mercurydancer

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Everything posted by mercurydancer

  1. I would measure this carefully. If the pub did not have social distancing I would just walk out. On the day before the lockdown I was in the Lady Chatterley and they did a decent job of social distancing certainly close to what they are doing in supermarkets, so I would trust Wetherspoons to keep that standard. Wise move to state that they have firm plans in place. It is much more reassuring than a pub that is just going to throw its doors open. I have some doubts that other pubs will do the same. Some of my favourite pubs are tiny, like Dixies at Bagthorpe, so much as I love the place, and h
  2. Thanks Jill, I look forward to it. There was a site called Nottscops which is now defunct which had many photos, including Gerry and Major, and also me in my traffic jam sandwich Ford Granada! Also may have been useful to others.
  3. As an ex soldier I was never really happy with the honorary colonel. Captain, which was my rank, is earned and I dont think that Capt Tom ever thought any differently. His knighthood, now he has earned that.
  4. I do remember Major's kennel. Used to see it every day from my bedroom window. I recall one thing about major. Jill, do you recall the entries between the houses in Bobbers Mill road? I used to play with Major with balls. I would throw them down the entry and he would bring them back. If I did not throw them but held them in my hand he would push his nose under my arm to persuade me to throw the ball. Major, on duty, got to be something of a legend having burnt paws after chasing a burglar over a bakery roof.
  5. It is definitely Gerry Machin. I am very sad to hear of his passing. He lived two doors down from me, and was a dog handler. 84 and 82 Bobbers Mill Road were police houses so they lived there for nothing. Perk of the time. I do recall the dog, Major, a beast of a thing. I recall Major with an egg. Gerry would give me a raw egg to put in Major's mouth. major would then go through some exercises, like jumping over the walls and he would at the command of give, would put the egg in my hand. Unbroken. I last saw Gerry at Epperstone Manor at a police do. I can recall his gap-toothed sm
  6. We are from Nottingham, it is our home city, and no matter where we find ourselves, we are Nottinghamians. Beekay, just being there is doing something, and more important than you realise at this moment.
  7. Thank you from my heart. In these rather crappy times, I deeply appreciate the support given.It is hugely important. It keeps me going. I will not forget it either. It brings us closer.
  8. Been on to the Home Office today about asking for a visa extension for my wife. As usual I got the routine stuff about each case is evaluated individually. This is a big difference from just a big NO. I sent every document I could think of in support of this. British Airways are being decent too. Airmiles (Avios) accepted now. Believe it or not, with avios, it will cost 55 pounds to get her on a flight from Moscow. They are asking for proof of a quarantine address. No problem there. I will get her back.
  9. The recovery rate dramatically changes due to age. Up to 40, almost all recover, even with underlying health issues. I have said before that the illness is not just a bad case of flu, its far worse than that. The Nightingale hospitals basically have one function - to keep a person breathing whilst the virus passes. After 40 years of age, 40 to 50 it starts increasing, after that, the risk becomes astronomical, to the point where if the virus gets into a nursing home I cannot see many getting out alive. To give a simple recovery rate would be misleading, Many have said that it is like the fl
  10. Boris has got it wrong this time, not necessarily because of what he said but how he said it. People should go back to work.... But who? I work in a hotel where the risk of coronavirus is high. Should I go back to work? I cannot socially distance at the hotel. At this time, when we are all looking to some kind of normality, firm rules are to be issued and adhered to. A list of people who can go back to work and who cannot would be a good idea.
  11. Quarantine is quarantine. Maybe best not to have lots of people in commandeered hotels round Heathrow. That would lead to a modern day plague pit. Mandatory 14 day quarantine for anyone coming into the country is fine by me. Its a bit of a result that this is making it more likely for my wife to get back rather than an impediment. The rules are 14 days in a private residence. She has a lot of cleaning to do! And on reflection, taking examples from history, the 1918/9 and 1957 outbreaks, it was not the first wave that was the most destructive, it was the second wave. If Boris and
  12. DJ360 You said this - We still have thousands of people flying into the UK unchecked. I'm sorry but my view is that whoever they are and wherever they come from they should be aware. 'Land in the UK and expect to be FORCIBLY QUARANTINED for a minimum of 14 days. If you don't like that. Stay away.' Actually the number of people flying into UK is now very small. Many are on transit flights. As you know, my wife is in Russia, and I want her back as soon as possible. We wont know the actual rules until Boris speaks tonight but as I understand it, the rules a
  13. День Победы! That is Den Pobedy - Victory Day for the Russians. Its a day later than VE day because Keitel couldnt sign the surrender documents fast enough and Field Marshal Zhukov took the surrender the next day. The Russians often treat 9 May as more significant than any other day than New Years Day. 75 Years was going to be special but was cancelled, apart from a fly past. The celebration will take place in September if possible. The Russians are on special holiday for 12 days, provided that they keep quarantine. That is like 12 bank holidays in a row. I have bee
  14. A special day. I, amongst others, stood in silence for two minutes today. I recall my mother speaking about the war, when she was living at Hedsor Grove, which I recall from my childhood. She did recall a bombing raid and she went to a shelter with a cushion on her head. She fondly recalled the VE celebrations. My grandfather was a miner so did not go to war. Babbington pit as I recall. There was a street party in Hedsor Grove. My mother would have been 11 years old. She did recall that she was one of the older girls at the street party. It intrigues me that she was making bunting
  15. I was in a queue in the supermarket today, and thought that more people should wear masks. There are some bloody ugly people in Billingham
  16. The most reliable news is from the Russian newspapers I read, across whole spetrum of political views, and also Johns Hopkins from the USA. As of this morning, there were 1700 confirmed deaths, another 1000 suspected (probably community based rather than hospital) Just 88 people died yesterday in Russia. It has however tested 4.5 million people. This is what I think is reliable. Interesting that the Putin has now the lowest approval rating since he became President.
  17. Thank you all for kind comments. I could probably tell you more about Russia and coronavirus than the BBC! The death rate is low, and genuinely so. about 2500. Most in Moscow. One problem is that it is a national holiday in Russia. 9 Mai... one day after our VE day. We have forgotten that anniversary, for the Russians, its big. Once saw the tanks going into Red Square (from the roof of a cafe in Alexandrovsky Park, me and my step son just climbed up there!) What has happened is that the big parade is cancelled, and many Muscovites have headed south to their villas, sanatoria and
  18. I hope that you are all OK, and especially for Nonnab, who I feel for. Hope all the relatives are OK. I know how tight the Italians see family. As many of you know, my wife is Russian and is currently stranded in Russia. Her visa expires at the end of June and we will have the palaver of getting another one, instead of renewing it in London. It is likely that I will not see her until September at least. I am somewhat used to being parted from a loved one as I was in the army and I am treating this like a tour. She is not doing so well, her mental health is suffering. S
  19. Yes Browns..Indeed... Other delights from Browns.. Lemon Meringue pie.
  20. Jill Sparrow It was Mr Anderson's class room. I certainly remember Mr Williams and most of all, Miss Stockhill. On my first day at school I was terrified, but her gentle and easy manner was very welcome. She understood that we knew nothing and gave very clear guidance on very simple matters. I remember her with great kindness. If I can get to it, I will certainly take a bag of marbles and play a game there, in exactly the same spot I played there 50 years ago.
  21. Now I am off work due to this horrible virus I have time to go through things that I am too busy to normally do. I am one of the school photos and due to not being able to get to a barbers, I now have the same hairstyle! Jill, I would dearly love to do a visit to Berridge if there is one in the offing. The room I recall most fondly was the one on the top floor, door in the right corner. My desk was facing the windows and I would look at the trees and houses on Berridge Road. I would dearly love to see that view again.
  22. John S I can place that exactly. I made a reference to that part of Bobbers Mill Road in a post called World of Wonder and you would have been very close to Dogger Bank chippy and Nix's newsagent. I too recall the Owd G in Santa outfit, and it was not Christmas until I saw it. I fondly recall the shops at the top on Radford Road. A bakery which made the most fantastic cream horns (Birds?) Raithbys butchers, Lloyds Bank on the corner of Beaconsfield Street where I opened my first bank account. A camera shop which had orange translucent sheets in the window, a little lik
  23. I dont remember the Amos at all. Which Victorian villas? I can only recall the terraces stretching from Radford Road to Alfreton Road, and Bobbers Mill Road, (and Chadwick Road and other places with similar building style) but villas? No. Please reactivate the memory cells as you have successfully done before.