mercuryg

Out of interest, why should they, or any party, do so? There's no obligation? I tend to find the TV political debate and interview stuff to be dumbed down to the lowest level and of little interest. Waste of their time,

Ah Canny Lass, how I love your lessons! I must say, however, the expression has always seen toys thrown from the pram. The dummy is spat out. I have asked Small Dog what he thinks of all this. He merely burrowed back beneath his blanket. I don't blame him.

See the title of the thread...

I don't think he'll answer you, he's dead.

I have a small dog, will that do?

Off to watch come aeroplanes; if anybody else wants to comment it might add to the discussion. See you later.

Oh, I do hold left wing views, and am proud of them. I also hold right wing views, and others. I'm far from a 'leftie' as you are using the term, and you're well aware of that as we've had this discussion before. I stand firm on the keyboard warrior label; that's most certainly you, not me (once again, I talk to people, you clearly don't). Berlusconi is reflecting the views of most people, yet his group of collective parties isn't likely to get a majority according to that article? I'm not agitated; I'm enjoying it. I have a quiet day at work. By the way, here's a tip for recognising when someone is really struggling to keep their place in a discussion: they start calling people names like 'leftie' and so on, as you have done! It's a dead giveaway! It's the equivalent of throwing ones toys out of the pram. That's what getting agitated looks like!

Once again (you must remember I've mentioned it before) who said I'm a 'leftie'? Furthermore, a bit rich calling me a 'keyboard warrior'; your posts on here are far more numerous than mine. If attaching misguided labels to me in an attempt to discredit is the best you can do, you haven't got much to go on, have you? Also, I see nothing in that article that indicates that is how 'ordinary people' are thinking; it's all about a former politician who is banned from office, and a bloke with a penchant for Nazi memorabilia. 3/10. Must try harder. You're not coming across at all well here if that's your idea of the average bloke on the street, even in Italy!

Oh, they are. Talk to a cross section of people, ordinary, everyday people (as I do often!) and I guarantee your views are radical. Few people believe that in a few years there are going to be Islamic sleeper cells wreaking havoc, for example, because there are not. Most people accept that Muslims are just people, who worship a religion that differs from that followed by a small minority of people in the UK. Or, seriously, do you think your views on this are actually mainstream? I suggest you get out more. Perhaps cycle 35km the other way next time, and talk to more than a couple of people? Maybe choose some of different persuasions? It might help you understand things a little better, as people are more of a representation of reality than graphs and statistics.

Funny you should say this! DNA examination of the oldest complete skeleton found in the UK - believed to be 10,000 years old - reveals that 'Cheddar Man' was black skinned.

Looking at that graph, I'm at odds to see what's so surprising or alarming about it. of course there are vastly more foreign-born in the UK now than ever before, as there will be with many of the world's developed countries. If cheap and easy travel had been available in, say, 1911, far more people would have travelled here from elsewhere. As you rightly say in other posts, there can be no clue as to how many illegal immigrants there are, so this must surely relate to those who are here legally? Then the next question: why is it such a problem? As Pilgrim rightly points out, this is a multicultural world; it's not 1911 any more, or 1951, or even 1981. Far from immigration being the problem, it's the 'us and them' mentality that breeds the contempt. The simple fact is this: foreigners are here, and will continue to come here. They bring with them their religions, their beliefs. It's not going to go away, so the longer the 'we have to do something to stop it' (what, precisely?) brigade continues such a tirade, the longer we foster problems that should not really be there. I understand you believe you have a deeper insight into the 'Islam problem' - for want of a better word - than others, 3G, but I really don't think you do. So you cycled across the badlands, where no local would go (really? Have you been following the series of tweets and posts from people who have been happily traversing the UK 'no-go' areas that the likes of Britain First has warned everyone to avoid, as they are over-run with Muslims who will likely drive you out with large sticks? They make great reading; one guy posted along the lines of 'went in, bought loaf of bread, got out alive') and spoke to a couple of the immigrant population, while fending off their feral dogs (love the feral dogs bit, adds the Hollywood element). That doesn't make you an expert on what's going to happen in the future (regards the 'sleeper cells' you warned us of); it just makes you someone who cycled across the Italian badlands, spoke to a couple of immigrants, and fended off their feral dogs. That's not insight. We all know the population of the UK now has a larger foreign contingent than before; guess what, I went into Boston the other day, did some shopping in a Polish supermarket (great value, lovely people) and spoke to a couple of foreigners also! I'm no expert on Eastern European culture, even though I did pat a couple of likely Polish Alsatians. Back to the point, oh yes, we (I talk of the general we) know the UK population has a large foreign contingent; rather than look at ways to alleviate that, we live with it, it's happened. It's no great shakes; it's not the end of the UK as we know it. It's 21st century life, it's what we have here and now. Rather than foster hatred for a group of people who follow a certain religion, of whom the vast majority do no harm whatsoever, we should be finding the right balance to live alongside them, as that's what we have to do. After all, there's a billion odd of them in the world, so that's a lot of people to ignore. Anyway, our postman is a Muslim. Should I expect a letter bomb off him any time shortly?

That's terrifying. Every time I see a Pakistani I hide. I'd suggest digging a bunker.

Malcolm, your commitment is more than admirable, appreciate the update. I am particularly amused by the bits about the social media smear campaign; I think I commented on the discussion itself, but whoever is writing this stuff, or advising others to write it, really shouldn't be let anywhere near a keyboard. I have a 12 year-old niece with more understanding of grammar and how to make an impact than the writer of the blog (the name of which I have forgotten) and that's before we get to the 'facts'. I don't envy you, by the way, the sheer mundane nature of your role (with no ill intent meant, I would by no be akin to cry 'not another ****ing pothole! on a regular basis) but congratulate you and your colleagues on the continued efforts towards improvement and services. Meanwhile, the driveway to this house is knackered; can you come and fix it?

BTW 3G you'd love it around here! Just the other day I got all my shopping in at a Polish supermarket; bargains to be had, I tell you! And, amazingly, not once was I robbed, beaten or even insulted or looked at in a strange way by those Nasty Immigrants!

It's he EU flag, ThreeGee. It was there when I bought the car. Indeed, I thought long and hard about going through with the purchase, fearing it may have some terrible effect on me and make me feel less British (no, I didn't). "I think CL needs to think a little more deeply on the matter" I really don't think so, as she's made it quite clear it's a non-issue; if you don't want the EU flag - or any other - on your car number plate, you don't have to have it. If you do, you can. I quite like having that freedom of choice, don't you?

"I understand the EU flag it's pretty much imposed on you" Not on number plates. Of the five cars outside my window only one (mine) shows any flag. It's up to you.

I've never had a car with the Union Flag on the number plate, and my current one is the only one I've had with Eu flag on it.

A Merry Christmas to one and all. Looking forward to my first Tumby Christmas. Hopefully, by then, we will have the heating and electric fixed so I won't have frozen to death.

Orloff, I think that would possibly be John Shelley; we have never met, but shared a much-missed uncle! Love the Vespa idea; do you take it to shows?

Aha, perhaps! It would appear I am Mercuryg when posting from my laptop, but my other self when on mobile. mucho confusing!

Who am I today then?

It is certainly a different place to Bedlington, this curious and extremely laid back little corner of Lincolnshire. As it tends to be quiet on here these days, I thought I'd offer you a little insight into my new surroundings. We have dogs - see the picture, that's two thirds of them - plus horses, both large and small, a donkey (fabulous ears) there goats, a cat, two tortoises and a lizard. That's the captive zoo; when it comes to wild animals, we have everything from mice and rats, a plethora of garden birds (of which the notorious Tumby Tits deserve singling out; you thought a pack of piranhas were fast? You should see this lot), squirrels, rabbits - including local wild black variety - badgers and moles, plus deer and a wide variety of game birds. And, last but not least, the legendary Dogdyke Werewolf, the corpse of which was allegedly dug up in an adjacent field, leading to the hapless young man who found it being terrorised and thus re-burying the bones, which lie their to this day...spooky!! Anyway, dogs...

That's the one! Always loved that mentality: finish work for the holiday, go out and get p****d, call someone's pint something horrible, get punched. Magnificent pre-Christmas night out.

Great card Eggy! The Mini could do with a bit of tinsel on it, though.

"Is it just that BF isn't what it originally was?" That would be the Friday before Christmas, then, when people routinely get pissed and end up having a fight? Given it's only been a retail phenomenon in the UK for the past 10 (if that) years, it's of little surprise you (like me) are far from interested! In fact, I'll try my best to avoid shops from now until after the New Year! Some good offers on Chromebooks online.