We have a basement with cinema room and wine storage room. Our neighbours are asking us to lay in a large supply of tinned food and they are coming to ours if the balloon goes on.
Despite the block and beam ceiling am not sure it will provide much protection from the bombs but we will die drunk and happy and I will make sure the last thing we watch is all my Charlton dvds.
Surely you can do better than that mate with your last hurrah...🤦♂️
I didn't realize other countries had Victory Gardens as well.
Anyway, it's almost planting time here. This year I'm growing corn, kale, lots of tomatoes (hopefully), zucchini (which you call Cornucopia or something I don't know), Cilantro (which you call basil), and basil (which you call football).
You say zucchini, I say courgette, Eggplant, Aubergine, Rapelle, Abseil. Let’s call the whole thing off.
On a serious note, my lovely Lithuanian friends (the Lithuanian church is in Charlton) tell me that at home their families have been instructed to lay in supplies and barricade their basements. They also say they can't believe how naive our youngsters are to the threat of Russia.
Paint the windows with white emulsion, take off the inner doors and make a camp under the stairs and take shelter there, if I remember well...🤦🙄
Surely someone can back up my account of the 1970's "Protect and Survive" campaign...@ForeverAddickted thinks i've totally lost the plot i'm sure!!!🤦♂️
I can confirm you are correct - I have the DVD !!!
Ukraine will have to make a sacrifice to get peace. I don't agree but that's how it is.
If we have to make a similar sacrifice to prevent ww3.
I suggest we give up Croydon.
@Croydon is one of our better posters. I’ll be providing the details of dozens of other posters before we get to him!
I knew it. The shadowy cabal of Moderators have favorites. I knew it because I’m one of them and they told me years ago . If you don’t believe me check out my profile - two promotes. Two.
On a serious note, my lovely Lithuanian friends (the Lithuanian church is in Charlton) tell me that at home their families have been instructed to lay in supplies and barricade their basements. They also say they can't believe how naive our youngsters are to the threat of Russia.
Tbh we have the threat of the US, Russia and China who seem intent on carving up the world. Russia and China will run rings round the clowns in the White House.
Europe needs to pull together but will it happen? The nearer you are to Russia the scarier it is.
Awww this brings back memories of when I first joined the Met. There was a basement in Regency Street (the police college before Hendon was built) & a load of retired old bill used to give talks about ‘what to do in the event of a nuclear explosion’.
It felt like I’d walked into the Dads Army set. The nicest geezers you’ll ever meet. None of the nonsense they spouted would make a blind bit of difference but we all felt like we were doing something at least. Thanks for the memory 🤗❤️
Oddly, Spanish TV (Tele 5) were saying on the news this morning that Russia has plans to try something with Europe before 2030. Nothing dramatic lke invading Poland , but an incursion into the Baltic states to open a corridor and see how much apetite the West (minus the US I imagine) has for a face off in the east of Europe.
Oddly, Spanish TV (Tele 5) were saying on the news this morning that Russia has plans to try something with Europe before 2030. Nothing dramatic lke invading Poland , but an incursion into the Baltic states to open a corridor and see how much apetite the West (minus the US I imagine) has for a face off in the east of Europe.
I keep up to date on a lot of this stuff because I'm still active on OSINT as a hobby sort of. So to address the Original post directly there's a lot of info out there about what is happening in regards to " WW3 and the threat of it "
I digress, this specifically is in relation to a planned Russian military buildup near the Baltic borders ( in the region of 100,000 men under the pretenses of a military training exercise. Much like they did pre Ukraine invasion.
At this point the idea of a Baltic incursion is theory crafting based on the above and we won't know until closer to the time. Personally there's two sides sides of this.
1) I can't see it while the Ukraine conflict drags on as it is with the constant military drafts they are doing to maintain manpower advantage in Ukraine and how decimated their officer corp has become and the fact they're buying shells off of North Korea because they can't produce them quick enough ( doctrinal issues ) not to mention they're only just keeping the economy above water.
2) that said if there is a time to test NATO it is during this current US administration and before Europe has a chance to properly rearm themselves away from American equipment.
As an after thought and ignoring Brexit because this isn't meant to be an inherently political post. The problem Russia has now is that with Europe reorienting away from the US they are at risk of awakening the third global superpower ( Europe ) from internal bickering and forcing it into a position of strategic cohesion. For decades, Europe’s divisions—political, economic, and military—have been a shield for Russian interests, allowing Moscow to exploit fractures between member states. But if European nations, driven by necessity, begin acting with unified purpose, Russia may find itself facing a power bloc with the industrial strength, economic weight, and military potential to challenge its ambitions directly especially if European standardisation becomes a thing.
I’m surprised that there are so many jokey and/or dismissive reactions to this thread, some from those on here who have made several trips here to France to visit the war graveyards.
The OP mentioned France, where I live, and it certainly does feel like we’re getting ready for war. The government are cutting interest rates on normal savings account and encouraging the public to move their savings to fund weapon production. Many people will do this because the returns will be higher. My son, who is 17 next month is certainly taking it seriously. He has triple nationality and is telling me that he wants to give up his French nationality to avoid being called up.
If you think this isn’t going to happen then I’d like to hear a serious argument why, because, with two teenage boys, I am worried about it.
I’m surprised that there are so many jokey and/or dismissive reactions to this thread, some from those on here who have made several trips here to France to visit the war graveyards.
The OP mentioned France, where I live, and it certainly does feel like we’re getting ready for war. The government are cutting interest rates on normal savings account and encouraging the public to move their savings to fund weapon production. Many people will do this because the returns will be higher. My son, who is 17 next month is certainly taking it seriously. He has triple nationality and is telling me that he wants to give up his French nationality to avoid being called up.
If you think this isn’t going to happen then I’d like to hear a serious argument why, because, with two teenage boys, I am worried about it.
Any global war i.e. WW3 would result in a mass extinction event that would leave no winners. Mutual Assured Destruction has prevented such a global war for 80 years - there have been wars of course but either local or with the superpowers by proxy, and I see no reason why that should change. Having mad men in Washington and Moscow doesn't overly increase the risk as there will always be checks and balances in place - Trump doesn't have his sole finger on the button, and neither does Putin.
That's a serious argument that you may or may not agree with!
I’m surprised that there are so many jokey and/or dismissive reactions to this thread, some from those on here who have made several trips here to France to visit the war graveyards.
The OP mentioned France, where I live, and it certainly does feel like we’re getting ready for war. The government are cutting interest rates on normal savings account and encouraging the public to move their savings to fund weapon production. Many people will do this because the returns will be higher. My son, who is 17 next month is certainly taking it seriously. He has triple nationality and is telling me that he wants to give up his French nationality to avoid being called up.
If you think this isn’t going to happen then I’d like to hear a serious argument why, because, with two teenage boys, I am worried about it.
It is gallows humour.
As @LTKapal say in his very insightful analysis there is a risk due to the current leaders of Russia and the US but we have been here before.
The Berlin blockade in 1947, the Cuban missile crisis in 1962, the threat of nuclear war in the 80s.
Russian thought they could defeat Ukraine in three days. They couldn't.
NATO have seen how poorly the Russian army have fought, how out of date their equipment is and how badly maintained it is and how after years they still haven't beaten a much smaller Ukrainian army, albeit one helped by NATO.
Russia can invade the Baltic states but they are, IIRC, in NATO and that becomes a whole new ball game. France and Britain have effective armies and air forces and Europe as a whole is rich.
I wouldn't want my son fighting in a war either so I don't blame you for worrying but being prepared for war does not mean that war is guaranteed to happen, if anything it is the opposite.
Fair enough but a ’global war’ would mean the US getting involved. With Trump in power I think he’s mad (or strategical?) enough to think that he might like Russia and Europe to get on with it and decimate each other. There have been constant wars going on ever since WW2 but no nuclear bombs.
Edit: This was written in reply to @bobmunro not Henry Irving.
Oddly, Spanish TV (Tele 5) were saying on the news this morning that Russia has plans to try something with Europe before 2030. Nothing dramatic lke invading Poland , but an incursion into the Baltic states to open a corridor and see how much apetite the West (minus the US I imagine) has for a face off in the east of Europe.
I keep up to date on a lot of this stuff because I'm still active on OSINT as a hobby sort of. So to address the Original post directly there's a lot of info at there about what is happening in regards to " WW3 and the threat of it "
I digress, this specifically is in relation to a planned Russian military buildup near the Baltic borders ( in the region of 100,000 men under the pretenses of a military training exercise. Much like they did pre Ukraine invasion.
At this point the idea of a Baltic incursion is theory crafting based on the above and we won't know until closer to the time. Personally there's two sides sides of this.
1) I can't see it while the Ukraine conflict drags on as it is with the constant military drafts they are doing to maintain manpower advantage in Ukraine and how decimated their officer corp has become and the fact they're buying shells off of North Korea because they can't produce them quick enough ( doctrinal issues ) not to mention they're only just keeping the economy above water.
2) that said if there is a time to test NATO it is during this current US administration and before Europe has a chance to properly rearm themselves away from American equipment.
As an after thought and ignoring Brexit because this isn't meant to be an inherently political post. The problem Russia has now is that with Europe reorienting away from the US they are at risk of awakening the third global superpower ( Europe ) from internal bickering and forcing it into a position of strategic cohesion. For decades, Europe’s divisions—political, economic, and military—have been a shield for Russian interests, allowing Moscow to exploit fractures between member states. But if European nations, driven by necessity, begin acting with unified purpose, Russia may find itself facing a power bloc with the industrial strength, economic weight, and military potential to challenge its ambitions directly especially if European standardisation becomes a thing.
The Ukraine war has also exposed how woeful ill-equipped and poorly trained the Russian military is in general. For years they've projected an image of being a very strong military power but it turns out their supplies, their staffing and their training are hilariously inadequate. Add to that the number of professional soldiers they've naturally lost across three years of constant warfare and the appetite for getting into yet another war in the next 5 years can't be that high just logistically.
So...just wondering here as US politics isn't a strong suit of mine. What would happen if Trump were to drop dead today? Would JD Vance automatically take over or would there have to be an election?
So...just wondering here as US politics isn't a strong suit of mine. What would happen if Trump were to drop dead today? Would JD Vance automatically take over or would there have to be an election?
I don't know for certain, but I think Vance would become President, but as he appears to be as mad as Trump, it wouldn't make much difference.
So...just wondering here as US politics isn't a strong suit of mine. What would happen if Trump were to drop dead today? Would JD Vance automatically take over or would there have to be an election?
I don't know for certain, but I think Vance would become President, but as he appears to be as mad as Trump, it wouldn't make much difference.
Yes, Vance would become President, as LBJ did in 1963.
Vance is an opportunist (as are most politicians) and he is playing to the Trump base because he wants the main ticket in 2028. I think he would moderate to a degree if he had the big job.
So...just wondering here as US politics isn't a strong suit of mine. What would happen if Trump were to drop dead today? Would JD Vance automatically take over or would there have to be an election?
I don't know for certain, but I think Vance would become President, but as he appears to be as mad as Trump, it wouldn't make much difference.
I actually think he is far worse than Trump. What Trump says and what he actually does is quite often not the same thing. With Vance I think he would carry out on what he says.
Comments
Surely you can do better than that mate with your last hurrah...🤦♂️
Eggplant, Aubergine,
Rapelle, Abseil.
Let’s call the whole thing off.
👊🇺🇲🔥
Europe needs to pull together but will it happen? The nearer you are to Russia the scarier it is.
There was a basement in Regency Street (the police college before Hendon was built) & a load of retired old bill used to give talks about ‘what to do in the event of a nuclear explosion’.
None of the nonsense they spouted would make a blind bit of difference but we all felt like we were doing something at least.
Thanks for the memory 🤗❤️
WIOTOS
I digress, this specifically is in relation to a planned Russian military buildup near the Baltic borders ( in the region of 100,000 men under the pretenses of a military training exercise. Much like they did pre Ukraine invasion.
At this point the idea of a Baltic incursion is theory crafting based on the above and we won't know until closer to the time. Personally there's two sides sides of this.
1) I can't see it while the Ukraine conflict drags on as it is with the constant military drafts they are doing to maintain manpower advantage in Ukraine and how decimated their officer corp has become and the fact they're buying shells off of North Korea because they can't produce them quick enough ( doctrinal issues ) not to mention they're only just keeping the economy above water.
2) that said if there is a time to test NATO it is during this current US administration and before Europe has a chance to properly rearm themselves away from American equipment.
As an after thought and ignoring Brexit because this isn't meant to be an inherently political post.
The problem Russia has now is that with Europe reorienting away from the US they are at risk of awakening the third global superpower ( Europe ) from internal bickering and forcing it into a position of strategic cohesion. For decades, Europe’s divisions—political, economic, and military—have been a shield for Russian interests, allowing Moscow to exploit fractures between member states. But if European nations, driven by necessity, begin acting with unified purpose, Russia may find itself facing a power bloc with the industrial strength, economic weight, and military potential to challenge its ambitions directly especially if European standardisation becomes a thing.
The OP mentioned France, where I live, and it certainly does feel like we’re getting ready for war. The government are cutting interest rates on normal savings account and encouraging the public to move their savings to fund weapon production. Many people will do this because the returns will be higher.
My son, who is 17 next month is certainly taking it seriously. He has triple nationality and is telling me that he wants to give up his French nationality to avoid being called up.
If you think this isn’t going to happen then I’d like to hear a serious argument why, because, with two teenage boys, I am worried about it.
As @LTKapal say in his very insightful analysis there is a risk due to the current leaders of Russia and the US but we have been here before.
The Berlin blockade in 1947, the Cuban missile crisis in 1962, the threat of nuclear war in the 80s.
Russian thought they could defeat Ukraine in three days. They couldn't.
NATO have seen how poorly the Russian army have fought, how out of date their equipment is and how badly maintained it is and how after years they still haven't beaten a much smaller Ukrainian army, albeit one helped by NATO.
Russia can invade the Baltic states but they are, IIRC, in NATO and that becomes a whole new ball game. France and Britain have effective armies and air forces and Europe as a whole is rich.
I wouldn't want my son fighting in a war either so I don't blame you for worrying but being prepared for war does not mean that war is guaranteed to happen, if anything it is the opposite.
There have been constant wars going on ever since WW2 but no nuclear bombs.
Edit: This was written in reply to @bobmunro not Henry Irving.
What would happen if Trump were to drop dead today? Would JD Vance automatically take over or would there have to be an election?
What Trump says and what he actually does is quite often not the same thing.
With Vance I think he would carry out on what he says.