Current Affairs

[towny44]

Portugal passes face mask requirement in busy outdoor spaces

Portugal has made face masks mandatory in crowded outdoor areas nationwide as the government tries to bring down the rising tide of infections.

The new measure means residents aged 10 or above have to wear a face covering whenever social distancing cannot be guaranteed. It is valid for at least 70 days.

......

We of course will get round to doing it later

I trust you noted that this is only mandatory in busy outdoor spaces, which at present in the UK would seem unlikely apply to any area that I frequent.

But if you should choose to venture out beyond your garden get you will no doubt do the common sence thing and wear a mask…we never know who you might bump into.

I would follow the guidance and wear it in busy outdoor spaces where social distancing is difficult, anywhere else is a waste of time and effort.

[Manoverboard]

Marcus Rashford doing a fine job rallying people to try to ensure that no child in poverty goes hungry in the school holidays.

His mum must be exceedingly proud of him

It's all about how he was raised ... in poverty, his Mom would expect nothing less.

Even with his millions he hasn't forgotten his roots

[Onelife]

Whoever served this one up deserves a goody bag.....love it

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/ ... work-meals

[oldbluefox]

Whilst I don't entirely agree with this free school meals initiative neither do I agree with the logic of expenses either unless they are out of pocket. The HoC restaurant should be self supporting at no expense to the taxpayer.

[towny44]

Whilst I don't entirely agree with this free school meals initiative neither do I agree with the logic of expenses either unless they are out of pocket. The HoC restaurant should be self supporting at no expense to the taxpayer.

Sounds like a plan, why don't we make them pay for everything and reduce their salaries so no one wants to be an MP!!!!!

[david63]

What difference is there between the MPs having subsidised meals and everyone down at the local factory having subsidised meals?

[oldbluefox]

I didn't say subsidised. They should be self supporting.

As for MPs I would pay them more but have fewer constituencies.

[Gill W]

Whilst I don't entirely agree with this free school meals initiative neither do I agree with the logic of expenses either unless they are out of pocket. The HoC restaurant should be self supporting at no expense to the taxpayer.

Free school meals for children from less well of families have been a feature of school life since my childhood in the 60s, so it’s nothing new.

Marcus Rashford is trying to ensure that kids in poverty get get a hot meal once a day during the school holidays, at a time when their parents income may be stretched even further than usual due to Covid restrictions.

A footballer shouldn’t have to take on this role in 2020, but I think it’s difficult to disagree with the principle of what he’s doing

[oldbluefox]

Free school meals for children from less well of families have been a feature of school life since my childhood in the 60s, so it’s nothing new.

Marcus Rashford is trying to ensure that kids in poverty get get a hot meal once a day during the school holidays, at a time when their parents income may be stretched even further than usual due to Covid restrictions.

A footballer shouldn’t have to take on this role in 2020, but I think it’s difficult to disagree with the principle of what he’s doing

I don't entirely disagree with your point of view but maybe you missed my point that I don't entirely agree with the initiative or maybe the emotive language being used to promote it. All children who are on free school meals are not poor and neither do they go hungry during holiday periods. The main concern in my opinion is for those children coming from dysfunctional families and for those whose parents have lost their jobs or whose income has been otherwise affected. Extra help for the latter category is not a problem since I would guess they would care for their children anyway but their finances would be helped by the Rashford initiative. As for dysfunctional families the solution is much more complex. Giving them more money does not necessarily feed the children and vouchers can always be traded or used for food which would normally be paid for but gives extra cash for other 'luxuries'.

My own upbringing would put me and my parents in the 'poverty' category certainly compared to today's standards but although our clothes were cheap and patched we never went hungry albeit our food was not haute cuisine. It was cheap and filling. I also spent 20 years of my career working at the sharp end in the 15th most deprived area in the country so I do have experience of these families and how they operate. Instead of wringing our hands with emotive language over free meals per se perhaps successive governments should look at how to deal with child neglect in dysfunctional families because it is these children who go hungry day after day. That is the real issue.

[screwy]

Marcus signed a new contract in 2019,reportedly £200k a week.?
If and it’s a big If, he gave a quarter of his salary to help with free meals,along with his equally highly overpaid colleagues then the burden wouldn’t fall on the tax payer, If he is so adamant about it.Nowhere in my contract of life does it say I should pay to feed other people’s children.
Now before you all start slagging me off as being uncaring, I grew up ,the youngest of 3 with a divorced mother, she didn’t/ couldn’t claim a penny but she knew how to make a cheap bag of Spuds go a long way etc. Spuds at least 5 ways, to stop the boredom.Its amazing what can be done on a tight budget.

I will also say that as a United supporter of 60 yrs I am a fan of Marcus but at the moment he needs to make his mind up where he is going and start performing for his huge salary.

Tin hat at the ready.

[Manoverboard]

Football Teams in the Prem and Championship Leagues sponsor, through time and money, local causes in their Communities. Some players even support the entire village of their birth place, particularly in Africa.

Child welfare is a matter for the State and Local Authorities and it has nought to do with highly paid individuals unless they decide otherwise.

ps ... we have a Footy Topic for player performance ratings

[screwy]

Child welfare starts with parenting, If you can’t afford them don’t have them.

[Manoverboard]

Child welfare starts with parenting, If you can’t afford them don’t have them.

I agree with that but any of us can fall on unexpected hard times

[screwy]

I agree too, but it should not be used as blanket coverage.

[Onelife]

My only gripe with theses meal vouchers is that they should only be redemable against healthy options such as fruit and veg.....not Mars Bars and Crisps.

[oldbluefox]

All of these children have a mother and a father (presumably), also aunts, uncles, two sets of grandparents and probably close friends. I would not see any of my children go hungry but nowadays the responsibility for the welfare seems to rest not with the parents, as in my day, but it is the state's responsibility. The problem is the more the state takes on the less responsibility some of these parents will be taking for their offspring. I get quite annoyed and upset when I see toddlers literally ignored whilst mum is on the phone to her friend and is more interested in her phone than the poor little soul she is dragging along.

A good healthy meal can be made for very little cost but it's easier and quicker to get a bag of crisps, chips or a burger from down the road. But when funds are tight it's not the most economical way of feeding your kids. Maybe the answer is a voucher which can be exchanged for a meal from a local cafe/eaterie. That way you know the meal is going to go in the child's stomach and not to subsidise the parents' smoking, drinking, tattooing, manicuring etc habits.

[Manoverboard]

Uncles arrive Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays but they provide Mum with what she can't ( presently ) get on the Social

[screwy]

All of these children have a mother and a father (presumably), also aunts, uncles, two sets of grandparents and probably close friends. I would not see any of my children go hungry but nowadays the responsibility for the welfare seems to rest not with the parents, as in my day, but it is the state's responsibility. The problem is the more the state takes on the less responsibility some of these parents will be taking for their offspring. I get quite annoyed and upset when I see toddlers literally ignored whilst mum is on the phone to her friend and is more interested in her phone than the poor little soul she is dragging along.

A good healthy meal can be made for very little cost but it's easier and quicker to get a bag of crisps, chips or a burger from down the road. But when funds are tight it's not the most economical way of feeding your kids. Maybe the answer is a voucher which can be exchanged for a meal from a local cafe/eaterie. That way you know the meal is going to go in the child's stomach and not to subsidise the parents' smoking, drinking, tattooing, manicuring etc habits.

Totally agree OBF, yes there are those in need and should be looked after but let’s not get too carried away. Time to look after our own and screw international aid.?

[Ranchi]

Well, I guess it’s current; a few years ago we went on a cruise to Montenegro (Kotor) and just wondering why this site has a Montenegrin web address.

[Manoverboard]

Well, I guess it’s current; a few years ago we went on a cruise to Montenegro (Kotor) and just wondering why this site has a Montenegrin web address.

It's an approved EU portal but D63 may / may not wish to add further info

ps ... a bit more information
.

[david63]

Well, I guess it’s current; a few years ago we went on a cruise to Montenegro (Kotor) and just wondering why this site has a Montenegrin web address.

If the address did not have .uk at the end you would be right but in this case it is a sub domain of uk

[Whynd1]

All this fuss over starving children in school holidays.
I have the answer, instead of donations and schools giving out food parcels. Give the parents extra vouchers which can only be used in exchange for food in supermarkets.

[oldbluefox]

It doesn't work. The more unscrupulous ie those whose children go hungry either sell the vouchers or use them to subsidise their own shopping so they can buy booze, cigarettes or drugs. The only way I can see it is an exchange of voucher for a ready made meal from a cafe or other eaterie. No doubt they would still find a way around it.

[towny44]

It doesn't work. The more unscrupulous ie those whose children go hungry either sell the vouchers or use them to subsidise their own shopping so they can buy booze, cigarettes or drugs. The only way I can see it is an exchange of voucher for a ready made meal from a cafe or other eaterie. No doubt they would still find a way around it.

You do have a poor opinion of the low paid. I would guess there will be a few that fall into your category but I think the majority will be trying to do the best for their children, and I believe the govt have got this badly wrong.

[Manoverboard]

They will do their best for their children but will also cheat the system if there is a way ... wouldn't we all ?