UK Politics Thread XII: The Lockdown

[Dumb Ideologies]

On leave today so time for the first Spoons visit since the end of lockdown. Sometimes you've just got to be part of the problem.

The problem of keeping Spoons alive. Yes

The Empire State Burger tho'

[Celritannia]

The problem of keeping Spoons alive. Yes

The Empire State Burger tho'

As much I hate the way the spoons staff are treated by their boss, that is a good reason to go there.

[Ifreann]

On leave today so time for the first Spoons visit since the end of lockdown. Sometimes you've just got to be part of the problem.

Be careful not to get too close to any of the other patrons. More so than usual.

[The Free Joy State]

I travelled back home on the 3rd of July, and then returned to Egypt on the 25th; partly for pressing medical reasons, but I'd be lying if I didn't admit that seeing my wife for the first time since February wasn't a big part of the trip.

The whole experience has put me in the slightly uncomfortable position of having some sympathy for the current UK government over the Spain travel fiasco.

Put bluntly, people should not be travelling right now for casual holidays. The uncertainty over flights (mine kept getting cancelled, leading to me spending a forced though welcome extra week at home as I fought with Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa over what eventually became a cumulative 5 separate bookings), the constantly changing conditions on the ground, the fact that both your country of origin and your country of destination might change their entry rules at any time and that your insurance likely won't cover you if you get stranded or put into quarantine...

I mean, even leaving aside the whole risk of catching a virulent and highly contagious virus thing, this really isn't a sensible time to be travelling.

I have little sympathy for anyone who feels inconvenienced by the government's decision to reintroduce a quarantine for Spain. They either failed to grasp the realities of the current travel situation, or were entirely aware of those realities and decided to ignore them.
*snip*

I also dislike that some people's irresponsible actions are forcing me to sympathise with this government.

With the restrictions being currently tightened again, the warnings that a potentially deadly virus may keep coming in waves and rising again in many popular hot-spots, it seems to take a remarkable amount of burying one's head in the sand to decide to persist in travelling for holidays to destinations that could need to close their borders by the time the plane lands.

I mean, I'd have thought -- if there was a time people could forgo their holidays -- it would be in the middle of a deadly pandemic, but apparently (for some people) "working on their tan" beats "protecting themselves and their loved ones".

[Nuroblav]

On leave today so time for the first Spoons visit since the end of lockdown. Sometimes you've just got to be part of the problem.

Went to a Spoons once. Not exactly a memorable experience, but could be worse.

We need a Wetherforks.

The problem of keeping Spoons alive. Yes

As you say, the problem lies in whether spoons should be kept al-

I'll grab my coat.

[The Free Joy State]

On leave today so time for the first Spoons visit since the end of lockdown. Sometimes you've just got to be part of the problem.

The problem of keeping Spoons alive. Yes

Actually, I don't mind Wetherspoons (the owner's political persuasions aside). I used to like their chicken tikka masala -- what I really liked, if you asked for it gluten-free, you got extra-poppadoms instead of a na'an.

[Ostroeuropa]

The problem of keeping Spoons alive. Yes

The Empire State Burger tho'

The steaks are pretty good, if your local one is adept at them.

[CoraSpia]

The problem of keeping Spoons alive. Yes

Actually, I don't mind Wetherspoons (the owner's political persuasions aside). I used to like their chicken tikka masala -- what I really liked, if you asked for it gluten-free, you got extra-poppadoms instead of a na'an.

The garlic naan though...it's like they put garlic butter on, the bread soaks it up so they think the magic fairies have taken it away and then they put more on. It's heart attack goodness.

[CoraSpia]

The Empire State Burger tho'

The steaks are pretty good, if your local one is adept at them.

Wait...with this eat out to help out thing, is the steak club deal (steak and a pint) seriously going to be £3.50? Since the pint is part of the meal price, not something you buy extra

[Fartsniffage]

Argos is no longer going to be printing catalogues. Christmas is ruined forever.

[Andsed]

Argos is no longer going to be printing catalogues. Christmas is ruined forever.

Okay I know your referring to the company Argos, but I first thought you were talking about the Greek city Argos and I was so fucking confused.

[The New California Republic]

Argos is no longer going to be printing catalogues. Christmas is ruined forever.

I preferred the Index catalogue.

[Dumb Ideologies]

Argos is no longer going to be printing catalogues. Christmas is ruined forever.

Okay I know your referring to the company Argos, but I first thought you were talking about the Greek city Argos and I was so fucking confused.

Don't worry Sparta is coming out with a more badass catalogue. I bought five helots and a nifty sunshade with an arrow motif.

[The New California Republic]

Argos is no longer going to be printing catalogues. Christmas is ruined forever.

Okay I know your referring to the company Argos, but I first thought you were talking about the Greek city Argos and I was so fucking confused.

Makes it sound like a homoerotic publication of Abercrombie-esque nature.

[Hirota]

I travelled back home on the 3rd of July, and then returned to Egypt on the 25th; partly for pressing medical reasons, but I'd be lying if I didn't admit that seeing my wife for the first time since February wasn't a big part of the trip.

The whole experience has put me in the slightly uncomfortable position of having some sympathy for the current UK government over the Spain travel fiasco.

Put bluntly, people should not be travelling right now for casual holidays. The uncertainty over flights (mine kept getting cancelled, leading to me spending a forced though welcome extra week at home as I fought with Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa over what eventually became a cumulative 5 separate bookings), the constantly changing conditions on the ground, the fact that both your country of origin and your country of destination might change their entry rules at any time and that your insurance likely won't cover you if you get stranded or put into quarantine...

I mean, even leaving aside the whole risk of catching a virulent and highly contagious virus thing, this really isn't a sensible time to be travelling.

I have little sympathy for anyone who feels inconvenienced by the government's decision to reintroduce a quarantine for Spain. They either failed to grasp the realities of the current travel situation, or were entirely aware of those realities and decided to ignore them.
*snip*

I also dislike that some people's irresponsible actions are forcing me to sympathise with this government.

With the restrictions being currently tightened again, the warnings that a potentially deadly virus may keep coming in waves and rising again in many popular hot-spots, it seems to take a remarkable amount of burying one's head in the sand to decide to persist in travelling for holidays to destinations that could need to close their borders by the time the plane lands.

I mean, I'd have thought -- if there was a time people could forgo their holidays -- it would be in the middle of a deadly pandemic, but apparently (for some people) "working on their tan" beats "protecting themselves and their loved ones".

It's a difficult balance to make.

On one hand there are the people who think the lockdown should stay in place until everything is sorted.

On the other there are people who are desperate to return to some level of normality, including their summer hols to Spain.

Personally, I don''t think either of them are particularly viable routes to embrace, we are approaching the point where a full sustained lockdown is going to kill more people than it saves, and yet we are not in a position where Covid-19 is done.

And honestly, its 27C outside here today, why rush back to Spain for sunshine when we have a fair amount of it right here. Shame it's not sticking around for the weekend though.

Its damaging for Spain - 16% of their GDP is tourism, and the UK is one fifth of all tourists in Spain.

[The Free Joy State]

Argos is no longer going to be printing catalogues. Christmas is ruined forever.

I preferred the Index catalogue.

I'm feeling all nostalgic now. I used to love the Index catalogue.

They had some great stuff.

I also dislike that some people's irresponsible actions are forcing me to sympathise with this government.

With the restrictions being currently tightened again, the warnings that a potentially deadly virus may keep coming in waves and rising again in many popular hot-spots, it seems to take a remarkable amount of burying one's head in the sand to decide to persist in travelling for holidays to destinations that could need to close their borders by the time the plane lands.

I mean, I'd have thought -- if there was a time people could forgo their holidays -- it would be in the middle of a deadly pandemic, but apparently (for some people) "working on their tan" beats "protecting themselves and their loved ones".

It's a difficult balance to make.

On one hand there are the people who think the lockdown should stay in place until everything is sorted.

On the other there are people who are desperate to return to some level of normality, including their summer hols to Spain.

Personally, I don''t think either of them are particularly viable routes to embrace, we are approaching the point where a full sustained lockdown is going to kill more people than it saves, and yet we are not in a position where Covid-19 is done.

And honestly, its 27C outside here today, why rush back to Spain for sunshine when we have a fair amount of it right here. Shame it's not sticking around for the weekend though.

Long-term full lockdown isn't viable -- full lockdown of the health service causes terrible problems for cancer detection, and may have deterred people from going to hospital for serious medical conditions such as heart attacks.

I'm not calling for long-term full lockdown.

But I think that racing to get back to normality too soon (while a virulent virus is still openly circulating, and while many people don't necessarily show symptoms, but can pass it on to others -- who may get a far worse case) is going to put us in a vulnerable position -- possibly as vulnerable as position as an indefinite full lockdown.

I just think everyone should act responsibly. And if that means wearing your mask (and not complaining), forgoing holidays this year, and not hoping to squeeze into a pub (shop/insert building here) that's already at social-distancing capacity -- that's what everyone should be doing.

It's the whole, "I wear my mask to protect you, you wear your mask to protect me" thing.

[Hirota]

I preferred the Index catalogue.

I'm feeling all nostalgic now. I used to love the Index catalogue.

They had some great stuff.

It's a difficult balance to make.

On one hand there are the people who think the lockdown should stay in place until everything is sorted.

On the other there are people who are desperate to return to some level of normality, including their summer hols to Spain.

Personally, I don''t think either of them are particularly viable routes to embrace, we are approaching the point where a full sustained lockdown is going to kill more people than it saves, and yet we are not in a position where Covid-19 is done.

And honestly, its 27C outside here today, why rush back to Spain for sunshine when we have a fair amount of it right here. Shame it's not sticking around for the weekend though.

Long-term full lockdown isn't viable -- full lockdown of the health service causes terrible problems for cancer detection, and may have deterred people from going to hospital for serious medical conditions such as heart attacks.

I'm not calling for long-term full lockdown.

But I think that racing to get back to normality too soon (while a virulent virus is still openly circulating, and while many people don't necessarily show symptoms, but can pass it on to others -- who may get a far worse case) is going to put us in a vulnerable position -- possibly as vulnerable as position as an indefinite full lockdown.

I just think everyone should act responsibly. And if that means wearing your mask (and not complaining), forgoing holidays this year, and not hoping to squeeze into a pub (shop/insert building here) that's already at social-distancing capacity -- that's what everyone should be doing.

It's the whole, "I wear my mask to protect you, you wear your mask to protect me" thing.

Just people going a little bit insane with the lockdown.

Luckily all the voices in my head tell me not to worry about that.

[Celritannia]

Okay I know your referring to the company Argos, but I first thought you were talking about the Greek city Argos and I was so fucking confused.

Don't worry Sparta is coming out with a more badass catalogue. I bought five helots and a nifty sunshade with an arrow motif.

I guess Athens is for those geek Greeks that love tinkering with new inventions and gadgets.

[The Blaatschapen]

Okay I know your referring to the company Argos, but I first thought you were talking about the Greek city Argos and I was so fucking confused.

Don't worry Sparta is coming out with a more badass catalogue. I bought five helots and a nifty sunshade with an arrow motif.

I bought 300 action figures from there

[Nuroblav]

Argos is no longer going to be printing catalogues. Christmas is ruined forever.

They were always interesting to look at. Rest in Power; we shall pursue justice.

[Hurdergaryp]

Don't worry Sparta is coming out with a more badass catalogue. I bought five helots and a nifty sunshade with an arrow motif.

I bought 300 action figures from there

And then your play date brought several thousand.

[An Alan Smithee Nation]

Jackson Carlaw has resigned as leader of the Scottish Conservatives after just six months.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-53601518

I wonder what is behind his decision, not totally buying the I'm not the right person thing.

[The New California Republic]

Jackson Carlaw has resigned as leader of the Scottish Conservatives after just six months.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-53601518

I wonder what is behind his decision, not totally buying the I'm not the right person thing.

Maybe there is some incoming scandal that we aren't aware of yet but he knows it is only a matter of time before it is leaked.

[Shamhnan Insir]

Leaving the UK after a short trip back to see family. Got to say it was spooky to see places so deserted.

I travelled back home on the 3rd of July, and then returned to Egypt on the 25th; partly for pressing medical reasons, but I'd be lying if I didn't admit that seeing my wife for the first time since February wasn't a big part of the trip.

The whole experience has put me in the slightly uncomfortable position of having some sympathy for the current UK government over the Spain travel fiasco.

Put bluntly, people should not be travelling right now for casual holidays. The uncertainty over flights (mine kept getting cancelled, leading to me spending a forced though welcome extra week at home as I fought with Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa over what eventually became a cumulative 5 separate bookings), the constantly changing conditions on the ground, the fact that both your country of origin and your country of destination might change their entry rules at any time and that your insurance likely won't cover you if you get stranded or put into quarantine...

I mean, even leaving aside the whole risk of catching a virulent and highly contagious virus thing, this really isn't a sensible time to be travelling.

I have little sympathy for anyone who feels inconvenienced by the government's decision to reintroduce a quarantine for Spain. They either failed to grasp the realities of the current travel situation, or were entirely aware of those realities and decided to ignore them.

I ended up having to take a week's unpaid leave when I was stranded for an extra week in the UK (with my wife and my cat in my own home; how did I ever cope?). That was irritating but (conceding I'm cushioned by a generous salary) I knew what I was letting myself in for when I decided to travel. Anyone who tries to travel right now and expects everything to go swimmingly is deluded. With any luck this will serve as a bit of a wake up call for anyone considering a foreign holiday in the age of COVID-19.

Consider this your ranting personal anecdote from a grumpy old fart for the day.


Also, to my stunned amazement, Cairenes (or at least Cairenes in the upmarket district of Zamalek) seem to be much better about wearing face masks than the residents of my little corner of the UK.

We're a small family so therefore tight-knit. My niece is only wee and my dogs need a good playfight now and then so seven months away is more than long enough for me. I took the chance when the restrictions eased but knew there was risk and planned accordingly. Luckily, I managed with a few snags here and there but nothing major. That being said a family on the return flight seemed to suddenly take ill so I wonder if I'll get a call from the contact tracers....

We're still well under the thumb of this virus so I don't really have any sympathy for people who thought their Spanish holiday as lockdowns slowly ease would be simple. Especially as they behave like the UK or local governments should have held their hand the whole time.
I'm possibly not as old as yourself Arch, but I do feel somewhat senior in asking where the hell personal responsibility went to? The risks are well flagged, to voyage afar in these situations is fraught with potential problems, what else did these people expect?

To return to discussing the UK, I didn't expect much activity and to be honest it was sad seeing how little was going on in Glasgow. Perth gladdened my heart a bit though as the community seems to understand they should be getting stuck into the local shops etc.

[The Archregimancy]

Jackson Carlaw has resigned as leader of the Scottish Conservatives after just six months.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-53601518

I wonder what is behind his decision, not totally buying the I'm not the right person thing.

Maybe there is some incoming scandal that we aren't aware of yet but he knows it is only a matter of time before it is leaked.

I'm not convinced.

It may be as simple as a combination of acknowledging he really isn't the right person for the job, and a perception in Westminster that the Scottish Tories are insufficiently loyal to the current leader; most of the Scottish Tory MPs and MSPs actively campaigned against Johnson in the leadership election, stating that he would be electoral poison north of the border.

Which happens to be true, but this strikes me as a Conservative and Unionist Party that values slavish loyalty over senior members of the party pointing out inconvenient truths.