'The expectancy'

The MEDIA expectancy, perhaps. And therefore by extension those members of the public that don't do a lot of reading other than the daily mail...

The government have always been caught between giving arbitrary dates and being ambiguous as they do not have a crystal ball. But the backbenchers and media seem to require entirely theoretical end dates that they then treat as gospel irrespective of the state of the data.

If you're impressionable and naive, sure, I can see how this comes as a surprise that this all hadn't 'blown over' by Christmas.

Of course the news from the the government is always followed by a BUT. After being too eager to overpromise they've finally realised that they have to react to the data and listen more to the caution from the people they hired to advise them on this whole thing. I really don't see any scenario where announcements aren't caveated as this can pivot in a matter of an hour due to a new mutation, localised infection or any number of unforeseen circumstances.

The fallout from all this on peoples livelihoods and mental states is nothing other than lamentable, but I often feel some people argue from a point of 'this could all have been prevented'. Which is clearly nonsense. As for the scale of it, they have more of a point there.

Some people I know thought this would be done by summer and that mask wearing was an extravagance. I, for one, did not. Needless to say they've changed their mind now.

As I've said many times before, I believe there will be further flare ups this winter, but hopefully they can be contained through localised measures rather than national ones. Next spring summer should be something approaching normality, but until vaccinations in other corners of the world catch up this pattern of winter/summer and flexing restrictions such as household mixing and gathering limits, social distancing etc. will continue for some time yet. At a minimum until the end of winter next year.

Realism is what's needed, not over optimism or naive fantasy. And yeah, that's not very helpful to most people but that's better than having no vaccine and no route out of this – there is cause for optimism but just because it's more gradual doesn't mean it's not positive.

I would go with more patrols. Just much harsher punishment for those stupid enough to get court. On my recent trips out round London it's clear that there's large groups gathering that aren't from one household. I've go some sympathy for people living in flats, but it's the blatant flouting of the rules that need harsher punishment. The groups that are doing it simply won't pay fines as they don't have the money. Just start locking people up for two weeks.

I'm not sure transgender people are that much of a burden on the NHS, being pedantic, its transexual operations and there's a gulf between the two. But thats a conversation for another topic. Obesity and poor lifestyle illnesses are a far bigger problem.

Personally, I thing everyone in the highest tax bracket should have to pay for doctors time and medecian. Freeing the government to only pay for hospitals and equipment, then reduce income tax for everyone but charge more for unhealthy products. Let people have the choice to how they live their lives, but make them pay for their own healthcare.

'The expectancy'

The MEDIA expectancy, perhaps. And therefore by extension those members of the public that don't do a lot of reading other than the daily mail...

The government have always been caught between giving arbitrary dates and being ambiguous as they do not have a crystal ball. But the backbenchers and media seem to require entirely theoretical end dates that they then treat as gospel irrespective of the state of the data.

If you're impressionable and naive, sure, I can see how this comes as a surprise that this all hadn't 'blown over' by Christmas.

Of course the news from the the government is always followed by a BUT. After being too eager to overpromise they've finally realised that they have to react to the data and listen more to the caution from the people they hired to advise them on this whole thing. I really don't see any scenario where announcements aren't caveated as this can pivot in a matter of an hour due to a new mutation, localised infection or any number of unforeseen circumstances.

The fallout from all this on peoples livelihoods and mental states is nothing other than lamentable, but I often feel some people argue from a point of 'this could all have been prevented'. Which is clearly nonsense. As for the scale of it, they have more of a point there.

Some people I know thought this would be done by summer and that mask wearing was an extravagance. I, for one, did not. Needless to say they've changed their mind now.

As I've said many times before, I believe there will be further flare ups this winter, but hopefully they can be contained through localised measures rather than national ones. Next spring summer should be something approaching normality, but until vaccinations in other corners of the world catch up this pattern of winter/summer and flexing restrictions such as household mixing and gathering limits, social distancing etc. will continue for some time yet. At a minimum until the end of winter next year.

Realism is what's needed, not over optimism or naive fantasy. And yeah, that's not very helpful to most people but that's better than having no vaccine and no route out of this – there is cause for optimism but just because it's more gradual doesn't mean it's not positive.

'I met this girl on Monday
Took her for a drink on Tuesday
We were making love by Wednesday
And on Thursday & Friday & Saturday we chilled on Sunday'

Haha. Then four days of snooker it is.

I would venture to say that you know absolutely nothing about where I am as shown by your own stereotypical views on Brits abroad.

Lovely week this week. Monday, played bowls with a couple of mates and a couple of beers after. Tuesday was shopping day so not so good but I went and did a job for someone in the afternoon and earned enough to pay for Wednesday’s golf. Thursday was snooker night and today we are off for a boozy lunch with some neighbours. Sea fishing tomorrow so I better not drink too much!

My complex overlooks the sea and is as multi cultural as you can get, English, German, Latvian, French, Italian and of course Canarian.

But you just carry on thinking it’s an awful place because hopefully then, your sort will stay away.