Open Forum Discussions and Debate

Tch tch..ohh Amber you touched my heart!! well, I guess you are a lil bit latest version for you are talking abt 'switching on', and kinda mixed breed, lights with painted arms!!.Yes you can indeed progress to be a train signal.

Regarding the oscillating arms, well you havent got much choice over there. For you can have only one arm that can be inclined at desired angle according to the need...and your lights can also be toggled along with.And I am afraid if you can have any rights of your own for the operater has got the full responsibility of your function.
Have a good signalling day.

Uh oh, I'm getting the "Be the first to post" message.

an arm inclined at a desired angle...is that like bending an elbow?

yes, you can be a train signal, but you have to spend a long time training.

Its all Tenders and Turntables for me Amber.I'm based on the London Brighton and South Coast Railway 0-6-0 E2 with extended side tanks...and I'm rather chuffed that you are contemplating joining us as a signal, but these days I need a lot of stoking. I'm just venting or letting off steam and I wonder what the 'Fat Controller' will make of that...oops can't say 'Fat Controller' it's not p.c.

chuff...chuff...chuff...chuff...I'd better make tracks...

Ohh..this is what Ian was telling!! now how do I see the rest of the posts??

Ah! magic today I see all the pages.

The UK government is mid-debate about rectifying the laws which prevent Ghurkhas from being allowed to reside in this country unless they meet a certain criteria: The rules state that they had to have served in the army for a minimum of 20 years, had bravery medals and/or combat injuries and could prove that they had had a significantly strong connection with this country before being allowed to take up residence, although soldiers from other Commonwealth countries can apply for UK residency after 4 years in the army. I wonder, at what point, a person becomes eligible for such a sanction while we have, amongst others, Abu Qatada, Osama Bin Laden’s top man in the UK, serving time in jail, whilst his family live in an £800,000 house, claiming £50,000 in benefits from our state system. Qatada is appealing against being extradited to Jordan where he faces terrorism charges on the grounds that it would breech his human rights. It seems that our government would rather ‘house’ the villains than honour the rights of the soldiers who fought so bravely. Thankfully parliament is fighting to change the motion and give the Ghurkhas the respect they deserve, giving entitlement to pensions and the National Health System. What are the policies of other countries in regard to matters of this nature? I would be interested to hear any views on the subject.

Ellié

Ellié, great topic you raised. I saw here on TV yesterday that the government's stance on the Ghurkas is a very unpopular one, with many of the party crossing the floor. I hope the policy is changed because it certainly seems like a double standard if the criteria are different for other Commonwealth soldiers as you state.
As to the other, I do not know anything about it, therefore cannot comment, except to say it sounds wrong to me!

Umm, well seeing we don't/didn't colonise anyone, we are free from such ramifications. HOWEVER, having written that statement I now realise that we do indeed claim land that belonged to others. The Indigenous people here while theoretically entitled to equality are often provided with second rate conditions if they choose to live in the outback settlements. Also Christmas Island and the Cocos have their own peoples originally from Malaysia and Indonesia and I BELIEVE that their documents do not say 'Place of Birth-Australia'. I don't know if they can freely choose to live here or not. Anyone?

Do many people come here to debate? It seems quite quiet. Perhaps I will try a different subject when I have more time. Thank you Mary and Gail for your imput. I guess it is difficult to comment if you live in a different situation to the UK. The Gurkha debate is ongoing here.

Ellié

My apologies, Ghurkha not Gurkha. It's kinda late.

Ellié

Ellié, don't stop airing your views here. Sometimes a topic can cause a very lively discussion.

It would not seem to be very different from the policy instituted in 1999 about Hong Kong residents, when China retook that colony.

Gosh where would one start with that Ian? A minefield. I don't feel I have enough information to comment on that policy. Do you have first hand dealings of that?

Meanwhile, back in the UK, revelations of the 'greedy politicians' expense accounts. Not so much of a revelation really, but a timely wake up call to haul the public purse strings in before the next elections. I think Gordon Brown is quaking in his boots, a glorious size 12, on the Richter scale > 8
I quite like the word polotitian, has it the same meaning? Too much to think about.

Ellié

Polotitian-a red-headed horse sports player?

I like that one a great deal Mary. I wonder if Prince William or Harry would volunteer to be one right now?
The news has been somewhat eventful here, politicians owning up to thousands of pounds worth of 'fraudulent' transactions going under the guise of 'allowable expenses'. One of the best ones was clearing a moat from weeds! I wonder if my local tax office would let me put that down on my account expenses this year...I think I would be doing a term in prison or community service. As usual the Brits keep a stiff upper lip as MPs call for the resignation of Michael Martin (Speaker at the House of Commons). A perfect scapegoat to take the pressure off the 'shaking in their boots, wondering if they will be exposed next' politicians. Calls for an early general election are in the offing. Who to pick? They are 'all at it!' I'm going to dig a moat just in case...

Good idea Ellie...love the husband/wife pair of pollies, neither of whom had a first home, but lived in each other's 'second home'....and we're supposed to respect them??????

Thank you Mary...I kind of like the fact that our innocent pollies think the general public will go along with the 'oh my' shouldn't I have claimed for that? Smack my hand and I'll write you a cheque now and pay back my 'fraudulent backhander come requisite to being a politician expense account'. The sad thing is we will go along with it and tut tut in the privacy of our sitting rooms, whilst watching the final episode of Monty Pythons Flying Circus, probably tucking into a fish and chip supper with the obligatory salt and vinegar and mushy peas. I think I am getting more cynical by the minute.

What is a chuckle-headed statement? I noticed it on the first page of this particular forum. I'm sure there is a 'joke' in there somewhere.

Ellié

Hey Ellié, I think it is a reference to a time when there was dispute about the quality of the postings. I wish we could tempt Jeb back to elaborate...

jeb...are you tempted?

Dinner party delights - If you were invited to a dinner party who would you like to be seated with? A choice of either a famous person or someone with whom you have genuine respect for, or both and why? Would it be formal or informal? Food choices are yours to pick also, if you so desire.

I think I would like an informal, off-the-record meal with Obama. We would get the inside story about what's really going on in the world today. We would eat al fresco, with gourmet picnic food, lots of chocolate cake and lashings of ginger beer.

I'll crash Mary's!

I'll pick you up from the Airport Gail, and we can go together to Mary's!!

Hey, I didn't say I was cooking!!!!!!!! It will be somewhere bucolic in the New York State countryside (I have visions of falling Autumnal Leaves). Away from prying reporters, he will relax sufficiently to reveal hitherto secrets of international affairs and diplomacy, trusting us completely.
If you are coming too, Rolanda, we could request some Pennsylvanian Dutch food..... but I have first dibs on the choccie cake!!!!

Mary, you do know that Pennsylvanian Dutch food is German based and not from Holland.
Autumnal Leaves would mean it is spring time here.. so yes that would suit me nicely.. Back from Tripping around China, it is after mum's 90th Birthday Party.
A ittle trip to New York State countryside would be lovely!!

Dutch schmuch...why do they call it Dutch then?????

Dinner party - Winston Churchill for starters, Alan Turing for the main and The Enigma machine for desserts...dress code casual. I'm sure we could crack a good bottle of 'stuff' over dinner. Who needs food! One serving of each should be ample sufficiency.

Ellié

Not Gordon Brown, he has got enough on his plate right now!

Hey Ellié, excellent choices....Do you think GB has kept his job because no-one else would touch it with a barge pole?

Hi Mary. I've still got a bit of an enigma caught between my teeth. My humble opinion is that everyone is baying for the Labour Party’s blood. The 'expenses' argument is not a 'Labour only' misdemeanour/fraudulent activity. The Conservatives, hoping for an early election, are preening their feathers with impressive 'vote for me' lines, seemingly forgetting that they too have had their fingers in the honey pot. I know that Gordon Brown is not the most charismatic but he is trying to steer the failing economy into a new tide of financial stability. The public have lost confidence because of the mishandling of public funds. Given the economic crisis and ensuing job losses, people are getting angrier than they have for a long time, rightly so, and the recent local elections reflected that. His supporters within the cabinet are dropping like flies, but some have stated that it is not Gordon Brown, but those in his office who have leaked information to the press. This has placed them in an untenable position forcing them to resign. The answer to your question, within the Labour Party I can’t think of anyone who would be able to have a presence, so yes. (I was having a ‘lets be long winded about it’ due to a day of rest brought about by a relaxing day off, bath, choccy biccies and a nice glass of grape juice, fermented).

Ellié, finger sore.

How did your private date go? Was Obama forthcoming? His wife had a delightful dinner with their children in London, at a local pub. It was raining so too wet for a picnic.

Ellié

Hey Ellié, rant away....I envy you the day off and the choccie biccies. At least it makes our pollies look ....ok?
No, I haven't caught up with O yet...it's so hard arranging a date that suits us both.

I have just heard that an intimate dinner with our very own PM KR is being auctioned on e-bay for $20,000, proceeds to charity. That makes my picnic with O worth....... quite a lot????

mega bucks Mary!!

I was, André, but the lacy napkins put me off. I'm more of a back of the sleeve kind of guy.