Current Affairs

[Manoverboard]

Extracted from ....

Robert Peston, from ITV, asks what the "relevant difference" is between Dominic Cummings' situation and Matt Hancock's - the health secretary and his wife both tested positive for coronavirus, have young children, and chose to stay in London.

Giving a very swift answer, Mr Hancock says: "We had childcare readily available at home and Mr Cummings didn't."

No additional comment will be forthcoming from me

[anniec]

It was an awkward question (and quite succinct from Preston) and Hancock was a bit rattled. That’s what I saw anyway.

Peston's question lasted 18.03 seconds. According to some wag or other, this was a pandemic personal best.

[johnds]

It was an awkward question (and quite succinct from Preston) and Hancock was a bit rattled. That’s what I saw anyway.

Of course you did

[barney]

It was an awkward question (and quite succinct from Preston) and Hancock was a bit rattled. That’s what I saw anyway.

Peston's question lasted 18.03 seconds. According to some wag or other, this was a pandemic personal best.

brilliant
Every time Peston comes on we say, oooh here we go!

[Onelife]

My very, very last words about cummings......

There is no doubt Cummings is a complex character and from what l have read he is not one to be messed with should anyone get in the way of him achieving his goals.

He is clearly a man who knows how to get his own way whether that be by reasoned argument or "l don't give a sh*t it's my way or the highway" with of course the proviso that he being the advisor, those above him make the decisions.

What l did find interesting was my interpretation of his political leanings, on one hand l would say that his values lie closer to that of the labour party, in that wanting a fairer society for all and yet to achieve this he knows the political landscape has to change and from within the conservative party he has the tools to do this.

If he survives this mauling l think he could become one of our greatest reformers....and make no mistake about it, our country is going to need his drive and direction in the years ahead....."let's get Brexit done"

I thought this a balanced statement

https://www.conservativehome.com/platfo ... -best.html

[Stephen]

I feel there's a little more to be squeezed out of this subject.......I just can't think what. Death and done to spring to mind though

[Manoverboard]

I feel there's a little more to be squeezed out of this subject.......I just can't think what. Death and done to spring to mind though

I may be able to help you there

There's a meeting this very afternoon where the PM has a little chat with the ' Commons Liaison Committee ', nothing will come of it of course but it's certainly something to look forward to

[screwy]

Can I respectfully suggest that a new ‘ current affairs’ thread be started ,No mention of Covid, Cummings, Boris etc. Any one who wishes to discuss those can do so on the Old thread.

[CaroleF]

A friend telephone yesterday just as the briefing was starting so I missed it. Probably a good job that I wasn't there to hear Robert Peston's question or I would have shouted at the TV, mind you Matt Hancock seems to have coped pretty well. I've only just read the comments on here from yesterday - Foxy you have my vote, a brilliant comment.

Funnily enough John and I did something similar to Cummings' try out driving episode. John hadn't driven our car for a couple of months as when he had a hospital appointment I tended to drive to the hospital, drop him off and return home then go back for him later. He is fully free to drive, according to the Consultant it's fine as long as it's in an automatic as his right foot is fine and it's his left one that's affected by foot drop. So a couple of weekends ago John said he wanted to have a drive as he hadn't for so long. I drove the car up to an area near us which is full of offices and on a Sunday is more or less deserted. We swapped seats and John drove around and then drove home, all fine, no problem. He just wanted to make sure that he could still drive with no problem. Whether that was against the law I don't know, I don't think so as a Consultant had stated he could drive. I realise this wasn't driving 30 miles or whatever but the idea was the same.

One thing that no-one seemed to ask about the Cummings' situation was if that there was no child care available in London, which he stated there wasn't apart from asking friends which I don't think I would do if I suspected that my other half had Covid and I was likely to get it too, what was he supposed to do? People talked of a Nanny but again, asking a Nanny to go into a home where one parent at least was probably suffering from Covid isn't sensible. So, presumably the only other option would have been to contact Social Services - really, when there were two family members who had said they would be happy to look after the little boy if necessary?
While I'm probably annoying some people, I think it's about time that our Government leaders should have special medical provision made for them, as most other countries' leaders do. It's all very well saying that they shouldn't be special cases but they are leading the country for goodness sake. It's in our interests that they be looked after if ill. It seems ridiculous to me that the moment Boris Johnson became ill, showed signs of becoming ill then specialist care should have started immediately, not having him self-isolating in bed in Downing Street.
I'm sure there are those who will disagree with most of what I've said but having read all the comments over the past few days I just wanted to give my thoughts.

[Onelife]

My very, very, very last comment.....Carol, I think your post is as good as Foxy, Mob, and Towny's, I think you are right about our covid task force getting preferential treatment.....Unfortunately there are those who are happy to see the government destabilised at this crucial time.

[Manoverboard]

An item on impact to one's eyesight has just emerged ...... and it can, it says here.

[Onelife]

With some schools opening next week l think it would be a prudent move by the government to fund a full time sanitiser at every school.....working to a good regime areas of high pupil traffic could be sanitised several times a day.

[Quizzical Bob]

An item on impact to one's eyesight has just emerged ...... and it can, it says here.

In which case driving under any circumstance is a definite no-no.

[barney]

We went to the shop this morning to start getting ready to reopen.
Saw lots of friends and familiar faces all wishing us well.
Our area pretty well escaped the Covid crisis both in infections and fatalities.
Let’s hope it stays that way

[Onelife]

An item on impact to one's eyesight has just emerged ...... and it can, it says here.

In which case driving under any circumstance is a definite no-no.

If you take that stance then one eyed drivers shouldn't be driving either......don't they have a visual impairment?

[Onelife]

We went to the shop this morning to start getting ready to reopen.
Saw lots of friends and familiar faces all wishing us well.
Our area pretty well escaped the Covid crisis both in infections and fatalities.
Let’s hope it stays that way

I'm pleased for both of you Barney ......no doubt it will be a slow return but at least it's moving in the right direction

GOOD LUCK

[Gill W]

An item on impact to one's eyesight has just emerged ...... and it can, it says here.

In which case driving under any circumstance is a definite no-no.

If you take that stance then one eyed drivers shouldn't be driving either......don't they have a visual impairment?

Guidance is here for one eyed drivers

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... roup-1.pdf

[Gill W]

We went to the shop this morning to start getting ready to reopen.
Saw lots of friends and familiar faces all wishing us well.
Our area pretty well escaped the Covid crisis both in infections and fatalities.
Let’s hope it stays that way

Will you have to set everything up for social distancing, such as marking out the floor and only allowing a few people in the shop at the same time?

[Onelife]

In which case driving under any circumstance is a definite no-no.

If you take that stance then one eyed drivers shouldn't be driving either......don't they have a visual impairment?

Guidance is here for one eyed drivers

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... roup-1.pdf

If you are suggesting my post is irrelevant then l suggest you close one of your eyes and see what you can see.....then open both eyes and see what you can see.

Feild of vision is undoubtedly impaired irrespective of what the guidelines say. I would go as far to say ability to judge distance will also be impaired.

[barney]

We went to the shop this morning to start getting ready to reopen.
Saw lots of friends and familiar faces all wishing us well.
Our area pretty well escaped the Covid crisis both in infections and fatalities.
Let’s hope it stays that way

Will you have to set everything up for social distancing, such as marking out the floor and only allowing a few people in the shop at the same time?

Absolutely.
Mrs B is right on her game, as usual.
She’s only allowing one at a time or two from the same family.
Fortunately, the populus has got used to queuing.
Just awaiting the large screen and the sanitiser stand and she’s ready to go.
Got a lot of stock to shift before summer is out

[Manoverboard]

An item on impact to one's eyesight has just emerged ...... and it can, it says here.

In which case driving under any circumstance is a definite no-no.

Perhaps it depends on how one's eye is impacted, if at all, but not being an Optician I couldn't possibly comment.

[Manoverboard]

If you take that stance then one eyed drivers shouldn't be driving either......don't they have a visual impairment?

Guidance is here for one eyed drivers

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... roup-1.pdf

If you are suggesting my post is irrelevant then l suggest you close one of your eyes and see what you can see.....then open both eyes and see what you can see.

Feild of vision is undoubtedly impaired irrespective of what the guidelines say. I would go as far to say ability to judge distance will also be impaired.

Gill's ' guidance ' is perfectly valid and appropriate, Mobietta had to go through that loop when she had her cataracts done as did the one eyed feller in the our Village, having said that there was no way he was going to drive me anywhere

[Gill W]

We went to the shop this morning to start getting ready to reopen.
Saw lots of friends and familiar faces all wishing us well.
Our area pretty well escaped the Covid crisis both in infections and fatalities.
Let’s hope it stays that way

Will you have to set everything up for social distancing, such as marking out the floor and only allowing a few people in the shop at the same time?

Absolutely.
Mrs B is right on her game, as usual.
She’s only allowing one at a time or two from the same family.
Fortunately, the populus has got used to queuing.
Just awaiting the large screen and the sanitiser stand and she’s ready to go.
Got a lot of stock to shift before summer is out

Excellent, hope it goes well.

[Gill W]

If you take that stance then one eyed drivers shouldn't be driving either......don't they have a visual impairment?

Guidance is here for one eyed drivers

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... roup-1.pdf

If you are suggesting my post is irrelevant then l suggest you close one of your eyes and see what you can see.....then open both eyes and see what you can see.

Feild of vision is undoubtedly impaired irrespective of what the guidelines say. I would go as far to say ability to judge distance will also be impaired.

No, I didn't suggest anything. I just posted what the DVLA says about one eyed drivers, so everybody could read it, if they were interested.

As I have Meniere's Disease, I had to apply to the DVLA myself to seek permission to continue to drive, as the eye sight can be affected during a bout of vertigo, so I knew there was official guidance. I'm pleased to say I got permission to carry on driving

[Onelife]

Guidance is here for one eyed drivers

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... roup-1.pdf

If you are suggesting my post is irrelevant then l suggest you close one of your eyes and see what you can see.....then open both eyes and see what you can see.

Feild of vision is undoubtedly impaired irrespective of what the guidelines say. I would go as far to say ability to judge distance will also be impaired.

Gill's ' guidance ' is perfectly valid and appropriate, Mobietta had to go through that loop when she had her cataracts done as did the one eyed feller in the our Village, having said that there was no way he was going to drive me anywhere

It may be valid and appropriate but tell me who would you feel safer driving Mobietta a one eyed driver or a driver with two eyes both of which had the same driving ability...be honest Moby.