Current Affairs

[oldbluefox]

The media have made a big splash of the lockdown being released this weekend before any official announcement except the news Boris is going to set out his roadmap (whatever that means). The media have tried to create the news before the news has happened and now dear Beth Rigby accuses the government of creating confusion across the public. Silly, deluded woman.
For our own part we will continue to remain at home, carry on with the rigours of home delivery but will afford ourselves the luxury of a daily walk until such time as we feel it is safe to go any further afield.

[Stephen]

We have a conundrum.
Today should have been Torrington Mayfair, a local tradition going back centuries.
This week last year was our best takings of the whole year as the town was rammed with tourists.

While being grateful for the government grant, our fixed costs remain.
The grant has by no means negated the loss, just smoothed it out a bit.

Luckily we don’t need to rely on the business for a ‘living’ but equally, we didn’t intend to personally subsidise the business.

So, what to do ?

Mrs B is not too keen to reopen anytime soon.

Luckily her stock, although seasonal is not perishable.

Anyone need summer sandals

I'll give you a pound for a pair barney including delivery and take a chance. Size 10, male. No two left or right feet please.

[screwy]

They keep saying “ the warm bank holiday “ have they not seen the forecast? I know it’s ok Friday/Sat but Sunday .? And does it really matter if it’s a bank holiday if everyone is home anyway.?

[Mervyn and Trish]

Isn't Boris going to say we can all go to the beach on Monday and then to the pub after?

[Manoverboard]

Come Monday it'll be 12 degrees going down to one in Darzet ... so please stay at home, we would not wish to welcome you.

[towny44]

Its not long ago that the media at the briefings were screaming for a road map out of lock down from the govt, and criticising them for keeping us in the dark.
Now they say that Boris is giving out mixed messages ahead of the bank holiday weekend, even before he has uttered a word.
What a bunch of total plonkers.

[anniec]

Is Beth Rigby totally thick.? Answers on a postcard to ‘ Head of news, Sky Tv’

Clearly not - grammar school, First from Fitzwilliam, Cambridge, daughter of a head teacher. One of life's mysteries.

[Manoverboard]

Is Beth Rigby totally thick.? Answers on a postcard to ‘ Head of news, Sky Tv’

Clearly not - grammar school, First from Fitzwilliam, Cambridge, daughter of a head teacher. One of life's mysteries.

Highly educated but totally lacking in common sense .... perhaps ?

[Happydays]

We shall be continue as we have been doing one walk each with our dog (so she gets two) and shopping at Morrisons once a fortnight with local shop for milk and bread the alternative fortnight

[Mervyn and Trish]

I like that Boris has given notice of his ambition to reach 200,000 tests a day. Gives the opposition time to plan their complaints. Still not heard a single positive suggestion from Sir Keir. It's all been the government hasn't done this and didn't do that. So pleased he decided not to do opposition for opposition's sake.

[oldbluefox]

Is Beth Rigby totally thick.? Answers on a postcard to ‘ Head of news, Sky Tv’

Clearly not - grammar school, First from Fitzwilliam, Cambridge, daughter of a head teacher. One of life's mysteries.

I often wonder when these people with Firsts from Oxbridge talk about "the amount of people" or "there are less people.........." unless of course we no longer count people, we now weigh and measure them. Do they not learn the basic rudiments of English grammar? Basically they have high opinions of themselves but are just plain sloppy.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Is Beth Rigby totally thick.? Answers on a postcard to ‘ Head of news, Sky Tv’

Clearly not - grammar school, First from Fitzwilliam, Cambridge, daughter of a head teacher. One of life's mysteries.

I often wonder when these people with Firsts from Oxbridge talk about "the amount of people" or "there are less people.........." unless of course we no longer count people, we now weigh and measure them. Do they not learn the basic rudiments of English grammar? Basically they have high opinions of themselves but are just plain sloppy.

They didn't learn em nuffink Foxy. Not like wot you and me when we was heducated.

[oldbluefox]

Not as clevver as wot thay think Merv. It's not exakly rockit sciense.

[Mervyn and Trish]

We didnt doo rockit science at skool. We only dun fisics and kemistery. And it were a bleedin mistery two.

[screwy]

What was school.?

[Onelife]

Sleep well

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/0 ... ear-me-uk/

[Ranchi]

Keeping in lockstep seemed to be the watchword a couple of days ago. This morning there is concern that that mixed messages are being received and that when the roadmap eventually is issued that people will be looking for ‘greens’ & fail to see the ‘reds’. I know it’s what the press does but why try second guess what the roadmap is going to say? That will encourage ‘green light spotting’. Wait until publication. Whilst I’m on about reporting was it really wise to publicise ‘toilet-roll-gate in early March when all it achieved was panic buying of toilet rolls, an acute shortage ( which was overcome in a couple of days) and resulted in a mad rush to squash as many people into a confined space as possible before distancing strategies had been introduced.
As for remaining in lockstep I cannot see the logic of sending Scottish schools back in June as they would only have a couple of weeks to go before their originally scheduled summer break would occur. Too big a risk for almost zero benefit.

[Quizzical Bob]

Is Beth Rigby totally thick.? Answers on a postcard to ‘ Head of news, Sky Tv’

Clearly not - grammar school, First from Fitzwilliam, Cambridge, daughter of a head teacher. One of life's mysteries.

I often wonder when these people with Firsts from Oxbridge talk about "the amount of people" or "there are less people.........." unless of course we no longer count people, we now weigh and measure them. Do they not learn the basic rudiments of English grammar? Basically they have high opinions of themselves but are just plain sloppy.

Less/fewer is A matter of debate and the rules as you describe “arose as an incorrect generalization of a personal preference expressed by a grammarian in 1770.”

Nothing to get upset over.

[Onelife]

We have a conundrum.
Today should have been Torrington Mayfair, a local tradition going back centuries.
This week last year was our best takings of the whole year as the town was rammed with tourists.

While being grateful for the government grant, our fixed costs remain.
The grant has by no means negated the loss, just smoothed it out a bit.

Luckily we don’t need to rely on the business for a ‘living’ but equally, we didn’t intend to personally subsidise the business.

So, what to do ?

Mrs B is not too keen to reopen anytime soon.

Luckily her stock, although seasonal is not perishable.

Anyone need summer sandals

I'll give you a pound for a pair barney including delivery and take a chance. Size 10, male. No two left or right feet please.

Yeah! and I'll have a willie warmer if you've got any......"Small".....Please don't tell the others l've said that :

[Ray B]

I like that Boris has given notice of his ambition to reach 200,000 tests a day. Gives the opposition time to plan their complaints. Still not heard a single positive suggestion from Sir Keir. It's all been the government hasn't done this and didn't do that. So pleased he decided not to do opposition for opposition's sake.

I did a test run on the Gov testing site Tues afternoon. Whilst all the home testing kits had gone, there were still slots available at testing sites, though not saying where they are.
Could the reason the numbers are well below 100,000 is the lack of take up and a considerable journey could be involved.?
For the record, I don't come in the testing category.

[oldbluefox]

Less/fewer is A matter of debate and the rules as you describe “arose as an incorrect generalization of a personal preference expressed by a grammarian in 1770.”
Nothing to get upset over.

"According to usage rules, fewer is only to be used when discussing countable things, while less is used for singular mass nouns. For example, you can have fewer ingredients, dollars, people, or puppies, but less salt, money, honesty, or love. If you can count it, go for fewer. If you can't, opt for less".

Not difficult to understand is it unless you are a BBC journalist or stuck in conventions pre 1770?

[barney]

Sorry, can you please say that again

[Mervyn and Trish]

I like that Boris has given notice of his ambition to reach 200,000 tests a day. Gives the opposition time to plan their complaints. Still not heard a single positive suggestion from Sir Keir. It's all been the government hasn't done this and didn't do that. So pleased he decided not to do opposition for opposition's sake.

I did a test run on the Gov testing site Tues afternoon. Whilst all the home testing kits had gone, there were still slots available at testing sites, though not saying where they are.
Could the reason the numbers are well below 100,000 is the lack of take up and a considerable journey could be involved.?
For the record, I don't come in the testing category.

Our daughter is eligible and got a test at a centre 10 miles from here. All done very efficiently and result within 48 hours.

[david63]

result within 48 hours

Why is it taking so long? I read the other day, and I know not how true it is, that at Dubai airport they are doing blood tests with the results in 10 minutes.

[Manoverboard]

result within 48 hours

Why is it taking so long? I read the other day, and I know not how true it is, that at Dubai airport they are doing blood tests with the results in 10 minutes.

That'll presumably be using the small prick method ... if you pardon the expression