Andersen

Ryanair from Portugal to Uk 2 weeks ago - 70% empty and they still seated me next to another passenger despite having a dozen spare seats on the opposite side of the aisle 2 days later I’d had enough and had arranged to go overseas again. Uk is doomed

In the kitchen - where else? At least 2 folk thought it's a good idea to have a loo next to the kitchen stove ( the folk who built it that way, and the folk who have just bought it/sstc). Who needs frosted glass when you're sat on the loo - I'm sure the neighbours will soon get used to your little peculiarities. The house has all mod cons - including another loo upstairs in case the one in the kitchen is in use. https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-72058725.html

Update: courts are now hearing evictions cases, the backlog means some cases are having to be scheduled for 2022 ! Good luck getting any rent from tennants now they know they can have another 12 months rent free !

News direct from a mate nearby, a major outbreak at Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant. Reported as 82 cases confirmed, 8 dead, 6 in intensive care. https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/coronavirus-royal-glamorgan-hospital-lockdown-19021087 Like mate says, this is serious and too close to home. Suddenly it's not abstract numbers somewhere else.

Newly adopted parrots at the zoo have been teaching each other to swear. One tried it and the staff laughed, the next parrot on the perch decided to copy ... all along the branch. Note article says 5 offending parrots but photo shows more. Cuckoos in the nest? https://metro.co.uk/2020/09/29/parrots-had-to-be-removed-from-zoo-after-teaching-each-other-to-swear-13344738/

Check if you are allowed use of the site for the full 12 months. Some close for the winter season (due to lack of demand / staff holidays), others have to close for 1 month due to not having a permit for full time accomodation. Best to have a backup plan just in case you get evicted! https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/12740231/thousands-forced-biggest-caravan-park-europe-coronavirus-lockdown/

I fitted new mechanisms in 4 toilets earlier this year as the old ones were contaminated with grit and never properly shut off the water. 2 of the new ones already have the same problem and I had to do some emergency plumbing at 2AM last week as one had stuck open and was literally pouring water down the drain. They're great in theory but it takes next to nowt to cause problems.

Does anyone know if our clan will be OK to leave their assorted under-10s safe at home to look after themselves this year when we go for our family get-together, just so we don't create a dangerous situation of more than 6 of us in one place? Madness

@ccc I'm an Algarve (deep south Portugal), yes masks are always needed in shops but not used in pubs or cafes here (best put on one if you go the counter in cafe to order - avoid by using table service). My trips to town / beach / pubs are always during daytime to make the most of the sunshine so I never even knew about the 8pm "no beer" curfew. Dusk is 7pm, by 8pm it's pitch black. @JackieO I came over here for a holiday in January and had a choice of spending lockdown in the UK or lockdown near a beach in Paradise. Now need a UK trip to sort a few things out before returning t

#MeToo - odd as I'm in Portugal and haven't set foot in the UK for more than 6 months. The only text messages Portugal.gov have sent me have been to warn about the national drought and risk of wildfires. Life here continues near-normal, we are aware of CV and laugh at sheeple in UK obeying kaffa'esqe rules "for their own good". UK is doomed I'm really not looking forward to returing to the UK in a weeks time !

A relative was on disability (genuine but not helped by lifestyle choices) for many years, she always spoke highly of the job center staff when she had to go there. She lost her disability (when pip came in?), tried claiming ESA/JSA/whatever, lasted 2 weeks before walking out and telling them she would live on handouts until she could claim her pension in a couple of years. The process and pointless requirements affected her badly - I was actually relieved to hear her admit the system was broken as she had never got my point when I said the same over the years. Experiencing the system was

^ Errm... The NZ PM has no Adams apple which rules out my first guess. Most odd

For comparison, Portugal this week has introduced a new restriction "no more than 10 people together (4 if in a shopping mall)" https://algarvedailynews.com/news/18401-back-to-contingency-but-is-the-cure-killing-more-than-the-virus The article questions if the cure is worse than the actual disease due to unseasonally large number of non-cv deaths (avoiding hospitals hence potentially fatal problems not being treated, suicides, etc) It could be a coincidence that UK & Portugal have brought in limits on the size of grus at the same time, but I don't believe in coincidences - what ot

A clear indication that the evictions ban is to come to an end on Sunday has been published by the Master of the Rolls Sir Terence Etherton, leaving the government with little time or wiggle room to do a U-turn. “If the government were to change its mind today then it would leave a lot of egg on the face of many groups and officials." https://www.landlordzone.co.uk/news/evictions-ban-will-end-on-sunday-says-master-of-the-rolls/ *Track record says there still might be a U-turn. I'm expecting a fair few LLs throwing in the towel after getting no rent this year. Issue 6 months notice t