Slow news day? The real deal? End of the world? 
 

They’re saying it probably came from an animal, has Somebody been shagging monkeys again? 

The Times are going for a much slower opening than today's papers, May onwards rather than March/April

15 minutes ago, Mounts Kipper said:

Aye probably a bit glib, frustration getting the better of me, anyhow with 40 million vaccinated I’m wondering what excuse will be used to justify more restrictions and how long folk will put up with them. Seems to me some folk becoming brainwashed to this being the norm and will continue to justify it. 

You seem to be inferring that COVID-19 is a convenient vehicle to curb civil liberties and freedoms that government/authorities would like to shackle regardless.

This might hold some water if we were under a meddling Labour government but we're not...

It's broadly party dogma that Labour help folk but meddle, Conservative leave people to it but fuck 'em.

It's probably killing them ideologically to shut down the economy, bail out small business, pay furlough etc. which perversely tells me they deem restrictions necessary.

Folk need to have a chat with any of the much-maligned refugees from places like; Iran, Syria, Ethiopia, Colombia etc. about living under restriction.

Restrictions where just the wrong word or phrasing to the wrong person...

I've heard testimonies that'd make one's hair curl.

Anyhow, I though we'd regained our God-given right to retain a stiff upper lip.

They didn't make a fuss during The Blitz, rationing, conscription etc. and nor should we.

Just now, jmjhb said:

The Times are going for a much slower opening than today's papers, May onwards rather than March/April

Makes sense given most folk would go along with the suggestion that everything reopened too soon last summer.

Personally finding life hugely boring at the minute with only the now twice-weekly BWFC games for entertainment - and we all know how fucking grim that has been - but saving plenty of cash ready for when we’re allowed to spend it. Having stuck it out this long, I’m happy to wait another couple of months in return for it being our big chance of a return to normality.

That said, I never thought I’d be jealous of those living in the Isle of Mon. 

I will not be prevented from open-water swimming this year though...

Even if it's a dip in Braddies or Smith's 😉.

The national museums have been in discussion with the gvt as part of ALVA and it would seem like May for their opening, so I would presume its the same for the hospitality sector with primary schools in March and non essential shops April ish.

I personally think it'll be a slow, precautionary roll out. But, who knows.

9 hours ago, wiggy said:

Chin up Mounts. Frustration getting to lots of people at the moment. We’re nearly there. 

Thx much appreciated, I’m more frustrated for others really, know my father in law is suffering mentally and he’s normally happy easy going chap, that’s upset my missus and her family. 

Edited February 14, 20215 yr by Mounts Kipper

There's been negatives and positives. Positives have been being at home with the kids, loving that. The evenings are ace with no commuting, never gave it much thought to how much time it took up. Might have been made redundant but not upset about jettisoning some of the wankers I had for clients and I was lucky enough to get a job quickly. Been able to watch Bolton much more often, discovered some lovely places near us for more walks and taken up a bit of bird watching now I've had more time. 

I've liked the fact it's slowed my life down, I dont want to go back to 100% office life, I have much better balance now rather than a 5 day all encompassing slog. 

Weekends are now more free, as I'm at home to do household stuff after work, and with shops shut we are out walking, or just relaxing at home.

So, uncertainty aside, I'm happy that some things will remain changed after the lockdown. I certainly don't want to go back to everything the way it was before.

11 hours ago, Mounts Kipper said:

Aye probably a bit glib, frustration getting the better of me, anyhow with 40 million vaccinated I’m wondering what excuse will be used to justify more restrictions and how long folk will put up with them. Seems to me some folk becoming brainwashed to this being the norm and will continue to justify it. 

I agree with Mounts on this figure

40 million jabbed (and the vaccine rollout has been absolutely amazing by the way, and I don’t think anyone wanted that to fall over) and I think we should at worst be in a Tier 1 scenario.

Schools back, shops and pubs open, rule of 12 etc. Is fine.

Foreign travel is not really the UK’s call. That needs to be agreed globally, but personally I can’t see us all jetting off this side of October.

this has to be the last lockdown. Has to be. Unless some new variant starts avoiding the vaccine and killing kids.

Just been reading about court case in the basque region about the closure of hospitality the judges ruled in favour of hospitality sector who argued that there was no proof that contagion was caused by the sector, said 80% of contagion caused in family settings, government now have to prove otherwise or sector will be allowed to reopen, good to see the basques still got some bollocks and prepared to challenge authority... we need that here in the U.K. 

13 hours ago, Casino said:

Once over 50s (maybe even 60s) are jabbed, theres very few needing hospitalisation

Its not even debatable 

 

Im old school and would never go to the docs for happy pills,but ive never been as down as i am now

Proportionally, of course.

However, as well you know, a dramatic rise in cases will still see a rise in hospital admissions- with other services being restricted. 

However, this isn't the only issue. As so many seem to forget or not grasp, the major concern seems to be the emergent of new variants.

Keep the numbers down until vaccinations are more widely undertaken and then cases can't soar, and new variants become much less likely. 

If things are opened too quickly and new stuff arrives and another lockdown is imposed, you and plenty others will he the first complaining. 

For the sake of a few extra weeks, it's a no brainer to keep things tight, with gradual re opening. 

Schools first and take it from there.

The group of backbenchers wanting everything gone by the end of April don't seem able to take on board their own observations of what the risks are.

I also hope they've got funding plans for the huge cost of managing the ongoing health issues of long covid in the increased numbers of people that will get it.

Playing Covid dodge.lad been isolating in spare room since his positive test last Sunday. Wife tested positive Friday. I tested negative today sealed them all in a room. 
 

It’s really ripped through the class that was in a school and some parents are quite poorly. 

We were fairly sure wife had it last March where she’s had all the classic symptoms, temp, cough etc. But this time she’s “just a bit of cold” type stuff at minute. Is it possible she had it and this time it’s just a milder form of it and she has antibodies from last year? 

13 hours ago, boltondiver said:

There’s no guarantee of not going back into lockdown, if, for example, because of some new variant.

 

Keep our numbers down then until majority vaccinated.

13 hours ago, little whitt said:

we live on a island 

we will not stop differant forms coming in 

un-till we stop people coming in

this thing is hear to stay even your grandkids will get some form of it 

100000+ Dead 

will be fuck all conpeard to what's to come in the flowing years 

Not too concerned about stuff coming in, now that we're adopting stricter rules. Would like them a bit stronger, but at least they're here. What happens here is the concern.

The kent variant is causing major problems in Europe, just like it did here. Germany now at odds with the EU because its closing borders with Austria and Czech Republic. 

We've been pummelled by this new variant and no one wants something similar.

1 hour ago, superjohnmcginlay said:

Playing Covid dodge.lad been isolating in spare room since his positive test last Sunday. Wife tested positive Friday. I tested negative today sealed them all in a room. 
 

It’s really ripped through the class that was in a school and some parents are quite poorly. 

We were fairly sure wife had it last March where she’s had all the classic symptoms, temp, cough etc. But this time she’s “just a bit of cold” type stuff at minute. Is it possible she had it and this time it’s just a milder form of it and she has antibodies from last year? 

Yes that’s my understanding 

It'd be useful to know when discussing this, what Mounts, Casino etc. are actually wanting to happen. It might be there isn't much disagreement at all.

A phased re-opening as cases continue to drop and more and more have been vaccinated is something everyone can get on board with.

But, expecting zero restrictions after the over 50s have received one jab, is just setting yourself up for disappointment.

Everyone wants this to end, and not have to lockdown again. The only question is when and how. 
 

I do not know the answer but at the  point infections reach a certain level and vaccinations are at a certain level we can start. My only disagreement with Casinos post is that it is latching into vaccinated levels. That aligned with infections is key, you would expect the two to go hand in hand. 

My priority is getting kids back ASAP currently got one who’s struggling massively without any interaction both school & physically through footy (which is bollocks as we had social distancing training last time) 

Bumped into a mate this morning walking the dog. He has just come out of hospitals after being in for 13 days with Covid. Fair to say he is pretty messed up by it mentally. He is ex army and certainly not a so-called snowflake. The thing that has affected him most is the fact that all the folk on the ward were relying on having oxygen but the consequence of the limited supply was people acting irrationally and getting upset because they did not know where they were. He was prepped to go into ICU but no beds available. The nurses told him 97% of blokes his age in hospital survive , drops to 62% once moved to ICU. No visitors allowed and people in there for 2-3 weeks. 
 

Very sobering talking to him. 

Whilst queuing outside a shop this morning some bloke told me the nearby pub was preparing for reopening it's outdoor areas in April

My daughter just had a text telling her that her youngest (aged 4) must isolate for 10 days as someone in his class has tested positive, assuming it's the teacher or assistant, good job it's half term 

15 million jabs is a stunning achievement 

3 hours ago, Tombwfc said:

It'd be useful to know when discussing this, what Mounts, Casino etc. are actually wanting to happen. It might be there isn't much disagreement at all.

A phased re-opening as cases continue to drop and more and more have been vaccinated is something everyone can get on board with.

But, expecting zero restrictions after the over 50s have received one jab, is just setting yourself up for disappointment.

Sounds right.

It's the last bit that leaves me scratching my head- this group of MPs don't seem willing to learn from what we have gone through.

We'd all like our freedoms again, but a gradual change has to be way forward.

Looking to the future, the ideal is to produce enough vaccine for the whole world.

The more variants that need to be catered for, the more difficult its going to be to produce a big supply. In turn that may extend travel restrictions. 

Get as many done as possible, then hopefully, we'll be in a position to produce the annual vaccine according to whatever one predominates in a particular season.

An oversimplification, but low case numbers seem to be key at the moment. 

 

Vaccinations | Coronavirus in the UK (data.gov.uk)

Pissed it!!

Makes you proud to be English (British)......

Great effort from the NHS, volunteers & government......  💉👍

 

 

1 hour ago, Spider said:

15 million jabs is a stunning achievement 

Jabbadabbado!

13 minutes ago, jeep said:

Vaccinations | Coronavirus in the UK (data.gov.uk)

Pissed it!!

Makes you proud to be English (British)......

Great effort from the NHS, volunteers & government......  💉👍

 

 

Does it really make you proud to be British? How odd.