, British seaside towns used to be - but somehow hasn't been killed off by cheap trips abroad like others have. And its setting is magical. The Great Orme derives its name from 'worm' in its ancient sense of wingless dragon, and I can completely see why.
I think this should be an annual event. A day in summer PBers should talk about when and why they last cried
Not obligatory but a nice contrast to the macho geekery
Also sorry to hear your story, glad it turned out ok in so many ways!
One of my best friend’s 100 year old mother died on Tuesday night, I confess I let out a sob when he called to tell me. I cry at episodes of Car SOS nowadays though.
I have to admit that I find my lip wobbling and a build up of moisture in my eyes when dogs get killed in films (it’s not their choice to be there guarding the badies/goodies you bastards) but I’m also terrified that if I start crying I might never stop and end up in the Guinness book of records as the man who cried for thirty years.
Ever so slightly off topic, I was clearing out a corner of my flat this afternoon. 20 years of accumulated crap. Mostly meaningless. Admin. Paperwork. A useless printer. All purged. Yay
But then suddenly I came across a sketch book that belonged to my ex wife (who I loved very much and only split with coz she wanted babies and I didn’t). It was full of her crazy funny eccentric drawings - even pages embroidered with wool. The epic of Gilgamesh in crayon. All her creativity and wit and uniqueness in o one pad of paper
And I sat there and, I confess, I slightly cried. Just a few manly tears but they were real
What is that? I was perfectly content - happy even. Then suddenly a land mine of emotion and memory exploded in my face and I was plunged into intense sadness
What is the psychology? The evolutionary explanation for these emotions? Very strange
It’s gone now. I’m fine again. But wow
Is it possible to exist without a printer now?
I’m gonna give it a good go. The gladsome feeling as I chucked out that last fucker was almost as profound as the sadness I felt with my ex’s sketches
On topic, this happened to me the other day sitting on a train. Couple get on, looks like they are heading for the airport for a holiday.
She is miffed because he has walked her to the 1713 express train rather than their intended 1731 train. This means they will be early, and thus have to change mid-journey and wait 15 minutes or so to get their original train as the express one isn't stopping at their final station.
Not a full blown row, just a series of half-muttered bitter nips, jibes, barbs and non-sequiturs at each other about the fact somehow they've ended up on this slightly earlier train. Netted out they have to wait the same amount of time either way, either at the original station to get a slightly later train or mid journey to transfer to the original train, but they are guaranteed to get there at the original intended time. Still, this displeases her immensely.
I wasn't really trying to listen in or block them out either way, but was hard to avoid somehow being privy to it. I felt quite sorry for the guy. Not "it's your fault we were late, missed our train and flight and now the holiday is RUINED!!" but instead "it's your fault we were early BECAUSE YOU WOULDN'T LISTEN TO ME, now we have to change trains so that we get to the destination at exactly the original time we intended anyway".
I did wonder (a) how their holiday would go and (b) how much mileage was left in the relationship.
Bickering with a partner is par for the course. Mrs Foxy and I were bickering about the playlist while driving earlier. It's perfectly possible to bicker for decades. 36 years for Me and Mrs Foxy this weekend.
I am suspicious of couples that never argue. There's some weird dynamic usually, such as an oppressive partner, or simply extreme fragility as if one sharp word would end things. It must be so wearing to be walking on eggshells the whole time. Not universally of course, Foxy jr and his partner claim to have never argued in 8 years and seem perfectly content.
I argue with my wife fairly regularly. My kids long since learned it means nothing; it occasionally disturbs friends, which amuses us.
Everyone has their own relationship quirks, but I had a couple of serious girlfriends before Mrs Foxy, and don't recall arguing with any of them, even including the dumping/being dumped.
Indeed it is part of the attraction to Mrs Foxy. She has always been feisty, indeed I think I realised I was in love when she was giving me a serious dressing down (fully deserved!) A few weeks into our relationship.
Ever so slightly off topic, I was clearing out a corner of my flat this afternoon. 20 years of accumulated crap. Mostly meaningless. Admin. Paperwork. A useless printer. All purged. Yay
But then suddenly I came across a sketch book that belonged to my ex wife (who I loved very much and only split with coz she wanted babies and I didn’t). It was full of her crazy funny eccentric drawings - even pages embroidered with wool. The epic of Gilgamesh in crayon. All her creativity and wit and uniqueness in o one pad of paper
And I sat there and, I confess, I slightly cried. Just a few manly tears but they were real
What is that? I was perfectly content - happy even. Then suddenly a land mine of emotion and memory exploded in my face and I was plunged into intense sadness
What is the psychology? The evolutionary explanation for these emotions? Very strange
It’s gone now. I’m fine again. But wow
Give it to your daughter and ask her to deal with it as she deems fit. If you want to keep it, drop hints to that effect.
Take one picture and frame it; return the book to your ex
Ever so slightly off topic, I was clearing out a corner of my flat this afternoon. 20 years of accumulated crap. Mostly meaningless. Admin. Paperwork. A useless printer. All purged. Yay
But then suddenly I came across a sketch book that belonged to my ex wife (who I loved very much and only split with coz she wanted babies and I didn’t). It was full of her crazy funny eccentric drawings - even pages embroidered with wool. The epic of Gilgamesh in crayon. All her creativity and wit and uniqueness in o one pad of paper
And I sat there and, I confess, I slightly cried. Just a few manly tears but they were real
What is that? I was perfectly content - happy even. Then suddenly a land mine of emotion and memory exploded in my face and I was plunged into intense sadness
What is the psychology? The evolutionary explanation for these emotions? Very strange
It’s gone now. I’m fine again. But wow
Give it to your daughter and ask her to deal with it as she deems fit. If you want to keep it, drop hints to that effect.
Er, what? Thanks for replying but this was my ex wife’s sketch pad. Nothing to do with my kids (which is a sadness in itself but another story)
It’s the mystery of consciousness. How can molecules and atoms - meat and blood - get together and make memory that makes “sadness” that makes salt water run down my face? And why? What’s the evolutionary purpose? To discourage divorce?!
And these are thoughts, not even thoughts in the moment - memories of previous thoughts….
Sorry. I assumed your daughter was both you and your ex wife’s joint offspring. I should have read your post more closely. (Checks personal IQ and finds failures.)
In fairness, it wasn't an unreasonable conclusion to jump to without a careful reading of the post and/or particularly detailed knowledge of Leon's back story.
I cried unexpectedly too today. I was (because they asked) telling the girls the story of our miscarriage before our eldest was born, and suddenly all the rawness of it came back. All is fiine now of course, and if we hadn't lost that one we wouldn't have the ones we have now - but no way of knowing that at the time.
Anyway, keeping it light, I've had a splendid day. Llandudno is wonderful. Like, I imagine, British seaside towns used to be - but somehow hasn't been killed off by cheap trips abroad like others have. And its setting is magical. The Great Orme derives its name from 'worm' in its ancient sense of wingless dragon, and I can completely see why.
I think this should be an annual event. A day in summer PBers should talk about when and why they last cried
Not obligatory but a nice contrast to the macho geekery
Also sorry to hear your story, glad it turned out ok in so many ways!
One of my best friend’s 100 year old mother died on Tuesday night, I confess I let out a sob when he called to tell me. I cry at episodes of Car SOS nowadays though.
I find I cry most profusely at films on long haul flights. I even cried watching “Frank” (a good film for a flight, suitably weird and otherworldly). There’s a word for that phenomenon apparently.
Can't see it, Rayner's chance passed when she didn't stand in 2020. The membership remaining is significantly more centre now, Reeves v Streeting for the final two unless Burnham gets into Parliament before Starmer quits.
There is no final 2 in Labour, anyone nominated by enough MPs goes straight to the membership and the latest Labourlist poll has Rayner winning any leadership contest comfortably, only Burnham beats her but is not an MP. If the Tories had Labour's election system for its leaders Sunak for example would likely never have become PM.
It's an STV election of the membership (currently at least) so if no-one gets to 50% the lowest gets eliminated each round. So there is likely to be a final two.
On topic, this happened to me the other day sitting on a train. Couple get on, looks like they are heading for the airport for a holiday.
She is miffed because he has walked her to the 1713 express train rather than their intended 1731 train. This means they will be early, and thus have to change mid-journey and wait 15 minutes or so to get their original train as the express one isn't stopping at their final station.
Not a full blown row, just a series of half-muttered bitter nips, jibes, barbs and non-sequiturs at each other about the fact somehow they've ended up on this slightly earlier train. Netted out they have to wait the same amount of time either way, either at the original station to get a slightly later train or mid journey to transfer to the original train, but they are guaranteed to get there at the original intended time. Still, this displeases her immensely.
I wasn't really trying to listen in or block them out either way, but was hard to avoid somehow being privy to it. I felt quite sorry for the guy. Not "it's your fault we were late, missed our train and flight and now the holiday is RUINED!!" but instead "it's your fault we were early BECAUSE YOU WOULDN'T LISTEN TO ME, now we have to change trains so that we get to the destination at exactly the original time we intended anyway".
I did wonder (a) how their holiday would go and (b) how much mileage was left in the relationship.
A couple of decades ago I got the last train back from London to Cambridge after a work meeting. Myself and a friend got a taxi back to our respective digs, and the driver spent the entire drive screaming at her daughter over the phone, occasionally swerving across the road for added emphasis. I learnt a lot about their relationship that I really did not need to know.
Oh, and arguments can be silly and deadly: a woman died on the Sawston bypass when she had an argument with her husband over whether they'd bought the right paint from B&Q.
It is better we have juries that sometimes make mistakes, than we don't have juries at all.
And sometimes juries aquit to prevent an injustice. I don't know this particular case, but it will be popcorn time when Palestine Action come before a jury.
How many of the hundreds arrested last weekend actually got charged with anything in the first place?
Three so far, though many more could be charged later. If they are not charged then the government looks ridiculous, and if they are charged even more so. We have a couple of elderly terrorists in my church congregation now.
What made them want to show support specifically for the proscribed terrorist group, rather than simply supporting international action in Palestine?
It is a basic principle. There are lots of people who do not consider what Palestine Action did to be terrorism. I have to say that I am probably one of them. What they did was certainly illegal and I suppose if you want a high crime to pin on them you might reasonably get away with calling it Treason. But a vast number of people - even those like me who oppose what they did - don't see it as terrorism.
And the really important point here is one of free speech. If I or anyone else disagrees with the actions of the Government - including their proscription of a group - we should be allowed to protest against it. As long as we are not ourselves using violent means.
That is why I think it is wrong to be arresting the protestors. Peaceful protest should never be criminalised, nor should criticising and opposing laws which we feel are fundamentally wrong. To link to another current discussion on here, to me it just seems throughly un-British.
I take a subtly different view. That the actions against the military bases were clearly terrorism, they caused tens of millions of pounds worth of damage to the King’s Army.
The government shouldn’t have proscribed the group, but they should have charged those actually damaging and planning to damage aircraft with treason, and they should be expecting to be behind bars for a decade or more
But also that the right to protest is a key facet of British law, but if this government sees fit to proscribe the terrorist group then they should be expected to throw the book at their supporters, and deal with the political fallout that entails. They’ve instead decided to formally proscribe the group but continue to let them protest basically unhindered every weekend.
Again, no Government should have the right to ban peaceful protest. Indeed it is almost the duty of a good citizen to defy that ban and make the law unworkable.
I agree.
My contention is that the government explicitly proscribed this particular group only weeks ago, yet their overt supporters are being let off and not prosecuted.
The problem is the inconsistency, which only adds to the allegations of “two-tier” justice.
Who's been 'let off'?
Apparently several hundred people were arrested over last weekend for supporting “Palestine Action”, but only three have been charged with any offence.
But all of them have been released on police bail and none of them have had a No Further Action letter yet. So none of them have been 'let off'.
Okay, perhaps the other few hundred will be charged in the future.
But to the outside observer these are like speeding tickets, there’s a photo or video recording of explicit support for the proscribed organisation. Many of the placards were printed up by the SWP, who should also be charged as an organisation with supporting terrorism and the equipment of their print shop confiscated.
Ever so slightly off topic, I was clearing out a corner of my flat this afternoon. 20 years of accumulated crap. Mostly meaningless. Admin. Paperwork. A useless printer. All purged. Yay
But then suddenly I came across a sketch book that belonged to my ex wife (who I loved very much and only split with coz she wanted babies and I didn’t). It was full of her crazy funny eccentric drawings - even pages embroidered with wool. The epic of Gilgamesh in crayon. All her creativity and wit and uniqueness in o one pad of paper
And I sat there and, I confess, I slightly cried. Just a few manly tears but they were real
What is that? I was perfectly content - happy even. Then suddenly a land mine of emotion and memory exploded in my face and I was plunged into intense sadness
What is the psychology? The evolutionary explanation for these emotions? Very strange
It’s gone now. I’m fine again. But wow
Give it to your daughter and ask her to deal with it as she deems fit. If you want to keep it, drop hints to that effect.
Er, what? Thanks for replying but this was my ex wife’s sketch pad. Nothing to do with my kids (which is a sadness in itself but another story)
It’s the mystery of consciousness. How can molecules and atoms - meat and blood - get together and make memory that makes “sadness” that makes salt water run down my face? And why? What’s the evolutionary purpose? To discourage divorce?!
And these are thoughts, not even thoughts in the moment - memories of previous thoughts….
Sorry. I assumed your daughter was both you and your ex wife’s joint offspring. I should have read your post more closely. (Checks personal IQ and finds failures.)
In fairness, it wasn't an unreasonable conclusion to jump to without a careful reading of the post and/or particularly detailed knowledge of Leon's back story.
I cried unexpectedly too today. I was (because they asked) telling the girls the story of our miscarriage before our eldest was born, and suddenly all the rawness of it came back. All is fiine now of course, and if we hadn't lost that one we wouldn't have the ones we have now - but no way of knowing that at the time.
Anyway, keeping it light, I've had a splendid day. Llandudno is wonderful. Like, I imagine, British seaside towns used to be - but somehow hasn't been killed off by cheap trips abroad like others have. And its setting is magical. The Great Orme derives its name from 'worm' in its ancient sense of wingless dragon, and I can completely see why.
I think this should be an annual event. A day in summer PBers should talk about when and why they last cried
Not obligatory but a nice contrast to the macho geekery
Also sorry to hear your story, glad it turned out ok in so many ways!
One of my best friend’s 100 year old mother died on Tuesday night, I confess I let out a sob when he called to tell me. I cry at episodes of Car SOS nowadays though.
Yes, me too
I get more openly emotional as I age
Like, I nearly cried at a Taylor Swift video last night. I don't wish to undermine my touchng story from today, but it's true
I don't think it was the profound brilliance of the video, it was more the irrepressible sense of joyous, urgent, youthful lust that it invoked, which made me miss my own youth, and get misty-eyed
Ever so slightly off topic, I was clearing out a corner of my flat this afternoon. 20 years of accumulated crap. Mostly meaningless. Admin. Paperwork. A useless printer. All purged. Yay
But then suddenly I came across a sketch book that belonged to my ex wife (who I loved very much and only split with coz she wanted babies and I didn’t). It was full of her crazy funny eccentric drawings - even pages embroidered with wool. The epic of Gilgamesh in crayon. All her creativity and wit and uniqueness in o one pad of paper
And I sat there and, I confess, I slightly cried. Just a few manly tears but they were real
What is that? I was perfectly content - happy even. Then suddenly a land mine of emotion and memory exploded in my face and I was plunged into intense sadness
What is the psychology? The evolutionary explanation for these emotions? Very strange
It’s gone now. I’m fine again. But wow
Give it to your daughter and ask her to deal with it as she deems fit. If you want to keep it, drop hints to that effect.
Er, what? Thanks for replying but this was my ex wife’s sketch pad. Nothing to do with my kids (which is a sadness in itself but another story)
It’s the mystery of consciousness. How can molecules and atoms - meat and blood - get together and make memory that makes “sadness” that makes salt water run down my face? And why? What’s the evolutionary purpose? To discourage divorce?!
And these are thoughts, not even thoughts in the moment - memories of previous thoughts….
Sorry. I assumed your daughter was both you and your ex wife’s joint offspring. I should have read your post more closely. (Checks personal IQ and finds failures.)
In fairness, it wasn't an unreasonable conclusion to jump to without a careful reading of the post and/or particularly detailed knowledge of Leon's back story.
I cried unexpectedly too today. I was (because they asked) telling the girls the story of our miscarriage before our eldest was born, and suddenly all the rawness of it came back. All is fiine now of course, and if we hadn't lost that one we wouldn't have the ones we have now - but no way of knowing that at the time.
Anyway, keeping it light, I've had a splendid day. Llandudno is wonderful. Like, I imagine, British seaside towns used to be - but somehow hasn't been killed off by cheap trips abroad like others have. And its setting is magical. The Great Orme derives its name from 'worm' in its ancient sense of wingless dragon, and I can completely see why.
Completely agree on Llandudno, they have avoided the fate of many faded resorts like Colwyn Bay and Rhyl (especially Rhyl).
It's a really interesting case study in what has gone right. It has the advantage over some resorts of setting, which is dramatic, but also the disadvantage that the main beach isn't actually that good.
We also went to Conwy - not technically a seaside resort, but also a surprisingly pleasant little town and an interesting case study in what has gone right.
Happy to report also that 20mph limits were nowhere near being the problems I had perceived - the only places I experienced them were places where 20 seemed an entirely reasonable speed to drive.
On topic, this happened to me the other day sitting on a train. Couple get on, looks like they are heading for the airport for a holiday.
She is miffed because he has walked her to the 1713 express train rather than their intended 1731 train. This means they will be early, and thus have to change mid-journey and wait 15 minutes or so to get their original train as the express one isn't stopping at their final station.
Not a full blown row, just a series of half-muttered bitter nips, jibes, barbs and non-sequiturs at each other about the fact somehow they've ended up on this slightly earlier train. Netted out they have to wait the same amount of time either way, either at the original station to get a slightly later train or mid journey to transfer to the original train, but they are guaranteed to get there at the original intended time. Still, this displeases her immensely.
I wasn't really trying to listen in or block them out either way, but was hard to avoid somehow being privy to it. I felt quite sorry for the guy. Not "it's your fault we were late, missed our train and flight and now the holiday is RUINED!!" but instead "it's your fault we were early BECAUSE YOU WOULDN'T LISTEN TO ME, now we have to change trains so that we get to the destination at exactly the original time we intended anyway".
I did wonder (a) how their holiday would go and (b) how much mileage was left in the relationship.
Bickering with a partner is par for the course. Mrs Foxy and I were bickering about the playlist while driving earlier. It's perfectly possible to bicker for decades. 36 years for Me and Mrs Foxy this weekend.
I am suspicious of couples that never argue. There's some weird dynamic usually, such as an oppressive partner, or simply extreme fragility as if one sharp word would end things. It must be so wearing to be walking on eggshells the whole time. Not universally of course, Foxy jr and his partner claim to have never argued in 8 years and seem perfectly content.
I argue with my wife fairly regularly. My kids long since learned it means nothing; it occasionally disturbs friends, which amuses us.
Everyone has their own relationship quirks, but I had a couple of serious girlfriends before Mrs Foxy, and don't recall arguing with any of them, even including the dumping/being dumped.
Indeed it is part of the attraction to Mrs Foxy. She has always been feisty, indeed I think I realised I was in love when she was giving me a serious dressing down (fully deserved!) A few weeks into our relationship.
I have quite a lot of marital arguments, including a number of political ones (she thinks I’m very right wing) but my parents almost never argued or even bickered, so for the first decade of my marriage I thought we were freakishly warlike as a couple.
John Bolton @AmbJohnBolton · 1h It’s a mistake for Ukraine to agree to a ceasefire. If there’s a ceasefire and lines are drawn at battlefronts, those ceasefire lines become the new Russia-Ukraine border, ceding significant territory to Russia.
Ever so slightly off topic, I was clearing out a corner of my flat this afternoon. 20 years of accumulated crap. Mostly meaningless. Admin. Paperwork. A useless printer. All purged. Yay
But then suddenly I came across a sketch book that belonged to my ex wife (who I loved very much and only split with coz she wanted babies and I didn’t). It was full of her crazy funny eccentric drawings - even pages embroidered with wool. The epic of Gilgamesh in crayon. All her creativity and wit and uniqueness in o one pad of paper
And I sat there and, I confess, I slightly cried. Just a few manly tears but they were real
What is that? I was perfectly content - happy even. Then suddenly a land mine of emotion and memory exploded in my face and I was plunged into intense sadness
What is the psychology? The evolutionary explanation for these emotions? Very strange
It’s gone now. I’m fine again. But wow
Give it to your daughter and ask her to deal with it as she deems fit. If you want to keep it, drop hints to that effect.
Er, what? Thanks for replying but this was my ex wife’s sketch pad. Nothing to do with my kids (which is a sadness in itself but another story)
It’s the mystery of consciousness. How can molecules and atoms - meat and blood - get together and make memory that makes “sadness” that makes salt water run down my face? And why? What’s the evolutionary purpose? To discourage divorce?!
And these are thoughts, not even thoughts in the moment - memories of previous thoughts….
Sorry. I assumed your daughter was both you and your ex wife’s joint offspring. I should have read your post more closely. (Checks personal IQ and finds failures.)
In fairness, it wasn't an unreasonable conclusion to jump to without a careful reading of the post and/or particularly detailed knowledge of Leon's back story.
I cried unexpectedly too today. I was (because they asked) telling the girls the story of our miscarriage before our eldest was born, and suddenly all the rawness of it came back. All is fiine now of course, and if we hadn't lost that one we wouldn't have the ones we have now - but no way of knowing that at the time.
Anyway, keeping it light, I've had a splendid day. Llandudno is wonderful. Like, I imagine, British seaside towns used to be - but somehow hasn't been killed off by cheap trips abroad like others have. And its setting is magical. The Great Orme derives its name from 'worm' in its ancient sense of wingless dragon, and I can completely see why.
Completely agree on Llandudno, they have avoided the fate of many faded resorts like Colwyn Bay and Rhyl (especially Rhyl).
It's a really interesting case study in what has gone right. It has the advantage over some resorts of setting, which is dramatic, but also the disadvantage that the main beach isn't actually that good.
We also went to Conwy - not technically a seaside resort, but also a surprisingly pleasant little town and an interesting case study in what has gone right.
Happy to report also that 20mph limits were nowhere near being the problems I had perceived - the only places I experienced them were places where 20 seemed an entirely reasonable speed to drive.
At the other end of Wales Mumbles is another resort that gets it right (as do most places West of there).
Ever so slightly off topic, I was clearing out a corner of my flat this afternoon. 20 years of accumulated crap. Mostly meaningless. Admin. Paperwork. A useless printer. All purged. Yay
But then suddenly I came across a sketch book that belonged to my ex wife (who I loved very much and only split with coz she wanted babies and I didn’t). It was full of her crazy funny eccentric drawings - even pages embroidered with wool. The epic of Gilgamesh in crayon. All her creativity and wit and uniqueness in o one pad of paper
And I sat there and, I confess, I slightly cried. Just a few manly tears but they were real
What is that? I was perfectly content - happy even. Then suddenly a land mine of emotion and memory exploded in my face and I was plunged into intense sadness
What is the psychology? The evolutionary explanation for these emotions? Very strange
It’s gone now. I’m fine again. But wow
Is it possible to exist without a printer now?
I use mine regularly but I'm someone who doesn't want to be totally digital (and often can't be in rural Hampshire)
Ever so slightly off topic, I was clearing out a corner of my flat this afternoon. 20 years of accumulated crap. Mostly meaningless. Admin. Paperwork. A useless printer. All purged. Yay
But then suddenly I came across a sketch book that belonged to my ex wife (who I loved very much and only split with coz she wanted babies and I didn’t). It was full of her crazy funny eccentric drawings - even pages embroidered with wool. The epic of Gilgamesh in crayon. All her creativity and wit and uniqueness in o one pad of paper
And I sat there and, I confess, I slightly cried. Just a few manly tears but they were real
What is that? I was perfectly content - happy even. Then suddenly a land mine of emotion and memory exploded in my face and I was plunged into intense sadness
What is the psychology? The evolutionary explanation for these emotions? Very strange
It’s gone now. I’m fine again. But wow
Give it to your daughter and ask her to deal with it as she deems fit. If you want to keep it, drop hints to that effect.
Er, what? Thanks for replying but this was my ex wife’s sketch pad. Nothing to do with my kids (which is a sadness in itself but another story)
It’s the mystery of consciousness. How can molecules and atoms - meat and blood - get together and make memory that makes “sadness” that makes salt water run down my face? And why? What’s the evolutionary purpose? To discourage divorce?!
And these are thoughts, not even thoughts in the moment - memories of previous thoughts….
Sorry. I assumed your daughter was both you and your ex wife’s joint offspring. I should have read your post more closely. (Checks personal IQ and finds failures.)
In fairness, it wasn't an unreasonable conclusion to jump to without a careful reading of the post and/or particularly detailed knowledge of Leon's back story.
I cried unexpectedly too today. I was (because they asked) telling the girls the story of our miscarriage before our eldest was born, and suddenly all the rawness of it came back. All is fiine now of course, and if we hadn't lost that one we wouldn't have the ones we have now - but no way of knowing that at the time.
Anyway, keeping it light, I've had a splendid day. Llandudno is wonderful. Like, I imagine, British seaside towns used to be - but somehow hasn't been killed off by cheap trips abroad like others have. And its setting is magical. The Great Orme derives its name from 'worm' in its ancient sense of wingless dragon, and I can completely see why.
I think this should be an annual event. A day in summer PBers should talk about when and why they last cried
Not obligatory but a nice contrast to the macho geekery
Also sorry to hear your story, glad it turned out ok in so many ways!
One of my best friend’s 100 year old mother died on Tuesday night, I confess I let out a sob when he called to tell me. I cry at episodes of Car SOS nowadays though.
Yes, me too
I get more openly emotional as I age
Like, I nearly cried at a Taylor Swift video last night. I don't wish to undermine my touchng story from today, but it's true
I don't think it was the profound brilliance of the video, it was more the irrepressible sense of joyous, urgent, youthful lust that it invoked, which made me miss my own youth, and get misty-eyed
There is a video by Wolf Alice for their song Don’t delete the kisses which brings me close. The video is this good looking couple, clearly UCL students, on a tube at various points in their relationship drifting towards the end point from the initial fun and flirtation, parties, with friends to the point where they are clearly past each other but still going through that tube journey.
It’s very much a place, literally, I had been and brings back that feeling of the excitement and loss of young love.
Ever so slightly off topic, I was clearing out a corner of my flat this afternoon. 20 years of accumulated crap. Mostly meaningless. Admin. Paperwork. A useless printer. All purged. Yay
But then suddenly I came across a sketch book that belonged to my ex wife (who I loved very much and only split with coz she wanted babies and I didn’t). It was full of her crazy funny eccentric drawings - even pages embroidered with wool. The epic of Gilgamesh in crayon. All her creativity and wit and uniqueness in o one pad of paper
And I sat there and, I confess, I slightly cried. Just a few manly tears but they were real
What is that? I was perfectly content - happy even. Then suddenly a land mine of emotion and memory exploded in my face and I was plunged into intense sadness
What is the psychology? The evolutionary explanation for these emotions? Very strange
It’s gone now. I’m fine again. But wow
Give it to your daughter and ask her to deal with it as she deems fit. If you want to keep it, drop hints to that effect.
Er, what? Thanks for replying but this was my ex wife’s sketch pad. Nothing to do with my kids (which is a sadness in itself but another story)
It’s the mystery of consciousness. How can molecules and atoms - meat and blood - get together and make memory that makes “sadness” that makes salt water run down my face? And why? What’s the evolutionary purpose? To discourage divorce?!
And these are thoughts, not even thoughts in the moment - memories of previous thoughts….
Sorry. I assumed your daughter was both you and your ex wife’s joint offspring. I should have read your post more closely. (Checks personal IQ and finds failures.)
In fairness, it wasn't an unreasonable conclusion to jump to without a careful reading of the post and/or particularly detailed knowledge of Leon's back story.
I cried unexpectedly too today. I was (because they asked) telling the girls the story of our miscarriage before our eldest was born, and suddenly all the rawness of it came back. All is fiine now of course, and if we hadn't lost that one we wouldn't have the ones we have now - but no way of knowing that at the time.
Anyway, keeping it light, I've had a splendid day. Llandudno is wonderful. Like, I imagine, British seaside towns used to be - but somehow hasn't been killed off by cheap trips abroad like others have. And its setting is magical. The Great Orme derives its name from 'worm' in its ancient sense of wingless dragon, and I can completely see why.
I think this should be an annual event. A day in summer PBers should talk about when and why they last cried
Not obligatory but a nice contrast to the macho geekery
Also sorry to hear your story, glad it turned out ok in so many ways!
Thanks, and all in the past now happily - a short, intense sadness which would have been instantly obviated had we known how the future would have turned out - and we had less than three months to wait until we conceived again, and actually most of that time was, as you would hope, the happiness of young newlyweds: but today, very briefly, I felt again the emotion, and my sympathy for 33-year-old me was acute. I got away with it via a faked sneeze and a quick trip to the toilet and managed not to dampen the mood for everyone else.
Nicely done
Knowing how to conceal tears is a crucial masculine talent
You are allowed maybe one public and flinty tear, every few years, but any more than that and you must step outside
Ever so slightly off topic, I was clearing out a corner of my flat this afternoon. 20 years of accumulated crap. Mostly meaningless. Admin. Paperwork. A useless printer. All purged. Yay
But then suddenly I came across a sketch book that belonged to my ex wife (who I loved very much and only split with coz she wanted babies and I didn’t). It was full of her crazy funny eccentric drawings - even pages embroidered with wool. The epic of Gilgamesh in crayon. All her creativity and wit and uniqueness in o one pad of paper
And I sat there and, I confess, I slightly cried. Just a few manly tears but they were real
What is that? I was perfectly content - happy even. Then suddenly a land mine of emotion and memory exploded in my face and I was plunged into intense sadness
What is the psychology? The evolutionary explanation for these emotions? Very strange
It’s gone now. I’m fine again. But wow
Give it to your daughter and ask her to deal with it as she deems fit. If you want to keep it, drop hints to that effect.
Er, what? Thanks for replying but this was my ex wife’s sketch pad. Nothing to do with my kids (which is a sadness in itself but another story)
It’s the mystery of consciousness. How can molecules and atoms - meat and blood - get together and make memory that makes “sadness” that makes salt water run down my face? And why? What’s the evolutionary purpose? To discourage divorce?!
And these are thoughts, not even thoughts in the moment - memories of previous thoughts….
Sorry. I assumed your daughter was both you and your ex wife’s joint offspring. I should have read your post more closely. (Checks personal IQ and finds failures.)
In fairness, it wasn't an unreasonable conclusion to jump to without a careful reading of the post and/or particularly detailed knowledge of Leon's back story.
I cried unexpectedly too today. I was (because they asked) telling the girls the story of our miscarriage before our eldest was born, and suddenly all the rawness of it came back. All is fiine now of course, and if we hadn't lost that one we wouldn't have the ones we have now - but no way of knowing that at the time.
Anyway, keeping it light, I've had a splendid day. Llandudno is wonderful. Like, I imagine, British seaside towns used to be - but somehow hasn't been killed off by cheap trips abroad like others have. And its setting is magical. The Great Orme derives its name from 'worm' in its ancient sense of wingless dragon, and I can completely see why.
Completely agree on Llandudno, they have avoided the fate of many faded resorts like Colwyn Bay and Rhyl (especially Rhyl).
It's a really interesting case study in what has gone right. It has the advantage over some resorts of setting, which is dramatic, but also the disadvantage that the main beach isn't actually that good.
We also went to Conwy - not technically a seaside resort, but also a surprisingly pleasant little town and an interesting case study in what has gone right.
Happy to report also that 20mph limits were nowhere near being the problems I had perceived - the only places I experienced them were places where 20 seemed an entirely reasonable speed to drive.
I am on the Isle of Wight this week and there is almost an inverse relationship between how good the beach is and how nice the town. Sandown is probably the best beach, but really run down, while Bembridge is really posh, but a poor beach. There are other similar examples.
It may well be that too much focus on a beach is part of the problem with British seaside resorts, it takes the focus off the town itself. It might be true of other countries too.
Ever so slightly off topic, I was clearing out a corner of my flat this afternoon. 20 years of accumulated crap. Mostly meaningless. Admin. Paperwork. A useless printer. All purged. Yay
But then suddenly I came across a sketch book that belonged to my ex wife (who I loved very much and only split with coz she wanted babies and I didn’t). It was full of her crazy funny eccentric drawings - even pages embroidered with wool. The epic of Gilgamesh in crayon. All her creativity and wit and uniqueness in o one pad of paper
And I sat there and, I confess, I slightly cried. Just a few manly tears but they were real
What is that? I was perfectly content - happy even. Then suddenly a land mine of emotion and memory exploded in my face and I was plunged into intense sadness
What is the psychology? The evolutionary explanation for these emotions? Very strange
It’s gone now. I’m fine again. But wow
Give it to your daughter and ask her to deal with it as she deems fit. If you want to keep it, drop hints to that effect.
Er, what? Thanks for replying but this was my ex wife’s sketch pad. Nothing to do with my kids (which is a sadness in itself but another story)
It’s the mystery of consciousness. How can molecules and atoms - meat and blood - get together and make memory that makes “sadness” that makes salt water run down my face? And why? What’s the evolutionary purpose? To discourage divorce?!
And these are thoughts, not even thoughts in the moment - memories of previous thoughts….
Sorry. I assumed your daughter was both you and your ex wife’s joint offspring. I should have read your post more closely. (Checks personal IQ and finds failures.)
In fairness, it wasn't an unreasonable conclusion to jump to without a careful reading of the post and/or particularly detailed knowledge of Leon's back story.
I cried unexpectedly too today. I was (because they asked) telling the girls the story of our miscarriage before our eldest was born, and suddenly all the rawness of it came back. All is fiine now of course, and if we hadn't lost that one we wouldn't have the ones we have now - but no way of knowing that at the time.
Anyway, keeping it light, I've had a splendid day. Llandudno is wonderful. Like, I imagine, British seaside towns used to be - but somehow hasn't been killed off by cheap trips abroad like others have. And its setting is magical. The Great Orme derives its name from 'worm' in its ancient sense of wingless dragon, and I can completely see why.
I think this should be an annual event. A day in summer PBers should talk about when and why they last cried
Not obligatory but a nice contrast to the macho geekery
Also sorry to hear your story, glad it turned out ok in so many ways!
One of my best friend’s 100 year old mother died on Tuesday night, I confess I let out a sob when he called to tell me. I cry at episodes of Car SOS nowadays though.
Yes, me too
I get more openly emotional as I age
Like, I nearly cried at a Taylor Swift video last night. I don't wish to undermine my touchng story from today, but it's true
I don't think it was the profound brilliance of the video, it was more the irrepressible sense of joyous, urgent, youthful lust that it invoked, which made me miss my own youth, and get misty-eyed
When your daughters and daughters in law have babies and you meet them.
Ever so slightly off topic, I was clearing out a corner of my flat this afternoon. 20 years of accumulated crap. Mostly meaningless. Admin. Paperwork. A useless printer. All purged. Yay
But then suddenly I came across a sketch book that belonged to my ex wife (who I loved very much and only split with coz she wanted babies and I didn’t). It was full of her crazy funny eccentric drawings - even pages embroidered with wool. The epic of Gilgamesh in crayon. All her creativity and wit and uniqueness in o one pad of paper
And I sat there and, I confess, I slightly cried. Just a few manly tears but they were real
What is that? I was perfectly content - happy even. Then suddenly a land mine of emotion and memory exploded in my face and I was plunged into intense sadness
What is the psychology? The evolutionary explanation for these emotions? Very strange
It’s gone now. I’m fine again. But wow
Is it possible to exist without a printer now?
I use mine regularly but I'm someone who doesn't want to be totally digital (and often can't be in rural Hampshire)
This evening I printed off the pace notes for my race on Sunday, to be stuck on the water bottle that will sit below my bike computer and between my arms. Not a vital task, but a useful one.
Having a printer on hand is really handy - I often print out maps of walks or runs, because I find a paper map easier to read than an electronic one, for various reasons. In fact, if it's also a combined scanner, then it's even more useful.
Printing stuff is one of those "in the office day" tasks.
I have not owned a printer in decades.
And I always collect paper train tickets from the machines at the station. None of this e-ticket on your phone malarkey.
Ever so slightly off topic, I was clearing out a corner of my flat this afternoon. 20 years of accumulated crap. Mostly meaningless. Admin. Paperwork. A useless printer. All purged. Yay
But then suddenly I came across a sketch book that belonged to my ex wife (who I loved very much and only split with coz she wanted babies and I didn’t). It was full of her crazy funny eccentric drawings - even pages embroidered with wool. The epic of Gilgamesh in crayon. All her creativity and wit and uniqueness in o one pad of paper
And I sat there and, I confess, I slightly cried. Just a few manly tears but they were real
What is that? I was perfectly content - happy even. Then suddenly a land mine of emotion and memory exploded in my face and I was plunged into intense sadness
What is the psychology? The evolutionary explanation for these emotions? Very strange
It’s gone now. I’m fine again. But wow
Give it to your daughter and ask her to deal with it as she deems fit. If you want to keep it, drop hints to that effect.
Er, what? Thanks for replying but this was my ex wife’s sketch pad. Nothing to do with my kids (which is a sadness in itself but another story)
It’s the mystery of consciousness. How can molecules and atoms - meat and blood - get together and make memory that makes “sadness” that makes salt water run down my face? And why? What’s the evolutionary purpose? To discourage divorce?!
And these are thoughts, not even thoughts in the moment - memories of previous thoughts….
Sorry. I assumed your daughter was both you and your ex wife’s joint offspring. I should have read your post more closely. (Checks personal IQ and finds failures.)
In fairness, it wasn't an unreasonable conclusion to jump to without a careful reading of the post and/or particularly detailed knowledge of Leon's back story.
I cried unexpectedly too today. I was (because they asked) telling the girls the story of our miscarriage before our eldest was born, and suddenly all the rawness of it came back. All is fiine now of course, and if we hadn't lost that one we wouldn't have the ones we have now - but no way of knowing that at the time.
Anyway, keeping it light, I've had a splendid day. Llandudno is wonderful. Like, I imagine, British seaside towns used to be - but somehow hasn't been killed off by cheap trips abroad like others have. And its setting is magical. The Great Orme derives its name from 'worm' in its ancient sense of wingless dragon, and I can completely see why.
Completely agree on Llandudno, they have avoided the fate of many faded resorts like Colwyn Bay and Rhyl (especially Rhyl).
It's a really interesting case study in what has gone right. It has the advantage over some resorts of setting, which is dramatic, but also the disadvantage that the main beach isn't actually that good.
We also went to Conwy - not technically a seaside resort, but also a surprisingly pleasant little town and an interesting case study in what has gone right.
Happy to report also that 20mph limits were nowhere near being the problems I had perceived - the only places I experienced them were places where 20 seemed an entirely reasonable speed to drive.
I am on the Isle of Wight this week and there is almost an inverse relationship between how good the beach is and how nice the town. Sandown is probably the best beach, but really run down, while Bembridge is really posh, but a poor beach. There are other similar examples.
It may well be that too much focus on a beach is part of the problem with British seaside resorts, it takes the focus off the town itself. It might be true of other countries too.
I think you're onto something. Rhyl has a great sandy beach and the sewage outlet pipe goes a couple of miles out to sea now which wasn't the case when I were a child. But no matter how nice the beach is, it's still the Irish Sea.
Ever so slightly off topic, I was clearing out a corner of my flat this afternoon. 20 years of accumulated crap. Mostly meaningless. Admin. Paperwork. A useless printer. All purged. Yay
But then suddenly I came across a sketch book that belonged to my ex wife (who I loved very much and only split with coz she wanted babies and I didn’t). It was full of her crazy funny eccentric drawings - even pages embroidered with wool. The epic of Gilgamesh in crayon. All her creativity and wit and uniqueness in o one pad of paper
And I sat there and, I confess, I slightly cried. Just a few manly tears but they were real
What is that? I was perfectly content - happy even. Then suddenly a land mine of emotion and memory exploded in my face and I was plunged into intense sadness
What is the psychology? The evolutionary explanation for these emotions? Very strange
It’s gone now. I’m fine again. But wow
Give it to your daughter and ask her to deal with it as she deems fit. If you want to keep it, drop hints to that effect.
Er, what? Thanks for replying but this was my ex wife’s sketch pad. Nothing to do with my kids (which is a sadness in itself but another story)
It’s the mystery of consciousness. How can molecules and atoms - meat and blood - get together and make memory that makes “sadness” that makes salt water run down my face? And why? What’s the evolutionary purpose? To discourage divorce?!
And these are thoughts, not even thoughts in the moment - memories of previous thoughts….
Sorry. I assumed your daughter was both you and your ex wife’s joint offspring. I should have read your post more closely. (Checks personal IQ and finds failures.)
In fairness, it wasn't an unreasonable conclusion to jump to without a careful reading of the post and/or particularly detailed knowledge of Leon's back story.
I cried unexpectedly too today. I was (because they asked) telling the girls the story of our miscarriage before our eldest was born, and suddenly all the rawness of it came back. All is fiine now of course, and if we hadn't lost that one we wouldn't have the ones we have now - but no way of knowing that at the time.
Anyway, keeping it light, I've had a splendid day. Llandudno is wonderful. Like, I imagine, British seaside towns used to be - but somehow hasn't been killed off by cheap trips abroad like others have. And its setting is magical. The Great Orme derives its name from 'worm' in its ancient sense of wingless dragon, and I can completely see why.
I think this should be an annual event. A day in summer PBers should talk about when and why they last cried
Not obligatory but a nice contrast to the macho geekery
Also sorry to hear your story, glad it turned out ok in so many ways!
One of my best friend’s 100 year old mother died on Tuesday night, I confess I let out a sob when he called to tell me. I cry at episodes of Car SOS nowadays though.
Yes, me too
I get more openly emotional as I age
Like, I nearly cried at a Taylor Swift video last night. I don't wish to undermine my touchng story from today, but it's true
I don't think it was the profound brilliance of the video, it was more the irrepressible sense of joyous, urgent, youthful lust that it invoked, which made me miss my own youth, and get misty-eyed
When your daughters and daughters in law have babies and you meet them.
John Bolton @AmbJohnBolton · 1h It’s a mistake for Ukraine to agree to a ceasefire. If there’s a ceasefire and lines are drawn at battlefronts, those ceasefire lines become the new Russia-Ukraine border, ceding significant territory to Russia.
John Bolton @AmbJohnBolton · 1h It’s a mistake for Ukraine to agree to a ceasefire. If there’s a ceasefire and lines are drawn at battlefronts, those ceasefire lines become the new Russia-Ukraine border, ceding significant territory to Russia.
John Bolton @AmbJohnBolton · 1h It’s a mistake for Ukraine to agree to a ceasefire. If there’s a ceasefire and lines are drawn at battlefronts, those ceasefire lines become the new Russia-Ukraine border, ceding significant territory to Russia.
John Bolton @AmbJohnBolton · 1h It’s a mistake for Ukraine to agree to a ceasefire. If there’s a ceasefire and lines are drawn at battlefronts, those ceasefire lines become the new Russia-Ukraine border, ceding significant territory to Russia.
Ever so slightly off topic, I was clearing out a corner of my flat this afternoon. 20 years of accumulated crap. Mostly meaningless. Admin. Paperwork. A useless printer. All purged. Yay
But then suddenly I came across a sketch book that belonged to my ex wife (who I loved very much and only split with coz she wanted babies and I didn’t). It was full of her crazy funny eccentric drawings - even pages embroidered with wool. The epic of Gilgamesh in crayon. All her creativity and wit and uniqueness in o one pad of paper
And I sat there and, I confess, I slightly cried. Just a few manly tears but they were real
What is that? I was perfectly content - happy even. Then suddenly a land mine of emotion and memory exploded in my face and I was plunged into intense sadness
What is the psychology? The evolutionary explanation for these emotions? Very strange
It’s gone now. I’m fine again. But wow
Give it to your daughter and ask her to deal with it as she deems fit. If you want to keep it, drop hints to that effect.
Er, what? Thanks for replying but this was my ex wife’s sketch pad. Nothing to do with my kids (which is a sadness in itself but another story)
It’s the mystery of consciousness. How can molecules and atoms - meat and blood - get together and make memory that makes “sadness” that makes salt water run down my face? And why? What’s the evolutionary purpose? To discourage divorce?!
And these are thoughts, not even thoughts in the moment - memories of previous thoughts….
Sorry. I assumed your daughter was both you and your ex wife’s joint offspring. I should have read your post more closely. (Checks personal IQ and finds failures.)
In fairness, it wasn't an unreasonable conclusion to jump to without a careful reading of the post and/or particularly detailed knowledge of Leon's back story.
I cried unexpectedly too today. I was (because they asked) telling the girls the story of our miscarriage before our eldest was born, and suddenly all the rawness of it came back. All is fiine now of course, and if we hadn't lost that one we wouldn't have the ones we have now - but no way of knowing that at the time.
Anyway, keeping it light, I've had a splendid day. Llandudno is wonderful. Like, I imagine, British seaside towns used to be - but somehow hasn't been killed off by cheap trips abroad like others have. And its setting is magical. The Great Orme derives its name from 'worm' in its ancient sense of wingless dragon, and I can completely see why.
Completely agree on Llandudno, they have avoided the fate of many faded resorts like Colwyn Bay and Rhyl (especially Rhyl).
It's a really interesting case study in what has gone right. It has the advantage over some resorts of setting, which is dramatic, but also the disadvantage that the main beach isn't actually that good.
We also went to Conwy - not technically a seaside resort, but also a surprisingly pleasant little town and an interesting case study in what has gone right.
Happy to report also that 20mph limits were nowhere near being the problems I had perceived - the only places I experienced them were places where 20 seemed an entirely reasonable speed to drive.
I am on the Isle of Wight this week and there is almost an inverse relationship between how good the beach is and how nice the town. Sandown is probably the best beach, but really run down, while Bembridge is really posh, but a poor beach. There are other similar examples.
It may well be that too much focus on a beach is part of the problem with British seaside resorts, it takes the focus off the town itself. It might be true of other countries too.
I think you're onto something. Rhyl has a great sandy beach and the sewage outlet pipe goes a couple of miles out to sea now which wasn't the case when I were a child. But no matter how nice the beach is, it's still the Irish Sea.
Nothing wrong with the Irish Sea. But yes, I think Foxy may be on to something. As well as Rhyl, I would add Blackpool and Newquay as towns with really good beaches but where the town itself leaves something to be desired.
Can't see it, Rayner's chance passed when she didn't stand in 2020. The membership remaining is significantly more centre now, Reeves v Streeting for the final two unless Burnham gets into Parliament before Starmer quits.
There is no final 2 in Labour, anyone nominated by enough MPs goes straight to the membership and the latest Labourlist poll has Rayner winning any leadership contest comfortably, only Burnham beats her but is not an MP. If the Tories had Labour's election system for its leaders Sunak for example would likely never have become PM.
It's an STV election of the membership (currently at least) so if no-one gets to 50% the lowest gets eliminated each round. So there is likely to be a final two.
Picked by members not MPs and on that poll Rayner would win it comfortably against anyone likely to stand on Labour benches in the Commons
Ever so slightly off topic, I was clearing out a corner of my flat this afternoon. 20 years of accumulated crap. Mostly meaningless. Admin. Paperwork. A useless printer. All purged. Yay
But then suddenly I came across a sketch book that belonged to my ex wife (who I loved very much and only split with coz she wanted babies and I didn’t). It was full of her crazy funny eccentric drawings - even pages embroidered with wool. The epic of Gilgamesh in crayon. All her creativity and wit and uniqueness in o one pad of paper
And I sat there and, I confess, I slightly cried. Just a few manly tears but they were real
What is that? I was perfectly content - happy even. Then suddenly a land mine of emotion and memory exploded in my face and I was plunged into intense sadness
What is the psychology? The evolutionary explanation for these emotions? Very strange
It’s gone now. I’m fine again. But wow
Give it to your daughter and ask her to deal with it as she deems fit. If you want to keep it, drop hints to that effect.
Er, what? Thanks for replying but this was my ex wife’s sketch pad. Nothing to do with my kids (which is a sadness in itself but another story)
It’s the mystery of consciousness. How can molecules and atoms - meat and blood - get together and make memory that makes “sadness” that makes salt water run down my face? And why? What’s the evolutionary purpose? To discourage divorce?!
And these are thoughts, not even thoughts in the moment - memories of previous thoughts….
Sorry. I assumed your daughter was both you and your ex wife’s joint offspring. I should have read your post more closely. (Checks personal IQ and finds failures.)
In fairness, it wasn't an unreasonable conclusion to jump to without a careful reading of the post and/or particularly detailed knowledge of Leon's back story.
I cried unexpectedly too today. I was (because they asked) telling the girls the story of our miscarriage before our eldest was born, and suddenly all the rawness of it came back. All is fiine now of course, and if we hadn't lost that one we wouldn't have the ones we have now - but no way of knowing that at the time.
Anyway, keeping it light, I've had a splendid day. Llandudno is wonderful. Like, I imagine, British seaside towns used to be - but somehow hasn't been killed off by cheap trips abroad like others have. And its setting is magical. The Great Orme derives its name from 'worm' in its ancient sense of wingless dragon, and I can completely see why.
Completely agree on Llandudno, they have avoided the fate of many faded resorts like Colwyn Bay and Rhyl (especially Rhyl).
It's a really interesting case study in what has gone right. It has the advantage over some resorts of setting, which is dramatic, but also the disadvantage that the main beach isn't actually that good.
We also went to Conwy - not technically a seaside resort, but also a surprisingly pleasant little town and an interesting case study in what has gone right.
Happy to report also that 20mph limits were nowhere near being the problems I had perceived - the only places I experienced them were places where 20 seemed an entirely reasonable speed to drive.
I am on the Isle of Wight this week and there is almost an inverse relationship between how good the beach is and how nice the town. Sandown is probably the best beach, but really run down, while Bembridge is really posh, but a poor beach. There are other similar examples.
It may well be that too much focus on a beach is part of the problem with British seaside resorts, it takes the focus off the town itself. It might be true of other countries too.
I think you're onto something. Rhyl has a great sandy beach and the sewage outlet pipe goes a couple of miles out to sea now which wasn't the case when I were a child. But no matter how nice the beach is, it's still the Irish Sea.
Nothing wrong with the Irish Sea. But yes, I think Foxy may be on to something. As well as Rhyl, I would add Blackpool and Newquay as towns with really good beaches but where the town itself leaves something to be desired.
Cornwall doesn't generally follow this rule however
St Ives, Falmouth, Padstow - all nice or very nice towns with gorgeous beaches
Penzance, Hayle, Carbis Bay - grottier towns, also with gorgeous beaches
John Bolton @AmbJohnBolton · 1h It’s a mistake for Ukraine to agree to a ceasefire. If there’s a ceasefire and lines are drawn at battlefronts, those ceasefire lines become the new Russia-Ukraine border, ceding significant territory to Russia.
Guys like Bolton don’t understand that their musings are less than helpful at a time of delicate negotiations.
Putin can end the war immediately by withdrawing to the 1991 border.
He can, Putin can also declare himself transitioning to a woman and lead a huge Moscow Pride Parade which is probably more likely than what you just suggested
Ever so slightly off topic, I was clearing out a corner of my flat this afternoon. 20 years of accumulated crap. Mostly meaningless. Admin. Paperwork. A useless printer. All purged. Yay
But then suddenly I came across a sketch book that belonged to my ex wife (who I loved very much and only split with coz she wanted babies and I didn’t). It was full of her crazy funny eccentric drawings - even pages embroidered with wool. The epic of Gilgamesh in crayon. All her creativity and wit and uniqueness in o one pad of paper
And I sat there and, I confess, I slightly cried. Just a few manly tears but they were real
What is that? I was perfectly content - happy even. Then suddenly a land mine of emotion and memory exploded in my face and I was plunged into intense sadness
What is the psychology? The evolutionary explanation for these emotions? Very strange
It’s gone now. I’m fine again. But wow
Give it to your daughter and ask her to deal with it as she deems fit. If you want to keep it, drop hints to that effect.
Er, what? Thanks for replying but this was my ex wife’s sketch pad. Nothing to do with my kids (which is a sadness in itself but another story)
It’s the mystery of consciousness. How can molecules and atoms - meat and blood - get together and make memory that makes “sadness” that makes salt water run down my face? And why? What’s the evolutionary purpose? To discourage divorce?!
And these are thoughts, not even thoughts in the moment - memories of previous thoughts….
Sorry. I assumed your daughter was both you and your ex wife’s joint offspring. I should have read your post more closely. (Checks personal IQ and finds failures.)
In fairness, it wasn't an unreasonable conclusion to jump to without a careful reading of the post and/or particularly detailed knowledge of Leon's back story.
I cried unexpectedly too today. I was (because they asked) telling the girls the story of our miscarriage before our eldest was born, and suddenly all the rawness of it came back. All is fiine now of course, and if we hadn't lost that one we wouldn't have the ones we have now - but no way of knowing that at the time.
Anyway, keeping it light, I've had a splendid day. Llandudno is wonderful. Like, I imagine, British seaside towns used to be - but somehow hasn't been killed off by cheap trips abroad like others have. And its setting is magical. The Great Orme derives its name from 'worm' in its ancient sense of wingless dragon, and I can completely see why.
Completely agree on Llandudno, they have avoided the fate of many faded resorts like Colwyn Bay and Rhyl (especially Rhyl).
It's a really interesting case study in what has gone right. It has the advantage over some resorts of setting, which is dramatic, but also the disadvantage that the main beach isn't actually that good.
We also went to Conwy - not technically a seaside resort, but also a surprisingly pleasant little town and an interesting case study in what has gone right.
Happy to report also that 20mph limits were nowhere near being the problems I had perceived - the only places I experienced them were places where 20 seemed an entirely reasonable speed to drive.
I am on the Isle of Wight this week and there is almost an inverse relationship between how good the beach is and how nice the town. Sandown is probably the best beach, but really run down, while Bembridge is really posh, but a poor beach. There are other similar examples.
It may well be that too much focus on a beach is part of the problem with British seaside resorts, it takes the focus off the town itself. It might be true of other countries too.
I think you're onto something. Rhyl has a great sandy beach and the sewage outlet pipe goes a couple of miles out to sea now which wasn't the case when I were a child. But no matter how nice the beach is, it's still the Irish Sea.
Nothing wrong with the Irish Sea. But yes, I think Foxy may be on to something. As well as Rhyl, I would add Blackpool and Newquay as towns with really good beaches but where the town itself leaves something to be desired.
And I wouldn't describe the rocks at Brighton as a beach.
Ever so slightly off topic, I was clearing out a corner of my flat this afternoon. 20 years of accumulated crap. Mostly meaningless. Admin. Paperwork. A useless printer. All purged. Yay
But then suddenly I came across a sketch book that belonged to my ex wife (who I loved very much and only split with coz she wanted babies and I didn’t). It was full of her crazy funny eccentric drawings - even pages embroidered with wool. The epic of Gilgamesh in crayon. All her creativity and wit and uniqueness in o one pad of paper
And I sat there and, I confess, I slightly cried. Just a few manly tears but they were real
What is that? I was perfectly content - happy even. Then suddenly a land mine of emotion and memory exploded in my face and I was plunged into intense sadness
What is the psychology? The evolutionary explanation for these emotions? Very strange
It’s gone now. I’m fine again. But wow
Give it to your daughter and ask her to deal with it as she deems fit. If you want to keep it, drop hints to that effect.
Er, what? Thanks for replying but this was my ex wife’s sketch pad. Nothing to do with my kids (which is a sadness in itself but another story)
It’s the mystery of consciousness. How can molecules and atoms - meat and blood - get together and make memory that makes “sadness” that makes salt water run down my face? And why? What’s the evolutionary purpose? To discourage divorce?!
And these are thoughts, not even thoughts in the moment - memories of previous thoughts….
Sorry. I assumed your daughter was both you and your ex wife’s joint offspring. I should have read your post more closely. (Checks personal IQ and finds failures.)
In fairness, it wasn't an unreasonable conclusion to jump to without a careful reading of the post and/or particularly detailed knowledge of Leon's back story.
I cried unexpectedly too today. I was (because they asked) telling the girls the story of our miscarriage before our eldest was born, and suddenly all the rawness of it came back. All is fiine now of course, and if we hadn't lost that one we wouldn't have the ones we have now - but no way of knowing that at the time.
Anyway, keeping it light, I've had a splendid day. Llandudno is wonderful. Like, I imagine, British seaside towns used to be - but somehow hasn't been killed off by cheap trips abroad like others have. And its setting is magical. The Great Orme derives its name from 'worm' in its ancient sense of wingless dragon, and I can completely see why.
Completely agree on Llandudno, they have avoided the fate of many faded resorts like Colwyn Bay and Rhyl (especially Rhyl).
It's a really interesting case study in what has gone right. It has the advantage over some resorts of setting, which is dramatic, but also the disadvantage that the main beach isn't actually that good.
We also went to Conwy - not technically a seaside resort, but also a surprisingly pleasant little town and an interesting case study in what has gone right.
Happy to report also that 20mph limits were nowhere near being the problems I had perceived - the only places I experienced them were places where 20 seemed an entirely reasonable speed to drive.
I am on the Isle of Wight this week and there is almost an inverse relationship between how good the beach is and how nice the town. Sandown is probably the best beach, but really run down, while Bembridge is really posh, but a poor beach. There are other similar examples.
It may well be that too much focus on a beach is part of the problem with British seaside resorts, it takes the focus off the town itself. It might be true of other countries too.
I think you're onto something. Rhyl has a great sandy beach and the sewage outlet pipe goes a couple of miles out to sea now which wasn't the case when I were a child. But no matter how nice the beach is, it's still the Irish Sea.
Nothing wrong with the Irish Sea. But yes, I think Foxy may be on to something. As well as Rhyl, I would add Blackpool and Newquay as towns with really good beaches but where the town itself leaves something to be desired.
Cornwall doesn't generally follow this rule however
St Ives, Falmouth, Padstow - all nice or very nice towns with gorgeous beaches
Penzance, Hayle, Carbis Bay - grottier towns, also with gorgeous beaches
Maybe Cornwall just has loads of great beaches
Padstow's beach is a little inaccessible however? And Falmouth's is a little weedy and stony ISTR? Agree on St. Ives however.
Maybe it's a function of distance? e.g. in N Wales all the grotty seaside towns arethose closest to Liverpool and Manchester. Maybe you can escape turning to grot by being a sufficiently long way away. Though Penzance refutes this. Maybe it's just more complex. Pity.
'A Labour-run council has sparked outrage by ordering the removal of British flags from lampposts - while being ‘too scared’ to take down Palestine flags without police protection.
John Bolton @AmbJohnBolton · 1h It’s a mistake for Ukraine to agree to a ceasefire. If there’s a ceasefire and lines are drawn at battlefronts, those ceasefire lines become the new Russia-Ukraine border, ceding significant territory to Russia.
Guys like Bolton don’t understand that their musings are less than helpful at a time of delicate negotiations.
It’s useful for Putin to know not everyone in America is on his side, I think.
There's a tiny speck of the GOP that still functions as a thinking place of people actually in touch with reality and not just a nodding along dog to anything Trump tweets today.
Ever so slightly off topic, I was clearing out a corner of my flat this afternoon. 20 years of accumulated crap. Mostly meaningless. Admin. Paperwork. A useless printer. All purged. Yay
But then suddenly I came across a sketch book that belonged to my ex wife (who I loved very much and only split with coz she wanted babies and I didn’t). It was full of her crazy funny eccentric drawings - even pages embroidered with wool. The epic of Gilgamesh in crayon. All her creativity and wit and uniqueness in o one pad of paper
And I sat there and, I confess, I slightly cried. Just a few manly tears but they were real
What is that? I was perfectly content - happy even. Then suddenly a land mine of emotion and memory exploded in my face and I was plunged into intense sadness
What is the psychology? The evolutionary explanation for these emotions? Very strange
It’s gone now. I’m fine again. But wow
Give it to your daughter and ask her to deal with it as she deems fit. If you want to keep it, drop hints to that effect.
Er, what? Thanks for replying but this was my ex wife’s sketch pad. Nothing to do with my kids (which is a sadness in itself but another story)
It’s the mystery of consciousness. How can molecules and atoms - meat and blood - get together and make memory that makes “sadness” that makes salt water run down my face? And why? What’s the evolutionary purpose? To discourage divorce?!
And these are thoughts, not even thoughts in the moment - memories of previous thoughts….
Sorry. I assumed your daughter was both you and your ex wife’s joint offspring. I should have read your post more closely. (Checks personal IQ and finds failures.)
In fairness, it wasn't an unreasonable conclusion to jump to without a careful reading of the post and/or particularly detailed knowledge of Leon's back story.
I cried unexpectedly too today. I was (because they asked) telling the girls the story of our miscarriage before our eldest was born, and suddenly all the rawness of it came back. All is fiine now of course, and if we hadn't lost that one we wouldn't have the ones we have now - but no way of knowing that at the time.
Anyway, keeping it light, I've had a splendid day. Llandudno is wonderful. Like, I imagine, British seaside towns used to be - but somehow hasn't been killed off by cheap trips abroad like others have. And its setting is magical. The Great Orme derives its name from 'worm' in its ancient sense of wingless dragon, and I can completely see why.
Completely agree on Llandudno, they have avoided the fate of many faded resorts like Colwyn Bay and Rhyl (especially Rhyl).
It's a really interesting case study in what has gone right. It has the advantage over some resorts of setting, which is dramatic, but also the disadvantage that the main beach isn't actually that good.
We also went to Conwy - not technically a seaside resort, but also a surprisingly pleasant little town and an interesting case study in what has gone right.
Happy to report also that 20mph limits were nowhere near being the problems I had perceived - the only places I experienced them were places where 20 seemed an entirely reasonable speed to drive.
I am on the Isle of Wight this week and there is almost an inverse relationship between how good the beach is and how nice the town. Sandown is probably the best beach, but really run down, while Bembridge is really posh, but a poor beach. There are other similar examples.
It may well be that too much focus on a beach is part of the problem with British seaside resorts, it takes the focus off the town itself. It might be true of other countries too.
I think you're onto something. Rhyl has a great sandy beach and the sewage outlet pipe goes a couple of miles out to sea now which wasn't the case when I were a child. But no matter how nice the beach is, it's still the Irish Sea.
Nothing wrong with the Irish Sea. But yes, I think Foxy may be on to something. As well as Rhyl, I would add Blackpool and Newquay as towns with really good beaches but where the town itself leaves something to be desired.
Cornwall doesn't generally follow this rule however
St Ives, Falmouth, Padstow - all nice or very nice towns with gorgeous beaches
Penzance, Hayle, Carbis Bay - grottier towns, also with gorgeous beaches
Maybe Cornwall just has loads of great beaches
Padstow's beach is a little inaccessible however? And Falmouth's is a little weedy and stony ISTR? Agree on St. Ives however.
Maybe it's a function of distance? e.g. in N Wales all the grotty seaside towns arethose closest to Liverpool and Manchester. Maybe you can escape turning to grot by being a sufficiently long way away. Though Penzance refutes this. Maybe it's just more complex. Pity.
Padstow's beaches are amazing, but you need to walk a bit out of town, I suppose
And Falmouth has multiple great beaches, including wonderful Gyllyngvase, where my sister lives in a rather grand house with stupendous views thereof
On topic, this happened to me the other day sitting on a train. Couple get on, looks like they are heading for the airport for a holiday.
She is miffed because he has walked her to the 1713 express train rather than their intended 1731 train. This means they will be early, and thus have to change mid-journey and wait 15 minutes or so to get their original train as the express one isn't stopping at their final station.
Not a full blown row, just a series of half-muttered bitter nips, jibes, barbs and non-sequiturs at each other about the fact somehow they've ended up on this slightly earlier train. Netted out they have to wait the same amount of time either way, either at the original station to get a slightly later train or mid journey to transfer to the original train, but they are guaranteed to get there at the original intended time. Still, this displeases her immensely.
I wasn't really trying to listen in or block them out either way, but was hard to avoid somehow being privy to it. I felt quite sorry for the guy. Not "it's your fault we were late, missed our train and flight and now the holiday is RUINED!!" but instead "it's your fault we were early BECAUSE YOU WOULDN'T LISTEN TO ME, now we have to change trains so that we get to the destination at exactly the original time we intended anyway".
I did wonder (a) how their holiday would go and (b) how much mileage was left in the relationship.
Bickering with a partner is par for the course. Mrs Foxy and I were bickering about the playlist while driving earlier. It's perfectly possible to bicker for decades. 36 years for Me and Mrs Foxy this weekend.
I am suspicious of couples that never argue. There's some weird dynamic usually, such as an oppressive partner, or simply extreme fragility as if one sharp word would end things. It must be so wearing to be walking on eggshells the whole time. Not universally of course, Foxy jr and his partner claim to have never argued in 8 years and seem perfectly content.
John Bolton @AmbJohnBolton · 1h It’s a mistake for Ukraine to agree to a ceasefire. If there’s a ceasefire and lines are drawn at battlefronts, those ceasefire lines become the new Russia-Ukraine border, ceding significant territory to Russia.
Guys like Bolton don’t understand that their musings are less than helpful at a time of delicate negotiations.
Putin can end the war immediately by withdrawing to the 1991 border.
He can, Putin can also declare himself transitioning to a woman and lead a huge Moscow Pride Parade which is probably more likely than what you just suggested
John Bolton @AmbJohnBolton · 1h It’s a mistake for Ukraine to agree to a ceasefire. If there’s a ceasefire and lines are drawn at battlefronts, those ceasefire lines become the new Russia-Ukraine border, ceding significant territory to Russia.
Ever so slightly off topic, I was clearing out a corner of my flat this afternoon. 20 years of accumulated crap. Mostly meaningless. Admin. Paperwork. A useless printer. All purged. Yay
But then suddenly I came across a sketch book that belonged to my ex wife (who I loved very much and only split with coz she wanted babies and I didn’t). It was full of her crazy funny eccentric drawings - even pages embroidered with wool. The epic of Gilgamesh in crayon. All her creativity and wit and uniqueness in o one pad of paper
And I sat there and, I confess, I slightly cried. Just a few manly tears but they were real
What is that? I was perfectly content - happy even. Then suddenly a land mine of emotion and memory exploded in my face and I was plunged into intense sadness
What is the psychology? The evolutionary explanation for these emotions? Very strange
It’s gone now. I’m fine again. But wow
Give it to your daughter and ask her to deal with it as she deems fit. If you want to keep it, drop hints to that effect.
Er, what? Thanks for replying but this was my ex wife’s sketch pad. Nothing to do with my kids (which is a sadness in itself but another story)
It’s the mystery of consciousness. How can molecules and atoms - meat and blood - get together and make memory that makes “sadness” that makes salt water run down my face? And why? What’s the evolutionary purpose? To discourage divorce?!
And these are thoughts, not even thoughts in the moment - memories of previous thoughts….
Sorry. I assumed your daughter was both you and your ex wife’s joint offspring. I should have read your post more closely. (Checks personal IQ and finds failures.)
In fairness, it wasn't an unreasonable conclusion to jump to without a careful reading of the post and/or particularly detailed knowledge of Leon's back story.
I cried unexpectedly too today. I was (because they asked) telling the girls the story of our miscarriage before our eldest was born, and suddenly all the rawness of it came back. All is fiine now of course, and if we hadn't lost that one we wouldn't have the ones we have now - but no way of knowing that at the time.
Anyway, keeping it light, I've had a splendid day. Llandudno is wonderful. Like, I imagine, British seaside towns used to be - but somehow hasn't been killed off by cheap trips abroad like others have. And its setting is magical. The Great Orme derives its name from 'worm' in its ancient sense of wingless dragon, and I can completely see why.
Completely agree on Llandudno, they have avoided the fate of many faded resorts like Colwyn Bay and Rhyl (especially Rhyl).
It's a really interesting case study in what has gone right. It has the advantage over some resorts of setting, which is dramatic, but also the disadvantage that the main beach isn't actually that good.
We also went to Conwy - not technically a seaside resort, but also a surprisingly pleasant little town and an interesting case study in what has gone right.
Happy to report also that 20mph limits were nowhere near being the problems I had perceived - the only places I experienced them were places where 20 seemed an entirely reasonable speed to drive.
I am on the Isle of Wight this week and there is almost an inverse relationship between how good the beach is and how nice the town. Sandown is probably the best beach, but really run down, while Bembridge is really posh, but a poor beach. There are other similar examples.
It may well be that too much focus on a beach is part of the problem with British seaside resorts, it takes the focus off the town itself. It might be true of other countries too.
I think you're onto something. Rhyl has a great sandy beach and the sewage outlet pipe goes a couple of miles out to sea now which wasn't the case when I were a child. But no matter how nice the beach is, it's still the Irish Sea.
Nothing wrong with the Irish Sea. But yes, I think Foxy may be on to something. As well as Rhyl, I would add Blackpool and Newquay as towns with really good beaches but where the town itself leaves something to be desired.
Cornwall doesn't generally follow this rule however
St Ives, Falmouth, Padstow - all nice or very nice towns with gorgeous beaches
Penzance, Hayle, Carbis Bay - grottier towns, also with gorgeous beaches
Maybe Cornwall just has loads of great beaches
Padstow's beach is a little inaccessible however? And Falmouth's is a little weedy and stony ISTR? Agree on St. Ives however.
Maybe it's a function of distance? e.g. in N Wales all the grotty seaside towns arethose closest to Liverpool and Manchester. Maybe you can escape turning to grot by being a sufficiently long way away. Though Penzance refutes this. Maybe it's just more complex. Pity.
Padstow's beaches are amazing, but you need to walk a bit out of town, I suppose
And Falmouth has multiple great beaches, including wonderful Gyllyngvase, where my sister lives in a rather grand house with stupendous views thereof
Ah, to be fair, I've never been to Gyllyngvase - I've been to Swanpool and Maenporth: both cheerful enough but a little stony and weedy, and not really in the same league as Perranporth or Polzeath. Or Harlyn or Constantine Bay. Or Watergate or Holywell Bay. Or any of half a dozen others on the north coast.
Ever so slightly off topic, I was clearing out a corner of my flat this afternoon. 20 years of accumulated crap. Mostly meaningless. Admin. Paperwork. A useless printer. All purged. Yay
But then suddenly I came across a sketch book that belonged to my ex wife (who I loved very much and only split with coz she wanted babies and I didn’t). It was full of her crazy funny eccentric drawings - even pages embroidered with wool. The epic of Gilgamesh in crayon. All her creativity and wit and uniqueness in o one pad of paper
And I sat there and, I confess, I slightly cried. Just a few manly tears but they were real
What is that? I was perfectly content - happy even. Then suddenly a land mine of emotion and memory exploded in my face and I was plunged into intense sadness
What is the psychology? The evolutionary explanation for these emotions? Very strange
It’s gone now. I’m fine again. But wow
Give it to your daughter and ask her to deal with it as she deems fit. If you want to keep it, drop hints to that effect.
Er, what? Thanks for replying but this was my ex wife’s sketch pad. Nothing to do with my kids (which is a sadness in itself but another story)
It’s the mystery of consciousness. How can molecules and atoms - meat and blood - get together and make memory that makes “sadness” that makes salt water run down my face? And why? What’s the evolutionary purpose? To discourage divorce?!
And these are thoughts, not even thoughts in the moment - memories of previous thoughts….
Sorry. I assumed your daughter was both you and your ex wife’s joint offspring. I should have read your post more closely. (Checks personal IQ and finds failures.)
In fairness, it wasn't an unreasonable conclusion to jump to without a careful reading of the post and/or particularly detailed knowledge of Leon's back story.
I cried unexpectedly too today. I was (because they asked) telling the girls the story of our miscarriage before our eldest was born, and suddenly all the rawness of it came back. All is fiine now of course, and if we hadn't lost that one we wouldn't have the ones we have now - but no way of knowing that at the time.
Anyway, keeping it light, I've had a splendid day. Llandudno is wonderful. Like, I imagine, British seaside towns used to be - but somehow hasn't been killed off by cheap trips abroad like others have. And its setting is magical. The Great Orme derives its name from 'worm' in its ancient sense of wingless dragon, and I can completely see why.
Completely agree on Llandudno, they have avoided the fate of many faded resorts like Colwyn Bay and Rhyl (especially Rhyl).
It's a really interesting case study in what has gone right. It has the advantage over some resorts of setting, which is dramatic, but also the disadvantage that the main beach isn't actually that good.
We also went to Conwy - not technically a seaside resort, but also a surprisingly pleasant little town and an interesting case study in what has gone right.
Happy to report also that 20mph limits were nowhere near being the problems I had perceived - the only places I experienced them were places where 20 seemed an entirely reasonable speed to drive.
I am on the Isle of Wight this week and there is almost an inverse relationship between how good the beach is and how nice the town. Sandown is probably the best beach, but really run down, while Bembridge is really posh, but a poor beach. There are other similar examples.
It may well be that too much focus on a beach is part of the problem with British seaside resorts, it takes the focus off the town itself. It might be true of other countries too.
I think you're onto something. Rhyl has a great sandy beach and the sewage outlet pipe goes a couple of miles out to sea now which wasn't the case when I were a child. But no matter how nice the beach is, it's still the Irish Sea.
Nothing wrong with the Irish Sea. But yes, I think Foxy may be on to something. As well as Rhyl, I would add Blackpool and Newquay as towns with really good beaches but where the town itself leaves something to be desired.
Cornwall doesn't generally follow this rule however
St Ives, Falmouth, Padstow - all nice or very nice towns with gorgeous beaches
Penzance, Hayle, Carbis Bay - grottier towns, also with gorgeous beaches
Maybe Cornwall just has loads of great beaches
Tenby: lovely town, lovely beach. Bamburgh: exceptional beach, very nice village and castle Margate and Weymouth: decent on both counts Poole: solid town (Bournemouth less so), great beaches Weston SM: shit town, shit beach
But, other towns do fit the theory: Lyme Regis, Hastings, Whitstable, Swansea, Barry, Cromer etc.
One theory could be that places with very good, large bathing beaches had sandy soil and little or no surface fresh water so didn’t get built up until quite late, during the Victorian beach boom. When resorts declined they didn’t have the pretty historical roots to fall back on.
You see that with the Sussex and Kent coasts. Inland former coastal towns like Rye or Sandwich get all the nice architecture, while the coastal extensions are more often than not 60s bungalow strips.
Ever so slightly off topic, I was clearing out a corner of my flat this afternoon. 20 years of accumulated crap. Mostly meaningless. Admin. Paperwork. A useless printer. All purged. Yay
But then suddenly I came across a sketch book that belonged to my ex wife (who I loved very much and only split with coz she wanted babies and I didn’t). It was full of her crazy funny eccentric drawings - even pages embroidered with wool. The epic of Gilgamesh in crayon. All her creativity and wit and uniqueness in o one pad of paper
And I sat there and, I confess, I slightly cried. Just a few manly tears but they were real
What is that? I was perfectly content - happy even. Then suddenly a land mine of emotion and memory exploded in my face and I was plunged into intense sadness
What is the psychology? The evolutionary explanation for these emotions? Very strange
It’s gone now. I’m fine again. But wow
Give it to your daughter and ask her to deal with it as she deems fit. If you want to keep it, drop hints to that effect.
Er, what? Thanks for replying but this was my ex wife’s sketch pad. Nothing to do with my kids (which is a sadness in itself but another story)
It’s the mystery of consciousness. How can molecules and atoms - meat and blood - get together and make memory that makes “sadness” that makes salt water run down my face? And why? What’s the evolutionary purpose? To discourage divorce?!
And these are thoughts, not even thoughts in the moment - memories of previous thoughts….
Sorry. I assumed your daughter was both you and your ex wife’s joint offspring. I should have read your post more closely. (Checks personal IQ and finds failures.)
In fairness, it wasn't an unreasonable conclusion to jump to without a careful reading of the post and/or particularly detailed knowledge of Leon's back story.
I cried unexpectedly too today. I was (because they asked) telling the girls the story of our miscarriage before our eldest was born, and suddenly all the rawness of it came back. All is fiine now of course, and if we hadn't lost that one we wouldn't have the ones we have now - but no way of knowing that at the time.
Anyway, keeping it light, I've had a splendid day. Llandudno is wonderful. Like, I imagine, British seaside towns used to be - but somehow hasn't been killed off by cheap trips abroad like others have. And its setting is magical. The Great Orme derives its name from 'worm' in its ancient sense of wingless dragon, and I can completely see why.
Completely agree on Llandudno, they have avoided the fate of many faded resorts like Colwyn Bay and Rhyl (especially Rhyl).
It's a really interesting case study in what has gone right. It has the advantage over some resorts of setting, which is dramatic, but also the disadvantage that the main beach isn't actually that good.
We also went to Conwy - not technically a seaside resort, but also a surprisingly pleasant little town and an interesting case study in what has gone right.
Happy to report also that 20mph limits were nowhere near being the problems I had perceived - the only places I experienced them were places where 20 seemed an entirely reasonable speed to drive.
I am on the Isle of Wight this week and there is almost an inverse relationship between how good the beach is and how nice the town. Sandown is probably the best beach, but really run down, while Bembridge is really posh, but a poor beach. There are other similar examples.
It may well be that too much focus on a beach is part of the problem with British seaside resorts, it takes the focus off the town itself. It might be true of other countries too.
I think you're onto something. Rhyl has a great sandy beach and the sewage outlet pipe goes a couple of miles out to sea now which wasn't the case when I were a child. But no matter how nice the beach is, it's still the Irish Sea.
Nothing wrong with the Irish Sea. But yes, I think Foxy may be on to something. As well as Rhyl, I would add Blackpool and Newquay as towns with really good beaches but where the town itself leaves something to be desired.
Cornwall doesn't generally follow this rule however
St Ives, Falmouth, Padstow - all nice or very nice towns with gorgeous beaches
Penzance, Hayle, Carbis Bay - grottier towns, also with gorgeous beaches
Maybe Cornwall just has loads of great beaches
Padstow's beach is a little inaccessible however? And Falmouth's is a little weedy and stony ISTR? Agree on St. Ives however.
Maybe it's a function of distance? e.g. in N Wales all the grotty seaside towns arethose closest to Liverpool and Manchester. Maybe you can escape turning to grot by being a sufficiently long way away. Though Penzance refutes this. Maybe it's just more complex. Pity.
It's not a universal rule. Ryde is perhaps the easiest town on the IoW to get to, and while it does have some grotty bits the beach on the Appley side is good, and the beachfront quite gentrified. I had an excellent vegan beetroot and walnut burger there for lunch.
John Bolton @AmbJohnBolton · 1h It’s a mistake for Ukraine to agree to a ceasefire. If there’s a ceasefire and lines are drawn at battlefronts, those ceasefire lines become the new Russia-Ukraine border, ceding significant territory to Russia.
Ever so slightly off topic, I was clearing out a corner of my flat this afternoon. 20 years of accumulated crap. Mostly meaningless. Admin. Paperwork. A useless printer. All purged. Yay
But then suddenly I came across a sketch book that belonged to my ex wife (who I loved very much and only split with coz she wanted babies and I didn’t). It was full of her crazy funny eccentric drawings - even pages embroidered with wool. The epic of Gilgamesh in crayon. All her creativity and wit and uniqueness in o one pad of paper
And I sat there and, I confess, I slightly cried. Just a few manly tears but they were real
What is that? I was perfectly content - happy even. Then suddenly a land mine of emotion and memory exploded in my face and I was plunged into intense sadness
What is the psychology? The evolutionary explanation for these emotions? Very strange
It’s gone now. I’m fine again. But wow
Give it to your daughter and ask her to deal with it as she deems fit. If you want to keep it, drop hints to that effect.
Er, what? Thanks for replying but this was my ex wife’s sketch pad. Nothing to do with my kids (which is a sadness in itself but another story)
It’s the mystery of consciousness. How can molecules and atoms - meat and blood - get together and make memory that makes “sadness” that makes salt water run down my face? And why? What’s the evolutionary purpose? To discourage divorce?!
And these are thoughts, not even thoughts in the moment - memories of previous thoughts….
You're assuming the mind is made of molecules and atoms.
Ever so slightly off topic, I was clearing out a corner of my flat this afternoon. 20 years of accumulated crap. Mostly meaningless. Admin. Paperwork. A useless printer. All purged. Yay
But then suddenly I came across a sketch book that belonged to my ex wife (who I loved very much and only split with coz she wanted babies and I didn’t). It was full of her crazy funny eccentric drawings - even pages embroidered with wool. The epic of Gilgamesh in crayon. All her creativity and wit and uniqueness in o one pad of paper
And I sat there and, I confess, I slightly cried. Just a few manly tears but they were real
What is that? I was perfectly content - happy even. Then suddenly a land mine of emotion and memory exploded in my face and I was plunged into intense sadness
What is the psychology? The evolutionary explanation for these emotions? Very strange
It’s gone now. I’m fine again. But wow
Give it to your daughter and ask her to deal with it as she deems fit. If you want to keep it, drop hints to that effect.
Er, what? Thanks for replying but this was my ex wife’s sketch pad. Nothing to do with my kids (which is a sadness in itself but another story)
It’s the mystery of consciousness. How can molecules and atoms - meat and blood - get together and make memory that makes “sadness” that makes salt water run down my face? And why? What’s the evolutionary purpose? To discourage divorce?!
And these are thoughts, not even thoughts in the moment - memories of previous thoughts….
Sorry. I assumed your daughter was both you and your ex wife’s joint offspring. I should have read your post more closely. (Checks personal IQ and finds failures.)
In fairness, it wasn't an unreasonable conclusion to jump to without a careful reading of the post and/or particularly detailed knowledge of Leon's back story.
I cried unexpectedly too today. I was (because they asked) telling the girls the story of our miscarriage before our eldest was born, and suddenly all the rawness of it came back. All is fiine now of course, and if we hadn't lost that one we wouldn't have the ones we have now - but no way of knowing that at the time.
Anyway, keeping it light, I've had a splendid day. Llandudno is wonderful. Like, I imagine, British seaside towns used to be - but somehow hasn't been killed off by cheap trips abroad like others have. And its setting is magical. The Great Orme derives its name from 'worm' in its ancient sense of wingless dragon, and I can completely see why.
Completely agree on Llandudno, they have avoided the fate of many faded resorts like Colwyn Bay and Rhyl (especially Rhyl).
It's a really interesting case study in what has gone right. It has the advantage over some resorts of setting, which is dramatic, but also the disadvantage that the main beach isn't actually that good.
We also went to Conwy - not technically a seaside resort, but also a surprisingly pleasant little town and an interesting case study in what has gone right.
Happy to report also that 20mph limits were nowhere near being the problems I had perceived - the only places I experienced them were places where 20 seemed an entirely reasonable speed to drive.
I am on the Isle of Wight this week and there is almost an inverse relationship between how good the beach is and how nice the town. Sandown is probably the best beach, but really run down, while Bembridge is really posh, but a poor beach. There are other similar examples.
It may well be that too much focus on a beach is part of the problem with British seaside resorts, it takes the focus off the town itself. It might be true of other countries too.
I think you're onto something. Rhyl has a great sandy beach and the sewage outlet pipe goes a couple of miles out to sea now which wasn't the case when I were a child. But no matter how nice the beach is, it's still the Irish Sea.
Nothing wrong with the Irish Sea. But yes, I think Foxy may be on to something. As well as Rhyl, I would add Blackpool and Newquay as towns with really good beaches but where the town itself leaves something to be desired.
Cornwall doesn't generally follow this rule however
St Ives, Falmouth, Padstow - all nice or very nice towns with gorgeous beaches
Penzance, Hayle, Carbis Bay - grottier towns, also with gorgeous beaches
Maybe Cornwall just has loads of great beaches
Padstow's beach is a little inaccessible however? And Falmouth's is a little weedy and stony ISTR? Agree on St. Ives however.
Maybe it's a function of distance? e.g. in N Wales all the grotty seaside towns arethose closest to Liverpool and Manchester. Maybe you can escape turning to grot by being a sufficiently long way away. Though Penzance refutes this. Maybe it's just more complex. Pity.
Rhyl was full of guest houses which got turned into cheap bedsits and then used to house 'difficult' tenants from mainly Manchester, about half of them seemed to be junkies and that brought a lot of crime to the area as well as imported gang violence. In the last 1980s I was told that Rhyl had the highest murder rate per capita in the country. A lot of money spent on buildings like the Suncentre and the Children's Village but nothing on jobs to support them. Now at least the West End of Rhyl is getting the slum bedsits knocked down in favour of proper houses for families. I feel like that will help.
Ever so slightly off topic, I was clearing out a corner of my flat this afternoon. 20 years of accumulated crap. Mostly meaningless. Admin. Paperwork. A useless printer. All purged. Yay
But then suddenly I came across a sketch book that belonged to my ex wife (who I loved very much and only split with coz she wanted babies and I didn’t). It was full of her crazy funny eccentric drawings - even pages embroidered with wool. The epic of Gilgamesh in crayon. All her creativity and wit and uniqueness in o one pad of paper
And I sat there and, I confess, I slightly cried. Just a few manly tears but they were real
What is that? I was perfectly content - happy even. Then suddenly a land mine of emotion and memory exploded in my face and I was plunged into intense sadness
What is the psychology? The evolutionary explanation for these emotions? Very strange
It’s gone now. I’m fine again. But wow
Give it to your daughter and ask her to deal with it as she deems fit. If you want to keep it, drop hints to that effect.
Er, what? Thanks for replying but this was my ex wife’s sketch pad. Nothing to do with my kids (which is a sadness in itself but another story)
It’s the mystery of consciousness. How can molecules and atoms - meat and blood - get together and make memory that makes “sadness” that makes salt water run down my face? And why? What’s the evolutionary purpose? To discourage divorce?!
And these are thoughts, not even thoughts in the moment - memories of previous thoughts….
Sorry. I assumed your daughter was both you and your ex wife’s joint offspring. I should have read your post more closely. (Checks personal IQ and finds failures.)
In fairness, it wasn't an unreasonable conclusion to jump to without a careful reading of the post and/or particularly detailed knowledge of Leon's back story.
I cried unexpectedly too today. I was (because they asked) telling the girls the story of our miscarriage before our eldest was born, and suddenly all the rawness of it came back. All is fiine now of course, and if we hadn't lost that one we wouldn't have the ones we have now - but no way of knowing that at the time.
Anyway, keeping it light, I've had a splendid day. Llandudno is wonderful. Like, I imagine, British seaside towns used to be - but somehow hasn't been killed off by cheap trips abroad like others have. And its setting is magical. The Great Orme derives its name from 'worm' in its ancient sense of wingless dragon, and I can completely see why.
Completely agree on Llandudno, they have avoided the fate of many faded resorts like Colwyn Bay and Rhyl (especially Rhyl).
It's a really interesting case study in what has gone right. It has the advantage over some resorts of setting, which is dramatic, but also the disadvantage that the main beach isn't actually that good.
We also went to Conwy - not technically a seaside resort, but also a surprisingly pleasant little town and an interesting case study in what has gone right.
Happy to report also that 20mph limits were nowhere near being the problems I had perceived - the only places I experienced them were places where 20 seemed an entirely reasonable speed to drive.
I am on the Isle of Wight this week and there is almost an inverse relationship between how good the beach is and how nice the town. Sandown is probably the best beach, but really run down, while Bembridge is really posh, but a poor beach. There are other similar examples.
It may well be that too much focus on a beach is part of the problem with British seaside resorts, it takes the focus off the town itself. It might be true of other countries too.
I think you're onto something. Rhyl has a great sandy beach and the sewage outlet pipe goes a couple of miles out to sea now which wasn't the case when I were a child. But no matter how nice the beach is, it's still the Irish Sea.
Nothing wrong with the Irish Sea. But yes, I think Foxy may be on to something. As well as Rhyl, I would add Blackpool and Newquay as towns with really good beaches but where the town itself leaves something to be desired.
Cornwall doesn't generally follow this rule however
St Ives, Falmouth, Padstow - all nice or very nice towns with gorgeous beaches
Penzance, Hayle, Carbis Bay - grottier towns, also with gorgeous beaches
Maybe Cornwall just has loads of great beaches
Padstow's beach is a little inaccessible however? And Falmouth's is a little weedy and stony ISTR? Agree on St. Ives however.
Maybe it's a function of distance? e.g. in N Wales all the grotty seaside towns arethose closest to Liverpool and Manchester. Maybe you can escape turning to grot by being a sufficiently long way away. Though Penzance refutes this. Maybe it's just more complex. Pity.
Padstow's beaches are amazing, but you need to walk a bit out of town, I suppose
And Falmouth has multiple great beaches, including wonderful Gyllyngvase, where my sister lives in a rather grand house with stupendous views thereof
Ah, to be fair, I've never been to Gyllyngvase - I've been to Swanpool and Maenporth: both cheerful enough but a little stony and weedy, and not really in the same league as Perranporth or Polzeath. Or Harlyn or Constantine Bay. Or Watergate or Holywell Bay. Or any of half a dozen others on the north coast.
Gylly is great, partly becaue of the Gylly Beach Cafe, which is excellent
Your rule might still hold, and it is Cornwall that is the exception. Now I think about it, there are very few places in the world with such a multitude of magnificent but also diverse beaches in such a small area. You can have grand sweeping swathes of sand - Watergate, Bedruthan - but then exquisite dainty coves - Kynance - and then lovely riverine beaches - along the Helford
OK I am Cornish and biased, but I also believe this is the case. I am struggling to think of a rival
Comments
Any other outcome means a hung jury, which can more or less always mean a retrial if the prosecution wishes. (Eg in the Letby trial the jury was hung on certain counts, one (I think just one) of which were retried.
Any three can block either verdict.
An ex-colleague of mine said that he and his gf (now wife) used to have monthly scheduled arguments, if they had not had one that month - in order to clear the air of any building tension.
Illustrated here - https://youtu.be/AC9SF7TOyHQ?si=knx9w3GelHwt7R_8
Having a printer on hand is really handy - I often print out maps of walks or runs, because I find a paper map easier to read than an electronic one, for various reasons. In fact, if it's also a combined scanner, then it's even more useful.
That’s how perfectly we were matched. We simply never argued and we always made each other laugh. And perhaps that explains why I was so sad earlier
I met a unique person. A soulmate. Don’t ever do that
I don’t agree with this, I think that freedom of speech is more important.
But if the government does proscribe the organisation, then those who turn up to support them should be remanded in custody and be expecting decade-long sentences.
What’s actually happening is that they’re continuing their protests every weekend.
The government is more interested in the performance of banning an organisation that in private many Labour MPs support. That’s the problem. Two-tier Keir.
But would I fight for my country *whatever the cause*? I'd hope not, if (say) the government was fascist, or communist, or the cause was, in my view, unjust. But plenty of good Germans fought for Hitler, despite the cause being rather dubious, to say the least. And there are probably lots of normally 'good' Russians fighting an unjust war for their country in Ukraine.
I cried unexpectedly too today. I was (because they asked) telling the girls the story of our miscarriage before our eldest was born, and suddenly all the rawness of it came back. All is fiine now of course, and if we hadn't lost that one we wouldn't have the ones we have now - but no way of knowing that at the time.
Anyway, keeping it light, I've had a splendid day. Llandudno is wonderful. Like, I imagine, British seaside towns used to be - but somehow hasn't been killed off by cheap trips abroad like others have. And its setting is magical. The Great Orme derives its name from 'worm' in its ancient sense of wingless dragon, and I can completely see why.
Not obligatory but a nice contrast to the macho geekery
Also sorry to hear your story, glad it turned out ok in so many ways!
My kids long since learned it means nothing; it occasionally disturbs friends, which amuses us.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ZRZBXmAFdOg
You know, that massive bomber that we managed to get in and out of Iran without anyone spotting it…
As Cummings says she would likely promise them a wealth tax etc
https://labourlist.org/2025/06/angela-rayner-andy-burnham-labour-leadership-labourlist-survation-poll/
I cry at episodes of Car SOS nowadays though.
I got away with it via a faked sneeze and a quick trip to the toilet and managed not to dampen the mood for everyone else.
FUCK PUTIN
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER!
Indeed it is part of the attraction to Mrs Foxy. She has always been feisty, indeed I think I realised I was in love when she was giving me a serious dressing down (fully deserved!) A few weeks into our relationship.
But to the outside observer these are like speeding tickets, there’s a photo or video recording of explicit support for the proscribed organisation. Many of the placards were printed up by the SWP, who should also be charged as an organisation with supporting terrorism and the equipment of their print shop confiscated.
I get more openly emotional as I age
Like, I nearly cried at a Taylor Swift video last night. I don't wish to undermine my touchng story from today, but it's true
I don't think it was the profound brilliance of the video, it was more the irrepressible sense of joyous, urgent, youthful lust that it invoked, which made me miss my own youth, and get misty-eyed
We also went to Conwy - not technically a seaside resort, but also a surprisingly pleasant little town and an interesting case study in what has gone right.
Happy to report also that 20mph limits were nowhere near being the problems I had perceived - the only places I experienced them were places where 20 seemed an entirely reasonable speed to drive.
John Bolton
@AmbJohnBolton
·
1h
It’s a mistake for Ukraine to agree to a ceasefire. If there’s a ceasefire and lines are drawn at battlefronts, those ceasefire lines become the new Russia-Ukraine border, ceding significant territory to Russia.
https://x.com/AmbJohnBolton/status/1956424401466839530
It’s very much a place, literally, I had been and brings back that feeling of the excitement and loss of young love.
Knowing how to conceal tears is a crucial masculine talent
You are allowed maybe one public and flinty tear, every few years, but any more than that and you must step outside
It may well be that too much focus on a beach is part of the problem with British seaside resorts, it takes the focus off the town itself. It might be true of other countries too.
I have not owned a printer in decades.
And I always collect paper train tickets from the machines at the station. None of this e-ticket on your phone malarkey.
BRACE
https://x.com/warmonitor3/status/1956445391127486614
But yes, I think Foxy may be on to something. As well as Rhyl, I would add Blackpool and Newquay as towns with really good beaches but where the town itself leaves something to be desired.
St Ives, Falmouth, Padstow - all nice or very nice towns with gorgeous beaches
Penzance, Hayle, Carbis Bay - grottier towns, also with gorgeous beaches
Maybe Cornwall just has loads of great beaches
But why on earth would he send a double to do the deal of his lifetime?
Maybe it's a function of distance? e.g. in N Wales all the grotty seaside towns arethose closest to Liverpool and Manchester. Maybe you can escape turning to grot by being a sufficiently long way away.
Though Penzance refutes this.
Maybe it's just more complex. Pity.
Bankrupt Birmingham City Council said hundreds of Union and St George’s flags recently hung around the city ‘could put lives at risk’ by endangering motorists and pedestrians.'
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15004447/Labour-council-removal-St-Georges-Union-Jack-flags-Palestine-police-protection.html
As I say tiny. Maybe down to a handful now.
And Falmouth has multiple great beaches, including wonderful Gyllyngvase, where my sister lives in a rather grand house with stupendous views thereof
https://www.falmouth.co.uk/see-and-do/beaches/gyllyngvase-beach/
https://www.stmichaelsresort.com/journal/our-guide-to-gyllyngvase-beach-falmouth
In a democracy an opinion is something you express. I doubt it will have any effect on the negotiation.
FWIW, the deteriorating situation appears to have improved in the last 24 hours.
Russians are getting absolutely destroyed in their breaktrough area north of Pokrovsk.
Almost all territory is back in Ukrainian control.
https://x.com/TallbarFIN/status/1956413714355073126
Bamburgh: exceptional beach, very nice village and castle
Margate and Weymouth: decent on both counts
Poole: solid town (Bournemouth less so), great beaches
Weston SM: shit town, shit beach
But, other towns do fit the theory: Lyme Regis, Hastings, Whitstable, Swansea, Barry, Cromer etc.
One theory could be that places with very good, large bathing beaches had sandy soil and little or no surface fresh water so didn’t get built up until quite late, during the Victorian beach boom. When resorts declined they didn’t have the pretty historical roots to fall back on.
You see that with the Sussex and Kent coasts. Inland former coastal towns like Rye or Sandwich get all the nice architecture, while the coastal extensions are more often than not 60s bungalow strips.
Your rule might still hold, and it is Cornwall that is the exception. Now I think about it, there are very few places in the world with such a multitude of magnificent but also diverse beaches in such a small area. You can have grand sweeping swathes of sand - Watergate, Bedruthan - but then exquisite dainty coves - Kynance - and then lovely riverine beaches - along the Helford
OK I am Cornish and biased, but I also believe this is the case. I am struggling to think of a rival