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Status Updates posted by Rich
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What I love about LinkedIn is how it knows me so well. Earlier it suggested that I might want to connect with Grant Shapps.
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He sent me an email:
Grant Shapps MP <[email protected]>
To: mick
Fri, 8 Oct at 17:25
Dear Michael,
I hope you and your loved ones are doing well.
Given the events on our roads and at the petrol pumps recently, I thought you might appreciate an update on the measures we’re taking to both stop the protesters and alleviate fuel and other distribution strains post-Covid.
First, the Insulate Britain protests. As you will have seen protesters have been walking onto motorways, gluing themselves to carriageways, and blocking traffic on vital roads. Targets have included the M25, the Port of Dover, and the A1M in Welwyn Hatfield.
These protests are reckless and disruptive, as well as being counterproductive when it comes to pollution. The UK has the most ambitious plan to decarbonise transport of any major economy, but preventing people from travelling to work, delivering supplies and, in some cases, trying to get to hospital is simply unacceptable.
As Transport Secretary, I directed National Highways to take out injunctions against these protesters. Now if they attempt to block traffic again, they will be in contempt of court. This can result in up to six months in prison and unlimited fines.
Next, fuel supply and logistics more widely:
Countries from the USA to Europe and beyond are suffering a temporary Covid-related lorry driver shortage. With our excellent vaccine programme having released us from lockdown quicker than elsewhere – the UK economy is growing faster than any G7 (major) economy.
During the lockdowns we were unable to provide HGV licence testing which should have brought 30,000 new truck drivers onto the road. However, since the spring we have been working to get more HGV tests done. And have so far taken more than 24 measures which has hugely expanded capacity.
Even with this Coronavirus-related shortage of 300 tanker drivers, fuel pumps continued as usual for months. However, once the story was widely reported, demand inevitably grew, resulting in the queues for petrol that we recently saw. It is worth saying that at no point was there an actual shortage of fuel at any of the 6 refineries and 47 storage centres in the UK.
Which takes me to a wider point…
Lorry drivers are essential to our economy. They do an incredible job day and night. Yet unfortunately their pay and conditions has been poor for years. Free movement whilst we were in the EU meant that many equally hardworking European drivers were attracted to drive here. A lower cost of living back home meant that lorry driving wages here were suppressed and job retention became a problem. To put numbers on it; 99% of UK lorry drivers are male and the average age is 55. In short, new recruits were not forthcoming because salaries were too low.
Better remuneration means that nearly a thousand HGV provisional licences are being applied for every day. At this rate we will be able to fix the historic shortage of lorry drivers once and for all and in the short-term the country is grateful to dozens of men and women from the army for stepping in to fill up the gap.
As ever, if you have any queries about what’s happening, or anything else that’s on your mind, feel free to reply to this email or call my constituency on 01707 262632.
With warm wishes,
Grant.
P.S. You can view the list of 24 measures I’ve taken to resolve the long-term lorry driver shortage by clicking this link.
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The famous 'This England' speech from Shakespeare's Richard II is much beloved by demented flagwavers:
"This precious stone set in the silver sea,
Which serves it in the office of a wall,
Or as a moat defensive to a house,
Against the envy of less happier lands,
This blessed plot, this earth, this realm,
This England."How many of them know that the speech continues thus:
"This dear dear land is now leased out
Like to a tenement or pelting farm:
England, bound in with the triumphant sea
Is now bound in with shame,
With inky blots and rotten parchment bonds:
That England, that was wont to conquer others,
Hath made a shameful conquest of itself."Shakespeare knew.
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Joy: realising that Crich Tramway Museum is only half an hour down the road from my holiday let.
Heartbreak: finding that yesterday was its last open day this year.
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There’s a nightingale singing outside my bedroom window. Oh, glorious.
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Well, I have to say that when I sat down earlier to watch a bit of telly, one of the things I was not expecting to see was a man wànking a turkey.
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Incoming NBD... an itch I couldn't resist scratching, but I fear I might regret it...
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Made the mistake earlier of listening to/watching Vulfpeck's "Dean Town" again earlier.
F**k it. I give up.
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Had my 'growth talk' at work yesterday. A sort of career progression thing that must be really handy for the younger engineers especially.
Boss's first question (admittedly with his tongue firmly in his cheek): "So Rich, where do you see yourself in 5 years..?"
Me: "Retired."
Boss: "Want to expand your skillset? Anything you'd like to do in the meantime?"
Me: "Exactly what I'm doing now will suit me fine, ta."
End of talk.
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I tend to find these HR box-ticking exercises tiresome.
I'm doing what I do, it's the right mix of interesting, challenging, routine, inventive, procedural, ad-hoc, variety, and fulfillment for me; I don't need to fill in forms to say so.
Setting goals and suchlike are an irrelevance; if the business gets to the point where they don't need me then they'll ditch me and if I decide it's time then I'll move on.
I've been working in pretty much the same niche for years and have no desire or ambition to be "promoted" or chase any other perceived progression or career path.
I'm happy in my lane and have no plans to retire.
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Anybody ever had difficulty getting a reply from DR Strings? Sent them three emails so far and not heard a dickybird. Not tremendously impressed.
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Story has a happy ending; I emailed Lord Of The Strings earlier, from whom I bought the strings, and they have just replied to say that they've put a replacement string in the post. A 90 minute turnaround, now that's proper customer service, and the reason why I shall be buying from them again in the future. But I've bought my last set of DRs.
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I have reason to believe that an ebay seller I recently purchased from has been giving my name and address out to third parties without my consent. I think this is a breach of GDPR and the Data Protection Act. What are my options?
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Data Protection Act does but I'm not sure what Ebay does to ensure it is observed as ultimately they act as the third party in the transaction and the name and address details must be given to ensure delivery from the seller.
Would say to discuss with Ebay, not sure they can do anything in all honesty
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I have a ganglion in my right hand, just underneath my little fingers. It used to flare up when I (an electrician) rewired properties and used my SDS hammer drill to chisel out chases in brick for cables. I would get pain up my arm for several days afterwards and it would stop me sleeping.
Most of my work these days involves inspection and testing, with a lot less 'house bashing' so now it's not noticeable but its not gone away.
Hope you recover from your surgery quickly.
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How do you find out how heavy a red hot chilli pepper is?
Give it a weigh, give it a weigh, give it a weigh now. -
Yesterday the COV002 trial 'unblinded' me -- i.e. I was told whether I'd been in the vaccine group or the control group. Turns out I had the vaccine. Still no long-term side effects to report.
Apart from growing the flippers, and the extra head. -
10 years today. Times flies but memories remain. Still much missed, you big daft softy. 💙
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Best news I've heard all year.
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Yesterday in America it was 06/23.
Today it looks more like 1923.
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To be fair they were already close to the bottom of pretty much every sensible league table where Big Nations are concerned. I feel sorry for the tens of millions whom this will affect, and despise the tens of millions who think this is Jeebus answering their Thoughts and Prayers, and the millions who did not vote for Hillary because of her emails...
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Looking for someone who could make a small run (probably 12 at most) of approx. 6"x1.5" single sided PCBs without costing the earth. Any recommendations? Local to Bristol/Wiltshire would be nice, but not mandatory.
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Free shipping world wide. I've used them dozens of times very happily. Not the cheapest, but great quality and no language barriers, hidden costs, etc.
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I recently used http://pcbway.com to make some micro usb breakout boards. 20 boards cost $21 inc shipping, as there was a $5 voucher for your first order. Would have been quick, but I missed the Chinese New Year deadline. I'm going to order some more pcbs from them soon as my design has evolved.
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Here's a tip from your Uncle Rich. When you're beta-testing a design package and you think the auto-save is set, make sure it is. That way, you won't lose the last 5 hours' hard graft when it crashes.
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Suggested a new song to the ska band earlier ("She's Kerosene" by The Interruptors). Sax player said she doesn't want to do it because there are no "nice chords".
WTF is a 'nice' chord?
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My bandmate's old A/B switch died at our gig the other night. I said I'd take a look at it for him... just took it apart, and two of the three jack sockets fell apart in my hands
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How topical!
Yesterday I bought my first ever five string (used) and although it's generally in good nick the jack socket is dodgy. I've taken it out and cleaned with WD40 and a rag but I later found that although it was fine with the cable I was using my Xvive transmitter doesn't like it at all.
Where's a good place to get replacement sockets? Strings Direct do a Pure Tone Full Contact one that looks pretty good and I have one in my basket atm but any other suggestions?
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@plankspanker I get most of my electronics components from Bitsbox - they have Neutrik and Switchcraft jacks amongst others.
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Yesterday was the first day of my holiday. A whole week in Cumbria. Or at least, that's what I thought it'd be when I set off.
FFS.
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It can still be - there are no instructions to return home, just be aware that attractions (few given the season?), restaurants, pubs/bars etc will be closed. If you've rented a little retreat away from everything then that should still be good?
Ah - just read the guidelines and not returning only affects overseas holidays...bummer!
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Just ordered a new bench vice and a bunch of new HSS bits. Barely managed to resist the temptation to splash out on a pillar drill. Oh, the excitement of isolation.
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NWD (New Wireless Day) -- incoming Sennheiser G3. Ludicrous, ridiculous deal I couldn't walk away from.