Member Info for adoubleuk

Today I have received SMS's from the following companies: Groupe Barriere, Groupe Joa, Groupe Tranchant, and Groupe Partouche.

For those to whom these names may not be familiar, these four corporations own 90% of the casinos in France. And 'until further notice', they're closing their restaurants and table-games. Leaving just the one-armed bandits and a bar open.

Heck, what are the croupiers going to do?

Couldn't they at least have kept the poker-game open, maybe situated in some uncomfortable dark corner? It's where we used to be, and many of us are not scared of inevitable things like dying.

And on the shipwatching topic, 'Seawell' has changed destination for Aberdeen. She's been doing something in the Claire area, but too far north for it to be Halifax.

I think MarineTraffic has gone down with the bug. Because I've just received an email alert with an 'update' on the position of the Aoka Mizu, which reads as follows. (Genuine quoter, hitting my inbox this afternoon.)

AOKA MIZU Noon Position Report
Floating Storage/Production, Flag: Curacao, IMO: 9190028, MMSI: 306811000, Call Sign: PJEC
Vessel Position on Map
Local Time: 2020-03-14 09:28 (Time Zone UTC)
Time UTC: 2020-03-14 09:28
Position Lat/Lon: 60.17967° / -3.87°
Speed/Course: 0.4 knots / 111°
AIS Status: Underway
Area: UKC North Sea
Source of Position: TERR-AIS
Destination: LANCASTER FLD
From Port: ROTTERDAM BOTLEK [NL] (Dep. 2018-12-28 19:56)
Distance to go: -
Calculated ETA: -
Reported ETA: 2020-03-19 04:30
Draught: 9.4 m
Load Condition: N/A
Average Speed: 5.1 knots
Maximum Speed: 5.3 knots
Wind Speed: 34 knots
Wind Direction: 198°
Air Temperature: 7 °C

Silly me.

I wrote "But hang on. Where's the Aoka Mizu?"

'Cos I couldn't find her on MarineTraffic.

And I thought about that message sent by the person who I've filtered.

So decided to sign up to the 7-day free trial of satellite tracking, which one has to pay for, unless one forgets to cancel. Though in fact. I may not do that.

Turns out that our FPSO is nicely on station!

JB,

I had to go look for SG2's post to which you were referring, but having found it, will quote it again in case other missed it.

"Jiffy; the OGA will need to have a serious re-appraisal of their field management strategy, possibly reviewing and modifying many recent decisions - at least wrt their implementation timeframes. LinC will get an extension - if it doesn't, the oga needs binning."

I also agree, though I suspect 'binning' OGA might not be easy to achieve. However, I do feel that an audit of the behaviour of that quango is now due, and urgently. I wonder how pressure could be brought on the relevant authorities to request that. Maybe a petition of the Minister for Energy, or whatever title he / she now hides behind.

I find the non-mobilisation of the PBLJ interesting, to say the least.

But now, getting interested, I looked for the 'Seawell' on MarineTraffic. That's interesting, as well.

But hang on. Where's the Aoka Mizu?

JB,

"My guess is that the 'Donald, Oh Great Orange One' will exert a behind the Chinese Wall pressures, that effectively translate into a KSA importation tax, so neutralising a $20 price, the $20 scenario will not be allowed to continue."

That sounds like a good idea, in fact.

Longwait,

"There could then be chaos in Venezuela, Iraq, and even Saudi Arabia,"

Isn't that already the case?

" with MBS's fans there turning on him as the Saudi balance of payments steadily deteriorate and economies have to be made"

I returned home early from the casino last night (or rather this morning) after one of the most frustrating and pointless sessions I've attended in ages. Got behind a little bit in the first half-hour, then won a good pot, and then spent the next three hours watching my profit diminishing, because i just didn't get a hand worth playing, or when I did it was weak and I felt forced to fold (without regret), and didn't even get anything where I could try a strong bluff. So when I was back down to just 3 euros in profit (!) I left the table because the whole exercise was beginning to seem stupid. At least the game was still on, however, and it was good to chat with some familiar faces. With CV-19, I wouldn't be surprised if the government forces casinos to close in the near future.

But I digress....

Arriving back in town, I went to the late-night bar for a beer, (as is my wont, having finished driving), and looked at the online 'Times' on my phone. And there was an article about how MSB has done some sort of 'cleanup' in Riyhad, arresting some rather senior people he suspects of plotting against him.

So it sounds like chaos rules in KSA as well...

bartlebobton,

"Our residential imbecilic, epidemiologist/immunologist (aduk,) is probably still working on a new definition of the word "abandon" for the next publication of the Collins English Dictionary..."

Despite family precedent (my dear, long-deceased Mother was a 'compiler' for the Oxford English Dictionary), why on earth would I want to do that? I understand perfectly what the word means, especially in the context of 'Plug and Abandon'.

While I'm at this keyboard, please be informed that this is the last time I'm going to reply to your juvenile taunts. Because having discovered the joys of using the filter button so as not to be bothered by TSD's garbage, I'm going to 'abandon' you as well, using the same procedure.

Arrogantly yrs,

adoubleuk

johnpwh,

" More and more that CMD is becoming very crucial to us"

I feel that equally, if not maybe yet more crucial, will be the publication of the financials in a week's time. Surely that particular RNS will be the appropriate occasion for the CotB, CEO and CFO to issue comment on things like the SP, won't it? Thereby allowing the CMD to be more focused on technical and corporate planning matters.

I can't help noticing that the Paul B Loyd Jr is still sitting in a Norwegian fjord, showing no sign of going anywhere soon. I wonder if this means anything?

JB,

I see the nightshift's at work here again!

"Now then, the real issue is this:

If schools are closed, then the understaffed and already over stretched NHS, will face a very real and large crisis in managing the number of cases to be treated, also many health workers have kids etc, so this is all about balancing the overall risk to society at large I reckon.

But, the most alarming issue, is that most folk have not yet got their heads around ,as of yet, is that Old folk like myself are going to be put at the back of the queue when it comes down to who should and should not, have intensive care.

That is the most scary scenario part of the overall equation."

I don't disagree with you.

Also, although this is the HUR B, I don't consider CV-19 to be 'off-topic', because the scare has a direct relation to our SP. More so than the POO, in my opinion, but the two are now interrelated.

Yes, 'closures' not just of schools. are going to strain things, for the reasons you said. And although I don't live in the UK, I quite agree with the Government postponing such measures.

The other 'war-footing triage measures' about hospital treatment nevertheless seems logical and inevitable, and in fact if the truth be told, is nothing new. Thinking back to the sixties and seventies here, it was no real surprise that people were 'put out of their misery' (I'm not speaking just about the patients, but also their family seeing their nearest and dearest wasting away to the point of being just vegetables) as a matter of course.

Everyone has to go, sometime. And that's what made me laugh out loud about the sky news 'presspreview' tonight, quoting Boris Johnson. Who said that 'people may lose nearest and dearest before their time'. Except all the papers have missed out the 'before their time' bit, which also illustrates how immature today's politicians are.

When is 'one's time'? I dunno. I could get wiped-out in a horrible car crash tomorrow on the motorway to Royan. Or be run over by a bus on the way to where my car is parked, before I even get on the motorway. (Though that's unlikely, because all the buses drive slowly.)

But the thing is, I don't care, either way.

Unlike the '30's stockmarket crash, this bunny isn't going to jump out of his window. Instead, I'll top-up in the morning. Of course, this might not help me any, because if it comes to total apocalyptic economic meltdown, it won't matter if all my shares and cash become worthless. But I somehow don't believe that'll happen.

LW,

"don't blame you for absenting yourself"

It's just that the entire market has now gone into tailspin, and I don't consider it meaningful to discuss this SP nor 'fundamentals' any more until the panic is over.

Which might take a while, of course. But I phoned the casino in Royan today and the table-games are remaining open so far, so I'll go there tomorrow, and on Saturday I have a lunch-date with a young (47-year-old) lady I'm becoming friendly with, followed by the opening of an art exhibition at her invitation, so business pretty much as normal.

And definitely 'topping-up' here tomorrow. Who dares wins.

RubinCarter,

Somehow nobody has yet commented on the uncanny relationship between your 'pseudo' and the company this BB's about.

Slow of them, especially as there are a lot of people with good musical tastes around here!

"Maybe i am missing something? But wouldn't a CMD confirmation of cash in bank for future development and a plan ... be nice to hear?"

I hope that's the sort of thing we'll be informed about. Assuming the CMD is allowed to go ahead, given that it'll involve more than five people, and sitting ten meters from each other.

jtd,

"Keep perspective guys, it may get worse but if you hold your nerve..."

Agree with your post, and the above phrase is the crucial thing. The SP is now nothing to do with the company fundamentals. It's CV-19, the *******s and Ruskies, and so on. I was appalled to log on today and see the SP, but as a result immediately logged off.

'Spotting the bottom' of this is now impossible. But I'm going to top-up yet again tomorrow.

JiffyBag,

"Just to add, CV is a larger threat just now , so can blame it on that."

I beg to differ with your opinion.

Sure, CV-19 is a 'threat' to a certain proportion of the population who may catch it and die from complications. But not to a great proportion of the populatin who may catch it, feel unwell for a few days, but then get better.

The bigger threat is 'government responses', which is busy cratering the world economy. And with a bad economy, how are proper health-measures going to be effected?

Over on my side of the channel, the President has just announced that all educational establishments in France, from nursery-schools to universities are going to be closed from Monday onwards. Effin' great. So who's going to take care of the kids? Lots of medical staff have children they pack off to school before they themselves go to work.

Bring in the army? Oh yeah? And since when are service personnel immune from diseases?

Not to mention Putin and that journalist-killer bloke having a little battle of their own.

Perfect storm.

jtd,

"Keep perspective guys, it may get worse but if you hold your nerve..."

Agree with your post, and the above phrase is the crucial thing. The SP is now nothing to do with the company fundamentals. It's CV-19, the *******s and Ruskies, and so on. I was appalled to log on today and see the SP, but as a result immediately logged off.

'Spotting the bottom' of this is now impossible. But I'm going to top-up yet again tomorrow.

daltry,

". Being 103, I will be "auto-don't resussitate" .

Firstly, I don't believe you're 103. But secondly, the only tattoo I have is a discrete one underneath where my wristwatch is, in very small writing, but with explecit instructions about 'ne pas ressuciter'. And I mean it. One's wristwatch being one of the first things a first-aider will remove in case of heart attack, stroke, or whatever.

"Poker players, and those with a sense of humour, and humility, will be given the best food rations. "

No. The poker players will go steal them from the others.

JB,

"When faced with a real medical urgency ,I have simply gone to A&E, and been treated far quicker than my own surgery would have dealt with it imo."

On the offchance you do decide to move to the Outer Hebrides, say the Isle of Lewis, for instance, it's very likely that you'd get a far speedier ambulance-response and being whisked to hospital then would happen in Birmingham.

JB,

"I am exactly 100% of the same mindset, but some may ridicule such an approach, given that if you smoke, you are a social outcast, and that in itself I think, puts a lot folk off from visiting their own doctors for fear of a lecture.

In actual fact, I have not been to my own Doctor's for at least 10 years. "

Definition of an Alcoholic.

Someone who drinks more than their doctor.

JB,

"Made me laugh, same sentiment here, but you are on your own, I ain't and cannot close all the family hatches.

Out of sheer interest, I was thinking of renting my house out and moving to the Outer Hebrides, no cases there as yet, but getting all that together that would involve your children and your Grandchildren in giving up their jobs and school is another hurdle in itself.

We can only hope and prey that this Pandemic is over ASAP."

OK, of course we see things differently, despite (obviously) being of roughly the same age-group. 'Over-60's'. But you have family, near-and-dear next-of-kin about whom you're thoughtful, whereas I don't. A bit of family, but we're flung far and wide, and although in communication, not dependent on each other.

Instead, and even despite that, and despite living alone (rather like the cat in Kipling's 'Just So Stories'), I have a wide social circle locally. Just trying to add things up here. In the last 24 hours, I reckon I've shaken hands with at least two dozen men I know, and exchanged a kiss on the cheek with five ladies. Because just like me, they REFUSE this paranoia.

I actually DO have a 'bolt-hole', anyway. A tiny rundown place in the middle of nowhere in the northern Dordogne. I go there occasionally to cut the grass. But two days is the limit, because I become seriously lonely-feeling, and that's not good. Plus the internet connection is too slow for me to even be able to play online poker. And I have to walk 150 yards down the track to get a one-bar mobile phone signal.

Snug little place, wood fire, etc. Great in the event nuclear war breaks out. I could survive there. Plenty of wildlife to shoot, mushrooms to pick, and so on. But CV-19 isn't nuclear war, even if the telly is making us believe it is like one.

Approx 4000 people have died from it so far. If I happen to be number 4001, well tough sh*t for me. But more than 4000 people are killed on the roads daily worldwide, but it doesn't crater the stockmarket, and (unless I know one of them) it doesn't cause me any tears. And if someone sometime died of pneumonia somewhere, it doesn't usually cause an international poker-tournament worth millions to be cancelled.

However (as someone else here has already remarked) all is presently no doubt as well as it can be in the best of all possible worlds...