The New Coffee Room

Basic foreign policy

I particularly liked that grand piano. And his playing in the 4th minute.

He co-hosts a Channel 4 UK TV show called The Piano, where they set up a nice steinway upright in various railway stations and see what turns up.

Series 3 is imminent and the other night a Christmas special aired.
A 94 year old gent stole the show playing an accompaniment to some woman singing Mel T's The Christmas Song.
Simply lovely, forgot everything for a couple of minutes as I entered his musical world.

Like Mik we have a collection of old keys probably from previous houses.

Current house all 5-lever deadlocks, the three exit doors also have two deadbolts, and the front door also a security-bar to talk safely.
Dog and WiFi security alarm everywhere gives real peace of mind though.

It strikes me that a certain liberal-minded character is required to vote for a draft-dodging misogynistic convicted criminal.

Who knew so many Americans were such tolerant, broad and open minded thinkers; accepting and willing to give power to such a devious and nasty person.

@George-K said in UK Election: big win for Labour:

@AndyD said in UK Election: big win for Labour:

lefties like Jeremy Corbyn and Diane Abbott but they seem to serve their local population

So voting for avowed anti-Semites is ok as long as they meet your local needs?

No, agreed, but people have to choose.
You certainly wouldn't want a racist, bigot, misandrist or misogynist voted in as a leader, just as you wouldn't want a convicted criminal, or frail old person.

The last 14 years have been pretty awful for Britain, from Dodgy Dave Cameron, throughout the farce that was Boris Johnson and 'era' of Liz Truss, to self-serving Sunak, its been all too easy to discern their lies and read about their shady deals.

And Farage is right up there with the worst of them. The idea that he will serve his electorate of Clacton who he insulted only 8 weeks before standing & becoming their MP is surely rather optimistic.

Farage seems able to fool and so appeal to some people. He's a posh boy who subtly spreads working class discontent and hate.

As for Sunak and his Tory cronys, I reckon folk are simply sick of his and his mates self-serving nepotism, jobs and deals that are legal but hardly moral, and sick of 14 years pretty incompetent sycophantic governance.
I almost cheered when Rees-Mogg lost his seat. And also Liz Truss who didn't even have the grace to congratulate her opponent.

Say what you like about lefties like Jeremy Corbyn and Diane Abbott but they seem to serve their local population who voted for them to represent their local needs.
That's what you want when you vote.
Our system is simple. You trust that local elected representative to choose a decent leader, hopefully someone with obvious intelligence, kindness, and physically fit.

Good luck to Starmer over the next decade I say.

So if Joe officially commands a Seal Team to assassinate, say for example, Donald, because he honestly deems him a threat to the Country, does he now have immunity for that assassination?

Say what you like, trial by jury is a sound system.

I hear the orange-turd turned red as the guilty verdicts were pronounced.

Ferchrissake, choose someone, anyone! else to represent the GOP.

Vote for Trump
Make America Grope Again!

George, do you still have an Estonia grand?

So it's pretty much a tie with Trump when it comes to past financial corruption.
But what sort of person would vote for a rapist?

@Copper

It's hard to imagine the increasing stress of bombing missions over such a time period.

Your father's service brought to mind another American, Billy Fiske, who pretended to be Canadian to join the RAF and so served in the Battle of Britain.

They could be scrambled into action half a dozen times a day. He flew 42 sorties in 27 days. One of the very best fliers of the honoured few who saved us, his memorial is in St Paul's cathedral.

https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/7-pilots-who-flew-in-the-battle-of-britain

@Jolly said in Last surviving veterans of WW-II:

Only had one in the family, my wife's uncle. 3rd Army during Patton's run to Bastogne. He died a few years ago.

Never heard him say anything about it.

Jolly
Same experience for me.
Interesting that there are many books written by commanders, yet the veterans I talked to avoided answering, even my Dad just went quieter than usual and once looked away when I pressed him about a tank battle he said he got caught up in.

An uncle and a neighbour were in the army, both in the 1943 retaking Italy which, by many accounts was well defended. Would never say anything other than they'd landed and fought up Italy, neighbour mentioned Monte Casino. Both never went abroad again.

Our father was a RAF gunner, in Burma 1944, and Malaya, Singapore. Served 5 years and yet we know almost nothing.
Didn't get back to England until 1946. Never went abroad again. Died aged 89 in 2011.

Any questions got few words in answer. He would tell his happy tale of volunteering delivering some package, flying in an old Dakota across India, seeing the Himalayas, a fun trip. About going for a pee one night and a Jap sniper nearly getting him so he had to stay out on the hill alone till dawn.
Ask him about defending airfields or the tank battle and you'd get nothing. Deaths and injuries still vivid, I'm guessing.
He got and sent Christmas cards from three men he fought alongside, and said a couple of friends in their close group didn't make it back.
He liked General Slim. Regarded the Japanese as cruel, but that was all he'd say. At the age of 23 he'd seen Changi and Death Railway POW survivors.

Only once did he openly talk to me about anything related to Japan, when I was a teenager back in the 1970s. He knew I was keen on studying aikido and he'd seen a short TV programme about a 9th dan. It seemed to impress him that this man was different to the Japs he'd fought; would talk to the attacker, and despite his skill rather avoid a fight and even run away, but if pushed by a gang attacking would be able to look after himself.

Over 30 years since he'd got back from the war, and maybe time to start healing.

https://goodnewsplanet.com/understanding-women-now-paperback/

P.S.
And always give her a daily hug

@89th

Jolly said it well, good to have other family around, to barrier, comment, help out, share time.

I've only been married 30 years, but 'Happy wife, happy life' says a lot.
You'll be in the right, but bite your lip and take it, let time work its way, unless you foresee consequences (we are currently discussing the way a large area (over 8mx4m) of wooden floor is to be laid; it will eventually be my way).
Does it matter that she asks you to do X when clearly X involves her side of the family, but she won't do it herself? And don't count how much you do, but always do more than your share, and then you should sleep soundly.
Go for a brief walk, the rhythm of walking outside usually puts things in perspective.
And discuss money things in advance.
Beyond that I don't know you well enough for specifics.

Why do women never take the bins out, never check the car tyres, water?

I see the clip was posted by Steinway, proud of their model D.

@Doctor-Phibes
There is something irritating about our current PM. I can't quite put my finger on it.
His physical appearance, his cockiness, his privileged upbringing showing, his flouting of the spirit of tax laws while Chancellor, his manner of speaking.
Maybe a bit of all of the above

@Copper
On the channel I watched Mr Kerry was identified and simply described as a one time runner for president. That was it.
I did wonder why he was invited.