DarrenM

Just now, GeezerCouple said:

 

I guess if you don't like the civic responsibility that goes along with, well, civilization, you could try to find an island someplace and live like "Lord of the Flies" with some other similarly-minded people.

GC

I have explained 3 times now that I have done Jury service and have no issue with it.

So not sure what you mean by your post.

There are many people that would volunteer for it. And many people that should be nowhere near a jury.

Just out of interest.

Here's a scenario for you.

Hypothetical situation.( nearly really happened to.me)

I get called for jury service. Its a 2 week punishment in the UK.

After the 2nd Friday, I am due to go on a cruise the following Monday

When I did it the trial lasted till the Friday of the 2nd week. We couldn't come to a unanimous decision. The judge told us we had 45 minutes to come to a decision or we would be put into a hotel and forced back the following Monday.

This would have meant I missed my cruise.

Would i be recompensed? If the trial had gone into a third week?

Just curious.

5 hours ago, sparks1093 said:

Living in a society means that we have laws and sometimes force needs to be used to enforce them. In my state the force applied for not answering a jury duty summons is a fine of up to $200.

If you live somewhere that uses force to implement littlenthings like attending jury service, you are very close to living in a police state. 

I reiterate what I said previously.

I have suffered having to do  jury service, and no issue with it. Just the enforcing of it as a duty.

Imagine being tried for something and the jury was full of people who let's just say, like the colour orange.

Would you get a sensible fair trial?

I doubt it.

And would you want me on the jury if I had been forced to.miss a cruise? 😉

12 hours ago, PurpleHays said:

I've been called once, for a two week trial. I was one of three nurses picked. Work paid for the first week, the second came out of my PTO bank. I think they only pay for a week because the docs can always get off.

 

It was an educational experience. I learned a lot, but have no desire to repeat it. DH, on the other hand, is dying to get called, but he's retired and has all the time in the world.

Sorry I may have understood here, but are you saying you had to do jury service and cost you money to do so?

Just out of curiosity, what would happen if you ended up on one of those crazy trials that last months? I would expect that your job would be protected and that you wouldnt lose a penny of pay. Is that not the case?

On 2/28/2024 at 8:53 PM, navybankerteacher said:

It only needs to be forced when the average citizen tries to evade it.  

Sorry but it is forced. We have all been conditioned to just accept these things but it is most definitely forced.

Yes you can defer it, but you cant decline it. So its forced.

I have done it in The UK and had to swear on the bible. Which was also weird as I not religious in any way.

We have some very strange laws/rules when you think about it.

3 hours ago, babs135 said:

For a year if it meant that you could afford the budget busting cruise you've always fancied?  Like a lot of people we have a budget in mind when we book a cruise and that budget does allow for some 'stretching', but there are a number of cruises that I've always fancied doing that go way beyond any stretching.  So, can I (and you) manage a whole year, or maybe 18 months, without cruising?  

 

Due to wrok and holiday restrictions, I only do one cruise a year. Its my main holiday.

Couldnt really find the time to do more.

13 hours ago, MicCanberra said:

Not been keeping up with this thread.

Where are you off to on this one?

On 2/20/2024 at 3:52 PM, cruisekitty22 said:

Just read celebrity  will let   kids under 16 in  the Solarium  on cold itineraries from 5-7  pm!  Thoughts on this??  To  me, it defeats the purpose of the Solarium! There goes the peace and quiet! 

Surely the bigger question is, who takes children on a celebrity cruise anyway?

There is no excuse to do this.

With so many more children friendly cruiselines around.

Imagine the child's disappointment to find no slides, no mini golf, no children's entertainers etc etc.

Just older people slowly enjoying life at THEIR pace.

Kids must wonder what they have done wrong to be punished in this way.

On 1/30/2024 at 5:38 PM, kaz828 said:

We are a mid 40's couple, love good food, dining variety, pool people, like listening to music on vacation.
These ships are doing itineraries we like so which ship would you pick and why?
 

Celebrity Beyond
Celebrity Apex
Icon of the Seas
Sun Princess

Enchanted Princess
NCL Prima 
NCL Viva

Only been on Beyond but its a beautiful ship.

And the food is superb.

Only negative, maybe, are the infinite verandas 

19 minutes ago, NMTraveller said:

Ocean View Cafe.  The buffet ...

I must admit you do see some hideous sights in there, especially at breakfast or lunch time.

But to be fair, the hideousness wouldnt improve much if they were wearing a Tux.

18 minutes ago, NMTraveller said:

Ocean View Cafe.  The buffet ...

I really should have known that. Oh dear. Extra homework for me.

1 minute ago, navybankerteacher said:

True - but at least there are plenty of sights to see. And the fact that it is crowded is evidence that there is a reason to be there.

Or its a reason to avoid. 

And yes there things to see, but give me the beauty of the Lake District and its many proper pubs over a palace in London any day.

Urgh taxes. I avoid them.😜

Nothing wrong with Jury duty.

Its that its forced on you I have a problem with.

2 hours ago, navybankerteacher said:

Well, maybe you Durhamites can sense things unnoticed by real 

out-of-towners, but Glasgow “…nicer than London…”?   Perhaps the next time you are in the US you should spend your time in Bridgeport, CT rather than New York City.

Define nice.

Glaswegians are lovely people. Proper pubs. Real culture.

Maybe we are looking for different things.

12 minutes ago, Heidi13 said:

 

All personal opinion, but as a Glaswegian, I would NOT concur that Glasgow is better than London. While Glasgow docklands have improved significantly since the 60's & 70's, so has London. Even comparing the Glasgow Underground (Subway) to the London Tube is no contest.

 

Don't get me started on Dundee, as the best part of that city is driving back across the Tay Bridge, heading back to St Andrews. Personally, from St Andrews, we would take the longer drive to Perth, rather than going to Dundee. 

Well as a visitor I really love Glasgow. And I absolutely adore Dundee. Granted Dundee has only recently improved, but working up there for a few months was a joy.

I dont enjoy London in the same way. Over crowded all the time, rip off expensive, and once you've seen the sights, well, you've seen em.

Though I do love Borough Market and Brick Lane.

1 hour ago, NMTraveller said:

I have seen people walking around in the OVC without a shirt.  No enforcement ...

Whats the OVC? I probably should know.

10 minutes ago, sparks1093 said:

With great freedom comes great responsibility.

Very true, but when you dont have a say in that responsibility.........well.

I have suffered jury service. Many many years ago. Decades infact.

Not sure I would have been happy complying with those 2 weeks had it meant missing a holiday.

and just for the pedants on here, of which there are many, I also know Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee are not in Northern England.

But are all still nicer than London. Oh yes they are.😁

13 hours ago, Kristelle said:

 

 

But Cardiff is not in Southern England

well no, obviously not. Its the welsh county of Wales.

Just kidding welsh folk.

Its South to me though. A long way south

14 hours ago, 20165 said:

Well, i got a jury summons today for the middle of the week we are suppose to be cruising.  Trying to get it deferred so fingers crossed.  Anyone else have this situation and were you able to work it out to get it deferred.  We are only about a month and a half out and i thought we got more notice than that for these things.  Guess not...

We did purchase the insurance, thank god, so i think i can reschedule it if for some reason they wont defer it, but would really rather not because out next window of opportunity will probably be toward the end of this year.

Talk about some bad luck.  What are the chances of this happening??

thx

Its odd that in the land of the free you are not allowed the freedom to decline stuff like this.

Its the same on the UK.

we are not as free as we think.

1 minute ago, Oxo said:

Why do we all waste our time with this subject when we all know it is not enforced and people wear what they want? 

Well its creating a good chat so what's not to like?

Oooo which college?

Thinking I really should know what one is, as we had a meal in this great hall

4 minutes ago, DarrenM said:

And both of my sons went there for 3 years each and one was actually in Castle college so lived in the castle and had formals in the grand dining room.

 

I still have no idea what one is.

2 hours ago, PTC DAWG said:

Re vinyl, I still rue the day when back in the late 80's, I left behind a very large vinyl collection when moving...the new owners really didn't care...I'm still recovering from that...rebuilding slowly.  

Did much the same so rebuilding mine.

Combining collecting old vinyl with current bands.