Clockwork

Haven’t watched the DS daily briefing for a while, but tuned in this afternoon. When not reading from a script, is this guy capable of putting together a coherent sentence? Johnson is absolutely infuriating to listen to, he makes no sense whatsoever. Erm, argh, erm, argh, repeat. His inane rambling and bluster render these briefings completely pointless and impossible to follow. This is in addition to now refusing point blank to answer questions from selected members of the press, in relation to an issue which still holds huge public interest and concern. His blind and spineless denial of the impact that Dominic Cummings actions have on the crucial factor of trust with regards to the public health message, is as shocking as it is destructive. Is in any wonder that this country has handled this crisis so very badly with this bumbling waffler at the helm. The appalling U.K. figures in relation to other countries speak for themselves. His medical advisors also continue to be far from convincing in explaining the new Tracing System. It’s almost as though they’ve had a quick five minute discussion in the Downing Street kitchen, as to how things will work just moments before facing the cameras? Their other answers were also delivered in a completely different, almost contradictory tone to the Prime Ministers take on the current situation. These sessions deliver no confidence to the public at all. Turned it off before the close, what a complete waste of time.

Had the day off yesterday, and hardly moved out of the armchair, beat my PB time for completing the minesweeper puzzle in the morning paper, then binge-watched and completed the Netflix documentary, ‘Sunderland till I Die’. Compelling viewing, what a way to run a professional football club![emoji15]

*Celtic ‘awarded’ 2019/20 title having accumulated the most points in an incomplete season (due to health epidemic). Surely that would placate both sides of the OF divide? There’s nothing tainted about it, but the record should show that this particular season was unavoidably shortened. Same for any other European League.

It’s been a much healthier few weeks all round, from a personal perspective; a good nights kip, no commutes or stressful driving long distances for work and time away from home, easy to make time for regular exercise, less fast food, no regular after work pint etc.. Really missed the Sport but suppose that’s encouraged more reading and listening to different music. Will be glad to get back to some level of normality but it’s definitely had some positives to look back on.

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) was introduced in 2014, assessing the quality and impact of HEI research and is hugely influential in the allocation of £2 Billion worth of funding to UK Universities every year. REF performance is also a significant guidance factor with the various Research Councils (RCUK) and other funding bodies. Access to and transparency of research outputs are of paramount important to this process. https://www.ref.ac.uk/about/

Yep fair enough, my misread, it look a worrying stat![emoji15]

A date to note? Yes, with a short reflection of conciliatory remembrance marking 75 years since the end of hostilities in WW2. A date of flag waving celebrations, perhaps not?

This must have been questioned!?? Why spend millions on additional capacity up and down the country and the opportunity to isolate Covid-19 patients, then continue to treat them in facilities already busy caring for those who are vulnerable with other health concerns? Not only continuing to expose all staff, whilst diverting and diluting other staff resource (read that it was 180 staff to 35 Patients at the 4,000 bed Nightingale Hospital in London) and leave it pretty much empty, eventually mothballing it. This isn’t hindsight for the planners surely?

Yes my apologies, it is indeed a Bluetooth speaker to the winner and then the chance of a Digital Radio for successfully completing the 3 in 10 question. Find its sometimes easy to rattle off the first one or two, then just floundering bluster for the 3rd as the clock runs down. As SD mentions, would also love to call in and have a crack, but for fear of making an absolute balls up of it.

Tuning into Pop Master ( Ken Bruce - Radio 2 - Weekdays 10.30am) has become a part of the routine whilst working from home during the lockdown and something to look forward to, breaking up the morning with a cuppa. 1) Any others listening in regularly, and if so, what’s a reasonable score for you? Reckon over the last few weeks I’m usually hitting around the 18-24 mark (out of 39) depending upon the years and bonus questions. I’m struggling with most stuff that’s post early 90’s to be honest, in which case my score can be down at the 12-15 mark if the questions are slanted towards more ‘up to date’ music. Enjoy having a go at the 3 in 10 too! 2) Have any P&B’ers actually been on the show, and if so how did you fare? ‘One Year Out’ T-shirt or a Digital Radio? [emoji442] [emoji445]

That’s some effort, fair play to you! I’m on 121 days at the moment and counting too[emoji15]! The amount of Ice Cream I’m now eating is becoming a bit of a worry though. Have always preferred the savoury option tbh, crisps, nuts, cheese & biscuits etc, but since going on the wagon (mainly to help pack in the smokes), I’ve inexplicably started to reach for the sweet stuff in the supermarket; stocking up on chocolate, cake bars and a freezer full of mint Magnums!! Any weight loss I’d hoped for through not quaffing a regular 4 pack of Guinness hasn’t materialised at all unsurprisingly. Cold turkey it is from Monday, zero sugar!!

Yep, got one of these a couple of years ago and it’s been absolutely spot on! Good VFM and a nice cuppa![emoji108]

Think the basic premise of most religions; be true to yourself and be a good neighbour, makes sense for most people, whether they believe in a God or not. Our world would certainly be a much better place if we could just manage that simple principle most of the time. The rest is just a load of man-made up nonsense. Have always been suspicious of those who are overly pious.

Apologies if already posted; an interesting piece on the economic impact of Covid-19 on individual British Cities, in terms of Jobs, exposure/risk and the recovery factor. Aberdeen a prominent mention. https://www.centreforcities.org/blog/what-does-the-covid-19-crisis-mean-for-the-economies-of-british-cities-and-large-towns/

Easier on the government to be accused of overreacting than not doing enough, however this story is being orchestrated.

https://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/news/news/while-we-are-devastated-by-the-verdict-we-will-not-let-it-define-us-/ Yet there are those who maintain that these allegations are wholly fabricated in an attempt to frame a completely innocent man. Lies and deliberate smears created solely to tarnish his reputation. The claims of intimidation, bullying, demeaning sexual harassment, trauma and suffering can be summarily dismissed as fictional, concocted falsifications, nothing more.

The prosecution’s inability to make the case stick, using the principles of Moorov’s law is indeed their failure, especially given that even his own admissions would illustrate a pattern of behaviour. Surely they should have been able to uncover any previous collaboration between witnesses prior to the trial? It seems thoroughly ill prepared. His defence however deployed a tactic of pleading guilty to a series of lesser demeanours in the hope that it would satisfy the contention that he is just a bit of a pest, nothing more. It clearly worked. His politics are immaterial to the case, there are politicians of ALL colours who continue to preach and moralise over the life choices, decisions and good character of others whilst believing their own behaviour is above reproach. They are just as reprehensible.

Believed some of the evidence but decided that even the laws covering sexual harassment in the workplace hadn’t been contravened? The prosecution couldn’t even make that stick, surely it raises a few eyebrows that he walked away scot-free?

I doubt it, I think most will still wonder how NINE individual complainants could just fabricate this whole saga, and just as importantly why? I don’t think many will equate the ruling with Salmond’s ‘innocence’ though, more that ‘he got off’. You’re right though, if the Crown felt they had enough hard evidence to pursue this case, they made a pretty shoddy job of using it. A sorry episode all round.

The biggest travesty in the ‘playing out’ of this court case is that the term ‘Sex Walrus’ wasn’t used in the summing up! I know this is no laughing matter but cap duly doffed to the P&B comedic master that coined that!

Fully expect a Not Proven verdict, his public ignominy and disgrace is largely already decided upon however. It isn’t a great legacy to leave the stage with.

How many unfortunate working parents will be forced to ask potentially vulnerable Grandparents to look after the Grandkids when the Schools close??

Yep, it’s a shame you can’t just make out a little more of its flanks & undercarriage, it’s still a good spot and shot though![emoji846][emoji108]

Would it be unusual for a Black Throat not to completely lose its summer plumage or possible for it to start developing its summer colouring as early as mid-March?

“In their winter plumage, Black-throated Divers have more uniformly dark upper parts. Their underparts are white, and a white thigh patch is often prominent. They also have white colouring on their throats and on their cheeks below their eyes. Their bills are pale grey and their legs are paler than in the summer, but their irises remain red”. (Source; Nature Gate)