Coronavirus

[PaulCP]

39 minutes ago, Hello Paul said:

The only problem that could arise would be if any of this resulted in hospitalisation as a result of a silly crash.

^^^This^^^

I guess it all depends on whether you could live with your conscience if you inadvertently diverted NHS resources through your own actions

[C8RKH]

4 minutes ago, PaulCP said:

^^^This^^^

I guess it all depends on whether you could live with your conscience if you inadvertently diverted NHS resources through your own actions

Well it doesn't seem to bother many Londoners in London and who leave London to spread the infection, nor the numbfooks who just ignore the advice. So what the hell. Go for a drive if you want, just stay safe and don't leave the car.

[Hello Paul]

I'd combine it with something useful - I'll be getting some groceries for some people in my street, but just taking a slightly longer route perhaps.

 

[C8RKH]

And sometime we get reminded just what a bunch of scumbags the Human Race really is:

 

Elderly people have been found abandoned and dead in their beds by soldiers in Spain who were drafted in to help the country fight its coronavirus outbreak, the country's defence ministry has said.

The military had been called up to help disinfect care homes in Spain, which has one of the worst Covid-19 outbreaks in Europe and has reported more than 2,600 deaths from the disease.

Margarita Robles, the Spanish defence minister, said the government would not tolerate mistreatment of older people in retirement homes during the crisis and Spanish prosecutors said an investigation had been launched into the incident.

[Barrykearley]

16 minutes ago, C8RKH said:

Well it doesn't seem to bother many Londoners in London and who leave London to spread the infection, nor the numbfooks who just ignore the advice. So what the hell. Go for a drive if you want, just stay safe and don't leave the car.

Many of them ain’t Londoners..... they are ummmm foreigners 

[C8RKH]

11 minutes ago, Barrykearley said:

Many of them ain’t Londoners..... they are ummmm foreigners 

If they live in London they are Londoners to me

[Colin P]

2 minutes ago, C8RKH said:

If they live in London they are Londoners to me

Cock off Jock 

3 hours ago, C8RKH said:

Being debated as we type in the Commons:

 

Last week Chancellor Rishi Sunak promised to cover 80% of workers’ wages to prevent employers from laying them off as more and more people began to self-isolate due to Covid-19. Questions remained over how many self-employed people would put food on the table until a new amendment submitted by Liberal Democrat MP Munira Wilson give them peace of mind. Previously the only assurance given to people who work for themselves was that they could claim £94.25 a week in Statutory Sick Pay, leaving many panicking over how they could cover their costs. But if accepted, the proposed change to the bill would see freelancers and self-employed people paid 80% of their net monthly earnings averaged over the last three years, or £2,917, whichever is lower.

For the self employed then the key question is 80% of what? The number of their tax return or their real earnings. All of a sudden the Tax return for 2019 will show a massive increase to a far more accurate number.

[Bibs]

The ExCel centre is to become a 4,000 bed hospital.

https://metro.co.uk/2020/03/24/new-nhs-hospital-open-excel-centre-12450548

I bet it's still £10k to have a stand there though!

[jep]

You won't get 4000 beds in my Excel.

Justin

PS. will they use spreadsheets on the beds?

[Bibs]

[scotty435]

 

[Barrykearley]

1 hour ago, Colin P said:

Cock off Jock 

For the self employed then the key question is 80% of what? The number of their tax return or their real earnings. All of a sudden the Tax return for 2019 will show a massive increase to a far more accurate number.

Ummm most self employeed folks use capital allowances and other such allowances in such a way that their taxable income is the tax threshold. So most of us might get 80% of 10k........

it rather depends - the paper proposal I saw stated average monthly income. That’s a very different thing to profit which is taxable.

[tim_marra]

Greta says she thinks she may have it. Attention seeking again or genuine?

[Dan E]

So had a webinar with my accountants today and honestly I pay good money for them and they’re top of their game. So on this 80% thing  any PAYE employee needs to be “furlough” and this means you have to show that they cannot work during this period and I mean they cannot work for you. Nothing no emails, phone calls etc. No client contact nothing, so be careful,

The gov are doing a great job but the engine behind this is trying to catch up, I get that, but make sure you have the paperwork to back this up. The loan scheme is a bit of a no brainer, borrow up to 5mill (up to 45mill turnover) but 250k is available if you have a legitimate business interest free for 12 months over 6 years. Don’t use it then you give it back no fees and non secured. 
 

as I say think hard and fast but register you’re interested this week. Personally I am going to ride it out but I am going to forlough a few and top them up for 3 months. 

 

27 minutes ago, Barrykearley said:

Ummm most self employeed folks use capital allowances and other such allowances in such a way that their taxable income is the tax threshold. So most of us might get 80% of 10k........

it rather depends - the paper proposal I saw stated average monthly income. That’s a very different thing to profit which is taxable.

 No you don’t Barrie because you can only claim if you don’t work and cannot work. A bit sketchy as it is back dated back to 1st March when nobody knew. 

[Barrykearley]

4 hours ago, Kimbers said:

Yes, it's being done and more regularly than you think. Simple. Cough on me, smile and you've got a nice place to stay and a criminal record for Assault Police.

Don’t forget the reasonable force, application of pepper spray (lots) and the genteel tickling from the taser

4 minutes ago, Dan E said:

 No you don’t Barrie because you can only claim if you don’t work and cannot work. A bit sketchy as it is back dated back to 1st March when nobody knew. 

I’ve been placed on some list for key workers by two of my suppliers today. A full lockdown is expected and supplies are being guaranteed for ongoing projects...... another hen house to start in the not too distant future.

I am also led to believe that once full lock down comes on - then some of us could be compelled to do what is necessary on demand. Frankly - for me - that’s not an issue - I’ve already volunteered to assist a local company make ventilators should they need workers. 

Any of us who can must step up and help

[mg4lotus]

Good on you Barry for stepping up if required

[mg4lotus]

3 hours ago, Hello Paul said:

On a more Lotus-y note, I visited this forum today wondering if anyone had any thoughts along the lines of:

• Lotus on the driveway/in the garage
• Roads are pretty much empty
• Petrol is apparently getting cheaper
• Driving doesn't (usually) involve close contact with other people
• The sun is out and the roads are dry

...anyone else see where I'm going (possibly literally!) here? Would it be selfish/unreasonable/silly to 'take the long route' if I need to buy something essential? The only problem that could arise would be if any of this resulted in hospitalisation as a result of a silly crash.

I went for a drive with the mrs. (I live with her) and a walk (exercise) yesterday, we kept our distance, there may have been a dozen other people in the 3 miles that we walked. We were following government advice and I was driving carefully. I can't see a problem with that. The scientists say that social distancing is the important thing. We didn't have any contact with anything except the car and the ground..

Today on the telly I saw the police stopping cars leaning in through the windows and apparently telling people not to drive. Surely that is wrong and bad.

[mg4lotus]

I've not checked back as there are a lot of posts but as I recall it's interesting how the posts on this thread have changed. It is a fluid situation and the facts have changed peoples opinions.

[Hello Paul]

1 hour ago, tim_marra said:

Greta says she thinks she may have it. Attention seeking again or genuine?

Probably genuine, but even if it's attention seeking, this girl needs all the attention she can muster to get her message across to everyone. In my opinion she can do no wrong and should be promoted to Queen of the World and put in charge of pretty much everything (she'd certainly do an infinitely better job of running the UK and the USA instead of our current idiots!).

[Dan E]

Yes but you cannot claim the 80%.. Personally I have shut the company down. Office shut, it is all shut but have promised to pay the other 

[comem47]

25 minutes ago, mg4lotus said:

I went for a drive with the mrs. (I live with her) and a walk (exercise) yesterday, we kept our distance, there may have been a dozen other people in the 3 miles that we walked. We were following government advice and I was driving carefully. I can't see a problem with that. The scientists say that social distancing is the important thing. We didn't have any contact with anything except the car and the ground..

Today on the telly I saw the police stopping cars leaning in through the windows and apparently telling people not to drive. Surely that is wrong and bad.

One has to eat and driving for grocery getting is clearly necessary (unless one pre-hoarded)

[C8RKH]

28 minutes ago, mg4lotus said:

I've not checked back as there are a lot of posts but as I recall it's interesting how the posts on this thread have changed. It is a fluid situation and the facts have changed peoples opinions.

Facts and science led as opposed to Facebook and twitter.  Still happy to take the piss though, but, as the advice firms up then we do what needs to be done.

Wife keeps pestering me for sex but I keep playing the social distance card.  Phew....   Now. What's on Netflix tonight....?  🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[USAndretti42]

How did everyones first day of lockdown go?  Being retired, I wasn't affected much although I didn't take a walk to the lock-up where I keep the Lotus.  Maybe tomorrow.  I did see a police patrol car and a police motorbike officer in our area which is a rarity.  Did take one of the dogs to the vets and the roads were a bit quiet but not empty by any means.

[USAndretti42]

Are Lotus still making cars.  Most of the manufacturers have stopped while this crisis is on but I haven't heard news from Norfolk.

[scotty435]

36 minutes ago, mg4lotus said:

I've not checked back as there are a lot of posts but as I recall it's interesting how the posts on this thread have changed. It is a fluid situation and the facts have changed peoples opinions.

You are right opinions have changed and me for one I am happy that folks now realise what a grave situation we are now in, I did get criticised for being a alarmist by stating that things did not look good and being told it was no worse than the flu, that’s water under the bridge now and what we do is work to together ( not get together) to get though these terrible times, sadly things are going to get a lot worse before they get better.