Covid?

Brexit?

Both?

I notice it’s taken McDonald’s to run out of milkshakes for it to actually cause people to lose their shit.

I read that 14,000 EU lorry drivers left jobs in the UK since brexit, and only 600 have returned.

Covid caused loss of tests to be cancelled.

 

14 hours ago, Casino said:

Its a small price to pay, imo

And if i was you, id be looking to convince him not to worry about it

Alternatively, drive a truck 😀

 

I wouldnt expect you to pay for my kids to go to Uni

Everybody gets it 'free' til 18

Thats enough, imo

Agreed, I don't see why I should pay for somebody to go to Uni. In years gone by, going to Uni was "special" now it seems that more go than don't, so it's almost become the norm. If you want to go on to further education (having already had nigh on 18 years of it FOC) then you should be made to pay for it.

....but then I say the same about Doctors and Hospital treatment as well, so maybe I'm best not to comment on such matters 🙂

6 minutes ago, Sweep said:

Agreed, I don't see why I should pay for somebody to go to Uni. In years gone by, going to Uni was "special" now it seems that more go than don't, so it's almost become the norm. If you want to go on to further education (having already had nigh on 18 years of it FOC) then you should be made to pay for it.

....but then I say the same about Doctors and Hospital treatment as well, so maybe I'm best not to comment on such matters 🙂

It's a bit of a myth that more go to uni than don't.

I'm not saying there shouldn't be more thought than just attending for the sake of it.

Personally, I believe if we take your view we do limit the opportunities for bright kids from less affluent backgrounds to attend and that does impact on society. You get a less wide demographic in the political sphere, the dominate voice comes from one section of society, and its the smallest one. 

I don't think pulling the ladder up helps us all in anyway and it's a short-termist, very narrow view.

 

2 hours ago, MickyD said:

I imagine the petrol stations in mostly residential areas will have sold out first. The thing is, we must be getting towards the end of the panic buying as the dickheads doing it are running out of jerry cans and vehicles to fill.

If you're a taxi driver, for say M***o, you'll simply tip the jerry cans into a wheelie bin that's had a cursory hosing out...

Always thinking those lads.

What could go wrong?

Fuel cans are plastic, wheelie bins are plastic...

If part of the HS2 deal was to provide drive on - drive off trains from all major hubs. Lorry heading to London from Manchester? Drive to the rail hub, onto the train and let the train take the strain. Driver hours reduced, motorways quieter, it’d be a win-win.

Because the tractor unit would travel with the trailer the lorry drives to a final delivery destination.

26 minutes ago, Not in Crawley said:

It's a bit of a myth that more go to uni than don't.

I'm not saying there shouldn't be more thought than just attending for the sake of it.

Personally, I believe if we take your view we do limit the opportunities for bright kids from less affluent backgrounds to attend and that does impact on society. You get a less wide demographic in the political sphere, the dominate voice comes from one section of society, and its the smallest one. 

I don't think pulling the ladder up helps us all in anyway and it's a short-termist, very narrow view.

 

I know you're probably right with regards to "more going than don't" - it does seem as though an absolutely massive amount more go to Uni now than 30 years ago when I left school. And I think nearly all the "kids" of that age I know are at Uni, although I appreciate that may be down to where I live and the circle of friends I have

I just think too many go now, just for the sake of going, my own nephew is in his third year at Bristol, and he's having a great time, he still doesn't know what he wants to do when he's finished and he's already swapped courses twice, and he's already up to over £25K of debt......and he really isn't remotely arsed about the debt at all, as he knows he'll only start paying it off if/when he ever gets a proper job

I get that, as you put it, my view is "short termist" but I'm happy with that, I'll only be around (god willing) for another 30 or 40 or 50 years I'd have thought, so that's as far ahead as I'm actually interested in.  

"GREETINGS FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE POP-PICKERS! THIS NEXT SONG IS DEDICATED TO ALL THE EATERS OF YORKIE BARS AND MURDERERS OF YORKIE HARLOTS - THE LORRY DRIVER...UNIVERSITY STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY POOR ONES, UP YOURS..!"

 

2 hours ago, Ani said:

It might sound like science fiction but in our life times driverless electric ( or non petrol cars) will be the norm and owning a car will eventually become a thing of the past. 

how long you planning living till?

 

I loved Uni, best times of my life, always said would tell anyone to go if you get the chance. This was mid 1980s. 
Back then about 10-15% of people went into Higher Education, now it is about 50%. But that has been driven by increased supply of places rather than increased demand from graduates which is just no way to run a country. 
Yoof did an apprenticeship rather than Uni, he now has better paid job than 99% of mates from school, he is receiving structured on going training and will end up with a degree in 2-3 years if he sticks with it. Should be earning best part of £40k by time he is 30. He has no/little debt.

Polys which where a Hal way house between pure learning and practical skills have disappeared. Unless a kid is genuinely academic and can get a place at a 'proper' Uni I have no idea why they would go in terms of education. I get the lifestyle but outside of that a big no for me  

Just now, Zico said:

how long you planning living till?

 

Untill I am proved right, but will be in next 20 years. 

21 minutes ago, Sweep said:

I know you're probably right with regards to "more going than don't" - it does seem as though an absolutely massive amount more go to Uni now than 30 years ago when I left school. And I think nearly all the "kids" of that age I know are at Uni, although I appreciate that may be down to where I live and the circle of friends I have

I just think too many go now, just for the sake of going, my own nephew is in his third year at Bristol, and he's having a great time, he still doesn't know what he wants to do when he's finished and he's already swapped courses twice, and he's already up to over £25K of debt......and he really isn't remotely arsed about the debt at all, as he knows he'll only start paying it off if/when he ever gets a proper job

I get that, as you put it, my view is "short termist" but I'm happy with that, I'll only be around (god willing) for another 30 or 40 or 50 years I'd have thought, so that's as far ahead as I'm actually interested in.  

As the song goes...some of the best people I know don't know what they want to do at 40...

Whilst I hate the song, I think knowing what you want to do early one in life is great for some, rubbish for others, and some folks do lots of things. I get bored easily, no way would I be part of any company for more than 5 years. I like moving on, working with new people, discovering new stuff. Its not always worked out but more often than not its given my a base that when the pandemic hit I was able to move easily to something else and got a job quickly whilst others couldn't. Still got friends in media buying who are driving or labouring at the moment as they can't find work. Good luck to your Nephew, he'll find his way and too be honest good on him for keeping options open.

I think pulling the ladder up actually has significant effects in the short-term as well. That's not to say everything is perfect and people shouldn't consider more options than just going to uni - and there are a range of options which will give an equivlent standard of education and that also goes for employers as well who should move a degree to desirable rather than essential for certain positions, and stop blocking people with experience to applying.

11 minutes ago, Ani said:

I loved Uni, best times of my life, always said would tell anyone to go if you get the chance. This was mid 1980s. 
Back then about 10-15% of people went into Higher Education, now it is about 50%. But that has been driven by increased supply of places rather than increased demand from graduates which is just no way to run a country. 
Yoof did an apprenticeship rather than Uni, he now has better paid job than 99% of mates from school, he is receiving structured on going training and will end up with a degree in 2-3 years if he sticks with it. Should be earning best part of £40k by time he is 30. He has no/little debt.

Polys which where a Hal way house between pure learning and practical skills have disappeared. Unless a kid is genuinely academic and can get a place at a 'proper' Uni I have no idea why they would go in terms of education. I get the lifestyle but outside of that a big no for me  

Not massively true, the best new unis (old polys) still continue that great tradition of academic with practical application. I would only go to the top ones, and in some of their courses they are better than the traditional red bricks. Certainly, if I was wanting a marketing or business course I'd look at one of the big NW ones.

I know a few folks who had good a-levels but were smart enough to choose course over institution. That takes a lot of maturity at 18, but that would be my one piece of advice - look to what you want to study, not where. But kids never listen, hence Liverpool and Leeds having a boom in applications in the 90s due to the best clubs being there, Manchester in the late 80s/early 90s.

 

Oh and sport - some of the newer places  have much better courses for sport. I mean some are ran by big clubs - think Man City do one? Not sure though.

Edited September 27, 20214 yr by Not in Crawley

10 minutes ago, Ani said:

Untill I am proved right, but will be in next 20 years. 

I'd suggest a bet but fear you won't be around to pay up

1 minute ago, Zico said:

I'd suggest a bet but fear you won't be around to pay up

I’d suggest you would be spot on in your desire to have a bet. I see the investment being poured into the industry and we are a long way off automation as it doesn’t suit the industry as it stands. 
 

that said my current car steers, brakes etc whilst on cruise control. It’s quite scary actually to place the trust in the vehicle. But the tech clearly isn’t a million miles away it just won’t be developed to the point Ani suggests for quite some time and much longer than 20 years IMO. 

Also the 50% quote is 50% of young people (18-24) - which was reached a few years ago. However, still only just over mid 20% I think of the overall population hold a degree. Well behind some other countrys.

Funnily enough there are massive regional variations with the poorer part of the country being well behind the national average for university attendance. Guess which part of the country is above the national average....

Just now, Escobarp said:

I’d suggest you would be spot on in your desire to have a bet. I see the investment being poured into the industry and we are a long way off automation as it doesn’t suit the industry as it stands. 
 

that said my current car steers, brakes etc whilst on cruise control. It’s quite scary actually to place the trust in the vehicle. But the tech clearly isn’t a million miles away it just won’t be developed to the point Ani suggests for quite some time and much longer than 20 years IMO. 

aye, from what I've read in the past it's well on its way in terms of development, but in terms of the AI required for it to be safely rolled out and become the norm, they are nowhere near

 

went to 5 petrol stations this morning, non whatsoever

asda was about 100 cars deep

passed through LH, no queue, got a full tank

madness

No diesel anywhere in Chorley, plenty of petrol. Fuck.

Folk might already know this but to get the full amount of the maintenance loan a student living away from home and not studying in London has to come from a household with a combined earning of 25k or less.

Anything more than that and there's a shortfall that has to be made up by parents and/or the student or A N OTHER so it's not just like any cunt can rock up and crack on hoping to never pay it back. That's presuming they want to live at the top level of the maintenance loan of course, £9203 this year.

🤦‍♂️

6 minutes ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

🤦‍♂️

Thing is folk will lap this up. Guys a fucking eejit

53 minutes ago, Not in Crawley said:

Not massively true, the best new unis (old polys) still continue that great tradition of academic with practical application. I would only go to the top ones, and in some of their courses they are better than the traditional red bricks. Certainly, if I was wanting a marketing or business course I'd look at one of the big NW ones.

I know a few folks who had good a-levels but were smart enough to choose course over institution. That takes a lot of maturity at 18, but that would be my one piece of advice - look to what you want to study, not where. But kids never listen, hence Liverpool and Leeds having a boom in applications in the 90s due to the best clubs being there, Manchester in the late 80s/early 90s.

 

Oh and sport - some of the newer places  have much better courses for sport. I mean some are ran by big clubs - think Man City do one? Not sure though.

'Not massively true' which bit ? 
 

Polys have gone, rebranded to some extent but the name became second rate despite them offering excellent courses suited to certain groups. 

5 minutes ago, Escobarp said:

Thing is folk will lap this up. Guys a fucking eejit

It's a coarse statement for sure, though the industry does need to modernise to attract new workers.

Hopefully some of the online drivers can "move up", and then conditions that some of these on line companies offer will improve out of necessity.

49 minutes ago, Not in Crawley said:

Also the 50% quote is 50% of young people (18-24) - which was reached a few years ago. However, still only just over mid 20% I think of the overall population hold a degree. Well behind some other countrys.

Funnily enough there are massive regional variations with the poorer part of the country being well behind the national average for university attendance. Guess which part of the country is above the national average....

But that is because in the old days hardly anyone went, which was my point. Now we are pushing 50% through which is what I said. So we are ending up with a generation with degrees that are of little or no value whereas alternatives such as apprenticeships were pushed down the pecking order and are now emerging as at least if not a better option 

8 minutes ago, Ani said:

'Not massively true' which bit ? 
 

Polys have gone, rebranded to some extent but the name became second rate despite them offering excellent courses suited to certain groups. 

As I said the name has gone but many of the excellent courses remain.

Like Ian said, best time of my life. if I could do it all over again I would.

I'm encouraging my nipper to go. Even if she does a BA in Peruvian Pan Pipes. If she gets up to her eyeballs in debt, I'll bail her out. That's my job.

You spend a long time working, and lets be honest, it's a bit shit for large chunks of it. So why not put if off for another 3 years

And as Crawley pointed out, I lot of jobs now specify a degree is required.