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.

Presumably it gives them more flexibility to stockpile - since they own the product anyway? For me, it means there are thousands of cans rather than just a few hundred here already. I also more took from it that they are interested in continuing to serve this market, which is good for people who like their coffee.

There's going to be unrest if the limited food supplies go on for months and I can see a lot of anger if the vaccine is delayed.

This Government is fucked. They can spin it about Europe being the bullies, but at some point, the populace will turn around and say "what are YOU going to do about it?".

It's going to get nasty and won't be forgotten in the same way the exchange rate mess and bank crisis is not forgotten. Labour is still not trusted on the economy (latest poll from independent) - after this, where will trust be, for the Tories?

No-Deal or not - at some point, someone will be going back, cap in hand, to renogotiate frictionless access. I suspect Barnier has already factored this in.

The original distributors are still responsible for distribution on Illy’s behalf in the UK though - so in practice, it’s a transfer of assets and staff but little change to the actual distribution process.

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.

What has your putdown to @JustAnotherPoster00 got to do with damaging egos? It was rude and dismissive, and I understood why that might be the case. You didn't, which is a pity. And, just like a certain breed of politician, you brush off my grievance with a "suck it up" response. Gaslighting, actually.

No-one expects you to check everything you say for any possible offence it might give . But when it's highlighted to you that something you've said has (understandably, in my view) come across as thoughtless, you might at least consider why that is instead of coming back with another putdown.

My ego is fine, thank you.

I twigged a few months ago that my fave Lavazza coffee was made in Italy and stocked up. Recently I have been looking at the origins of my toiletries and other products I use daily:

Shower gel - France
Shampoo and conditioner - France
Toothpaste - Ireland
Face wash - Poland
Toner - Poland
Moisturizer - UK
Deodorant - Russia
Face powder - Italy

Washing up liquid - UK
Dishwasher tabs - Poland
Hand wash - UK
Bathroom cleaner - Poland
Viakal - "EU"

These are the 'made in' countries. Hopefully these companies have filled every warehouse they have with product, popped a few more cases in the CEOs garden shed etc to cushion the blow. Otherwise we could quite quickly become angry, hungry, dirty urchins living in squalor.

Bloody hell. Is it going to be like shopping in Soviet Russia?

Otherwise we could quite quickly become angry, hungry, dirty urchins living in squalor.

Add inadequately caffeinated to the list as well.

Buying your UK distributor doesn’t alleviate getting the product into the country.

I’ve been taking frequent breaks from my binge reading of the last few pages of this thread to add more and more things to my online shop

At least I’ll be ok for manchego cheese - I picked up many packs yesterday in Aldi, and they’re good until late March!

Choux
Non perishables are less of an issue
because they can be stored in big box warehouses for months
(hence why investors in warehousing have done VERY well over the last few years)

The visible problem is going to be fresh and chilled as they have to turn around fast

slightly outing, but the truck full of salad veg whose fridge unit broke REALLY REALLY stank after a day in the sun !!!!!

At least I’ll be ok for manchego cheese

Better be careful mentioning that, or a Leaver will be along to berate you for being an out-of-touch Citizen Of Nowhere posho with your hoity-toity olives and foie gras.

@Choux

I twigged a few months ago that my fave Lavazza coffee was made in Italy and stocked up. Recently I have been looking at the origins of my toiletries and other products I use daily:

Shower gel - France
Shampoo and conditioner - France
Toothpaste - Ireland
Face wash - Poland
Toner - Poland
Moisturizer - UK
Deodorant - Russia
Face powder - Italy

Washing up liquid - UK
Dishwasher tabs - Poland
Hand wash - UK
Bathroom cleaner - Poland
Viakal - "EU"

These are the 'made in' countries. Hopefully these companies have filled every warehouse they have with product, popped a few more cases in the CEOs garden shed etc to cushion the blow. Otherwise we could quite quickly become angry, hungry, dirty urchins living in squalor.

You also need to consider where the ingredients for the items made in UK come from. They're not going to produce much if they can't get the ingredients.

I've been doing similar and am sourcing non-UK alternatives. Apparently, the biggest good concern here in Ireland is cereals and biscuits. Thankfully, I don't buy either of those from UK manufacturers. Warehouse space in Ireland is now at a premium as supermarkets etc are stocking up on UK products.

You also need to consider where the ingredients for the items made in UK come from. They're not going to produce much if they can't get the ingredients.

I can imagine a scenario where different factories want to make lasagne ready meals. One has pasta but can't get meat or sauce, another has meat but not pasta or sauce and a third has no meat but has tomato sauce. Between them they could make some ready meals but as competitors none can use their ingredients.

I also read (maybe on here) about how the quintessentially British tin of beans was made with imported beans, sauce, sugar and steel.

Cheese lovers - halloumi has about a 9 month shelf life and has no equivalent British variety.

Ah - so that stockpile of cereal and biscuits I've got here is a waste of space!

Choux
Yep, I quoted the Baked Beans example.

Things like Halloumi are less of a stress because cheese can be sea freighted and does not suffer from sitting in a warehouse for a month.

Ready meal lasagne is a classic example

• pasta
• beef (or horse )
• tomatoes
• onions
• spice powder
• cheese
• dairy emulsifiers
• eggs

LOTS of different supply chains and possible rate determining steps

This thread reminded me that I need to order another big bag of Yorkshire tea on Amazon before the iron curtain comes down (I buy on Amazon France but the seller presumably imports them). Fortunately tea is the only British food item I bother with these days and a 600 pack will keep me going until Christmas 2021.

I've considered raiding the supermarket for cream crackers before the small British section disappears. But tbh the cream crackers probably come from Belgium anyway.

I have no idea wtf is going on in Brexit - The Series as I am officially Bored Fucking Witless with it and work is too busy anyway. But I just poked my head round the Brexit twitter door and the twitter sages don't seem to have the faintest clue either!

.

Just looked on Twitter and top of my feed, from Barnier:

"After one week of intense negotiations in London, together with @DavidGHFrost, we agreed today that the conditions for an agreement are not met, due to significant divergences on level playing field, governance and fisheries."

I can't interpret this but it doesn't sound good.

I've finally put my finger on something blindingly obvious what has been bothering me about the UK's attitude towards the negotiation and its complacency that negotiations with the EU always go to the wire

Trade negotiations don't usually have a cliff-edge deadline . They take as long as they take - and in the meantime bilateral arrangements and/or WTO conditions which importers/exporters are used to will continue to apply.

It's not rocket science to see that the UK-EU negotiations are not comparable

The most sensible take seems to be:

• Von der Leyen cannot compromise or negotiate on behalf of the EU27

• so at this point Johnson basically either takes what's on offer, or it's no deal.

I think the UK is relying on the history of intra-EU negotiations tending to go to the wire.

International negotiations, not so much.

Expect there will be some crappy last minute fudge complete with 'Boris to the rescue nonsense' 😒

@SabrinaThwaite

I think the UK is relying on the history of intra-EU negotiations tending to go to the wire.

International negotiations, not so much.

I agree.

They haven't quite understood their own oft-repeated statement that the UK is no longer in the EU

Not sure if Tantie was advising me to stop reading the Sun/Mail in order to find news on Brexit implications. Lol ... but it's true that I am not on Twitter.

However, I stand by the assertion that on balance there has been precious little discussion in MSM on the actual effects of Brexit for the UK electorate.

We hear about talks being on or talks being off and Lord knows we heard lots about the oven ready deal last year, but the most substantial detail I've read on what will happen has been on this thread. Thanks to those of you in the know.

- so at this point Johnson basically either takes what's on offer, or it's no deal.

So he will say that it's an Australia type deal, and we could have done better but the EU weren't being nice to us, boo hoo.

@Parmesanfrenzy - Ah - so that stockpile of cereal and biscuits I've got here is a waste of space!

Probably not, because lots of the ingredients presumably come from outside the UK.