JohnfromUK
-
Posts
10,063 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Calendar
PW Shop
Posts posted by JohnfromUK
-
-
5 minutes ago, GingerCat said:
Labour has been calling for an election for the last 3 years, I strongly doubt they would back out now.
Labour backed leaving the EU at the last election. Labour has now decided to campaign for remain in a 'peoples vote' which they propose.
Labour promised a vote of no confidence as soon as Johnson was elected - but didn't as they know they would probably loose a resultant election
Labour cannot be trusted to do anything they say. They will not trigger an election unless they are pretty certain they can win. Corbyn's lefty masters (Momentum and Union bosses) know that they would likely loose votes and control of the party if they keep loosing elections. They have to be confident of a win if they trigger an election.
-
7 minutes ago, GingerCat said:
And the remainers have predictably put a legal challenge in.
The Courts CANNOT challenge the Queen (in her capacity as Sovereign) - as they are upholding her law as she is Head of State and Head of the Judiciary. They can only challenge the advice given to the queen.
Incidentally, calling for the abolition of the Monarchy (as some might think to do) in print is still technically illegal - sentence life imprisonment under the Treason Felony Act of 1848.
-
9 minutes ago, GingerCat said:
Having set the table nicely he will most likely call an election.
Boris can't simply do that. He needs a 2/3 majority (I think) under the fixed term Parliament Act. If it looked like he might win (which if Farage plays ball is highly likely) - then Labour and SNP might not vote for an election ........ in which case I don't quite know what happens. I guess he has to get one of his own side to call a vote of no confidence - and loose it - then prevent anyone else being able to form a government within 14 days - at which time he gets an election. But he has to EITHER loose a vote of no confidence AND no one else be able to get confidence - OR get a 2/3 majority to disolve Parliament and call an election.
-
2 minutes ago, Raja Clavata said:
That's not the message from senior business leaders I have interacted with in Europe and North America - but I guess it's all about perspective.
Of course there are views on both sides, and there are a number of senior business people who would see failure to enact the referendum result in a very poor light. The key here is that whether you wish to remain or leave (and I originally voted for remain), once the result is in - you cannot pretend it didn't happen the moment things don't go well - you have to get down and follow through; it's about trust.
A major lesson that should be learned is that ANY government making promises needs to be prepared to deliver on those promises - even if the going is tough.
You don't (or at least shouldn't) gain respect by simply following the path of lowest resistance. That is where I believe Teresa May fell down badly in her negotiations - and managed to satisfy no one.
-
4 minutes ago, Raja Clavata said:
It's going to be very difficult to ever regain our international standing after this debacle.
I don't agree at all. If we had a referendum ........ and our leaders totally fail to carry out it's result - that would be true, but if we now get on and clearly leave we will be seen to be standing up for ourselves and siezing back the control that was promised.
-
-
Bercow is expressing "outrage".
Well - in my view, it has been Bercow's clear bias and his stated aims of preventing 'no deal' that has probably lead to the timing of this action, which whilst not an everyday occurrence, is usually done annually to close a Parliamentary session - followed by a new 'State Opening" in which the Governments business programme is set out. The present Parliament has been in session for longer than usual, and so it is not an untypical measure. A new Parliament should really have a new speaker - since the present incumbent has shown himself to have his own (biassed) agenda - and NOT be the unbiased chairman needed.
Those currently expressing 'outrage' include those who were planning to replace the Leader of the largest party by "another" as Prime Minister (possibly Ken Clarke, or Harriet Harman) - a tactic in my view much less 'democratic' and far more 'outrageous' than closing the old Parliamentary session and starting a new one.
I read that owing to the practice of shutting over the party conference season anyway, the Prime Ministers move will only loose 4 or 5 days of 'sitting time' anyway.
-
13 minutes ago, Rewulf said:
until the Article 50 period has been sufficiently extended
Sufficiently extended for what?
Parliament has been involved in this all along;
- Parliament agreed to have a referendum
- Parliament agreed the question to be asked
- Parliament passed the Article 50 bill which included the original deadline (March 2019) and leaving with no deal if no deal was in place by that date
- There was a general election - in which BOTH main parties (Labour and Tory) agreed to carry out the referendum result (in their manifestos) - Labour and Tory won a large majority of the seats between them on manifestos promising to leave. ALL (except I think Onasanya's replacement actually) Labour and Tory MPs in Parliament now stood on that manifesto - PROMISING to carry out the referendum result.
- We failed to leave on 31st March with an extension to 31st October
- There were European Elections - in which the clear feelings of discontent with not having already left were made very clear (to both main parties)
There is NOTHING to be gained by a further extension. Parliament has had over 3 years to get this through ......... and achieved nothing other than confusion and delay. Brexit hasn't happened yet - mainly because Parliament have been completely incompetent, our negotiators have been weak, and their position has been continuously undermined by Parliament taking swipes like removing no deal - which is a vital part of the negotiation position.
On this basis - I believe the Prime Minister has done the right thing in taking the best measures he can to fulfil the referendum result and the manifesto promise - and carry through Article 50 AS PASSED BY PARLIAMENT already.
-
There is an older thread here
which tells you who has one.
-
The BBC is reporting this now. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-49493632?intlink_from_url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics&link_location=live-reporting-story
It is sure to provoke a huge 'row'.
(Mods, Please remove if the topic of 'Brexit' is now 'banned', but I hope that this can be a civilised non personal thread on an important topic)
-
46 minutes ago, Hamster said:
Yes but that's not because they need replacing but merely to justify the "service".
Agreed; there are many many old guns, clocks, other mechanical contrivances in which the springs are in place and working after (in some cases literally hundreds of) years. If a spring is used by design in a way that it needs regular replacement, it is the wrong spring, wrong material, whatever.
-
What is your age? 62
How frequently do you come into contact with gates and stiles? Weekly
Sometimes are the stiles hard to get over? No, generally OK
Have you ever not been able to access somewhere because of the stiles? No
Why do you go on walks? I like to walk daily
How often do you walk? Daily
Would you consider using a light weight portable object to help you get over gates and stiles? I have no need for anything
-
1 minute ago, oowee said:
that will require a border under WTO rules. That is the only reason the backstop is there.
There is a border now; different currency, different VAT rates, different taxation systems/rates etc., different country. It is a border between countries, but it has always (including pre EU times) been quite a 'porous' border.
We have clearly stated that we don't intend any 'extra' border facilities. If the EU want some, they/Ireland must install whatever they want. That would be the EU/Ireland's decision - and up to them to implement what they want/consider necessary. If they want more than that - I believe Donald Trump has some designs he might license ........ but again - that is up to the EU.
-
19 minutes ago, oowee said:
We were told we would have a deal 'Its in the interest of the UK and the EU to have a deal'.
My take of it was that we would try and get a deal. It IS in the interests of the UK and the EU business (industry, manufacturing and farming/growing) and citizens/shoppers - but NOT the EU commission who are far too inflexible and focused on rigid rules.
A deal is in everyone's interests and should be common sense ........ but it cannot be 'remaining' in all practical aspects; by that I mean that under the terms of a deal, we cannot remain in the single market, the customs union, and there can be no 'backstop' that holds us in against our will and only unilaterally released.
28 minutes ago, oowee said:under this unelected PM.
The PM came to office as leader of his party - and he was elected leader of that party according to the written rules for leader choice. He is therefore NOT unelected.
-
3 minutes ago, WestonSalop said:
its as much down to laziness as it is food quality/intake.
This /\
combined with the amount we eat. My parents generation lived through rationing during and after the war; quality was poor (margarines, fatty cuts, shortages of fruit and veggies), but quantities were tight as well, so people didn't gain weight (though it may not have done their arteries any good!). They did take a lot of exercise (walk to public transport, few cars and fuel rationed) and many people gardened to grow veggies, and carried the coal and logs in etc. Houses were also much cooler - which helps not gaining weight.
-
A lot depends on what is done - and also how 'switched on' the gun's owner is. Two examples;
- A very old family friend (sadly no longer with us) had a matched set of 3 Purdeys. He used the extensively in all weathers in season for over 40 years and they shot a lot of cartridges and walked many miles as he did a lot of walked up shooting in Scotland, and several days a week 'in season' on pheasants. He was very 'gun aware' and the guns, though well worn in things like chequering (near smooth in places) and blueing (silver where the left had held them), were in good order technically, the locks were removed regularly and dried/lubricated, barrels cleaned after every day shooting etc. I don't think he ever had a breakdown on those guns. They never had the barrels 'fine bored' or whatever the term used is as they were unmarked. They were best grade guns, well cared for technically, but little if anything was spent on them (though had a breakage occurred, they would have been repaired at any cost needed as he was very fond of them and shot superbly with them).
- Another chap I met had a pair of Churchills (25" best grade) that had been supplied new to his father (in the 1920s). He was a non technical man and the guns had been looked after (I think by Churchills, but can't be 100% certain) all their lives and looked in very nice order having had a regular service, well blued, chequering sharp, stocks nicely polished. No money had been spared in their care. On receiving the guns back from service one year, he was informed that the barrels were now on the limits of proof - and were thin in the walls - so would not be suitable for a reproof. New barrels would be needed - and a figure was quoted that was at least as much as the guns were 'worth'. He sought clarification as to why this was as he had always had them serviced - as had his father - and was told they were best grade guns and should last 'generations', but periodic fine boring and rebluing had gradually reduced barrels that were originally made 'slim' to be light to the point where reproof was needed, but not likely to be passed. I am not sure what he did with them in the end, but suspect they were traded for a modern 'AyA or similar'.
-
On 21/08/2019 at 12:39, Retsdon said:
I'm looking for advice. I want to start taking bird and wildlife pictures. As far as 'real' photography goes I'm a complete novice, but I have plenty of time on my hands to put in some study and groundwork and hope eventually to at least take half-decent pictures.
My question (and I know it's a bit how-long-is-a-piece-of-stringish!) is what should I be be looking for in terms of cameras, lenses, etc ? I'm aware that initially any camera at all will probably do more than I'm capable of asking it to do, but nevertheless I'd like something that I won't feel the urge to upgrade as soon as I've learned to use it properly.
Any good book suggestions would be appreciated too.
Anyone?
Have you thought of a course? I have seen (can't remember where, but may have been my local county nature conservation trust) wildlife photography courses advertised.
Modern cameras are technically very very good, but have so many 'bells and whistles' it is hard for the layman to really make the best of the kit unless some training has been taken.
-
2 hours ago, Hamster said:
I have never had a gun serviced (in over 35 years) and any parts replaced would have had to have been replaced regardless of whether I'd paid someone annually to open and close the action for a look see.
+1
I have had repairs - broken springs (2 in over 40 years), cracked firing pins replaced (3 in 40 years I think); it is unlikely that 'service' would have avoided these sudden unpredictable events.
My guns are well cleaned and dried if they get wet, and inspected carefully periodically (including removing the locks). Any remedial work (loose ribs, loose joint, etc.) are attended to by a gunsmith as and when needed.
-
6 hours ago, Robertt said:
judging accurate distance in the sky is very difficult.
Very true. Distances in the sky tend to 'look further' than the same distance along the ground.
-
-
36 minutes ago, Scully said:
Thanks for that
I think strictly it was 'curfew' - which had a different meaning (that of a 'passing bell' which indicated a death) in the 1750 to the 'lockdown' now understoof by 'curfew'.
However 'curlew' is often found in print as well. The originl handwritten manuscript is in the British Library I think.
-
7 minutes ago, Scully said:
The cry of a curlew at dusk is one of the most soulful and hauntingly beautiful sounds to be heard in my opinion.
"THE curlew tolls the knell of parting day, The lowing herd wind slowly o'er the lea, The ploughman homeward plods his weary way, And leaves the world to darkness and to me."
Poem by Thomas Gray.
https://poemsofthefantastic.com/elegy-written-in-a-country-churchyard/
-
I always thought it was the "Silver Pigeon" after which the guns were named?
-
We used to see quite a few lapwings (known as peewits around here) - not seeing any now.
BREXIT
in Off Topic
Posted
I like the analogy, but Corbyn could (and would) back out of anything and still claim he has 'the moral high ground'