[Andy McDandy]

1. Fill space.

2. Let the plebs think they're being given a chance to "be interactive" and "contribute to the debate".

3. Give everyone a chance to sneer at the plebs.

Any of you who remember the edifying broadcast treat that was "Central Weekend" should recognise how this works. Except this time, no finish time!

[Boiler]

Today's Maskwatch:

Halfords: 100% amongst staff. Of six people waiting at the till, I was the only one masked.

Waitrose: 100% amongst staff and only one customer without - no doubt not wanting to ruin her appearance...

M&S: 100% on both counts.

[Watchman]

Aldi today was at 98% across staff and customers

[Boiler]

Any of you who remember the edifying broadcast treat that was "Central Weekend" should recognise how this works. Except this time, no finish time!

Oh, cheers. I'd forgotten about that shite...

[kreuzberger]

Boosted this morning. Bit of a headache this afternoon but nothing that a couple of ibu, a beer, and a plate of Vietnamese Goulash couldn't see off.

BVG transit system and three major rides hither and thither, utterly flawless.

Pub on the corner before we got home? Already sprawlingly drunk neighbours who are not quite as vigilant as they might be.

[kreuzberger]

Boosted this morning. Bit of a headache this afternoon but nothing that a couple of ibu, a beer, and a plate of Vietnamese Goulash couldn't see off.

BVG transit system and three major rides hither and thither, utterly flawless.

Pub on the corner before we got home? Already sprawlingly drunk neighbours who are not quite as vigilant as they might be.

[Boiler]

Boosted this morning. Bit of a headache this afternoon but nothing that a couple of ibu, a beer, and a plate of Vietnamese Goulash couldn't see off.

Tell us more?

[Malcolm Armsteen]

Spike tells me that half her school has been sent home as there aren't enough healthy teachers to cover their classes...

And a school in Kent has been excluding pupils for wearing masks in lessons.

[Samanfur]

Also on that subject:

Families home schooling sick kids to protect them face prosecution in 'bonkers' rule

[kreuzberger]

Boosted this morning. Bit of a headache this afternoon but nothing that a couple of ibu, a beer, and a plate of Vietnamese Goulash couldn't see off.

Tell us more?

Well. Are we sitting comfortably, then I'll begin.

This particular family comes from Hội An in central Vietnam and the dish, basically a beef hotpot, stems out from up country towards of the border with Laos. They set the pot going on Tuesday and usually it is done by Thursday, the point being that this is a cheap dish for the locals. However, by early evening today, there were a couple of portions left over and I was lucky enough to snap one.

In fairness, it is like goulash the world over. It is just that they infuse it with rice wine, chilies, and allsorts of Vietnamese spices. At 7,50€ a pop, it really can't be beat.

[kreuzberger]

Spike tells me that half her school has been sent home as there aren't enough healthy teachers to cover their classes...

And a school in Kent has been excluding pupils for wearing masks in lessons.

In loco parentis. Should this come to court, heads (sic) must roll.

[Malcolm Armsteen]

This is the story.
By crikey there;'s some thick fucks in charge of schools. But on the other hand, it's Kent...

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/faversham/ ... ss-258547/

[Samanfur]

When the article mentioned the strict school rules for context, I realised that we'd discussed this particular school before, back in Another Place.

It shouldn't surprise me that they'd do something like this.

[Malcolm Armsteen]

Head teacher Barry Smith has a lot of form. As far as I can see he never stays long enough anywhere to be assessed properly.

He is the exact opposite of everything I believe in, and my last Year 11 results were in the 98th percentile for value added, nationally...

[mattomac]

He missed a calling in life it seems from what I just read.

He isn’t fit to be in charge of a pig sty, I’m reading about slavery at the moment and he doesn’t sound too far removed from some of that lot.

[Malcolm Armsteen]

The Mail doesn't like him.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... ammed.html

[Bones McCoy]

This is the story.
By crikey there;'s some thick fucks in charge of schools. But on the other hand, it's Kent...

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/faversham/ ... ss-258547/

See if it's the headmaster who excludes a dozen every August for "Shoe infractions".

I think there are a tiny minority working in schools who shouldn't be permitted within 200 yards of one.

[Cyclist]

Still chasing herd immunity then

As the Covid Omicron variant rises, deputy PM Dominic Raab said people should 'get their loved ones around them' - but SAGE member David Spiegelhalter warned: 'What happens after Christmas of course is another matter'

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/ ... 620149.amp

I really can't decide whether it'll be safe to go away or not. The people who are supposed to be keeping us informed are behaving very irresponsible. How am I supposed to make an informed decision when the experts are saying one thing and the government saying another?*





*Rhetorical question. Fuck the government - listen to the experts.

[Boiler]

I'm really torn over this.

Again, a bit of me wants to "cancel Christmas" (mostly for health reasons) - after all, I'd hope there'd not be a repeat of last year's fiasco where I plan to be. I have lunch booked with a friend on the 21st in a pub: what will the situation be by then?

A colleague is on holiday in Florida at the moment, so he's got the latest testing regime to look forward to when he gets back.

I can certainly understand @Cyclist's concern over travelling in this period.

Here's an odd thing. Last year, with no vaccines and the Alpha/Kent variant running riot in the Home Counties, I chose to isolate for three months which seriously screwed my finances. This year, cases are lower where I work than at home...

[Tubby Isaacs]

Well indeed.