stknowle

Fake news, you're fake news. He's just a colossal ****.

Gangs of London. Violence predictably OTT but very watchable - it only came out yesterday (Sky Atlantic) and I'm on episode 4 already.

If he does count then so does Neil McCann, and Jesus H. Christ he was spectacularly ****.

They sound like a really impressive bunch. No doubt their activities ended when they got royally kicked in.

Tell me about it mate. I'm a long term freelancer for a developer - all our sites have been closed down and I've been stood down. No furloughing for me as I'm self employed and I fall right through the cracks in the Government's self employed assistance plan that's due to kick in, in June, so I'm ****ed. You are correct about suppliers, also subcontractors - the majority have shut up shop. If you can't get the materials and labour you can't build regardless of whether the Government permits you to or not.

The thing with construction sites is that they've never been told to shut. A mistake and a fudge imho. Should've been clear and concise guidance that all non-essential building work (so emergency hospital building obviously allowed) should cease. That way a relaxation stating non essential building work could recommence would have real impact. As it is they can't even say that building work is permitted to re-commence because - at least theoretically - it has never stopped.

Barry Venison

25/12/15 on holiday in Mexico - had the worst bout of food poisoning I have ever experienced, the effects of which stretched comfortably in to 26/12/15 when we happened to batter Arsenal 4-0. I managed to drag myself to the bar for the game, nursed about 2ml of a half of Dos Equis during the game and was completely incapable of raising even a smile let alone a cheer despite the score.

Stig Johannson (sp?) - zero impact.

No Le Tissier i suspect.

Feeling relieved at not being dead 5 days after coughing.

Brill thread.

Why does Kuensberg always get to go first? I find her reporting style massively irritating as well.

Also this nonsense around face masks. They know we should all be wearing them - it's feckin obvious we should be if a cough can carry the virus over 2 supermarket aisles and leave it hanging there, and a facemask would largely stop that - but don't advise us to or make it compulsory because they know the supply isn't there.

Tried that about 4 years ago. It may have just been because it was dated but I thought it was ****ing awful. Would highly recommend Boardwalk Empire though.

I may have misinterpreted what a vaccine is Whitey, I'm no expert in this believe me, but I thought vaccine effectively = cure. Please don't make my day any worse by explaining that it doesn't and if it doesn't why it doesn't.

Jesus Christ. If this is true (no reason to suspect it isn't) we are ****ed until a vaccine is discovered. Year to 18 months? A year to 18 months of living like this. Wonder if the economic stress tests indicate we're robust enough to withstand a year to 18 months. Possibly not I would venture.

Was going to respond to this by pointing out the blindingly obvious but I see others have already done so.

The bit about me wishing he had won the election was most definitely sarcasm. He is an utter moonraker.

Ahhh so according to Jeremy spending vast amounts we can't afford and that will take us decades to pay off because we are in an unprecedented crisis and have no choice, is justification for spending vast amounts we can't afford and that will take us decades to pay off when we are not in an unprecedented crisis and do have a choice. **** I wish he'd won that election.

Economic meltdown aside, the most worrying thing I've heard during this whole thing (which seems like an eternity already but only really got serious 2 weeks ago) was speaking to a work contact today who I haven't spoken to for ages. It was obvious he was in bits from the moment he spoke and he went on to describe how his son in law "a fit 30 year old boxer with a six pack" is gravely ill with it. Makes you wonder if they are holding the full truth back (for well intended reasons). Jesus, stay safe everyone.

Good luck with it all, seriously. I run a business with 1 employee (me) I'd hate to have to deal with all that on top of all the personal worry we're all suffering as well.

Not sure they even knew when they announced it/know now but I was under the impression that they get 80% from Gov't then up to employer to top up or not. Taking a 20% hit seems a more than reasonable alternative to losing your job altogether.

I thought maybe that was the case but await the answer. I'm not normally the optimistic type but as long as this doesn't drag on for months I think we can bounce back very quickly in terms of business activity. Noted though we'll be saddled with a load more debt as a Country which is massively unhelpful. Can't see those potholes getting repaired any time soon.

Serious question, genuinely curious - when you say lay them off do you mean permanently. If yes why, when you can furlough them and they get paid 80% of there wages by the Government?