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When will some drivers realise that their vehicle can be a dangerous machine and is not to be used as a weapon?

Yesterday evening I had to make a 10 mile journey, at rush hour, which took an hour.  Okay, there had been an accident on the M6 which affected my route but it was very stressful.  Firstly, there was the man behind me who was texting (he kept looking down) and nearly ran into me on two occasions.  Then there was the woman in a big Merc who swopped lanes at will and was also texting.  Add to that the roadworks signs that were totally ignored.  There are also a number of defective vehicles on the road that do not have working indicators!

If we had a proper traffic police force in this country, they would have a field day.  It's all very well having police interceptors but bad driving happens on all classes of road, not just motorways.

Whilst the recent EgyptAir hijacking was no laughing matter, it quickly became farcical.

Firstly, we had the Alexandria airport security staff who did not spot the "suicide belt".  Then news reports saying that the hijacker was 27; one Sky News newsreader openly questioned that on-air. Add to that the Greek Cypriot President's joke about these incidents always involving a woman. The passenger/crew member escaping from the cockpit window instead of down the steps.  The selfie that was not a selfie and the guy's employer wanting a chat with him when he returns.  Now we find out that cabin crew actually asked him to pose for the photos, then he took one of a stewardess with the hijacker, so that they could send them to the Cypriot Police.  

There are so many comments that could be passed, but the Egyptians really need to get their act together and improve security instead of feeling miffed that outsiders are trying to tell them what to do.  

Reminds me of incident many years ago when I came home from school with chocolate mousse I had made in cookery lesson.  Put basket on kitchen floor and went into lounge to talk to my mother.  After a few minutes she said "where's the dog?".  Dog was in kitchen tucking into said mousse.  She got a spoon and removed remains of where dog had eaten and served the rest for pudding.  We're all still here except my stepfather who died many years later and the dog who suffered no ill effects!

Interesting to read the comments and experiences already posted.  I agree that it's a contentious issue that may put some people off voicing their opinions.  When I was working on the female business travellers project, I posted on a worldwide business travel forum and received some interesting views from travellers and cabin crew.  However, it was a different matter when I posted on a predominantly American site, where someone told me (impolitely) that I was nuts!

Thanks to everyone for their views so far.  Totally agree with the tennis comments.  Steve, in your own words, a very honest insight with added experiences.  Unfortunately, there are lots of people getting rich on organising events for empowering women, which promise so much but deliver so little.

Meat pies must have puff pastry.  I love the layers of the lid where it meets the filling.  Fish pie is always a good dish for an informal dinner, albeit a bit more expensive, especially if you also add shellfish.

Recently experimented with different bases and toppings for cottage pie.  Mince cooked in a tomato based sauce.  Topping variations include sweet potato mashed with ordinary potato, potato mashed with carrot or celeriac or parsnip.  Sweet potato on its own is a bit too sloppy and doesn't seem to brown.  You can't beat the potato crust!

Prefer apple crumble to pie, probably because I can't make pastry...

Hi Steve

Yes, am in good company.  Had pleasure, for two years, of sitting opposite Colonel who took Philip Hammond to task about Fusiliers cuts.  He was the one whose comment I used above, about putting petty criminals in the Army.  Also saw Michael Mosley's programme about how USA treats its veterans, especially prosthetic limb provision.  Our friends across the pond aren't perfect but they certainly do a lot for their military past and present.

I too can be very un-PC, so it's good to know your audience!

Amazing guy and so few of them left.  

Could this have been the quickest decision reversal?

On the same day they announced introduction of a £7.50 for 10 minutes charge to pick up passengers, it was then hastily reduced to £2.50.  Was this a case of new owners not understanding their market or not displaying any common sense?  

Makes the £1 fee at Birmingham appear a bargain, until you overstay the 10 minutes....

Chocolate does make you feel good so could boost your brain power.  However, it's plain chocolate that's really good for us.  Especially us ladies who can lack magnesium.  Okay, plain is regarded as the food of the devil by lots of people but the higher cocoa solids content the better.  You may only be able to eat a couple of squares but it is of some benefit.  100% cocoa solids is a step too far for me though!

Also get same feel good experience when eating Thorntons Continental (other premium chocolate brands are available).  

Another International Women's Day has come and gone, with the usual mild hysteria about man's inability to understand gender equality.  Latest comments by USA Tennis official and Novak Djokovic appear to be adding fuel to the embers.  Also $55m damages awarded in USA to a sports journalist, where her stalker has to pay $28m (he also got 2 years prison sentence) and the hotel owners $27m.  Some women's campaigners see this as a landmark lawsuit, but it will only be that if she gets any of the money.  Here in the UK it's good to see a government has finally taken action on the "tampon tax"; an opportunity completely missed by our only female Prime Minister and countless PM's wives.  However, with the usual meanderings of the EU, it could take over a year for this to be put in place.

With the number of lone female business travellers in the UK now approaching 50%, security should be the No1 priority.  Yes, hotels providing fluffy robes and "high-end" toiletries is very nice, but I would forego those to ensure I was as safe and secure as I could be during my stay.

As this thread covers a spectrum of issues/perceptions, look forward to some healthy debate, including the male perspective.  Given research I have already done for an ex-employer, men are a target of unwanted attention too!

thanks

JuliaP