BS: Census day

Subject: BS: Census day
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 20 Mar 21 - 11:12 AM

Looking forward to completing the 2021 census form with my wife tomorrow!!

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: Raggytash
Date: 20 Mar 21 - 11:28 AM

Another attempt to create discord perhaps?

I shall complete it because I am obliged to.

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: Geoff Wallis
Date: 20 Mar 21 - 11:35 AM

Why don't you use a pen like everybody else, Bonzo?

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: Jeri
Date: 20 Mar 21 - 11:37 AM

I'm amazed at the important things people decide to share with the entire population of the planet with an internet connection. Wow. A census.

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 20 Mar 21 - 12:01 PM

The census asks questions about you, your household and your home. In doing so, it helps to build a detailed snapshot of our society. Information from the census helps the government and local authorities to plan and fund local services, such as education, doctors’ surgeries and roads.

It is of course, as we all know, a conspiracy to find out the likely consumption of treacle pudding & custard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: Jeri
Date: 20 Mar 21 - 12:44 PM

"Our society" "the government".
I remember some years ago when people occasionally objected to Americans assuming everything was American. The tides have turned, haven't they? (I'm not incensed, but it *is* ironic. Maybe in the Alanis Morrisette way.)
We finished ours last fall. Remember the hoopla about the citizenship question? People who live here who aren't "official" citizens are still living here.

I really don't know how that ended, and what results they might have had, although they're probably still compiling data. Ours does all the things yours does, and I think it has to do with voting and apportionment. We don't get treacle pudding, though. :(

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 20 Mar 21 - 01:11 PM

North American yes, not South American by any means!!

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 20 Mar 21 - 01:32 PM

In theory I would have been allowed to enter my nationality as Cornish. I've been here for 35 years, after all. But after consulting locals who were actually born in Cornwall I was told that incomers can regard themselves as Cornish only after they've been in the churchyard for 20 years...

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: JHW
Date: 20 Mar 21 - 03:26 PM

Done mine already. If I peg out meanwhile I'll not be worrying. Scared with it being online it would be overloaded on the day.
(That happened with booking my jab I assume. Loading thingy went round forever. I rang 119 and got my jab that way.)

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: Jos
Date: 20 Mar 21 - 04:30 PM

I sent for a paper census. I'm probably being paranoid but I didn't want to enter so much personal information online.

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 20 Mar 21 - 04:33 PM

Yes paranoid.

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: JHW
Date: 21 Mar 21 - 07:36 AM

Hadn't worked out that paper was an option (though News broadcasts say 'form')

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 21 Mar 21 - 07:41 AM

Daft questions about where I "usually" live. I don't "usually" live here. I live here, and have done for 34 years!

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 21 Mar 21 - 08:13 AM

Equally daft questions about "gender identity"!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 21 Mar 21 - 09:37 AM

Ahhhh. So now we know the real reason for this thread :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: DMcG
Date: 21 Mar 21 - 09:39 AM

I filled in the online system earlier today. It doesn't greatly bother me and I have made a lot of use of the data from earlier census data for family tree research. In a way, it feels like paying back a debt to these people from 1881 onwards to provide similar information for people to come.

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: Raggytash
Date: 21 Mar 21 - 09:53 AM

I was a tad surprised that questions were asked about education below degree level but none were asked about degree level and above.

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: Jos
Date: 21 Mar 21 - 10:00 AM

DMcG - Shouldn't 1881 be 1801?

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 21 Mar 21 - 10:01 AM

Or about professional qualifications.

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: Jos
Date: 21 Mar 21 - 10:27 AM

RE: "Hadn't worked out that paper was an option"

Not everyone has an internet connection, so paper has to be an option if those not online are to be included.

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: DMcG
Date: 21 Mar 21 - 10:52 AM

Jos: You are right the first census was 1801. I just haven't had occasion to refer to information back that far yet. When I have gone to that date, it has usually been following other threads.

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 Mar 21 - 12:13 PM

One wouldn't think a census would be controversial, but It certainly was so in the US in 2020. The Trump Administration did what it could to suppress the counting of immigrants and minorities. Tweaking census results was a big part of the Republican strategy to get more power in legislative bodies. I worked on a campaign to register as many Latinos as we could. We did pretty well.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 21 Mar 21 - 12:23 PM

Excellent Joe.

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 21 Mar 21 - 01:39 PM

Done, took about 10 minutes each.

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: Murpholly
Date: 23 Mar 21 - 03:42 AM

Apparently I don't exist. I did not get a leter about the census (the one that gives an identification number) and I still have not received a form from the powers that be. My poor descendents will have problems tracing me!

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: Senoufou
Date: 23 Mar 21 - 04:17 AM

I did it online several days ago, on behalf of myself and husband. I translated every question for him so he could answer for himself. But he couldn't for the life of him understand the sexual orientation questions. He just kept repeating "Mais, je suis HOMME!!!" ever more angrily, so I just tried to figure it all out myself for him and filled it in appropriately. (He's not LGBTphobic, just confused!)
I do see that the Census helps the government to assess the numbers and location of many types of people - ethnicity, sexual self-identity, languages spoken and so on, in order to provide facilities, cater for needs and so on.

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: Rusty Dobro
Date: 23 Mar 21 - 04:24 AM

A great opportunity missed to answer some of life’s great questions: milk in first? Cream or jam first on a scone? How to pronounce scone? What is the definition of ‘folk’?

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: DMcG
Date: 23 Mar 21 - 05:10 AM

"How to pronounce scone"

As a student in my flat were two Northerners and one Southerner. I remember going into a bakery after such a discussion and the Southerner ordering "Two 'scon's and a 'scown', please."

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 23 Mar 21 - 05:15 AM

Those could have been interesting, if controversial, questions.

"When putting jam and cream on a scone do you:

    put the jam on first ?

    do it the wrong way round ?

    I don't eat scones."


"When pronouncing scone, do you:
   
    rhyme it with gone ?

    pronounce it incorrectly ?"


Or, the most controversial:-

"When eating a boiled egg, do you put it in the egg cup:

    blunt end up ?

    upside down?

    I don't eat boiled eggs"

"When opening the egg, do you:

    slice ?

    smash and waste time picking off all the bits of shell ?

    the butler does it"


I don't think that there is any benefit to asking about people's preference for putting milk in before or after although the dairy industry might be interested in how many choose lemon or, indeed, nothing at all.

These should be serious considerations for 2031 and beyond.

DC

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 23 Mar 21 - 05:42 AM

"Do you put jam and cream on a scone?

or Do you eat it with nothing on?

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 23 Mar 21 - 05:46 AM

Both.

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 23 Mar 21 - 05:52 AM


or Do you eat it with nothing on?

No. The crumbs get in my belly button.

DC

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 23 Mar 21 - 06:09 AM

Doug: Save them for later. At least you won't get cream stains on your clothes.

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: JHW
Date: 23 Mar 21 - 06:16 AM

I was always told whether you put jam on your scone first or cream depended on whether you were CofE or Methodist. (other faiths are available).
Personally prefer just scone + spread. No jam or cream.

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: Jos
Date: 23 Mar 21 - 06:38 AM

If the jam is runnier than the cream, the jam goes on top.
If the cream is softer than the jam, the cream goes on top.
Make life easier for yourself.

I make tea in a pot. I put milk in the cup before the tea because it mixes better, so no need to stir (no sugar for me).
The idea of a teabag floating in milky liquid in a mug is so revolting I prefer not to think about it. So if I am somewhere without a teapot or a suitable jug it is certainly milk in last, AFTER removing the teabag.

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 23 Mar 21 - 06:55 AM

Agree with all of that, Jos,

The jam should never be runnier than the cream so, of course, goes on first.

DC

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 23 Mar 21 - 07:06 AM

There is only one correct way with cream teas. The still-warm scone (which should have no bloody sultanas in it) is split in two. The jam goes on, then the clotted cream. I'll brook no variation on this theme. That's the Cornish way and the only way. Just over the border in England I understand that the great unwashed Devonians have been known to get the jam and cream the wrong way round, rendering the dish completely inedible (except in emergencies). The jam may be strawberry or raspberry. The tea must be served in a pot, preferably with a dainty floral design, and consumed from proper matching china cups and saucers. And none of that bloody Earl Grey nonsense, thank you.

And if you're not getting it all down your chin you're not doing it right.

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: Raggytash
Date: 23 Mar 21 - 07:52 AM

Where is the lashing of butter in that Steve. I've GOT to have butter on mine I don't care what any celt (I think that's the correct spelling) say!

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 23 Mar 21 - 07:57 AM

Murpholly, I believe we did receive a letter with the code but we couldn't find it on Sunday.

Getting a new code from the government web site sent via a text message was a simple process.

As for scones, I prefer home made cheese ones.

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 23 Mar 21 - 08:10 AM

Butter my arse (perhaps later...). Try asking for that round here and you'll be laughed all the way back to England!

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 23 Mar 21 - 08:13 AM

Cheese scones are indeed a thing of beauty, but not with a cream tea.

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 23 Mar 21 - 08:20 AM

We always go for a cream tea on my birthday to a place called Trelawney at Widemouth Bay, where you can sit out front weather permitting. It's very close to the Bay View Inn, Raggytash. Every end-of-season, the lady who runs it, Vicky, says she's not opening next year. Every winter when we bump into her in town we twist her arm, and it's worked for many years. Who knows what'll happen this year! She serves up the cream teas exactly as prescribed. My friend's missus always asks for marmalade instead of jam, which is of course a perfectly disgusting request. I have to avert my eyes...

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: Jos
Date: 23 Mar 21 - 09:09 AM

Back to the census form.

Why all those details about work? They don't need the name and address of your employer or your previous employer for their statistics. Is this to be cross-checked by the tax officials? The distance travelled to work would be sufficient.
And asking whether the unemployed were actively looking for work the previous week sounds more like the details required by the benefits office, who seem to look for any excuse not to pay up.

Yes, I'm paranoid.

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 23 Mar 21 - 09:17 AM

I remember meeting friends for lunch at The Waterside "Bistro" in Totnes, South Devon. The meat dish I wanted "came with" hideous rocket salad. I asked if I could have boiled potatoes instead of the salad - the young thing of a waitress gave me the "it comes with" nonsense. So I ordered a side dish of boiled potatoes, and when it arrived I exchanged the rocket for the potatoes on my plate, and shoved the bowl of rock in her hand and told her to take it away.

The owner eventually came to our table and asked if there was problem, to which I replied "I DO NOT WANT YOUR HIDEOUS ROCKET" - everyone applauded!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: Raggytash
Date: 23 Mar 21 - 10:27 AM

Can't fault you there Bonzo, even though I quite like Rocket.

Furthermore I would have told the owner that I didn't expect to pay for the Rocket.

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 23 Mar 21 - 11:04 AM

How come you didn't know it was going to come with a rocket salad? Here in Cornwall we have things called "menus."

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: Raggytash
Date: 23 Mar 21 - 11:07 AM

Steve, if you read Bonzo post again he does make it clear that he knew the salad was part of the meal and asked for potatoes instead.

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: Rain Dog
Date: 23 Mar 21 - 11:16 AM

Steve asked Bonzo 'How come you didn't know it was going to come with a rocket salad?'

Yeah, how come? It's hardly rocket science is it?

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: Mr Red
Date: 23 Mar 21 - 11:30 AM

DMcG - Shouldn't 1881 be 1801?

From my days of family research I seem to remember 1881 was the first real census, but I do remember cencii (?) from about 1851 in the towns I visited (before computers), basically people lists. I did find "Burgher's Lists" which may have been the equivalent of the Electoral Register.

But mostly it depended on the quality of the reference library as to what you got. Never saw an 1801 census.

Subject: RE: BS: Census day
From: JHW
Date: 23 Mar 21 - 11:49 AM

At a (Barnard Castle) Museum Freinds tea we were discussing scones. I proposed that the best were at the Edinburgh Modern Art place, the across the road one. Amazingly I got agreement.
I make tea in a pot, don't have sugar but milk first or after is not a decision. Might be either way