A new name for the UK - Plague Island

Pariah Britain now as Singapore and the Phillipines ban flights to the UK.

so, if they found it first- and yes, we do have brilliant scientists in the UK (many of them foreign of course, but ...) why wait so long?

All could have been planned to ensure fast testing facilities were all in place, and properly organised- as soon as it was discovered.

THIS Government CHOSE to ignore it - and THIS Governement is entirely responsible.

THIS Goverment CHOSE to ignore it because it would have caused upset to supply chains, and show that they are totally NOT ready for this in Kent.

Anyone ever seen the shanty towns in the Phillipines ? koff.

biba70 Wed 23-Dec-20 13:52:35
so, if they found it first- and yes, we do have brilliant scientists in the UK (*many of them foreign of course*, but ...)

That’s not very inclusive if you is it?
But I expect you couldn’t resist!

Urmstongran

Some of us just love Europe but not the EU.
Plus - we’d rather live in the UK .

Choices!
??

wow, you just can't help yourself, can you?

After 40 years in the UK, not able to come and visit my parents as often and for as long as we wanted to due to jobs- we both decided to rent a little place here, to help my parents in their last few years of need. I so admired them, they never ever made me feel guilty for living abroad, NEVER.

And then we found this old place near them and fell in love with it- and calculated that thanks to the EU and the EEA- we could make the move, and have two simple, but very different homes- and ourselves and family coming to and thro without any hindrance. Going back home to UK, and then coming back home here. Knowing that one day we would return to UK. Not all of us who live abroad did so because we wanted to flee awful Blighty (and I know some who did) - but you just can't get that into your head - only green monsters there. How narrow, bigoted and sad.

We never had a single Christmas with my parents here- never. We could not- because of OH's job. My parents never ever complained- bless them <3

So, your theory, please. Havint known that this mutant virus was prevalent in the SE of the UK, Kent in particular- 3 months ago- why were preparations NOT made to allow drivers in for essential deliveries- and be tested before returning to EU? I can think of several reasons- but I would be very interested in understanding yours. Thanks.

Sorry biba but you’re not making much sense.
?
I think you’re getting mixed up. Or het up.
What’s wrong with me saying I love Europe? I have many friends in Spain & not just ex pats before you start on me.

I don’t like the EU.
Spot the difference there?

And what on earth has my having two small and different places got to do with your husband’s job and your lifestyle choices? Bizarre post.

Your parents lived in Europe. For 40 years you didn’t get to spend Christmas with them.

This thread was about Macron & lorry drivers.

My post about loving Europe & not the EU was in response to MaizieD’s jibe but your further input .... baffled me!

You may love Europe but your leave vote is causing untold misery for Europeans living and working in the U.K. and British citizens living in Europe. This is what some of us can’t understand. I know people that have had nervous breakdowns over brexit. One of them, a European who has devoted his life to the NHS. biba and her husband also devoted their working lives to this country and yet all many people on here do is hound and criticise her. Shame on you....

I'm guessing biba is on the search for the best of all worlds, (do excuse my "French nonsense" reference to Voltaire biba).
The irony is that Utopia does not exist. What works for one country does not work for another. Mentalities are very different, and why should either side change or give in?
I love Europe too, and I left the UK to marry a Frenchman. But the tit for tat behaviour of the EU countries baffles me. The closest I come to agreeing with them, is to agree to disagree.
Macron is just a product of his own country and its culture as is Merkel, as is Johnson.

GrannyGravy13

I love Europe, I just do not like how the EEC has morphed into the EU (United States of Europe).

As I remember it was the Tory party members idol Margret Thacher who first complained that the then Common Market was not a level playing field regarding British Manufactured products. They not to be trusted Europeans were subsidising their industries at the expense of Britain.

So, on winning that argument the Common Market Commission had to introduce laws that had to be agreed by all members of the market. Hence there had to be a debating place for all the arguments to be made and debated on, which then became the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament, and through that, the European Union was formed.

So those that berate the European Union for being overly political need only need look no further than Maggie Thacher and the Tory governments of the 1980s and 90s for all that coming about.

Well said retiredwell....

Sterling’s shot up!
A deal is about to be announced!
?

I know a lady in Malaga (married a Spaniard) and her nephew (totally Spanish) has worked over here as a nurse in the UK for almost 20 years. I asked her why? I’d read that Spain didn’t have enough nurses. She told me his contract is far better in the UK.! His words ‘the Spanish offer shit contracts to nursing staff by comparison’.

Anecdotal evidence of course. But it highlights that not everything over in Europe is wonderful whilst everything here is rubbish.

I personally know a Spanish haulier. He has a villa in the campo. Yet he works all year round in the UK and goes back to Spain ‘for his holidays’. Reason? More money and better T&C. He is banking his money faster in the hope to retire quicker to his villa. Pay off his mortgage that bit sooner.

Choices eh?

As I remember it was the Tory party members idol Margret Thacher who first complained that the then Common Market was not a level playing field regarding British Manufactured products. They not to be trusted Europeans were subsidising their industries at the expense of Britain

All I can say is well done Maggie then.
Seems we had to shame them all into fairer governance!

?

Urmstongran regarding your post at 14:53, European based hauliers are very restricted to what they can load while in Britain. It basically amounts to them bringing freight into the UK and then making one or two collections to make up a return load to return to Europe with.

Therefore, If your haulier friend is operating as you describe without his vehicle(s) being registered in Britain and being part of a British Business he/she is operating illegally

Urmstongran

Some of us just love Europe but not the EU.
Plus - we’d rather live in the UK .

Choices!
??

my post was about your dig about 'choices'

your Spanish friends work in the UK for the money- you say. Well I can assure you they would gt much better money and conditions in part of EU or EEA- for sure, but ...

Choices- yes. Some make choices for money, for some it is just called 'life' - you fall in love, it changes your life, it changes your future and where you will live. Not because you want to escape where you were, but because life is life.

As for not visiting my parents at Christmas, that was NEVER a choice. If you are married to someone who in on duty one night in 3, and has to work right through the holidays, 1 day in 3 - then you can't travel. It is, what it is. And as for choosing to be nearer to my parents in their last few hours of need- I think this is what loving children do- for their parents. I am proud that we did- first with my MIL then for them.

Fact is- GB is finding itself totally isolated from its neighbours and allies. And the future is bleak.

Have you just watched Hancock at the daily briefing- he sounded really serious and worried - and widening Tier 4 - and yet they have known for months now. THAT was a choice, a disastrous one.

There have been several variants of Covid-19 it’s what viruses do, they mutate to survive.

Where have you got your information that the so called UK. variant was discovered months ago please?

The WHO information differs from yours biba70

Well at least we are ahead in our vaccination programme ???

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GrannyGravy13

Well at least we are ahead in our vaccination programme ???

Hmm.

The Health Authorities are becoming concerned at the lack of vaccine.

50% of Hospital Trusts have never received any vaccine

66% of GPS have no vaccine.

They have raised the alarm that this new variant will become rampant unless we get a head start with the vaccine.

Jeremy Hunt has already said that we will run out of vaccine in January, with nothing due until March.

This governments default setting is cock-up.

Not all all Retiredwell. Maybe I didn’t make myself clear for which I apologise. You must think I have very dodgy friends ha!

No, our Spanish friend Vincente works & lives here in the UK. He earns good money driving around this country only. Pays his taxes etc yet saves more here apparently than he could at home in Spain.

Result for him.

And biba please don’t cast aspersions on my tale about the Spaniard who works full time for a hospital Trust in the UK. it is not ‘you say’. It is a fact. He has worked over here for many years and told his aunt (my friend) that Brexit won’t impinge on his choice. His wife & children are here, have been for many years but eventually he will retire back to Spain. The money and a better contract is what keeps him here.

By the way, I know many doctors (GPs) who pay a locum so they can take time off over Christmas. It is possible. Yes, it is expensive but doctors here are very well paid & the ones I know socially say every now and again they consider it worth it to spend time with their families. Again, it comes down to lifestyle choices so please don’t come the martyr by pretending it is impossible.

Obviously your financial situation was and is none of my business. I am just wishing here to demonstrate that it has always been possible to do such a thing. The doctors I know who did it, did so only occasionally at Christmas - but it was most certainly a viable decision.

The Oxford vaccine data is ready to be sent to the MHR according to Matt Hancock, hopefully it will be available at the beginning of January.

One of DH’s good friends is a Doctor, no shortage of holidays all year round?

Oops actually three of his friends (two GP’s and one an orthopaedic surgeon)

No problem Urmstongran, if he is just acting as a driver of British registered vehicles he is only doing what many European drivers carry out in Britain.

As for you having "many dodgy friends" I will contain my thoughts on that. ?