Westminstenders: a feature of the system not a bug

[RedToothBrush]

Tests on the new queuing system in Kent have revealed that lengthy tail backs are a feature not a bug.

We should get used to them because thats normal not the system malfunctioning, but the planned system working as designed.

Today we have found out that there's no money left. The economy is fucked. And tomorrow we will probably all be in T3 with the Isles of Wight, the tip of Cornwall and inner Westminster the only places left in T1.

Christmas has apparently been 'saved' though. Well if you are dumb and lacking in functional brain cells its 'saved'. Trade for Christmas is already thoroughly goosed and indoor family gatherings may come with a extra side of covid. The BBC have done an epic job of 'doommongering project fear' style graphics on this wonderful subject.

Tis the season to be jolly. Jolly fucked.

@Peregrina

But can anyone envisage an Irish lorry bearing goods for say Bangor or Llandudno is really going to drive all the way to Warrington to check them in and then drive all the way back?

Why would they bother? Surely it makes more sense for Ireland as part of the EU to trade with other EU countries? I'm sure they can find new markets for their products.

@DGRossetti

(blushes and tries to style it out ...)

read too quickly - although to be fair it's not the most ridiculous suggestion that's been made regarding Brexit, is it ?

Not at all, in fact it makes perfect sense. I reckon they'll be needing a lot more France-Ireland ferry routes soon.

@Peregrina

Not sure why I am singled out for needing to lie down after an unreferenced cutn'paste.

Good think I didn't skim read that ...

inews.co.uk/news/brexit/brexit-latest-uk-brace-months-food-shortages-1-january-delivery-782518?ito=twitter_share_article-top

Another article about food shortages from January with interviews with freight specialists. It's worrying. I had factored in delays and reductions but hadn't factored in the EU hauliers not coming at all.

Why are we doing this again? It's awful how the government haven't prepared at all. They've had four years and they haven't done a thing. If they wanted it so much, why haven't they planned for it?

find your comment about growing up disingenuous and patronising.
Your suggestion that I check every casual phrasing I ever think up against the possibility of it damaging your ego is noted and duly ignored. (There was a lovely Dilbert cartoon about how meaning steadily drops out of communications when the need for flattery takes precedence, but I haven't the time to search for it). I have also been systematically disenfranchised by politics and its decisions over the last 40 years. That particular article was still making sensible points. At this time I would ally with the devil himself, as the saying goes, if it led to a deal that would stop food and medicine shortages next year.

If they wanted it so much, why haven't they planned for it? And YYY to this. Why didn't they have a plan in the first place? At this point this is criminal - or it ought to be.

I had factored in delays and reductions but hadn't factored in the EU hauliers not coming at all.
A very sad I told you so
I have been warning against that exact scenario for rather a long time

I had factored in delays and reductions but hadn't factored in the EU hauliers not coming at all.

They'll come when the price (the UK consumer pays) is right. Who wouldn't ? What they won't do is waste 3 days without being paid.

LQ I hadn't seen that as I've only been reading the Brexit threads for a short while. I have been aware of the other issues and I've been prepping a little bit for ages by making sure I never got down to the last of anything and don't fancy running of out of food. I was pretty glad of not getting down to the last loo roll when Covid struck.

I'm pretty sure that most people I know aren't worried as they've never mentioned and think things will be fine. I don't think it even crosses their minds.

HappyWinter
I am cursed with more knowledge of the process of Import / Export through the Channel Ports than the whole of the cabinet combined.

Even before the vote I was warning on every venue on which I post
that drivers will not take on journeys where they will not turn a profit.
It really is that basic.

I have not been believed by most for the last 4 1/2 years
it gives me no pleasure at all to be proved right
when the warnings have been there for so long

I'm pretty sure that most people I know aren't worried as they've never mentioned and think things will be fine. I don't think it even crosses their minds.

The Joo Janta 200 Super-Chromatic Peril Sensitive Sunglasses have been designed to help people develop a relaxed attitude to danger. They follow the principle "what you don't know can't hurt you" and turn completely dark and opaque at the first sign of danger. This prevents you from seeing anything that might alarm you. This does, however, mean that you see absolutely nothing, including where you're going.

It also tells you that there is something that would alarm you, could you see it. This information alone could also potentially alarm you.

I'm pretty sure that most people I know aren't worried as they've never mentioned and think things will be fine. I don't think it even crosses their minds.

I don't think the people I know are worried either. And these are intelligent people.

that drivers will not take on journeys where they will not turn a profit.

I've had the chance to work with HGV drivers in two separate roles (logistics and weighbridges). Any plans I would make would assume that only 1 in 4 had their paperwork in order, available, and legible.

On the money as usual

chrisgreybrexitblog.blogspot.com/

and ..

When we're saying "months of food shortages" - how long do people think the shortages could go on for?

I've been stockpiling for months, but wondering if I need to buy more.

Ellie56
There will be plenty of food
but it will be boring and limited range and expensive

spuds, onions, carrots, leeks, parsnips - all OK
flour, bread, rice - all OK
dairy - largely OK but more expensive
meat - much more limited and more expensive

the salad aisle - nyada
ready meals - nyada
processed foods - nyada

Booze, tea, coffee, long life juice - fine
anything in the chiller cabinets - a problem

@ListeningQuietly

Ellie56 There will be plenty of food but it will be boring and limited range and expensive

spuds, onions, carrots, leeks, parsnips - all OK
flour, bread, rice - all OK
dairy - largely OK but more expensive
meat - much more limited and more expensive

the salad aisle - nyada
ready meals - nyada
processed foods - nyada

Booze, tea, coffee, long life juice - fine
anything in the chiller cabinets - a problem

TL;DR - back to the 70s.

Is it really possible to buy more than a couple of months' worth of food in advance? Even if you could afford it, where would you put it? We're signed up to some UK-based veg and meat boxes –hopefully that will mean they still come through OK.

@ListeningQuietly

Ellie56 There will be plenty of food but it will be boring and limited range and expensive

spuds, onions, carrots, leeks, parsnips - all OK
flour, bread, rice - all OK
dairy - largely OK but more expensive
meat - much more limited and more expensive

the salad aisle - nyada
ready meals - nyada
processed foods - nyada

Booze, tea, coffee, long life juice - fine
anything in the chiller cabinets - a problem

Ooh, coffee - that's one I've been stockpiling. Why will it be fine? Just because long life?

DGR
TL;DR - back to the 70s.
Yup.

Tantie
Coffee comes in by container ship from outside the EU - so nothing will change.
Ditto tea.
Booze already has to go through clearance because duty rates are different in the UK and France - and the bond stores are humungous

THings that come in from outside the EU by ship to ports like Southampton
will be impacted by the change in duty rates of moving to WTO rules
but their supply chains will otherwise be unaffected.

Its the stuff that comes from the EU
or by road via the EU
that will be the problem

We're signed up to some UK-based veg and meat boxes –hopefully that will mean they still come through OK.

DW takes Calcium and Vitamin D to counteract HRT. Monthly order on S&S from Amazon for over 2 years.

Last delivery couldn't happen as they were out of stock due to a rush of orders. No concept of a loyal customer, so we were plum out of luck.

I'd be wary of trusting such services. At the end of the day you can't sell what you haven't got.

I had factored in delays and reductions but hadn't factored in the EU hauliers not coming at all.

Likely to be thousands of furloughed or unemployed HGV drivers at the moment - events, music concerts and exhibitions are not running;

www.ukhaulier.co.uk/news/road-transport/drivers/from-bryan-adams-on-tour-to-furlough-at-home/

I just worry a bit that the plenty of food that LQ (who's opinion I value and trust) says we'll have will still be missing from shelves for a while at least.
The moment it looks like there will be shortages of any sort, won't the inevitable panic buying result in the 'attacked by locusts' look of early March?
Without our usual supplies, there will be more demand upon what is already in the country.
I think?