Markka

I think it is to allow people time to travel. If they do look to change the Xmas meeting rules now, I'm not sure if reducing the number of days from 5 would be beneficial, assuming people actually follow the rules and stick to their bubble. Changing that may just be a tacit acknowledgement that many are likely going to meet different extended family over a number of days, or just do what they want regardless. But if they do change the rules/guidance, the level of seethe generated will be fantastic. So it may be worth it just for that.

Yep. Same goes for Sturgeon, etc. Fully expect tier 4 restrictions in January and February for much of the country after Christmas is "saved".

Greenied purely for the use of "succulent Chinese meal"

Scotch

It doesn't matter what it is called. What matters is how many you can eat in one sitting.

Roll and pie is another quality snack. Curry pies are my preference. Tried to come up with the most carborific yet realistic snack with some mates in the pub last year. Winner was a roll and quarter pizza crunch with chips.

The best post fitba scran I've ever had was mince rolls in some pub in Lochee. Had four of them if memory serves me correctly.

They aren't the uber-diddies they used to be. Beat Greece home and away I think 5/6 years ago.

Agreed. Definitely one of the better possible outcomes.

Fawlty Towers is another. A few folk have summed up my opinion of Still Game - it was good, sometimes great, and should have ended in 2007.

I failed my theory test first time. Instructor had warned me about clicking too often during the hazard perception part, and the end result was that I didn't click enough (or so I assume). Passed it second time with no issues. All rather pointless though as I was a terrible, reluctant driver, and after I changed jobs, I stopped taking lessons for a few weeks, which then became forever. Haven't driven at all in 12 years. Regret it in hindsight as I'd paid for all the lessons etc. Should have tried to pass the practical, as although I was never that keen on driving, would be handy to have the license if needed.

Where is this card being held at? Watching some foreign stream at present.

I wonder if Galloway thinks he can actually win in Rutherglen & Hamilton West. He was soundly trounced in West Bromwich East last time and there's no reason to expect anything different here.

I know that. Regardless whether we may have done better than the examples you stated, we still could have done a lot better.

Successful in comparison to England? Probably. And given that Scotgov are hampered to an extent by Westminster, I'll give them some partial credit. Successful compared to some other countries in the world? No, not at all.

My criticism of the SNP relates to the Covid response, which is about a year old, not 13 years.

Can someone conduct a wellness check on Trump?

To an extent, yes. However, such goodwill wouldn't last forever of course, and like others have said, if we get independence then the SNP could rely a lot less on my vote. I maintain that, despite the SNP's shortcomings, there is no point in voting for an alternative if you believe that alternative to be worse.

Repeating myself - I'm not convinced any of the others would have done any better dealing with Covid. If there was an alternative independence supporting party that I did think would have done better, they would probably have my vote. I reckon it will be a few years before we know whose approach was better.

Anyone out there championing the current SNP led government for Indy purposes despite their Covid failings is blinkered. However, as previously stated i'm not convinced the other options would have done any "better" and unless otherwise convinced I'll likely still vote for them in hope of achieving independence.

Plenty of decent points there. However, do you believe any other mainstream political party would have done a better job than the current administration? I'm not convinced. Scottish Tories would likely just align with Westminster, and I think the others would have largely followed the same path and suffered the same pitfalls.

Yeah...that isn't what I was saying.

The public's mostly positive opinion of Nicola Sturgeon during the pandemic is probably because she comes across as sincere in her televised updates, whereas Boris Johnson and most of his Tory colleagues are seen as bumbling oafs.

Generally about the severity of the virus and the severity of the restrictions. None of them are outright covid-deniers as far as I know.

Undoubtedly. I know plenty of folk who are sceptical of Covid, and wary of the vaccine. Reckon all of them would take it if it meant they could get away for their holidays overseas. In that situation, I'd be interested to see how many hardcore anti-vaxxers would hold their nerve.