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Post by tyrednexited on Apr 3, 2020 8:10:34 GMT
One of the things that needs recognising about the economy is that, though we might see minor parts of it surviving a little longer if we (the UK) alone decide to go for heard immunity and mass graves (  ), this is a Global issue, affecting the Global economy (I suspect Humph cam vouch for that), and all our erstwhile major trading partners are (now) in lock-step with our lockdown. Nothing economically is going to return to anything near normal until the restrictions are lifted worldwide, and the major international trading flows are restarted. Frankly, this is going to be "no time soon", and, as I've already said, the UK is poorly placed for any recovery, since the Government firmly maintains the ostrich approach over Brexit. Unless they change tack with that then we are going to have no trade deals in place at all just as things loosen up, (or at least, no "preferential" ones). Any economic and trading decisions and easements within our erstwhile biggest market are going to exclude us, and by projection our interests. The combination of Covid-19 and Brexit is the perfect storm as far as the UK is concerned (though at least it will give the Government a grand excuse to renege on all its investment promises - they can leave a note "there's no money left"). |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2020 8:12:10 GMT
The road outside my house is getting busier by the day. People are getting bored and complacent. I am watching a kid zip past on a skateboard as I speak, it's 9am and I've seen about 2 dozen joggers, plus other sundry walkers, cyclists, vehicles. This is a near dead-end avenue, with no pavements, everyone in the road trying to dodge each other, family groups of sometimes 6 people straddling the entire carriageway. This isn't a lockdown, people are not only carrying on as they please, they appear to be actively getting out and about more than usual.
At this rate, we will be under these so-called restrictions for many, many months, as the "carry on regardless" and "doesn't apply to me" crew casually spread it around the gaff because, you know, "exercise", which they've never taken before in their lives.
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Apr 3, 2020 9:12:07 GMT
I think that may be unjust. People’s routines have been changed by force as never before. We’re told it’s OK to go out once a day, so we do — and we should. We need to go out for food now it’s hard to get it delivered — and I’ve forgotten how much stuff a family of four needs if I have to pick it off the shelves myself.
Out on the bike yesterday, I saw a couple of solo walkers, passed a few other cyclists and had to wait only once for a group to clear the track I wanted to take. This seems to me like a good use of outdoor space. Of course, in an inner-city manor like Vić’s, things could be very different. 😈
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Post by dixinormus on Apr 3, 2020 9:27:38 GMT
I fear that Al is right: the lockdown novelty is wearing off quite quickly and people are starting to get bored. They’re not sick, nobody they know is sick, so Hey what’s the problem? ☹️😡
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2020 9:39:53 GMT
3 (three) abandoned bags of dog shit on the road this morning. In fairness, I often see these deposited in the verge anyway. Caught someone doing it once and challenged them - "I'm going to pick it up on the way back, don't want to carry it round with me". It was still there a week later and I cleared it up. This was a jogger with a loose dog - which is another inconsiderate act, letting dogs roam loose in roads. Seems these "do as I please" sorts are increasing in numbers.
Also, there aren't any shops, pharmacies or doctor's surgeries at the end of my Avenue. Nobody is going anywhere essential.
Woman just gone by pulling a toddler on a three-wheel scooter behind her. Some exercise he's getting.
Yes, I'm a nosy, judgemental old bastard now. My work from home desk is at the front bedroom window on the first floor, house is on a junction, room is double aspect, and I have a view in three directions.
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Post by dixinormus on Apr 3, 2020 9:41:46 GMT
I think Humph’s post alludes to getting things back to normal asap. The problem is that things aren’t going to go back to normal ever. It’s a profound shock when you digest it. Over 90% of air travel has been wiped out and won’t start up again the day after this episode is declared over. High St retail will never be like it was before, with shops going under and consumers switching to online shopping methods. Summer holidays in Butlins not Barcelona. With any luck most Monday-Friday daily commuters will never go back to the office on a daily basis again (if they’ve jobs to go back to), which will also impact real estate markets and city centres. I am sure that there are many other long-term upsides, but globalisation and consumerism have been kicked in the nuts and Things will never quite be the same again.
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Apr 3, 2020 9:51:18 GMT
Yes. I was thinking as I brushed my teeth this morning that this may make Crossrail look a bit silly.
I’m not a fan of Crossrail anyway, for the selfish reason that it’s already wrecked what was briefly a very good GWR service into Paddington with its horrible, cold, slow, noisy, uncomfortable Elizabeth Line trains. And it’s set to get worse when the London part of the line opens and westward afternoon trains will be arriving at Paddington already full.
Only now, maybe they won’t. Who’s going to go on commuting from Berkshire to Docklands when they’ve had three months of working without it and (their part at least of) the sky hasn’t fallen in?
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Post by dixinormus on Apr 3, 2020 9:59:10 GMT
Scrap HS2. Scrap Heathrow’s new runway. Don’t bother replacing or upgrading the second car in the household because we don’t use it anymore... We are all going to be spending a lot more time at home whether we like it or not, whether we’re working or unemployed or retired.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2020 10:09:55 GMT
I think you'd be surprised at the stubbornness and insistence on presenteeism of many firms. My wife's City-based insurance firm is gagging to get people back in to the office, quite unnecessarily.
What impact do you see on the fast services to Paddington from the Crossrail service? Haven't detected any deterioration or negative impact personally. Crossrail trains out of Reading aren't really for people going all the way up to/from London, they're for commuters between intermediate stations. Once you get to Paddington from the City of an afternoon, you'll change to a fast mainline service for Reading, or Twyford in your case. The benefit will be that you've got from the City to Paddington much more quickly than using the old tube lines. Nobody's going to be daft enough to use Crossrail from Liverpool Street all the way to Slough, even. If you're going anywhere beyond Ealingish, you'll get off at Paddington and get a mainline train.
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Apr 3, 2020 10:27:42 GMT
Well, the first two off-peak GWR trains from Twyford each morning have been replaced with TfL Rail tube wagons, so you can pay full fare, or sit for an hour on a hard seat with your bag on your knees because there are no luggage racks, or wait for the first GWR train and not get to Paddington till nearly midday. And the new ticket rules mean that you have to be on the 1558 back or you can’t leave Paddington till, I think, 1840. It’s shite.
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Post by Humph on Apr 3, 2020 10:34:50 GMT
My wife works in the business sector of a large high st bank. They still want her to attend her office as her speciality is unraveling and tracing fraudulent transactions and they're wary of giving remote access to that element of their business.
Fair enough I suppose, but it does make a bit of a nonsense of the rest of her household being locked down.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2020 10:43:24 GMT
Ah, I see, hadn't realised it impacted off peak services to Twyford. No wonder property in Reading/Caversham remains so popular. Could you go to Reading and change to a fast mainline service? Probably just as fast as the Thames Turbo (or whatever the mainline stopping trains are these days) from Twyford. I guess it's pat of a plan to improve peak services for commuters though, reduce the need for people to pack in and stand on the busiest services. Mrs A is pretty pleased with things these days and will be even more so when she can get Crossrail from Liverpool St to Paddington, but then she does't need to use rural micro-stations like Twyford. Benefits of living in the seething crime infested metropolis. www.getreading.co.uk/news/property/caversham-berkshire-village-everyone-wants-18015329Strangely that article doesn't cite the proximity to excellent road and rail connections. Which is surely one of the biggest draws. |
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Apr 3, 2020 11:13:41 GMT
I wondered how long it would take you to show us that article. It’s been all over everything this week — and I don’t even live in Berkshire.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2020 11:52:05 GMT
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Apr 3, 2020 18:02:02 GMT
Last week Barclays were proactive in checking when I transferred quite a lot of money from my bank to others. I paid into some accounts using the debit card but when I tried to send £50k somewhere I was texted to ask had I really tried sending the money. A reply of YES immediately sent it and the next £50k to the same place went without a hitch.
i also discovered the limit was £50k via the web and only £10k via the phone app. Also when transferring between account the limit is limited too.
A lot better than it used to be to help prevent fraud. It will be better still when they check names on the payment. I also have my bank send me a text if anything over £150k is paid out.
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), this is a Global issue, affecting the Global economy (I suspect Humph cam vouch for that), and all our erstwhile major trading partners are (now) in lock-step with our lockdown.
