Penguin68

Local government fines etc associated with road use, fines for oarking,and CPZ revenues and fines for road traffic offences such as being caught static in boxed junctions, speeding etc can only be used by local government on roads and related works. That is, in effect, an hypothecated tax. Of course councils can use such revenues to mitigate expdenditure from general rates, so they could reduce the rates, but they don't.

You may have known, but others may not, and it is in a thread talking about 'old' cars parked on the public highway and being moved around. The use of the word 'pavement' may have led readers to assume these were up on public pavement/ footpath.

Most disposable masks are good for 9-10 hour continuous wear, so no removal otherwise put on another fresh mask and always keep a spare sealed in your bag if you're on the go. More frequent mask changing is required of NHS staff who are treating known (or suspected) Covid patients. And in A&E staff will change masks between patients as required. 'Civilian' usages however can well go as described. The major benefit of mask wearing is so you can protect others - on the assumption that you have it, but are asymptomatic. That's why if everyone wears masks when in relatively close contact indoors everyone's chances of contracting it are reduced (because everyone's chances of spreading it are also reduced).

Nope but there is a classic Jag and a Ford Consul disguised as a NY taxi on the pavement by Moor Park/Wood Vale rusting away. These are not 'on the pavement' but on a part of the frontage which belongs to the property in front of which they are parked. Elsewhere on that stretch you will see that 'owned' part fenced off. Not mine, but I know whose they are.

It is standard BT practice to wire up the the Master Socket. Cabling behind that is often not installed by them. I have heard of contractors rewiring the master socket, if, e.g. they accidently disrupted or cut the BT cable. It used to be that BT had a monopoly of wiring to the Master Socket, but I'm not sure that now holds. If BT was a secondary supplier, for instance replacing Virgin, it is possible that internal wiring isn't BT's.

I do, and speed is fine. It's just that frequently the connection to the exchange drops completely and comes back 10 minutes later. Is BT Retail your supplier (the network will then be managed by BT Openreach, and arm's length wholesale supplier to most retail broadband suppliers other than NTL/ Virgin in the local domestic market)?

Hardly anyone is social distancing, pubs people were sitting 1 ft apart back to back [ only takes one sneeze]. Actually (1) sneezing isn't particularly a Covid symptom - and the incidence of infection in Southwark is quite low and coming down and (2) evidence suggests that infections indoors are most likely following prolonged conversation contact - 30 minutes or more Runners, run past me less than a metre, I cannot hear them coming, puffing panting. Infection outdoors is far less likely - and see above about length of contact required. Clearly it is possible to contract Covid through no contact with others at all - but through transfer from surfaces - hence the handwashing mantra - although current views are that this is not as common a vector as first feared. But we are living in an area of low infection rates, and so long as you don't indulge in long conversations indoors your risks are, frankly, slight. Annoyingly it seems that the Tier 3 restrictions were beginning to work - so maybe this lockdown, effectively forced on the government by terribly warnings from Sage about 4000 deaths and the collapse of the NHS wasn't necesssary.

A study, which I read a couple of days ago but now can't lay my hands on, suggested that the primary locations of infection were homes and places of work - and were likely to have followed 30 minutes+ of conversation/ contact. Short duration contact, contact outside etc. were less likely sources (although of course no contact but subsequent transfer of trace material is an entirely possible source of infection - just not that common). So, in a gym, a trainer working closely with someone, or at home close friends or relatives (or couples) are likely to have sufficient time for contact to infect one another, as are work colleagues if unmasked and in close and long contact, say in a meeting - but, other than those sharing your table - in a restaurant even if someone on an adjacent table is infectious, your chances of then becoming infected are quite slight. It is quite likely therefore that if you are contacted through test and trace from e.g. a restaurant contact with whom you weren't sharing a table, even though you should self isolate, the chances are that you will be clear. The figures for infection location identification will significantly have 2 things in common - they are indoors and it is quite likely that masks weren't being worn - although that is now changing in offices and places of business. It is still true that people won't be wearing masks in their own homes. Although we have created wide pavements for social distancing it is possible (I would think probable) that fleeting open-air contact with fellow mask wearers as you pass in the street, even closely, will be a low risk activity. We should be cautious, of course, but not terrified.

Well, my street, Underhill Road, has been decidedly unhealthy, with queueing traffic for well over 2 hours in the 'evening' 'rush' (so not) hour(s). And I don't believe, pace recent reports in the Daily Mail, these were all people rushing to be in their country pads before lockdown. Just poor suckers trying to find and use one of the few east west routes still open to us. Journeys now on roads, whether by public or private transport (other than bicycles, no doubt) are taking twice (or more) as long now, which means twice as many exhausts and fumes over any given stretch of road. More, of course as much more traffic is funnelled into far fewer roads. Should anyone now fall ill with respiratory illness in one of the new misery miles created by Southwark they should consider suing the council (or the relevant member of the council 'cabinet') for grievous bodily harm - or perhaps contributory negligence - or reckless behaviour. Maybe only lawsuits will bring these dangerous individuals to their senses. Until we get access to a ballot box - if ever.

It used to be that councils would prevail on utilities to clear roadworks, but now Southwark at least relishes anything which will further disrupt traffic. Or that's the way it seems.

I have not had time to catch up on the details of the new rules but it seems confirmed that guests and visitors can meet indoor up to 6 if they belong to the same household or bubble, I don't think this is quite right under new lockdown - Households (of any size, if they all live together) can meet indoors in their own house. They can have NO guests or visitors indoors, and individuals may meet with one person only outdoors. As an exception a single person living on their own can form a 'bubble' with someone else (and meet them indoors, I think) - but not then with a third party. Informal childcare arrangements can form a bubble - so an infant grandchild living with a parent or parents could be looked after by its grandparents in their house whilst the parent(s) were working.

Doesn't say in which direction the penetration was being measured. I had assumed outwards, from the wearer to others.

as current stats show that 1 in 20 in that age group die if they contract the virus. UK stats based on that group not being allowed into hospitals initially, and not being treated once in hospital if with almost any co-morbidity - the few that managed to get into intensive care were amazingly successfully treated (most of those didn't die). Also that group were forced out into Care Homes to be treated by mainly medically unqualified staff without ICU equipment. GPs rarely visited their Care Home patients. 0.3 per cent is still 30 times the mortality rate of Influenza A Agreed - but if you plan (for no obvious reason that I can see, since treatment is now more effective) for a mortality rate twice that figure you must ponder why? It should also be remembered that most who get influenza fall sick - if you get it you feel pretty rough - whereas perhaps as many as 30% of those 'catching' Covid-19 aren't aware they have done. So although the mortality rate of those falling ill with Covid-19 is higher, those figures are based on diagnosed and treated patients - which may well not form 100% of those infected. I was just trying to point out that when mavens pray-in-aid 'the science' - there is a lot of that about, and by no means all of it (entirely valid internally as each study no doubt is) agree. And it is the interpretation of 'the science' which is at issue here. SAGE are not the only scientists in the game (even if they are the only ones HMG listens to)

The failure to get a working track and trace system going, with a high rate of compliance is also a failure. (1) The actual numbers 'tracked and traced' are constantly going up - but as a proportion of the total number of identified infections this %age figure goes down as the reported infections rise. (2) With what we know are a large number of asymptomatic carriers, - unless they form part of an existing track and trace network - these (and their contacts) will go untracked or traced. There are now two sets of 'the science' - SAGE - which is arguing for total doom, and the Zoe app people (King's College et al) whose very large continuous survey is showing growth, but a doubling every 28, not every 7 days. And things worsening, but still 3 times better, in London than the North of England. It is worth noting that SAGE's death rate figures assume a 0.7% mortality (leaked figures to The Spectator) - the actual run rate in the first wave was 0.3% (less than half that) and that was before numbers of beneficial treatments were introduced and whilst the quite savage triage system was in place which involved moving sick elderly people out of the hospitals and into the Care Community. And didn't offer any non-palliative treatment to many seen as old and with co-morbidities. That whilst the Nightingale hospitals stood empty. (Source, The Sunday Times). The people bringing you this latest lockdown are the ones who forecast 500,000 'certain' deaths from BSE - and whose modelling saw the unnecessary destruction of millions of sheep and cows during the foot and mouth scare.

You should report that to the Royal Mail. Or even the police, since interfering with the Mail is an offence. And this may be the result of such an interference.

It depends on what sort of search they were undertaking, but if they were using thermal imaging to find, e.g. a child or an adult who was static (i.e. a victim rather than a perpetrator) they might take some time doing this. Assuming they were waiting for any 'possibles' to be checked on the ground then this could increase the flying/ circling time necessary.

Japan's an especially interesting case, they didn't need any hard lockdown or the threat of fines, because there's a much stronger sense of social responsibility and orderliness. Actually, 50% of the Japanese population at the time of the UK 'peak' would anyway have been wearing masks - as about half of the population is allergic to red cedar tree pollen (I was there two springs ago to see this, during the blossom season, when I would estimate 50% of those I saw outside were mask wearers) - as well as wearing them for colds etc. More now because of Covid-19. Other SE Asian populations are also much more relaxed and experienced in regular mask wearing if symptomatic. Recent studies have shown that it is aerosol exposure which is key to Covid-19 transmission and not so much through touching contaminated surfaces (nobody knew that then, but the Japanese were culturally pre-prepared). Also the Japanese bow to each other, at a slight distance, rather than shaking hands. Japan is orderly, certainly, but also naturally socially distanced (rush hour pictures of commuter on trains notwithstanding). And they didn't have an influx of people coming back from Austrian ski resorts. Most social commentators were surprised by the high levels of UK compliance in the first lock-down - the fact that there were such a high level of asymptomatic carriers meant that track and trace (based on those who had fallen ill) was doomed from the start - and a vast number of cases were hospital acquired or were forced into the community and out of hospitals by the NHS clearing the decks. Our NHS triage system, as reported in the Sunday Times, which started by excluding the 'vulnerable' - elderly, with co-morbidities etc. - from other than palliative treatment, where they were allowed into hospitals at all, also surely contributed to our high mortality rates - as did forcing the known (and unknown) infected elderly back into care homes.

it's generally a combination of stronger enforcement I think 'stronger' is quite a weak term when it comes to what China did - 24 hour lock-down, cities and area sealed-off, violent arrests of 'transgressors' - it's amazing the control you can encourage in a totalitarian state where the army is an arm of the ruling party.

Reported today are the Which assessments of which re-usable masks are the most effective (and which definitely aren't). Although you have to have a membership/ subscription to read the full article news reports appear to give lots of the necessary information.

Just had a young man from Yorkshire with a large back-pack on the knock. Selling no doubt dusters and with some form of ID. These are normally run by gang masters, their goods quality is poor and their nominal stories not normally true. In Underhill. But this one not particularly threatening, just p***ed off to be turned away.

?People of Earth, your attention please,? a voice said, and it was wonderful. Wonderful perfect quadraphonic sound with distortion levels so low as to make a brave man weep. ?This is Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz of the Galactic Hyperspace Planning Council,? the voice continued. ?As you will no doubt be aware, the plans for development of the outlying regions of the Galaxy require the building of a hyperspatial express route through your star system, and regrettably your planet is one of those scheduled for demolition. The process will take slightly less than two of your Earth minutes. Thank you.? The PA died away. Uncomprehending terror settled on the watching people of Earth. The terror moved slowly through the gathered crowds as if they were iron filing on a sheet of board and a magnet was moving beneath them. Panic sprouted again, desperate fleeing panic, but there was nowhere to flee to. Observing this, the Vogons turned on their PA again. It said: ?There?s no point acting all surprised about it. All the planning charts and demolition orders have been on display in your local planning department in Alpha Centauri for fifty of your Earth years, so you?ve had plenty of time to lodge any formal complaint and it?s far too late to start making a fuss about it now.? The PA fell silent again and its echo drifted off across the land. The huge ship turned slowly in the sky with easy power. On the underside of each a hatchway opened, an empty black square. By this time somebody somewhere must have manned a radio transmitter, located a wavelength and broadcast a message back to the Vogon ships, to plead on behalf of the planet. Nobody ever heard what they said, they only heard the reply. The PA slammed back into life again. The voice was annoyed. It said: ?What do you mean you?ve never been to Alpha Centauri? For heaven?s sake mankind, it?s only four light years away you know. I?m sorry, but if you can?t be bothered to take an interest in local affairs that?s your own lookout. ?Energize the demolition beams.? Light poured out of the hatchways. ?I don?t know? said the voice on the PA, ?apathetic bloody planet, I?ve no sympathy at all.? It cut off. © Douglas Adams - Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Or sometimes a broken down pipe or gutter.

In the old days (and it shows you how old I am) there used to be a smoking compartment at the front and back of every tube - maybe there should be a mask-less carriage as well, with significant fines for those not wearing a mask (for any reason, including being 'excused masks') in any other carriage. If properly policed it could raise revenues to obviate the need for an extension of the congestion charge!

Though many people who would otherwise stock-up with treats may not be able (or wish) to access shops or think that such things should take up their necessary grocery delivery order.

Then again, especially with the prospect of another total lockdown and a tier 3 for London possibly coming up Considering the SE quadrant of Greater London (including Southwark and Lewisham) is still running under the trigger level even for Tier 2 the mayor's demands that London be treated as a whole - and for even more savage lock-downs - is getting very annoying. London has always been a collection of communities which tends to act quite locally - Pre-Covid I spent almost no time North of the River outside the City and Westminster (and very little time there) - none in Ealing or Hounslow (unless in a vehicle passing through) and have no community of interest, friends or family in most of North and North West London. But I have to act as if in the midst of the worst Covid-19 hotspot across Greater London.