Thursday 16 December: Are Conservatives starting to take back control of their party from the Prime Minister?

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 we prefer ours),
Intelligent, polite, good-humoured debate is welcome, whether on or off topic. Differing opinions are encouraged, but rudeness or personal attacks on other posters will not be tolerated. Posts which – in the opinion of the moderators – make this a less than cordial environment, are likely to be removed, without prior warning.  Persistent offenders will be banned.

Today’s letters (visible only to DT subscribers) are here

764 thoughts on “Thursday 16 December: Are Conservatives starting to take back control of their party from the Prime Minister?”

        1. Looks like you are a linguist, Peter. And here’s me thinking you were a chef, specialising in evening food and drink! Lol.

    1. Morning. I was awake before God switched the lights on. It is now what my dear Mum used to describe as ‘s brighter shade of dull.’

  6. Good Advice From The Laundry

    A woman sends her clothing out to the Chinese laundry. When it comes back, she can still see stains in the knickers.

    So, the next week, she encloses a note to the Chinese, “Use more soap on knickers!”

    This goes on for several weeks, with the woman always spotting stains in her knickers, and always sending the same note to the laundry,

    “Use more soap on knickers!”

    Finally, one day, she notices that the Chinese has responded to her notes with one of his own, “Use more paper on arse!!“

    1. The 1922 committee has six officials all of whom voted against Boris’s lockdown plan. Unusually, emails are being accepted over the Christmas period, to be confirmed by telephone. Might they get enough by Boxing Day?

      1. Hmm, A vote of ‘No Confidence’ Citroen, would make a wonderful Christmas killer for Johnson and his Gorgon of a wife.

          1. ‘Morning, Elsie, this is true, hence my continued rant against the minor vote-splitting ‘parties’, who should amalgamate and provide us with a manifesto worth voting for

          2. ‘Morning Nanners. Couldn’t agree more…splitting the right wing vote will be unproductive, and certainly dangerous in marginal seats. Trouble is, too many egos will get in the way.

          3. I agree. We will just get the next shill, with a sickening round of applause in the media telling us that this time it really will be different.

          5. Frankly, I can’t see anyone having the courage to resist the great reset and the covid scam – they will have it held over their heads that the managed transition to total banker control is the only way to avoid hyperinflation.
            I’d be totally behind Baker if he tries though.
            I wonder if we should now re-join the Cons in order to have a vote in the inevitable leadership contest?
            I’d want my money back if it was between two shills though!

          6. Funnily enough, I’m having the same internal debate.
            For the first time in years – probably decades – I didn’t pay my annual sub last January. Is it worth paying the absolute minimum to buy MB and me the right to vote?
            You have to be a member for 3 months to vote.

          7. The last tory leadership campaign was manipulated so that the members only got the choice between Boris and Jeremy Hunt, so obviously they were going to choose Boris. It was speculated that Boris’s camp had instructed some of their voters to vote for another candidate in the early rounds, so as to eliminate anyone who could have been serious competition for Boris. This is highly risky, but credible if they knew exactly how every single MP was going to vote.
            The next campaign will be more fragmented, I think. There isn’t a clear winner between Sunak and Truss, though my gut feeling is that they would go with the man rather than a possible repeat of the Maybot. Gove and Baker are both credible wildcards.
            I suppose we have to act quickly if we are going to rejoin the party.

            OMG, I just went to their website to see how much it cost, and was greeted by a huge slogan “Build Back Better” and a video of a crane with a rainbow and “NHS” on it.
            This is clearly an evil plot to ensure that the Tory left stays in power forever, as no actual conservative would join a party whose slogan is that of global totalitarians.

          8. I’ll tell you what Anne, get a persuadable young person in your family to join for a fiver, that way we get a vote without giving them too much money. You could always bung the grandchild a tenner to vote for the candidate you told them to!

  9. ‘Morning, Peeps.

    Not a very inspiring Letters page today, so let’s start with a BTL instead:

    Pete Flint
    5 HRS AGO
    Having to rely on the opposition to get a bill through when you have an 80 seat majority should have told you something Johnson.

    Sadly as a conservative supporter for the last 30 or so years, and former conservative councillor, It obviously didn’t.

    It should have.

    You are not conservative.

    Now is the time for you to go and take the inept cabal you have appointed as ministers and your advisors with you before you destroy both the conservative party and the country.

      1. ‘Morning Peddy. It is a somewhat forlorn observation, addressed to Johnson. I have restored the original spacing, which was somehow lost in the copying.

  10. Scientists discover ‘surprising’ cause of Europe’s little ice age in late medieval era. Harry Cockburn – Yesterday 19:04.

    Following an era known as the medieval warm period, temperatures in Europe in the early 15th century fell sharply in what has become known as the little ice age.
    This remarkable cold period brought increased glaciation in mountains, expansion of some areas of sea ice, crop failures, famines and disease across Europe.

    But scientists at the University of Massachusetts now believe they have found a new key factor in why temperatures plunged to their coldest in 10,000 years.

    “Surprisingly, the cooling appears to have been triggered by an unusually warm episode,” the researchers said.

    The only question here is how can a “Newspaper” publish something like this and then talk about COP26 and Global Warming?

    https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/little-ice-age-ocean-currents-b1976776.html

    2. Well it’s obvious, Minty (Good morning, btw.) In the early 15th century the foolish population voted for Brexit! (Sarc.)

    3. That’s not surprising at all, it has been well known for a long time that periods of higher CO2 tend to be followed by cooling. It’s even been proven by measuring dissolved CO2 in ice layers from the polar ice cap.
      It’s the climate emergency dogma that is completely false.

  11. Scientists discover ‘surprising’ cause of Europe’s little ice age in late medieval era. Harry Cockburn – Yesterday 19:04.

    Following an era known as the medieval warm period, temperatures in Europe in the early 15th century fell sharply in what has become known as the little ice age.
    This remarkable cold period brought increased glaciation in mountains, expansion of some areas of sea ice, crop failures, famines and disease across Europe.

    But scientists at the University of Massachusetts now believe they have found a new key factor in why temperatures plunged to their coldest in 10,000 years.

    “Surprisingly, the cooling appears to have been triggered by an unusually warm episode,” the researchers said.

    The only question here is how can a “Newspaper” publish something like this and then talk about COP26 and Global Warming?

    https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/little-ice-age-ocean-currents-b1976776.html

  12. Thank you Geoff and a good morning to all from a still dark but dry and colder Derbyshire with 1°C outside.

      2. Morning Minty, in fact it is 4 days, 20 hours, 9 minutes and 10 seconds as of NOW.
        There is a lovely little app called Time Until which amuses me.

        1. Morning VVOF. I like to get over the hill. The weather is always worse after Christmas but we are at least moving toward Summer!

          2. Funny you should mention summer, did you know BST starts in 100 days, 13 hours, 42 mins and 30 seconds as of NOW.
            I am a sad character at times!

  13. BTL Comment on Letters Page:-

    Carolyn Bates
    3 HRS AGO
    I too am with Miranda Gudenien of Devon.
    Until the Government is Conservative again, I will find it very difficult to vote for them, despite voting Conservative all my life. I know many others who feel the same.
    We have all been shocked by the continued debacles from Afghanistan to the sleaze that seems to form a major part of Boris Johnson’s administration, but for me, by far the ugliest aspect is the continued deceit and downright dishonesty that seems to run through Cabinet, from the Prime Minister down.
    It has become apparent that they cannot be trusted to do the right thing, from the record tax burdens and borrowing, to the disgraceful way in which the pandemic has been handled, and now with Omicron, their overreaction is simply astounding. I agree with Miranda that the only true Conservatives in Government are the 99 who voted against the Prime Minister in Parliament on Tuesday, and they should be applauded for standing against the continued and unwarranted tyranny we have come to expect from Boris Johnson.
    Everyone should read Professor Carl Heneghan’s article in the DT yesterday to fully understand why scientists of his standing are in total disagreement with how the Omicron variant is being handled by this Prime Minister; he sets out clearly why he believes this to be the case, and it is in line with the South African authorities data on the variant and how it is behaving there with far less people being vaccinated than here in the UK.
    We all know we will soon be back in lockdown, with January 5th being reported to be the deadline and as the Prime Minister and Chris Whitty are once again in full fear factor mode, we know we can expect the worst.

    1. Here we have Dr John Campbell discussing the efficacy of Vitamin D with a doctor practising in Israel. With the addition of a few other supplements e.g. zinc and Vitamin C this doctor has achieved exceptional results. Why hasn’t our useless government promoted this simple, cheap therapy that has no side-effects? IIRC Hancock, after promising an inquiry, came to the conclusion that there was no benefit from taking Vitamin D (I stand to be corrected). Only the “vaccine” would suffice, which we now know doesn’t really do the job as promised due to its protection waning after 3 – 4 months and thence requiring an ever-increasing number of ‘boosters’.
      Of course, the government couldn’t run its plan to issue a control ID on the home use of Vitamin D and supplements, could it? It’s looking more and more likely that hospitalisations and deaths were higher because of the failure of the government to get simple and cheap defence medication advice out to the public.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9h-XQm2qEY

      1. With the addition of a few other supplements e.g. zinc and Vitamin C this doctor has achieved exceptional results.

        Purely by coincidence I already follow this regimen. Does this explain my Covid Free situation? I don’t know but it is certainly curious!

        1. Likewise. I was actually prescribed Vitamin D by my GP, which I can get free from the NHS now I am over 60.

          Recently, I rang up the surgery and asked them if there was any clinical reason why I could not simply pick up a pot from Wilko for less than a pound, sparing the surgery the cost of processing my prescription. My doctor was quite grateful.

          1. I’ve been buying my Vitamin D from Lidl but the high dose variety has been unavailable for for a few weeks. High demand or interference? I’ll look in Wilco and Holland and Barrett this afternoon when I’m in town.

          3. We bought ours online, 1,000 in a pack for £22.99. Have just bought the second lot.
            ETA: From Naturplus.co.uk

          8. I get my Vit D with C & zinc from Healthspan. Comes post free. Their products are very good.

        2. I have been taking supplements, including a raised Vitamin D level, for some time. At the end of October when I fell ill with whatever was being labelled as covid at the time, I increased my daily intake of Vitamins C & D, zinc and my steroid inhaler. Without quercetin I started drinking a glass of pressed apple juice every day. I was not seriously affected at all and my symptoms could best be described as a cold/irritating cough. This rotten to the core government has many questions to answer, sadly, I do not think that those questions will be asked by people in authority and will remain unanswered.

        3. Good morning, Minty/

          When vaccinations were first suggested
          I spoke to the village Chemist who told me
          to take those and other supplements;
          [ he knows I have reduced immunity due
          to my prescriptions ] like you I have taken
          them since April, 2020.

        5. We do too. Recommended by 2 independent surgeons about a year ago. Vitamin D3, 5,000 international units daily, and double that dose for a month at beginning of winter.

      2. ‘Morning, Korky, “Why hasn’t our useless government promoted this simple, cheap therapy that has no side-effects?”

        Quite simply because it is up to its oxters in debt to Big Pharma, a debt that will only be cleared when they have used up every single gene therapy jab and not bought more.

        1. IMO they are emptying the national coffers to the detriment of the people and for the benefit of others.

          1. To hand on taxpayers’ cash to their mates in Pharma and to keep their investments in same, bouncing high. How the word must have ricocheted around the HoC and HoL (and to their friends) four or five years ago. Or even earlier. This has been long in the planning.

      3. The “enquiry” by Shampock was nothing of the sort. It was admitted later that there had been no such enquiry. They are all lying through their teeth.

  14. ‘Morning again.

    The thought of taking on Panzers and flame-throwers with nothing more than small arms fire is the stuff of the Boys’ Own Paper…

    Major Pat Barrass, served at Dunkirk and in the Battle of Normandy and was later a pioneer in the travel industry – obituary

    For his part in liberating Croisilles the town named its main square after him, while he went on to champion the round-the-world air ticket

    By
    Telegraph Obituaries
    15 December 2021 • 1:02pm

    Major Pat Barrass, who has died aged 102, took part in the evacuation from Dunkirk and in the fiercely contested Battle of Normandy; in civilian life he pioneered the use of the round-the-world air ticket.

    On the evening of June 5 1944, Barrass was in command of “C” Company, 2nd Battalion The Essex Regiment. His men were crammed into landing craft which moved out of Southampton docks into the Solent. As they passed the long, grey shapes of the Royal Navy ships lying at anchor they saw that the decks of the vessels were lined with sailors.

    White-topped caps removed and waved over their heads, the cheers of the sailors reached them across the water, increasing the soldiers’ sense of the scale of the enterprise on which they were embarked. The following day, Barrass led his company on to Gold Beach before moving on to take part in the liberation of Bayeux.

    On D-Day+5, his company and “A” Company lined up to attack an area of dense woodland near the village of Verrières. The high hedges of the bocage country meant that they had to move on a compass bearing. As they broke out into open, flat country, only to find out that they were still 400 yards short of the woodland, they came under heavy artillery, mortar and machine-gun fire. They began to take casualties, and rifle butts started to appear above the wheat showing the stretcher bearers where the fallen lay.

    Barrass’s men continued to move at a steady pace, firing from the hip over the last 25 yards. As they moved deeper into the wood, the Germans put in a sharp counter-attack with an intense mortar concentration followed up by tanks and infantry.

    The company had no support from tanks or anti-tank guns. The German Panzers, working in pairs, blasted section positions at point-blank range. Then at midnight they brought up half-track flame-throwers, casting a lurid light among the trees, throwing out long tongues of flame and inflicting dreadful injuries.

    By the time they were relieved, the battalion had given and taken heavy losses but had held their position. The forest was named “Essex Wood” to mark the stand by the Essex Regiment.

    Patrick Rae Barrass was born on August 16 1919 in New Southgate, North London, where his father was the curate at the parish church. He was educated at Forest School, Essex. Aged 11, he bicycled for two miles through open countryside to the station. The railway journey took 45 minutes, followed by a further 20 minutes’ walk to the school. He was Victor Ludorum twice, captained the school’s shooting team, and became company sergeant-major in its Officers’ Training Corps.

    He passed the examination for Sandhurst in 1937 with a mark of 235 out of a possible 250 but cuts in numbers deprived him of a place, and after basic training he was commissioned into 2nd Essex as a platoon commander. On mobilisation, they moved to France with the British Expeditionary Force.

    During the retreat to Dunkirk, Barrass became separated from his unit when he went back to help a fallen comrade and had to make his way across country to the coast alone. The roads were teeming with refugees who were being constantly strafed by enemy aircraft. At Dunkirk, not having rested for days, he slept in an abandoned ambulance before being taken off the beach by the Royal Navy and evacuated to England. As the battalion re-formed, Barrass became its Intelligence Officer (IO), then IO of HQ 25 Infantry Brigade.

    Later in the Battle of Normandy he led his company in a dawn raid to liberate the strategic town of Croisilles. They captured more than 120 soldiers. He was subsequently given the freedom of the town, and its main square was named Place du Major Barrass.

    In November 1944 he attended Staff College at Haifa. His stalwart service in north-west Europe was recognised by a Mention in Despatches in March 1945.

    Shortly after VJ-Day, he was posted to Burma, first to HQ 19 Indian Infantry Division as GSO 2 (Intelligence), then to HQ Burma Command. In 1947 he moved to HQ Rhine Army.

    As part of the movements staff he had the use of Göring’s private railway coach, complete with kitchen, dining room, sitting room, bedrooms, and staff.

    A posting to Salonika followed as adjutant of the 1st Bn The Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment. In 1951, he took up a staff appointment at HQ Caribbean Area, Kingston, Jamaica.

    There was no shortage of work. He went undercover to help pre-empt designs on British Honduras by the Guatemalan dictatorship and organised the landing of British forces in British Guiana to prevent a possible communist takeover. He was also involved in investigating gun-running from Brazil and organising the Queen’s visit to Jamaica.

    While he was on the island, he met and married Ann, and his wife later played small roles in films and television shows under the name Ann Barrass. Her father ran Barclays Bank’s operations in the West Indies and the couple were invited by Ian Fleming to honeymoon at his cottage, “Golden Eye”.

    After a spell with 1st Essex in Hong Kong, first as a company commander, then again as adjutant, the Bn returned to England and Barrass was posted to the Movements Directorate at the War Office.

    In May 1959, cutbacks were reducing the Army in size. Barrass took advantage of an early retirement scheme and went to work for the Midland Red Bus Company in Birmingham. In 1962 he moved to Channel Air Bridge, where his responsibility was to open Southend Airport for commercial air traffic.

    He subsequently became sales manager with the parent company British United Airways, founded by Freddie Laker. He was later promoted to senior manager, a position he held when the airline was taken over by British Caledonian.

    While negotiating agreements with other airlines to enable seamless travel for people booking long haul flights, he devised a Round the World Air Ticket, which gave travellers considerable flexibility and proved a great success.

    Barrass left British Caledonian in 1984 to join Philippine Airlines as general sales manager, based in London. He retired the next year. In retirement he worked with the Imperial War Museum and the National Army Museum. He supplied many artefacts, including maps, binoculars and a sniper periscope, for their displays commemorating key events like Dunkirk and D-Day.

    He regularly attended regimental reunions and, in 2012, aged 93, he took part in the last March Past of the Essex Regiment Association. Three years later, during the 70th anniversary celebrations of VE-Day, he marched unaided down The Mall and into St James’s Park. He held the award of the Légion d’honneur.

    Pat Barrass married, in 1952, Ann Bertram. She predeceased him and he is survived by their two sons.

    Major Pat Barrass, born August 16 1919, died October 4 2021

    * * *

    A fitting BTL comment:

    Michael Schwartz
    13 HRS AGO
    A life-time dedicated in war and in peace to the service of Britain and Her allies. Once again, I am left breathless when reading of someone with the many qualities of Major Barrass.

    1. Good morning, Uncle Bill. Does this mean that from now on we have to call you Uncle Foggy?!?!? Lol.

  16. Wokery is declared dead at the NT? Until McGrady, the Chief Wokeist, is shown the door I’m not convinced. And I’m not sure her gushing endorsement will save her. Unfortunately Olivieri’s ‘long history in fighting climate change’ does not bode well, either.

    * * *

    National Trust puts woke agenda to bed with choice of new, ‘non-political’ head

    René Olivieri, who is also RSPCA chairman, has never commented on ‘culture wars’ that have prompted criticism of the charity’s leadership

    By
    Hayley Dixon,
    SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
    15 December 2021 • 7:17pm

    The National Trust has announced the charity boss who oversaw the RSPCA climb-down from its “politicised” role as its new chairman amid attempts to calm rows with members.

    René Olivieri, an American who has held several non-executive roles in the cultural and natural heritage sector, will take up the post in February and is seen as a “safe pair of hands” both inside and outside the charity, the Telegraph understands.

    He will stay on at his role as chairman of the RSPCA, where earlier this year he oversaw the decision to step back from private prosecutions which had caused clashes between the charity and MPs and Ministers over its “political” role.

    The National Trust has seen similar clashes with both members and politicians over its so-called “woke agenda” and “politicised” move away from the organisation’s core objectives of protecting the nation’s heritage.

    Mr Olivieri ‘not involved in politics’
    Tim Parker, the last chairman, announced his decision to quit in May just 24 hours after the concerns saw members campaign group Restore Trust set out plans to force him out at October’s AGM.

    Mr Olivieri has never been publicly involved in any political rows or commented on the so-called “culture wars” which have prompted criticism of the Trust’s current leadership.

    In January last year, Boris Johnson appointed him the interim chairman of the National Lottery Heritage Fund and he has served as a member of both the Culture Recovery Fund Board and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Cultural and Heritage Capital Advisory Board.

    As part of his appointment to the Lottery position, Mr Olivieri had to declare that he had taken part in no significant political activity in the last five years.

    National Trust ‘makes essential connections to our world’
    Whilst Restore Trust has yet to comment publicly on the appointment, they had been calling for the position to go to an outsider with knowledge of running a large organisation and the “absence of current active association with any political party”.

    As well as experience in heritage, Mr Olivieri, 68, has a long history of fighting climate change, seen as one of the key priorities of the Trust’s leadership.

    On announcement of his appointment, he said that the 126-year-old charity is “uniquely placed to recognise the debt to the generations that have gone before and its responsibility to those which follow”.

    “I believe the National Trust is the body that makes essential connections in our world, between the past and future, nature and heritage and between people from all parts of society,” he said.

    “We must all work together to preserve and promote our heritage while taking climate action and restoring nature.

    “I want to ensure the National Trust, which is privileged to be able to take such a long view, plays a leading role in realising these ambitions.”

    Mr Olivieri, who was born in the US, is said to have developed a passion for the UK’s heritage and the impact that it can have on communities when he moved to the country more than 30 years ago.

    He lives with his wife Anne in Moreton Hall, a Grade II listed Georgian house in rural Worcestershire, where they open their gardens to the public and donate all the proceeds to the Royal Shakespeare Company.

    Alongside taking on charitable roles Mr Olivieri has been delivering “courses on innovation, business models and cultural change for senior executives in both commercial and non-profit organisations”, his biography on the Government’s website reveals.

    He was previously chief executive of Blackwell Publishing for 20 years, standing down after it was acquired by a US rival in 2007. He has since served as chairman of the Tubney Charitable and the Wildlife Trusts.

    Hilary McGrady, the Trust’s director general, said she was “delighted” at the appointment, adding: “We have the same ambition: to give as many people as possible access to the incredible collections, houses, land and coastline that we care for on behalf of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

    “[Mr Olivieri] brings passion, knowledge and a superb blend of skills and I am delighted to be able to work with him to fulfil our shared ambition.”

    * * *

    No BTLs allowed, but it will be interesting to see what Restore Trust has to say about his appointment.

    2. Hmm – climate change and ‘Mr Olivieri has been delivering “courses on innovation, business models and cultural change for senior executives in both commercial and non-profit organisations”,’

    3. Hmm – climate change and ‘Mr Olivieri has been delivering “courses on innovation, business models and cultural change for senior executives in both commercial and non-profit organisations”,’

  19. I see John Cleese is upset with the BBC:-

    John Cleese accuses BBC of ‘deceptive’ and ‘dishonest’ interview on cancel culture
    Monty Python star claims BBC World Asia interviewer tried to portray him as ‘old-fashioned, uncaring and basically harmful’

    By
    Telegraph Reporters

    John Cleese says he is putting in a formal complaint about the “deception, dishonesty and tone” of a recent BBC interview he had given.

    The Monty Python star claimed the interviewer had tried to portray him as “old-fashioned, uncaring and basically harmful” and had not discussed the agreed on topics.

    “I just did an interview with BBC World Asia. It was to talk about the shows I’m doing in Singapore and Bangkok,” he wrote in a Twitter thread.

    “Instead, the interviewer, whose name was, I think, Karishma, started by asking me questions about Cancel Culture.

    “I replied courteously and in full I explained that if parents were over protective, it did not prepare children well when they entered the real and often not-very-nice world.

    “She then asked a disjointed question, clearly trying to portray me as old-fashioned, uncaring and basically harmful.”

    Cleese said his response had been “totally ignored” by the interviewer, who had then asked him about the ongoing pandemic and Dave Chapelle.

    “I removed my headphones, saying. that this was not the interview I had agreed to,” he said.

    “So I am formally complaining to the BBC about the deception, dishonesty and tone of this interview. Karishma had no interest in a discussion with me.

    “She wanted only the role of prosecutor. The BBC needs to train her again.”

    He added: “The media will no doubt report that I ‘stormed out.’ I didn’t. Nor did I lose my temper.

    “But I was depressed that this kind of presenter-ego crap is so prevalent now.”

    Last month the comedian “blacklisted himself” from the Cambridge Union debating society after a historian who impersonated Adolf Hitler during a society debate was banned.

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/12/16/john-cleese-accuses-bbc-deceptive-dishonest-interview/

    1. Delighted to see he is back on form.

      John Cleese is a master of the angry, frustrated and mentally constipated character that any nottler can well identify with. I was worried that all these visits to the psychiatrist was robbing him of his seething creativity, and the BBC have long deserved to have JC let loose on them again.

      3. He understandably lost his sense of humour when he married some Yankee psychotherapist who bled him dry.
        Presumably he’s now paid her off.

  21. Right, that’s me off to Derby to meet the care worker assigned to helping my Stepson.

    Might divert via Blue Monkey on the way home!

  23. Sky News reporting that British tourists will not be all0wed to travel to France from Saturday due to Covid.

  26. Fog now clearing to clear blue skies in North Norfolk. The MR has set out for the market. I am staying home because Trevor the Painter is here to do three more rooms.

    We wanted the whole inside re-decorated – and imagined it would be done at one fell swoop (or plunge). In the event, he said he could do it in four separate jobs. That, actually, worked well. It made spreading the payments easier. Only bits of the house were disrupted at a time. He works alone and is one of those tradesmen that it is a pleasure to see at work.

  27. I always used to see Twitter links here but now they seem to have vanished – all I get is a blank space. Any suggestions – I haven’t changed any settings recently and am using the same browser?

    1. I see them here on the phone but they do come up as blank spaces on the laptop and take ages to load. They get there eventually.

      1. Very odd – still nothing on the desktop but if I log in on the iPad [using Chrome] the links appear! Edit – if I use Chrome on the desktop as well – I have the links back!!

    2. Deleting your cookies and history? It’s a pain but sometimes works for this sort of thing for me. (I use an iPad.)

        1. I’m pleased. Deleting C&H has sorted out problems like that for me in the past. The only thing is that you will have to enter your log-in and password information again on sites that ask for this. It is a good idea to have a clear-out of history and cookies once in a while though.

  28. As if we didn’t already know…

    NHS is urged to STOP counting thousands of Covid ‘patients’ who are actually being treated for other illnesses: Data shows a QUARTER of infected Brits in hospital were admitted for different conditions such as road accidents

    More than a quarter of Covid ‘patients’ currently occupying hospital beds are actually being treated for another condition, according to official data that has prompted calls for the NHS to change how it counts admissions in the face of Omicron.

    Health service statistics show there were 5,697 beds taken up by people who had tested positive for the virus on December 7, the latest date available.

    But 4,214 of them (74 per cent) were primarily being treated for the virus, with the remaining suffering from other illnesses or injuries. These could include a fall, broken leg, or even new mothers who tested positive after giving birth.

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10312819/NHS-urged-stop-counting-thousands-Covid-patients-official-data-critics-say-QUA.html

    Meanwhile, the BBC continues to lead with with Whitty’s latest forecast of a new Covid apocalypse: “We don’t know much about Omicron but what we do know is all bad.”

  29. Exactly two years ago today, 16 December 2019, two gentlemen came to view the house in Laure. By then, the house had been on the market for six months and we had had a steady stream of viewers all of whom did not like the house. The agents gave them a form to say what they liked/disliked. One memorable comment was that the house was fine but they didn’t like the colour of paint in one of the spare bedrooms…..

    Anyway, these two chaps visited and spent a long time wandering about. They then joined us in the kitchen – in order, we assumed, to say goodbye.
    To our utter amazement, one of them took out his chequebook and said they wanted to buy it – and could they move in by Christmas!!!!

    Even the agent was taken aback. We agreed there and then, and next day, went to Carcassonne to sign the contract.

    The two chaps are in their 60s+ You can’t get a modern car to the entrance because the road is so narrow. They love the place. They send regular mails, photos and videos of what they have done. They have never – once – complained about any of the niggling things that WE knew were wrong with the house. The leak in the velux; the skylight that was dodgy; the damp in two parts of the old house. They have stepped right into our shoes as members of the quartier “gang”.

    Sad though we were to give up – and sadder still that the plague prevented us saying goodbye to our many friends – 16 December is a very happy anniversary

      1. They came from Paris – though one was born in Perpignan and so knew the region (and was unfazed by the torrential rain that afflicts the are from time to time.)

        It was also the case that the house cost them less than 4 parking places (not garages) in Paris – so they thought it was a gift. Each had sold a flat for €1 million plus!!!

          3. Indeed – as I said, they have fitted seamlessly into the quartier group of chums – and are very popular. Many Parisians treat the locals as “ploucs”. These two have not made that -usually fatal – mistake!

    3. Did they like the wallpaper? I continue to be amazed by the reasons people give for rejecting a property. In one house I heard a viewer say , “I don’t like the wallpaper”, and that was that. We had a lovely flat in Edinburgh. The bedroom had very expensive wallpaper (Oriental by Rasch) that we had just put up. The people that bought the flat stripped the wallpaper*. Another time we had nice house with small back garden. When we bought the house, in winter, we had to renovate everything, rewire, replumb etc. and we had to visit relatives for a bath. The small back garden was a wilderness so we left it till summer to see what came up. Gorgeous stuff, sweet peas, tiger lilies, quince etc etc. When we sold it the new owners covered the back garden in paving slabs*.

      *We know these things because the houses come up for sale again and a relative had a look to see what had been done!

      1. When we sold our small house by the railway, they didn’t like it because of the dining table – not included in the sale!

    4. The French people to whom we sold our shack still keep in touch with us. It must be a French thing. Our ‘For Sale’ sign was up for only 24 hours.
      ‘

      1. I know it is silly – but we get a great kick that “our” house – half of which we designed and built – is in good hands, owned by people who love it as much as we did. The boys have made very, very few alterations.

        1. Yes, the people who wanted our little shack really wanted it, for different reasons, though. At one point we said: “And look at the view!” (We were more excited about the view than anything else when we first arrived!) “Ah, yes, the view,” said Alain and Nicole – from Chantilly – and promptly turned their backs as they went on to look at other things. They promised to look after it ‘for us’ as we left – we did not of course ask them to do this, it was theirs by then, but they understood we felt the wrench.

    5. Good morning Bill,

      I loved your little story , and am pleased your well loved home was taken by two sociable nice people who keep in contact with you.

      We have lived in our present property for 22 years nearly to the day this week. We left behind a lovely cosy solid bungalow , built in the 1920s and converted over the years . It had a lovely view front and back , and we had many friends in the area . We also had two very large garden ponds containing Coy carp and goldfish and lots of lively interesting creatures .

      A wonderful couple from Essex bought our home , they just fell in love with it straight away . There were very few homes on the market in the area Moh wanted to move to , because he wanted less work travelling time for his 12 hour duty rosta , waiting around for flying “scrambles”.

      He used to arrive home exhausted , especially if they had had a late SAR call out .

      We moved 16 miles away to the house here , all seemed very well, untill we moved in on a very cold day December 1999.

      We arrived , 3 dogs and a parrot and cat to a nice looking house , but the owner had taken all the light bulbs out , ripped fixed mirrors from bathroom walls, leaky taps , CH didn’t work , no coal for the fire , house inside was cold and unfriendly , and the vibes felt all wrong .

      Neighbours were kind , but were reserved, very much old village types . They mentioned a divorce situation , a late divorce , the husband had vanished , and the wife had hurled her cat out of the family bathroom window.

      Our previous home had harboured nice family memories , and the previous owners had lived there forever . We had found old gas lamps in the loft , old mouse chewed newspapers , and some were really historic , when Russia invaded Finland etc . The old chap who had lived there was keen on history and he used to play the church organ , win prizes for his runner beans and sweet peas. We also inherited pullets and a cockerel , fresh eggs were delicious .

      Here is fine now, Moh has been retired for a number of years , and life goes on , but to me it is just a resting place , and doesn’t feel like our previous home , even after 22 years .

      Son no 2 visited at the weekend and commented on how are we going to manage with our staircase when we become feeble , it is not the sort of staircase that would accommodate a stairlift chair!

      I will pause on that one !!!

      2. This morning we have received our annual Christmas card addressed not to the previous owners, but the owners before them. There has never been a return address and we do not know where they have moved on too, but as we have lived here for nearly 35 years I am sure the grim reaper will resolve the situation sooner or later.

      4. When we moved into this house they had taken not just the light bulbs, but the wall fittings and chandelier! When we switched the light on, it blew the trip. Plus, I discovered that we had a Minton tiled floor in the hall; it had been covered by a fitted carpet when I viewed. Sadly the morons who lived here had NAILED griplock into it!

    6. When we were selling the old farmhouse, we inevitably made judgements as to who we thought would love it and respect its venerable history, and who would use it as an investment/status symbol.
      One couple were absolutely dire. Fortunately, it was a wet spring, so, spotting madam’s vertiginous stilettos, I took them on a tour of the garden that just happened to include the permanently boggy area where one pond ran into another.
      They did not return.

  30. 342910+ up ticks,

    Morning Each,

    December: Are Conservatives starting to take back control of their party from the Prime Minister?

    No,NO,NO, bloody NO, bloody NO,NO,NO.

  32. SWMBO has made an evaluation of the new COVID test arrangements announced a day or so ago, in relation to travel to the UK from abroad. Everybody must have a test, vaxxed or otherwise, and the new accuracy requirements of the tests means that Norwegian test labs cannot issue such a certificate. Thus, vxaxed or not, we cannot travel to the UK. This also applies to folk travelling home to the UK. Good think MiL and FiL decided not to travel here for Christmas – they’d be stuck!

    2. I have completely lost the desire to travel anywhere, Paul. I simply refuse to be a political stool-pigeon.

      2. Us too, but Mother & in-laws need visited, and BiL’s ashes to be scattered.
        Plus, I’d like to go to a favourite pub for a pie and several pints.

  33. A couple of days ago the Met shot a man dead in the street. It was reported that he had visited a bank and a bookies and was carrying a handgun. After that there are two different stories;
    1. He entered a taxi which was later stopped and the police shot him with assault rifles.
    2. He got into a Mercedes car which was later stopped and the man was shot dead.
    The police issued a statement to the effect that “there was no danger to the public”.
    An assault rifle fires highly penetrating bullets with a range of over 400 yards. Anyone in front of such a weapon is at risk. The taxi driver, certainly. People going about their business on the streets and in nearby buildings.
    Nothing more has been reported as far as I can tell, but I can read a story on the BBC News website (“must see”) about a man who sold his collection of whisky miniatures.
    Why not? The story of a man being shot to death by the police after being stopped on a main road in broad daylight surely warrants more attention than social media fluff?

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-59673351

  34. Looking at what France has done and looking at the non-stop UK scarathon I can’t help wondering if this is yet another psy op to see exactly how much government is able to get away with just by frightening people.

    The wanton destruction of the hospitality and tourism industries would fit the green agenda beautifully and no actual hard legislation is needed, just propaganda; so what is being done can’t be challenged through the courts.

    1. Shows how “strong” Toy Boy is against Perfide Albion. That, coupled with his two hour take over of French telly – should ensure a great result come April!!

      1. I’m hoping our central heating oil will last until the inevitable fuel price reduction coming up to that.

    2. So, Ban any EU, particularly Frog, from coming here – I believe there are about a million working in London. When they go home for Christmas, stop them coming back.

      Sauce for the goose…

          1. Given the state of the UK why on earth would they want to?
            We hadn’t been back for getting on for two years and I was taken aback by what it has turned into.
            I suspect that the slow and steady deterioration means the general public don’t see what is going on.

          2. Too right – people say to me that they don’t understand what I am complaining about….

            Sad, really.

        2. The French politicians have alwys hated us. Live in France at your peril as one day they will turn on the Brits living in France.

          1. I’ll take the risk at the moment. My last few trips to the UK suggest that those in charge hate “my type” with a venom.

    3. I think we should just get Vlad in and sort Macrimony out. He is so childish.
      It’s no good taking legal action against that twerp the French don’t pay their fines anyway. I read that in the past 40 years of membership the UK has made contributions of around 850 billion pounds to the EU and this is what we get in return. I wonder that this nation might have been like now if that AH Heath hadn’t lied to us all.

      1. When the new German gets his feet under the table and if, as seems likely, Macron is re-elected, the EU will change again taking over more and more of the rights of its citizens. At that point I would not be at all surprised to see several other countries following Britain out.

        2. My money is on Valérie Pécresse.

          Unless they can find some dirt on her (as they did with Fillon who, had he had more brains, could have admitted the allegations and said “they ll do it” and now be President) – I think that Toy Boy is in for a rude shock.

          2. Well, she appears to be able to unite the conservatives (Les Républicains) – which is a start.

            I don’t think that Toy Boy realises how much he is deeply loathed in La France Profonde…

            Interesting times ahead. “Events, dear boy, events.” (© Estate of H Macmillan) They are what do for politicians everywhere…

          3. Be careful what you wish for.
            Macron as unelected and immovable President of the EU for 25 years, doing down Britain at every possible opportunity.

          4. If he is defeated, he will just be one among many contenders in Euroland. He gets his kudos from being President. Having no position weakens his appeal (an optimist writes).

          6. We have encountered no anti-British feeling at all in Brittany and, as we know, Macron is depending on voters hating the British.

          11. Sorry to have to repeat this very true observation from John Cleese – but that is the lesson Caroline and I have had to learn in the last couple of years with cancelled course after cancelled course that we had hoped to run.

            “It’s not the despair; I can cope with despair …. it’s the hope .”

        3. The Italians are not happy at the moment Greece hasn’t been happy for years since the EU bankrupted them. I can’t see Spain chucking out nearly half a million Brits in the sun. The Spanish economy would suffer horrendously. Probably in a similar way Portugal would.

        1. If only.
          But the version we were lumbered with liked to sail his morning cloud around the buoys.

    4. Look on the bright side, Bath Rugby are due to play La Rochelle in the European Rugby Champions Cup on Saturday. With the form Bath are in and being a season ticket holder who is due to watch the match, having no opposition if Micron causes them not to travel would help my mental health no end.
      So far, played 11 lost 11

    5. As the powers that be made us, simple marionettes, dance to the peremptory twitching of their strings we learned what they wanted. We poor little puppets became thoroughly trained. Now they can cut the strings and we’ll still go on dancing in line with their desires.

      2. With heart felt and groveling apple-ogies to Sooty and Sweep. I meant no harm to your mental health conditions chaps……..😎

    2. Don’t i can’t look at that sort of thing, it;s too upsetting. We have a very sweet and astute and gorgeous almost 2 year old grand daughter, it makes me almost weep when I see or hear these dreadful versions of humanity, its unspeakable.

    3. Morning Anne

      The mother has an IQ of 70, that is almost cretin stage , so how come she had a beautiful baby and where and who was the father ?

        1. Apparently there is a named father. In fairness, the dominant partner was so nasty, that any contact he might have tried to make would have been aborted.

      2. Putting myself at risk of being compared to Mengele – that is precisely the reason why low IQs were sterilised.
        The rot had set in by the 1970s. If a promiscuous, mentally disturbed or handicapped patient refused to take the Pill, we were not allowed to persuade them otherwise.
        I have seen a mentally defective and psychotic patient – whose only other hobby was sticking needles into her kneecaps and breaking off the tops – deliberately picking out the Pill from the spoonful of tablets offered to her. She and boyfriend would then go off and rut away behind the hospital chapel.

        1. I think we have to be realistic here, and everthing you say is true .

          Certainly we are now seeing so many more ghastly life decisions .

          I really miss watching Jeremy Kyle progs , yes I know … taking pleasure in viewing other peoples self made miseries.

          He should be brought back and a few cabinet ministers need to view the rot in society that he revealed

      3. Virgin birth. All the rage this time of year.

        (Sorry to be light-hearted – but I have to try to keep sane)

      4. It is time to permanently end welfare.

        Heck, such people shouldn’t be allowed to breed. The bruise on that girl’s cheek is horrific. Junior was playing with Mongo and fell against the shed. The blighter was 2. We went to docs, then hospital. I was terrified they’d assume I’d hit him.

        Maybe that was why my mother would hit me where you can’t see the bruises?

        1. In Oz, if a parent takes a child to A&E, the parents are given the third degree over how the child came by the injury. It is recorded and if they appear again, unless it’s clearly accidental, it’s followed up. My grandchildren are very keen sports players, netball, rugby and football amongst other games and are regularly getting injured but even so their parents are rigorously questioned.

  37. Morning all, I have just had my phone cal with my GP and ………………now he seems to have backed out and I now have to make my own mind up about the booster, so get in line peeps, there’s a booster jab going free for any one who wants it. Next week I get a phone call from the cardiology dept. I can’t wait…….🤔

    1. He was told by his paymasters that he’d lose the £15 fee for ALL if he advises the vulnerable to avoid the needle.

  38. First victims of Australian bouncy castle horror that left five schoolchildren dead and three injured after inflatable was thrown 30ft in the air by ‘freak gust of wind’. 16 December 2021.

    The first victims of an horrific bouncy castle accident in Australia have been identified after five pupils were killed and another three left in critical condition when the inflatable was thrown 30ft in the air by a freak gust of wind.

    One of the oddities of life is how little distance you have to fall to be seriously injured or killed. I remember the cliff on Curbar Edge in Derbyshire being pointed out to me as the spot where a climber had been killed the preceding year and frankly had difficulty crediting it. It was no higher than the top of our bedroom window. Similarly here. Thirty feet is really nothing but it has seen off these five young lives!

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10316119/Four-children-killed-freak-bouncy-castle-accident-Australian-school.html

        1. Oddly enough I had to regularly.

          The children’s football club used to hire one for the annual fiesta and I was regularly called upon to evict yobs who seemed to think that they could take it over and refused to get off.
          The people who rented the damned things were always pissed off when I kept checking the moorings and complaining about the lack of control.

    3. I really would have thought with all it’s annoying over the top regulations some bright spark in Australia might have seen that one coming. The Ars$ covering will have started already, some one will cop it full bore.

    4. The human body is a weird and wonderful thing. I have a friend who fell off a roof and just bounced; I have also seen a lady slip on a shallow step, hit her head and die. Eat, drink, and be merry.

    2. Perhaps in the rush to accept this award the ramifications of the situation passed him by.

    3. His award is Knight Bachelor (KB) rather than KBE (part of the Order of the British Empire). I suspect that someone put their thinking cap on to avoid the ‘Empire’ tag. However, he had previously been made an MBE, so he had already accepted a ‘colonial/Imperial’ award.

      1. The boy is a hypocrite. Happy to use all the advantages of this country, but spiteful when he doesn’t need it any more.

    1. “The AQUIND Interconnector is a proposed HVDC submarine power cable proposed to link France and England.[1][2][3] It has faced local opposition and attracted controversy due to links between the company’s backers and the Conservative Party.”
      Wiki

      1. “Campaigners and local MPs have urged the cancellation of the project. The Portsmouth MP Stephen Morgan claims that the cable and its associated data connections pose a risk to UK national security. The Guardian newspaper reports that the promoters of the project, Viktor Fedotov and Alexander Temerko, are both substantial donors to the Conservative party and MPs, and that “Three Conservative ministers have already had to recuse themselves from the decision-making process over the Aquind undersea cable because of their links to the company.” Almost 10% of MPs have received donations from companies linked to Fedotov. The minister and peer Martin Callanan was a former director of Aquind and another peer, James Wharton is a consultant to the company.

        In October 2021, AQUIND vehemently denied any wrongdoing, and stated that it would “not stand silently and accept slander based on xenophobia and the principles of guilt by association.” The company stated that it was considering taking legal action against the media involved.“

        1. The moronic guardian complaining about the Tory party, not the underlying problem – the demented Left wing green nonsense.

          1. Surely the Tory Party being signed up to the demented Left-wing green nonsense is as much of a problem?

    2. With all these interconnectors allowing our useless nation to pretend we have met the pointless green targets – what do we do when those nations need all the energy for themselves?

  41. 342910+ up ticks,

    Are they guardians of the political overseers or what, that is a very important question if so that means the safety of the local MP is put before the safety of children keeping in mind rotherham.

    1400 /1600 mentally scarred victims courtesy of mass government controlled illegal immigration, on going., ALL
    governance party’s working as a coalition GUILTY as SIN.

    https://twitter.com/ByDonkeys/status/1471125380228653060

    1. And Indian – Bungalow?

      Anyone would think we were a nation of cultural appropriators. borrowing those things from every nation to create the great nation we are.

    3. This is probably, Maggie, why I found it relatively easy to learn German, albeit platdeutsch (as spoken by the farmlanders) when I was stationed in Northrhine Westphalia in the 60s. I learned by listening, going to the pub (bierstube) and asking, “Was saga du?) What do you say?

      There are many German words close to our current English words.

      I’ve learnt my French the same way, although we had both French and Latin at school. I’ve forgotten most Latin but it still helps, not only with French but Spanish also (I lived there for 5 years).

      2. Although the fact that my father spoke fluent French & we often spoke French at home, which was a big help in school, I took to German like a duck to water. It helped that I had the right German master of the two in the school. The other one was a bastard.

    1. For the same reason MPs exempt themselves from everything – they believe they are special.

      Like the communist party of old, it’s the Hitler system: a short, dumpy, unattractive black haired Austrian man declares himself the leader of the master race of tall, blonde, Aryan Germans. Hypocrisy runs in their veins.

  46. 342910+ up ticks,

    Probably after having a covert meeting with the fat turk / priti
    Awful, the illegal human cargo movers, and agreeing on a NO return policy.

    France to ban all non-essential travel from Britain as omicron wave surges

      1. It has been. Yer Frogs can’t leave to come here. Except for a handful of exceptions.

        Of course the endless flood of illegals can Carry On Crossing

        1. Hmm, so all the refugees from Austria and Germany will have to cross from the Netherlands if Germany votes for universal mandatory vaxxing in January.

          2. I was not talking about THEM! I was talking about Germans and Austrians fleeing government persecution!!

        2. Let’s exhume Sid James, Kenneth Williams, Joan Sims, BArbara Windsor, Charles Hawtry and the rest of the gang and make a film of it.

  48. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-59633882 Has anyone read any reports in the UK press about the incident between two ships in the Baltic in the early hours of Tuesday morning? I can’t find any.

    Apparently the British captain and Croatian first officer of a British cargo vessel were drunk at its controls when it rammed, and capsized, a smaller Danish vessel, killing one of its crew members. I had to search for a long time before I unearthed this hidden BBC report.

    As you may imagine, it is big news over here.

        2. The Grimes yesterday: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sailors-in-baltic-sea-crash-may-not-have-been-drunk-by-uk-standards-lgbp236x2

          Apparently, the alcohol levels are not above the UK limit – but are for Sweden.

          The Swedish Prosecution Authority launched an investigation into gross negligence and drunkenness at sea following the incident. The Scot Carrier’s chief officer, a 56-year-old Croatian citizen, and the second officer, a 30-year-old British man, have been detained as suspects after having been found over the limit.

  50. Yesterday, 78,610 cases were confirmed but Professor Hayward said that this suggested around 150,000 people had the infection because not everyone infected gets tested.

    Currently, he said the capacity maxed out around 600,000 tests a day.

    He added: “We’re soon going to exceed that number just in cases alone, so counting the cases is going to become hard.”

    https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/expert-says-uk-see-600000-25711562

    BBC presenter Charlie Stayt was interviewing Professor Hayward this morning for his personal views on the virus numbers that are being regularly broadcast to the nation and what they mean.

    This is relevant to my mathematical calculation of the UK population’s exposure to Omicron so I shall find out where these figures sit on my graph and comment on them in the graph in this thread.

    1. Oh for heavens sake this is such drivel!* They have no bodies to count, so they are trying to make the most out of the tests!
      The Daily Mail is beoming a dead bore nowadays, nothing but covid. It’s even worse than their wall-to-wall royal family coverage!

      *the govt’s scaremongering, not your analysis!

        1. My mathematical Omicron model is just the graphical visualisation of the numeric data representation of the equations derived from reports by the Government, the BBC and various sources advising the authorities of the actions that the public should follow during the alleged pandemic.

          Interpretation of the graph is an entirely different matter.
          You can decide to put your own labels on the two variables in the graph and see if that makes sense.
          Ironically the graph is intended to reveal testicular identies through attempting to create insoluble mathematical equations derived from people who talk from such a reproductive perspective..

      2. Let’s hope the dear old lady doesn’t succumb to Covid over the Christmas festivities….

        1. All the media has become dumbed down. I tried to read the New Scientist this week – it’s written by idiots, and has only a passing association with science. I remember when it published articles that were hard to understand!

          1. I used to read New Scientist years ago – struggled with some of it but loved Grimbledon Down!!

      4. I didn’t find this information in the Daily Mail – I listened to the interview myself live on BBC Breakfast.
        I put the link in my comment for the benefit of Nottlers who just can’t live without a link.

      5. HM has cancelled the family Christmas get-together by all accounts. If she cancels the Christmas Day broadcast, the world will end!

    2. That figure is quite wrong – and very misleading. The true number of cases yesterday was 7,861,000. I wish the press would understand decimal points….

      2. That’s the problem with using floating point arithmetic – the point can float around anywhere so nobody can work out WTF is going on. 🙄

          1. Good point BT,
            We don’t know how to count how many times people can have Omicron in any given period. This means that the number of infections in the country over a long enough time frame could greatly exceed the UK population of 70×10↑6.

            BTW I don’t see the point in last figure! 😉

    3. This evening BBC announced 88,000 new COVID cases.
      A third of these from reports yesterday suggest a third of these are Omicron – lets say 30,000

      Based on the exponential growth of the Omicron variant I make the penetration of the variant at day 37 of its 40 day duration when everyone’s got it.

    1. Probably true – but I’d like further and better particulars.

      Sounds more like..”A chap I knew was talking to a bloke in the pub whose neighbour told him that his cleaning lady reported……”

    1. A friend from the curling club went out carol singing with a group on Saturday night, They dressed up a trailer with lights, piled everyone on board, tanked up with wine and towed the sleigh around behind their tractor. Unfortunately they ran into a police ride check during their travels but luckily the PC that stopped them did not want to hand out a drunk in charge of a sleigh charge.

      So canceling carols may not always be bad.

    1. Is he the one who always sounds sensible? The one who said that the people killed the other day were not “killed by a SUV” but were murdered by a drunken drug addict?

      I fear he has a mountain to climb.

    2. I would have thought that he is too close to Trump to consider running while yer Donald us supposedly considering a run.

      I wonder who the Dems would come up with to take him on? Vote for Pelosi /Biden/Sanders to beat the young pretender!

      2. Agree. I cannot stand middle class mothers who let their small sons’ hair grow in Little Lord Fauntleroy locks! The children look so stupid and the parents are so smug about it! Small children’s hair should be kept tidy so it doesn’t get full of jam and rice pudding!

  59. FIRST PATIENT TO DIE WITH OMICRON WAS UNVACCINATED SEPTUAGENARIAN

    The first and currently only hospital patient to die with Omicron was unvaccinated, according to a close relative appearing on LBC this morning. Speaking to Nick Ferrari, the stepson of the man who died earlier this week claimed that he had been taken in by “conspiracy theories”, and refused to take the vaccine despite being in his early 70s:

    “He thought it was a conspiracy. He was an intelligent man but it’s all these different things you are getting from online and different media things… He wasn’t vaccinated at all.”

    According to the latest figures, there are currently 15 people in hospital with Omicron, an increase of 5 since Tuesday…

    order-order 12:42pm

      1. I can’t help feeling that if they were unvaccinated, we’d have heard about it right away, with photos and ID!

    2. So, he wasn’t vaccinated – however as we are told the moronic variant “evades” the vaccine, so what!?

      1. You are classed as unvaxxed until 14 days after the shot. So, drop dead of a massive heart attack the day after taking Fauci’s poison and its nothing to do with the jab, honest..

    4. It appears that he was a recluse, so I would guess that his natural immunity will have been compromised because of that too. A bout of ‘flu would probably have seen him off.

    5. Otherwise he was perfectly healthy and absolutely no underlying conditions. PM results will be interesting. No PM will also be interesting!

    6. The Daily Mail also tells us that out antivax conspiracy theorist was also a loner and living like a hermit.

      If he caught this dreaded thingy, there is no hope for the rest of us who actually try to retain contact with the human race.

      1. Human race – Mankind has had it’s day.
        Why do we interfere with Mother Nature who often knows best.
        The animals are far more sensible….

        Happy friggin’ Crimbo….

  60. 342910 + up ticks,

    We give them tory’s a rodgering, cries the very pro eu
    lib /dem mob when seeing the results, against another pro eu mob regarding today’s by election.

    Meanwhile we the decent peoples of the nation are under attack via DOVER and another mosque is being opened somewhere in the country.

    When the take over take place heads will begin to roll,
    check the looks of total surprise of lab / lib / con supporter / voters / MPs gazing up from the bottom of the basket.

    The Liberal Democrats are now the bookies’ favourite to win in the Conservative stronghold of North Shropshire in Thursday’s by-election, according to reports, following weeks of allegations that Boris Johnson’s government had broken lockdown rules last winter while the rest of Britain was forced to cancel Christmas gatherings.

    1. The deliberate replacement of a people, the destruction of culture is illegal under UN law.

      The UN is also in favour of uncontrolled immigration. These two approaches are utterly incompatible.

    2. Honestly what kind of spineless wimp makes a protest by voting Liberal Democrat??
      A dyed in the wool Tory, I suppose!

      2. 342910+ up ticks,
        Evening BB2,
        What I could never fathom is who would continue to support / vote for proven mass paedophile sympathetically inclined, mass party controlled illegal immigrants, country destroying party’s again & again.

    3. Well the Limp Dim has been telling us she’s won ever since she set out her stall. The LDs have thrown the kitchen sink at it; posters, campaigners bused in from all over (Wimbledon, some of them), leaflets galore. She’s been in the papers jumping on any bandwagon going. I only hope she’s turned people off!

  61. Good afternoon from a Anglo Saxon Queen with blooded axe and longbow
    A miserable but fairly mild afternoon.
    Just about to have a cup of tea and jam donut ( might even have two ) .
    It doesn’t feel much like Christmas is soon.

        1. Party Pooper.
          …..we’re heading in the right direction – get this friggin’ year behind us …

          Spring a time of re-berth….

        2. Party Pooper.
          …..we’re heading in the right direction – get this friggin’ year behind us …

          Spring a time of re-berth….

  62. Prepare for another 18 MONTHS of Covid chaos: Professor Chris Whitty warns variant-busting jab that frees Britain from endless cycle of restrictions won’t be ready until mid-2023 at the earliest… but insists UK’s position WILL get better with every wave

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10313513/Prepare-18-MONTHS-Covid-chaos-says-Chris-Whitty.html

    I wish this bastard would get the bloody disease, tell us he’s got it, be fully recovered 24 hours later and then have to explain that away.

  63. Dear Nottlers,

    If you have time, could you please reply with a couple of your favourite carols? I’ve arranged a carolling session for a care home tomorrow afternoon (me and whoever I can blackmail from the campsite, probably outside, with the residents’ windows open). I reckon a short list of the most popular ones, with reduced verses, might be best, but I am biased towards the magnificent and sonorous and know I’m likely to overlook some. I’d really welcome some help; I’ve sung in care homes before and know just how amazing it can be for people to connect with music they remember from the past: my favourite was the 90-year-old lady who sang along enthusiastically with some Vera Lynn classics – later, her carer said, in tears, that she’d been mute since her arrival several years previously. Different neural pathways for music and speech!

      1. I get confused about which is which, so probably used the wrong word – pretty certain most of my favourites are hymns.

    7. “Campsite”? Does this mean you have been arrested and interned for (a) not being vaccinated (enough) and (b) being a NoTTLer?

      My fave is “O Come all ye Faithful” with all the descants, trumpets and organ….

      1. Not sure I can rustle up trumpets and an organ in the middle of the Yorkshire Wolds at short notice, and I’ll have to restrain myself from launching into that wonderful descant . . . (SING, choirs of angels!!!).

        Upon completion of the sale of my late mother’s house, I have moved into a caravan. Of my own free will, I hasten to add. The car I have is not heavy enough to tow it, and I don’t know the first thing about caravans, so I have arranged to stay here on a campsite in the middle of nowhere for a few months to get my bearings. The idea is to go on the run for the above crimes at some point. I shall inform you all when I am ready to start my Progress.

    8. My all time fave is Hark the Herald Angels and, as it was my English Nana’s favourite, Away in a Manger- the old tune.
      To the, no doubt great distress of our neighbours, we have activated our keyboard and put in pipe organ mode. Have had a couple of sing songs so far.
      Wouldn’t be surprised if they are putting cheese in their ears as the Germans do when Madame Edith sings in ‘Allo, ‘Allo.

    9. O Little Town of Bethlehem
      Once in royal David’s City
      God rest ye merry Gentlemen
      It came upon the Midnight clear
      We three Kings
      The first Noel
      While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night*

      finishing up with We wish you a merry Christmas, Now bring us a figgy pudding etc!

      *my father always used to sing
      “While Shepherds washed their socks by night
      All seated round the tub
      A bar of Sunlight soap came down
      And they began to scrub”

      1. We three kings of Leicester Square
        Selling knickers tuppence a pair.
        They’re fantastic , no elastic
        Guaranteed never to wear.

        1. We three Kings of Orient are
          One on a bike and one in a car
          One on a scooter, pipping his hooter
          Following yonder star.

    10. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. Love it. TBF I like all those listed below but I love the minor key. Prefer it sung.

    11. Oh little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie
      Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by
      Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting light
      The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
      For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above
      While mortals sleep the angels keep their watch of wondering love
      Oh morning stars together, proclaim thy holy birth.
      And praises sing to God the king, and peace to men on earth.
      Oh little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie
      Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by
      Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting light
      The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

        1. I was taught to sing “There is a green hill far away” to that tune in infant school!!

    12. I replied to Plum – “In the deep midwinter” has been a favourite of mine since I heard it as a child.

    13. The Angel Gabriel From Heaven Came

      The angel Gabriel from heaven came,
      his wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame;
      “All hail,” said he to meek and lowly Mary,
      “most highly favored maiden.” Gloria!

      2 “I come from heav’n to tell the Lord’s decree:
      a blessed virgin mother you shall be.
      Your Son shall be Immanuel, by seers foretold,
      most highly favored maiden.” Gloria!

      3 Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head;
      “To me be as it pleases God,” she said.
      “My soul shall laud and magnify his holy name.”
      Most highly favored maiden, Gloria!

      4 Of her, Immanuel, the Christ, was born
      In Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn,
      and Christian folk throughout the world will ever say,
      “Most highly favored maiden.” Gloria!

      Sometimes the last line of each line is
      “Most highly favoured lady” Gloria!

        1. It does rather lend itself to that interpretation! It being the season of highly flavoured foods!

    14. Angels from the Realms of Glory; God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen; The First Noël; While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night … (I am a great fan of carols!).

    15. With all due acknowledgement to Squire Western, BTL at the Speccie, here are some topical carols:

      Whilst shepherds watched their flocks by night
      All seated on the ground
      Chris Whitty was on ITV
      And gloomy he did sound.

      “Fear ye!”, he said, and mighty dread
      Did seize their troubled minds,
      ‘Sad tidings of great woe I bring
      To you and all Mankind.”

      “The SAGE I have consulted and
      The news I have to tell,
      Means Christmas shall be cancellèd
      Else we shall be in Hell.”

      And then to them he did relate
      That Omicron was rife,
      Unless we all received the jab
      Most like we’d lose our life.

      The shepherds then did leave that place
      And to their doctors went,
      And in their arms received the jab
      Before the day was spent.

      Four weeks did pass, but nowhere did
      The promised plague befall,
      And Whitty then imprisoned was
      In cells dark, dank and small.

      O little town of Birmingham, how still we see thee lie,
      For all the pubs and clubs are closed, that fewer folk might die,
      Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting light
      Of vaccine centres working still, to jab by day and night.

      How silently how silently our freedoms, once a giv’n_
      Removèd are by Parliament, by fear of Covid driven,
      Now vaccine passes we must carry, and show them when required
      Else we’ll be barred from public life and those employed be fired.

      O citizens of Birmingham rise up and make affray,
      Drive out enforcers of these laws, reclaim our rights today,
      We hear the choirs of gloomsters, sad tidings they do tell,
      But heed them not, and to them say that they can go to Hell.

      On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me:
      Twelve Lockdown parties
      Eleven doctors jabbing
      Ten GP’s skiving
      Nine shops a-closing
      Eight priests a-hiding
      Seven SAGES lying
      Six fake statistics
      FIVE NEW RULES
      Four cancelled ops
      Three new masks
      Two more suicides
      And a vaccine pass to be free.

      Good King Boris last looked out
      On the Feast of Stephen
      Saw that Covid was about,
      Surging for some reason.
      Then King Boris called for SAGE
      To advise him wisely,
      Wond’ring how he could assuage
      COVID, and precisely?

      ‘Hither, SAGE, and stand by me,
      If thou knowst it, telling
      The best measures you can see
      To stop COVID swelling!’
      ‘Sire, the people must stay home,
      Under new restrictions,
      Do not let them out to roam!
      Issue jurisdictions!’

      ‘Bring me flesh and bring me wine
      Bring me pine logs hither
      Carrie has some friends to dine,
      Told me not to dither.’
      ‘Sire, a party at your house
      Would enrage your people,
      Since you shut their public-house,
      Giving them the needle.’

      But King Boris was afraid
      Of his wife’s displeasure,
      Fearing he might not get laid,
      Humoured her with treasure.
      Photos though they did appear
      Of that fateful party
      Boris had to disappear
      Leaving pretty sharply.

      2. My two pen’worth:

        God, Test ye many gentlemen
        Let face coverings you display
        Remember Chris our Saviour
        Has foresworn Christmas Day
        To save us all from Covid’s pow’r
        When we were gone astray
        Oh tidings of Covid unalloyed
        Covid unalloyed
        Oh tidings of Covid unalloyed

        In Wu Han, in China
        This blessed flu was born
        And spread within a market
        Upon some wretched morn
        The which the Doctor Fauci
        Did nothing take in scorn
        Oh tidings of Covid unalloyed
        Covid unalloyed
        Oh tidings of Covid unalloyed

      3. Oh, those are brilliant; thanks! (I cancelled my Spectator subscription due to this malarkey, so wouldn’t have seen them.)

        1. I cancelled mine, too. But the offer of 12 weeks plus a bottle of Johnnie Walker Black Label for £12 was difficult to refuse. As it happens, the JWBL arrived in today’s post, so I’m testing it…

  64. Clear blue sky here and the buzzards are soaring and calling to each other.

    “No Covid corpses, no Covid corpses. Try London”

      3. Christopher Isherwood

        The Common Cormorant or shag
        Lays eggs inside a paper bag.
        The reason you will see no doubt
        It is to keep the lightning out.
        But what these unobservant birds
        Have never noticed is that herds
        Of wandering bears may come with buns
        And steal the bags to hold the crumbs.

          2. Two years’ figures then. What are their two years’ figures for cancer, heart disease or dementia deaths?

  65. Latest bulletin from the heretics.

    We’re almost certainly overreacting to the omicron variant

    Competent responses to new variants can hardly be expected when data are interpreted and acted on at lightning speed

    CARL HENEGHAN, TOM JEFFERSON • 15 December 2021 • 3:44pm

    We are now two years into the Covid-19 pandemic, but still have not settled on a proportionate method of containing it. Now the omicron variant of the virus has struck, and we must ask ourselves whether we are reacting appropriately.

    Research evidence informs us that we hardly discussed the concept of “variants of concern” before this year. However, last winter’s arrival of the “more transmissible” alpha variant saw the development of guidelines and committees to assign by consensus “variants of concern” based on vast amounts of global data.

    Early British assessments estimated that alpha was roughly 1.75 times more transmissible than pre-existing “lineages”. So all of a sudden, more – beta, gamma – were designated. Then in May came the delta variant, which was even more transmissible than anything that had gone before – “more than twice as contagious as previous variants”, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    In November, omicron was added to the World Health Organisation’s list of “variants of concern” due to its increased transmissibility: omicron spreads twice as fast as delta. We are told that the UK will see a million daily cases by Christmas Day.

    However, changes to the virus cannot solely explain the multiplicative increase in spread from alpha to omicron. South African doctor Angelique Coetzee, who alerted the world to the omicron variant, said there is a “huge gap” between “the science and what is actually happening”. We tend to agree.

    Our current approach to interpreting science is too rapid and simplistic. As a consequence, indisputable facts are established overnight. The sheer speed at which data are interpreted generates overconfident, pessimistic predictions about what might happen next. As a result, we seem to be losing the ability to think critically.

    Public Health England’s reports (see technical briefing 12) inform us that the growth rate in a variant of concern is “context-dependent”, and should not “be interpreted as a change in biological transmissibility”. The weather, the temperature, our behaviour, the presence of other co-pathogens – all of these influence the rise and fall of respiratory pathogens.

    The current policy responses to omicron suggest that the winter surge in respiratory pathogens in the northern hemisphere has been overlooked. Other circulating pathogens are also on the rise at this time of year – the four existing seasonal coronaviruses generally peak between January and March. There are other agents virtually unknown to the public on the rise, too, as happens every year. They are now contributing to the rise in winter coughs and colds, which substantially increases primary consultations, and in some cases secondary complications that can cause serious consequences and an increase in unplanned hospital admissions.

    So the latest surge is not surprising. What is unexpected is our reaction. South African data report fewer patients in intensive care, less severe disease and shorter hospital stays. However, none of these seem to be getting through to those in charge of the UK’s response. Having failed to prepare a proportionate plan to deal with the inevitable surge in Covid and other respiratory pathogens, policymakers are now ignoring real-world data and ploughing ahead with the reintroduction of restrictions. This tunnel vision is partly due to our 30-year obsession with influenza.

    It is over-simplistic to blame our current problems with capacity and lack of readiness on the appearance of a new variant, and we cannot simply boost our way out of the systemic failings in our thinking. Excessively pessimistic models distract from the real problem at hand, and the societal disruptions these models cause are exasperating current problems for the nation’s health and wellbeing, rather than easing them.

    It is vital that we now return to basing our responses on good intelligence, clear thought and strong evidence. If we are not careful, we will find ourselves in a cycle of restrictions based on the predictable rise in respiratory pathogens.

    Carl Heneghan is a professor of evidence-based medicine at the University of Oxford and director of the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine

    Tom Jefferson is a senior associate tutor at the University of Oxford and a visiting professor at Newcastle University

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/12/15/danger-letting-bad-science-force-us-cycle-covid-restrictions/

      1. The above observations lead one to concluded confirmation that there is another agenda in play….

    3. Bugger Big Pharma. We must concentrate on treating those who are ill as soon as possible with Covid with zinc, Vitamins C and D and Ivermectin or Hydroxychloroquine or Chloroquine.

      1. Interesting chat shared this morning between Dr Campbell and an Israeli doc about vitD and also zinc.

  66. The German beserk driver who drove into a crowd of people at Carnival, killing & injuring a few, (remember?) has been imprisoned for life.

  67. Lovely sunset – which, unfortunately, presages fog tomorrow all day and grey sunless skies until the end of next week.

    (The forecaster is Dr Whitty – so we know he is always right…)

  68. Just got back from Morrisons Tavistock. I was actively looking for others without masks. None, except one till lady surrounded by perspex. Quite shocked I was, but no one said anything to me.

    1. I wear a mask when out. I dislike it and see no point doing so, but it makes people feel more comfortable.

        1. Me too! My old man wears one, but I gave up on them last February. I hate them and the make me very uncomfortable! We were supposed to wear them for Vic’s wedding ceremony but only a couple of our hypochondriac friends did. Even my 88 year old second cousin and her husband didn’t!

          2. Some of the masks I see are fashion statements of absolutely no use whatsoever to safeguard against viruses. Sequined and embroidered masks, indeed!

        1. 342910+ up ticks,
          Evening M,
          Don’t wear one anywhere, best put large nail at the end of the stick and mirror practise GLARE until satisfied also a timely GERCHA can be added.

      3. Have you thought that everyone else may be wearing a mask “because it makes people feel more comfortable?”

        1. They make me feel very uncomfortable. I hate them with a passion, though I did comply at first last year.

    2. Lots of compliance in Wellingborough today. I forgot my exemption badge at Sainsbury’s but so what? I received only one glare from a shopper. There were a few staff members without masks.

      1. I’m self exempting because I don’t like them and actually feel quite stressed after more than a few minutes wearing one.

          1. Part of the Gov. plan Belle…We cannot allow free thought..

            “‘..a nation of warriors and fanatics, marching forward in perfect unity, all thinking the same thoughts and shouting the same slogans..’”- George Orwell ‘1984’ #198 is here.”

        2. I do too – I can’t hear what people say when they are masked and also my specs steam up. I did wear one yesterday for OH’s hospital check up.

          1. I wear one to pick up my meds at the GP pharmacy because I know they’ll kick up a fuss and not let me in. I’d have to wait outside until someone brought them out and I don’t want others to be slowed down by that process as it’s one out one in.

    3. Had coffee with a friend this morning – cafe busy but less than usual. Afterwards went into a local shop unmasked, and it was not mentioned. Bought some bits and pieces. OH went into local shop in same village – challenged and asked for proof of exemption, and wouldn’t let him in. I told him they’re not allowed to ask. That shop had a table outside for months last winter and wouldn’t let people into the shop. I haven’t been to them since.

      1. That is a breach of the Equalities Act 2010. They are on dangerous ground. They could be fined £5,000-£9,000.

    4. I was in B&Q yesterday. A nice young lady asked me to wear a mask and I told her that I was exempt. I the asked where the draught excluder tape was and she showed me. Smiles were exchanged.
      (However, draught excluder is sold in different lengths, different widths and with different life spans. To complex for me, bought something that might work. All made in China for UK company. Bah! Why does th government not support UK businesses? Oh, I know, it’s all a plan to move all production to China.

      1. Someone posted a good article the other day about China being allowed to join the World Trade Organisation in 2001. They’ve taken advantage of this, who would do otherwise, and rocketed to its current Super Exporter position.

        1. A pity Bojo didn’t make use of our WTO membership instead of cobbling together the dog’s breakfast of the current situation with Northern Ireland.

    5. I went into the local chemist and the woman there said, “have you got a mask?” [pause] “or are you exempt?” “I’m exempt,” I told her and that was the end of it. I’d previously been into Boots (neither place had what I wanted) and they never said a word.

    2. How can his lawyers claim this is manslaughter and not murder?

      If the death penalty is not acceptable then the punishment side of imprisonment should be stressed so that prison matches the hell murderers have caused the families of their victims.

    4. I hope he’s found guilty of murder. It appears to have been premeditated. What’s an Albanian “from Eastbourne ” doing here, anyway?

  70. Tory MPs have hit out at Chris Whitty over his calls for Britons to limit their socialising before Christmas

    Joy Morrissey, the MP for Beaconsfield, wrote in a now deleted Tweet: “Perhaps the unelected Covid public health spokesperson should defer to what our ELECTED Members of Parliament and the Prime Minister have decided.

    “I know it’s difficult to remember but that’s how democracy works. This is not a public health socialist state.” Ms Morrissey was responding to advice from Prof Whitty, England’s Chief Medical Officer, to scale back Christmas plans and not to “mix with people you don’t have to” in the wake of record daily Covid cases on Wednesday.

    Prof Whitty was further criticised in the Commons from backbench Tories, including Steve Brine, the former health minister, who said that he had “put this country, certainly hospitality… into effective lockdown”.

    Steve Baker, the Conservative MP for Wycombe, also asked for reassurance “that when officials speak at particular podiums at press conferences, that they are staying within the bounds of the policy that ministers have decided”.

    Ms Morrissey’s remarks prompted criticism from Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary, who said: “It is outrageous to see a Government PPS (parliamentary private secretary) attacking the Chief Medical Officer in this way. She should apologise and withdraw this immediately. Chris Whitty has never disputed where policy is made – he makes this point repeatedly.”

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/covid-news-booster-test-vaccine-jab-nhs-cases-omicron

    There’s certain irony in Ms Morrissey’s first name being Joy, given that another Morrissey sang ‘Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now’, a dirge which could be dedicated to the entire Labour bench, SAGE and Wee Snippy’s gang, the miserable b******s.

    2. This pathetic excuse for a human being, Welby, should be forced to spend the rest of his life in a small bedsitter with just Mrs Teraita May as his room-mate and bed-mate. He would then learn the real nature of both hell and evil.

      .

  72. Mrs. Grinch’s small heart grew 3 sizes today….
    All this BS has been getting to me and I have not been looking forward to the hols at all. But this afternoon, there was a knock at the door and it was the estate office managers. They gave us a large box and a card. Inside the card, from them and the trustees were £40 worth of coupons for local shops- all of which are close by.
    In the box were all sorts of goodies, lots of chocs, cookies, cheese biscuits, jam and more. We were quite overwhelmed and it has cheered me up no end. There is some wonderful looking fudge which I shall try to resist….
    And Mrs. Grinch herself will carve the roast beast;-)

      1. Actually, besides the book, I prefer the old version with Boris Karloff narrating and singing. But that Grinch certainly resembles me prior to today;-)

    1. I’ve always liked “In the deep midwinter” since I heard it as a child. Especially when sung by a good boy soprano.

      1. My favourite too (In the bleak midwinter). It’s so evocative. And ‘Away in a manger’ always brings tears to my eyes especially when sung by small schoolchildren.

        1. I meant ‘bleak’ – wrong word! I didn’t like ‘away in a manger’ so much. It always sounded a bit of a dirge.

        2. I used to like “We Will Rock You” until it was taken over by Cliff Richard and a hologram of Sir Laurence Olivier. Lol.

        3. I’ve been asked to do the reading that follows Away In A Manger (Luke 2 vv 8-16) at the lessons and carols on Sunday.

    2. Ashesthandust serenaded me once. O mio caro.

      I went weak at the knees. Those old folks are in for a treat whatever she sings.

        1. I think i should ask permission again. I am sorry. Though i don’t necessarily doubt you, the lady deserves her privacy. Unless otherwise stated.

          Or i could just say NO due to Covid ! :@(

          3. I am actually laughing out loud! There was me aiming for restrained elegance . . .

            Phizzee kindly asked me for permission to post the photo; this flamenco-dancing vamp says, oh go on then 🙂

      3. (He fails to mention he was weak at the knees to begin with – we did justice to not a few good bottles of wine!)

        Thank you darling x

      1. Yup they’ve got a long way to go to match our 90,000 new cases in 24 hours – 3rd World innit!

    3. Misprint. 10 million fresh cases…

      Don’t forget there are so many billions in India that – like 1920s DM notes – they just remove all the noughts. Saves on printing ink…

      4. Plum, like mm I’ve just learned it’s you birthday. Many happy returns! Enjoy the rest of your day & sherry!!

  77. Evening, all. When I went to vote this morning, I was pleasantly surprised how busy the polling station was. I thought people might have stayed away in disgust because if voting changed anything it would be banned. As for the headline, no, they are grandstanding at no risk to themselves or their jobs.

      1. No, but he came with me. Somewhere I have a picture of him sporting his political favour outside the polling station.

          2. Tell that to the “tellers” outside wearing their appropriate rosettes!
            Unless that is no longer allowed since my day.

          3. No, those are allowed. It’s things like “Vote for X” that are forbidden. Tellers have to be authorised and are given a strict list of conditions to adhere to.

  78. That slither of suppurating slime, aka Boris Johnson, is claiming that the artificial lockdown isn’t due to political interference it’s down to commentators and the over-reaction of the public.
    What did the malevolent moron expect?
    Whitty and all the other unelected policy formulators in Sage and the bought MSM telling everyone to panic and then being surprised when they do.

    These people are the mouthpieces spewing forth vomit to scare the pustulating populace into a blind funk and guided and encouraged by the syphilitic sycophants who pose as the crapulent cabinet.

    As to the general public swallowing this twice shat stupidity, they deserve all they will get.
    The great pity is that their cowering acquiescence is going to kill the economy and change Britain forever and not for the better.

        1. He is indeed I thank you. We went with d-i-l and grandson to the orspiddle and stood outside and waved to him through the window and then had a video c all with him. It was amazing, he is getting stronger every day, has been helped “around the room” three times today and looking better each time we see him. He’s been video calling us for the last 3 days, which has been wonderful, didn’t expect that at all.

          He’s still extremely weak but there is even talk of him coming home in time for Christmas. They will need to make sure he has no infection, can stand on his own, and remove various contraptions he’s attached to. He also has to learn how to eat properly again. There’s a lot for him to work at and the hospital staff are amazing. It’s all wonderful news.

          4. I believe one can catch all sorts in NHS hospitals but clap would be unlucky, even if potentially pleasant getting it.

          9. You are so right Conway, don’t mind telling you Alf and I have been praying lots for quite some while. And still are. And the hospital staff have been incredible.

          15. Fantastic news vw! Absolutely delighted for you all and keep up the good work! The time in hospital can be very lonely, and the video calls are a great link to ‘normality’! Our SiL would have really struggled without being able to see his wife and twins when he needed to.

          16. You’re absolutely right Sue. It’s been the best boost for him video calling and waving to his wife and son, best thing in the world to spur him on.

          17. Simon was in for 11 weeks and became quite institutionalised. I’m sure your lovely son won’t be anything like as long as that! Really hoping he’ll be home for Christmas! 🎅

  79. That’s me for the day. There were 17,000 new cases in Fulmodeston today. Quite a surprise given our population of 440.

    Gus has hurt his shoulder – walks OK but declines to run. Growls when picked up. Eating no problem…! He’ll get over it. I told him he might be living in a cold barn somewhere and having to forage for every ounce of food. He gave me a look and sauntered outdoors.

    Fog promised for tomorrow and the days getting colder in the run up to what used to be called Christmas – now Covidmas – where wise men called the SAGI (following the science) watch and follow a hypodermic syringe in the sky….

    A demain.

    1. I keep reminding Oscar he could have done far worse than come to me. I also made it clear this morning when he forgot himself and tried to bite my toes as I was preparing his breakfast, that such behaviour is a) unacceptable and b) far from speeding up the process, actually delays it as I sit down to recover from the smarting!

  80. Just been on to the Department of Work and Pensions to request PIPS.

    They answered straight away ! 20 mins of Q &A including dire threats of retribution if i was to tell a fib… © Boris.

    Then filled in an online form which took an hour.

    What is your disability?

    I can’t get a stiffy.

    Only joking……sort of.

    I want those feckers to cough up for my new motability Electric Chair……………..erm.

          1. Yes. Got it all done. I was diagnosed in February but thought the operation would solve the problem.

            No op and no contact with the Ward or my GP in 11 months.

            I thought it time to up the game.

            I still can’t walk my dog or go around a supermarket so i do feel i am due some help.

        3. Stupid boy. You shudda pressed “Black as yer hat”. Then money would rain upon you. Endlessly

    2. Happy Birthday dear Plum! Nice still evening; you should be able to hear me warbling away from where you are x

    6. And I’m late to the party as well, Plum! Have a manzanilla on me and don’t forget the ice! Hope you’ve had a great day! 💕🍾🎉

          1. I would prefer the term ‘tainted’, but I know what you mean. Can’t beat the full work with massive orchestra & choir. The best performance I attended was in Braunschweig at New Year. Every word was crystal clear.

            I learnt to love the 7th, because of my next door neighbour in Hall. He would play that4th movement at full volume, while singing la-la-la over the top of it, at the same time throwing a squash ball at the dividing wall.
            Another experience with that 4th movement was in my sailing days. We were returning to Poole from the IOW, there was a force 6 directly astern as we ran up the Swash (approach to Poole Harbour), which forced the rollers to break over the stern into the cockpit. It was thrilling, & I had that 4th movement trumpeting away in my head.

          2. I came to love the 7th in my early teens when my mother bought an LP of it conducted by Toscanini. A real performance and I played it a lot at that time. I still have most of her collection but it’s not easy to play them now. CDs are so much easier to handle.

  84. Happy Birthday Plum, why nobody invited me to your birthday party Boris and his cronies are throwing for you in No10 tonight is a mystery.
    Still, I am sure you are having a great day, I hope you have many more.

  85. A bit late in the day but Happpy Birthday Plum 🎂🥂🎂 hope you’ve had a great day – Alf and I have had a brilliant day. Enjoy your sherry.

  86. A BTL comment from the DE,

    The third dose increases immunity so after the 4th dose you are protected.
    Once 80% of the population have received the 5th dose, the restrictions can be relaxed, as the 6th dose stops the virus spreading.
    I am calm and believe the 7th dose will solve our problems and we have no reason to fear the 8th dose.
    The clinical phase of the 9th dose confirms that the antibodies remain stable after the 10th dose.
    The 11th does guarantees that no new mutations will develop so there is no reason to criticise the 12th dose.

    A further comment considered the possibility that the 13th dose may turn out to be unlucky, I guess time will tell.

    1. Those medicos and their bastard Pharma companies have gamed everyone. Fortunately we noble band of brothers have seen through this shit show and will continue to oppose and resist their blandishments.

    1. Ah, when Rose’s tins were a sensible size. Now the ghastly plastic boxes are half empty 400g things for the same price.

  88. Assuming you’re still up and about PT.
    A very happy birthday and many more.
    You’re now allowed to count backwards, you’ll be 21 before you know it.

          1. We played Joni Mitchell LPs in the early seventies in the architecture studio on the 18th floor of the Arts Tower at Sheffield University.

            Other popular artists were Tom Paxton, Linda Ronstadt, Cat Stevens (now Youssef), Walker Brothers, Neil Young, Crosby Stills Nash (and Young), Bob Dylan, Joan Baez (?), and several other groups and individuals.

            The early seventies were a much better prospect for us than what Boris Johnson and his cronies have landed us with today. I hate the fat bastard with a vengeance.

          2. I still have all my Joni Mitchell LPs ( & CD versions).

            I had a long chat will David T on Tuesday he is in his 80’s and a bit lighter thanks to the odd bout of surgery but otherwise fine and still involved in developments.

          3. I have all sorts of vinyl stuff retained over the years. I might flog some of it. Anyone interested in the complete set of Beethoven Sonatas recorded by Daniel Barenboim, I am open to offers.

            Those Planxty Irish recordings ditto. Lots of other stuff from Chopin to Melanie!

  89. 342910 + up ticks,

    May one ask, concerning the electorate if it is not insanity
    and them being criminally insane could it be that it is their true need to become a willing vassal of the political overseers, no need to think any longer, yes no need to think,period.

    Not hard to believe when 48% wanted to stay in the eu,
    you have to laugh although it is a serious issue grown adults many elderly out in the fresh air with masks on, it would NOT surprise me to see them slap their arses, give a yippee and break into a trot.

  90. TV presenter Nick Owen is still alive – and presenting. I found this out this evening when watching BBC East Midlands Today which came from the West Midlands Today studio in Brummagem. I thought it was an archive piece at first when NO appeared. The Nottingham studio hasn’t given a reason for the no-show but it was a little unkind for Twatterers to suggest that chief presenter Anne Davies was still ‘s**t-faced’ after last night’s Christmas party.

    Elsewhere, England’s cricketers lifted the gloom by limiting the Australian batsmen to under 2.5 runs per over on a perfect batting pitch in perfect batting weather. What a performance!

    1. Another test match lost. Wait for tomorrow; “England collapse. Only Root gets more than 9″….

        1. Many years ago on the old DT page, I posted this…..”Bill takes more curtain calls than Dame Edna.”
          Then, he found it funny….

  92. Goodnight, all. I shall be off to the count shortly (polls close at 22.00). All the UKIP branch members got the chance to apply for authorisation, but not many were able to take it up.

    2. 342910+ up ticks
      Evening C,
      That would be uKiP (ino) would it not ?
      have they paid out monies owing from their losing court case yet ?

  93. 342910 + up ticks,

    Are reclaim making their move yet, could be the opening decent peoples have been looking for.

  94. New pumping station completed today. We have to pump our domestic sewage up the hill whereafter it gravitates to a primitive holding tank which is emptied every other fay. Third world Britain has been around for ages past.

    Needless to say after I emptied a couple of toilets and the contents of my bath this morning the beacon on the new control panel started flashing. Notified engineers who will return tomorrow to fix.

    Despite this ‘teething problem’ I have the utmost regard for the chaps who dismantled the old system and installed the new system. A nicer bunch of blokes would be difficult to find. Despite the difficulties presented by a restricted site they persevered and were imaginative in overcoming every problem.

    I almost apologised to the company, Binder of Claydon, Ipswich, when reporting the fault which occurred an hour after the electrician hooked everything up and left.

    Every single job I have completed throughout my career has had teething problems so I empathise with the installers and dare not criticise. Folk are human and we all need to reconnect with our cherished values and reject the Fat Turk and the intolerance he represents.

    Here endeth the lesson.

      1. I was taught that shit stinks and that sewage otherwise gravitates viz. downhill.

        Otherwise you have to pump shit uphill if you are situated at a lower elevation than the sewer station or collection point.

        On a more esoteric point I have observed over decades that scum floats to the surface and for scum you might include Boris Johnson’s ‘floaters’ which likely contain what is left of his brains.

      1. Precisely. Whilst I have German friends who are sensible, I reckon a lot of German’s are thick. Ditto Turks, half of whom are sensible and half of whom are thick Islamist idiots, thicker than their German friends.

    3. Sewage and Fat Turk, they seem to go together quite naturally.
      Let’s hope North Shropshire can flush him away.

  95. Good night all.

    Coquilles St Jacques Camel valley Bacchus 2019.
    A custard tart with raspberries, red grapes.

  96. These people have been watching too many disaster movies. It’s not so far from the plot of 2004’s ‘The Day After Tomorrow’ from the Mann/Gore Studio.

    Scientists discover ‘surprising’ cause of Europe’s little ice age in late medieval era
    Change in ocean currents – similar to phenomena seen today – likely cause behind substantial cooling, US scientists say

    https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/little-ice-age-ocean-currents-b1976776.html

    [The researchers] previous work, which built a 3,000-year reconstruction of North Atlantic sea surface temperatures…

    It’s amazing what can be deduced from a bit of ice, some dust, lake sediments and a piece of a bristlecone pine. Tomorrow I shall dig a hole in my back yard and declare it to be the resting place of England’s last woolly mammoth.

  97. Missy died today after some sort of fit/heart attack. 17.5 y.o., the most intelligent cat I’ve ever known.

    No tears; just happy memories.

    2. Oh Peter, I am so very sorry. I am so glad you had all those happy years together. Brought tears to my eyes.

    3. Been there, done that, feel for you. My cat died as I was getting her out of the car in the vet’s car park, I’ll never forget it.

    6. Oh, I’m so sorry, Peddy, condolences. It is so hard to lose a loved furry companion. 17.5 is a good age, and 17.5 years of memories for you.

    9. It is hard to lose an old friend. I sympathise.

      When my father died I found on his desk a file of the instructions of the mundane administrative things I had to do. On the front of the files was a quotation from John Milton’s Samson Agonistes :

      NOTHING is here for tears, nothing to wail
      Or knock the breast ….

      He was the kindest, wisest and noblest man I have ever known but I must admit this had me going a bit.

    13. Oh dear, poor Missy and poor you Peter

      Thank you Missy for providing some amusement on these boards via your foodie owner and keeping him entertained and amused for over 17years .

    17. Sorry to hear that. It is a loss. Bennie, our last cat, died in my arms after being struck by a car in the road outside. For some time afterwards as I drove up the hill totter house, I would see Bennie sitting on the window sill. It takes some time to adjust.

    18. So sorry to hear that, Peddy. Losing any pet is awful, but she was so much a part of you that you must be absolutely bereft. My thoughts and blessings to you, and may you keep those wonderful, happy memories in your heart.

    19. Sorry to hear that. She was a great age, wasn’t she. That’s a long time she’s been with you.

    20. Yo Peddy

      The Rainbow Bridge awaits you

      Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

      When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
      There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is
      plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

      All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who
      were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them
      in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content,
      except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who
      had to be left behind.

      They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks
      into the distance. Her bright eyes are intent. Her eager body quivers. Suddenly she
      begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, her legs carrying her faster and
      faster.

      You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet,
      you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face;
      your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of
      your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

      Then you cross Rainbow Bridge …..together….

      Author unknown…

  99. We have a twenty two year old cat ‘Paris’ rescued from a care home in Halstead. The Indian owners banished the cats and the parrot for the reason that they did not wish to pay for these creatures and for the comfort they gave to the ‘inmates’. Another total failure of our supposedly brilliant Health Care system.

    What a joke!

    I hate Boris Johnson with s vengeance.

  101. Compare & Contrast

    Party Candidate Votes % ±%

    Liberal Democrats Helen Morgan 17,957 47.1 (+ 37.1)

    Conservative Neil Shastri-Hurst 12,032 31.6 (- 31.1)

    Labour Ben Wood 3,686 9.7 (- 12.4)

    Green Duncan Kerr 1,738 4.6 (+ 1.4

    Reform UK Kirsty Walmsley 1,427 3.7

    UKIP Andrea Allen 378 1.0

    Reclaim Party Martin Daubney 375 1.0

    Monster Raving Loony Alan Hope 118 0.3

    Independent Suzie Akers-Smith 95 0.2

    Heritage James Elliot 79 0.2

    Rejoin EU Boris Been Bunged 58 0.2

    Freedom Alliance Earl Jesse 57 0.1

    Party Party Russell Dean 19 0.05

    Independent Yolande Kenward 3 0.007

    Majority 5,925 15.5

    Turnout 38,110 46.3% -21.6%

    GE

    Conservative Owen Paterson 35,444 62.7%
    Labour Graeme Currie 12,495 22.1%
    Liberal Democrats Helen Morgan 5,643 10%
    Green John Adams 1,790 3.2%
    Shropshire Party Robert Jones 1,141 2%

    Turnout 56,513 67.9%
    That’s some protest vote!!

      1. ‘Morning Peter
        So sorry about Missy,she’s been a real character on this blog from the beginning

    2. Whilst the result is a deserved disaster for both the Tories and Labour in % of the votes cast it also reveals that breaking the hold of the two major parties and the major protest party is not going to be easy. Green + Reform + UKIP + Reclaim barely exceeded the vote of a non-performing, extremist measure supporting Labour party. Just how bad does the state of the Country have to be before people wake up?
      Answer: I don’t know. Many people have been frightened by the propaganda spread, both by a dissolute government and an equally dissolute opposition, re a virus that really hasn’t killed that many people, any death is regrettable and heartbreaking and must not be taken lightly, as many of us know. However, the reality is that these frightened people also appear unwilling to move their vote away from three failing parties in numbers sufficiently substantial to enable change, because, again, they are too frightened to do so. This fear will herald the end of what we currently have and allow tyranny to replace it. Certainly, the Tories and Labour are not the friends of the people. They despise us and more of us need to learn to despise them.

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