Current Affairs

[CaroleF]

Agreed! Well said Foxy.

[Gill W]

I couldn't see the correlation between Boris making a decision at national level and his baby having Covid. As I said before was there a need to mention his child at all? I suggest not.

The irony is that we didn't even need to know about his daughter catching the virus. The current guidance states that a person doesn't need to isolate when a family member tests positive, as long as they themselves have been vaccinated and continue to test negative. Therefore, assuming Johnson is vaccinated and tested negative each day, there was no need for him to isolate under current guidelines.

However, he made a point of stating that he was isolating due to a family member having Covid and this was later revealed to be his daughter. The information was in the public domain.

Other people seem to have understood the point I was making - But I understand that the people that take issue with everything I say will want to use this as a stick to beat me with

Beat away - I have explained my position, and hope that fair minded people will understand the point was trying to make

[oldbluefox]

Constantly playing the victim card means we can never have a meaningful discussion with you. I put a perfectly reasonable statement to you and immediately you start talking about sticks and beating. It appears you are only content when everybody agrees with you.

[Kendhni]

Wow, with Michael Fabricant in your corner, who needs enemies.

[Manoverboard]

It seems that an American Airline plane bound for London has had to return to Miami part was through the flight because a 40 something year old woman refused to wear her mask .

As an aside one of our sons is working in Cambodia and in anticipation of returning to the UK one day he sat on his balcony and donned a mask to determine how long he could wear it before it became too much ... he tells us three and a half hours but his flight would be close to 16 hours.

Is it reasonable to expect passengers to wear a mask for the full duration of the flight and if so what is the position flying to the Caribbean with P&O I wonder.

[Kendhni]

'Bat out of Hell' one of those all time classics that I remember belting out to the point it blew the speakers in my first car.

Also remember it at the discos and night clubs of the day and, as a head banging biker, I remember a huge fight in one of the night clubs to the tune of 'Bat out of Hell' blasting in the background ... that was the night the owner turned up in his Rolls Royce and it basically turned into scrap metal.

Halcyon days ... bye Meatloaf

[barney]

I think masks on planes will be with us for a while.

I’m personally more concerned about the protocol in European countries regarding off loading passengers from ships if they test positive for covid while on the cruise.
Our holiday is due to be paid for in March.
We won’t be going if the same protocols are in place.

[Stephen]

'Bat out of Hell' one of those all time classics that I remember belting out to the point it blew the speakers in my first car.

Also remember it at the discos and night clubs of the day and, as a head banging biker, I remember a huge fight in one of the night clubs to the tune of 'Bat out of Hell' blasting in the background ... that was the night the owner turned up in his Rolls Royce and it basically turned into scrap metal.

Halcyon days ... bye Meatloaf

A cracking track Ken that made him. A sad loss, and not that old either.

[Quizzical Bob]

It seems that an American Airline plane bound for London has had to return to Miami part was through the flight because a 40 something year old woman refused to wear her mask .

As an aside one of our sons is working in Cambodia and in anticipation of returning to the UK one day he sat on his balcony and donned a mask to determine how long he could wear it before it became too much ... he tells us three and a half hours but his flight would be close to 16 hours.

Is it reasonable to expect passengers to wear a mask for the full duration of the flight and if so what is the position flying to the Caribbean with P&O I wonder.

I don't like wearing a mask for long but we have done three transatlantic flights in the last few weeks and it wasn't too bad. The important thing is to change it regularly. In the dark when you're asleep it is possible to catch a sneaky breath of fresh air.

I think that flying with P&O would require the wearing of a mask. All airlines do.

[david63]

We won’t be going if the same protocols are in place.

The problem is that none of us will actually know what protocols will be in place when any cruise sails as these protocols can change (one way or the other) at a moments notice.

[david63]

'Bat out of Hell' one of those all time classics that I remember belting out to the point it blew the speakers in my first car.

Also remember it at the discos and night clubs of the day and, as a head banging biker, I remember a huge fight in one of the night clubs to the tune of 'Bat out of Hell' blasting in the background ... that was the night the owner turned up in his Rolls Royce and it basically turned into scrap metal.

Halcyon days ... bye Meatloaf

Brilliant showman especially when live on stage. Remember seeing him about 20 years ago - great night.

From a tweet he made when Jim Steinman died recently it would appear that he may not have been in good health for some time.

[Gill W]

'Bat out of Hell' one of those all time classics that I remember belting out to the point it blew the speakers in my first car.

Also remember it at the discos and night clubs of the day and, as a head banging biker, I remember a huge fight in one of the night clubs to the tune of 'Bat out of Hell' blasting in the background ... that was the night the owner turned up in his Rolls Royce and it basically turned into scrap metal.

Halcyon days ... bye Meatloaf

I was a big Meatloaf fan, back in the day, so I'm very sad to hear today's news.

His background was in the theatre, and I always appreciated the theatrical nature of his songs, and thought he was a terrific showman. I was lucky enough to see him at Wembley Arena in the early 90s - a great night

[Ray B]

'Bat out of Hell' one of those all time classics that I remember belting out to the point it blew the speakers in my first car.

Also remember it at the discos and night clubs of the day and, as a head banging biker, I remember a huge fight in one of the night clubs to the tune of 'Bat out of Hell' blasting in the background ... that was the night the owner turned up in his Rolls Royce and it basically turned into scrap metal.

Halcyon days ... bye Meatloaf

A really great entertainer who had lots of energy. Another big loss to the music industry. Still, he leaves a host of albums of which I have a few.
RIP Meatloaf.

[Manoverboard]

I don't like wearing a mask for long but we have done three transatlantic flights in the last few weeks and it wasn't too bad. The important thing is to change it regularly. In the dark when you're asleep it is possible to catch a sneaky breath of fresh air.

Sounds like a Hot Tip ... thanks, I will pass it on to son No 2

[Kendhni]

For flights I prefer a N95/KN95 mask or a paper mask rather than my super fancy multi layered heavy duty cotton mask that I normally wear.
Someone also suggested a silk mask ... I have no idea what they are like though.

[towny44]

I also thought that it would have been gracious if Gill had realised that she may have made a misjudgment and apologised for referencing the child.
.

The point I was making was that Johnson of all people should know how serious Covid is, after he himself was in hospital with it and his 6 week old daughter catching it - with those two factors in mind, I can’t understand why he’s so keen to throw off all restrictions.

I can’t apologise for mentioning his daughter, as it was central to to point I was making about his personal experience with Covid.

My own view would be that, despite his baby daughter having Covid, he was being brave enough to continue with the reduction of the restrictions to enable the country to get back to some sort of normailty, in line with the scientific evidence that omicron presents a much lower threat than the earlier variants of covid.

[Mervyn and Trish]

For flights I prefer a N95/KN95 mask or a paper mask rather than my super fancy multi layered heavy duty cotton mask that I normally wear.
Someone also suggested a silk mask ... I have no idea what they are like though.

I read that some Easyjet passengers were denied boarding because the airline's staff were insisting om FFP2 standard masks and would not accept cheaper lower standard disposable ones or fabric ones. None were available for sale at the airport so their trip was over.

Their website says "The mask you wear should be FFP2 (or equivalent) certified, surgical or cloth. Scarves, face visors or masks with valves are not permitted."

I don't know if this was a mis-interpretation of their rules (my reading of the website statement is it might be) or is, or is likely, to become a more widespread policy, but as a precaution we have bought some of the FFP2 standard specifically for flight use.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Okay, it is almost 24 hours since I made my offer of a truce. It has not been accepted. The offer is therefore now withdrawn. I will continue to comment as and when I feel appropriate on Gill's posts.

Starting with why I felt her post referencing Boris's baby was offensive.

I am sorry Annie but with respect I do not agree with your interpretation.

What I read was:

"Finally, with regard to Johnson's baby daughter - who can believe anything that emanates from Johnson or number 10. If he was supposed to have been very ill himself with Covid and his baby daughter had only just been ill, you'd think he wouldn't be so keen to throw off all restrictions. It just doesn't add up properly. I sincerely hope he wasn't using his tiny daughter as a shield, but it's got to the point where nothing he says can truly be believed.

I took that. in particular the highlighted passages, as implying Boris was lying about his child. Despite all that has been written since I still cannot read it any other way. That is why I was so offended.

[Onelife]

I’ve been on this forum long enough to know what is a dig and what amounts to goading, both have been used frequently where one individual is concerned and it’s not fair. There isn’t a rule book that state how individuals should phrase their opinions /statements, whatever, but there has always been an acceptance that we all have different writing styles and this I feel is how it should remain and accepted no matter who posts it.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Which is why I offered a truce. Which has not accepted.

[oldbluefox]

The goading goes both ways and Gill is not the only one.

[Onelife]

Which is why I offered a truce. Which has not accepted.

I don’t know but I would think it would need to be a collective truce for it to have any longevity.

[Onelife]

The goading goes both ways and Gill is not the only one.

I agree Foxy but in my defence I always do it with a smile

[Gill W]

Okay, it is almost 24 hours since I made my offer of a truce. It has not been accepted. The offer is therefore now withdrawn. I will continue to comment as and when I feel appropriate on Gill's posts.

Starting with why I felt her post referencing Boris's baby was offensive.

I am sorry Annie but with respect I do not agree with your interpretation.

What I read was:

"Finally, with regard to Johnson's baby daughter - who can believe anything that emanates from Johnson or number 10. If he was supposed to have been very ill himself with Covid and his baby daughter had only just been ill, you'd think he wouldn't be so keen to throw off all restrictions. It just doesn't add up properly. I sincerely hope he wasn't using his tiny daughter as a shield, but it's got to the point where nothing he says can truly be believed.

I took that. in particular the highlighted passages, as implying Boris was lying about his child. Despite all that has been written since I still cannot read it any other way. That is why I was so offended.

For God’s sake, I have no desire to speak to you ever again, and had already decided that before your ‘offer of a truce’. When I read your post I thought ‘great’ we mutually avoid each other’. I didn’t respond, as I thought our mutual ignoring had already started.

I didn’t realise your gracious offer, with conditions attached, demanded a response within a specified timescale. If I had, I would have replied, with my own conditions.

Anyway, do what you like, goad as much as you want to - I have no intention or desire to respond any further.

[david63]

Can I just remind you all that there are two features on this board that can prevent the antagonism that there seems to be at the moment.

These two are:
1. Report a post that you find offensive.
2. If you do not want to read another member's post then, from your UCP, make them a "Foe" and you will not see any of their posts.