ambient

Yep. That’s what my dad said that would happen. The closing time where I grew up was 10:30pm. Yet in the adjoining Sutton Coldfield it was 11:00pm. You would get a crowd of people at 10:40 or thereabouts, walking the 500 metres from the pub that had just closed, to the pub that was going to be open for another twenty minutes.

I think the problem with the pubs was the ‘eat out to help out’ scheme. It was attributed to the spike occurring in the autumn - apparently Johnson himself admitted it may have been responsible. The awful spoons pub by me was pretty packed out each time I walked past.

I suspect that it was Johnson refusing to confirm that the lockdown - or at least restrictions - wouldn’t be continuing into the summer. Basically he doesn’t know, he’d be guessing if he did. Bearing in mind where we currently are, it would be rather foolish - even for him - to give a forecast about what might be happening in six months time.

It’s going to be the autumn at the earliest I reckon. Apparently the fat controller wouldn’t commit to lockdown being over before the summer. A single jab isn’t a vaccination, giving at a maximum 52% protection. It’ll be ages before everyone has had two injections. My parents had their first shot two weeks ago, they had a call today notifying them that their next injection is due early April.

Legally I wouldn’t know, morally I would say yes. When does one company start and another end though? Wouldn’t everything pertaining to this year's festival be under this year's company? Do they sell tickets through an agency or direct? If it’s through ah agency then they’ll be taking a hit too.

That’s it isn’t it, I guess it’s easy to think they just provide a field. You don’t necessarily consider long term planning and expenditure. Someone on Facebook was just saying that if - as seems likely considering what’s going on - everyone who’s already bought tickets asks for their deposit back, then that could cost them up to £5 million.

Have you listened to the John McLaughlin Trio album with Trilok Gurtu and Jonas Hellborg, live at the Royal Festival Hall?

The Guardian has a similar article, I shared it in another post. Like you, I was unaware that you could potentially be charged for receiving a gift.

There’s a useful explainer here. https://www.theguardian.com/money/2021/jan/21/eu-website-purchases-the-import-charges-uk-customers-have-to-pay

It mentions it in the link in my follow-up post. It’s from a Guardian article a few weeks ago. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/jun/25/michael-eavis-glastonbury-will-go-bankrupt-if-it-cant-be-staged-in-2021-coronavirus

The floor. Usually with my cat.

My mistake, it was her father, Michael Eavis. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/jun/25/michael-eavis-glastonbury-will-go-bankrupt-if-it-cant-be-staged-in-2021-coronavirus

It’s what I read. Maybe they lost a lot of money after cancelling last year? I guess they have to book an awful lot of infrastructure and services well in advance, and pay deposits for them?

I’m not surprised. It’s sad though, I was reading an article last week, in which the organiser Emily Eavis said that they risk bankruptcy if it doesn’t take place. I’ve never been, but watch most years on TV. It would be a real shame if it ceased to be. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/jan/21/glastonbury-2021-officially-cancelled-due-to-covid-pandemic

Why? Basically because it’s how the creative arts industry has set itself up to work in the 21st century. It’s very much a DIY scene. Be it music - not just bands either, but also orchestras, composers, DJs, producers, tour personnel - including roadies, lighting, sound, trucking, there’s also theatre, dance and TV production. It’s also a fantastic and highly rewarding experience. For many it’s an important revenue stream.

Whilst him being shown to be an utter hypocrite is funny. It’s also distracting from the point, that this farce that’s been foisted on an already struggling creative industry, is anything but funny. It was dismissed in parliament two days ago. We can’t give up though, and need to keep campaigning - hopefully until this whole dark and utterly pointless project has been reversed - but at least until those working in the creative industry are able to carry on working unhindered across borders, as they have for the last twenty or more years.

There was a video of Daltrey shared by JOB on Twitter. He quite clearly has or had absolutely no idea whatsoever about how the modern creative arts industry works. He came across as a totally arrogant fool. I never liked his music anyway.

Urgh. I’ve suddenly gone all itchy.

All my gear is well looked after. If I sell anything I always give it a good look over before sending it on its way, and make sure to wipe it over with a clean cloth and polish. If it’s a bass then I change the battery and fit new strings. It beats me how people can invest good money in an instrument, and not look after it.

I’ve walked away from deals as a seller a couple of times. I know a few people who’ve been scammed when they’ve sold items. The buyer claims it’s faulty or not as described. There’s a thread on here somewhere from a few years ago, when someone tried to rip me off with a pair of studio monitors I was selling. I will accept PayPal, but not if they’re an absolute complete stranger i.e from gumtree or Facebook, where I can’t gauge their honesty.

I just sent something to a guy in Belfast. I had to complete an online customs declaration, which asked various questions about the item’s origin, and it’s value. I then had to print off three copies, which I signed and dated, and placed in an envelope taped to the parcel. That’s just one single item, taking maybe five minutes. I wouldn’t fancy having to do it for multiple different items, it would very soon get annoying.

I mentioned earlier in this thread, I had occasion to turn to my bank for help a few years ago. I bought an item through eBay as a guest, the item didn’t arrive. PayPal were useless, whereas my bank were fantastic.

Luck of the draw I guess. I’ve bought items from the USA expecting to pay import charges, and subsequently been shocked when they’ve arrived charge-free - despite them being well over the limit.

What’s Skrill?