Early Risers.

[The Lurker]

12 hours ago, Gwiwer said:

Any number is too many but .....

 

I remain befuddled by the ONS who insist that 1 in 35 Londoners has the virus.  NHS and various other Government figures suggest that across the 32 boroughs there are (approximately - because it varies daily) 18,000 current cases for a population of let's say 7.5 million allowing for some of the "regulars" like students and long-term overseas visitors to have gone elsewhere. If testing picks up only 25% (and they seem to suggest it is more like 70%) of actual cases that translates as having a population of 2.5 million.  

 

By my own rough figures that suggests something like 1 in 100 might actually be infected which is far closer to the national statistic.  If testing picks up half the actual cases then it's more like 1 in 200.  

 

But then I am neither a statistician nor politician and call things not as the party or my paymaster wants me to see them but as I - being a humble citizen of planet Earth - see them.  

my understanding is that the ONS get people to carry out tests, whether they are showing any symptoms or not. Therefore they do pick up a lot more than anyone whose symptoms suggest they might have the disease and so goes for a test. Their figures would suggest approx 215,000 out of a London population of 7.5m have the disease, and if there are approx 18,000 cases in London officially, more than 90% of cases are undetectable.

 

I too am not a statistician but if testing picks up half the actual cases, then the rate would go from the 1 in 100 you have calculated down to 1 in 50, not in 1 in 200.

 

 

[BoD]

4 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

It’s clear that you have not yet grasped the significance of the helicopter visits!

This is the second part of Phase 1 of Bill Gates plan to control the world through implanted microchips.

Bill Gates, who has donated a decent amount to good causes, is erroneously accused of injecting people with microchips and pilloried for doing so.  Elon Musk is involved in experiments including implanting a microchip and wires into monkey’s brains (to what end?) and is feted for doing so.  Go figure, as they say.

 

  

[Barry O]

Still snowing.. PAH!

Baz

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. I woke up this morning just after 5 busting for a pee which is nothing unusual except that I had to make the dash a bit faster. Also I had an uncontrollable shiver and a stiffness across my shoulder blades. Fortunately the shivering has stopped and the stiffness went away quite quickly. If I had a temperature it is now back to normal and I've had no cough or any other covid symptoms. The only thing now is the bladder demanding to be emptied, now every twenty minutes instead of ten.

4 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

It’s clear that you have not yet grasped the significance of the helicopter visits!

This is the second part of Phase 1 of Bill Gates plan to control the world through implanted microchips.  Now that a significant portion of the UK population has been injected with the controlling chip via an inoculation for the so-called “pandemic virus“,  they are now helicoptering in the “people controllers” that will be distributed across the UK. These “people controllers”,  once activated, will turn the freedom loving British into a bunch of mindless consumers only interested in football and vacuous television programmes, whilst voting as directed by the controlling cabal via the microchip.

(Of course this is conspiracy b0llocks, but I think it’s rather inventive conspiracy boll0cks, don’t you?. Sadly, turning many Brits into mindless consumers only interested in football and vacuous television programmes, has already happened - even without a microchip!)

I really feel sorry for those who have metabolic conditions, such as being gluten intolerant or Type II diabetic, for not only do they have to be extremely careful with what they eat (or suffer sometimes rather unpleasant consequences), but they also are at the mercy of manufacturers who sometimes flog any old garbage providing that it is labelled as either “sugar free“ or “gluten-free”. Fortunately, for those with a sweet tooth, Italian cuisine has a number of delicious treats based on either chestnut flour (such as Castagnaccio) or polenta - both gluten-free. Castagnaccio is particularly fine when eaten with a good dollop of sweet ricotta and a glass of Vin Santo to go with it.

 

 

I must have immunity to Bill Gates microchips. and whatever is already in place. The most used item in my armoury is the off switch. Twenty two overpaid prima donnas chasing after an inflated bladder is not my kind of thing, neither is Prancing on ice. And as for the Sleb programs such as Get Me Out of Here beggars the question why?

[grandadbob]

Good morning all,

Dull, damp and dismal here.  It may brighten up with the chance of the occasional shower later.

Usual batch of nothing much happening chez moi.  Didn't get around to sorting out the house insurance yesterday so will do it today.  Other things of a domestic variety got in the way including The Boss having trouble with "my" Dyson.  On/off switch playing up again but it was sorted eventually with a vigorous "Thwack."  I've been getting fed up with it for quite a while and The Boss finds it too heavy so I think it's some to look around for something different.  Also had to have another go at reorganising some of the kitchen cupboard contents so that The Boss can reach certain things more easily.  This was accomplished without any accidents.  

Main task though this morning will entail getting in the car and making an "essential journey" and driving to the butcher as we've run out of certain meaty things.

Have a good one,

Bob.

 

 

 

Edited February 2, 2021 by grandadbob

[jamie92208]

2 hours ago, brianusa said:

 

Not too many have much love for Nicola!  Perhaps it was Alex, did either get anything right?

     Brian.

A Scots friend  of mine used to describe her as thec'wee numpty', when she became leader the description changed to 'the First numpty'.

 

Jamie

[jamie92208]

Good moaning from a windy and wet Charente.  I managed to tile the boxing in the bathroom  yesterday and even visited the shed to inspect the contents  of the shelves of shame where the unbuilt kits are stored. Things do seem to be looking up and the ground anchors seem to be holding.

 

Slept in this morning apart from a trip to the bathroom  at 6am.  Breakfast has been taken and the day remains to be carped.  The plan is to grout the tiles that were done yesterday. As some of these are underneath  the si k this will have to be done lying full length on the floor.  Nothing else major has been mentioned yet so I will try to remain inconspicuous. 

 

Regards to all.

 

Jamie

 

 

[jonny777]

I thought it was going to be a cloudy and miserable morning in North Somerset, but the cloud appears to be breaking up now and the sun is trying to make an appearance. Hooray. Mild here, with a temperature of 9C. 

 

I think Nicola has no chance of getting her way. Unfortunately, the Westminster establishment have thought about the implications - such as the UK having a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. That would most likely be lost if we turn into EWANI (England, Wales And Northern Ireland). Then there is defence, a number of important RAF bases are north of the border and would a victorious SNP want these to continue, no doubt at a high financial cost? Then there are the nukes, which have a very expensive base by the Clyde; are the Scots going to want that, and if they don't then think of the job losses on relocation in the south?

 

The whole indy idea may be good for votes, and a bit of jingoism, but I believe it will never be allowed to happen. 

 

 

 

 

[TheQ]

We are getting very close to politics here, as much as I like taking the P out of most politicians.. which I think a legitimate sport...

 

I would point out as a matter of fact rather than politics as the Catholic population of NI grows faster than the Protestant population they will within 50 years be in a situation to vote themselves into Ireland should they so choose.

Edited February 2, 2021 by TheQ

[iL Dottore]

32 minutes ago, PhilJ W said:

... And as for the Sleb programs such as Get Me Out of Here beggars the question why?

Panem et circenses, dear fellow, panem et circenses!

[leopardml2341]

Mornin'

 

Semi-dull and grey in South Derbsyhsire. 

Up to 10C and 60% chance of heavy rain later.

 

Not a lot else to report, other than crumpets and a couple of small oranges for breakfast and cuppa number two is calling me.

 

Hope your day turns out as you would like. Stay safe, stay well.

[New Haven Neil]

Morning.

 

Snowing fit to bust here first thing as I took Mrs NHN for her bus, mountain road is closed once again.  The 0c earlier has soared up to 2c, and the snow turned to rain down here in the Andreas foothills.  No reports yet of Manx cars upside down, but it won't be long.  The sea was coming over Douglas Prom big time at the weekend, so of course some folk had to drive through it.  Then complained that their cars had been damaged and it was the DoI's fault for 'letting them' drive along there.  Durrrrr. Would you???

 

 

Q, there's a reason for that.....but religion is banned on here too!

 

An extraordinary general meeting of the bike club has been called for 10am this morning, to celebrate our release from lockdown.  The 'young feller' member is 40 on Sunday so some ribbing may be occurring.  I'm the next youngest, then there's a 10 year gap to the rest who are all about the same age. 'Old'.

 

 

 

 

[Andrew P]

53 minutes ago, grandadbob said:

Good morning all,

Dull, damp and dismal here.  It may brighten up with the chance of the occasional shower later.

Usual batch of nothing much happening chez moi.  Didn't get around to sorting out the house insurance yesterday so will do it today.  Other things of a domestic variety got in the way including The Boss having trouble with "my" Dyson.  On/off switch playing up again but it was sorted eventually with a vigorous "Thwack."  I've been getting fed up with it for quite a while and The Boss finds it too heavy so I think it's some to look around for something different.  Also had to have another go at reorganising some of the kitchen cupboard contents so that The Boss can reach certain things more easily.  This was accomplished without any accidents.  

Main task though this morning will entail getting in the car and making an "essential journey" and driving to the butcher as we've run out of certain meaty things.

Have a good one,

Bob.

 

 

 

My Good Lady bought a Dyson, and that was far to heavy for her, and the suction was so good that is was a job to move when sucking. and one day it caught a carpet thread and pulled about a meter of thread up, leaving a bare line in the carpet.

She now has a Shark, and that hates being pulled backwards on certain carpets. 

 

Artificial Grass, that's the answer. 

Edited February 2, 2021 by Andrew P

[Andrew P]

Happy Birthday Chris, @chrisf, for 3 weeks hence, just in case I forget, or don't last that long.

[newbryford]

1 hour ago, jamie92208 said:

A Scots friend  of mine used to describe her as thec'wee numpty', when she became leader the description changed to 'the First numpty'.

 

Jamie

 

I find it strange that you never see The Krankies and Nicola in the same place (not that they could do so now anyway....)

[newbryford]

1 hour ago, The Lurker said:

Greetings all from Sidcup where it has dawned grey but currently dry.

 

Mrs Lurker's school has been supplied with a whole load of lateral flow tests; the idea is that staff take them a couple of times a week, and if anyone tests positive, the bubble is taken down and that staff member gets a second test from the NHS.

 

All well and good - Mrs Lurker took her first test yesterday evening and showed negative. But the kicker is that half the staff are refusing to test themselves. One excuse is that the other half is self-employed and if the staff member tests positive, then other half can't work because they would have to isolate. So instead, any assymptomatic spread will carry on undetected.

 

And we wonder why the rates are still high in this country. When the educators themselves take this attitude, what hope the rest of us?

 

 

 

TBH, similar attitudes have been taken by others who have a partner that is self-employed.

 

Mrs NB is now taking bi-weekly tests for where she works. I am not self-employed, but if she tested positive, it would probably take down my "half-staff bubble" at work for a few days.

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

Yesterday’s sunshine didn’t last long, it’s chuckinitdarn here again, it has been for quite some time as the puddles in the back garden have returned. 

 

I’ve just noticed someone in next doors garden, I thought it was the window cleaner at first with one of those long poles to do windows from ground level, I though you’re wasting your time mate. But after a closer look,  it’s somebody looking at their roof (damaged last week when a brick fell off their chimney) using camera on an extendable pole, now theirs clever! With all the rain we’ve had lately I suspect that their back bedroom ceiling might be getting a bit damp!

 

So, back to today, more time will be spent in the cellar, re-organising the storage area and hopefully getting the boxes of laminate flooring moved. There is also a couple of old chairs that are in the way, so they’ll get a good clean and I’ll give them a coat of paint and they can then go up to the attic. Although that won’t be today, as it’ll take a good few days to paint them, but when there finished, it’s a bit more ‘stuff’ out of the way. 

 

Stay safe, stay sane, enjoy whatever you have planned for the day, back later. 

 

Brian

 

 

[The Stationmaster]

Morning all,

 

The sunshine and patch of blue sky we had a while back seems to have been hidden by cloud but that is - so far - the worst that is forecast for the day.   no need for anyone to go out (I think) as supplies are up to scratch so the only real reason would be the 'paper and the Radio Times although i might be tempted to buy what ChrisF refers to as 'a comic' although I'm sure it's one he wouldn't buy (I don't usually buy it either).

 

Without trying to be too political it has struck me as of did that since it has had its own parliament (or whatever they call it) the Scots folk have in effect chosen as their 1st Minister somebody named after a fish - very strange.  and talking of microchips according to the local electronic rag those of us in Priority Groups 3 and 4 (70 -79) are to be invited during the fortnight starting yesterday to out GP surgeries to receive a jab of the Oxford AZ vaccine.  It will be interesting to see if that happens and if it involves the promised t 'phone summons to attend rather than blue envelopes through the door.   When we are likely to actually become properly vaccinated with the stuff is no doubt in the lap of the gods, sorry their superiors in the upper echelons of what increasingly appears to be the (un)Civil (non)Service; time will tell.

 

No big events planned for today although there is a possibility that blood will appear on certain carpets on Rmweb tomorrow - that could be interesting to see if my crystal ball really isn't misleading me.   Looks like anonymity is still working well.

 

Have a good day one and all and stay safe 

 

 

[jonny777]

1 hour ago, newbryford said:

 

I find it strange that you never see The Krankies and Nicola in the same place (not that they could do so now anyway....)

 

I always think the same with Nicola Sturgeon and Susan Calman.

[iL Dottore]

3 hours ago, Winslow Boy said:

This very cruel iL Dottore taunting PB like this, particularly as there is now a travel ban in place. You should be reported- wait there whilst I go away and look up who I should be reporting you too. 

Of course it’s cruel, I wouldn’t be able to show my face at the Supervillain’s Club, if I wasn’t cruel. I’d be embarrassed otherwise.

Incidentally, my alter-ego - the Supervillain Captain Cynical - is rather unique: he does good and fights for justice and fairness but in an evil, supervillain way (it wouldn’t be any fun doing it otherwise. Being a goody two shoes is just so, so boring).

Now, you’ll have to excuse me as I have to finish lunch quickly, because I have a full and busy afternoon of gloating and scheming to do....

[tigerburnie]

Morning(just), flippin' Baltic up here still looks like snaw, but none has landed on the coast, plenty inland and roads are closed it seems, numpties are being rescued from hills and fined, magnanimous folk those rescue people, I'd leave daft up there maself.

Door is frozen on The Old Summer House, so I doubt I will venture out there today, so I shall spend some time trying to spend some muddling tokens on 'tinternet instead, take care all and keep safe and warm/dry/sane(delete as appropriate).

[Winslow Boy]

14 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

Of course it’s cruel, I wouldn’t be able to show my face at the Supervillain’s Club, if I wasn’t cruel. I’d be embarrassed otherwise.

Incidentally, my alter-ego - the Supervillain Captain Cynical - is rather unique: he does good and fights for justice and fairness but in an evil, supervillain way (it wouldn’t be any fun doing it otherwise. Being a goody two shoes is just so, so boring).

Now, you’ll have to excuse me as I have to finish lunch quickly, because I have a full and busy afternoon of gloating and scheming to do....

Right I'm back. Sorry its taken so long but there appears to be a bit of confusion as to whom you should be reported. I tried the BMA but they said as you were domiciled in Switzland it was outside there jurisdiction. So then tried the European cake council who expressed sympathy but said that as you hadn't abused the cake just scoffed in a unsympathetic manner their was nothing  they could do. Then tried the Swiss government but they said they were closed Tuesday's and Thursdays and anyway it was Canton matter. However when I managed to get hold of them they said it was a cyber crime which meant it was Federal. So there we have back to square one.

 

Well I just don't think its right that you can get away with such naughty behaviour. So in lieau of any official sanction I think you should go and sit in the corner and think about your actions. You've been a very naughty boy.

[iL Dottore]

1 minute ago, Winslow Boy said:

... You've been a very naughty boy.

I know! 

[New Haven Neil]

Well, the EGM of the bike club went well, had a great laugh which really cheered me up.  Mick telling us tales of when he worked in plant hire is always good value - rescuing a digger IN the Thames was todays tale!

 

I can't believe the stories of the head in the sand approach to testing you guys are telling us, it is precisely the opposite reaction that has gotten us OUT of lockdown here twice.  A bit of common sense has done us proud once again.

[Winslow Boy]

2 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

I know! 

Don't gloat its very unseemly.