Off Topic Other Stuff (anything you want to share)

I find it quite amusing that you consider the Cummingsgate Saga should be put to bed and we should all move on because it's just a vendetta anyway and on the other hand post about the common folk of this land breaking rules and it sticks in your gullet. Ever thought that the example ought to be set by the people at the top of the food chain?

I watched some of Boris on the tele again today who seemed to think it was only a distraction and wasn't worth even considering anymore. Move on nothing to see here sort of thing. A bit later just after the news I watched a Government advert about the Corona Virus and what to do in certain circumstances. So, what to do if you have symptoms that could be the thing itself, Very very very (It needs emphasising for effect) explicit in this advert was that you must isolate yourself and those in your household for a minimum of 14 days in your own home and under no circumstances (now comes the punchline) should you travel to anywhere else. No ifs no buts just stay in your own home. No "but you could chose to do something else if you want to" contained in the advert at any stage. Not even a hint of it. This is the advert put out by Cummings and Boris for our consumption and an order to follow. Now you have Cabinet Ministers who are saying it was always in the rules and that Cummings did nothing wrong. Even testing his eyes by driving his car with his family in it. Thats ok says Goves he has even done it himself. Boris doesn't think anything is wrong either and just wants to brush it under the nearest carpet he can find.

These are the people who are ruling us and guiding us through this time. The people we are supposed to trust and take notice of. So the lesson clearly is...........(roll on drums)......do what the feck you like and bollox to the rest of the population. Lie and deceive as much as you like as its all legit. This is guidance from the very top so plym, don't blame the great unwashed out there they are only doing as taught. Boris even thinks that the actions will not rock the boat further when it comes to the latest instructions. He thinks people will just follow the new rules and that will be that. I think he has sadly misjudged his popularity and he will fall on his own sword as soon as it is possible to get rid of the prat.

 

Sorry sensible but your reading into it something I've never said.....he broke the spirit of ruling I agree with that....but the press just want him gone whatever so they are not without blame either....that's a vendetta....they couldn't care too hoots if he went to Durham or not.

 

I don't think I'm misreading anything plym. You seem more intent on blaming the Press and Media than you do the offender. It is their job to hold the Government to account for the things done. That isn't a vendetta it is reporting. I noticed you were not that bothered about vendettas when it came to Brexit and Mrs May. " he broke the spirit of the ruling" that is your words. No he didn't he broke the rule which has nothing to do with the spirit. He helped set the rule and he ignored it when it suited. That is an offence that if done by another employee would be a sacking. The Scots woman went for travelling to a second home and the Medical man for exercising his carnal needs. I suggest we need medical people far more than a Civil Servant yet Boris didn't fight to keep him. The people overwhelmingly think he should be sacked and it is not for Boris to just brush them aside like he is doing. I actually find the defence of this more insulting and unforgivable than I do the offence itself.

 

You've totally lost me with your reasoning.....I think I know what I meant.....last time I looked I was in charge of my life and reasoning.

Over the years the press record over such things as phone tapping and witch hunting people over sex abuse allegations especially with children....they've destroyed many an innocent person and then move on to their next victim.....not much in the way of two metre social distancing when they push and shove each other to get their photos....Cummings or the Press....not much to choose between them personally.

 

Which bit didn't you understand plym and I'll have a go at finding you again.

Who are these "innocent" people they have destroyed? They have destroyed non innocent people who maybe didn't deserve to end up destroyed because their crime wasn't really that bad but mostly that I recall they aren't innocent. This revealing of Cummings actions is perfectly justified and the Press have only reported what actually happened. I would agree it's a vendetta if they had misreported the facts or bent the truth in any way but they haven't. It's not just Cummings that should go in this story. There are other Ministers who have come out with a ludicrous defence of Cummings and think we the public are that stupid they can just brush it off now they have explained. The Health Minister for one who says it was in the rules when it clearly wasn't. Gove who says it's the ok way to test you eyesight. The PM for saying all of it was ok and lets move on. The contempt they show for the voting public is astounding. It is a distraction but it is a distraction of the Government's own making and they could resolve it at the stroke of a pen. If they did what they should do then we could move on to more important matters. I for one am fed up with these Civil Servants who are all too powerful in the running of this country and have been elected by nobody. Blair had one, Cameron had one and even to some extent Maggie Thatcher had one. When oh when will we have elected talent who can sort stuff themselves.

 

The Police and Operation Yewtree looking into 'Historical Sexual Offences' changed Paul Gambaccini and Cliff Richard's lives for ever....the press thought that Christmas had come early for them.
Cliff Richard was subjected to the full force of the gutter press delving into his life....with the added bonus of BBC journalist's being pre-warned of a police raid on his home and using an helicopter to look into the windows of his home whilst the police searched the property.....meanwhile Cliff Richard viewed all this happening from his home in Portugal on the BBC News.....having no knowledge of why this was happening to him.
Both these men where eventually cleared (years later) of any offences......Cliff eventually sold that property feeling that it had been tainted for ever.

The press love crawling through the gutters finding such stories to latch on to.....for sixty years the press have been searching for dirt on Cliff Richard and they're annoyed that they can't find any....and you say...."Who are these innocent people they have destroyed" some people have short memories.

 

The problem with Yewtree and the rest was the police, not the press.

The point about Cummings is that he's in a leadership role. It's not enough to talk the talk he has to walk the walk.

I understand that under the new test & trace regime you have to isolate for two weeks if you are named as a contact, even if you gave no symptoms. If the day after you go back to work you crop as someone else's contact, you have to self isolate again.

Who's going to do that when Cummings couldn't stay home once?

 

The police had to follow up accusations in this politically correct mad world we live in....but I didn't see any Press/journalist not getting down in the muck to rake it over hoping to find proof......people being innocent doesn't seem to sell papers or get people watching screens.

The police coughed up compensation regarding what happened to Cliff Richard....but the BBC tried not to and kept Cliff's agony going far to long......at the end of the day it's the lawyers who get fat on it all.

 

Ian Blackford the SNP leader at Westminster....who spends his life telling us English how to live our lives....spent ages telling us about the 275 miles trip to Durham that Dominic Cummings did when locked down....yet this Scottish moran, traveled 600 miles during lock down so he could spend it at his Skye home....so what did his Scottish SNP boss say about that....Nicola Sturgeon said a big fat NOWT.

 

What Sturgeon said was not relevant to the Cummings saga. The new rules about locking yourself away as similar to the old rules. The Health Minister yesterday told us all that "it is your Civic Duty to follow the guidance". Civic Duty being the main thrust and why did he say that? Because they are afraid people will put two fingers up and ignore them now. Why would people ignore them now? Because the architect of the first lot of instructions was Cummings who ignores his own rules. If you can't see what is wrong there then I feel very sorry for you. This story is not of the Press's making it is Cummings own disregard for the rest of us and showing he is exempt from anything we are told to do. This is the most obvious example of do as I tell you not as I do I have seen in a long time. You are actually saying that if somebody else does something wrong then it is ok for us all to do it. The point being that it is not ok for ANYONE to do it.

 

Further to the above.

He came home Thursday afternoon (28th) and he has managed just over 30 steps before needing a rest....so it is hard going for him....but a month or so ago it looked very bleak and coming home at all was not on the agenda.......so a big miracle for him to be home at all.

There are those that haven't taken Covid-19 seriously enough and have no idea what thousands of families who have never had their loved one come home again have been through.
I am concerned that it seems to many.... that we're on the way to beating this coronavirus and they will go beyond the guidelines on Monday.....there are still too many people dying each day and the R number is only just below one.....it wouldn't need too many people to abuse the guidelines for it to start climbing again and we would have to go back to square one.....and a polite stay at home and social distancing request from the government might need stronger enforcement.

 

Cartoon in the Telegraph today made me laugh.

Middle aged man sitting in front of telly.....on the box is Boris talking of lockdown being relaxed.

Man is sitting there praying hard that.....he can ....go to the pub,.. go to the pub,.. go to the pub,..go to the pub,..go to the pub...go to the pub.

......and Boris says....visit your mother-in-law.......and man looks rather deflated.

 

Personally I think mentioning a relaxation of the lockdown on the Thursday (for the following Monday) ...before a hot, sunny weekend is a disaster just waiting to happen.

With all four area's of the UK doing their own thing and different to each other, confusion reigns.....with others starting their lockdown changes from yesterday.

Some bringing in a 5 mile limit for meeting up....how does that work in more rural areas.....where 5 miles might just get you to the next farm or village....let alone your family or friends ?

Devolution might of been a good idea years back....but tin-pot rulers can spring up quite easily.

PS.....I don't like Nicola Sturgeon that much obviously.....she would probably not take to me either.

 

Brendan Rogers (manager of Leicester City to non Sky people) says today he could barely walk when he went diwn with it. Even for those who don't need to be hospitalised, it's clearly very nasty.

You are all in the clear now Plym I hope.

 

Possible for who I mentioned...I hope.

Not sure about being in the clear around here...too much flouting of the rules...even before DC took his trip up north....and as I have already said announcing changes just before a sunny weekend for the following Monday will be too much for some around here.... who know how to grab a foot ( 304.8 mm) when an inch (25.4mm) is offered.

 

Went into Town today to get a few bits and pieces and do some monthly Banking stuff. (I have to clear the notes out from under the mattress or it gets lumpy). There were definitely a few more people about than we have seen on the couple of previous visits. Given it's the first of the month then the Banks are often more busy and there were a few queues outside most of them. However pretty much all were observing the rules even if you will always get one or two who don't get it. I get public transport too and fro and they are pretty much back to the old timetable. Ergo not a problem catching one as not standing around for an hour waiting. Plenty of room on them as they are much more frequent and people were observing the seating arrangements they have set out on them.

Worst lot for flouting the rules I have seen so far?? Dog walkers. They turn up at the park outside my house in cars and have done for all of the time. Some have 3 or 4 dogs and none of them are kept on a lead and are allowed to wander anywhere they like. My best guess would be no more than a dozen do the dog lead thing out of about 100 or so dogs brought here. It is a daily thing and you can't help noticing. Some of them seem to think it's Crufts on the park and gather in numbers in the same circle presumably to admire each others hounds from close up. The majority however do pick up after their mutt. Ones that don't often have their head buried in their mobile and take no notice of what Rover is doing or where. I say Rover because you would not believe some of the names shouted when said mutt isn't doing as it's told. The best one so far for me is Hugo. Quite what Sebastian the Red Setter thinks of that god knows.

 

We ventured down to Cornwall last Thursday to visit my parents' grave for the first time in some months and then went on to a spot by the sea I knew would be relatively quiet. In fact it was all but deserted but very beautiful in the sun. It was certainly very quiet compared to a normal Bank Holiday week and my goodness, is it better without the emmets. Yes it is.

My daughter met 2 school friends in Central Park yesterday, the first time she's been out. All seems to have been quiet there too: social distancing mostly being observed.

 

I see the media are beginning to call the Government out on the statistics they have been presenting as real and factual. Boris and his boys just can't resist lying can they. I'm not a bit surprised and no doubt there will be plenty to come in the future. How does he manage to have any supporters left given the track record. I think he's in a competition with Donald to see who can get away with most.

 

Met up in our garden with my Sons family early evening for a face to face chat....first real meeting in 10 weeks or so....and of course the grandson and grand daughter have grown in that time.....we just unlocked the side gate....and set out chairs with social distancing requirements and they brought their own drinks and didn't go indoors for a loo visit....we stayed to the letter of the law and observed all requirements at all times....after such a long wait why would we want to get it wrong now....Daughter-in-law is working from home....but has to go up to St Thomas' one day a week.....our Son is doing the rounds with his greetings card franchise....so they are out there amongst the people.....grand daughter should be back at school but it hasn't happened yet....and no sign of grandson going back as yet....so we did what we needed.....over the top by some peoples standards....but we know that we have done our part in keeping the R number down.

 

Obviously the kids are precious beyond all things but the fact is that a big proportion of deaths are in the over-50's and 60's, so we need to look after ourselves, and in doing so, we look after the kids too!

I think the Cummings fiasco has pushed Johnson to seek distractions by announcing relaxation of the rules at a more rapid rate than was ideal. Of course, it's important to get the economy going again as soon as possible but we'll see how good their judgement has been. Lives will be lost if they got it wrong. There's talk of re-opening the pubs in July. That will be very popular with the underclasses who like Johnson's style but I can't believe it's sensible.

If there are to be pub quizzes again, here#s your starter for 10:

Which of these is more suited to be President of the United States?

1. Donald Trump
2. Terrance Floyd