Friendly chat

Didn't know where to put this, so please move if it's in the wrong place. Over 2 weeks the UK shall lose Ratcliffe Power Station, Harland & Wolfe Shipbuilding and most importantly TATA steel works in Port Talbot. I sent out some enquiries last week for bright steel bar and was quoted a delivery of September 2025. TRAGIC !!!!!!!

There is a fundamental lack of knowledge about industry, engineering and even common sense in Parliament. The coal fired power stations and nuclear stations have been keeping the power flowing in winter for years, where we wobble closer and closer to blackouts. One by one they've been shut down. Global warming has actually saved us from severe shortages because winters have been milder. Each winter I wonder if this is the one where the juggler will drop the balls.

Hello, I believe that you are so right Mick. That's not flannel from me. Look at motor cars. Being manufactured for a hundred years. Suddenly they are the evil of our world. Yet, just twenty years ago, the then prime minister urged everyone to go & buy Diesels. I bought my first ever diesel in 2009. Now, they are almost outlawed. The top weather scientists on Saturday & Sunday morning, were forecasting a dry Tuesday. It's hardly stopped raining up to 4pm today so far. It's hardly surprising then that after our assets have been given to China, you have to wait for a piece of steel. Maybe I'm being unfair but what a mess.

Sums the situation up to a tee. Doesn't matter which party, they are pretty much all the same. How many people with practical common sense (e.g. engineers) are in the commons and lords? Not many. Probably zero. Most of them have been to uni-varsity and got a degree in law or some other word-waffling subject/occupation. Very few have done a real job after leaving school, e.g. worked in all weathers on a building site. A former colleague of mine left school and did and apprenticeship in brick-laying before becoming a brickie (like my mother's father). He got on well at college, then did a degree, then became a lecturer. He is now a professor in civil engineering at some northern university. Doing something useful for the nation. The writing was on the wall many years ago. It was fashionable for school-leavers, instead of working on the tools, to go to college and study some academic subject. The nation now has a chronic shortage of skilled tradespeople, especially brickies. I read that you can't get a builder because they are fully booked for months. A lot of construction workers must be working on the big white elephant, HS2.

Some year ago, the "experts", including top scientists, were doom-mongering that life on our planet would expire because the earth was running out of water.

For those who order their food online, Morrisons just opened their Christmas slots. No need to decide what you want, just put in enough to secure your delivery and change it closer to the day.

Thank you Helen, I've just had my notification too. It's a bit easier here at home because of my family living here. I do know that Morrison's are pulling back on expenses, so drivers are being trimmed generally.

Yes mine done as well !!

Does this include a shave, or is that extra?

Hello, In the fullness of correction, I should have said schedules, so that's another 200 lines in detention. Until recently, general delivery slots were available for just 24 hours ahead. Now, five days booking is needed. Their online delivery sales are increasing, but with their P&L, board paper looking very thin, the man at the helm is taking stock.

I'm in room 46 Helen. Don't tell anyone

I took both Anne and Mick's advice about the expensive thing I wanted to buy and made a cheeky offer. I paid less than I feared.

Have you received it yet ?

I have, though I wasn't expecting it until Monday.