saint1977

Toby Young - although him being a ****house is not new. Arguing for eugenics is pretty revolting though and even most of his online buddies are running a mile. Suspect Boris will drop him like hot spud once the dust has settled and the latter is back at work. Free speech - fine. Being an ideology obsessed **** at time of national emergency - not fine

You aren’t Campbell McCutcheon are you? He wrote a book called Port of Southampton in the 60s and 70s. Seven quid on Kindle, has been on my wish list for a while. I do have Mike Roussel’s Southampton Maritime City on ocean liners, was a good read. Saintquin - I did think about the Woolston Ferry but before my time (not by that much mind). Tim - cheers for the Tucktonia clip, will have a watch of that. Socially, have heard a lot of people say they missed the Top Rank over the years. There used to be a great trio of pubs in St Denys - one burnt down (Junction), one closed (Dolphin) which was a great pub and only SW Arms was going last time I looked/visited friends and met them there.

That's it, well remembered. Excellent little shop that one, much preferable to Sports Direct. Another Southampton landmark which disappeared in the 1990s was the Rolling Mills in Woolston/Weston Shore which was huge. Very visible from the pitch and putt on Weston Shore. Very few photos of it online but there are a couple here: I saw someone mentioned Tucktonia, just about remember it. Initially very successful until Alton Towers and a revamped Chessington blew it out of the water. A couple of articles here https://www.dorsetlife.co.uk/2018/04/whatever-happened-to-tucktonia/ https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/15002073.pictures-remembering-tucktonia-the-original-little-britain/

There was also an aviary in the parks until the early 1990s. Ice rink as well, despite many false dawns amazing it was never replaced. Southampton muni golf course still around but did the ski slope survive having not been to that part of the city for donkey’s years?

Yes, fond memories of the zoo, although I doubt from an adult perspective now that the animals were as well looked after as they should have been. Ocean Village - Los Marinos and Schooners were favourite teenage/early 20s haunts. Had some fun in Thursdays, Dog and Duck and Spa Tavern. Obviously the Dell but was well past it’s sell by date post Taylor Report and in PL era. Central Baths good memories and that huge window of the deep end as you went in. Many notable physical landmarks gone Pirelli’s Solent Flour Mills under threat Vospers - a constant in my early childhood in Woolston. Woolston still feels bereft without it That UBM tower at Antelope Park you could see from all over Sholing Parkside Tavern - very comfy boozer with well kept Marsdens and great jukebox Polygon Hotel Independent sports shops - Toomers (much missed poster) and Connor and Waterhouse in Woolston (?)

Don’t be obtuse, no one is saying not to go out, and I clearly wasn’t referring to 2 or 3 cars, this was 25+ in a very small space with big families and kids running around who don’t understand. Exercise is important but with respect, parts of Dartmoor get a lot more visitors than Hampshire and this was like August. There will have been plenty of contact via the ice cream vans and certainly the pubs as perhaps people understood the PM’s request a bit differently. Their car parks were packed. It’s alright people saying ‘I’ll do what I want’ but it isn’t them that will have to clear up the mess and it’s the impact they have in others, not that they care. Clearly in some rural areas Cv is seen as an urban thing and it isn’t. Some reports that the MoD is being mobilised so that should help protect the food and essential supplies from the worst public behaviours in addition to sourcing PPE for frontline NHS staff. If the public are sensible in the main we can all enjoy the outdoors but this morning was just crazy. Hopefully people got it out of their systems, Mother’s Day etc and it was an outlier. Reports in Wales, Scotland and Cornwall suggest not so far, would be crying shame if national Parks have to close if people won’t be sensible.

Well done Lewandowski, Kimmich and Sane, donating those sums of money may make a real difference in mitigating this crisis and helping people. More initiatives such as We Kick Corona needed.

Been for a drive on Dartmoor and it’s the same in popular spots such as Venford Reservoir. We didn’t get out as you had large multi generational groups of families all over the show, the same ones who will be slating the NHS if they get their relatives seriously ill through their idiocy. The cars were tightly packed in the car parks, no way they could be 6.5 ft apart. Higher on the moors we saw ice cream vans and several pubs open with packed car parks on the Tavistock to A30 road. Backs up what Warsash Saint was seeng in the Solent coastal areas. Relatives in N Hampshire also seeing several members of other families they know in the local area separately going around Sainsbury’s and doing full shops each. I get what CB is saying about the slightly mixed messaging and it probably needed to come earlier as people can get a bit frenzied about Mother’s Day and to change behaviour needs more than 48 hours. However, no excuse for what I saw today, rows and rows of cars. I get it’s the first nice day for ages but FFS, just space it out a bit like we did and find somewhere for a stroll.

Absolutely this. The individualism around stockpiling in shops has been rightly and widely pilloried but this spirit needs to carry on well beyond the immediate aftermath of this crisis. You don’t realise what you have lost until you’ve lost it.

I don’t think they will, will take time for the economy to be strong enough. Choke off spending - not including the emergency measures - too early or too sharply and demand collapses. Boris has already made references to 2008 and the austerity which followed which they want to avoid. They also couldn’t deliver the levelling up agenda they promised Brexit supporting areas. It’s why he replaced Javid plus Sunak has been impressive. Depends as well if there is a delay to the Brexit transition period which would make the economy even more vulnerable. This is far bigger than 2008 as well. Hypo saying we will be paying this off for a lifetime and he is right, think more Lend Lease from WW2. There may be a future Maggie with dry monetarist policies but that was a 1979 and this is a 1945.

Although supply for butchers locally can’t keep up with the soaring demand on the other hand. At least this has happened coming into spring with local produce coming on stream soon

Would be good if this marked a longer-term trend for people appreciating their local shops and suppliers a bit more - true food to fork The only issue might be if some of the key local suppliers in the chain have to close and isolate - in the SW, the fish markets especially the likes of a Brixham and Newlyn are key. The former is one of the biggest catches in the UK

I can't believe from what I'm reading from Wes, I think he must be seriously unwell. This is the biggest challenge the NHS has had in it's 70 year+ history, Brexit and indeed party politics are just irrelevant right now whatever standpoint people have on those issues. The EU itself is a side issue for quite some time now as well whilst the member states who are part of it battle to limit the severe damage to their populations with whatever measures they need to take especially Italy, Spain and France. Of course the transition period needs to be extended, it clearly will be. I agree Hypo that firm dates on that aren't important right now. I don't believe frankly in the circumstances that anyone other than utter loons are focused on anything other than battling COVID-19 and taking measures which limits the clinical, economic and social impact of COVID-19. As the Chancellor said this is not a time for ideologies. Even if a few loony MPs did vote against, Boris's majority is more than big enough. Yes, the transition period and trade talks will emerge again in the future no doubt but I think UK HMG and the EU member states have got a rather bigger set of priorities at present.

If anyone is missing their football fix - and wants to see the skates going out of the play offs again - the Netflix Sunderland documentary series two was due to be on again anytime now. The Aussie Test Netflix series although (not the episode with the 4th Ashes test in it) might be worth a watch.

Sorry to hear that T and hope you both keep well. Could she suggest that her team uses Microsoft Teams software? It should store most of the shared files they would need and an email back up too. Aware of other sectors using this including parts of the NHS (I don’t work for them at all so secondhand info I’m afraid). The Trusts that use Office 365 can then add the app for MT software I’m told. Guess it depends which one she’s with.

Some of the fanaticism of Brexiteers in the current circumstances is astonishing.

Fair enough and can see what you are saying but by January 2018 it was obvious MP had to go and any notion of a record transfer to support the worst manager in the club’s history - and I lived through the Branfoot era - should not have been entertained. Carrillo offered nothing and Les went onto waste the £85m VVD money which is still having an impact. OK, we’d still be stuck with Wes and Mario, but RH would have had a bit (albeit not loads) more room to operate in subsequent transfer windows. I must confess to being a Reed sceptic after summer 2016 with Puel and being very light on strikers and the Fonte debacle underlined it, but realise that may not have been a majority view at that point.

What people are missing here is that Gao kept two dreadfully performing senior employees, especially Les, in post and allowed them to spunk tens of millions up the wall. Carrillo and Pellegrino were gross misconduct alone. The owner should not be buying if he cannot afford to rectify the mistakes of poor employees he has chosen to retain, up to him or people around him to know the industry. Now all we hear is ‘Les spent this money on all of these contracts and we can’t buy before selling now’. BS - the club kept Les, their choice, stop blaming fans, players etc. Put it right. If you can’t, the club, the league and the sport is beyond your level. Get out to another buyer who can afford the game, wash your face/clean your money and get out.

Yep, this too. Although frankly what comes after Gao might not be ideal either, at least RB would have the calibre to pass FAPP without KL begging the PL on their behalf. Most of the league is in some mixed hands so RB would look quite sound by comparison. Doubt if it will happen tbh but would be far better than Gao. Gao is at best on a par with Lowe and Askham and even that’s being harsh on Rupert probably.

Anyone who wants Ralph out needs certifying. He has got both hands tied behind his back. I couldn’t work for Gao and for me the club effectively went in deep freeze in 2017. It will only be properly Southampton Football Club again for me once Gao has gone lock stock and barrel.

Straight red, ref deserves the stick he is getting totally.

Unprofessional - and the club and a few PR people try to blame the fans for the players’ attitude at home. I know he has just lost a parent and heart goes out to him on that but clearly not in the right place to be playing. I’m sure someone will try and blame the fans anyway.

That's what I thought. Very much doubt it was £20m up front and plenty on appearances. Even Les wouldn't have been that daft surely in saving face on Pellegrino? Still probably 8-9 million lost plus the wages. How long left on his deal now? If it's 12 months then a free transfer and a contribution is probably the way to go. If La Liga's basement side don't want him after sacking the nervous wreck, he's going to be hard to shift. Might do a job for one of the new MLS franchises?

Except the club aren't because he's only on loan until end of the season and there is no deal in place with Celtic yet for a permanent move. Two years more of his enormous contract extension that stupid fool now at the FA gave him. Bet Fraser's agent couldn't believe his luck. Low fee or no fee and Celtic pick up the wages instead of a bigger fee is the only way out for Saints. And slap themselves around the head for not sacking Reed after the January 2017 transfer window debacle.

We had a Smallbone but the Long bone settled it Good win, should’ve been more but clean sheet not to be sniffed at. Shame Adams shot blocked on the line but quality pass for the second goal. Pompey lost at Fleetwood. Now watching Wales v France with Hawkshead’s excellent NZ Pale Ale for company and Salcombe’s dark malty Riptide to follow. All is good.