How are we getting through it?

[flamingpig0]

I'm just sitting at two screens waiting to trace one of you lot, just to get an answer phone AGAIN. But we are all doing very aparently.

I have to say the Dominic Cummings organised  scifi dystopia is a little underwhelming- there isn't even an underdressed Jenny Agutter in it.

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

She is abit old these days

there isn't even an underdressed Jenny Agutter in it.

[steve_holmes_11]

I have to say the Dominic Cummings organised  scifi dystopia is a little underwhelming- there isn't even an underdressed Jenny Agutter in it.

Isn't she a Nun now - or something?

[Techno II]

Last time I saw her on the TV, she was.

Cheers - Phil

[John Cook]

We are going to get though it this Christmas on the proviso that 'People should exercise a high degree of personal responsibility'.   So, we are ****** then.

[T13A]

Seems to me to be a complete ducking of responsibility by our so called leader. Will he take personal responsibility for deaths when they go up in January - I doubt it somehow.

What doesn't seem to be discussed in the media is that it only takes a small minority of people not following the 'guidance' and acting irresponsibly to screw the rest of us.

Just my tuppence worth.

Stay safe.

Cheers Paul

[Orcs]

What doesn't seem to be discussed in the media is that it only takes a small minority of people not following the 'guidance' and acting irresponsibly to screw the rest of us.

Unfortunately round my way, it is most often  teenagers and twenty somethings from  a particular part of the world that are the main culprits of not following the guidelines.  Due to the current political climate  pulling them up would result in all sorts of claims of harassment etc. They are not the only ones, but by far the majority

We had a number of colleagues take a release scheme at work and one of the company pensioners came along to the leaving do repeatedly saying " its all down to herd immunity" and "We have all had it and we are fine cos we keep fit". " I came back from Spain three weeks ago  (when it was blacklisted) and I stayed in for a couple of days but then I got bored so didn't bother any more"

He was from the same culture as the ones we see breaking the rules round her.  - Strangely this is the same culture that has the second highest death rate from COVID 19. So perhaps there is justice after all.   

[Ithoriel]

Almost the exact opposite round my way, Orcs.

Teenage to middle-aged "white folks" seem to be the main culprits. Older locals and BAME folks of all ages masked and making liberal use of hand gel dispensers.

[Westmarcher]

For a full lockdown to be fully effective, you need the full support of the population. I think it is a realistic acceptance by the nations' governments that the people's morale is down and that a full lockdown is therefore unlikely to get the same level of public support experienced earlier in the year. I think it is also a recognition by our leaders that there is little they can do if a significant proportion of the population decides to meet up with their families regardless of any measures they might decree.

Ignoring those who are not the sharpest tools in the box (and so struggle to understand lockdown rules or the gravity of the crisis), and the conspiracy theorists, I like to think the public will be ready to give their full support again to measures designed to restrict the spread of this bug as long as they get their 'morale' break. Unfortunately, this means there will be an increased infection rate, increased pressure on the NHS in the New Year and sadly, additional casualties. That is the sad reality for the early part of 2021.  Obviously I hope I am wrong. 

In the meantime, all the rest of us can do is to follow the nations' governments advice and be as careful as possible until this 'festive' period is over. 

Stay safe everyone.   

[Techno II]

Seconded.

Don't let this start getting political, Gang.

Cheers - Phil

[sean66]

Seconded.

Don't let this start getting political, Gang.

Cheers - Phil

I don't think you have much hope of that Phil. from the outside looking in you have main Government saying go and have your break we all agree then less than an hour later, two of the three dissolved Governments/Parliaments say no that's not right we should all stay in our bubbles.
i think people just want clirity and one voice (a certain divolved party just seem to use the Covid breifs to say how great they are compared to rest of UK)
its the same in Germany main government saying one thing regional say something totally different (the State of Bavaria has been in total lockdown for nearly a month because of infection rates. whereas rest of Germany been living life quiet normally.
The Bavarian Government has been blaming the infection rates on people going to Austria ski-ing so shut the borders! but infection rates in Austria are no where near Bavaria's 
me i go to work go home paint my little friends watch some tv go to bed and do it all again the next day (ex military so used to having restrictions on my life when on tour)
Regards
Sean

[John Cook]

At least the respective governments are marching, more or less, in step on this one but, though I applaud the 'libertarianism', I have no confidence that elements of the public will behave cautiously as they are being asked to do.  I'd be delighted to be proved wrong though

[Raider4]

For a full lockdown to be fully effective, you need the full support of the population.

And I think we had that, at least back in March/April/May.

Since then a steady drip-drip of stories of the rich/famous/politically connected behaving as they want - because the rules for the plebs couldn't possibly also apply to them - has diluted this support.

So, thank you the PM's special advisor, England footballers, Barbarians rugby players, vacuous popstars and everyone else who's just carried on as normal.

[mmcv]

two of the three dissolved Governments/Parliaments

sean showing his true anarchist colours here 

All we can really do is follow the best advice that science and the experts can offer for ourselves and our families, and hope enough others have the sense to do the same. I understand the political motivations behind the "Christmas amnesty" and yes if there were stricter rules a lot of people would have ignored them anyway, but it does seem like it's giving a lot more people who were on the fence a free pass to undo all the good work they've been doing the past year. All the experts say it's a bad idea and going to lead to more deaths next year, so ultimately people have to weigh up the cost of morale vs human life and make their decisions.

I have no intention of putting my family at risk for the sake of one year of "traditions", though others within my family have made different decisions in that regard, mostly due to political "allowances", so all I can do is my best to minimise any further impact.

[Leman]

Oh well, here I am in my new flat in the Netherlands with just my son for company, so we shall be having a very quiet Christmas, although we shall be inviting round a few new Dutch friends called Grolsch, Heineken, Amstel and Hertog Jan. Couple of mates from Chile popping by, as well as a Scotch pal.

Cheers all, Andy

[Raider4]

Oh well, here I am in my new flat in the Netherlands with just my son for company, so we shall be having a very quiet Christmas, although we shall be inviting round a few new Dutch friends called Grolsch, Heineken, Amstel and Hertog Jan. Couple of mates from Chile popping by, as well as a Scotch pal.

We have a Dutch guy at work. His opinion is that Amstel is the Dutch equivalent of Carling. Grolsch is good though!

[steve_holmes_11]

We have a Dutch guy at work. His opinion is that Amstel is the Dutch equivalent of Carling. Grolsch is good though!

Le Trappe takes you to the Belgian style, without crossing the border.

Thumbs up also for Grolsch.

[sean66]

sean showing his true anarchist colours here 

I must be the worst Anarchist in history  :-
24 years serving in the British Army. then working past 6 years for the American Army as a contractor 
Regards
Sean

[OldenBUA]

Grolsch and Hertog Jan, yes. Heineken and Amstel not so much. With both Belgium and Germany as neighbours there is always quite a selection of quality beers available in the supermarkets, and even more in specialty shops.

[jimduncanuk]

A few of the times I have been in the Low Countries I was partial to Kasteel.

It came in a distinctive glass.