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Off Topic The "Discuss Anything Else" Thread

Discussion in 'Horse Racing' started by OddDog, Jun 23, 2013.

  1. SwanHills

    SwanHills Well-Known Member

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    It can be so cowardly too. Crouched over a PC, often using the most insulting language against other forum members, using anonymity in a most reprehensible manner. I wish the moderators luck in their attempt to keep this thread alive, but I am just not sure if they will succeed. However, if the goodwill is there from contributors, then they will.
     
    #10981
  2. NassauBoard

    NassauBoard Well-Known Member

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    I just find it very sad to be honest. Given that we all are living with restrictions can't people be positive to each other and do something constructive? I know i've had arguments on this forum plenty of times, but the time now is to use it for discussion about racing.

    Each to their own I guess, but I think people need to think a lot more before posting Darwinian theories about the pandemic for instance
     
    #10982
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  3. SwanHills

    SwanHills Well-Known Member

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    To digress in a lighter tone. I do wish I could give a flipping winner now and again on the DT. My Saturday efforts are so awful that I am searching around for a stupid reason, or two. My favourite one is that I have no chance at all unless there is a nice big sell-out crowd to cheer on the hosses, To be honest though, I guess nothing will change even when things do get better and the racegoers return! <doh>
    Goodness only knows when that will be, but we must all show a bit of discipline with masks, social distancing, etc., it's the only way. Germany way behind on vaccine shots, but think wife and I are getting pretty near to getting first one at last! All the best!
     
    #10983
    Last edited: Jan 11, 2021
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  4. NassauBoard

    NassauBoard Well-Known Member

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    I've been fortunate enough to go racing four times during this pandemic, twice at Cheltenham and once at Stratford and Huntingdon. A very surreal experience on each occasion, and I thought the Cheltenham experience was more palatable than the others despite a bigger crowd. Given the space at some of the courses, you would think we could do sensible outdoor spectating, but then you see the sights of the people walking in and around seaside resorts and you think again!

    I do think the pandemic has helped change the way racing works, the SP is different now and we are getting massive SP results because they are being set up by high street bookmakers rather than those on course. That is my excuse for having a rubbish year! <doh>
     
    #10984
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  5. brb

    brb CR250

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    please log in to view this image
     
    #10985
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  6. Ron

    Ron Well-Known Member
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    Well that didn't take long
     
    #10986
  7. Steveo

    Steveo Well-Known Member

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    Only 10 months too late but at last Boris has decided to shut the UK borders from Monday!
    Well done Boris!<cheers>
     
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  8. Ron

    Ron Well-Known Member
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    #10988
  9. OddDog

    OddDog Mild mannered janitor
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    Anyone fancy odds of 4/11 that Alexej Nawalny will just disappear? Why the hell has he gone back to Russia? They have so many places to lose people, so many unexplained things that can happen ........................
     
    #10989
  10. Ron

    Ron Well-Known Member
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    We aren't allowed outside our houses after 6pm now. Anyone with school children have been sent an attestation they must use to pick up kids from school. We drove to Amanda's today at 5.30pm and have never seen so much traffic here (presumably everyone trying to get home by 6pm)
     
    #10990

  11. mallafets123

    mallafets123 Well-Known Member

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    I returned to UK today for 7 weeks from Kenya. Eventful trip back to say the least.
    First off my covid test was negative but it took the hospital 4 attempts to get my name and passport number correct on my certificate. Shambles.
    I am in my taxi heading to Nairobi airport and the Police stop us, they are not really Police in Kenya but professional thieves.
    They say I am not wearing a mask properly and that is an offence and a 20k kenyan shilling fine. Not sure how they can see in the dark in a moving car doing 30mph from 30 yards or more.
    They then ask "Where is your passport"? "It is in my case in the boot" I reply. "That is another 20k kenyan shilling fine as it should be on your person." say Miss Plod.
    So, I now have a 40k fine and it could be 2yrs in prison they say. "So, you are now arrested and you will be detained tonight for court tomorrow, you will miss your flight, so what can we do"? is their question to me meaning a bribe is wanted. They empty my pockets and I have about £50 but that is not enough, they want £200. They now have my passport, are waving their guns around and I have 2 hours until my flight. I am not intimidated in the least they are just a pair scumbags. They then hint at using the nearby ATM to get their extra £150. So this is my chance, I agree and wander over to it. I know some prominent people in Kenya, one call ends this. I call the ex Presidents daughter, no answer. I phone a current MP, no answer. I call another big shot, no answer. This only happens on tv surely.
    Now I have a choice, do I pay £200? It is unlikely they will arrest me properly and cart me off but you never know. They will stall me and I will miss my flight, the rebook will be more than £200.
    So the scumbags got their £200. Then Miss Plod asks me for my number and if I can find her a white bf and coach her kid football.
    This is Kenya, super corrupt and full of cheating lying thieves.
    Typically my MP friend calls me today wanting to know what I was calling for. After telling him he gave me a special number to call if I ever get stopped again.
    To top it all off customs took my 400 tabs off me as the max is 200 you can bring in.
     
    #10991
  12. rudebwoy

    rudebwoy Well-Known Member

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    Wow , not much has changed there , over forty years ago it was like that, anywhere you went you had to bribe cops , usually fags and some money , they obviously have upped the " tolls " , but that's a lot to pay mal , months salary for one of them ?
    You got to isolate now as well ?
     
    #10992
  13. SaveTheHumans

    SaveTheHumans Well-Known Member

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    The Kenyan tourism board will no doubt be looking to hire you soon Mall "<laugh>
     
    #10993
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  14. mallafets123

    mallafets123 Well-Known Member

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    I have tweeted them as well as the UK high commission and the minister for tourism. I know none will reply though.
     
    #10994
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  15. mallafets123

    mallafets123 Well-Known Member

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    Yes, 5 days.
     
    #10995
  16. rudebwoy

    rudebwoy Well-Known Member

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    Well, you're not missing out on much! Not like theres much else to do , the weather going to be pants as well, even cycling going to be on hold , always racing on your phone!
     
    #10996
  17. SwanHills

    SwanHills Well-Known Member

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    Looking at the 'Krimi' of Mallafets' return journey from Kenya, sort of brings back a bit of distant dejà vu. In most of the countries of West Africa roadblocks were a frequent hazard. Soldiers with Kalashnikovs dangling around their necks, examining one's passport sometimes upside down (I kid you not), and picking their nose at the same time. As an example, the airport for Monrovia, capital of Liberia, Robertsfield International Airport, is 37-miles (60 km) from the city Most flights to European destinations leave in the morning, so if one wanted to arrive at the airport safely an armed escort in a following car was a pretty wise thing to arrange beforehand. It was unbelievable the number of holdups in the early '70s that occurred on this stretch of road.

    The 'Dark Continent' hasn't changed much, reading Mallafets' account of his return journey. My final journey from an African country was, let me see, around 1979 I guess, could have been later, tough to remember, don't have my old passports any more. It was from Abidjan to Paris, via Nice, and our departure on the UTA plane was a typical West African one. We were all ready for takeoff, when the pilot announced a short delay as the Ivory Coast's Transport Minister had not yet arrived for boarding, but was on the way. So, we sipped a few nice champers, courtesy of UTA, and waited, and waited, and waited. Finally, the Transport Minister arrived after an hour or so with his entourage, and we finally took off. After a short stop at Nice in the early morning, we took off for the final stretch to Paris. This made it all worthwhile, I have never seen the Alps so beautiful, glittering grey and silver in the sunlight. The French Alps certainly beat the German and Austrian Alps in these perfect conditions. A memorable final return journey from a number of years working and living in West African countries.

    So, that was it, I vowed that that was enough of the 'Dark Continent' for me, and I never went back.


    .
     
    #10997
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  18. Steveo

    Steveo Well-Known Member

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    welcome back to the COVID capital of the world!
    and I thought that you had to isolate for 10 days ?
     
    #10998
  19. dylanthomas

    dylanthomas Active Member

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    I never realised until this pandemic how many people are dumb and that includes friends. The amount of people on social media who still deny there is a virus is frightening.
     
    #10999
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  20. SwanHills

    SwanHills Well-Known Member

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    A few random comments on yesterday which was quite a day in the old USA! Excellent inauguration speech by Joe Biden. I truly believe that decency, and common every-day courtesies, will be much more apparent in American politics now since the departure of the hideous Trump and his band of wretched hangers-on. Must give credit where credit's due, however, inasmuch that Vice-President Pence finally came good after 4-years of being a sycophant to Trump. His behaviour since the insurrection of May 6th was impeccable, and had much to be admired. What a shame he did not show the same spirit before, but I guess if he had Trump would have got rid of him somehow, or would that have been possible with an elected Vice-President? Guess not.

    Anyway, things look a lot brighter. I pray for the American people that they now have a government that will do its best for them, without all the utter nonsense and stupid goings-on of the previous vile administration.
     
    #11000
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