Current Affairs

[Mervyn and Trish]

I think Putin is just as insane as Trump.

[Stephen]

It’s not looking good.

Ukraine crisis: Russia orders troops into eastern Ukraine https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-60468237

[Kendhni]

The message from Whitty and Vallance was very clear, that it is not over.

To my mind, ‘living with Covid’ means accepting that 2019 isn’t coming back and making adjustments in our behaviour in order to keep as safe as possible, and to keep others safe in our changed world.

Johnson has continually side-stepped the science when it has suited his purposes ... however Johnson lost control at the end of last year. he is damaged goods being manipulated by the backbenchers as he clings to the PM post ... the backbenchers click their fingers and Johnson comes running.

All this government seems to offer is a return to the status quo, no planning, no forward thinkers, no visionaries looking at what a new UK could look like ... just the same old rhetoric of 'this is what we did pre-pandemic and that is what we will do now'. What happened the 'build back better' message? That seems to be another Johnson sound bite swept under the carpet of convenience.

I do hope that the government has made these changes for the right reasons ... although many scientists seem to think, they have gone too far.

[Kendhni]

It’s not looking good.

Ukraine crisis: Russia orders troops into eastern Ukraine https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-60468237

It looks like Russia is attempting to take Ukraine back one region at a time. The UK is just a bit-part player in this and can do little apart from freeze some funds, supply some armaments and sabre rattle. It will be interesting to see what sanctions America and the EU come up with.

[Mervyn and Trish]

If you're pinning your hopes on.the EU I'd start building your bomb shelter now. The Covid vaccine shambles showed they are incapable of working together in crisis. This will be the same. It will reveal more cracks than unity.

[david63]

I an wondering if it is Putin playing games and pushing the west to see how far they will go whilst all the time information gathering

[barney]

If you're pinning your hopes on.the EU I'd start building your bomb shelter now. The Covid vaccine shambles showed they are incapable of working together in crisis. This will be the same. It will reveal more cracks than unity.

The European Union have absolutely no part to play in any of this.
They are militarily irrelevant.
This is a security issue that will be dealt with by NATO.
The U.K. and Poland are the only two European countries to fulfill their financial obligations to NATO.
The chickens are coming home to roost.
Merkel climbed into bed with Russia with exceptional reliance on them for energy and always refused to pay for their own security.
80% of the budget spend to protect the EU countries comes from countries outside of the EU.
I’d doubt that the EU could even agree on sanctions against Russia.
As usual, they will come up with some wishy washy compromise with more holes in it than a Swiss cheese.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Sorry Barney but I think you're being grossly unfair to .......... Swiss cheese.

[Kendhni]

The more I think about the 'go to work' message even if you test positive then the more I think it is irresponsible for people in the service industry
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/hotel-boss-st ... 21377.html
So you stay in a hotel where staff, who have tested positive but are asymptomatic, are allowed to move around infecting each other and everything they touch? Sounds like a recipe for ruining peoples holiday plans.

[Ray B]

I an wondering if it is Putin playing games and pushing the west to see how far they will go whilst all the time information gathering

I've been saying that for a few days. To see what reaction the west will take
The world has had a long time now without major war, and do the populations on all sides really have the stomach for another one.
History has shown how bad war can be.

[towny44]

The more I think about the 'go to work' message even if you test positive then the more I think it is irresponsible for people in the service industry
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/hotel-boss-st ... 21377.html
So you stay in a hotel where staff, who have tested positive but are asymptomatic, are allowed to move around infecting each other and everything they touch? Sounds like a recipe for ruining peoples holiday plans.

Where is the 'go to work even if positive' message coming from? Boris was clear enough that he was putting the onus on each person to continue to act responsibly.
However I accept that dismantling the free testing system, coupled with the reduced symptoms due to vaccination, is likely to lead to more people not bothering to check if they are positiv. B,ut maybe that's the way to go, it is of course how we deal with all other illnesses, we only take action when the symptoms become severe.

[Stephen]

I an wondering if it is Putin playing games and pushing the west to see how far they will go whilst all the time information gathering

I've been saying that for a few days. To see what reaction the west will take
The world has had a long time now without major war, and do the populations on all sides really have the stomach for another one.
History has shown how bad war can be.

Boris must be quietly pleased as this has taken the heat off him.....for now.

[Manoverboard]

We will continue to venture out a bit more at a time but Hotels will deffo be a No-No unless they are small and run by the owners and their family.

[Kendhni]

We will continue to venture out a bit more at a time but Hotels will deffo be a No-No unless they are small and run by the owners and their family.

Adding a few more touch points, the person on the check in desk at an airport; a steward/stewardess on the flight; baggage handlers; the server in a restaurant or shop at the airport. If these guys are testing positive but asymptomatic and working then it could be an issue for anyone dealing with them. I know there is a line of thought that says 'don't travel then' but the same risks are also present on a staycation.

I wonder if we will see more companies taking this into account ... if your leave was ruined due to illness, accident etc. then the days are given back to the employee to take at another date. I know of several companies that offer this sort of scheme (it may even have been tested in the courts a few years back).

[Kendhni]

I an wondering if it is Putin playing games and pushing the west to see how far they will go whilst all the time information gathering

I've been saying that for a few days. To see what reaction the west will take
The world has had a long time now without major war, and do the populations on all sides really have the stomach for another one.
History has shown how bad war can be.

Boris must be quietly pleased as this has taken the heat off him.....for now.

That's what one of the reporters was saying on the radio this morning. He suggested that Johnson was getting rid of all rules so that, when it comes to the Met inquiry, he can pretty much say, 'sure they are all gone now anyway - what is the big deal'. I don't agree with that argument because it would be a bit like saying 'so what if I have been doing 60, it may have been a 30 zone back there but it is a 60 zone now '.

[Mervyn and Trish]

I rather think Stephen was talking about Ukraine, not the change in Covid rules. Still we've not had a chance to discuss cake for a while....

[Manoverboard]

We will continue to venture out a bit more at a time but Hotels will deffo be a No-No unless they are small and run by the owners and their family.

Adding a few more touch points, the person on the check in desk at an airport; a steward/stewardess on the flight; baggage handlers; the server in a restaurant or shop at the airport. If these guys are testing positive but asymptomatic and working then it could be an issue for anyone dealing with them. I know there is a line of thought that says 'don't travel then' but the same risks are also present on a staycation.

It clearly illustrates the difference but the same risks do not have to apply as far as I am concerned.

My list of people involved have all got a vested interest in the safety of their guests whereas hardly anybody on your list needs to give a toss and especially so within an Airport complex

[barney]

I’m just waiting for European countries to announce that you won’t be offloaded from a cruise ship before our balance is due

[Stephen]

I’m just waiting for European countries to announce that you won’t be offloaded from a cruise ship before our balance is due

You and me both. Time is ticking

[Kendhni]

I rather think Stephen was talking about Ukraine, not the change in Covid rules. Still we've not had a chance to discuss cake for a while....

My bad!!! Isn't it amazing the difference missing out the word 'also' between 'He' and 'suggested' makes.

Still we've not had a chance to discuss cake for a while....

To some I am sure that it is only about 'cake'. To me it is about a continual ongoing lack of honesty and integrity in the leadership of this country ... a leadership that believes they are above their own laws.

[Kendhni]

We will continue to venture out a bit more at a time but Hotels will deffo be a No-No unless they are small and run by the owners and their family.

Adding a few more touch points, the person on the check in desk at an airport; a steward/stewardess on the flight; baggage handlers; the server in a restaurant or shop at the airport. If these guys are testing positive but asymptomatic and working then it could be an issue for anyone dealing with them. I know there is a line of thought that says 'don't travel then' but the same risks are also present on a staycation.

... whereas hardly anybody on your list needs to give a toss and especially so within an Airport complex

That is both true and sad ... the bean counters only have one interest.

[Mervyn and Trish]

To me it is about a continual ongoing lack of honesty and integrity in the leadership of this country

Too right there. Ongoing since Bliar took us into an illegal war.

[screwy]

Blair was always honest.

He said Labour would return all private Prisons to the public sector, then signed up to 4 new ones.!

[Kendhni]

To me it is about a continual ongoing lack of honesty and integrity in the leadership of this country

Too right there. Ongoing since Bliar took us into an illegal war.

That reminds me of those that still blame Thatcher on everything
To be fair, the current lot make previous incumbents look like angels.

[Mervyn and Trish]

To me it is about a continual ongoing lack of honesty and integrity in the leadership of this country

Too right there. Ongoing since Bliar took us into an illegal war.

That reminds me of those that still blame Thatcher on everything
To be fair, the current lot make previous incumbents look like angels.

Really? You actually believe attending a party, if that is what happened, is more serious than getting us into a war that's cost thousands of lives and still affects our national security. Seriously?