Bell's Banter 2021

[Mike Harte]

Having read some press reviews about the vaccination centre that I am going to tomorrow, assuming that the weather doesn't deteriorate any further, I am due to get the 2nd class vaccine, the Oxford-AstraZeneca stuff, that appears to have limited efficiency against the South African variant. Will have to be careful about whom I mix with after this is all over!

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

Having read some press reviews about the vaccination centre that I am going to tomorrow, assuming that the weather doesn't deteriorate any further, I am due to get the 2nd class vaccine, the Oxford-AstraZeneca stuff, that appears to have limited efficiency against the South African variant. Will have to be careful about whom I mix with after this is all over!

I read that. Concerning is an understatement.

How is it that another country (ironically the very country the strain is named after) declares that this particular vaccine is largely ineffective for this strain yet our govt's regulatory body advises that it's fine.

What possible conclusions could we come to there? I can think of at least one!

[Peter Mallett]

The conclusions in both countries are that it won't stop us getting mild or moderate illness. It will stop hospitalization and mortality. As with Flu, this virus is changing but it is doing so rapidly. Hence a new version will be rolled out in Summer. I haven't heard anything about the Pfizer vaccine as yet, although I can confirm it doesn't come with an armful of Viagra!

[E.B]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Anyone seen Gerard recently? He appears to be MIA.

I sent him an email before asking the same question and hoping he is well. I will report back if I hear from him.

[morninggents]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

..... although I can confirm it doesn't come with an armful of Viagra!

But you wouldn't want to walk around with your arm stuck up in the air, would you?

[E.B]

Originally Posted by Alan Morgan

Brooklands is just down the road from me. In winter they used to run "Ghost Tours" after dark with stories of Percy Lambert and other Brooklands luminaries. The tours finished at the bottom of the banking. In the distance could be heard the sound of an engine, shortly followed by the sight of a Bentley, with headlights blazing and driven by a leather-helmeted driver, bursting into view and disappearing round the banking.

Sounds corny but it was very effective at the time. The evenings were then rounded off with a fish and chip supper in the Bluebird Room. If you haven't been to Brooklands, the museum is well worth a visit, when it reopens, of course.

Hehehe lived literally across the other side of the river Wey in Wey Manor Road, and used to regularly nip up onto the banking in my yoof. (When I wasnt pestering the Brabham folk- Their factory was a couple of hundred metres away by the canal at the White Hart pub). At Brooklands they used to hold a weekly disco / dance in the club house for young people in the area. It was called Bacwags, which stood for I dont know what but presume the BAC bit is a clue. That would have been c1970. We used to turn up on motorbikes etc before being driving age. (Or use Mum and Dads Taxi service). Anyway used to have a great time. It was IIRC fully licenced despite many being under age.
Happy Days.

[GORDON STREETER]

A slight change in the "normal" talk, this is a picture taken on Mojacar Playa the other night . We have always had the odd wild boar come down from the hills and raid the bins very early in the morning, however because of lockdown and a 10pm curfew they are coming down en masse.
This was right outside of the commercial centre on the main beach road just down the road from our place. I have no idea who took it and it was on our local site.

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

The conclusions in both countries are that it won't stop us getting mild or moderate illness. It will stop hospitalization and mortality. As with Flu, this virus is changing but it is doing so rapidly. Hence a new version will be rolled out in Summer. I haven't heard anything about the Pfizer vaccine as yet, although I can confirm it doesn't come with an armful of Viagra!

I believe that I read somewhere fairly recently that the Tizer vaccine was pretty effective for the African variant. However, as Peter says, the studies so far, none of which have been peer reviewed yet, seem to indicate that it is only more minor infections against which it is less effective, but I further believe that the studies, so far, have only been carried out on a younger group of individuals, not like us old cronies!

[Lancsbreaker]

As yet, and hopefully, with the "surge testing", for the future, there are very few known cases of the South African variant in UK - a few hundred, I believe. As such there isn't a lot of information to go on, but of course the science community are being cautious and trying to ensure everyone carries on playing by the guidance, rather than believing they are immune. The papers of course and TV news delight in trying to find ways to decry any good news.



Just over a week since I got my AZ shot, and the weather is helping me to continue semi-isolation

[S griffin]

Things are getting better, people are getting vaccinated, so there is enough to be hopeful about. It’s good more and more people are getting the vaccine. Of course we are still bound by guidelines, so we have to wait and see if anything changes within the next month

I do think there are going to brighter days and more normality sooner rather than later if things continue to go well with the vaccines

[Tel 911S]

The Oxford Vaccine has been under testing since [ I believe] June last year , and has been quoted in scientific review as fairly effective .

But after the EU proved to be totally incompetent in getting its own Vaccine , they demanded we give them ours . After that didn,t happen they seem to have been telling all of the media to say that the Oxford one is no good to try to cover up their own uselessness .

So the things that have come out of it all is that more people now realise the media is constantly telling lies , and a lot of people who were not sure , now realise just how bad the EU is and are glad we are out of it .

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by Lancsbreaker

As yet, and hopefully, with the "surge testing", for the future, there are very few known cases of the South African variant in UK - a few hundred, I believe. As such there isn't a lot of information to go on, but of course the science community are being cautious and trying to ensure everyone carries on playing by the guidance, rather than believing they are immune. The papers of course and TV news delight in trying to find ways to decry any good news.



Just over a week since I got my AZ shot, and the weather is helping me to continue semi-isolation

Culled from the BBC website which was updated about half an hour ago, so about 13.50:

Originally Posted by BBC

Dr Mike Tildesley, an infectious disease expert who advises the government, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that "it's very possible" the South Africa variant could already be quite widespread in the UK.

The "surge testing" taking place in certain areas in England "really needs to be effective" to halt its spread, he said, but "sadly we may be in a similar situation to the Kent variant" which eventually spread across the whole country.

He added there were "significant implications" if it was the case that the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine was less effective against the South Africa variant, as it may mean "more restrictions might be needed for longer".

It also stated that at that time there were 147 confirmed cases of the variant known in the UK.

[Peter Mallett]

I guess the impact of this news depends on whether one believes that vaccines are 100% effective. Most of us realise that is not the case but realism is not the news agencies' fortè.

Also the bashing this vaccine received from the EU is finding its way into any story the news folks can find. According to the perceived wisdom, it works against all variants but it has a reduced impact on the SA variant meaning that one may become slightly or moderately unwell. Not a disaster by any means.

[justracing]

Originally Posted by E.B

Hehehe lived literally across the other side of the river Wey in Wey Manor Road, and used to regularly nip up onto the banking in my yoof. (When I wasnt pestering the Brabham folk- Their factory was a couple of hundred metres away by the canal at the White Hart pub). At Brooklands they used to hold a weekly disco / dance in the club house for young people in the area. It was called Bacwags, which stood for I dont know what but presume the BAC bit is a clue. That would have been c1970. We used to turn up on motorbikes etc before being driving age. (Or use Mum and Dads Taxi service). Anyway used to have a great time. It was IIRC fully licenced despite many being under age.
Happy Days.

Yep, know the area well and the White Hart bridge, I believe the Bacwags thing
was held at the sports club down Kings Head lane off Oyster Lane, the sports club grounds were built over by the M25.

[justracing]

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

A slight change in the "normal" talk, this is a picture taken on Mojacar Playa the other night . We have always had the odd wild boar come down from the hills and raid the bins very early in the morning, however because of lockdown and a 10pm curfew they are coming down en masse.
This was right outside of the commercial centre on the main beach road just down the road from our place. I have no idea who took it and it was on our local site.
Attachment 67021

Are they edible? Just wondered whether any enterprising inhabitants go hunting

[Peter Mallett]

Wild boar is definitely edible. Catching them is the problem and I can't imagine the Spanish Police looking favourably on a bunch of locals charging around with loaded rifles.

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Wild boar is definitely edible. Catching them is the problem and I can't imagine the Spanish Police looking favourably on a bunch of locals charging around with loaded rifles.

Having gained the acquaintance, socially I might add apart from an unfortunate incident when I assisted the Guardia Civil with the tragic suicide of a neighbour who became a friend, the Policia Local (a town's mayor's private "police" force who in reality are not much more than lollipop men and women, but ones that are licenced to carry loaded weapons) and the Guardia may well be the ones running around taking pot shots at the boars. I cannot comment on the Policia Nationale as my only contact with them was when flying in and out of Spain, usually from the small and friendly old Murcia airport, where the same officer would often be on duty and would rarely ask to see my passport but would greet me with a cheery "Hola, Michael!" which always made feel welcome whenever I was returning back to Spain.

The level of corruption in Spain within the police, and some of the judiciary as well as the politicians, is quite staggering to my mind.

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

The level of corruption in Spain within the police, and some of the judiciary as well as the politicians, is quite staggering to my mind.

What ! I don't believe it

As for wild boar they are on the menu in some restaurants but mainly up in the smaller villages, and are very tasty

[Peter Mallett]

Wild boar is one of the reasons why we stay at the Beau Site when in Spa.

[Alan Morgan]

Oh dear... I'm not quite sure if I should be admitting this...

after a long, hot and exhausting day at Le Circuit Du Spa Francorchamps we relaxed at the Beausite...

... for those of you who are familiar with the oeuvre of Duran Duran

Wild Boar became WILD BOYS!!!

...more than once

...I'll get me coat

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

What ! I don't believe it

It was brought into stark relief for me in about 2007 after I along with the various presidents of the local communities and even many of the local Spanish had been campaigning for our Town Hall to provide a fresh source of potable water, as the supply arranged by the Town Hall had ben proven to be fairly toxic. Eventually, the Generalitat Valenciana had agreed to finance new pipework, a new smallish holding reservoir and pumping station but only on the condition that they, from Valencia, supervised the work after they had organised the tendering process, and that they would control the finance and pay the contractors direct. Our Town Hall refused those terms, and Valencia, a bunch of crooked politicians themselves, retorted that they didn't trust the local corrupt politicians to manage the project.

In the end, nothing much changed except that the Town Hall finally caved in and gave the contract to supply the domestic water supplies to another company from a safe source. Then it transpired that the Mayor had appointed himself as a director of the new provider, and the water price doubled. And furthermore, the villagers that had traditionally never had to pay for their water supply then had to start paying for it.

The Mayor became so unpopular that he didn't bother standing for re-election because very few would have voted for him.

[Tim Falce]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Wild boar is one of the reasons why we stay at the Beau Site when in Spa.

Why's that, so you can eat them or so you can see them running around at night? We stayed in their house up the road from the hotel and I was woken up at about 2am to the sound and then sight of them running around the field at the back

[Peter Mallett]

Wild? They were bloody livid!

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Wild? They were bloody livid!

😅😅

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

In the end, nothing much changed except that the Town Hall finally caved in and gave the contract to supply the domestic water supplies to another company from a safe source. Then it transpired that the Mayor had appointed himself as a director of the new provider, and the water price doubled. And furthermore, the villagers that had traditionally never had to pay for their water supply then had to start paying for it.

The Mayor became so unpopular that he didn't bother standing for re-election because very few would have voted for him.

Nothing new there then ! I could write a book about our town but it would take too long. If your face doesn't fit with our mayor you might as well forget about saying anything that you want or need. The whole lot of the local council is made up of the local Spanish dignitary that own most of the commercial buildings and big businesses. We have had one or two English people on the council over the years but they are always overruled on anything that is discussed and find it's just a waste of time saying anything.