[Ed note: This is to let you know that Debbie is sadly still in hospital – not with covid! – and she doesn’t now yet when she will be allowed out. Meanwhile we wish her a speedy recovery!]
STORMS
Not unexpectedly the main story this morning is ‘Storm Christoph’ which has caused havoc across England according to THE SUN who report that ‘ overnight emergency services have evacuated thousands of homes as more than 300 flood warnings were issued across England with the ‘Met Office threatening a timeline of hazards’ across Britain. Boris Johnson chaired a Cobra Cris meeting as the Environmental Agency said that many rivers were at dangerously high levels in many places and there were major incidents in Greater Manchester , South Yorkshire and Cheshire.
The Daily Mail reports that Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged people to heed the warnings if they are advised to evacuate, adding: ‘It is their right not to do so if they choose – it’s always people’s right to stay wherever they are. ‘But it really is advisable – follow the advice. If you are told to leave your home then you should do so.’ Danger to life warnings were issued across the country as high winds, 120mm of rain fell in 24 hours across Britain which has also been hit by high winds and snow in some areas.
COVID
The Independent reports that the Home Office has been accused of “callousness” and “inhumanity” after blaming asylum seekers for the spread of the coronavirus in a military camp where hundreds are housed and over a 100 people are reported as having tested positive. They have been banned from leaving Napier Barracks, in Kent, since Saturday after a number tested positive for Covid -19. And have been told they were “not to leave the site under any circumstance” and that if they did they could face arrest.
The Daily Mirror reports that Corona Virus cases are not falling: cases didn’t fall in the first 10 days of England’s third national lockdown and experts have warned it appears to be having little impact on infection rates. The prevalence of Covid-19 in the community was “very high” during the second week of the strict shutdown, soaring by 50 per cent between early December and January 15, a new study has found.
PRESIDENT BIDEN
The Guardian carries as its headline the first hours in the oval office of President Biden reporting that he has marked the start of his presidency by signing a flurry of executive orders of issues, including Covid-19, the environment, immigration and ethics. The orders halt the travel ban from Muslim majority countries , stops theconstruction of the wall on the U.S-Mexico border and allows the U.S.A to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement.
The Daily Mail reports that President Biden watched an inauguration firework display from the White House and went on to reiterated his calls for unity and insisted he believes the ‘best is yet to come’ for the nation during his speech at the primetime inauguration special, Celebrating America, on Wednesday night. Speaking at the Lincoln Memorial just hours after he was sworn into office as the 46th US President, Biden said: ‘It is humbling to stand here in this place in front of these sacred words’.
BORIS JOHNSON
According to the Guardian, Boris Johnson said that there is nothing wrong with being ‘woke’ but deferred on whether the term would apply to Joe Biden, after Labour’s Lisa Nandy said the US president had won on a platform of progressive values. But he is reported elsewhere in Yahoo News as saying “‘There’s nothing wrong with being woke but what I can tell you is that I think it’s very, very important for everybody to … I certainly put myself in the category of people who believe that it’s important to stick up for your history, your traditions and your values, the things you believe in.” Apparently Boris Johnson faces bumpy path back to respectability in the White House as he has supported Trump in the past.
ELECTIONS
The Daily Mail reports: The Prime Minister Boris Johnson, according to sources, has apparently decided local elections in England will go ahead as planned on May 6, it was claimed today. The elections were postponed last year because of the coronavirus crisis and there had been fears that ministers would have no choice but to move them back again because of the current surge in infections. But the Prime Minister is said to have resolved that the nation will go to the polls and vote in person later this year. This is also seen as a signal that Lockdown restrictions may be lifted by Easter
CYCLE LANES
THE SUN reports: Cycle lanes in London could be axed after the High Court ruled Sadiq Khan’s controversial ‘Streetspace’ scheme was unlawful. The damning ruling said the Mayor of London “took advantage of the pandemic” in order to “push through” more cycle lanes and road closures via the scheme. The construction of cycle lanes in many towns and cities across England but particularly in London have caused consternation and annoyance to many people.
Biden is very old for his age and it will be interesting to see how much sense he makes if he visits foreign leaders in foreign lands – His policies should see a reversal of the US economy – Wonder if he has been sufficiently rewarded to not resist the CCP attack on Taiwan which could then push on to other territories – They are irrationally irritated with Australia for seeking the source of the virus – The CCP seems to be mirroring the Third Reich with its new huge high tech military and slave camps and invading neighbouring countries and has the stated aim to control the people of the World.
I have lived in Nigeria (Port Harcourt) and still speak some pidgeon. (Wear shoes with laces around neck and flip flops to get to work in wet season! Advice:-Dont go on holiday there).
Similarly, I have lived in Trinidad (San Fernando). (Bin limein’ on a Vriday. Seen bolokshus women. Maracas beach with its eight foot rollers is a wonder of the world).
And I have both accents off pat.
So in answer to your question – yes.
If you want to transmit your loud political views do it in the car park, not blasting it out in a restaurant.
I can give other examples, and not just me. We see these sorts of thing every day – tantamount to bullying.
– Are you a remainer or leaver? None of your business shut them up.
– The visiting rugby team when I was living in France. Visiting a base, was put in a hotel for a week. Friday night, rooms open, singing, drinking, shouting at three in the morning. Tried French then English – if you dont quieten down I’ll take you on one at a time and punch your lights out.
– My Suid Afrkaan chum with his family including a couple of young girls in restaurant. Adjacnt drunken table swearing like troopers. He got up and issued a similar hold it down, especially the swearing or outside ultimatum. They also settled down.
– Every day walking along a pavemewt with a crowd of adolesents coming the other way. I do not go into the road for them. I stop and they have to go around me.
And on it goes.
If you are not counted now and again, it only gets worse.
I remember Laura Kuenssberg’s excoriating questioning of Trump,, I believe at his first press conference after assuming Presidency.
In my opinion wiped the floor with him and wrongly so in any circumstances.
I wonder what her first questions to Biden might be. If she wishes to maintain her position of chief nasty excoriator perhaps she might try this one.
Mr Biden congratulations on finally taking your position of the 46th Presidency of the USA.
Your electors and the world at large have now had the benefit of your inauguration speech.
Without commenting on all aspects you covered the general impression was you were anxious to heal disharmony and re–establish unity, indeed you mentioned it a number of times.
My question Mr Biden is
You are obviously well aware there are many reasons for the disharmony without my enumerating all of them, but vapid pleas for unity are no reason to hope they may be swept under the carpet as solved ( or kicked forever into the long grass) and just let us get on with dealing with new issues and problems.
Q
Are you aware Mr Biden that there is one question (or a host of similar ones) concerning your legitimacy to hold your new office and members of your party to hold their seats in the HOR and the senate.
You will be aware affidavits have been sworn and performance of vote counting machines has been questioned and brought before courts, thrown out often with the implication ” nothing to see here” and voting machines not properly investigated..
I think you will agree MrBiden it would be unwise to proceed much further with your presidency with this cloud always left hanging.
In your own and the nation’s interest will you undertake to order a thorough legal investigation and be prepared to abide by their findings, even if re-runs are required.
(It is alleged irregularities are involved as well as fraud, it is noted there will always be a degree of irregularity and no regard will be paid to a few dead voters having had viagra injections)
Hooray! Elections will go ahead and NORMAL too!
So! The Guardian are MIS REPORTING BJ and we have to go to Yahoo News to know that he actually said something Sensible, British and Patriotic.
The bbc talks of Biden winning an election! He did not the mans a fraud, I pity true Americans.
And the clown in residence at Downing Street was going overboard in his praise of Joe Biden last night. Great, Marvellous, Superb, Fantastic and how many times did he use these meaningless expressions. Its going to be great (yes that word again) for the USA and Britain (says who?) and with all that shaking of the head with his blond long hair in total dis-array to emphasis his points, re-emphasised to me at least that we have to be rid of this utter fool in the not too distant. He is unfit to hold high office…….
But Joe is Biden his time till Trump returns in 4 years you said. I can’t work out who’s side you are on.
Well O.K. I wish Boris would do a Trump – get us out of the global warming scam and other global institutions – most of that stuff Biden has tried to change back – if the Senate allows him to.
As I remember my history the U.S. Constitution’s separation of powers was copied, as far as they could, from our Constitution.
Most of which Blair did his best to destroy.
Oh heck, Boris has just said something sensible and patriotic according to Yahoo so let’s leave him alone for a bit.
Pauline…….well, not Joe Biden’s side, and that I am 100% sure. I substituted Biden for biding……
My apologies Colin. I think we are on the same side(s) really. I just felt at that moment, that we might as well accept that Boris is what we’ve got.
Mike Durrans……not only, but also….how do we feel the reaction will be when the Obama(Biden) Presidency resumes, after ALL Republicans have been labeled ‘domestic terrorists’……….surely, Democrats have all gone bonkers?
That is probably the WORST thing he could have said at the start of a ‘fake’ presidential election(?)
Sorry….”at the start of a new presidency” OF COURSE.
Absolutely correect Mike, so many instances of fraud and other devious practices and yet, the powers that be still claim an honest and fair election. Lies upon lies !
BIDEN:
Let’s hope that he is soon knocked off his perch; the man is a growing disaster, not just for the US but most of the western world.
The Norwegian Blue Biden like his namesake, may not fall off his perch, but the bulletproof black worman will take over when he is declared unfit to serve his term. Possibly in a year’s time.
Norwegian Blue Biden is only a stand in. Already a puppet, why do you think Norwegian Blue has re-implemented all those Obarmessiah directives?
Biscotte…….apropos your post yesterday about your restaurant experience.
With great respect………..would you have been so controversial or verbally outspoken if the table next to you had been populated by a Nigerian/West Indian group……..? Perhaps youd’ve ‘taken seconds’?