What's made you grumpy today?

[captainkurtz]

Did you not sing 'Moon River' like Chevy Chase in unfunny 1980's movie 'Fletch'?

Glad all is ok, sir.

[David L]

We've been spending the last week in Obertauern, Austria on our annual snowboarding trip. Had a great week. Snow good, food and hotel decent. Unfortunately we flew out here from Heathrow so possible nightmare scenario getting home tomorrow. Having said that tour operator, Inghams, have been pretty pro-active and booked us on an earlier flight from Salzburg to Gatwick. However, our car is at Heathrow!
We'll either get the hour-long coach trip between airports or, if we cannot get the car back tomorrow, we'll have to arrange a bus trip to Heathrow over the remainder of the weekend. Fair play to Inghams, they have said they will reimburse 'reasonable' extra costs. I do hope we do not have to involve the insurance to get our extra costs back but I foresee an email or two!

[Nickslikk2112]

Glad all went well Slim. I wouldn't want anything up my fundament. I hated it as young kid if my mum shoved soap up my jacksie when I was constipated. I soon learned to be regular.

[David L]

Glad all went well Slim. I wouldn't want anything up my fundament. I hated it as young kid if my mum shoved soap up my jacksie when I was constipated. I soon learned to be regular.

I've actually had two colonoscopies. The first was part of a routine screening program in Oxfordshire that was offered at, I think, 55 years of age.
Trust me, better to have a camera up your arse for a few uncomfortable minutes than fall victim to bowel/rectal cancer. Any screening offered is worth accepting IMHO.
Was it soap on a rope? 

[Slim]

He was the master of masters, in the sweetest science
To you he's just a name on a kitchen appliance
How can you be so stupid, how can you be so dumb?
Not to know that George Foreman was as mean as they come

He went eight rounds in Kinshasa with Muhammand Ali
He didn't float like a butterfly or sting like a bee
He just lay on that canvas, all quiet and still
He was dreaming of the plans for a cheap sandwich grill

Got a George Foreman grill, a George Foreman grill

If you won't cook my dinner, George Foreman will

- Rich Hall

[David L]

We've been spending the last week in Obertauern, Austria on our annual snowboarding trip. Had a great week. Snow good, food and hotel decent. Unfortunately we flew out here from Heathrow so possible nightmare scenario getting home tomorrow. Having said that tour operator, Inghams, have been pretty pro-active and booked us on an earlier flight from Salzburg to Gatwick. However, our car is at Heathrow!
We'll either get the hour-long coach trip between airports or, if we cannot get the car back tomorrow, we'll have to arrange a bus trip to Heathrow over the remainder of the weekend. Fair play to Inghams, they have said they will reimburse 'reasonable' extra costs. I do hope we do not have to involve the insurance to get our extra costs back but I foresee an email or two!

Back to Gatwick, no problem but the curve-ball we hadn't expected is an M25 closure (bridge works) requiring Heathrow coach to divert. 50 minute, 37 mile journey is now most likely to be at least a couple of hours.
All the coaches delayed but we are now on board after waiting an extra 40 mins. Could have been a hell of a lot worse.

[David L]

Norwood Primary School cancels Easter to be more 'inclusive'. Perhaps head teacher, Stephanie Mander, has no knowledge of the term 'ironic'(?).

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/25029232.eastleigh-primary-school-scraps-annual-easter-service/

Letter sent to parents:

https://www.gbnews.com/media-library/norwood-primary-school-letter.jpg?id=58404503&width=1600&quality=90

[Matt2112]

I don't have a problem with the first half of that letter in principle.  Primary school-aged children should not be presumed to have fully informed and profoundly-held religious beliefs (a point I've made more than once to the young un's local community primary school).

That said, I'd ask what does their Easter celebration consist of?  It's usually just an opportunity for the children to make colourful bonnets and parade around the perimeter of the school playgrounds in front of their parents.  It's a nice, harmless fun event that everyone enjoys.  No-one is sombrely reflecting on a biblical story that many deep down know is fantastical nonsense.

The second part of the letter is much more objectionable as it seems utterly tone deaf. And 'School Of Sanctuary'?  I've never come across such a concept. WTF is that about?

[David L]

I don't have a problem with the first half of that letter in principle.  Primary school-aged children should not be presumed to have fully informed and profoundly-held religious beliefs (a point I've made more than once to the young un's local community primary school).

That said, I'd ask what does their Easter celebration consist of?  It's usually just an opportunity for the children to make colourful bonnets and parade around the perimeter of the school playgrounds in front of their parents.  It's a nice, harmless fun event that everyone enjoys.  No-one is sombrely reflecting on a biblical story that many deep down know is fantastical nonsense.

The second part of the letter is much more objectionable as it seems utterly tone deaf. And 'School Of Sanctuary'?  I've never come across such a concept. WTF is that about?

The thing that bugs me about the first part of the letter is the description of the banned activities as "traditional celebrations". Celebrations rooted in British tradition. This is cultural destruction being carried out by state institutions. WTF is happening to this country?
And if we're banning important periods in the Christian calendar, egregious as that is, we should be ignoring important events in the calendar of all religions. Is that likely?
Our schools have been taken over completely by ideologicallyobsessed liberals.
"Refugee Week"? Virtue signalling, left-wing bollocks. "School of Sanctuary"? check out this s**t:

https://schools.cityofsanctuary.org/

The older I get the more glad I am that I don't have kids, I'd be pulling my hair out over this crap.

[Matt2112]

Less than 2% of UK schools are a 'School Of Sanctuary' - and I'm pleased to see our local school isn't one of them - so it seems these sort of things are very much the exception rather than the rule; however, the coverage it all gets in the media is hugely disproportionate to their actual influence, it strikes me; as I said, I'd never heard of the phrase before this story blew up.

[dom]

Not sure how traditional the Easter bonnet thing is anyway. Is it not another American import like trick or treating?

[dom]

Less than 2% of UK schools are a 'School Of Sanctuary' - and I'm pleased to see our local school isn't one of them - so it seems these sort of things are very much the exception rather than the rule; however, the coverage it all gets in the media is hugely disproportionate to their actual influence, it strikes me; as I said, I'd never heard of the phrase before this story blew up.

Not sure what's wrong with schools providing a warm reception to children fleeing war and or persecution?

[David L]

Less than 2% of UK schools are a 'School Of Sanctuary' - and I'm pleased to see our local school isn't one of them - so it seems these sort of things are very much the exception rather than the rule; however, the coverage it all gets in the media is hugely disproportionate to their actual influence, it strikes me; as I said, I'd never heard of the phrase before this story blew up.

Not sure what's wrong with schools providing a warm reception to children fleeing war and or persecution?

They're schools FFS. Why would they not treat all pupils with dignity, respect, compassion and care? What they should be concerned about is providing a decent education and not looking for 'brownie points' by participating in some liberal, virtue-signalling nonsense that is completely unnecessary. If a ridiculous 'add-on' is really needed by some schools then the DoE and OFSTED are not fit for purpose IMHO.

[dom]

Of course they should treat all children the same. I think that's what the programme is trying to achieve

[Matt2112]

Less than 2% of UK schools are a 'School Of Sanctuary' - and I'm pleased to see our local school isn't one of them - so it seems these sort of things are very much the exception rather than the rule; however, the coverage it all gets in the media is hugely disproportionate to their actual influence, it strikes me; as I said, I'd never heard of the phrase before this story blew up.

Not sure what's wrong with schools providing a warm reception to children fleeing war and or persecution?

I'm certain there's nothing wrong with it, quite the opposite.  It's the default position of all schools, or should be.  Why the overcompensatory, superfluous "accreditation" status?