Sunday 15 March: Now is the time to follow the experts’ advice – and resist the temptation to score political points

Posted on by Geoff Graham

An unofficial place to discuss the Telegraph letters, established when the DT website turned off its comments facility (now reinstated, but not as good as ours),
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Today’s letters (visible only to DT subscribers) are here:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2020/03/15/lettersnow-time-follow-experts-advice-resist-temptation-score/

1,053 thoughts on “Sunday 15 March: Now is the time to follow the experts’ advice – and resist the temptation to score political points”

  1. Good Sunday Morning, everybody

    If the tickly cough doesn’t get you, an avalanche of loo rolls just might
    Rod Liddle – Sunday March 15 2020, 12.01am, The Sunday Times

    Greetings from my bunker of self-isolation, with its crates of alcohol and pies, and a shadowy figure holding a scythe sitting patiently outside on the patio, occasionally checking his watch. You will have been inundated with information and misinformation about Covid-19 these past two weeks. So much so that you may have lost the will to live, even before that first ticklish dry cough takes hold. But such has been the volume of news output that there are many stories you will have undoubtedly missed.

    Never fear. I have been selflessly monitoring them for you and present a selection below. I hope they add to your understanding of this crisis.

    ● Too much attention is being given to Covid-19 and not enough to other excellent diseases that kill more people, according to the Association for the Advancement of Communicable Diseases (AACD).

    Its chairwoman, Christine Ebola, said: “Obviously we wish the Covid team all the success in the world. That goes without saying. But many of our members are worried that in the welter of publicity around the coronavirus, their own excellent work is being overlooked. We believe they have a point. If you look at what our diphtheria squad is up to in India, or the cholera and dysentery lads wiping out hundreds of thousands of Africans every year . . . don’t they deserve a few of the headlines?” Ms Ebola also expressed her dissatisfaction that Covid-19 had failed to register with her organisation or pay subscriptions.

    A spokesman for Covid-19 laughed off the allegations. “The AACD has been moribund for years. It simply does not understand that the best way to get worldwide recognition these days is to afflict affluent white people who take expensive skiing holidays in Italy.”

    Ms Ebola denied that her organisation was behind the times. “We are a dynamic and vibrant association whose members kill far, far, more people every year than Covid-19. And we are always modernising. For example, next year we will be changing our name from the Association for the Advancement of Communicable Diseases to the snappier and more inclusive title, Finalité.”

    ● There was a smaller than usual turnout at the annual festival held by the Bat and Civet Spleen Marketing Board in Sichuan, China, last Tuesday. Many of the dishes — which were described as “tasty, nutritious and almost completely safe” by the board’s director, Wu Han — were left untouched.

    Speaking after the event, Mr Wu said: “Every industry faces a minor setback at one time or another. We remain convinced that stewing the offal harvested from vampire bats, rodents and weasels is a culinary treat that nobody should be denied.”

    ● Two fatalities associated with Covid-19, but not included in the official figures, were those of Doreen Noakes, 76, and her husband Ronald, 78, of Warminster in Wiltshire. They suffocated in their sleep when an estimated 11 tons of hoarded lavatory paper smashed through from their attic into the bedroom beneath.

    Mrs Noakes had become a familiar sight in the local area, wheeling home shopping trolley after shopping trolley full of vanilla-scented four-ply from the supermarket.

    Her daughter Julie, 51, said: “Mum did the same thing during the Sars outbreak, the bird flu outbreak, the Iranian Revolution, the summer drought of 1976 and the Cuban Missile Crisis. All stored in the attic. We believe that somewhere near the bottom of that great pile was some of that shiny stuff that looks like tracing paper, which you can’t get any more.”

    Julie added: “It’s how she would have wanted to go, to be honest. Smelling lovely and with incredibly clean nether regions.”

    ● On Thursday the prime minister announced with gravity and import that the UK would be moving on to the draconian stage two of its fight against the coronavirus, Singing Happy Birthday Twice While Washing Your Hands. Previously the country had been in stage one — Doing Absolutely Nothing Whatsoever.

    It is expected that next week the government will announce that we are moving to stage three, which is Singing Happy Birthday Three Times While Washing Your Hands. Stage four is Everybody Dies.

    https://www.thetimes.co.uk/imageserver/image/%2Fmethode%2Fsundaytimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2Fbca25ad6-6609-11ea-8022-13d7c8930f6d.jpg?crop=1500%2C1000%2C0%2C0&resize=1180

    ● Decent, law-abiding and well-off people who are self-isolating should be encouraged to spray their cleaners, nannies, gardeners and so on with aerosolised household bleach to guard against contracting the virus, according to a letter published in The Daily Telegraph from landowner Sir Herbert Woodpile.

    “I have been doing this on a daily basis for the past 20 years anyway, never mind this Covid-19 business,” Sir Herbert wrote.

    “These people tend to come from filthy urban pits where all manner of diseases are rife. Spray them with Domestos, and if they so much as sniffle, kick them out and hire someone else.”

    ● A woman who coughed briefly in Bubba G’s Hardware Store in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, was beaten to death with shovels by enraged fellow customers and shop staff. No arrests have so far been made and the woman has not been named.

    The store’s owner, Bubba Graham, told local journalists: “She was intent on making trouble by coughing like that. She got what she deserved. And we know that she had mixed with Italian people.

    “Well, I mean, she looked as if she might mix with Italian people. And probably Chinese too.”

    ● Yotam Ottolenghi, the celebrity chef famous for recipes containing ingredients that nobody, anywhere, can source, has wowed north London with his latest creation.

    Dry-baked okra with ’nduja butter and hand sanitiser can be rustled up at home in only 45 minutes and would, according to the chef, “make an ideal and hygienic hors d’oeuvre — or perhaps a great side dish if you are having Berber-spiced guillemot”.

    Anxious cooks were advised that if hand sanitiser were, for whatever reason, difficult to come by, a light splash of Dettol would do.

    2. BTL on the DT’s main article

      Steven Young
      14 Mar 2020 11:54PM

      I used to cough to disguise a fart…….

      …..now I fart to disguise a cough.

      Strange times indeed

  3. Elderly
    face four months in self-isolation – even if they’re NOT ill – and army
    is to guard supermarkets and hospitals in wartime-style mobilisation to
    fight coronavirus as deaths in the UK almost double overnight to 21 and
    infections hit 1,140
    A bit of an over-reaction, eh, what ?

    1. Next thing is to round us all up and ship us to somewhere we will be “safe.”

    5. Will I be shot in the street as I walk Spartie?
      Better hide the walking stick and not cling on to the lamp posts.

    6. We will have a red cross painted on our front doors to mark us a potential plague victims.

  4. SIR – Hedgehog numbers have fallen by 30 per cent in urban and 50 per cent in rural areas (Nature Notes, March 6). It is clear that this disparity is due to the fact that there are relatively few badgers in urban areas. They are the hedgehog’s only predator.

    Twenty years ago there were numerous hedgehog families in and around my four acres. Over the next five years, badger numbers exploded and the eviscerated pelts of hedgehogs were to be regularly found. Now a live hedgehog is a very rare sight; I have only seen one in the last 10 years. There are no road-kills because there are few left to cross the road. Badger road-kills are a common sight.

    Hedgehogs will disappear from rural areas if badger numbers are not controlled.

    John Micklethwaite
    York

    BTL:

    Terence Courtnadge
    15 Mar 2020 3:31AM
    John Micklethwaite of York is quite correct.

    Hedgehogs in rural areas are a rarity and badgers galore, two facts very much linked. And now in suburban areas, the hedgehogs’ last refuge, the rapid proliferation of foxes ; foxes are without doubt eating young hedgehogs in their nests and many adult ones too. The hedgehog in Britain is dying out, because of mainly badgers and foxes but wildlife ‘experts’ will not face it.

    1. ‘Morning, Citroen, for the second year, the road between Flowton and Somersham is closed due to badgers enlarging their sett(s) under the road.

      The local council will do nothing about it until August, probably something about cubs having to have their summer hols.

      After August they will pour concrete into the setts and next year Brock will move further up the road and start all over again.

      I suggest they Packham much sooner, like now.

    2. Very well said, Messrs Micklethwaite and Courtnadge! It is a rare moment when the words ‘hedgehog’ and ‘badger’ appear together. This is the predator whose name shall not be mentioned. Never mind all the nonsense about garden fences making life difficult for the former; the finger should be pointed at those who have ensured that badger numbers are out of control. Yes, Packham, that means you!

      1. To be fair to Packham, it was the Wildlife Act of 1972 which started the badger problem.

  5. HipDate 15032020.
    Hoorah: Free the Drip-Tethered One.
    I can now go to the loo without bothering the nurses.
    It’s amazing how obsessed you become at making your own way unaided across eight feet of hospital linoleum.

    1. Yaay! Excellent news, Anne.
      Have you been in the shower yet? That first one is soooo good!

      1. Depressingly, I’m not allowed to do so, so far.
        Currently I’m channelling the spirit of the late Auntie Agnes and doing thorough strip washes. At least I don’t have to boil up the water on a black leaded range.

        1. I guess you need to be pretty watertight first. Would be a right bummer if your stitches came unpicked & your stuffing soaked up water. :-(( Your new components might go rusty!

    2. Good morning Anne, and Nottlers everywhere.
      Get well soon and please do the exercises that are recommended.

      1. I twiddle my feet and nip (metaphorically speaking) to the bathroom. Drinking water means that exercise is reasonably frequent.
        Also been give handy little gizmo like a yellow flying saucer; you put the heel of your treated leg in it and glide across the sheets. Surprisingly simple and effective.
        Next stage: jolly handy when taking Spartie for a walk.
        https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e1527734e4f961511f17585a04f7324f2de4a693487700c1fb32099efa702bfc.jpg

        1. We await details of the menu offered to Mekons and how many Michelin stars you have awarded.

        2. So glad your op went well, Annie. I had absolutely no idea; it clearly shows that you show real British pluck of an older person by not advertising your “aches and pains”, unlike the “woke” younger Brits who squeal if they face the agony of not having any multi-sexual loos.

  6. Morning all

    SIR – Tim Stanley skilfully excoriates the Leftists at Oxford University who no-platformed Amber Rudd.

    Their antics are pathetic. Why did they invite Ms Rudd in the first place if they disagreed with her views so much? To cancel with only half an hour’s notice is just rude.

    Like Mr Stanley, I very much hope that those behind this decision are given a taste of their own medicine in the future.

    David Rimmer

    Hertford Heath, Hertfordshire

    1. Why did they invite Ms Rudd in the first place if they disagreed with her views so much?

      The same thing happened with Jordan Peterson. The invitation is probably a ploy to gain publicity for the cause and then embarrass the target as much as possible! It should be seen as a single movement and not as a reaction!

  7. SIR – Two years ago, a couple of miles from home, I came across a broken-down Morris Minor. Standing beside it were an elderly man and a woman in her twenties.

    I stopped and asked if I could help. Did I have a phone with which they could call the AA? I did not, but I asked if I could look under the bonnet. Inside the engine was roasting and the radiator steaming. Diagnosis: a stuck thermostat. I nipped home and picked up some imperial spanners. Then I took things apart, removed the thermostat, put everything together, added a bucket of water – and, heigh ho, they were on the road again.

    The gentleman offered me £40, which I refused, as it had made my day to be able to work on a car again. Modern cars may have many advantages but they are no fun to fix (Letters, March 8).

    Nigel Peacock

    Llanbedr-y-Cennin, Caernarvonshire

  8. Fight against these monstrous symbols of Green fascism.

    SIR – One measure that should be implemented now to protect wildlife (Letters, March 8) is the cancellation of all wind farm projects.

    These are responsible for killing millions of birds and bats worldwide every year, though the problem goes largely unreported. One particularly distressing statistic is that over 100 golden eagles are being lost each year because of a wind farm in California. There have also been reports of a link between whale deaths and offshore wind turbines: the noise from these enormous structures may be causing deafness in the creatures.

    The argument that Britain needs to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions is questionable at a time when Asian economies are vastly increasing theirs. Meanwhile, wildlife is being sacrificed for the sake of virtue-signalling.

    Phil Beckley

    Bury, Lancashire

  9. The reaction we are having to put up with from the media and blogs just shows to me how spoilt people are when they just totaly panic like this. In education but not educated for the most part.
    Boiled eggs for breakfast today.far more interesting.

      1. Most plants though work to near capacity. Not sure if that plant works 24/6 if not they could increase output using some overtime but they need to be able to source the additional paper etc

      2. 3171141+ up ticks,
        Morning Bob,
        Worked in them all, Sittingbourne, Kemsley,
        Island site, Northfleet, Maidstone, in the main all shutdown work.

  11. A little something to cheer up those of us who are not as hip as others:

    There comes a time when a woman just has to trust her husband.

    For example…

    A wife comes home late at night and quietly opens the door to her bedroom. From under the blanket she sees four legs instead of two.

    She reaches for a baseball bat and starts hitting the blanket as hard as she can.

    Once she’s done, she goes to the kitchen to pour herself a stiff drink.

    As she enters, she sees her husband there, reading a magazine.

    “Hi Darling” he says, “Your parents have come to visit us, so l let them stay in our bedroom. Did you say ‘hello’?”

  13. Yes, coronavirus poses a risk – but our response to it is not intelligent or useful. Britain is infected… by a bad case of madness. Peter Hitchens. 14 March 2020

    I have serious doubts about whether our Government has any idea how to slow the spread of this virus. I suspect it quietly reached these shores long before anyone noticed.

    But I am quite sure that many of the current panic measures do far more harm than good. They create the idea that we are in the midst of a terrifying plague that will kill us all, when the truth – though disturbing – is far less frightening.

    Morning everyone. Most of that is true I think. I’ve long believed from personal experience that viruses pass though the human population and provided they cause no great leap in visitors to mortuaries or doctors surgeries disappear unnamed and unremarked. I’ve had some sort of infection the last week or so that hurt my head and left my brain in bottom gear. Was it CV? I have no idea. It didn’t have the symptoms ascribed to it in the MSM but it was rather debilitating. I am at the moment taking measures to reduce my exposure to infection as much as possible without nailing up the front door and sealing it with duct-tape. Will the Government as reported in the MSM immure us all in our own homes? Very probably. This is a sick society whose elites are infected by the madness of Cultural Marxism so anything is possible.

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-8113075/PETER-HITCHENS-Britain-infected-bad-case-madness.html

    1. My parents are in the high-risk group and I am worried about them. But I agree with the general point that the vast majority of people will get this, not even recognise it as CV and move on. Causing mass panic and crashing the global economy doesn’t seem to me to be a proportionate response.

    2. All this following is nonsense in any case. It just means someone at one time pressed the follow button. How many are active followers is probably another matter. I would probably regard Active as once a week. If Twitter published that sort of information as it would probably show those claims of millions of followers might turn out to be a few hundred thousand

  16. Scientific basis for US closing its border to Europe

    In justifying Trump’s travel ban, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top official on infectious diseases at the US National Institute of Health, noted that 70 percent of new infections could be traced to Europe.

    “It was pretty compelling that we needed to turn off the source from that region,” he told a congressional panel on Thursday.

    Internal blockades have proved their effectiveness in China, where the virus first originated, said Sterghios Moschos, a virologist at Northumbria University in the UK. Appearing on the FRANCE 24 Debate show, Moschos noted that the blockade of Hubei province “stopped in its tracks the transmission intensity”, thereby sparing other parts of the country.

  19. If Welby could be knocked off his perch by his silence on coronavirus, it would be a most welcome new Canterbury Tale.

    A nation confronting its own mortality needs spiritual leadership. So where is Justin Welby?
    SIMON HEFFER – 15 MARCH 2020 • 7:00AM

    With an absence of word-mincing unusual in his office, the Prime Minister has warned that some of our loved ones will die because of the coronavirus. He has urged individuals to rally round and do what the state cannot, and ensure those in isolation are looked after. Our political leadership has not concealed just how fundamentally life could change for all of us.

    It amounts to little less than a recalibration of our existence. Things we have taken for granted all our lives – ease of movement and of assembly, freedom from pestilence, indeed the relative salubrity of life itself – are threatened. Apart from the profound consequence that many will die before what was expected to be their time, we shall be forced back on resources of character we did not know we had, and made to change patterns of behaviour for the common good.

    Mr Johnson began to articulate this; but the crisis takes us into philosophical questions about the nature of society and our place in it that go beyond the training or experience of a politician. They border on spiritual matters. The Prime Minister would presumably be the first to admit he lacks the authority required of a divine spokesman. When faced with matters of life and death, especially on this potential scale, our culture – even if we are not religious ourselves – demands something more elevated. And that brings us to the Archbishop of Canterbury.

    As deaths rose and coronavirus cases multiplied last week, the Primate of All England, spiritual leader of the Established Church, was notably silent. Given we were being warned of a possible death toll that would remove a higher proportion of our population than at any time since the Great War, did the Almighty’s Anglican vicar on earth have something to say? He did not. Perhaps Justin Welby has been saving up a grand pronouncement for the Lord’s Day. If so, it may prove welcome, but would have come far too late.

    At the top, the church he leads has been compliant with the bureaucracy of health and safety, but done little else. It has warned communicants against using the same chalice. Hygiene recommendations, it has said, should be observed. And if people went hungry because of the virus, a reinforcement of food banks would be useful.

    But we await the Archbishop’s advice on how the Bible might (or, indeed, might not) teach us how to cope and proceed in these alarming times. Or does he feel we face such an apocalypse that even religion, or at least his conception of it, is an inadequate tool with which to confront it?

    If the expectations of scientists and clinicians are correct, then our people – like those all over Christendom and beyond – will have to think themselves out of the comfortable mindset that progress, peace and prosperity had secured ever since the end of the Second World War. The rights we assumed we had acquired, to consistent good health and far longer life, are under threat.

    We are about to discover that the state does not after all, for all the wonders of the NHS, scientific research and welfarism, have a magic wand it can wave to restore certainty. All our assumptions about every aspect of existence are being challenged by the very forces of nature many thought progress had made subservient to humankind.

    We are, above all, being asked to contemplate the sudden greater immediacy of death. The elderly, who have to do that, pandemic or no pandemic, every day, are far better at it than the young. That, not least, is where the spiritual lead is required; if the young do not themselves die, they may be about to be bereaved in staggering numbers.

    The stock market may have crashed, but this is a great buying opportunity for the Church of England, an institution that, thanks to insipid leadership by the likes of Mr Welby, becomes emptier each Sunday. Soon, in a country pummelled by death, disease and uncertainty, religion may discover an army of potential recruits among those disorientated by change. Mr Welby’s reticence suggests the Church of England is unprepared for this, and therefore failing.

    Perhaps his inability to lead his flock in this crisis is the ultimate admission of the triumph of secularism, a creed more suited to an era when man believed he controlled the world: in which case he should go. It would be an ironic turn if it were left to the overtly godless – of which I am one – to form a new philosophy to console our people in a crisis whose most terrible impact is probably yet to come.

    2. “many will die” – inflammatory words. “Some may die sooner than expected” might be more accurate.

    4. But we await the Archbishop’s advice on how the Bible might (or, indeed, might not) teach us how to cope and proceed in these alarming times. Or does he feel we face such an apocalypse that even religion, or at least his conception of it, is an inadequate tool with which to confront it?

      Welby is just an SJW devoid of any Spiritual qualifications whatsoever!

    5. The absence of spiritual leadership from him should come as no surprise to any of us.
      The near silence from Labour politicians is also noted, but not having to read or hear such “wisdom” could be considered a blessing.
      In any case, Nottlers still have Bill.

      1. Not too happy about Bill. Too much blathering causes a sore throat and a dry cough. He should be careful.;

    7. In the eras of the Black Death and Bubonic Plague the clergy suffered high death rates because they did their duty tending to the poor and sick and saving souls.

      The modern progressive breed are seeing their beloved open borders globalism collapsing and are doubtless saving their own skins.

      Even the Marxist pope has been moved by conscience to order his clergy to reopen their churches. In Italy they were hiding behind locked doors.

  20. Another thing the government should be doing is to tell people to avoid touching goofs in shops unless they are buying it. The reason for that is the virus can live up to 3 days on any material or surface, It does depend on the type o material but that’s so variable you have to assume worse case

    2. Viruses may live up to 3 days, but they are reckoning on 4 months on any material or surface before old people are safe.

    3. I always reach for an item further back on the shelf than the first one, you don’t know who has touched the first one and what they have been doing with their hands, these days.

      1. The ones at the back also have a better chance of having a better ‘use-by’ date.

        Of course, to find that out, you have to touch the front ones to get to the back.

        1. It is not a high risk but it does reduce the risk. The shop staff would have handled the good as well

    4. Have you applied for a job as a government adviser?

      I bet you are glad that you never were self-employed and ran your own business.

  21. Germ Warfare – the experiment that failed
    It is very obvious that the Chinese shot themselves in the foot. This virus did not fall off the back of a dead rat. The Chinese reaction showed that they understood the problem perfectly.
    Well, accidents happen, and it is reasonable to assume that other countries round the world have been experimenting also.
    But where does that leave us with 5G ? The problem here is that the Chinese are techologically head of the U.S.A, and it would be wrong to settle for second best. But America is our friend, and China is not, China cannot be trusted, not in case they make another mistake, but because politically they are very very dangerous.
    We have not yet had a meaningful leak from the corridors of power, Rulers world-wide have kept the doors of truth firmly shut and locked on the inside.

    1. They might have been telling the truth when they said it came from bats.

      This would also apply if the bats were used as guinea pigs for a new military pathogen, and then both were subsequentially served up for dinner. Incidentally, dead rat is quite adequate as an hors d’oeuvre if sliced up and quick fried in the wok with a few dozen crunchy cockroaches.

      2. Auberon Waugh detested bats and thought it was an outrage that these rabies-carrying flying rodents were a protected species.

  22. Just looking at the cheerful little map of reported coronavirus cases. According to the BBC, safest places to be right now are: Libya, Syria, Cuba, Haiti, North Korea, Uzbekistan, South Sudan, Papua New Guinea, Burma, Venezuela and Yemen.

    All good places therefore to spend your hols – I presume there aren’t holdups there at the border. I’m amazed Idlib hasn’t been put forward as an alternative venue for the Olympics.

    1. One good thing that might emerg from this…..they might all pack their bags and get off back.
      The Beatles song would be apt.

    1. He launched his Virgin(c) branded cruise ship at the wrong time too. He’ll want a UK bailout for that as well. Oh, dear, I mentioned Virgin(c), now I’ll have to send him £10.. Oh dear, dear, that’s twice, it’ll be £20…

  26. I am not very impressed by Matt Hancock – I do not know much about him and I may well be wrong but he seems rather a nasty, bumptious, self-seeking little man.

    Among the things he has announced is that people aged over 70 will be told to self-isolate for four months for their own safety – or is it to get them out of sight?

    Many of you on this site will be affected but goodness knows what Macron has in store for the oldies who live in France.

  27. The lockdown in Spain is likely to be renewed at the end of the fortnight. My guess is that it could last for a total of eight weeks.
    Bear that in mind when you are out shopping and making plans.
    The Guardian reports that the French believe that ibuprofen ( a NSAID, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) should be avoided by those with Covid-19 , and that unobtainable paracetamol is the pill du jour.
    NB I have no clinical knowledge whatsoever.

    1. Are people in Spain confined to their homes and all food shops shut? Because neither happened in Wuhan and Italy. If people without CV can leave their homes and the food shops stay open, there is no need to stock up.

      1. They are allowed out to travel to work or to shop for food and medicines, with Policia and Guardia checkpoints to ensure compliance. All beaches are closed. Bars and restaurants are closed.

        Policia are overseeing queues outside supermarkets, ensuring space is left between those queueing and they are limiting the number of people allowed in at any one time.

        They have also run out of toilet rolls and other stuff in the shops due to panic buying before the State of Alarm was declared.

      2. Food shops are open. It is a simple case of risk management. It is not ideal but is better than having people starve to death

      3. They are allowed out to travel to work or to shop for food and medicines, with Policia and Guardia checkpoints to ensure compliance. All beaches are closed. Bars and restaurants are closed.

        Policia are overseeing queues outside supermarkets, ensuring space is left between those queueing and they are limiting the number of people allowed in at any one time.

        They have also run out of toilet rolls and other stuff in the shops due to panic buying before the State of Alarm was declared.

    2. It is likely to go on until the number of new cases comes down to single figures

    4. They say their intention is to “scare the fùck out of people”.

      In that case, they should be prepared to get the shít kicked out of them by those same people.

    5. “In addition, as the Climate and
      Ecological Emergency becomes more dangerous every day, we must encourage
      more extreme actions to achieve meaningful change. This movement must
      not become ineffectual and forget its rebellious heart as it grows.
      Extreme self sacrificial actions can act as a vanguard for the movement,
      inspiring people in their rebellious journey and focusing the world’s
      attention. However, these highly sacrificial actions have suffered so
      far due to their lack of organisation / cohesion of message and because
      of strong pushback from the movement. For such high-risk actions, action
      design must be slick and highly considered. It also seems necessary for
      the movement to clearly outline in any strategy going forward, the
      intention to encourage more extreme action in response to genuine
      growing crisis so as not to face pushback from the movement as a whole
      every time a highly sacrificial action takes place.”

      They clearly need to join up with the jihadis who are experts in suicide. If they get on with it while the country is in corona virus lockdown they could dispose of themselves without incommoding the rest of the population.

  30. Charities struggling to pay staff because of COVID-19 outbreak

    Charities are calling for government help after a drop in donations because of coronavirus left them struggling to pay staff.

    2. I knew – just KNEW – that if any Tory MP would get the blasted cherryade bug, it would be her.

      1. Soubry won’t get it – even the vilest of germs have standards
        BTW How are you – recovering well I hope

        1. Being fed far too regularly. I just can’t cope with this regular meal malarkey.
          Maybe it’s to build me up before the physioterrorists descend again.

          1. I suppose you and I can call ourselves artificial hipsters!

            (Mine’s made of ceramic and titanium)

  32. 317121+ up ticks,
    Morning Each,
    May one ask, this war footing jobee, is it one where submission, PCism,
    Appeasement where those over 70 seemingly will be under a sort of house arrest ,this will apply to ALL those currently abiding within these Isles or will there be special dispensations for say, mosque users ?

    Is there going to be a high profile, seen to be working successfully coastal
    anti invasion force put in place, NOW ?

    Even those currently still supporting / voting lab/lib/con must see the futility
    even of “hot bedding” in hospitals & emergency hotel beds, they will always be one short due to mass uncontrolled immigration.

  33. Here are the infectious letters….

    Letters: Now is the time to follow the experts’ advice – and resist the temptation to score political points
    By
    Letters to the Editor
    15 March 2020 • 12:01am
    Premium
    Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer
    SIR – Some matters should be above political debate. The coronavirus crisis is one of them.

    The Government has made clear that its policy follows the best scientific advice – and that policy has been supported by the Chief Scientific Adviser and the Chief Medical Officer. It is therefore shocking to hear political opposition from various quarters.

    The nation is in danger and, having arrived in genuine herd territory, we would be wise to behave like a herd. They survive by sticking together. Dissenting voices undermine public confidence and, in current circumstances, that is a dangerous thing to do.

    Gregory Shenkman
    London W8

    SIR – On Thursday the Prime Minister held an honest, calm and reassuring press conference, flanked by his senior scientific advisers, explaining in detail the next steps in the Government’s strategy to deal with coronavirus.

    In Friday’s news coverage, however, the BBC and Sky chose to push the line that the Government was “facing questions” about why it is not taking the extreme steps being implemented by some other countries. This approach was supported by the likes of Jeremy Hunt, who ought to know better.

    Did these broadcasters actually listen to anything that was said at the press conference, where these issues were dealt with at length? This type of reporting reflects the same “we know better” attitude that has led to the dangerous fall in take-up of the MMR vaccine, but with potentially even more damaging consequences.

    Steve Black
    Nottingham

    SIR – I have just returned to Britain from Australia, via Dubai. Not once was there any sort of temperature screening.

    How, without doing this, can we determine the number of people who may have contracted the virus? It beggars belief that we are still waiting for such measures to be implemented properly.

    Bridget Garvin
    Preston-under-Scar, North Yorkshire

    SIR – Perhaps it is time to reprint the old wartime poster: “Is your journey really necessary?”

    Colin Bullen
    Tonbridge, Kent

    SIR – Where is the coordination in Europe over coronavirus? Each country seems to be doing its own thing. Very strange.

    Simon Morpuss
    Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire

    SIR – If major sporting events need to be suspended because of coronavirus, why is Parliament continuing to sit despite some members testing positive?

    Having sat on an employers’ pandemic working group during the “bird flu” scare a few years ago, I would have expected robust parliamentary contingency plans to have been in place.

    Roger Gentry
    Sutton-at-Hone, Kent

    SIR – I was born in 1945 and, aged four, contracted scarlet fever. I was placed in isolation in a sanitarium for six weeks, saw my parents once a week through a glass petition, and the few toys and books I had were all incinerated when I left.

    I am sure I can get through any period of self-isolation required today.

    Brian Morris
    London N1

    SIR – With the island of Menorca going into lockdown – all events cancelled and restaurants closing – and since my husband has underlying health issues, we’re in self-imposed isolation here.

    I’ve washed the curtains, cleaned out the kitchen drawers, and started cataloguing an old stamp collection. What now to fill the months ahead?

    Jane Eyles
    Mahon, Menorca, Spain

    1. He enjoys the fact that he is free to spread his religion – something which Sharia law would prevent people of other religions being free to do likewise.

      1. 317141+ up ticks,
        Afternoon A,
        He enjoys the fact that he is covered by the submissive ,PC,Appeasement umbrella.
        That gives him & his ilk carte blanche.
        Opened up by the by for him & likes by political fools & followers.

      1. Austria is currently not on the Governments No Travel list but nothing much will be open and it will be difficult to travel there

        Extensive restrictions are in place throughout Austria, affecting all areas of everyday life. Air travel restrictions are in place between Austria and a number of countries. From 23:59 on 16 March, there will no direct air links between Austria and the UK, Netherlands, Ukraine and Russia. As of midnight on 16 March, there will be no direct air or rail connections from Austria to Spain, France, and Switzerland. There are no direct flights and trains between Austria and Italy. You should contact your tour operator or airline for more information.

        Ski resorts close on 15 March in Tyrol, Salzburg and Vorarlberg provinces. Accommodation in the ski resorts will close on 16 March. In Tyrol, the villages of Ischgl, Galtuer, See, and Kappl in the Patznaun Valley, and St Anton am Arlberg are under quarantine for the next 14 days. Tourists will be allowed to leave. In Carinthia, Heiligenblut is under quarantine until 29 March. You should follow the advice of local authorities

        Restrictions are currently in place on the border with Italy. Anyone wishing to cross this border is required to hold a medical certificate. The certificate needs to include the result of molecular biological test and must be no more than four days old, in English, German or Italian. Non-stop transit from Italy through Austria remains possible. Some neighbouring countries are restricting movement across the border and conducting health checks. You should refer to travel advice for the country you are travelling from/to for information.

        From 16 March, restaurants, bars and cafes across the country will only be open until 3pm, and will be closed from 17 March. All shops, except supermarkets, banks, pharmacies, and postal services, will be closed. See Health

  36. TUI have cancelled all holidays as below

    Holidays to Spain, Canary Islands, Balearics Islands

    Following local measures put in place by the Spanish Authorities, including closing some hotel facilities and the local bars, restaurants and beaches, we have made the difficult decision to cancel holidays due to travel between 14th and 29th March.

    Holidays to Dominican Republic

    Due to restrictions introduced by the local authorities in Dominican Republic we’re sorry to advise that all holidays between 15th March and 29th March have been cancelled.

    Holidays to Morocco

    Due to restrictions introduced by the local authorities in Morocco we’re sorry to advise that all holidays between 15th March and 29th March have been cancelled.

    Holidays to USA

    We are aware that the United States authorities have taken the decision not to permit entry to anyone travelling from the UK to the USA from 16 March 2020.

    Customers due to travel to the USA between 16th and 18th March will have their holiday automatically cancelled and refunded. There is no need to call us

    Holidays to Jamaica

    We are aware that the Jamaican authorities have taken the decision not to permit entry to anyone travelling from the UK to Jamaica from 14 March 2020 for 14 days.

    Customers due to travel to Jamaica between 14th and 16th March will have their holiday automatically cancelled and refunded. There is no need to call us.

    Holidays to Cyprus

    Due to restrictions introduced by the local authorities in Cyprus, we’re sorry to advise that all holidays to Cyprus departing up to and including 28 March have unfortunately had to be cancelled. We are proactively contacting affected customers departing between 16 and 28 March to find a suitable alternative holiday.

    Holidays to Madeira

    Due to restrictions introduced by the local authorities in Madeira, we’re sorry to advise that all holidays to Madeira departing up to and including 28 March have unfortunately had to be cancelled. We are proactively contacting affected customers departing between 14 and 28 March to find a suitable alternative holiday.

    Holidays to Malta

    Due to restrictions introduced by the local authorities in Malta, we’re sorry to advise that all holidays to Malta departing up to and including 22 March have unfortunately had to be cancelled. We are proactively contacting affected customers departing between 16 and 22 March to find a suitable alternative holiday.

    Holidays to Tunisia

    Due to restrictions introduced by the local authorities in Tunisia, we’re sorry to advise that all holidays to Tunisia departing up to and including 22 March have unfortunately had to be cancelled. We are proactively contacting affected customers departing between 16 and 22 March to find a suitable alternative holiday.

    Holidays to Italy

    We’re aware that the FCO has now changed its travel advice for Italy advised against all but essential travel to Italy and the Italian Government has implemented new internal measures to minimise the spread of Coronavirus which will run up to and including 3rd April.

    If you are due to travel between now and 3rd April to Italy a member of our customer services team will contact you directly to discuss your options including an amendment or full refund.

    Holidays to Goa

    We are proactively contacting customers due to travel to India on a TUI Airways flight before the end of April to discuss their options as these flights have been cancelled, including an amendment or a full refund.

      2. Only for the 70+s.
        The stay-at-home policy for this group will be rolled out this week – BBC News R2 14.00

        1. We’ve got a family trip to Sheffield planned for next month. Renewed our railcards and booked the tickets.

          3. I have best-seat tickets for MK theatre 2nd & 3rd weeks of April.

            Fortunately they are insured.

    2. Looks like only Nigeria is left. Always wanted to meet that fella who is going to share his fortune with me.

  38. I have requested a quote to repair our storm damaged roof. I expect they will demand payment up front in case we don’t survive beyond completion of the work.

    2. Will you be self-isolating under a leaking roof?
      Pneumonia will get you before the Cherryade Virus.

      1. Insurance company says it is not storm damage because they can’t see it in the photo I sent them.

        1. When we had a flood through our bedroom ceiling following the “Beast from the East” two years ago – the insurance company wanted a photo of the soaking wet carpet. In the end, we didn’t bother – it was over 20 years old, my husband cut it up and we waited for the bare boards to dry out, then got a new one.

          1. First approach of insurance companies is to try to avoid paying out

            In your case if the carpet was 20 years oild and you did not have new for old cover you would get a few pound at most and putting a claim in would most likely bump up you premiums by a lot more

  39. Morning all.
    I wonder how many thousands of people Mike the CEO at Sainsbury’s sent his email to.
    In which he explained that it is not nessecary to stock up on toilet paper pain killers hand soap and other familiar items.
    He asked people who do so and have been, to show restraint because of the problems they in the process are piling on to the rest of the shopper’s in the UK.
    Well done and Goodonya Mike.
    You know it makes sense.

      1. Morning.
        I agree TB.
        Tell YOH I use to play golf with a previous CEO of Sainsbury’s. A friendly down to earth guy. Seemingly of similar characteristics of the current chief
        In the golf Sunday swindle his nick name was “The Grocer”.

  40. Email from chum who works at Sainsbury’s.

    “Work has been totally manic but worth seeing how silly people are, and I was paid to watch it. The prize Sainsbury’s hoarder of the weeks has put the people who only wheeled out a trolly or two full of loo rolls completely in the shade. She panic bought two trays full of Marmite, at least 10 pots per tray. Magnificent.”

    1. I did buy one 16 roll pack on Friday – we will survive! Hope you are recovering well, Anne.

    2. If you are constipated, spread Marmite on the loo paper. It will make you feel better.

    3. A friend works at a local supermarket. Panic buying has set in and on Thursday they had record sales. The sight of empty shelves really sparked the panic buying and sales on Friday broke the new record by fifty percent. The national chain also reported highest ever sales.

      It is happening where we are as well. All was OK on Thursday but when we went to the store yesterday, the pasta and rice shelves were completely bare. They are even panic buying of grits.

    4. Not much panic in Wellingborough’s Sainsbury’s yesterday. The empty shelves were toilet rolls, painkillers, pasta, rice, flour and own brand baked beans (plenty of Heinz still available). Some other shelves were a bit depleted but only slightly more than might be expected late on a Saturday afternoon.

      Thankfully no shortage of Landlord, Old Hooky and ESB.

    5. She must have seen my post from a couple of days ago, when I said to Ndovu, who was going shopping, ‘Have a bit of fun. Whisper to as many people as you can that you’ve heard there’s going to be a shortage of Marmite’.

      My plan worked.

  41. The EU have asked for the “transition” period to be extended. Are we now to be subsumed back into the EU under the umbrella of “group approach” and “greater good”?

    5. I think that was the total purpose of the cv-19 but it got going too late (why was Merkel in China in November?) to be of use to prevent Brexit becoming law. Having said that I think they will still try to use it in some way in the spirit of never letting a crisis go to waste. And this is a good one.

    6. That’s the idea Horace.

      Now – let’s see if the MSM can talk about something else so as to cloud the issue.

    7. That’s the idea Horace.

      Now – let’s see if the MSM can talk about something else so as to cloud the issue.

  42. Blanket order for the elderly to self-isolate will be enforced in next 20 days as PM ratchets up efforts

    Doctors are preparing to give isolated patients advice over video link and army hospitals will be used

    The drastic measure is wrapped into a wider package of emergency powers to stem the spread of the virus

    Troops will be deployed to guard hospitals and supermarkets and private hospital beds will be used

    Business will be urged to serve national interest by overhauling production lines to make medical supplies

    It came as Britain’s COVID-19 death rate almost doubled as ten more people died, bringing total deaths to 21

    Instructing the over-70s to remain indoors forms part of a wider package of emergency powers due to be officially rolled out by Downing Street this week.

    Tomorrow NHS England will hand out new guidelines for hospitals which will tell trusts they can scrap routine surgery and outpatient appointments, the Sunday Telegraph reports. It comes as senior forecaster Julian Jessop warned the paper that Britain could suffer a six per cent drop in GDP over coming months.

    Banning mass gatherings, allowing the police to detain suspected virus victims and forcing schools to stay open were already revealed to be part of the strategy going forward.

    The decision to instruct all over-70s to remain in their homes and care homes within three weeks is to stop the NHS ‘falling over’ with pressure, according to ITV News’ political editor Robert Peston who first revealed the move.

    He further revealed: ‘Plans are also well under way for doctors to give consultations to patients quarantined at home by video links over the internet.

    ‘There are two other aspects of this wartime mobilisation: Army hospitals will be used (and) lockdowns of cities or parts of cities have NOT been ruled out.’

    Downing Street’s new raft of measures, which will be rubber stamped at a meeting chaired by the PM today, marks a screeching U-turn as only a few days ago the government flatly refused to follow European counterparts in curbing person-to-person contact.

    1. Plans are also well under way for doctors to give consultations to patients quarantined at home by video links over the internet.

      Over-70s are the category of people most likely not to have access to the internet at home.

      1. Exactly. Even assuming the medical practice has access to video link. I have a PC but don’t know if the little lens is a camera or a light meter to adjust the brightness of the screen.

      2. I think there is a fair amount of media spin and speculation in that. I am sure it will ask the over 70’s to try to avoid going out and to avoid contact with as many people as possible but I dont see it being a total ban. It would be unenforceable for a start . We dont have ID cards. Are they going to say everyone has to carry their passport,. driving licence of birth certificate with them ?

        It would upset Diana Abbot as well who would claim it is anti migrant (Translated that mean anti illegal migrant in my view)

        2. It reminds me of the episode in Dad’s Army where all the members of the platoon desperately tried to make themselves appear younger e.g. dyeing their hair or wearing wigs, in order not to be forcibly retired from the Home Guard. Are we all going to follow suit in order not to be arrested while out on the street?

          1. Or the horribly affecting scene in “Schindler’s List” where the old lady had put on rouge and lipstick…

    3. My wife has had an overdose of Sky News and I was saying to her just an hour ago, in 1939 every man, woman and child in the country was given a gas mask to protect them from the expected gas attacks should war break out.

      Not one of those masks was used for its intended purpose.

      Precautions do not indicate certainty. And plans are just that. Plans.

    4. I am 80 and walk and/or cycle each day to help control diabetes. I go up to Sutton Bank regularly but drive there in my own car with no passengers. I need to shop and choose the quiet times. I cannot accept imprisonment in my own house by a panicking government. I hope common sense prevails. I would prefer that the outbreak would be allowed to take its course

  43. We have a new British motto: Panic And Snatch Toilet Rolls. Dan Hodges. 14 March 2020.

    Over the past week, three naked lies about the Government’s response were able to flourish virtually unchecked.

    The first was a video which purported to show Boris claiming his plan was to ‘take it on the chin’ and let Britain bear the brunt of the virus in order to protect the economy. It had been deliberately doctored, with the section in which he explained he had rejected that option purposely edited out.

    But it ran for days. Indeed, it’s still running.

    Hmmm. You learn something every day!

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/columnists/article-8112893/DAN-HODGES-new-British-motto-Panic-Snatch-Toilet-Rolls.html

    1. Oh the Irony
      The Mail having been one of the main drivers of the hysteria
      ‘Morning Minty

      1. The entire media have . It used to be Brexit now it is wall to wall Corona virus

    2. It must start slowing down soon. You only have so much storage space and can only use so many toilet rolls

  45. Went to Waitrose this morning as i do most Sunday, it was like Christmas in there queues for the car park, queues for the check out, really mad

  46. I decided not to panic buy but buy online as usual. I have just put in my order at Waitrose, Sainsbury and Asda.

        1. Many of them are doing that as they deliver from the stores and as far as I know the stock control system in stores is basic and they have no way of making stock reservations so the store may show stock available but by the time they come to pick the order that stock may have gone

          1. Back here in Canada, supermarkets are tied into the big central system and items are automatically restocked.

    2. I ordered Qty 1 on an online site and ended up with ! pallet of them about 750 toilet rolls

  47. Daughters wedding set for two weeks time, wondering now whether to postpone it now before it is too late.

    1. Make it a small family wedding. Spend money saved from the reception on a memorable honeymoon.

      Ah, that will not work unless you can delay the honeymoon.

    2. Hard to say. If a modest size affair probably ok. At the moment the media speculation is large gatherings of over 500 people will be banned but thats not to say that churches and other venues might not bring in their own restrictions

  48. Oh bugger! Insurance companies are rewriting their coverage to exclude coronavirus treatment. Isn’t that nice of them!

    I guess that means the end of our holiday, her that demands to be obeyed doesn’t fancy being stuck in Trumpland without health insurance.

    Pity, the golf courses are really empty at the moment.

    1. I have just cancelled my holiday to Malta this year. They have a 14 day quarantine in place until December 2020. I will probably lose the £600 deposit and possibly the flights that have been paid for, but the balance of £800 is due in 10 days so i have cancelled.

      Thank goodness i bought all those loo rolls.

        1. We are just about to organise a frozen food home deleivery service for our dear elderly friend in the next village to us .. he will be 85, and is fit as a fiddle .. and he drives and gads about , and is always so vital and interesting .. but very depressed at the prospect of self isolation . He will be coming to us for a late lunch presently .

          What on earth are we to all do ..

          1. There is an apocalyptic feel about life at the moment. I think we’ll all get fed up if we can’t go out or go anywhere – thank goodness we can all chat here!

          2. I agree with you J

            We are living in dystopian times ..

            I believe our usefulness has been dissed .. Our age group is the largest source of volunteer manship .. What will this country be left with..
            Large areas of chavs and HUGE comunities of dysfunctional lawless state dependent people .

            Moh and I very rarely drink these days because we are on B/P tablets etc and we come under that so called category of at risk bods by virtue of our medication … Can you believe that the aisles of booze are nearly empty of wine and spirits .. people are buying so much … I guess imports will soon dry up !

          3. We don’t drink spirits – though I like a G&T – especially when we are on holday – but we have a good supply of wine in.

          4. We have a lovely Irish friend, aged 84, who comes to supper with us every Saturday night and often pops in for a cup of coffee. He gets very lonely as he is a widower and, with age, his French is deteriorating. Official advice is that all “fragile” people are to stay at home – and our friend is certainly in that category as he has a very reduced lung capacity (although without any lung disease). But how can we just abandon him? He might well avoid catching the virus, but I don’t know what his loneliness would do to him… So I’ve told him that he can always come here as long as we are all still in good health. Will I live to regret this act of kindness, which might end up killing him? I don’t know…

          5. We have to do our best Caroline .. Sadly we are living in a MEFIRST society , and the nations values are not what they were in the time of of our Wartime parents who helped win WW2 through sacrifice and endeavour .

            What ever our nations religion is these days , I have seen NO leadership fron our Bishops and Archbishops ..

            My Brownie motto when I was a child was ” We are all the helpful elves, think of others not ourselves!” ..

            I am not a goody goody but I do believe in lots of things .. x

          6. I very much believe that charity begins at home. Which means that I will tend to look after people in my immediate surroundings rather than donate money to impersonal organisations. A little kindness goes a very long way!

          8. What about your young students, who will be coming over at Easter? Will they still be able to travel?

          11. I hope you can do something like that – safer for all, and young people are likely to be carriers, even if unaffected.

          12. We are expecting a visit from our French counterparts in May. We are assuming it will go ahead, but we have no guarantee that it will.

          13. Afternoon T_B, I am taking an old spare ipad to an elderly relation. With the built in app of Facetime, video calls between us should be fairly straightforward and I am hoping that will help with the feeling of loneliness. Of course nothing compares to face to face interaction but I can think of nothing else which minimises the health risk.

        2. The apartment is pretty glamorous but how would i stock it with provisions. Plus all flights will be cancelled by then i expect.

          Edit of the nonsensical bits.

      2. An interesting one as Malta is not in the No travel area at present but as most people holidays are 14 days or less and you would have to go into quarantine for two weeks on arrival I would say the holiday has changed significantly ie you did not intend to have a 2 week holiday in Malta in self isolation in a hotel room

        I think you should be able to get a refund or move the holiday to another date or country but the later is fraught with problems and is not really a viable alternative

        1. ABTA are now saying if you do travel to Malta you won’t have any insurance cover.

          1. If you had insurance cover in place already they cannot just retrospectively change it so they are wrong in my view you will be covered

            If you are just booking a holiday and dont already have insurance in place(some people have annual policies) then it is unlikely anyone would cover you.

      3. A friend arrived in Malta for a month long visit about two weeks ago. They are booked to fly back via the US.

        They are spending a lot of free time checking on how to get home.

      4. There’s no problem being quarantined for 14 days if you’ve travelled to Andrexlucia!

      1. Effective immediately though. To quote:

        If you were at your destination prior to the warning being issued, then normally, your coverage may be limited to medical care for conditions unrelated to the reason for the advisory

        There is no way that we will spend time in the US without medical coverage for all possibilities. If the Trump brings in travel restrictions and we are stuck in the US for an extended time, we would be completely stuffed. Can you imagine Trudeau baling us out?

        1. it is badly worded. If you already have insurance cover in place they cannot retrospectively change it. I assume they mean any new policies taken out with them will not cover it. They cannot as well speak for polices taken out with other companies

    3. I wonder what their legal grounds are for doing this and if it would stand up in court?

        1. You dont need a test case. A contract is a contract. If they could just change the t&c’s after you purchase a policy they could avoid paying out at all

      2. They cannot retrospectively change a policy. I think they are referring to new policies

      3. Most Canadian insurance companies are modifying their policies, even existing ones. About the only policies still covering all illnesses are those gold plated government retiree benefits (that tax payers are paying for).

        No doubt there will be some smaller print in the small print that allows changes to coverage in extenuating circumstances.

        With the cost of healthcare in the US as high as it is, we are not ready to try a challenge.

        1. If the policy comes under English & Welsh law they cannot be retrospectively changed. If they could they could dodge any payouts. What they can do is change the t&c’s for new policies. I have no idea what Canadian law says on these matters

  49. Message from Sainsbury’s Chief Executive Mike Coupe

    Dear

    You will have seen that, due to the ongoing uncertainty around the full impact of Coronavirus, supermarkets have been much busier than usual and customers are choosing to stock up.

    I wanted to personally reassure you that we have more food and other essential items coming to us from manufacturers and into our warehouses and distribution centres. If we all shop just for the food that we and our families need, there will be enough for everyone.

    I also wanted to let you know that at Sainsbury’s, we are working really hard to ensure this remains the case. Over the past two weeks we have:

    –
    Ordered more stock of essential items from our suppliers

    –
    Put more capacity into our warehouses and

    –
    Set limits on a small number of items, including some cleaning products, soap and pain relief. This is a precautionary measure – if everyone shops normally, there will be enough for everyone.

    There are gaps on shelves because of increased demand, but we have new stock arriving regularly and we’re doing our best to keep shelves stocked. Our store colleagues are working tirelessly and doing the best job they can.

    Which brings me onto a request. Please think before you buy and only buy what you and your family need. If we all do this then we can make sure we have enough for everyone. And please help elderly and vulnerable friends, family and neighbours with their shopping if you can.

    I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support and to thank our colleagues who are all working incredibly hard to ensure we can continue to serve our customers well.

    Best wishes

    Mike

    1. Dear Sainsbury’s,

      You have been running your stocks down at our local store for the last two years, and you used to run out of Andrex frequently from long before coronavirus was a gleam in a mad Chinese scientist’s slit eye.
      It’s too late now.

      Best wishes,

      A satisfied Tesco customer.

  50. The government ought to issue a No travel directive for Cruise Ships. There are a very high risk environment and have many elderly passengers and when they get COVID-19 it is a big problem and an needed distraction for the government

    Fred Olsen last night said none of the previous passengers had tested positive for Covid-19 when the present voyage began and it had checked the medical and travel history of all those travelling.

    I think there is a lot of spin with that statement above. They would not haves access to the passengers medical records nor would they have access to their travel record in fact they dont really exist it would tale a lot of work to establish

    Currently Fred Olsen Line have the Braemar is stranded in the Caribbean as no port will accept them

    British diplomats were last night in frantic talks with countries in the region in a bid to persuade them to allow the passengers to disembark and fly home. Sources said ‘two realistic options’ had been identified, but neither country had yet agreed to take the ship.

    1. …it is a big problem and an unneeded distraction for the government

      is what you wanted to say, I believe.

      1. Depends what they want to distract the Public from. Grooming report, FO c*ckup over Anna Socolas, H2S funding scandal, Huawei, etc, etc.

    2. 317141+ up ticks,
      BJ,
      The only way for those pensioners to return to the UK
      is purloin a ships lifeboat & come in via the Channel,
      when picked up be like dad ,keep mum & could be on more wonga & freebies than when they started the cruise.

    1. She should get the same treatment as other pregnant women and that should be good enough.

    2. I disagree she say she is a man and wants to be treated as a man and to use the mens toilet etc. So we should tell him dont be silly you are a men dont get pregnant. The problem with that of course is the baby

    3. IMHO this is an as-yet-undescribed mental illness.
      One day someone will identify unknown hormones, or damaged telomeres, that lead to an irresistible desire to flip.

      Having said that, it is sometimes apparent that even a child of pre-school age can have gender identity issues.
      There is a journalist called David Thomas who has been writing in the Telegraph about his ‘transition’ from male to pseudo-female. Now that he calls himself Diana, he hopes to marry a man; hmmm, but wasn’t that legalised several years ago?

      1. It’s a delusional mental health issue.

        No amount of hormones or surgery will turn a man into a woman or vice versa.

        I have no objection to them dressing up.

        Young children may have issues, but I believe it is child abuse to indulge them to the extent some people do, with puberty blockers, etc. Let them make an informed decision as adults.

      2. It’s just delusional fantasies. People unhappy with their life look for escapism from reality. A reality they can’t cope with.

    5. They are in my view mentally ill. They even contradict themselves. They claim they are traumatized because they think they have been born in the wrong body but she then gets herself pregnant which confirms she is a woman

      To me this is clearly a mental health issue. She sort od wants to be a man when it suits he and a woman when it suits her although no doubt she will try to pretend she is a man

    6. If this is a man giving birth, was she given pain relief suitable for a man? The sort that could have likely killed her?

  52. Just back from w/rose. Bought al I wanted but noticed that pasta is disappearing, as are kitchen rolls. Didn’t bother t look at the loo-rolls.

      1. Already have quinoa, rice, pasta, polenta. I keep a well-stocked larder at the best of times.

    2. Wait till you are under house arrest and they will do all yourr shopping for you.

  53. We must all do everything in our power to protect lives. MATT HANCOCK MP. 14 March 2020.

    Next week we will publish our emergency bill, to give the Government the temporary powers we will need to help everyone get through this. The measures in it allow for the worst case scenario. I hope many of them won’t be needed. But we will ask Parliament for these powers in case they are.

    Our generation has never been tested like this. Our grandparents were, during the Second World War, when our cities were bombed during the Blitz. Despite the pounding every night, the rationing, the loss of life, they pulled together in one gigantic national effort.

    Temporary Powers! I’ve heard that one before! As to pulling together; Hancock’s grandparent’s occupied a different UK to the one that now exists. That was a free country in which the people were united by race, language and a shared cultural heritage. That is no longer true. This is a Police State fragmented by ethnic divisions and a corrupt polity. Thankfully the trial it faces is nowhere near as severe as WWII.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/03/14/must-do-everything-power-protect-lives/

    1. Dear Mr Johnson
      Are we continuing to import the World? Asking for a few million concerned friends.

    3. As I keep writing, “never waste a good crisis”.
      Army rumoured to be mobilised to guard supermarkets…

    4. And next on the police state agenda……. ‘Self isolating’ the over 70s.
      And there are plenty of snowflakes out there who will dobb us in.
      The old crooners song, 🎶 I don’t get around much any more.🎶

    5. I thought the over 70s were already self-isolating? What with the Bbc now demanding they pay to watch TV, they will become complete recluses, devoid of any contact with the outside world.

  55. The problem with the virus scare is that people are getting it may have already had it and haven’t suffered anything worse than a bad cough or flu while the reaction by the authorities and the world seems to be totally over the top, unless there is something they are not telling us.

    1. Well they dont even know the extent of it as people are just being told to self isolate. No that may mean they had or it may not and they have no information as to how many are self isolating so the government and NHS have not a clue as to the extent of it and that is the only way you will really know the spreads of it.

    2. The”experts” know very little about it. Everything is based on what they know about similar stuff. At present, they do not know why and how it results in pneumonia etc, and they cannot stop it.
      The do not know if those who have had it can get it again, and be infectious all over again. If so, quarantine is prevarication and not prevention.
      That is, we are all doomed.

    3. PD and I had something very similar to the symptoms described for cv just after Christmas. We had been away for Christmas and we both fell ill at the same time on 28 December in the evening. It knocked us off our feet with enormous fatigue, but here’s the thing, I was able to rally and go shopping for essentials the next morning. With ‘flu once you are swept off your feet, that is it, there is no rallying until it is over. There was then three days of sore throat and fatigue, headache (but not on the migraine level), backache and shivering unable to feel warm, labyrinthitis which lasted for days. After three days the ‘digestive upset’ kicked in along with copious, copious snot which went on for several days longer than I would have expected it to, just streaming. After 14 days from the onset we started to recover, but it has kept coming back for another bite from time to time in the evenings with much sneezing and a fatigued, totally wiped out feeling for the rest of the evening but feeling somewhat recovered next day, until the next sneezing attack two days or so later. We are only just now, nearly three months later, feeling we are seeing those sunlit uplands ahead!

      Summary: It felt like ‘flu but we both knew it wasn’t – despite the severity of the symptoms we could from time to time arise from our sick beds and totter around for a short while to do what was necessary. With ‘flu it is true what they say, if you were told there is £1000 outside the door you would just leave it. My feeling is that this Covid-19 has reached the UK weeks before it was thought, I am sure the Chinese whistle blower waited until he was sure there was a problem on their hands, it must have had a couple of months for it to get going and escape the country.

      Apologies for the essay!

      1. No apologies necessary, Mum, You’ve described it perfectly and I too am suffering in a similar way but, since I’ve been diagnosed with COPD, it’s difficult to know if it’s that or ‘flu or worse. Thankfully I’m not bedridden yet and although Best Beloved is feeling fatigued she gets up and does sterling work as evidenced by her tea and cake efforts yesterday after our well-loved Church Warden’s Memorial Service (We’ve never seen the church so packed, even at Christmas).

        As I’ve said to Anne and you further epitomise it, we just keep buggering on – it’s in our nature.

      2. Seconded. Last autumn I suffered from a lurgy that was as bad as ‘flu but different. The main feature was an appalling cough. I sounded off like a smoker.
        I dosed myself with honey&lemon, but also with liquidised raw garlic & tomato. Garlic and raw onions are my standard anti-viral remedy. If they burn my mouth, think what is happening to a dastardly microbe.

    1. I am approaching that age where I am delighted if I wake up in the morning and feel like that.

      1. The Rolls Royce Corniche of 1966 was a beautiful car but I do not find the front end of this modern Roller remotely attractive: it is horribly ugly aesthetically. Am I alone in thinking this?

        5. It looks like something that should have a tipper body or flat wagon hitched to its rear end. It has the look of a tractor unit.

    1. I read that a while ago. But then i don’t rely exclusively on UK sites as i know how a lot of things don’t get reported.

      Good morning.

      1. Morning. I thought there would be considerable interest because Lieber’s two assistants were Chinese nationals. One was a Lt in the Chinese army and regularly took biological samples to China.

    2. It did. I saw it and I don’t use foreign sites. But amongst 24hour rolling news and Mrs Engelson and her kitten, little notice was taken.

    3. That was end of January. I did see a mention in the media, but without all the detail;in other words a meaningless report,

    4. It did. I saw it and I don’t use foreign sites. But amongst 24hour rolling news and Mrs Engelson and her kitten, little notice was taken.

  60. The government say they have taken scientific advice in their strategy for dealing with Corona virus.
    The “Media” point out , quite rightly, that “there is MORE THAN ONE Scientific opiniion”.

    Quite right too media folks………

    Except when it comes to climate change of course…………………….

    1. I believe that some reputable scientists even think that man made climate change and the dangers of CO₂ emissions are all part of a great scam.

    2. The media choose the opinion that makes them the most money.

      ‘Nothing to worry about’ doesn’t sell papers, neither does ‘It’s bad, but not as bad as some are making out’.

  61. 317141+ up ticks,
    May one ask, God forbid that it ever comes to pass but getting down to the nitty shitty, gritty are Nation Insurance stamps fully paid up in the past
    going to take precedence over a just landed, potential terrorist, rapist. abuser ?
    Will Submission, PCism,Appeasement dictate who gets the hospital / hotel medical beds or those who’s funds have over the years put the hospital & beds in place ?

    2. There will be no more just landed ones now. Priti Patel will make sure of that, so stop worrying.

      1. 317141+ up ticks,
        T,
        I worked in these sh!te holes Nigeria, Libya etc
        in the past, Libya on me todd with 15 paki’s for company, worrying never entered the equation.
        By the by there cannot be many fools left who have any form of trust regarding the 650.

  62. SIR — Where is the coordination in Europe over coronavirus? Each country seems to be doing its own thing. Very strange.

    Simon Morpuss
    Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire.

    Where’ve you been all your life, Simon. There is (nor has ever been) any co-ordination in Europe on any topic. Each country still goes their own way with customs and habits. Forty-odd years in the EEC/EU has done nothing to alter that.

    When the Scandinavian countries of Norway, Sweden and Finland permit independent off-licences and wine merchants to have their shops on every High Street then I will start to believe there may be some degree of co-ordination starting.

    As I shall also do when Denmark opens its first bull-ring; the Scots replace porridge and whisky with pasta and Barolo; the Austrians start eating surströmming and lutfisk; the Germans dance the fandango; the Greeks take up cricket; the Dutch become alpine skiing champions; the Welsh eat roast horse; the Irish take up yodelling; the Swiss nationalise their navy; the Poles start eating sardines; the Portuguese start growing lingonberries; the Spanish learn to speak Bulgarian; the French build tanks with forward gears; and all EU countries revert to driving on the left.

      2. And what about the euro?

        In the 1990’s the ERM was set up as an experiment to see if a common currency would work. The experiment was a disaster which led to Britain leaving because raising interest rates to 17% – which bankrupted many businesses – failed keep the pound worth three deutsche marks.

        In spite of this failed experiment which wrought havoc across Europe, the EU decided still to go ahead with the euro which has caused massive unemployment amongst young people in the South of the EU.

        How remainers failed to see the sheer incompetence and nastiness of the EU was a complete mystery to me. Were they all blind or just stupid?

  63. I haven’t made use of my Bupa health insurance for years, so I cancelled it t’other day after I received their renewal notice, which had a hefty age-related increase. I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t cover COVID-19 anyway, so I will be over £2,000 better off which can go towards something more useful, such as Dignitas.

  64. Statement: Well, I have some Bad News for a group of over-70s: the House of Lords will be shut for the forseeable future. Debates and votes will occur by video-link.

    Question: Will the daily allowance still be paid?

    Statement: There will be allowance at a tenth of the present rate (£30 instead of £300). It will, however, only be paid to those who take part in any debate and those who vote.

  65. We were able to buy everything we wanted this morning, but then we dont eat pasta or the sauce to go with it in jars. We do not eat processed food.

  66. Went rather late to Sainsbury’s today. They had little stock in, and still hadn’t washed the floor. But they did have something I have never seen there for ages.
    Floor staff.

    Not sure if they were there to help or to stop shop-lifting.

          1. I don’t think it’s George’s map, if you read his comment carefully, he’s pissing and moaning about the ST’s inaccurate map – and quite rightly – they’ve identified Sweden as Denmark.

    2. Has Denmark relocated over the Oresund Bridge?

      A bloodless invasion of which they told us absolutely nothing?

  69. Coronavirus: More young patients being admitted to hospital, Italian doctor warns

    Twelve per cent of those who have been treated in intensive care are aged between 19 and 50, according to official figures released last week. Around 52 per cent are between 51 and 70 years old, with the rest all over 70.

    Recently, hospitals in Lombardy have seen people aged between 25 and 50 diagnosed with Covid-19 and subsequently hospitalised for treatment, according to local media reports.

    “Even if the data is only preliminary, the fact there are more young people hospitalised and in intensive care compared to the first wave can be interpreted as a natural phenomenon,” Pierluigi Lopalco, a professor from Pisa University, told Italian newspaper Il Corriere della Sera.

    1. The younger ones are probably taking the opportunity to skive of work and get sick pay – just following their code of something for nothing, me first and devil take the hindmost.

        1. And yet, on the rare occasion (about once or twice a year) when I go to our local doctors’ surgery, men are outnumbered by women in the waiting room by a ratio of about 15 to 2.

          1. And their average consultation is around 15 minutes. My last visit lasted around fur minutes. I know what is wrong, it is the same as last time. I know the remedy but I need the doctor to prescribe the antibiotics. I wish that I could buy antibiotics on line.

          2. Unfortunately it is their ready availability on line from foreign sources that has resulted in their increasingly reduced effectiveness.

          7. Um, how exactly did it become the unassailable right of medics to determine who can have what drug?
            A bit strange surely, in a country that went to war in order to sell opium?

    3. What does ‘natural phenomenon’ mean in this context? Is he admitting that the virus mutates to a more dangerous form that also affects younger people?

    4. It can’t be described as a natural phenomenon until we discover what percentage of the reported 100,000 Chinese garment workers in northern Italy have been ill, and recovered.

      1. It’s a bit similar to a bore in the local pub; the landlord doesn’t mind as long as he buys a drink.

        For all we know, BJ is a respectable member of society who has NTTL as his/her secret obsession. And if it keeps him happy and doesn’t scare the horses…

        1. I welcome his comments.
          ok it’s often gloom and doom but BJ has a dry sense of humour…

    1. A greater possibly of getting it from being close tro people particularly if they dont have a mask on. When you sneeze it can reach speeds of a 100Kph

      Very little research has actually been done. It i clearly the larger particles will fall to the ground quite quickly but as the particles get smaller and smaller they will travel further

      Is there a distance at which you would stand little chance of getting Corona virus? who knows . With the absence of quantitative data we just do not know.

      The distance they tent o quote is 1 Metre but if tour wore a mask that would come down. The main benefit of the mask is if you are close to people

      The quality o masks varies as well. Most medical mask are relatively low grade . You would not be allowed into a waffer fab clean room with those you would have to have a full head hood

      Most operating theatres have standards that would not be tolerated in a wafer fab such as taking gowns masks and gloved off in the theatre

      May be in an operating theatre standards do not need to be as high. Operating theaters for example do not have anti vibration floors. In operating theatres frequently paper works is taken in thats a big no no in a wafer fab

      2. Bill, do

        ‘Calm Down.’

        All this excitement is clearly becoming too much
        for you!

  72. I am not very impressed by Matt Hancock – I do not know much about him and I may well be wrong but he seems rather a nasty, bumptious, self-seeking little man.

    Among the things he has announced is that people aged over 70 will be told to self-isolate for four months for their own safety – or is it to get them out of sight?

    Many of you on this site will be affected but goodness knows what Macron has in store for the oldies who live in France.

    1. I think a lot of media spin and hype has been applied here. I suspect the advice should be to say in unless it is reasonably necessary to go out. That would be sensible risk mitigation. If they do go out try to avoid close contact with other people

    2. He is protecting the NHS who could not cope with treating all the OAPs. Telling them to stay at home and die is common sense.

    3. We Brits are not very good at being ‘told’ to do anything. ‘Rules are for Fools’…

    5. I don’t think it will be compulsory Rastus. We will be asked to do so. I cannot be confined to my house as I look after myself. I have a good idea how to keep myself away from other people but accidents happen, and they will still happen after 4 months when we get released. No government will dare to order a civilian to remain at home with the threat of penalties if they disobey. Unfortunately this government is turning out to be a horror. I love the outdoors and fresh air.

      1. We have a large garden and plenty of space so we do not need to feel too claustrophobic.

    6. Fortunately there is no ban on large numbers of Muslims meeting at mosque on Fridays….except in Morocco.

  73. and the governments the answer is put the over 70s under house arrest even if the are fit and do not have the virus. No way.

    1. Agreed. I am not going to be told to do anything by some jumped up little sh1t who couldn’t organise a p1ss up in a brewery.

      As James B. Donovan (Tom Hanks) said to Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance) in Bridge of Spies “Are you worried” to which Abel replied “Would it help”.

      2. No.Its all in the bill they are about to pass. you have to stay in your home for 4 months.

        2. In that case Hancock can exercise our dog every day. Yesterday it was 4.5miles over 2 hours. That should keep him out of harm’s way.

          Idiot!

        3. The BBC Radio 4 News at 5 seemed to say we will be asked to stay at home. At 80 coming up 81 ,I have no intention of staying at home. I am not a carrier and know how to steer clear of people. If I get infected I hope I can recover. To make it compulsory would be an unwise step.

        4. Only marginally better than the Logan’s run way of cutting down the older population.

        5. How are they going to enforce that with all the police scanning their computer screens for hate crimes?

    3. Officer: “Excuse me, sir, are you over 70?”
      Suspect “Fúck off!”
      Officer: “That’s a dead giveaway! You’re nicked!”

  74. Mickey Mouse is divorcing Minnie – the judge says “Really Mickey I don’t think having buck teeth and glasses is grounds for divorce”
    Mickey replied ” I didn’t say that, I said she was fuckin’ Goofy”

  75. Should the government being taking emergency powers to enable them to requisition some hotels. We know we have a shortage of hospital beds so some hotels could be used to move patients out of hospitals that are not in need of critical care. That would free up beds for those with more critical needs

    We know the way the numbers are going that we will need more beds so they need to b acting now

    1. 317141+ up ticks,
      BJ,
      Will daily incoming Country take over units be unchecked & fast tracked to these hotels ?

        1. Is it the immigrants who brought the virus here in the first place?
          More questions than answers.

      2. Retired staff, Army medics, St Johns, First Aider’s etc. . These people would no need a great deal of medical care. It could be old people that are awaitng a place in care home. Those recovering from minor operations etc

        1. This is the guidance on giving drugs in a care home environment. Basically anyone that has been given training can administer non invasive drugs

      1. That item on Wikipedia mentions that the BBC Head of Newsgathering – Fran Unsworth – admitted that the BBC had “got it wrong”. Wasn’t she still the Head of Newsgathering (or a similar title) during the Cliff Richard case?

      1. We must always bear in mind slogans such as

        BLACK LIVES MATTER

        but bear in mind that this does not apply in much of Africa and that

        WHITE LIVES DON’T MATTER AT ALL

  77. On Saturday, 10 deaths were announced as it was revealed a total of 1,140 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 so far

    On those figures the death rate is about 1% but those figures are probably considerably overstating it. The reason for that is we have no idea how many people that self isolated had COVID-19 and just recovered so the published data is not that meaningful

    Link below give the hospitals where the deaths took place

    https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-what-we-know-about-the-uk-victims-11957568

  79. Best Western offers to turn hotels into temporary hospitals

    It makes sense. Hotels are seeing big downturn in business an the NHS a big upturn. I have stayed in some Best Western Hotels and they have been to quite a good standard. They are not a budget Franchise

    The hotel chain Best Western has offered to turn its properties into temporary hospitals if the NHS needs additional bed space during the UK’s coronavirus outbreak.

    Best Western Great Britain said it would discuss the move this week and would be willing to take “unprecedented” steps to help.

    Rob Paterson, the company’s chief executive officer, said: “We are in unprecedented territory so we would be willing to take unprecedented steps to support the national effort.

    “If the NHS wants additional bed space, and we can partner with other companies to provide the right medical equipment and supplies, and we can do it safely, then we would be willing to start having those conversations immediately.

    “Whatever we can do to help.”

  80. UK government buying up intensive care ventilators as deaths double in one day and scientists say current approach ‘risking lives’

    Where it is going to buy them is a bit of a mystery. They are not normally stock items that you an buy off the shelf they will largely be manufactured to order

    There will be limited manufacturing capacity to increase production and most of the parts need to manufacture them will need to be imported with COVID-19 making that difficult

    1. China, if it can be believed, has oodles of them to spare now, just 4 or 5 weeks delivery time.

      1. Panic Central, which used to be called the Daily Mail, says that they will be requisitioned from JCB and Rolls Royce. There will presumably be a new Ministry of Respirator Production to organise this.

        1. Won’t JCB have to make more diggers for all those extra graves, whilst RR will switch to making hearses?

  81. UK manufacturers urged to consider switching to making ventilators. Sun 15 Mar 2020.

    Matt Hancock has called on British manufacturers to consider switching parts of their production to the making of medical ventilators needed to treat rising numbers of coronavirus patients.

    The health secretary said on Sunday that the UK had 5,000 ventilators but needed many more times that number. Hancock said “anyone who can” should “turn their engineering minds and production lines to making them … We need to produce more.”

    Here speaks someone who knows nothing beyond shuffling papers and talking twaddle. By the time these people have tooled up and trained their staff coronavirus will just be a note in the history books!

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/mar/15/coronavirus-uk-manufacturers-urged-to-consider-switching-to-making-ventilators

  83. Coronavirus

    At present we have no accurate data on the instance of it. Thats because the government have only collected partial data and the data collected is likely to give a higher incidence than there is. This is because they have only data on those actually tested and how many of those died

    There is no real data on the numbers that self isolated and equally with those that self isolated we have no idea as to how many had Coronavirus so the percentage death total is likely to be much lower than the published figures show

      1. I think Bill is saying don’t panic as the death rate is low. He’s right!

        1. 1372 positive tests so on those numbers now about 3%

          WE have though no idea as to how many of those self isolating actually had the virus and how many of those died if any

          1. No. There have been 35 deaths not seen today total tested but even that is a small sub set and on the previous figures was about 1%

            If we taken into account the number self isolating that brings the numbers down. To some extent thats an educate estimate as no data seem to be being collected for this. It is pretty certain some will have had the virus, Actual number we simply do not know

      2. Well the vast majority are self Isolating. Those people may or my not have the virus and those that have presumably had a mild case of it and just recovered

        If there was any info on how many that self isolated had to be taken into hospital that would be of interest but even that without a figure for the total self isolating does not help a lot

  84. Austria Going into Lockdown

    It appear that anyone from he UK will not be able to travel to Austria unless they provided evidence that they have been in Isolation for two weeks,. How an earth you do that who knows

    1. It looks as if you need one of these. How you get one who knows

      Anyone wishing to cross this border is required to hold a medical certificate. The certificate needs to include the result of molecular biological test and must be no more than four days old, in English, German or Italian.

  85. BBC chief says TV streaming services ‘squeeze out British culture’. Sun 15 Mar 2020.

    In an impassioned defence of the broadcaster, Sir Tony Hall also said there was no guarantee that such services would continue to finance content that “truly resonates with the lives of British audiences”, as he claimed that their commitment to British programming did not come anywhere near that of the BBC.

    He also warned that without the corporation, streaming services providing content from outside the UK would squeeze out “our own, distinctively British culture”.

    The BBC couldn’t give a rat’s ass about British culture!

    https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/mar/15/streaming-services-cant-be-relied-says-bbc-director-general-tony-hall

      1. In 1952 I watched King George VI’s funeral on a kind neighbour’s TV and on my 13th birthday, June 2 1953, I watched our dear Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation on our very own TV.

        1. I watched the Coronation on our TV – flickering B&W picture that could only be seen with the curtains closed! It was a 9″ screen and the TV was a Baird. We invited the neighbours in to watch with us!

        2. My grandpa bought a 12″ TV in 1952 – 72 guineas – £75.60 for youngsters = £2,200 today allowing inflation
          I was 6!

    2. As far as I can tell, most “distinctively British” culture, not to mention British values, has long been under attack from the BBC.

      Proper freedom of speech being a good example.

      1. When David Copperfield becomes a six foot two Pakistani you know there’s something amiss!

        2. I guess if someone recited the old limerick about the unfortunate lady who choice of partner resulted in 4 mixed race children, they would get run in these days.

    3. If the BBC think their soaps and reality programs represent British Culture they are deluded

    4. The Bbc doesn’t transmit stuff that “resonates with the lives of British audiences”!

  86. FFS!!!!!! What news AREN’T we seeing because FluManChu??

    This for a start

    “According to Fadi al-Murshidi, media official of the so-called

    Southern Transitional Council (STC), some 450 US and British soldiers

    arrived in Aden, al-Masa press reported.

    Murshidi said that

    Washington and London — staunch backers of the Saudi regime’s war on

    Yemen — plan to deploy 3,000 troops in Aden, al-Anad base in Lahj

    province, Socotra Island in the Arabian Sea, Hadhramaut, Mahrah and

    Shabwah provinces, under the pretext of combating terrorism.”

    https://www.fort-russ.com/2020/03/major-hundreds-of-us-uk-troops-arrive-in-southern-yemen/
    We left Aden in 1967 (RIP Mad Mitch) I have NO idea why we are ready to spend blood and treasure there again!!!!!!!!!

    2. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars_involving_the_United_Kingdom
      Look through this list and I think you will find that we get involved in quite a few conflicts without the general public being aware
      Further searches will find SAS & SBS involvement that doesn’t get mention by the MSM.
      I work on the principle of ‘does it improve the quality of my life to know’ so other than the fact that I have an interest in history, no.
      I do have a morbid curiosity about both Gulf wars and what we were not told, so maybe you have a point.
      As a matter of interest, I partook in both to a limited degree.

    3. Afternoon Rik. Iraq is becoming untenable so this is moving to bases that cannot be attacked by indigenous forces!

  87. What is it about pork sausages?. Yesterday I grilled 12, because I like a cold sausage and piccalilli roll for lunch on occasion. But when I put them in a freezer bag, there were only 9 left. I am the only person in the house and I have no dog any more. Can there be a clue there?

  88. UK death toll now 35

    Clearly the governments strategy is not workings. It was never going to work

    1. Those are people who were infected a couple of weeks ago. It’s too soon to see if the strategy will work.

  89. “I have a book to sell!”

    Don’t be put off. This is a long article but worth reading. Twenty-somethings, undergrads and sixth-formers with fixed views of what is liberal and illiberal, based on tired Tory v. Labour debates, won’t be able to cope with what they will see as contradictions in Timothy’s assessments of the individual versus the collective.

    There is an alternative to broken Western liberalism

    NICK TIMOTHY

    In The Matrix, the lead character, Neo, is offered a choice by Morpheus, the leader of a rebel band. Neo can take a red pill, and discover that the world around him is an entirely false construct. Or he can take a blue pill, and wake up in bed, blissfully unaware that everything about his life is a fabrication.

    Of course, we are not living inside some artificial reality, like in The Matrix, controlled by powerful forces without even realising it. But if Western citizens were presented with a choice of pills, and opted for the red one, they would see that the world is not as they imagined. Many aspects of life they were told were unavoidable and universal, inevitable and irreversible, are no such thing at all.

    We have grown used to being told that globalisation, in the form we have experienced it, is an irresistible force. We have been told that the nation state – and the collective identity, democracy and solidarity it makes possible – must be subordinated to supranational governance. We have been told that international market forces are impossible to shape, mass immigration is impossible to stop, and the destruction of culture is impossible to resist. We have grown to accept that markets trump institutions, individualism trumps community, and group rights trump broader, national identities. Legal rights come before civic obligations, personal freedom beats commitment, and universalism erodes citizenship.

    These things have become the norm not because they are the natural order of things, but because our world is a construct of ideology. That ideology is not as extreme as those our leaders like to reject, such as communism or fascism. But it is an ideology nonetheless, and its name is ultra-liberalism. Like all ideologies, as its contradictions and failures mount, ultra-liberalism is growing illiberal and intolerant towards dissenters, and retreating into delusion and denial.

    Consider how the political classes did what they could to thwart Brexit. How, when it comes to public services, the answer is always to turn them into a market. How politicians insist we need more and more immigration. And think about how those who disagree with them are smeared as bigoted, deplorable and incapable of understanding the complexity of the modern world.

    My new book, Remaking One Nation, sets out why things have got this far, and what conservatives can do about it. We need to counter ultra-liberalism, and develop a new conservative agenda that respects personal freedom but demands solidarity, reforms capitalism and rebuilds community, and rejects selfish individualism while embracing our obligations towards others. In rejecting ultra-liberalism, however, conservatives must be careful to defend the essential liberalism that stands for pluralism and our democratic way of life.

    Essential liberalism is what makes liberal democracy function. It requires not only elections to determine who governs us, but checks and balances to protect minorities from “the tyranny of the majority”. It demands good behavioural norms, including a willingness to accept the outcome of election results.

    And it requires support for free markets. Essential liberalism does not seek to turn every aspect of life into a market, but it knows that economic freedom is closely related not only to personal freedom but other values, including dignity, justice, security and recognition and respect from our fellow citizens.

    The power of essential liberalism is that it does not pretend to provide a general theory of rights or justice or an ideological framework that leads towards the harmonisation of human interests and values or a single philosophical truth. It respects political diversity and allows for all manner of policy choices, from criminal justice to the tax system.

    And it understands that human values and interests are often in conflict. My right to privacy might undermine your right to security, for example. A transsexual’s right to be recognised as a woman might undermine the safety of women born as women. We need institutions, laws, and a limited number of legal rights to handle those conflicts. We need customs and traditions to maintain our shared identities and build up trust. Keeping the fragile balance between conflicting values and interests is a delicate and difficult job, and this is why ultra-liberalism can be so dangerous.

    Of course, there is no single ultra-liberal agenda. The ultra-liberalism of Tony Blair may, despite party divides, be similar to the beliefs of Nick Clegg, George Osborne and John Bercow. But it is very different to the form of ultra-liberalism pursued by the Left-wingers who dominate today’s Labour Party.

    Blair and Osborne stand for elite liberalism. Their beliefs are shared by most members of the governing classes, but not the general public. And so, despite public opposition, and changes in ministers and parties in government, Britain continues with policies including mass immigration, multiculturalism, a lightly regulated labour market, limited support for the family and the marketisation of many public services.

    And then we have the ultra-liberal ratchet: beliefs that are not shared across the party divide, but which keep propelling liberalism forward. On the Right, market fundamentalists think mainly of the economy, while Left-liberals pursue their agenda of cultural liberalism and militant identity politics.

    One side might attempt to reverse some changes made by the other, but in the end most remain. And market fundamentalism and Left-liberalism reinforce one another: both leave us with economic dislocation, social atomisation and a state that is left trying to pick up the pieces.

    The trouble with all these forms of ultra-liberalism is that they are based on a conception of humanity that is not real. Right from the beginning, liberal thought was built on the false premise that there are not only universal values but also natural and universal rights.

    Early liberals made this argument by imagining a “state of nature”, or life without any kind of government at all. They argued that in the state of nature – life in which was “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short” – humans would come together to form a social contract setting out the government’s powers and the rights of citizens.

    This meant, from the start, liberalism had several features hard-wired into it. Citizens are autonomous and rational individuals. Their consent to liberal government is assumed. And rights are natural and universal.

    This is why many liberals fall into the trap of believing that the historical, cultural and institutional context of government is irrelevant. Institutions and traditions that impose obligations on us can simply be cast off. All that matters, as far as government is concerned, is the freedom of the individual and the preservation of their property. Liberal democracy can therefore be dropped into Iraq, and made to work like in Britain. At home, we can be given legal rights without any corresponding responsibilities. Our duties to others are merely unjust hindrances.

    Liberals ignore the relational essence of humanity: our dependence on others and our reliance on the institutions and norms of community life. They take community and nation for granted, and have little to say about the obligations as well as rights of citizenship. The nation state can therefore hand over its powers to remote and unaccountable supranational institutions. Transnational citizenship rights can be bestowed upon foreign nationals. Public services should be freely available to those who have never contributed to them.

    With later liberal thinkers came further flawed ideas about humanity. The great Victorian, John Stuart Mill, devised the “harm principle”, in which the liberty of the individual should be restricted only if his actions risk damaging the interests of others. Even then, there could be no encroachment on liberty to ensure conformity with the moral beliefs of the community, to prevent people harming themselves, or if the restriction was disproportionate.

    The problem with the harm principle is that it fails to acknowledge that all our actions and inactions to some degree affect those around us. And, precisely because human values and interests conflict with one another, we will never agree about what clearly constitutes harm. Yet ultra-liberals today echo Mill’s harm principle when they behave as though the use of hard drugs has no consequences for anybody but the individual user, or when they are reluctant to force fathers to meet their obligations to their families or refuse to take action against serial tax-dodging individuals or businesses.

    Mill and other liberals sometimes made the case for pluralism and tolerance on the basis that the trial and error they make possible leads to truth and an increasingly perfect society. It is this teleological fallacy – this assumption that one’s own beliefs stand for “progress” – that can lead liberalism towards illiberalism: its intolerance of supposedly backward opinions, norms and institutions can quickly become intolerance of the people who remain loyal to those traditional ways of life.

    This illiberalism is a particular problem on the ultra-liberal Left. And here, Left-liberals are influenced by post-modernists such as Michel Foucault and the mainly American thinkers behind the rise of identity politics. Discourse, Foucault argued, is oppressive. People are not in charge of their own destinies. Their social reality is imposed on them through language and customs and institutions, and even the victims of the powerful participate in their own oppression through their own language, stories and assumed social roles.

    Because oppressive discourses work to favour those at the top of exploitative hierarchies, we should not simply remove the hierarchy but penalise those who subjugate others. Equal political rights are therefore not enough: because historically power lay with white men, today whiteness and masculinity must be attacked. Because we do not understand how our social roles are constructed, we do not understand the meaning of even our own words. Those who hear us – particularly if they are members of marginalised groups – understand better than we do the true meaning of what we say. Because discourse is itself a form of violence, free speech is no longer sacrosanct, and it is legitimate to meet violent language with violent direct action.

    On the ultra-liberal Right, support for the free market can turn into extreme libertarianism. Struggling communities shorn of social capital, deprived of infrastructure and lacking opportunities for young people are ignored, in the belief that the “invisible hand” of the market will come to the rescue.

    Instead, policy energy is devoted to deregulating the labour market and marketising public goods. Friedrich von Hayek, a hero to many ultra-liberals on the Right, argued that no political system, not even a democratic one, nor even a very small and local one, can accurately reflect collective choice in the way a market does. For his disciples, it follows, therefore, that the NHS cannot be the right way of delivering healthcare, since consumer choices and real pricing do not drive decision-making. And the same goes for other public services, from public transport to schooling.

    It is time for a decisive break with ultra-liberalism in all its forms. And there are signs that under Boris Johnson the Conservatives are shifting away from both economic and cultural liberalism. They are taking Britain out of the EU, toughening up sentencing and reviewing human rights laws. And as Rishi Sunak’s impressive Budget showed this week, they are investing in the regions and appear ready to intervene far more in the economy.

    Time will tell if they will break the domination of British politics by the Right, Left and centre of ultra-liberalism. But we should hope they do so. There is more to life than the market, more to conservatism than the individual, and more to the future than the destruction of cultures and nations. It’s time for conservatives to take the red pill, see the world around them for what it is, and fight for a different future.

    Remaking One Nation: The Future of Conservatism, is out on March 27, and available to pre-order online now

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/03/14/alternative-broken-western-liberalism/

    1. It is a chewy read, but well worth the effort.
      I did wonder if May ever understood what he was saying or writing.
      This seems well above her powers of comprehension.

    2. Thanks for posting William, extremely interesting. It would be good if the Conservatives got back to what used to be their principles – family life (as in mum, dad plus children), aspiration, responsibility. They and Labour over the years have jettisoned this kind of morality, more’s the pity, and we now see the consequences of messing with biological fact. I Didn’t mess things up, successive governments have done that. And these are supposedly our betters! I’ll stop there coz I’m depressing myself!

    3. Of course it was Nick Timothy who was behind the election manifesto which resulted in Mrs May reducing a 30 point lead in the polls to an election result where she was incapable of forming a government without the UDP’s support.

      I suppose you could argue that even if she had won a decent majority she would still have capitulated to the EU.

      1. How much of that manifesto was his work? Or, more to the point, how many of his ideas did the mad stick insect reject?

    4. Never mind about protection from the “tyranny of the majority”, we need protection from the tyranny of the minority.

  90. Douglas Murray in the Spekkie:

    https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/will-the-nhs-drop-its-trans-obsession-when-peak-coronavirus-hits-

    “As coronavirus sweeps across the country, I am sure people will be reassured to know that the NHS is doing everything it can to address the pandemic, at such times when a health service’s resources are likely to be overstretched.

    So it must come as exactly no comfort to see what one section of the NHS was highlighting this Friday:

    “

    Ensuring pregnant trans men get equal quality care.

    There may be some lucky people who had to read that twice. Or read it more than once and are still labouring under the impression that the headline includes a glaring misprint.

    Others, alive to the absurdities of the age, will know that the NHS is doing exactly what one would expect. As while, no, it is not the case that there are pregnant men, there are indeed people who are pregnant because they were born as women and have carried out a degree of physical transition to look like a man. A transition some way short of full surgical alteration as, after all, if somebody gives birth, they must have the necessary female organs and reproductive system. Something which would ordinarily have them categorised as ‘women’.

    Anyway, people can read here about how to ensure that ‘pregnant trans men’ get equal care in the NHS. You can also learn about seahorses. Seahorses being a species where the male carries the baby. As though the fact that seahorses do means the NHS might pretend some human males do too.

    Since it is possible that, in the days ahead, more people are going to need the lifesaving help of the NHS than usual, it seems an extraordinarily unwise use of NHS funds to make any kind of intervention on the matter of ‘seahorses’ at this moment. For while one wing of the NHS is off in this la-la-land, the rest of the health service is having to deal with issues of deep, medical urgency. ‘Equal, quality care’ is going to have a very different ring to it by this time next month – a point at which I predict almost nobody in the country will be asking about seahorses.”

    1. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/health-fitness/body/call-diana-columnist-david-thomas-reveals-new-life-look/
      “‘Call me Diana’: Our columnist David Thomas reveals her new life and look”
      “DIANA IN 2020: ‘I think that ultimately I would make somebody a really good wife… put a pinny
      round my neck and let me be a homemaker, please!'”
      ”

      That buffoon is still writing, though it says his articles will be confined to the Telegraph Magazine in the future!

      1. That raises the question – does a transgender person have to disclose the fact to a prospective spouse?

          3. Would the groom go through with the ceremony if he had already found out the truth (assuming he’s not gay)?

      3. They’ve been in the Saturday magazine since he started a year ago. He’s been painfully honest about all his treatments, but is still deluded. He looks quite good as a woman – and so he should for £50,000 – but he’s still a man dressed up.

      4. In Iran, there are two choices for men convicted for being gay; transition by losing your meat & veg, or wear a rope for a few minutes.

      5. Look on the bright side.

        If you hitched up with one of these pretendy women at least you wouldn’t have to worry about the side-effects of PMT.

    2. I just posted a strongly worded Tw@ on that topic.
      Not a subject I can keep calm about.

  92. I dont think the government have thought this though. They are saying those over 79 will have to stay at home but that breached the equality act

  94. Dr Dan Poulter gets leave from Westminster to join battle with coronavirus

    Central Suffolk and North Ipswich MP Dr Dan Poulter has been given leave of absence by Conservative Whips in the House of Commons to spend more time working in hospital to try to defeat the Covid-19 coronavirus epidemic.

  95. Nicked
    Exacto “Shareholders get paid dividends to take risks. Bailing out the airline
    owners socialises the risks on to taxpayers and protects billionaire
    shareholders from bankruptcy. Time to end Branson’s crony capitalism,
    shareholders and bondholders should take the hit first.”
    —————————————————————————————————————
    ..and why should non-tax-residents feel they have the right to demand support from the tax payer?

    1. I have shares and bonds but i as a taxpayer reluctantly agree with you.

      Branson can afford to take the hit. Ordinary people will struggle.

  97. I knew it wouldn’t end up in a good outcome when was offered that buy one get one free frozen macorona cheese sauce at the car boot sale last week

    1. The arthritis in my feet makes something like that sound tempting, surely better than going down the co-codamol route. I still ignore it and walk anyway, but just a question of time as it’s getting worse.

      1. I have a problem with my shoulder.
        If it becomes more painful and prevents me from playing tennis I would willingly try it.

          1. Husband is still having physio following his op – the range of movement has improved but certain ones are painful.

          3. He’s back playing table tennis and hoping to start tennis in April. He has lost a lot of muscle.

        2. Low dose of valium can often help with that. Diazepam in low dosages acts as a muscle relaxant.

    2. Disagree.

      The sale of cannabis and cannabis-related products such as therapeutics should be fully legalised, not just CBD products available on prescription, where the companies with the licence to cultivate and sell all have links to MPs.

      Prohibition causes the most harm socially and economically. It’s the worst possible policy on drugs.

    3. I’ve had back pain for years, it is really nasty, but I never took cannabis and it went away over time with exercise and stretching. I realise that we are all different, but I don’t think mind altering drugs are the answer.

  100. Just received an e-mail claiming that we had cancelled our TV licence Direct Debit. Just a glance at the web address and the use of ‘license’ instead of ‘licence’ gives the game away. Oh, and a 0300 number that has been reported to the BT scam line hundreds of times. Obviously aimed at the over 75s who are not internet savvy.

    1. We always tap the incoming mail address to see where it’s from. Usually from far away places.
      I think the TV licensing website is one that doesn’t have an email address for ‘phishing’.

      1. That shows the sender that your email address is genuine / open. They then have access to your computer?

        1. I don’t think so. I’m not opening the email just looking at the IP address. It also gives me the opportunity or block the email address. I am not downloading anything or replying as that would be stupid and may give access.

        2. Right tap. Clearly, one should not click the link. Good web browsers and email clients usually have protection where the real address does not match the visible one.

    1. Yeah. It’s when I have that extra G&T and start spouting even more nonsense than I do usually.

        2. A dash of Angustura bitters swilled around the glass and a double measure of gin. Plymouth Gin was the traditional gin for pink gin.

          1. But were you an out or an in. after you have

            “A dash of Angustura bitters swilled around the glass”pour any remaining bitters out of the glass or leave them in. I was an out.

          2. Never really liked pink gin although I spent most of my working life in the drinks industry including a few years as a distiller for Gordon’s. I’m a G&T man.

      1. Agree…I hate Sunday. As a schoolgirl. I had to prepare homework, clean shoes and press my uniform ready for Monday’s inspection….no housepoints if it was grubby.

      2. Sunday 21st November 1920, a night to remember. My great grandfather was involved.

    4. Steve Wright Sunday loves songs listened to on iplayer after Church. Roast Beef, batter pud and roastie potatoes and dark green cabbage. Snoozing. Intermittent Nottling. Copious amounts of Sherry. What’s not to like?

    6. Used to back in the 60s when there was motor cycle scrambling on TV or hill climbing or International Cavaliers cricket and winter afternoons there was always a good serial. No shops open used to ride the London Underground on a 2d platform ticket. Started at Aldersgate Street – now Barbican – about 11am, with brother, sister and cousins and got back home by 1pm for dinner. We wasn’t posh enough to ‘ave lunch.

  104. Just had an email from Suits Direct. As yet, they are not advertising wooden overcoats.

  105. Evevin’ all, my random thought for the day is as follows:-

    If by some unimaginable concatenation of circumstances the Labour buch had won the last election I rather suspect by now the cv19 , they would claim, was not only was due to Tory austerity but they would be tearing themselves apart to prove that it was inherently racist and misogynist and a product of white privilege. On the upside I’ve 4 months before I’m 70 and SWMBO and I are off in our tin tent for a short break before I’m grounded.

    P.S. did nursey get to keep the original CVJs , prolly make a good stock

    1. Have a good time. Our tin snail will be near Warwick next week. I’m 70 next year, so a free agent for now.

      1. If me and the missus are in solitary confinement together for months, it will be more than finis !

        1. I was thinking the same! It’s only being able to get out and about that keeps me sane!

          1. I have been doing just that. Blowers is on the ball. After all, after i fired my cleaner for not cleaning i thought i would do it myself. Day 2…pfft…who am i trying to impress !

  108. People over the age of 70 are to suffer self-administered quarantine for 4 months. However, they are not allowed to stock up on food. So they will presumably starve?

    2. It will have a significant impact on bus services. There is little to no investment in them and mostly outside of school hours it is pensioners using them. If they see say a 20% drop in passenger numbers that will finish off many bus services

  109. Coronavirus latest

    In order to prevent the dissemination of false news and promotion of guesswork disguised as opinion, the Guardian newspaper, including its digital format, will cease publication today.
    Those who have difficulty in breathing without assistance from the Guardian may still find BBC News to be a reasonable substitute.

  110. Just received a minute or so ago that reassuring e-mail from Sainsbury’s. Or rather, my wife has. Maybe they got her e-mail address from her Nectar card.
    It’s 19.10 GMT at the moment. The e-mail is timed as sent at 02.23.
    Where has it been ? Out looking for stock ?

    2. It self-isolated for a while until it was sure it didn’t contain a virus…

  111. I see they want to make the over 70s stay at home whilst allowing the rest to go where they want with the flu virus . Well guess what not me. If I have I will stay at home but if i dont I wont no way. I will decide not the government.

    1. #metoo I am getting my hair cut next week. Makes me look younger, (Yes, I still have hair :-))

    1. They have decided racing will go ahead, but without any spectators! I don’t think even the owners are going to be allowed. That will work out well, won’t it?

  113. 3 men sentenced to 125 years each over drowning of Syrian boy Alan Kurdi. CNN. March 15, 2020

    The men, who were the organizers of a trafficking ring, were captured by Turkish security forces this week in the southern province of Adana and sentenced on Friday, according to state news agency Andalou.

    They were on the run after fleeing during their trial. Other Turkish and Syrian defendants have also received prison sentences following the toddler’s death in September 2015.

    Seems a very long time ago this but only five years. It doesn’t tell you all the ins and outs of it here but this incident was what led me to realise that everything they told you in the MSM about this war was rubbish!

    https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/14/europe/alan-kurdi-syria-drowning-sentenced-intl/index.html

  114. Britain is infected… by a bad case of madness.
    PETER HITCHENS: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-8113075/PETER-HITCHENS-Britain-infected-bad-case-madness.html

    We have gone quite mad. I know that many people are thinking this, but dare not say so.

    I will be accused of all kinds of terrible things for taking this view – but that is another aspect of how crazy things are.

    Yes, coronavirus poses a risk. No, our response to it is not intelligent or useful. In fact, I think it is increasingly damaging and will soon become more so.

    1. Hi Plum
      Are you still having problems with W10? My laptop (W10) was playing up earlier. I rebooted the modem yesterday, so I rebooted the LT this morning. I had to wait through 10 minutes of updates before it would restart, but now everything is OK. Worth a try?

        1. Hi Plum -My Samsung laptop is Windows 7 and frequently tries to upgrade to Windows 10 without success. I now ignore the request to allow the upgrade.

  115. With so many outdoor activities postponed and shut down, one consequence will be a lack of sport on TV. There might well be a baby-boom early next year. If so, when these children get older will they be known as the quaranteenies?

    3. 317141+ up ticks,
      WS,
      The danger could very well be they are named mohammed as the tipping point grows closer.

  117. The only threat to life and limb is if people listen to what the goovernment tells them

    1. ‘Emergency legislation’ is being raced through Parliament so that government strictures can be enforced …

      1. How terribly convenient – if one wants to control the population. A cowed population is easily controlled as well. Just because I’m paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t out to get me 🙂

    2. 317141+ up ticks,
      Evening B3,
      That is seriously right, especially in regards to UK governance the undeniable truth is in the last four decades.

    1. The travel companies want the Government to bail them out because they are a special case.

  121. Afternoon all.

    From the beeb ….

    In other developments:

    Around 600 Britons are among the passengers stranded on a Fred Olsen cruise ship that has been unable to dock in the Bahamas after five people on board tested positive for the coronavirus. The company said 20 guests and 20 crew members are in isolation but all passengers were being given an all-inclusive drinks package, and the ship’s band had been playing on the deck.

    Name that ship !!

    1. Something fishy with that map. Burma’s on the list but not marked. Indonesia is marked but not listed. Probably more too.

    1. Oh dear, Mum.

      I didn’t like his politics but I thought he was a very good actor.

        1. Five demerits Poppiesmum…now go stand in the corner with a ‘D’ on your hat… :o)

          1. I shall abstain from appearing on nttl for five days by which time my reddened face will hopefully have returned to normal…. 😉

      2. I am ‘hoping’ – if that is the right word in these circumstances – that he had underlying health problems.

  125. Out of respect I will be vague.

    Good friend of a friend (but personally unknown to me) passed away recently in London area. Male, aged over 70.
    He was admitted to hospital, no firm diagnosis, and died about 4 days later. Promptly cremated, no one at the service.
    One of the sons had visited his father in hospital and has now tested positive for Covid-19, and the widow is self isolating, awaiting test results.
    What is the official cause of death on certificate?
    And that is how the PTB can adjust the figures.

    1. My father’s death certificate in 2001 gave cause of death as ‘Cardiac infarction & bilateral pneumonia’.

      It was accurate to a degree. That was the immediate cause of his death. There was no space for what actually led to his death and what brought on those ailments, which was three months of malnutrition and failed care in an NHS hospital that he’d entered as a fit (but elderly) man with a minor physical injury sustained at home.

      1. In 1989, my mother died at the age of 80, after several months of great pain and inability to keep any food down, apart from soup or complan. She went for “tests” which indicated nothing more severe than a hiatus hernia (which she had probably had for years). Her GP decided he could do nothing for her. Eventually my ex made a scene at the surgery and she got 15 minutes of “care” per day, to make the soup.
        One Sunday, I got a locum GP out to see her and he arranged for her admission to hospital for more tests. She was then starved as she couldn’t eat the food provided. She died a week later. The death certificate gave the cause of death as heart failure and carcinomatosis. They did a post mortem and found she had cancer of the pancreas. She died in agony with no pain relief.

        1. Long before Corona i think the attitude was ‘leave them to it, there is nothing we can do’.

          On the geriatric ward i visited the patients were served pasty which were so hard you could have built the pyramids out of them and the oxygen masks were so ill fitting they allowed leakage that burnt the eyes. I had my own hissy fit at that point.
          WTF has happened to nursing in this country?!

          I am sorry for your mother suffering so.

          1. She spent her days while in that ward watching the demented old biddy in the opposite bed ripping up tissues. My mum was a highly intelligent, cultured woman who had no intention of dying at that point.

        2. I am so sorry you have to live with this knowledge, that nothing was done to help her by those who are in a position to do so, or alleviate her pain in her hours of greatest need.

          1. It does still haunt me. That and the fact she died just as we were setting off to visit and the nurse phoned just in time to stop us. When we were able to see her body the next morning she had blood all over her mouth. I thought they could at least have wiped it off.

          2. The Hippocratic oath means nothing these days ..

            There is no tenderness left any longer..

            It is easy to give loads of money to charities .. but not so easy to warm the hand of a very poorly person.

          3. That is terrible. I have become to understand over the last few years why the US did not want ‘socialised’ medicine. Your last two sentences underline the total lack of thought and humanity and care your mother experienced. And you too.

      2. Yes, I remember a similar occurrence about 5 years ago; a fit bloke in his eighties hurt his arm, went into hospital where he caught something and didn’t get out alive.

    2. Since you haven’t stated the cause of death, I don’t know, but I would imagine it probably says one of the pneumonia variants?.

      1. I will try to find out. The death was unexpected; with my tinfoil hat on, I wonder if all hospital corpses are being routinely tested for coronavirus, or is there NHS management pressure to avoid the expense?

      1. Definition of “expert” – someone who does not have to do the job himself, but tells the doer how he should be doing it.

    3. Reminds me of the joke about the President asking 12 economists for their opinions, and he received 128 replies.

      1. Or with one foot due for amputation, and the other with a new, severe infection, when asked if amputation of both feet was possible, out of eight vascular surgeons, four said no, and six said yes…

  127. Seems Trump is addressing the nation again (Guardian) but no link or any other reports. Anyone know ?

        1. It was a joke, Gawd dammit.

          Now, George W Bush’s infamous: “Now watch this drive!” isn’t.

    2. Apparently he said that they have tremendous control of the virus.

      We’re doomed laddie, doomed.

    3. He cleared his speech with our Boss, Geoff Graham and the Nottler Mods.

      It is OK, what he has to say

    4. Trump says he’s tested negative for the virus but then it’s possible he may have been using a pregnancy tester.

      1. We have just been listening to an interview on NPR where someone was unable to get a covid test. She was already on chemotherapy and suffering from what are recognized covid19 symptoms but because she had not been abroad, the health system refused access to testing.

        So maybe you are right about it being a pregnancy kit he picked up. After all, you could never think that it was one rule for us, another for the top lot.

        1. Yo richard

          Just a query, how did Nadine Dorries manage to get a test.

          Had she been abroad, or was it RHIP (Rank Has Its’ Priveleges)

          mmmmmmmm pondering

        2. I can’t imagine the situation would be any better under Biden or Sanders, do you?

          1. Apparently JCB is being asked to turn its production over to ventilators. I expect they will be big and yellow 🙂 Still, if nothing else, perhaps it will concentrate the minds, such as they are, of TPtB that outsourcing vital manufacturing and relying on imports is not such a good idea after all.

          2. They have no experience of medical equipment and probably little for electronic design which they probably outsource. Medical equipment is pretty specialized. You might even need to manufacture in a sterile environment

          6. As far as I know unless it has changed recently they outsource the electronics to Flex.com

          8. Ah it is one of Mt Rashids designs It is a sideline for when he is not involved with elections

          10. Ditto with borders. They are oh so reluctant to upset the ideological applecart ‘in case’ closing the borders turns out to be effective.

    1. Could you tell me how much hatred does the BBC have to display before the likes of Johnson grows a pair and finally sort them out.
      Cameron talked the talk but failed to walk the walk, Johnson will do the same.

      1. Each and every one of them at the podium since Lady Thatcher have been decisive in their speeches and then fukked it all up. Hitler did better.

  129. I’ve had it with this shit. I have cancelled my holiday and three lunch dates and a coochy coochy cocktail Bar over the next three months. I spent money on flights and deposits on apartments and worst of all…………i don’t get to wear my new sparkly blazer !

      1. I was going to post the pic but the sleeves are being altered by the Tailor and i’m not posting until i have worn the bloomin’ thing in combat. Just think…Liberace.

          3. It gets bloody worse. I was supposed to be having lunch at https://rules.co.uk/ the same day. Hotel booked and everything the &%*$XXX&&***XXX£££.

            All the last three years or more then a crappy winter and now i can’t even go out and enjoy myself.

            Where’s my gun?

          4. “Contemporary [ie late eighteenth, early nineteenth century] writers were soon singing the praises of Rules’ “porter, pies and oysters”, and remarking on the “rakes, dandies and superior intelligence’s (sic) who comprise its clientele”.” It seems that the grocer’s apostrophe has a long and distinguished history 🙂

          5. “Contemporary [ie late eighteenth, early nineteenth century] writers were soon singing the praises of Rules’ “porter, pies and oysters”, and remarking on the “rakes, dandies and superior intelligence’s (sic) who comprise its clientele”.” It seems that the grocer’s apostrophe has a long and distinguished history 🙂

          6. I’m definitely upper Rake and lower Dandie…. hence my almost tasteful sequinned blazer.

          8. I know it sounds expensive but for a special treat it isn’t compared to the Dorchester or the Ritz.

            Anyhoo………….i wasn’t going to be there for afternoon Tea as nice as it is. I was going to be there for cocktails in the evening. Take a gander at those prices !

          10. I’m staying at Seymour Street tomorrow night – at the VSC.
            Small world

          11. Nice place. Good atmosphere. Good prices for where it is. Great breakfasts. Excellent beds + baths.

    3. Do stop grizzling.

      I have the new frock, new high heels and hand bag……..
      I am pleased I shall not be showing any one up!! :-))

      1. The way the hysteria is going there won’t be anywhere open anywhere. And you will be confined to quarters…..a ha ! I feel a cunning plan coming on. I’ll send a pigeon with news.

    4. We booked 10 days in Venice for my wife’s 64th birthday in mid-May. Not yet cancelled or deferred. Nothing in the way of advice from travel agents as yet.

      INR blood test for tomorrow cancelled on advice of local surgery.

      1. Our family have had to postpone two parties and a family break for 6 and our hotel bookings.
        I really don’t feel I could stand being stuck at home for up to four months.

      2. It is I think a case of wait and see. There seems to be no end date given for the lock down

      3. I am able to change my flights to September with Ryannair..would you believe…I am in the process of negotiating with the owner of the property in Malta to change the booking from May to September.

        But i am getting totally fed up with it all because of the massively disjointed approach we have witnessed from so called governments.

        Unlucky about the blood test. I expect they are swamped with worried people and like the supermarkets are putting off delivery of service until the panic calms.

        Hope you both get to Venice.

  131. Mail Online. not all is lost.

    A Health minister who was the first MP to test positive for coronavirus
    said she felt ‘iced water trickling down my spine’ when she got the
    news. Nadine Dorries said her immediate response to the diagnosis was to
    fear for the life of her 84-year-old mother who did subsequently test
    positive. But today Ms Dorries revealed she and her mother are both on
    the mend as she thanked everyone who had sent them support. She also
    suggested shoppers did not need to engage in panic buying of essential
    supplies like toilet paper as she said it had not been an issue during
    her household’s battle with the illness.

    2. “said she felt ‘iced water trickling down my spine’ ”
      Boris taking a leak maybe.

  133. I note that the Dutch have just announced that all sex clubs are to close.

    Come on Bill; do keep up.

    1. Perhaps the rest of world should very seriously consider boycotting all Chinese goods and stop trading with them. They are also a major polluter, burning many thousands of tons of coal each year.
      Perhaps something good can come out of all this when it’s all over.
      Watching the news it’s horrendous what is happening world wide. And seemingly all due to the lack of respect and consideration for the rest of the world’s population.

      1. It has been true many a year that all the Chinese need to do is jump up and down at the same time and all the buildings in the West will crumble to dust. It’s true…I read it on Twitter.

        1. Funny you should say that. That’s what happened to Boris bridge. They had to close it to fit dampeners

          1. I thought Boris as Mayor was responsible for the garden bridge fiasco of £50 million plus. Are we seeing a pattern here?

          2. What? That he’s a buffoon? Hmmm. I think so, but then the electorate gave him a resounding majority. I wonder how they rate his performance so far.

    3. It’s been said before, and I said something about it myself earlier one.
      Looks like China will lose out on 5G.

      3. I doubt it. There simply isn’t an alternative to Huawei that’s anything like as good. We gave them their competitive advantage by deindustrialising the west, now we have to buy from them.

        1. Good evening.

          My question is………..are the buying public so very desperate for 5G or is there another reason?

          1. There’s always a market for more speed, and better coverage. People stream movies and shows, they don’t watch TV channels so much. They stream music, they don’t buy CDs. That eats huge amounts of bandwidth. 5G is going to be very useful.

          2. Yes, i understand that. What is the rush though? People are already able to do all those things. As far as business, security and trade and things like money markets they don’t work over the ordinary Internet. They have dedicated networks of their own.

          3. 5G will be a gamechanger. The problem is that range is very low so infrastructure requirements are huge but once the work is done it’ll form the basis of our communications networks for some time to come and will bring high speed internet everywhere once the antenna infrastructure is in place. The vast majority of businesses don’t have dedicated private networks.

          4. Yes, i did read about the low range. Perhaps they could double up the wind turbines with the antennae and stick one on every street corner. Sorry to be facetious. it’s been a long day and now my favourite girl is going out with another bloke. (That last sentence is a joke).

          5. 5G is a cellular communications technology so will improve internet speeds for mobile phone use but, for most domestic internet users, broadband speeds via a home router are quite sufficient. I doubt that 5G will ever replace most fibre networks. Whether 5G or fibre, a great deal of bandwidth is/will be taken up with videos, photos and music that accompanies just about every commercial web site.

          6. Turning your phone into a personal hotspot connected to a 5G network gives you internet access at fibre speeds anywhere you have a 5G connection. It’s one possible answer for those places where running fibre isn’t economically viable.

          7. Yes, that is a possibility and I have often used my mobile phone as a hotspot so that I can use my iPad away from home (it doesn’t have a sim card). However, internet speed is limited by the processing power of the phone so actual speeds seen at another device might still be quite low. My guess is that fibre to the home will still be best for use at home.

          8. Maybe you were being throttled.

            A phone as a personal hotspot takes very little processing power. Most routers only have a 386 or similar chip running things. Current smartphones can process several billion instructions every second. Speed isn’t an issue there.

          9. When I do a speedcheck on my Ipad, I get one reading; in exactly the same place and immediately afterwards, the same speedcheck on my iPhone is slower – always and consistently. They are both newish items running the same version of IOS. Empirically, the speed is device dependant to a large degree.

          11. It doesn’t matter how fast the signal is (the bit rate), the device can process the data only as fast as its own processor will allow.

          12. No problem there at all. Phone CPUs process 3-4 billion instructions per second. When you use a phone as a personal hotspot at the moment it links you to 4G internet which is not particularly fast. Once 5G is in place the difference will be startling.
            Here’s some specs on the two most used mobile phone CPUs….
            https://www.sammobile.com/news/specs-comparison-samsung-exynos-9810-vs-qualcomm-snapdragon-845/
            8 cores, speeds a little under 3 GHz on 4 of those cores and almost 2 GHz on the other 4, Phone Ram clocks in at 1800MHz with a bandwidth of about 30GB/s. The bottleneck is the 4G network.

          14. 5G has an almost zero latency. It allows for information exchange in almost perfect real time. You can exchange up to 20GB of data per second, twenty times faster than 4G. It’s a massive improvement over 4G. You’ll notice much the same improvements as 4G was over 3G.

          15. I dont think I use the t’internet enough for it to make much difference for me.

          3. I actually read somewhere that the virus may have started when people working at the lab in Wuhan removed bodies of animals used in experimental processing and sold them on the adjacent market place.
            But we’ll never know the truth.

          5. There will be a barber queue here tomorrow. People like me who want to make sure that we don’t look our age.

  137. This is the worst new for Ireland

    All Pubs & Bars to close from midnight for 2 weeks

      1. Bit of an own goal there. A couple of days wouldn’t have hurt.

        There’ll be a lot of Paddies throwing a paddy.

    1. A memorable song that I remember the first time I heard it. 8th June 1969.

      A typical boring Sunday, but unusually fine and warm. I was out walking in the country as I often did on Sundays in those days of intensely boring Sundays when everything was shut and I was desperate to get out of the house. I used to take my transistor radio so I could listen to Top Gear with John Peel. As I was walking down the bank between Ulgham churchyard and the nearby bridge across the River Lyne, John Peel gave an introduction to what he called an extraordinarily good tune by a new group that was being promoted by Pete Townsend of The Who.

      Something in the Air began and I was instantly hooked.

      Half an hour later I arrived at my destination for that day – the real reason I was there – and photographed Flying Scotsman heading north on a special train, 10 months after the end of steam on BR. (photo below)

      Several strings came together that day in a series of coincidences. After the train passed I started the 8 mile walk home and after a mile or so I passed a bungalow that unbeknown to me at the time was the home of my future wife, who I would meet almost exactly a year later (actually 53 weeks). It was the first time I passed along that road.

      It was also her fathers birthday.

      Her father is now buried in the churchyard I was passing when I first heard the song.

      Every time I hear it the pictures come back to me from that day. Thanks. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/ca5c6c84bf6292e44cc6ec3aa817dae8a5a94c2c324fb51d95b6031d86567dfd.jpg

        2. I set off early earlier than usual that day, walking to check out some places on the ECML that I was interested in as possible photo locations based on my one inch to the mile OS map. Longhirst Station and Ulgham Lane, much closer to home didn’t quite fit the bill, so I pressed on to what had to be my final choice at Stobswood, the first time I’d been there. It came up trumps.

          NB. Ulgham is pronounced ‘Uffam’.,

  139. Popping back in

    “People aged over 70 face up to four months in self-isolation and the

    public risk being taken into jail or a £1,000 fine if they refuse to be

    tested or quarantined for suspected coronavirus.”

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/03/15/public-face-prison-1000-fine-refusing-coronavirus-tests/
    Well as a pensioner with a tiny private pension there is no way I can stock 4 months food,but hey in jail I can look forward to 3 squares a day,free med and dental treatment and free tv………………..

    2. More bullshit from the Telegraph. I read the same thing from the Malta Government. 1000 euro for each infringement possibly amounting to 14,000 for a two week holiday if you go out to buy food.

      Besides which…prisoners have been provided with alcohol based handwash which they drink. Plus we have no more prison spaces.

      Where are they going to put thousands of cantankerous and stubborn elderly Brits without having to shoot them?

  140. Now here’s optimism for you. Just this minute seen an advert for P&O’s Spring offers on their ferry services.😎

  141. Mr. Trump has just announced that it is forbidden for anyone in the States to open e-mails from overseas, in case they contain a virus.

  142. How long has Geoff hosted Nottler?

    Who on earth would have thought over four years later we would be discussing now the beginning of the dystopian decline of humankind and of Global economics … and that Globalism has been the downfall of everything that we held dear to our hearts .. and that Christian Europe would be facing even greater threats than we could ever believed possible?

      1. It seems like only yesterday that the first incarnation of NTTL was a newborn. It will soon be attending nursery school.

      3. Do we climb over the barricades, smash into the place? I’ll cook ! Garlands will be drinks monitor.

        1. Good question. T’Mill has narrowly escaped several floods this year. Unlike the car park. But a few years back, the water reached the top of the bar. Perhaps the fact that it’s a mill is a clue? Let’s see what develops. A lot can happen in a fortnight…

          1. PS – Smashing into the place would be unfortunate, to say the least. That’s exactly what happened the last time it was seriously flooded…

          2. In that case i will make sure my water wings are fully inflated and Dolly has her inflatable hazmat suit….Erm…which particular set of disasters should we prepare for or just go if they are open? :o)

        2. Well that is a better choice for drinks monitor than some that we could mention.

          So it must be close to five years since we met for drinks on the naughty step after the telegraph censors deleted so many comments.

      4. I knew I was close Geoff..

        Immense gratitude and everything else for your kindness ..

        How could everything have gone so badly wrong in every way possible ..it is like a nightmare.

    3. But, looking on the bright side, two of my numbers came up on Saturday’s Lotto, so I get a free go.

      1. Way to go, well done .. Reinvest .. more lucky numbers..

        Talking numbers .. savings have plummeted .. yet our council tax has rocketed so has our water bill!

  143. Hancock seems to threaten to quarantine me in the house for 4 months. How’s that going to work? About as much chance as the NHS being prescient re. beds and respirators …. Ding-dong.

    Actually, I regularly walk the parks and streets here. I occasionally see other walkers with dogs, but often I see none. One thing I never see is a policeman … In any case, If I am not getting close to anybody, what’s the problem …. Hancock will only make the older folks more unfit and unhappier/lonelier …. What a plonker.

    1. The same with us.. We are really fed up .. The garden will be too soggy to walk in , we won’t be able to go to the tip , we may sneak out for long walks .. Will they make us forfeit our car keys?

        1. Okay okay , no chortling in the back row..

          We need the tip for garden stuff.. hedges to keep tidy , prunings, grass cuts .. and clearing things in the house which we should have done years ago!

          3. Heavens, dear Mags, don’t you have a ‘Brown Bin’ for garden waste at £50 per annum?

            Ours is collected every fortnight and, if we don’t fill it, we lend it to our neighbours who have a much bigger garden, ergo more waste.

    2. Trouble is legislation is aimed at the stupid not those who applies common sense but they get caught up in it anyway.
      I have an acquaintance who agrees it would be unwise to get the bus into town for non essential shopping, but is happy to get the bus as far as the village to purchase the same non essential shopping.
      This acquaintance is nearly 80 with part lung previously removed, one in the at real risk category. Words fail me!!

        1. Poor choices cause problems for others who adopt a more considered approach, but you are correct, it is their choice.
          LD may well have problems going for a walk because of such choices.

    3. Indeed. It was phrased that we would be “asked” to self-isolate. In that case, they can ask and I’ll refuse to do it (unless I’m ill, of course, then I wouldn’t be going out anyway – duh!). It’s important that both I and my dog (two geriatrics together) keep active. Anyway, fresh air is almost certainly better for you than being cooped up inside.

      1. We just received news that after we get back to Canada, we will be expected to self isolate for two weeks.
        We are not even supposed to go shopping in that time. Do they think that we live in the suburbs where we get supermarket deliveries?
        Hmmm, go home to no curling, no gym and no social life or risk staying in the US to enjoy crowd free golf but no health insurance.

      1. The police round here have refused to be on the streets 24/7 for 20-odd years until AFTER a crime has been committed.

      2. Ah, the crunch of hob-nailed boots on cobbles in the otherwise silence of the night.

        So evocative of times past.

  146. Went to Evening Prayer. Very good attendance by the over 70’s. Those I spoke to are pretty indignant at the suggestion that they shouldn’t be allowed out. Who’s going to police it anyway?

    The vicar was absent. She took the morning services and was apparently with a parishioner till past midnight yesterday. Don’t know what that’s about but we have a Parish Visitors meeting tomorrow evening so I may find out.

    1. I got a text message this morning to say my church was closed today and the fund-raiser next week has been postponed until October. We live in interesting times.

      1. It took some effort to persuade our Rector that the CoE guidelines were that only the bread would be distributed – the wine being solely consumed by the celebrant. If the ‘over 70s’ rule is put into effect, we my as well close the doors anyway…

        1. They left it up to us to decide if we would only take communion in one kind. I opted for the wine as well – the chalice is silver which has antiseptic properties 🙂

          2. Ah, I haven’t been to church since, so I am not up to date, obviously. Has the CofE decided we need to close?

          3. 317141+ up ticks,
            Evening C,
            I attended mass a slimmed down version
            with common sense precautions taken, my Doctor was there as usual.

          4. Not yet. But I’m sure it’s only a matter of time. Realistically, if the over seventies are in lockdown, we won’t have sufficient congregation to trouble Austria’s edict banning gatherings of more than five…

          5. Our rector’s in his sixties, so he’ll be okay and the curate is young. We have youngsters in the choir, so that will be nearly a score and quite a few of the congregation haven’t reached 70 yet. Looks like we’ll fall victim to an imposed ban 🙂

        2. Good evening, Boss.

          I am Communion monitor at our Church.
          I, politely, offered the opinion that if we all
          followed the CMO’s advice we could carry
          on as usual……then the usual suspects
          wandered into the kitchen and proceeded,
          without washing their hands, to place biscuits
          on plates for our after Service Tea, Coffee
          and refreshments……after this was finished a
          somewhat heated exchange took place,
          [we went outside to fully express our feelings!]

          We are our own worst enemies!!

          1. Yo, G. We eschewed refreshments today, inline with CofE and Diocesan guidelines. It felt weird.

            I printed ‘single use’ service sheets. The Rector was of the opinion that all service books would have to be “wiped with sterile gel”. Leaving aside the fact that no such thing exists, and would simply be contaminated, once wiped across the festering booklets, the fact that our they were produced by me on an inkjet printer made this somewhat impracticable…

          2. We have everything imposed on the front wall,
            back wall and feeds through out all the other areas,
            so fortunately we do not have your problems.

            I am not a ‘Member’ so I do not receive the e-mails
            pertaining to the ‘Deacons’ deliberations, I did however
            let my annoyance show at 21.45 last night, when one of
            the ‘Deacons’ rang me to tell me what I should do for
            today’s Service!!….I had sent e-mails etc. during the last
            few days requesting confirmation of what I suggested,
            I said I have put measures in place….you can like it or
            leave it, They liked it!! :-))

    2. Well done Sue

      Old habits are best .. and the order of service .. I haven’t been for ages , except for funerals !!!

      Arch Bish Welby is rather quiet isn’t he?

      1. Yes and the Bishop of London is just repeating government health advice – but then she was chief nursing officer for the NHS?

  148. Well folks, that’s me for tonight. Off to bed to sleep now. See you all tomorrow, DV.

    1. Mike Hancock was the cuddly Lib Dem defence procurement minister during the Coalition, who was once nicknamed “Teddybear” by a ravishing Russian secret agent. Matt Hancock is Mr Gormless of the Boris era.

      My interpretation of the mass house arrest programme for the elderly in rural areas is to apply the 2 metre distancing rule. We tried this out at choir practice yesterday – by holding the arm out towards your neighbour (and vice-versa) if the fingers can touch, then it’s too close.

      The point of this exercise is not to punish people for being old (even though they are generally considered unemployable and unfit to express interest to the opposite sex), but rather to stop the hospitals being overwhelmed by too many emergency cases at once. Whatever is done must bear that in mind.

      1. “if the fingers can touch” – then it’s too late!!!

        Morning Jeremy et al…

  151. Government to recruit 200,000 new police officers to enforce over-70s-stay-in-house policy ….. Ding-dong.

    1. Diane Abachs has said that’s a ridiculous announcement as it’ll cost about £3,000

  153. Norwegian government announces a crisis package for business estimated at £10 billion. Loan guarantees, tax holiday, assistance to businesses that are closed (bars/restaurants, hotels, other small businesses such as hairdressers), pretty well all will be laying off all their staff, also SAS and Norwegian.
    So far, looks useful.
    HM the King also addressing the Nation. Clever and motivating speech, as one would expect.

  155. Right,bolloux to all this,the screaming hysterics,the MSM hype for political ends the varied doom-mongers,no-one has the faintest clue of infected numbers or death rates %ages there is simply NOT ENOUGH TESTING except in one particular situation where EVERYONE was tested

    That is the Diamond Princess cruise ship (rough numbers I can’t be arsed to look them up again)

    3700 on the ship all tested

    680 odd confirmed infected approx 20%

    50% have NO SYMPTOMS

    340 active cases

    7 Deaths

    There were 32 still in ITC now reduced to 12

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/125a7297b2d6c26b1a52265976a820f806313e8d736d56f141176148eb72b456.jpg
    Get a grip

    Tomorrow I am going for a pub lunch

          1. That’s okay. No need to apologise. You just go and enjoy your bit of rough with Rik and i will sit at home doing some knitting or something. :o(

          2. Oh!! Don’t tell me you haven’t yet finished the
            shawl and mittens you were crocheting for me?

          3. Oh gawd. I had the pattern upside down. You okay with fingerless socks and a necktie ? :o(

    3. I’m going Wednesday, a party of 3 old guys and a boy of 50.
      Alcohol kills the virus, I’ll start from the inside and work my way out.

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