Messages

I heard today that there is updated guidelines coming over the weekend and the checks etc will be less onerous than previously though. No temperature checks at the ground was the big one. To be fair they can only deal with the information or direction they have at the time and currently that is changing week by week from the government.

What the gaa sent out to clubs last week was the greatest effort in arse covering that I've ever seen and is impossible to implement or police.

And the fact that the general public got it before county boards had it out to clubs meant the clubs were on the back foot. Managers straight in with demands before meetings could be arranged.

Are other sports having to go through all the same checks etc as GAA clubs are being asked to do? Such as Covid supervisors, registering every person at the grounds etc

Early days yet but have any clubs given consideration to how they might restart underage training? It'd be incredibly difficult to fully ensure compliance with small groups of non contact training for the likes of u6 and u8s, is it more likely that clubs will hold off til the implementation of the following stage where contact resumes towards the end of July?

It's going to be a hard nut to crack. Be a lot of meetings up and down the country trying figure it out, also schedules for training could be another issue.

I'd just have activity for U17 and Senior.

That sounds the most sensible way of doing things. Bigger clubs could maybe sort out U15s or below too. Trying to split very young ones training up and keeping them apart will be tough.

And lose all the kids to other sports?  Juvenile games should be played until schools open at least...even if on a street or parish league format.

I meant a staggered start so clubs can get all the issues sorted. Every area has different issues but I can't see parents sending kids to other sports at the minute if they're worried about sending them to school.

Early days yet but have any clubs given consideration to how they might restart underage training? It'd be incredibly difficult to fully ensure compliance with small groups of non contact training for the likes of u6 and u8s, is it more likely that clubs will hold off til the implementation of the following stage where contact resumes towards the end of July?

It's going to be a hard nut to crack. Be a lot of meetings up and down the country trying figure it out, also schedules for training could be another issue.

I'd just have activity for U17 and Senior.

That sounds the most sensible way of doing things. Bigger clubs could maybe sort out U15s or below too. Trying to split very young ones training up and keeping them apart will be tough.

I have saw bits floating around today talking about Club Covid Officers and clubs running track and trace! Who in their right mind would sign up to do that in an amateur setting? It seems mad to push that sort of responsibility onto clubs. Some clubs simply wouldn't have the number of volunteers to run things in small groups and signing in and out etc.

If any place wants to open then it has  to make an effort. Why would members not be  willing to record they were there?

I know what you're saying and I'm sure we'll get going but there has to be some sense talked when it comes to the GAA. Some hurling clubs in South Down depend on a handful of people to run everything from underage teams, seniors and committee. There's only so much you can ask of people.

Saying that I'm sure we'll be up and running soon enough and it'll all run 100%

What I notice more than anything else with the reaction to getting back playing is that peoples opinions are largely formed by what their particular situation is. Therefore

1) Casual punters who watch games tend to want them back for their own entertainment since a lot of time is spent in a vacuum and any sport would help to fill this time.
2) Players mostly want to get back but some will have reservations and will use it to opt out for health reasons either for themselves or those who they live with.
3) Broadcasters, print media and TV pundits want them back as the work dries up and there is only so much reminiscing they can do.
4) Paid coaches want them back for very obvious reasons.
5) Health officials and families of health officials are generally wary and reluctant to return to playing.

So basically health v economic reasons and the trade off is a difficult one to manage since both are important. That summary is a very broad brush and some people fall into more than one category but whilst I do sense and understand an appetite to get back playing, I don't know how or if it can work in reality. It seems like the GAA have taken a sensible approach to all of this but lets wait and see what is announced today.       

I have saw bits floating around today talking about Club Covid Officers and clubs running track and trace! Who in their right mind would sign up to do that in an amateur setting? It seems mad to push that sort of responsibility onto clubs. Some clubs simply wouldn't have the number of volunteers to run things in small groups and signing in and out etc.

The Camogie Association confirmed yesterday that all registrations fees have to be paid by the end of May or clubs won't be allowed to play this year if there is any games. So no money coming in but fees paid anyway. When they were asked would fees carry forward if no games this year they said no. They stated that croke park was still taking the levy off them regardless.

If you were looking to get into cycling in a small way what type of bike would you suggest buying to get started? I'm interested in getting a bit of cardio in to clear the head at the minute, can't run with back problems and can't swim at all - not that that's an option at the minute. I won't be going too far to get started. Have an ok mountain bike for taking the kids on trails etc but I'm sure a few spins out with it would put me off the cycling completely. Not looking to deck out completely in lycra either, the worlds not ready for that! Thanks

Loading the dishwasher. I mean how hard can it be to put the knives in one section, forks in the next, large spoons and then small. Piss of piss unloading it when all finished.

My biggest gripe, I've dug a hole for myself long time ago on that, so I just do it myself lol

Oh the dishwasher is a big flash point! There's an art to it, so I do it.

Glad to hear I'm not the only one obsessed with loading the dishwasher in a certain way and regularly rearrange items if my wife has attempted to load it....
Sad, isn't it. 

Add me to this. I can't understand how it doesn't make sense to everyone. I regularly have to reload and/or take out stuff and rinse it before putting it on. The machine would have been bucked 5 years ago if I'd just left it.

I'm glad lots of people are like this. The wife actually follows my lead on this but you know when the inlaws have been because there's something in a place that doesn't make any sense. Does my lamp in. I can't get my head round how people think when they put stuff in a stupid place. 

We had to stop ours because we didn't have enough online sales. We only got going with the klubfunder (which was working well) for lotto this year so had to stop it. The neighbouring club are still going on I think but not sure of the details.

Tarmac I definitely wouldn't be using a power washer. U could blow a hole in it very easy. Even a concrete street I wouldn't use a power washer, I would use the hypochlorite. Scrub it with a yard brush if its really dirty when u have the acid down. Might take a few goes. U can get a great wee hand held sprayer,i think hozelock make them. 5 litres it holds. You have it then for spraying weeds
There is some power in some of them power washers and at the end of the day u want your concrete, paving or tarmac to last forever. A power washer will only weaken the top of it

Just be careful with the concentration of the bleach mix. Water it down a bit more than on paving, it can break down the asphalt bond if too strong. I had a company in washing the render down on the house a while ago and he lowered the concentration and washed the SMA (stone mastic asphalt) too. Made a great job on it because with it being a bit more porous moss and algae grow well in it and power washing won't take it off anyway.

From a keepers point of view the fellas that usually use it now, usually a full back who's never found himself in the situation in real life, to shoot don't get over it and usually drive it too high and either miss or make it easy to deal with, maybe 1 in 20 flies in as nice as you like.
When I started with the senior squad around 96 or so there was a few older fellas who started in the 80s that used it well. One fella would of spread passes with it, sort of like Shorty would have, but one guy who would have played corner forward would use it to shoot for goal and by god could he hit them. If you got it hurt and most of the time you didn't have a hope.

Back to the GAA.

Has any CB's frozen admin fees for clubs?

We haven't heard anything anyway. They'll probably wait until the next phase of shutdown is announced. Surely that will come in the next few days? Ban at the minute only goes to next Sunday - do you think they'll call it for all of April like the soccer?

'Twas just thinking over lunchtime that if millions of people at a time across the world end up having to "self isolate", will Pr0nhub be able to cope with the inevitable surge of visitors & traffic?

Or the maternity wards in 9 months time.