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Have always managed to break into my cars most times in the past when keys have been locked in the car. ”
 

Made me smile, couple of years ago I was driving round in a Ford Ranger pickup with a hardtop. We were on holiday in Devon and after parking in the pub carpark ready to go on a family walk before the pub opened, I closed the rear door with the keys in the pickup, with a knowing sense of doom as the door shut,

The wife is looking at me saying now what do we do. No problem I said, it's a Ford and a third party hardtop, so will be 1980's technology  After borrowing a screwdriver from the pub landlord, it took about 20 seconds to force the lock, which didn't break and you could still lock it with the key. 

The kids now think I'm a master car criminal and break into any vehicle in seconds. I obviously won't put them right and am still enjoying my (undeserved) reputation of coolness.

But for a decent car and a slightly challenging lock, I would call out the locksmith (while the kids weren't watching).

Hi Gary, thanks for that. As a long term and probably considered SEO dinosaur, I still remain fascinated by the subject and amazed by the lack of thought or understanding given to it by so many businesses. To be fair though, the term SEO these days is normally held in low regard and in a negative light after years of abuse.

Although obviously a very high level and simplistic approach, I'd be careful with terms like "site architecture" and then no obvious explanation of what that means or context. I know from experience this sort of terminology can terrify potential clients 

When will this heatwave end???? 17th June 2020 1:39 PM

I can't take it anymore, the endless sun... if only we could have some rain and thunder...

Think working from home insanity has arrived. Spend so long on zoom these days, my mind now thinks my zoom background is a view out of the window  

 
I've noticed the traffic has increased a lot in the last week or two. Shops will be open from Monday. Just waiting on the pubs and hotels then I'll be much happier. 
 

Oh yes, to go out for a meal....

To be honest, its hotels. Oh for a change of scenery. Chateaux Semi Richardson is now very dull and boring, the garden has been tarted up to an inch of it's life and the tribe are at the point of killing each other.

Luckily the glorious June weather has made life so much better... 

The joys of online shopping 12th June 2020 4:34 PM
I think they get paid so little and it's based on number of parcels mostly, so they rush and this kind of thing happens!! It's a bad business model. ”
 

It's a terrible business model.

It's great for us consumers because we get free or cheap quick delivery. So Amazon and co have an army of zero contract delivery drivers on peanuts racing round the country.

We have no end of old knackered unmarked vans screaming up and down our cul de sac dropping off parcels. They are driving too many hours, going too fast and not paying attention. 

Charge shipping, employ proper trained and paid delivery drivers and problem solved.

Then there will be a riots about how everyone has to pay to get their trampoline delivered and had to wait longer than 12 hours after ordering...

I said in another post the world is gradually improving. I've changed my mind 

Have you heard of Wooberly? 12th June 2020 4:22 PM

I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.

Maybe if you don't understand it, you don't need it.

So why market it 

Should businesses be witty online? 12th June 2020 4:14 PM

Businesses being witty, definitely.

But for a controversial topic, christ no, I think it's really dangerous territory. 

See the CEO of cross-trainer and how he spectacularly got it wrong. he made inappropriate comments, has been called out for it and has now had to step down, with scores of gyms severing ties and scrapping affiliate deals.

Everyone has an opinion, right or wrong. Making light of it using a brand account is a tightrope to disaster. You are guaranteed to alienate at least one portion of your client base and waste time diffusing out of context quotes as retweets and personal agendas take on a life on their own.

It's also equally dangerous for companies to remain silent on important issues. We live in a strange world.

It's not a perfect world, but gradually evolves in the right direction, other than the art of forgiveness. The modern mediums of mass and instant communication make the villagers of yesteryear with their blazing torches and pitchforks seem like child play.

One wrong comment online, and your life and families are in danger, your house staked out and business and reputation ruined.

I've posted a few things and hit delete at the last minute, not to be controversial, just not wanted to be taken out of context and hung from a lampost by some drugged up vigilante who can't spell his own name.

I'm all for humour, there just seems to be a lot of it missing in this currently angry and toxic environment. I think we all need a holiday 

The joys of online shopping 9th June 2020 4:27 PM

Luckily it wasn't a tea set 

Did wonder why the driver was legging it down the drive...

 
now call me an old cynic but I’m betting this isn’t just happening in my street......”
 

Old cynic.. 

My mate made me smile, wagon driver. He said he has gone from logistic lifeline hero with people waving at him, to now a pain in the bum slow-moving lorry driver and has had to put up with 2 road rage incidents this week.

Now he's stuck in daily traffic jams as lockdown has clearly ended for most people 

He's had his 15 minutes of stardom...

But there are so many opportunities for people to get educated here, for absolutely everyone irrespective of race, religion or gender......... And it really grates me when people go around with the “ poor me” attitude in this country having not done anything to better themselves..... You only have to look and Parliament to see how things have changed in the UK...
 

Couldn't agree more. There are always ways to self improve, regardless of the start you had in life, good or bad, regardless of any obstacles, race or any lack of or perceived privilege. This doesn't stop, regardless of your age.

The bowler hat businessman is a stereotype consigned to history and US sitcoms. I work with business owners from all backgrounds and cultures. Colour is irrelevant, the story to why they started their business is far more interesting, and how they overcame the variety of challenges. Racial issues may be a factor, as may be sexism or other issues. But the very fact anyone has that opportunity shows the type of modern Britain we live in, something we should all be proud of, not want to tear down and be offended all the time.

There is some background racism, in the same way there is background anti-Semitism,  sexism, all manner of weirdos and sickos I don't even want to mention. We are a country of 65 million+ individuals who believe in everything from Gods to Unicorns and everything in between. 

  • Have attitudes and opportunities progressed in the last 30 - 40 years? Yep
  • Is Britain is pretty much unrecognisable from attitudes and beliefs from 100 years ago? Yep
  • Are we still evolving for the better? Yep
  • Have we still got some way to go? Yep
  • Do I believe we are a racist society? No
  • Am I proud to be British and everything it stands for? yep

What saddens me is that the actual genuine messages and stories of race-related issues are drowned out in mob action by a bunch of idiots. Disrespecting war memorials, statues or abusing British Police officers will do little to educate. It will simply fuel media stereotyping, escalate tension and be 100% self-destructive. 

  • Listen and learn - always, even swinging from centre-right to centre-left!
  • Denial - nope, optimistic, yes
  • Defensive - no, sad, yes. 

The USA has many problems, but we are not joined at the hip. They may be our offspring, but we are completely different cultures, from Policing, use of force, attitudes and opportunities. Let's leave the extreme views over there, not import them.

The UK debate needs to be depolarised and move on from blame, hate and society self-harm, to solutions and the future. This is the journey I still think the UK is on. But let's keep our British principles such as pride and respect, law and order and humour, regardless of where our family originates from, be it Jamaica, Poland or Skegness.

Education and understanding is the key and the solution. So is perspective.

Would I still belly laugh when my mate's turban falls off and he drops to the floor shouting God will strike him down. Yes, because it was obvious humour and he was being funny. No one was offended, no one was being racist.

Black Lives Matter? Course they do, everyone's lives matter. Other than a few right-wing nutjobs and crusty dinosaurs in Gods waiting room, show me anyone who thinks differently?