The whole Covid situation has been a display of mismanagement

WHAT a total and utter shambles creating worry, confusion and panic when it comes to Covid – the evidence is very clear of the way it has been totally mismanaged.

A furlough and grants system so unfair and weak not paying millions of self-employed while paying out a reported £26 billion in fraudulent claims and very easily so; a greatly reduced furlough for what is a second pandemic; a test and trace system which is mediocre to say the least; no staged easing of the first lockdown causing a mad rush to the seaside and holidays; no control testing at airports, schools, universities or colleges; now admitting that universities opening would cause spikes especially with hundred of thousands of students moving all over the country and with many overseas students starting, and causing young students considerable health and financial issues; no initial enforcement at easing of the first lockdown and being recently introduced and those in power trying to resolve the outcomes and not the causes.

MPs, councils, key scientists, media presenters and personalities offering opinions and advice on how to tackle the virus while being exceptionally well paid, and not in fear of redundancy and loss of livelihoods.

So what can we do? A national coalition cabinet must come about and sooner rather than later; a test and trace system to be immediately reviewed and managed by local authorities which would also take decisions about their own communities and basically a move away from central government; central government to provide financial support to hospitals; a furlough system and provision if needed, to support all employed and selfemployed based at 80 per cent of pay and no pathetic comments of people unfortunately falling through the cracks; financial support to charities to help particularly the poor, elderly and homeless; the Government to pay full attention to finding an effective vaccine and supporting local councils; NHS and care homes to meet all their needs during this second pandemic.

Lockdowns should be considered as a last resort as the situation will create spikes after we come out of lockdown as now.

What choices do we have, as we currently appear to be going round in circles in a very serious situation for all our people and the country. David Bonomi

Bristol

Another name change?

HOW strange, one of the founding fathers of the USA, John Hancock had a residence – a mansion in fact – on Beacon Hill in Massachusetts: same as the renamed Colston Hall, as in the ‘beacon’ part.

What is even more strange is he had house slaves to help around his Beacon Hill house, same as Colston had slaves.

Another name change I think for the renamed Colston Hall, what with beacon and slaves being

linked. My goodness, this could go on for years.

We need another name change now.

Kevin Hill Bristol

It’s an ill wind...

THANK you Bristol Post for your amusing article about a man breaking wind in an Uber taxi.

There’s not much to smile about during this pandemic, so we have to be grateful for little snippets of humour permeating through our humdrum lives.

Apparently, the taxi driver asked the culprit to leave his car, which then resulted in a scrap.

The fluffer’s partner was sprawled over the back seat, overcome by fumes. Firemen attending the scene, wearing heavy breathing apparatus, were shocked at the intensity of the stench. The taxi was taken to Porton Down where it’s in isolation awaiting examination by microbiologists.

The perpetrator of this heinous act was taken to Bridewell police station and put in solitary confinement. His pants were bagged up for forensic testing and are being held in a secret location.

Hardened coppers were reduced to tears as colleagues attempting to arrest this man at the scene of the crime passed out while frothing at the mouth.

The area around Kingswood shopping centre was cordoned off overnight. Canaries were let loose the following morning to test for contaminated air.

Well, my fellow readers, I hope you realise laughter is the shortest distance between two people.

Take care, and remember, it’s a jungle out there.

Beau Legs Bristol

Hydrographic ships

IN the late 60s I was taking my first look around Bristol Docks and noticed two unusual ships moored alongside.

They were obviously ocean going but not cargo carriers. Both crews then came ashore and set up what I initially thought was a badminton court on the dockside. They then proceeded to play a hard fought but good-natured inter-ship handball match; a game I had never seen or heard of before.

They spoke, or should I say shouted, in a strange language which I later realised was Russian.

Years later I occasionally dealt with the UK Hydrographic Office whose staff we colloquially referred to as Droggies!

Ozzie Parfitt Bristol