deegee

Does your girlfriend enjoy this tradition or is she coerced by her folks to go? Sounds a thoroughly miserable night tbh and I’d o making plans to go for a meal with your partner; set an example and break this annual event with her aunt.

We are in the Christmas purgatory, where kids are all up, no grandkids on the horizon and frankly it’s all a little bit pointless. Thankfully gift shopping is vastly reduced and I still enjoy cooking our roast dinner. Downside is cleaning up after hungover kids and the Xmas night visit to the other half’s family is something I hate. Much prefer peace and quiet at home but her whole family, despite seeing and/or speaking to each other daily, act like they’ve only just met and it’s far too loud, some of her relatives talk some shite and I only really start enjoying myself again on Boxing Day; football and a few beers make the day usually.

Some really insightful posts in the past few hours, particularly the news that the Scottish Government may have diverted money from health to cover their funds for the current restrictions, and as always Frankie offers a real-world update on hospitality businesses’ dilemmas and the impossible position they are in re staff, opening and financial risk and liabilities. It is not just football, nightclubs and boozy drinkers being affected, which is probably how Sturgeon thinks she will get away with “doing something “. I received an email from Scottish Ballet; their Nutcracker show is stopping after Xmas and means a few remaining nights’ shows in Edinburgh are off as well as a fortnight of performances in Theatre Royal, Glasgow. You have the impact of lost revenue for the performers, musicians, backstage and venue staff, reimbursed tickets and lost money for venues. Not to mention the capacity of the venues are circa 1500 (Glasgow) and 1900 (Edinburgh) so lots of families, travel costs and plans in tatters. Just to allow Sturgeon to make a quick ill-thought political point.

Not strictly for this thread but I would say Sturgeon must be aware of the minor rumblings of discontent from some of the party who are frustrated at her lack of push for IndyRef2. I’m not a Nationalist but know Independence is at the heart of the SNP and it’s naturally in the DNA every living day. She has to, at some point, declare for a referendum or she’ll be booted out as a loser, history will judge her harshly by the Nationalists and it truly might be at least a generation before Independence is uttered again in a serious context. Back on topic, I think a lot of her decision making and clear statements of divergence from England regarding the virus is partially to appear different and appeal to her followers; Tories in England= bad/ SNP= good and caring.

I was being ironic mate. I totally got your post

To be fair in her exchange with DRoss who was pressing her on the new Omicron data she did say "days". I expect that barring some mental case explosion in the next 10 days or so we will start to see the latest restrictions being rolled back quite quickly, even before the 3wks stated. I’m sure that’ll come as no comfort for the thousands of businesses across the country who have lost their peak trading month. Not to worry lads; slap on a cloth mask, open your doors and your middle of January trade will recover your losses. Keep voting for Nicola and move on!

When we look back on this shitshow, surely one of the key learning points will be to improve the nation’s diet, health and fitness. It’ll be looked on in future generations with amazement how we shut gyms, banned middle aged men from a round of golf and sent police helicopters to arrest hill walkers, whilst greasy manky takeaways were never busier and the country turned Deliveroo and Uber Eats into keywords of the vocabulary and had their Apps on speed dial.

You would think somebody in the SNP would have some balls and have a quiet word in Sturgeon’s ear, to remind her she serves the people and is now acting unbalanced and is in serious overreach of power. Her cuckold fanboys and fa girls wouldn’t dare utter a word but I’ve always had some respect for Angus Robertson. Seems a very level headed and experienced politician, who would look at the bigger picture, rather than the insular core of the leadership.

Just plucked 3 fixtures from Boxing Day, at Aberdeen, Hearts and Rangers. There will be no more than 500 folk attending these events, yet 1.5 miles from Pittodrie is Union Square shopping centre, South Gyle is 4 miles from Tynecastle and Ibrox is 3 miles from both Silverburn and Braehead centres. Thousands of shoppers congregating, travelling from all over Scotland, multi generational and there’ll be more than 500 folk maskless eating burgers in the food courts at 3pm on Sunday in these shopping areas. it is not a public health matter now and the clubs ought to challenge this restriction. This is a virtual lockdown by stealth and cessation of business for specific industries; hospitality and outdoor/ sports events and the lunatics in Government need their wings clipped.

Surely this is a question that needs pushed to the Scottish Government; if the risk is so severe and the escalation of infection numbers and transmission are causing the need for further restrictions, why wait until next week? Surely there was 2 matches last weekend with 50k+ crowds in Glasgow and there will be a full house in Paisley tonight as well as a large crowd at Easter Road with a sizeable travelling support?

If Swinney is now saying the Scottish Government will consider changes to self isolation period, it’s safe to assume that himself and Sturgeon will probably increase the term to 14 days, just to be on the safe side lol.

@Aufc I was quoting the post copied above. It was in the BBC news a minute ago that we are up to 14 Omnicrom deaths but it’s safe to presume the suicide numbers will have also increased since the Twitter post. For reference, I also had a quick check myself last night, to validate these figures and quickly found some shocking stats on Samaritans website. For example, 805 suicides in 2020 in Scotland which was a slight reduction on 2019... https://www.samaritans.org/scotland/about-samaritans/research-policy/suicide-facts-and-figures/latest-suicide-data/

Condolences on your loss. I lost my mother in Feb 20 to cancer after a short illness. I can understand how you will feel but you will be glad in time that you managed home for dad and have your memories of your dad, albeit he was still in the prime of his life. It is so unfair and I can only wish you the best in the coming weeks and months. Keep your family and friends close at this time mate.

Sometimes it’s the small petty things that get on your nerves. I for no rational reason get mad with the way him and Sturgeon strut into Holyrood. The “piece to camera” always has him looking like a droopy- shouldered, glaikit henpecked type, walking a couple paces behind her and trying to keep up, both in masks and clutching folders across their bodies like church elders about to read a sermon from the pulpit. No sense to it, but that scene on the news always infuriates me lol.

Way I have seen these past few weeks are that the variant was an ideal opportunity for Boris to deflect from all his current woes and internal squabbles, which Ironically have only got worse due to backbenchers pushing back from his new restrictions. It was obvious, based on the past two years and party political agendas, that Drakeford and Sturgeon were going to go “DEFCON 1” and go further and deeper, just to oppose anything the Torys were doing. This has resulted in total heads gone everywhere, with no-one seemingly willing to read the room and listen to clear scientific and medical facts, that this strain is weaker in terms of serious illness and death. It’s this blinkered defiance that will either make or break all sides in this shitshow. For whatever reason, there seems no dissent from other parties; possibly due to intertwined London based policies eg Starmer would also go deeper, just to point score versus Boris, presumably as he doesn’t have his own internal- party issues and troubles to seek. Hence Labour in Scotland tie the line. The most important post I read here today, sadly lost among the 30 pages that followed was by poster @Frank Grimes.. Since Omnicrom was detected in UK (Nov 27th)- 7 Omnicrom deaths, average age 83 Same timescale- 239 male suicides; 70% aged between 25-44 years old. I would suggest the Governments ought to look at that sobering fact, the next time they get up on their soapbox.

I just received this email from Celtic. It is the only logical option for the top two leagues in Scotland.

Request to reschedule winter break View in browser http://zeta.ecommzone.com/lz/celtkt/10339B/0/images/image-1.jpeg http://zeta.ecommzone.com/lz/celtkt/10339B/0/images/image-2.jpeg Everyone at Celtic recognises the difficulties presented to society by the current pandemic, and the health and safety of all must always be our priority. In light of today’s announcement regarding supporters attending matches, Celtic can confirm that it has today requested that the SPFL bring forward the scheduled winter break and reschedule the fixtures affected by the regulations announced. The game owes it to supporters to explore all opportunities to maximise the prospect of all supporters being able to attend matches and support the game they love. http://zeta.ecommzone.com/lz/celtkt/10339B/0/images/image-3.jpeg PRIVACY POLICY You have received this email as it contains important information relating to your Season Ticket. Celtic F.C. Limited is a subsidiary of Celtic plc Registered Office: Celtic Park, Glasgow G40 3RE Registered Number 223604 Scotland Vat Reg. No. 653­29352 Telephone: 0871 226 1888 Calls cost 13p per minute, plus your phone company's access charge. For customer enquiries relating to existing purchases only, please call 0141 230 1967. Calls charged at standard rate. http://zeta.ecommzone.com/lz/celtkt/10339B/yGLqzp7sV30NWYmj7AAvOoHzpJPaOhEHDam3oREAZrk1/audit/beacon.gif

Since the wee one is literally a baby, it’ll make zero odds of the trip is pushed to Easter, as I said earlier mate. I can understand them wanting to see the bairn but, as you say, their demands are 100% totally unreasonable and if they are so concerned, they should agree to postponing the trip until their heads are in a better place. I can sense you’ll need to go visit them and hope, for everyone’s sake, it passes without drama, you get your day out (as it’s as much your Christmas as it is theirs tbh) and when you meet again, the pantomime of fear has eased.

Not to worry. When the football grounds are closed next week, as least we can all join the thousands crammed into the likes of Silverburn, Buchanan Galleries, St James Quarter, South Gyle, Union Square or Overgate and numerous others around Scotland. We all know this virus couldn’t possibly spread in heaving, warm, enclosed shopping centres!

Leith is another odious toad who, like I said recently about Sturgeon, hasn’t wasted time in getting back into the spotlight; never of telly this past fortnight and apparently back on the Saturday afternoon radio too. He will be polishing up his dancing shoes and telling his “agent” to get him booked up for Strictly Come Dancing!

I actually feel quite sorry for your in-laws as well as yourselves. The mother-in-law has cranked up the pressure on you to attend, based purely on a Bank Holiday weekend date in the calendar. How old is your daughter, if you don’t mind me asking, and is she fussed/aware of all this background noise? If the in-laws are so terrified, I would politely but forcibly insist you’ll rearrange trip for Easter or maybe earlier if her fear (and her perceived risk of catching a terrifying virus) subsides. Tell them it’s in everyone’s best interest etc. Alternatively, could you not still travel but book a Travelodge type place to stay, and that’ll allow you and all the family some peace and will get you to the football without any issues?

I said at home a few months ago that Sturgeon must be missing her soapbox platform to grandstand and score points, all in the guise of public health. True to form, at the first chance she is all over her podium and public announcements like a rash. I know she is in Holyrood tomorrow but it’ll be the predictable and tedious put- downs, eye rolling and sarcastic remarks to any questions. Luckily for her, her regional council opposition members are no better than upgraded councillors, so her illusion of grandeur goes unopposed; unlike London where half of Boris’s party are choking to empty him.

Ive edited my post due to blasphemy, in this of all Godly weeks!

It’s was scandalous; I wanted speciality butternut squash for making some soup and the aisles were bare! I can report that smoked salmon stocks however were fine and I got Madagascan vanilla custard and a box of nice profiteroles for a treat instead! Only lazy folk buy canapés from supermarkets. Those in the know will prepare their own; some prawns, paprika, mayonnaise, some soft cheese, cured ham and a couple sliced jalapeños are all you need!

You’d be daft to book anything until later next month mate. Lyon was a shambles for your lads, caused mainly with French government mis- messaging but tbh any country has shown the ability to act mental over these variants, even reasonably sane countries like Germany.