Current Affairs

[Onelife]

If you are a male…lift bonnet and pee in engine compartment if you are female open both front and back seat doors and pee between both doors using a she-wee and don’t worry about the drivers to the front and rear as you’ll never meet them again.

[david63]

I believe we can have both, but we need to move to a co-pay system

Any Government that tries to do that with the NHS is committing political suicide, and will be out of power for a very long time

[towny44]

I feel sorry for those poor souls stuck in the traffic jam at Dover.

I always think It must be horrible if you desperately need the loo.

I’d imagine that the residents of Dover are just as cheesed of with travellers using the local streets as short cuts and causing gridlock.
Apparently, many travellers didn’t realise that the UK has left the Eu and thereby, passport checks and stamps.
Only six of the twelve French immigration booths were open.
Dover Port claim that they prepared properly but the system is overloaded because of this.
Can’t really blame the French.
It’s not the start of their school holidays.
People should give a little more thought to their travel plans now that the U.K. is a third country.

I dont see why brexit needs to be blamed for this mess. We may now be a separate country, but if our continental neighbours still want our holiday business, then they need to base their manning on our peak holiday periods just as we should aim to ensure continental visitors are handled speedily at our passport checkpoints.

[Stephen]

If you are a male…lift bonnet and pee in engine compartment if you are female open both front and back seat doors and pee between both doors using a she-wee and don’t worry about the drivers to the front and rear as you’ll never meet them again.

And if you need a poo!

Make sure you have a bucket and spade and some saw dust

[Mervyn and Trish]

I feel sorry for those poor souls stuck in the traffic jam at Dover.

I always think It must be horrible if you desperately need the loo.

I’d imagine that the residents of Dover are just as cheesed of with travellers using the local streets as short cuts and causing gridlock.
Apparently, many travellers didn’t realise that the UK has left the Eu and thereby, passport checks and stamps.
Only six of the twelve French immigration booths were open.
Dover Port claim that they prepared properly but the system is overloaded because of this.
Can’t really blame the French.
It’s not the start of their school holidays.
People should give a little more thought to their travel plans now that the U.K. is a third country.

I dont see why brexit needs to be blamed for this mess. We may now be a separate country, but if our continental neighbours still want our holiday business, then they need to base their manning on our peak holiday periods just as we should aim to ensure continental visitors are handled speedily at our passport checkpoints.

I agree. The French claim it was caused by an unforseen problem with the channel tunnel meaning staff were an hour late arriving. But it's hard to see how that equates to 6 hour delays. I think the French are once again punishing us for having the nerve to leave their club. With other countries falling over themselves to make Brits welcome, for example with electronic lanes for UK passport holders, holiday makers will.quickkly learn and vote with their feet and their wallets.

[Kendhni]

I believe we can have both, but we need to move to a co-pay system

Any Government that tries to do that with the NHS is committing political suicide, and will be out of power for a very long time

I really don't see that we have a choice. In another 20--30 years from now it is expected that the cost of drugs alone will exceed the realtime current NHS budget ... not to worry the day-to-day running costs. It is a very hard decision but unless they want to stick several percentage points onto income tax to cover it, I am not sure there will be any other choice (Sunak actually did that this year by sticking 2% on NI, that was not popular either).

[barney]

I feel sorry for those poor souls stuck in the traffic jam at Dover.

I always think It must be horrible if you desperately need the loo.

I’d imagine that the residents of Dover are just as cheesed of with travellers using the local streets as short cuts and causing gridlock.
Apparently, many travellers didn’t realise that the UK has left the Eu and thereby, passport checks and stamps.
Only six of the twelve French immigration booths were open.
Dover Port claim that they prepared properly but the system is overloaded because of this.
Can’t really blame the French.
It’s not the start of their school holidays.
People should give a little more thought to their travel plans now that the U.K. is a third country.

I dont see why brexit needs to be blamed for this mess. We may now be a separate country, but if our continental neighbours still want our holiday business, then they need to base their manning on our peak holiday periods just as we should aim to ensure continental visitors are handled speedily at our passport checkpoints.

But they literally don’t care John because they know that the people who are queuing this year will be the same people queuing next year.
Some countries are using the epassport system where it’s digitally logged but France at the ferries and tunnel want a physical inspection and stamp.
My brother entered Malta a few weeks back and there was nobody at the immigration station.
He asked about getting his passport stamped and was told don’t worry about it.
They are all under the same laws.

[towny44]

I’d imagine that the residents of Dover are just as cheesed of with travellers using the local streets as short cuts and causing gridlock.
Apparently, many travellers didn’t realise that the UK has left the Eu and thereby, passport checks and stamps.
Only six of the twelve French immigration booths were open.
Dover Port claim that they prepared properly but the system is overloaded because of this.
Can’t really blame the French.
It’s not the start of their school holidays.
People should give a little more thought to their travel plans now that the U.K. is a third country.

I dont see why brexit needs to be blamed for this mess. We may now be a separate country, but if our continental neighbours still want our holiday business, then they need to base their manning on our peak holiday periods just as we should aim to ensure continental visitors are handled speedily at our passport checkpoints.

But they literally don’t care John because they know that the people who are queuing this year will be the same people queuing next year.
Some countries are using the epassport system where it’s digitally logged but France at the ferries and tunnel want a physical inspection and stamp.
My brother entered Malta a few weeks back and there was nobody at the immigration station.
He asked about getting his passport stamped and was told don’t worry about it.
They are all under the same laws.

The French will never forgive us for not surrendering to Hitler like they did.

[Gill W]

I dont see why brexit needs to be blamed for this mess. We may now be a separate country, but if our continental neighbours still want our holiday business, then they need to base their manning on our peak holiday periods just as we should aim to ensure continental visitors are handled speedily at our passport checkpoints.

The situation is a direct result of Brexit. This country decided it wanted to end free movement of people, therefore we are now a third country and have to go through passport control. It’s as simple as that.

We can’t tell the French what they need to do to sort out a situation that we freely put ourselves into

With other countries falling over themselves to make Brits welcome, for example with electronic lanes for UK passport holders

The problem at Dover is that the French have to operate in the space allocated to them. Not sure how they’d find the space to build more infrastructure

[Mervyn and Trish]

The problem at Dover was they weren't occupying the space allocated to them until late and when they did so worked very inefficiently.

And it is not a direct result of Brexit. There are many countries in the world which are not in the EU. We have visited several of them and never experienced what the French are putting tourists through at Dover. It is a direct result of, at best, French incompetence, or at worst, French malice.

[towny44]

I dont see why brexit needs to be blamed for this mess. We may now be a separate country, but if our continental neighbours still want our holiday business, then they need to base their manning on our peak holiday periods just as we should aim to ensure continental visitors are handled speedily at our passport checkpoints.

The situation is a direct result of Brexit. This country decided it wanted to end free movement of people, therefore we are now a third country and have to go through passport control. It’s as simple as that.

We can’t tell the French what they need to do to sort out a situation that we freely put ourselves into

With other countries falling over themselves to make Brits welcome, for example with electronic lanes for UK passport holders

The problem at Dover is that the French have to operate in the space allocated to them. Not sure how they’d find the space to build more infrastructure

Gill, this has absolutely nothing to do with the free movement of people within the EU to live and work where they want.
The ferry passengers at Dover are holidaymakers, many of whom will be spending their holidays in France and helping the french tourist industry. The French govt is still so pixxxd off with us for leaving their federal republic of europe, that they are willing to hurt their own economy just to score points. If you cant see that then your totally blinkered.

[Onelife]

We should create an ‘unexpected incident’ on the French side....malice can work both ways.

[Stephen]

I blame Boris

[Onelife]

I blame Boris

You need a holiday...Shitstirrer

[Kendhni]

I blame Boris

I thought it was supposed be all Gordon Browns fault

[Kendhni]

The situation is a direct result of Brexit.

I have been trying to educate myself in the ways of this board and believe that that would be considered to be an unfair conclusion. If we look back over the last 40-50 years then we saw all the same problems ... oh wait a minute. If we actually start our calendar in 2020 then it is clear that in 2020 and 2021 there were no problems .. therefore it is clear that COVID is the solution, so we have to determine what destroyed COVID ... that would be the vaccines, so the problem is actually the introduction of the vaccines.

Based on the arguments I often hear, then if you are a clueless conservative then that would mean it is Gordon Brown's fault, whereas if you are a loony lefty then it is Margaret Thatcher's fault ... but since I sit somewhere in the middle it is obvious that it is John Majors fault. So irrefutable evidence that the traffic chaos in Dover is actually the fault of John Major.

So remember the rules, nothing bad has ever come from brexit, and everything good will always be tied back to brexit.
And remember there are hundreds of men and women employed by P&O Ferries that are helping to resolve this ... all of whom owe their jobs to brexit.

[Manoverboard]

If a Brit owns a house in France one could, and still can, stay in it for 180 days per year. Pre Brexit there were no other restrictions but post Brexit the 180 days have to be taken contiguously.

Vive La France and all who sink in her

[towny44]

The situation is a direct result of Brexit.

I have been trying to educate myself in the ways of this board and believe that that would be considered to be an unfair conclusion. If we look back over the last 40-50 years then we saw all the same problems ... oh wait a minute. If we actually start our calendar in 2020 then it is clear that in 2020 and 2021 there were no problems .. therefore it is clear that COVID is the solution, so we have to determine what destroyed COVID ... that would be the vaccines, so the problem is actually the introduction of the vaccines.

Based on the arguments I often hear, then if you are a clueless conservative then that would mean it is Gordon Brown's fault, whereas if you are a loony lefty then it is Margaret Thatcher's fault ... but since I sit somewhere in the middle it is obvious that it is John Majors fault. So irrefutable evidence that the traffic chaos in Dover is actually the fault of John Major.

So remember the rules, nothing bad has ever come from brexit, and everything good will always be tied back to brexit.
And remember there are hundreds of men and women employed by P&O Ferries that are helping to resolve this ... all of whom owe their jobs to brexit.

Do I remember incorrectly or did covid testing of all passengers not result in huge delays at Dover, and wasnt that in 2020?
I am sure I could find flaws in your other claims, but life is too short.

[Chalgrave4]

Perhaps its time to look at this from a different point of view. The UK has left the EU - like it or not that is the situation. Many UK citizens don't like it and some won't accept it but it has happened. It would also appear the the French authorities won't accept it either. They have a border post in Dover, they know the likely volumes of traffic and should man their border appropriately. This chaos is the responsibility of the French authorities, whether through incompetence or vindictiveness is irrelevant it's down to them.

[Kendhni]

The situation is a direct result of Brexit.

I have been trying to educate myself in the ways of this board and believe that that would be considered to be an unfair conclusion. If we look back over the last 40-50 years then we saw all the same problems ... oh wait a minute. If we actually start our calendar in 2020 then it is clear that in 2020 and 2021 there were no problems .. therefore it is clear that COVID is the solution, so we have to determine what destroyed COVID ... that would be the vaccines, so the problem is actually the introduction of the vaccines.

Based on the arguments I often hear, then if you are a clueless conservative then that would mean it is Gordon Brown's fault, whereas if you are a loony lefty then it is Margaret Thatcher's fault ... but since I sit somewhere in the middle it is obvious that it is John Majors fault. So irrefutable evidence that the traffic chaos in Dover is actually the fault of John Major.

So remember the rules, nothing bad has ever come from brexit, and everything good will always be tied back to brexit.
And remember there are hundreds of men and women employed by P&O Ferries that are helping to resolve this ... all of whom owe their jobs to brexit.

Do I remember incorrectly or did covid testing of all passengers not result in huge delays at Dover, and wasnt that in 2020?
I am sure I could find flaws in your other claims, but life is too short.

In your world, humour is just something other people have . or did you think I was actually being serious.

[CaroleF]

My daughter and family left Hampshire this morning at 4.30 heading for Dover. Roads fairly empty. They arrived and were told they would be on the 8.30 sailing. I got a message at 9.15 showing my daughter with a glass of fizz celebrating the start of their holiday. My grandson enjoyed waving at the various cameramen as they drove onto the ferry.

Carole

[towny44]

I have been trying to educate myself in the ways of this board and believe that that would be considered to be an unfair conclusion. If we look back over the last 40-50 years then we saw all the same problems ... oh wait a minute. If we actually start our calendar in 2020 then it is clear that in 2020 and 2021 there were no problems .. therefore it is clear that COVID is the solution, so we have to determine what destroyed COVID ... that would be the vaccines, so the problem is actually the introduction of the vaccines.

Based on the arguments I often hear, then if you are a clueless conservative then that would mean it is Gordon Brown's fault, whereas if you are a loony lefty then it is Margaret Thatcher's fault ... but since I sit somewhere in the middle it is obvious that it is John Majors fault. So irrefutable evidence that the traffic chaos in Dover is actually the fault of John Major.

So remember the rules, nothing bad has ever come from brexit, and everything good will always be tied back to brexit.
And remember there are hundreds of men and women employed by P&O Ferries that are helping to resolve this ... all of whom owe their jobs to brexit.

Do I remember incorrectly or did covid testing of all passengers not result in huge delays at Dover, and wasnt that in 2020?
I am sure I could find flaws in your other claims, but life is too short.

In your world, humour is just something other people have . or did you think I was actually being serious.

I can't say that I have ever found your feeble put down attempts to justify your own views as particularly humorous, but possibly Gill does.

[Kendhni]

Do I remember incorrectly or did covid testing of all passengers not result in huge delays at Dover, and wasnt that in 2020?
I am sure I could find flaws in your other claims, but life is too short.

In your world, humour is just something other people have . or did you think I was actually being serious.

I can't say that I have ever found your feeble put down attempts to justify your own views as particularly humorous, but possibly Gill does.

I think you look at my posts and then scratch your head and think how can I get myself all indignant and take offence ... I have to admire how hard that must have been for you on this post. You have excelled even your self.

I am just surprised that anybody even considered it to be serious ... wow !!!! Have a lovely day.

[Gill W]

And it is not a direct result of Brexit.

Where passport checks required before Brexit? No

Are passport checks required after Brexit? Yes

If Brexit had not happened, would passport checks be required now? No

Ergo, the current situation is a direct result of Brexit.

There were loads of warnings that things like this would happen, so nobody should be surprised.

If you cant see that then your totally blinkered.

Pot. Kettle. Black.

I can't say that I have ever found your feeble put down attempts to justify your own views as particularly humorous, but possibly Gill does.

Well, it was clear to me that Ken's post was humorous, as it perfectly described the mental contortions that people on this board go through to deny that their pet projects (usually Johnson, the Conservatives or Brexit) did not cause any given scenario.

I got the impression that this forum prided itself on it's sense of humour, and it was once implied that I didn't have one, so, very surprised that a forum member could not detect a joke post.

Perhaps its time to look at this from a different point of view. The UK has left the EU - like it or not that is the situation. Many UK citizens don't like it and some won't accept it but it has happened. It would also appear the the French authorities won't accept it either. They have a border post in Dover, they know the likely volumes of traffic and should man their border appropriately. This chaos is the responsibility of the French authorities, whether through incompetence or vindictiveness is irrelevant it's down to them.

Basically it's the same point of view, expressed many times already. 'It's the fault of the French'

[oldbluefox]

Presumably you get the same chaos at all of the border points for non-EU citizens.