peak4

Good to see it finally being considered for a constructive use; I spent several happy years working there. I even proved that I can organise a p*** up in a brewery.

For those who haven't a clue what the opening post is about, The Sun has covered it reasonably well LOVE AT ALL COST Kate Garraway’s crippling financial battle over Derek’s care which ate up GMB salary… & the celeb pals who’ve stepped up

The whole article seems to be here, though it's a day earlier Farmers warn of food shortages as green schemes take land out of use Vegetable and grain supplies could be hit because new environmental subsidies make it more profitable to switch fields away from commercial produce

I think Baroness Warsi summed it up in many ways when she spoke out at the time. There weren't that many people involved, though one is too many, some didn't even have kids at the school; from what I recall at the time, a proportion of of the supposed offended "parents" were also present at demonstrations in Birmingham. Hard to see how they could have kids at both schools. 'Culture war' concerns over UK school Prophet Muhammad cartoon row 'Extremists on both sides' have hijacked the debate over the cartoon, says ex-chair of Conservative Party Sayeeda Warsi Baroness Warsi, a former chair of the ruling Conservative Party, told the BBC's Today programme that the debate around the use of the cartoon had been used to fuel a "culture war" at the expense of "kids and their learning". Meanwhile, the Muslim Council of Britain, the UK's largest Muslim organisation, issued a statement on Twitter, saying that "some want to exploit this incident to further division and to marginalise Muslim communities," and that the "primary focus must be on the well-being of young schoolchildren". The statement described the image of Prophet Muhammad as "an extremely offensive image that plays into the Islamophobic trope of Muslims and/or Islam being synonymous with terrorism and Muslims having a unique penchant for violence". The MCB, however, welcomed the fact that the school has acknowledged that the material was inappropriate for use in a teaching environment. I've no problem having demonstration exclusion zones around schools, in the same way I don't object to them around hospitals etc Why is a US anti-abortion organisation holding ‘prayer vigils’ outside the Hallamshire? The Tribune What does annoy me is the need for the exclusion zones, we used to be more tolerant of the views of others; we now have extremists hijacking all manner of topics, many influenced for political reasons. Personally I think the teacher was out of order; it should have been blindingly obvious that it would cause issues when kids went home and told their parents; it was also outside of the approved course material. It's entirely possible to have a lesson discussing religion, blasphemy, extremism etc, without deliberately producing material which is guaranteed to cause offence to part of the audience. It was also unforgivable that the teacher should have been threatened, such that he felt the need to go into hiding; the school should have been allowed to deal with it as an internal disciplinary matter. The Birmingham demonstrations allegedly had protestors from outside the area being bussed in specially, which rightly led to a protest ban, albeit taking too long to enforce. Whilst I broadly defend the right to protest, it shouldn't detrimentally affect the education of the kids at the school. LGBT teaching row: Birmingham primary school protests permanently banned BBC Those lessons of course were seemingly correctly presented and within the curriculum. I wonder how different groups of parents might have reacted if a teacher there had gone off-piste, and shown hard core porn to illustrate sex education lessons?

I genuinely wish the lad well, and hope he prospers in life generally; a feeling I would extend to everyone, either in or out of education. As well as experiencing foreign cultures, a useful learning experience might be regarding sanctions for disobeying the law. Most of us don't get to choose which legislation to obey, so an illustration of what happens when we decide to ignore a rule might be helpful too.

According to The AA, there's about 3½ million regular riders and about 1 million horses in the UK Safely sharing the road with horses The AA Horses are easily scared – here's how to approach them Responsible riders will try to avoid busy or fast roads and will wear high-visibility clothing, but driving carefully, particularly around bends on narrow roads, will help you spot horses and riders in time and react safely. If you do spot a horse: Slow right down and be ready to stop Advice for motorists British Horse Society Most horse riders and carriage drivers would prefer not to be on the roads. However, for many, it is their only option. What should you do if you see a horse on the road? If I see a horse on the road, then Slow down to a maximum of 10mph Be patient, I won’t sound my horn or rev my engine Pass the horse wide and slow – at least two metres Drive slowly away What else can you do? Be prepared to stop if necessary. Look out for hand signals – stop or slow down if asked – this is for your own safety as it is others.

Has anyone actually gone back and read the original opening post? It would be helpful if the article from which the quotes were taken was provided as a link, to help with context. M&G tops up Greencore sustainable homes investment with £30m The Times Group aims to build 10,000 carbon-friendly houses over the next decade The capital allocated to Greencore has been drawn from M&G’s £5 billion Catalyst fund, which is designed to invest “in innovative companies tackling some of the world’s biggest environmental and social challenges”. Greencore manufactures timber-frame panels that are insulated with natural materials including hemp and wood-fibre. The panels are assembled on development sites in a matter of days. Better energy efficiency means that Greencore’s homes have the potential to be cheaper to maintain and warm compared with older housing stock. Not the last part, warm compared with older housing stock. This isn't talking about comparing the eco homes with new brick, block & slate built houses, it's talking about comparing older housing stock. Older housing stock is almost certainly less well insulated; some older buildings don't have cavity walls, or even double glazing. To bring older houses up to modern insulation standards, suitable for heat pumps etc, will be expensive, and that counts as maintenance. New all brick, or stone houses can be built to a higher insulation standard, but take much longer and cost more. Even now, newbuilds aren't mandated to have solar panels or heat pumps.

Wilsons is still in business by the looks of it https://sharrowmills.com/

Unfortunately, I can't immediately find the articles I've read in the past on timber framed housing. Note that this is a different concept to some of the new eco wooden housing being built. As I recall conventional newbuilds still don't even come with heat pumps as standard, or appropriate plumbing and radiators; similar with no solar panels, for hot water or electric generation. I have a friend, a chartered civil engineer, who is regularly involved in new-build housing estate construction and management. According to him, and backed up by what I'd read, most new build housing stock carries a 10 year warranty, with a projected design life of 30-40 years; 50 if the builder is commissioned to build higher quality homes. It used to be 60, but apparently that's now been reduced. Copied below is from a reply I made on a different forum; I'm not sure how it will display, or if the links will work correctly on here. I've just looked around for an article to back up his comments, and dropped on this one about timber frame construction http://www.brand-newhomes.co.uk/timber-frame-new-homes.htm "In 2010, one in four new homes is being constructed using timber frame or, to be more accurate timber panel, construction." And then http://www.brand-newhomes.co.uk/considerations-when-buying-a-timber-frame-new-home.htm "The timber frame itself is normally "guaranteed" by the manufacturer for various periods ranging from 10 to 40 years. It is a commonly perceived opinion within the industry that 25 –30 years is a reasonably expected life span for a softwood timber framed building." I've no idea about the veracity of either of those links; not my field of expertise. I wonder if there is another problem looming

It's not a topic I follow hugely, as I'm not part of that tiny community, but on that one we are largely in agreement. Much of this is due to activism by very rich people in The US, Check out such as The Heritage Foundation, and The American Principles Project amongst others. Also a very useful topic in the promotion of culture wars, to divide society, as a means of mobilising public votes. The Shadowy Right-Wing Think Tank Pushing Transphobia The New Republic The American Principles Project has lost election after election but its influence in the GOP is still growing. The APP’s monomaniacal focus on gender began in 2019, when the organization launched its first anti-trans political campaign late in Kentucky’s gubernatorial race. Despite trans issues playing no part in the campaign to that point, the group released ads introducing a new attack line, accusing Democratic candidate Andy Beshear of wanting “boys to compete against girls in girls’ sports.” Beshear called the ad campaign “a shameful and false attack from a shady group that will lead to bullying of our kids”—and ended up winning by just over 5,000 votes. How a Campaign Against Transgender Rights Mobilized Conservatives New York Times Defeated on same-sex marriage, the religious right went searching for an issue that would re-energize supporters and donors. The campaign that followed has stunned political leaders across the spectrum. When the Supreme Court declared a constitutional right to same-sex marriage nearly eight years ago, social conservatives were set adrift. The ruling stripped them of an issue they had used to galvanize rank-and-file supporters and big donors. And it left them searching for a cause that — like opposing gay marriage — would rally the base and raise the movement’s profile on the national stage. “We knew we needed to find an issue that the candidates were comfortable talking about,” said Terry Schilling, the president of American Principles Project, a social conservative advocacy group. “And we threw everything at the wall.” The Anti-Trans Movement Framework The Commons Social Change Library Introduction Trans lives are under attack. In the last five years we have seen a rapid escalation in campaigns to erode our rights, block our access to health care, and exclude us from accessing public facilities and services that align with our gender. The UK and large parts of the US are now openly hostile to the trans community with hundreds of anti-trans bills being tabled across states in the US, and systematic attacks on the institutions and services that support the trans community. Often the media, LGBTIQ+ communities, and advocacy organisations discuss these issues as escalating transphobia. But it’s important that activists and allies understand that this wave of attacks is not an accident or simply backlash. It is the result of an organised and well-funded anti-trans movement that has intentionally fuelled and weaponised anti-trans hate to achieve their social and political goals.

It's clearly a long time since I was at school, and since then, I've learned to use the internet and a variety of search engines National curriculum in England: mathematics programmes of study Dept for Education Lower key stage 2 - years 3 and 4 The principal focus of mathematics teaching in lower key stage 2 is to ensure that pupils become increasingly fluent with whole numbers and the 4 operations, including number facts and the concept of place value. This should ensure that pupils develop efficient written and mental methods and perform calculations accurately with increasingly large whole numbers. At this stage, pupils should develop their ability to solve a range of problems, including with simple fractions and decimal place value. Teaching should also ensure that pupils draw with increasing accuracy and develop mathematical reasoning so they can analyse shapes and their properties, and confidently describe the relationships between them. It should ensure that they can use measuring instruments with accuracy and make connections between measure and number. By the end of year 4, pupils should have memorised their multiplication tables up to and including the 12 multiplication table and show precision and fluency in their work. Pupils should read and spell mathematical vocabulary correctly and confidently, using their growing word-reading knowledge and their knowledge of spelling.

No false memory at all, I only knew of one in my secondary school, no idea about Infants/Primary/Juniors, but foreign holidays were much less common then. No-one is discounting the value of family holidays; certainly not me, I was fortunate that my parents could just about afford them, but always out of term time. Mathematics AS and A level content Department for Education Purpose 3. A level mathematics builds from GCSE level mathematics and introduces calculus and its applications. It emphasises how mathematical ideas are interconnected and how mathematics can be applied to model situations mathematically using algebra and other representations, to help make sense of data, to understand the physical world and to solve problems in a variety of contexts, including social sciences and business. It prepares students for further study and employment in a wide range of disciplines involving the use of mathematics.

I don't have kids myself, though I was one some time ago. It was almost unheard of for classmates to miss lessons for a family holiday back then, close family funerals maybe, but that was about it. Surely this is about providing education for all the pupils more than anything else. e.g. What happens when a kid is taken out of school for 2-3 weeks when the fundamentals of differential calculus are being introduced? Pupil arrives back in maths class with no idea what's being taught to their classmates, so who helps the child catch up? If the parents aren't fluent in teaching the subject, then who does? Is it the maths teacher, who then has to take time out from the rest of the class, because of one set of self entitled parents, who put a cheaper holiday above their kids education?

Dawn Butler is far from my favourite MP, but should she have to put up with this for commenting on Hester's remarks? Dawn Butler MP✊🏾💙@DawnButlerBrent Twitter This week's Block of the Week - I've been sent 100s of abusive messages. For calling out the violent and racist remarks of Tory donor Frank Hester - who wants to hate all Black women and said @HackneyAbbott should be shot. But I'm never afraid to speak the truth

We were with British Gas initially when we moved house; they later fitted a smart meter We then changed suppliers to Octopus, initially they used the existing smart meter, and when it died, they replaced it. Both were free of charge.

No, they are electric, not clockwork. 😉

How many NHS staff are foreign nationals? HoC Library Most NHS staff in England are British, but around 19% are not. Around 265,000 out of 1.5 million staff reported a non-British nationality in June 2023, up from 220,000 a year earlier This amounts to nearly one in five of NHS staff with a known nationality. Between them, these staff hold over 200 different nationalities. 122,000 are Asian nationals (8.6%), while Over 70,000 are EU nationals (5.2%). Many of these folk will be first or second generation immigrants New figures show NHS workforce most diverse it has ever been NHS England The NHS Workforce Race Equality Standard shows Black and minority ethnic (BME) staff make up almost a quarter of the workforce overall (24.2% or 383,706 staff) – an increase of 27,500 people since 2021 (22.4% of staff). The analysis shows more than two fifths (42%) of doctors, dentists, and consultants, and almost a third (29.2%) of our nurses, midwives, and health visitors are from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds. Lots of detail you can drill down into here Migration and the health and care workforce ;Migration Observatory University of Oxford The immigration system brought unprecedented numbers of overseas workers into the health and care workforce in 2022-3 The NHS in England has relied on a growing share of non-UK staff to increase the size of its clinical workforce The share of overseas nationals among doctors, nurses and midwives in the NHS in England’s hospital and community health service workforce increased from a low of 15% of those with known nationality in September 2013 to 21% in September 2021. Doctors were more likely to be non-UK or Irish nationals (30%) than nurses and health visitors (21%) or midwives (6%). The pattern in Wales is different: there, the share of non-EU workers has been broadly stable while the share of EU workers Figures on nationality may understate the role of migrants in the health workforce because they may exclude some people who migrated to the UK had then become UK citizens Unfortunately we lost rather a lot of skilled & qualified NHS staff a few years ago More than 22,000 EU nationals have left NHS since Brexit referendum, Independent, but many other sources The numbers quitting the NHS increased by 21 per cent from 7,037 in 2015, the year before the referendum, to 8,540 the year after in 2017. While departures declined to 7,647 in 2018, the number remained 9 per cent above pre-referendum levels. Mr Johnson’s pledge to increase nursing numbers by 50,000 is dependent on recruiting 12,000 new nurses from overseas. Of which over 4000 were doctors Brexit has worsened shortage of NHS doctors, analysis shows Guardian, but again other sources are available More than 4,000 European medics have chosen not to work in NHS since Britain left EU, data reveals 2K doctors from India to plug UK's national health service shortage Business Insider

This might be a pertinent point Why is a junior doctors strike not happening in Scotland? The National Thankfully, given Scotland is in charge of its own affairs when it comes to the NHS, this major disturbance will not be happening north of the Border. Why is the strike not happening in Scotland? This is because an agreement was reached last August for a 17.5% pay increase over two years for junior doctors. The deal reached in Scotland was for a 12.4% pay rise for junior doctors in training for 2023/24 together. Following the 4.5% uplift for 2022/23, that equates to a total increase of 17.5%. It means a doctor at the beginning of their career in Scotland will receive a basic salary increase of £3429 in 2023/24. Those at the end of their training will see a rise of £7111. Almost 82% of British Medical Association (BMA) junior doctor members voting in Scotland voted in favour of the offer in Scotland. Under the NHS system, a junior doctor is any medical school graduate with between one and nine years' experience.

With living expenses so high these days, often both partners in a relationship may need to work, so need independent transport. Same goes for their offspring if they still live at home. Better public transport might help, along with the concept of 15/20 minute neighbourhoods. Personally I have several cars (and motorbikes), all stored off road on my own property, but I only drive one at a time.

Not just EVs, also on carparks, and various other places where payment is required, so take care. It's easy to generate a QR code, but you do also need the fake payment site behind the directed URL to make money out of it. I also have concerns about their use for passing on malicious software. e.g. I've just generated this safe one; try it and see, there are no bank details required.

eMail just received, as follows A Message from Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust: Good afternoon, We have been informed that some attendees may have recieved an error email from Zoom that this meeting has been cancelled. We're not sure why this has happened, but we wanted to reasure you that this webinar is still going ahead as planned on Thursday 21st March at 7pm on Zoom. We're looking forward to seeing you tomorrow evening! Kindest regards, Rebecca Healy Membership and Fundraising Officer

With an overall cost of £1.9millon per deportee, we could build vetted asylum seekers a house, provide job training ,so they contribute to the economy, and still have a bundle of money left over to build a few more homes for UK citizens on our housing waiting lists. ‘National scandal’ as shock report reveals Rwanda plan costs to top £500m Independent Just 300 asylum seekers will be sent to Rwanda at a cost of £1.9m each, the National Audit Office report found Here's one of the Lords amendments the Tories voted down. Why should anyone in a distant conflict ever agree to help UK troops in the future? Regardless of whether one agrees with the Rwanda bill or not, to me this is shameful. In many cases, these are people who have previously been promised the UK's support. Lords vote to exempt heroes who supported UK troops from flights to Rwanda Independent Peers have voted to exempt Afghan heroes who have supported UK troops from being sent to Rwanda as part of Rishi Sunak’s flagship small boats bill. The House of Lords backed an amendment on Wednesday night that would prevent the government from removing anyone who supported British armed forces in an “exposed or meaningful manner” from being deported to the African country. It comes after extensive reporting by The Independent on the plight of Afghan heroes who helped the British but were left behind after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. Two former chiefs of defence staff, a former defence secretary and a former British ambassador to the US were among the Lords who supported the clause. Peers voted 244 to 160 in favour of the amendment tabled by Labour peer Des Browne, which also covers the family members of those who supported British troops. The Independent has documented a number of cases of asylum seekers who supported the UK armed forces efforts in Afghanistan and who have since been threatened with removal to Rwanda after arriving in the UK via small boat. Sunak rejects Lords’ plan to protect Afghan heroes from deportation to Rwanda Yahoo News Rishi Sunak has rejected a plan to stop Afghan heroes who supported British troops from being deported to Rwanda. MPs on Monday night overturned all 10 amendments to the Safety of Rwanda Bill by the House of Lords, including one that would have exempted anyone who supported British armed forces in an “exposed or meaningful manner” from being deported to the east African country. Some 312 MPs voted against the Lords amendment, with 255 voting in favour, giving the government a majority of 57.

Certainly not no; Whilst I was brought up in a Methodist household, I've had no religious beliefs since I was a child. That said, I will defend anyone's right to believe in whatever in deity they choose, but only in so far as it doesn't negatively affect those who don't subscribe to that faith; similarly I'll defend atheism, humanism etc. I've had open discussions with Christians though probably only one Muslim about their faith specifically, but would never presume to tell them their faith in nonsense, though I might explain why I don't personally subscribe to it; I consider that the basis of treating others with the same respect, that I expect of them towards me. If someone declines a beer or a coffee at my house, as it's against their religion, that's cool; I'll happily offer them something different, but they'll go away with a flea in their ear, if they suggest I shouldn't drink it because it's against their religion. I view politics as different, whilst I can respect someone else's viewpoint, their vision for my future might be at odds with my own, and as such I'll certainly argue my points against them, similarly I'll defend the fundamental rights of others, such as against discrimination.

You're probably correct about him not being a direct threat, yet, but he could easily inspire others who are even more deranged into real acts of violence; look at Thomas Mair for instance, who consumed all manner of dangerous propaganda before he killed. Naïve and fantasist clearly but also confused in his own thought process, since he described himself as "left-wing" but "more like an anarchist"; the self styling seems to be about the only reference I've seen to left wing terrorism in the various accounts of his actions. I haven't looked that far to be fair, but I didn't see Left Wing as a description by official bodies. The Liverpool Echo does claim he idolised Theodore Kaczynski the "Unabomber", so if he claims to be left wing, he doesn't even seem to understand what drove Kaczynski, if indeed anybody does. This quote is from Wiki, but seems to be correct, and is part of his claimed manifesto He [Kaczynski] defined leftists as "mainly socialists, collectivists, 'politically correct' types, feminists, gay and disability activists, animal rights activists and the like". He believed that over-socialization and feelings of inferiority are primary drivers of leftism, and derided it as "one of the most widespread manifestations of the craziness of our world". Kaczynski added that the type of movement he envisioned must be anti-leftist and refrain from collaboration with leftists as, in his view, "leftism is in the long run inconsistent with wild nature, with human freedom and with the elimination of modern technology". For El Cid, regarding the sentence length, there is some explanation in the judges sentencing notes, available here as a pdf. only 7 pages and easy to read. As a general comment about the supposed "Left Wing" aspect of his terrorism, the term doesn't come up in the court sentencing report at all, thought it may appear in a full transcript. Yes the guy certainly needs jailing, for the protection of the general public, but he also needs some sort of help and a full assessment before he's released. The whole aspect of on-line radicalisation really does need more open discussion, whether it be left/right, religious or any other reason/excuse, as does the real danger of radicalisation from within our penal system. The way HMG seeks to run the Prevent program is a bit concerning too, but that's maybe better discussed elsewhere.

Personally I have no objection in principle to single sex clubs; I've had several friends and acquaintances as committee, and normal, members of The Pinnacle Club for instance. I think the Guardian article explains the potential issue(s), specific to The Garrick, quite well, particularly if we seek to have reasonable proportionality between the sexes etc involved in running the country. Is this story a campaigning one, or giving a voice to those within the club who do seek to admit female members. I find it interesting though that it's the Guardian that's being quoted as "getting it's knickers in a twist" when actually it's the members of The Garrick who (narrowly) seem to be in favour, and the paper is just reporting on the story (again). Is starting this thread intended to be critical of the Guardian, or of the Garrick's own members who wish to open up the club's catchment? Garrick Club inches closer to allowing women members after 180 years The Telegraph It’s renowned as a symbol of central London gentlemen's clubs but an internal poll came out in favour of move away from male-only policy The Garrick: inside the gentlemen’s club at heart of sexism row The Week More than 300 lawyers have now signed a petition calling for the club to admit female members, with 115 QCs, 77 barristers, 65 solicitors and 37 partners and directors of law firms among the signatories. It is part of a campaign launched by lingerie mogul Emily Bendell after her application to join the club was rejected. “Women are allowed in as guests but cannot join the club’s ranks,” explains The Times. Bendell has previously given her take on the rules: “Women are only able to access the club’s services as second-class citizens on the whim of a man, who has to both invite and pay for them.” Campaign to end Garrick Club’s 191-year ban on female members reaches the Commons The Standard The campaign to end the “outrageous” 191-year ban on women joining the Garrick Club has reached Parliament, with a demand for a fresh vote on opening membership to all. MPs have backed a Commons early day motion call on the clubland institution — where members have reportedly included Charles Dickens, Stephen Fry and Benedict Cumberbatch — to revoke its “gentlemen-only” rule. The motion was tabled by Daisy Cooper, Liberal Democrat MP for St Albans, and has so far been supported by seven MPs from all parties — except the Conservatives. The EDM is here; Exclusion of women members from The Garrick Club EDM (Early Day Motion)1035: tabled on 07 March 2022 Motion text That this House congratulates the Women At The Garrick Club campaign on collecting more than 300 signatories from the legal profession, including more than 100 Queens Counsel barristers, for their petition to members of the Garrick Club; notes that they urge the club membership to behave ethically by holding a vote on, and voting in favour of, admitting women as members; regrets that currently The Garrick affords men opportunities through their membership to form connections with senior legal practitioners and members of the judiciary, which may support their professional aspirations, and that these opportunities are not available to women; calls on all private members clubs to immediately abolish archaic rules preventing women from being admitted as members; and encourages those at the Garrick and other clubs to reflect on their commitment to equality and diversity in the approach to International Women's Day on 8 March. It seems that not all of the Garrick's committee are happy about the move; Garrick Club throws out member who called for women to be admitted Business Matters Colin Brough, a former theatre producer and a member for four decades, faced expulsion on grounds of “conduct unbecoming of a gentleman” after he vocally campaigned for the admission of women, reportedly sending a series of impassioned emails to fellow members. Describing the club’s management as “Putin-style” and accusing the committee of obstructing the desire of a majority of members to welcome women, Brough found himself summoned to a meeting with the Garrick’s chairman on February 1, where he was formally removed from membership.