Brexit, for once some facts.

guerney

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Sep 7, 2021
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That’s a difficult sell
At this point they don't have any choice but to rally up support for Boris. Before Omicron, he was gibbering babytalk and the Xmas parties didn't look as worrying. There's now no chance of a snap election being called in the near future. They'd need a big post-Omicron wave bounce, before the Covid Inquiry. I doubt that anyone will challenge for leadership under these circumstances, as it would only hurt their future prospects.
 
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guerney

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Omicron has jammed up the Tories real good... (from the political game point of view)
 
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oldgroaner

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Can't even get their mate appointed as chair of charity commission:

New chair of charities watchdog resigns over ‘inappropriate’ behaviour
Martin Thomas steps down after it emerged he was subject of misconduct complaints at Women for Women International UK

"And when the Vicar got to the commandment
"Though shalt not commit adultery"
He left in a hurry as he had remembered where he left his bike! :rolleyes:
 

oyster

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I could easily have restarted at any time up to two years beyond.
That is about how I felt. Since around then, very rarely has it had the slightest appeal. Though the odd time I get a feeling of smoking in a dream-like experience. When that happens, I only seems to recall or invent the nicer sides - some of the more attractive smells.
 

oyster

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The 99 tory anti-anti-covid measures rebels will be blowing their fuses:

Ministers reportedly considering Omicron ‘circuit breaker’ in England
Post-Christmas measures could include ban on mixing indoors except for work, with outdoor service only at pubs and restaurants
 

guerney

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That is about how I felt. Since around then, very rarely has it had the slightest appeal. Though the odd time I get a feeling of smoking in a dream-like experience. When that happens, I only seems to recall or invent the nicer sides - some of the more attractive smells.
I get offered smokes by clients all the time, and for awhile I'd put aside my vape and accept one - but only if it was a Malboro, Gauloises, cigar, or indeed any other type at all lol. These days, I don't feel the need whatsoever (after several years) - I'm largely over it, now that I have my comfort vape (several, just in case three break down at once). But I'm not addicted...
 
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jonathan.agnew

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Dec 27, 2018
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Despite every clanger he's dropped he could well lead the party into the next General Election and win it.

Being in power is everything to the Tories. When Boris reminds them that he won two elections to be Mayor in staunchly Labour London, he won the referendum to leave the EU and he won the General Election gaining an overall majority in parliament, their minds will soon focus on their lack of anyone else who could do that.
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perhaps like America Post trump we have a great deal to realise about ourselves. our mediocrity, stupidity, bigotry. post brexit winning an election is one thing, as we're discovering with boris and covid, being able to govern (as will become increasingly compelling) is quite another
I instantly gave up from nearly 40 years of smoking and 60 a day in the latter years, but I could easily have restarted at any time up to two years beyond. It was only in the third year that I could feel secure from any desire to smoke again.
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yes, it's been twenty years since I quit and the other day (after a murderous row with oh) I thought I could kill for a nice short fat Gauloises
 
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flecc

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Ministers reportedly considering Omicron ‘circuit breaker’ in England
Post-Christmas measures could include ban on mixing indoors except for work, with outdoor service only at pubs and restaurants
This thing is so infectious they will probably be wasting their time.

From my post 102,486:

"Now we'll have to see what Omicron does. Infections up 25% overall in London and in some parts over double the rest of the country at around 1% of a borough's population. So it sure is infectious, seems it can go though brick walls to reach that many so quickly."
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guerney

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yes, it's been twenty years since I quit and the other day (after a murderous row with oh) I thought I could kill for a nice short fat Gauloises
There are no Gauloises flavoured vapes, but there's Vampire, Unicorn and Memberberry
 

guerney

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Sep 7, 2021
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perhaps like America Post trump we have a great deal to realise about ourselves. our mediocrity, stupidity, bigotry. post brexit winning an election is one thing, as we're discovering with boris and covid, being able to govern (as will become increasingly compelling) is quite another
Sadly, I don't think that the Tories will arrive at any sort of revelatory moment - all that's happened is that the crazy has become unhidden... but they all knew/know it's always been/is there all long - it's not news to them, but I do hope it's shocking enough to get people motivated enough to vote them out.
 
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Woosh

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This thing is so infectious they will probably be wasting their time.
it can knock 10% off the staff level of the NHS.
I don't think they have much choice if the number of covid related hospital admissions go over 2,000 a day.
 

guerney

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Even though cases are high, deaths and hospitalisations are low - it looks to me like there's a long way to go before new restrictions are necessary.
 
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guerney

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Sep 7, 2021
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yes, it's been twenty years since I quit and the other day (after a murderous row with oh) I thought I could kill for a nice short fat Gauloises
Man, were there actual cigar shavings in those things? They reallly hit the spot! (I'm inhaling a huge cloud of compensatory vape ["Maiden Tobacco" flavour, I ran out of Vampire]).
 
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jonathan.agnew

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Dec 27, 2018
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Man, were there actual cigar shavings in those things? They reallly hit the spot! (I'm inhaling a huge cloud of compensatory vape ["Maiden Tobacco" flavour, I ran out of Vampire]).
Yes, to me smoking had to feel as destructive as it was, and gauloises with their massive rancid throat burning hit of nicotine delivered that unlike anything else
 
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guerney

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Sep 7, 2021
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Yes, to me smoking had to feel as destructive as it was, and gauloises with their massive rancid throat burning hit of nicotine delivered that unlike anything else
"Gauloises" was the noise I made in the morning, after smoking them the night before
 
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flecc

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Oct 25, 2006
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I don't think they have much choice if the number of covid related hospital admissions go over 2,000 a day.
Hopefully that won't happen, the results from Lambeth with very low vaccination rates are encouraging:

Over 35% haven't had any vaccination, over 40% have not had two doses of vaccine and their booster rate is half the national rate.

Brixton North in Lambeth is their worst zone for protection, over 40% with no vaccination, nearly 50% without the second dose and almost double the national infection rate now at 1088 per 100,000.

BUT:

Lambeth infection rate 0.9 per 100,000, (below national 1.1)

Hospital admission rate 1.5 per 100,000 (equates to 1005 nationally for the UK)

Given that Lambeth has around half the vaccination protection of the country and has the very high population density of an inner London borough, I see not much to worry about nationally at present.
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