Westminstenders: The Tunnel or Bridge

[RedToothBrush]

Apparently negotiations are in the black hole of the EU tunnel or should that be on the back of the fantasy of the Boris Bridge?

Another week closer to complete meltdown.

I'm guessing that our world beating customs solution will be based on blackboard and chalk.

Just to lower the tone, I think at some swimming pools you can get a combined faecal matter / chlorinated dip experience.

I remember one incident that closed the pool for 3 weeks 🤢

Louise well, none of the billions has percolated down to the self-employed in the arts. Which is a huge number of people who are wondering when and how they can earn money again, doing what they do best. Some have few other skills because they put their time and energy into developing their talents in the direction most likely to earn them money.
Your lack of sympathy is noted.

How would you feel if the situation were reversed, and you were told to suddenly switch and make your living as an artist or musician?

@DGRossetti

Meanwhile - as suspected (and warned of) - it seems you really can get Covid twice and it can be nastier the second time.

Not a great beginning to a herd immunity stratgey.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-54512034

...

Scientists say the patient caught coronavirus twice , rather than the original infection becoming dormant and then bouncing back. A comparison of the genetic codes of the virus taken during each bout of symptoms showed they were too distinct to be caused by the same infection.

"Our findings signal that a previous infection may not necessarily protect against future infection," said Dr Mark Pandori, from the University of Nevada.

"The possibility of reinfections could have significant implications for our understanding of Covid-19 immunity."

He said even people who have recovered should continue to follow guidelines around social distancing, face masks and hand washing.
...

.... It was a different strain

Only a few dozen of people have caught it twice or another strain, after nearly 40 million confirmed infections
That says absolutely nothing about how a mass annual vaccination will work

Also, a vaccine can boost immunity better than "natural" immunity and handle the most common strains

DG If you think a vaccine will not work btw, then the only other policies seem to be
either
the carnage of "herd immunity"
mass deaths and the NHS collapsing
or
perpetual SD and on/off lockdowns,
i.e. the economy crashing so hard we have to revert to herd immunity in the end

DG If you think a vaccine will not work btw

I haven't said that.

There's just one person that I want to get the virus a second time - and to be more seriously ill from it

If that makes me a mean and nasty person, so be it. Maybe it will teach him (and his followers) to take it seriously and not claim he is "immune"

(And I'm not talking about BJ - to give him his due, he does seem to have an appreciation about how serious this virus can be even if his political strategy has been inept ).

@ICouldHaveCheckedFirst

Louise well, none of the billions has percolated down to the self-employed in the arts. Which is a huge number of people who are wondering when and how they can earn money again, doing what they do best. Some have few other skills because they put their time and energy into developing their talents in the direction most likely to earn them money. Your lack of sympathy is noted.

How would you feel if the situation were reversed, and you were told to suddenly switch and make your living as an artist or musician?

Anyone who asked me to switch and make my living as an artist or a musician would only be asking the once, they'd work out pretty fast that I've very little talent in those areas!

Some of the people you mention could earn money doing "a job" like millions of people do all across the world, but oh no, these folks they're better than that and they want their 'special job' protected at public expense.

Yes, Louise, we would. Like the millions of others who've had months on furlough.

Photographer here. Too burnt out from refunding clients from the bounce back loan to argue, except to say that I have taken a second job but I cannot close my business overnight as I have a contractual obligation to the 26 couples I have booked in for 2021. Most of whom were moved from 2020 at no expense to them.

I normally have some respect for LouiseCollins28's opinions, even if I disagree with them but her post essentially dismissing Arts type jobs, insinuating that they are not really "jobs" is just

I can't say more than that without risking being deleted.

Agreed Pretty.

Louise do you want a bigger shovel?

but oh no, these folks they're better than that and they want their 'special job' protected at public expense.

Those 'special jobs' bring a great deal of pleasure and enhanced quality of life to many - as opposed to bankers, accountants, advertising execs etc - whose jobs are being protected - why discriminate against anyone?

The uk stopped being a manufacturing economy last century - we are now a 'service' economy so supporting service providers is exactly what we should be doing - not letting them sink.

Yeah...
Its almost as if louises carefully crafted veneer is crumbling isn't it?
Her comments recently have shown her real thoughts about people who aren't like her and don't live where she lives..
Hey ho.

@Shrillharridan

Yeah... Its almost as if louises carefully crafted veneer is crumbling isn't it? Her comments recently have shown her real thoughts about people who aren't like her and don't live where she lives.. Hey ho.

AKA

"a tory"

I've been to my nearest town today (mum had an appt)
The main shopping street is just desolate. Empty. Eerie.
Sorry to hear of your new lockdown restrictions dgr and your ds job. hope your dw is well x
We are still tier 1 here but who knows for how long...
I've spent an expensive a fun couple of hours sorting Xmas food and gift deliveries 🎄

dgr
(Slaps forehead)!
Of course!
Silly me ☺

...and before anyone comments...
Yes. I do aspire to be like Margot from "the good life" and have Xmas delivered! ☺

Sorry to hear of your new lockdown restrictions dgr and your ds job. hope your dw is well x

it doesn't matter what bollocks tier we are in. Nothing has changed and nothing will change. (Make of that what you will).

DW totally fine - like me just bumbling along.

DS is just bewildered, angry, upset, caring confused and wondering what he did in life to deserve this.

Poor lad.
My eldest is feeling pretty low too 😕

...and what an indictment of disability access issues in the UK that a regional/national lockdown doesn't affect your dws day to day life!???

@Shrillharridan

...and what an indictment of disability access issues in the UK that a regional/national lockdown doesn't affect your dws day to day life!???

Out of sight, out of mind, eh ?

This is how I know disabled accessibility and rights have reversed since 2005. Come 2030, it will be as rare to see a wheelchair in the wild as it was in the 70s when I grew up.

Still, don't be sad it's gone. Be happy it happened.

My DS(22) is back living at home with me (various reasons) and he's similarly fed up. Most of his friends' lives are turning to crap as well, whether they've graduated or not, whether they're in sciences or arts.

DS is a self-employed musician. Fist-bumps DGR, Shrill, Jamie and plonky.

@JamieLeeCurtains

My DS(22) is back living at home with me (various reasons) and he's similarly fed up. Most of his friends' lives are turning to crap as well, whether they've graduated or not, whether they're in sciences or arts.

Maybe this is our generations punishment for not stepping up when we had the chance ?

What do you call 'Our generation' DGR? We may not have stepped up, but why should the younger generations be punished? Oh, and the very old and sick who were in care homes.