Current Affairs

[Kendhni]

But the issue of immigrants needing an interpreter raises two issues. It questions the idea they are coming here because they know the language and casts doubt on their ability to contribute to the economy.

They will have several years to learn the language before they are allowed to work
Even before that I am sure that many will find employment.

We have farmers leaving millions of pounds of produce to rot in the fields for lack of labour ... we have over 1million indigenous people with nothing better to do ... or we have many refugees, some of whom have offered to help, that could to do it for a few quid extra. Why are we allowing the farmers to have a problem?

[Mervyn and Trish]

Maybe the 1,000,000 should get off their backsides. I'm retired now but in my working life would have done pretty much anything rather than be unemployed.

[Ray B]

It does seem that since the covid pandemic a lot of people just do not want to work, that is unless they can do it at home.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Yes I'm sure that's why the airports have had such a problem for example. Baggage handlers laid off realised what a dreadful job it is!

[Gill W]

True to form. You are so predictable. There was no edge to my original perfectly civil question but if a civil question made you feel 'uncomfortable' that is not my problem and there is little I can do about it. I'm afraid playing your victim card doesn't wash Gill. You do indeed reap what you sow.

True to form, you are so predictable with your denial.

However, you let your reason for your 'request' slip out in post 17935, when you spoke about my 'hypocrisy'. Makes it fairly clear what you were up to - having a dig at me, rather than genuine desire for information. No victimhood here, just calling it as I see it.

I'm leaving it here, as otherwise, this will start to disrupt the forum. Have the last word if you want

[barney]

Yes I'm sure that's why the airports have had such a problem for example. Baggage handlers laid off realised what a dreadful job it is!

It’s because of me and Gill W .
We’re called economically inactive

[oldbluefox]

v

True to form. You are so predictable. There was no edge to my original perfectly civil question but if a civil question made you feel 'uncomfortable' that is not my problem and there is little I can do about it. I'm afraid playing your victim card doesn't wash Gill. You do indeed reap what you sow.

True to form, you are so predictable with your denial.

However, you let your reason for your 'request' slip out in post 17935, when you spoke about my 'hypocrisy'. Makes it fairly clear what you were up to - having a dig at me, rather than genuine desire for information. No victimhood here, just calling it as I see it.

I'm leaving it here, as otherwise, this will start to disrupt the forum. Have the last word if you want

Should have just posted the link. Not difficult is it?

[Gill W]

Yes I'm sure that's why the airports have had such a problem for example. Baggage handlers laid off realised what a dreadful job it is!

It’s because of me and Gill W .
We’re called economically inactive

I was wondering whether to mention that. I said the other day that I retired from work at the age of 54, and I have no intention of going back to work at the age of 62.

If I had still been working at the start of 2020, I'm quite sure that I have given up work when the pandemic hit, and I know that a lot of older people did this.

However, there is no such thing as a set retirement age these days, and there's nothing to stop people over state pension age from carrying on with paid employment. Perhaps our forum colleagues aged 66+ will opt to go back to work !

[/quote]

But the issue of immigrants needing an interpreter raises two issues. It questions the idea they are coming here because they know the language and casts doubt on their ability to contribute to the economy.

I'm ok with conversational French - but I couldn't complete complex French forms and deal with a detailed interview in French. Perhaps it's the same situation for the asylum seekers.

[screwy]

Was thinking of going to the Comedy Club but I think I’ll just stick on here.! Much more fun.

[oldbluefox]

Was thinking of going to the Comedy Club but I think I’ll just stick on here.! Much more fun.

[Kendhni]

Maybe the 1,000,000 should get off their backsides. I'm retired now but in my working life would have done pretty much anything rather than be unemployed.

I would have been the same, I have actually worked from I was 10 years old ... my father used to bring boxes of dockets from his company and get us to sort them by docket number for which we might make 10 bob ... it usually took us about 2-3 nights in front of the TV to do it (years later he told me that after we finished they got thrown in the incinerator ... he just wanted to teach us responsibility).

[Mervyn and Trish]

As I kid I spent my summer holidays picking beans or apples on the local farms. Then progressed to a holiday job in a pie and sausage factory. Then as a student at Christmas I was a temporary postman. All on top of my paper round.

[Kendhni]

It does seem that since the covid pandemic a lot of people just do not want to work, that is unless they can do it at home.

Indeed, it has hit many areas. Apparently the NHS has been hit particularly badly with many nurses/carers deciding not to continue on.
I am lucky that I work in an industry where you can work from home ... with a measurable productivity benefit. I really do not miss rush hour traffic, which means I get 2+ hours of extra time every day (and I consider time to be one of the most valuable resources we have) ... some of that time is spent working, and other times I head down to the gym ... so both physically and mentally it is win-win.

It doesn't suit everyone though, and some want to get back into an office, but where applicable, it should be about giving people the choice. If they try to force me back in the office I will retire (I am lucky enough to work because I enjoy the challenge, rather than need the money).

[Stephen]

Was thinking of going to the Comedy Club but I think I’ll just stick on here.! Much more fun.

[Kendhni]

All on top of my paper round.

I did a paper round as well ... 53 papers to be delivered every night. I hated Thursday nights because the local Telegraph included its supplements on a Thursday (which doubled its size) ... plus I had an additional 22 weekend papers to go out on the Thursday as well. If I remember correctly we got 2p per week for each Telegraph and 1p for each weekend paper ... so my pay was about £1.28 per week.

[Onelife]

I did a paper round both morning and night but didn’t like the early morning round because it was always in the dark…Squeak! Squeak!

Part of my round was named Brookend Drive but to get to it I had to bike down long wood boarded alleyways. When I felt really spooked, I used to jump off my bike and push the bike In front of me just in case someone jumped out in front of me…who would have thought I later went on to join the SAS

[screwy]

Who indeed.

[screwy]

Talking about the SAS, I see Matt Hancock is to appear on the next Celebrity Who dares Wins. Should be fun.

Apologies if it’s already been mentioned.

[Gill W]

Talking about the SAS, I see Matt Hancock is to appear on the next Celebrity Who dares Wins. Should be fun.

Apologies if it’s already been mentioned.

I think he wants a new TV career, he’s also in I’m a Celebrity. I expect the public will choose him for every bushtucker trial, especially the wombat anus eating trials.

I read that he lost the whip over this and his local Conservative Association seems to be unimpressed. I suspect Hattie knows his political career is over, especially as Sunak blanked him during the congratulatory handshakes

[david63]

I suspect Hattie knows his political career is over,

He has already stated that he will not be standing at the next GE

[david63]

I see Matt Hancock is to appear on the next Celebrity Who dares Wins.

If that is true then he has my respect. Why anybody would want to put themselves through that is beyond me.

The one thing that I have noticed with that program is that without exception they all have "baggage" in their lives.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Talking about the SAS, I see Matt Hancock is to appear on the next Celebrity Who dares Wins. Should be fun.

Apologies if it’s already been mentioned.

I think he wants a new TV career, he’s also in I’m a Celebrity. I expect the public will choose him for every bushtucker trial, especially the wombat anus eating trials.

Let's hope so!

[Gill W]

Here we go again.

Gavin Williamson in being investigated for sending abusive messages to the ex-chief whip, because Williamson wasn’t placed on the guest list for the Queen funeral.

I haven’t posted the link to the story, as it’s on The Times website and is behind a paywall.

I’ve seen the screenshots of the messages, and can’t post them, as that sort of language isn’t allowed on this forum.

As Sunak has promised professionalism and accountability at every level of his government, I wonder how he will deal with this.

[oldbluefox]

There's a link here

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk ... e-25445107

[Onelife]

Here we go again.

Gavin Williamson in being investigated for sending abusive messages to the ex-chief whip, because Williamson wasn’t placed on the guest list for the Queen funeral.

I haven’t posted the link to the story, as it’s on The Times website and is behind a paywall.

I’ve seen the screenshots of the messages, and can’t post them, as that sort of language isn’t allowed on this forum.

As Sunak has promised professionalism and accountability at every level of his government, I wonder how he will deal with this.

Certainly not the kind of correspondence/tone you would expect from a minister to a Government chief whip….he will have to go because you can’t have two people who work so closely with the PM facing these kinds of intimidating confrontations.