I've just enjoyed a week's holiday with my wife & daughter in Andalucia and, as usual when I return home after a break, I've been reflecting on the sad decline within the UK.
I know that in October we don't enjoy weather to enable outdoor socialising; however, one of my favourite activities is to sit outside a local bar talking to my family, and watching and listening to several generations of the same family enjoying time together - no-one is texting or talking on their mobile, and the young have respect for their parents and grandparents.
Even when groups of teenagers (it would be wrong to call them gangs) were out together their enjoyment was not based on aggressive, intimidating anti-social behaviour, they didn't need to hide behind either hoodies or the excuse of being bored.
We were pleased to see several individuals, sitting in a square (wi-fi enabled!)using their laptops; I'm sure that at home there would have been the constant fear of being mugged. Whilst walking back to our hotel around midnight we passed several women on their own who were quite safe.
As a society we really do seem to have lost our way.
Wednesday 31 October 2007
The Lottery of Life
For me the saddest story of the week concerned David Hill & his 6 year old daughter Chantelle.
Mr Hill, from Darlington, is suffering from lung cancer and needs a drug called Tarceva to help prolong his life. However, this drug is not available on the NHS in England, where it is deemed not to be 'an effective use of NHS resources', although it IS available in Scotland, home obviously of the Prime Minister.
Determined to help her father, little Chantelle has been fundraising in her hometown and has so far raised £4000 to pay for her father's treatment for two months.
Cases like this, and that of the Velcaid Three, and even Jane Tomlinson (who was denied a life-prolonging drug shortly before her death because she lived in the wrong area) demonstrate again and again that the Labour government has lost the moral authority to rule over us.
I wonder how people like Gordon Brown, Alistair Darling & Alan Johnson sleep at night.
Mr Hill, from Darlington, is suffering from lung cancer and needs a drug called Tarceva to help prolong his life. However, this drug is not available on the NHS in England, where it is deemed not to be 'an effective use of NHS resources', although it IS available in Scotland, home obviously of the Prime Minister.
Determined to help her father, little Chantelle has been fundraising in her hometown and has so far raised £4000 to pay for her father's treatment for two months.
Cases like this, and that of the Velcaid Three, and even Jane Tomlinson (who was denied a life-prolonging drug shortly before her death because she lived in the wrong area) demonstrate again and again that the Labour government has lost the moral authority to rule over us.
I wonder how people like Gordon Brown, Alistair Darling & Alan Johnson sleep at night.
Sunday 28 October 2007
No Wonder Voters Treat Politicians With Contempt...
...because the politicians treat their electors the same way.
Let me explain: recently I took my daughter to an event at Xscape, Castleford in support of the Mayor's charity fundraising. At the same event were many local councillors, including husband-and-wife team Clive & Heather Hudson.
Like me, I believe that both Cllrs Hudson are in rude health and DO NOT possess a disabled badge for their car, which displays a distinctive personalised registration plate.
I was therefore, surprised to see this car parked in a disabled space.
Given their positions of local prominance, perhaps they could both show a little more consideration to those less fortunate.
Let me explain: recently I took my daughter to an event at Xscape, Castleford in support of the Mayor's charity fundraising. At the same event were many local councillors, including husband-and-wife team Clive & Heather Hudson.
Like me, I believe that both Cllrs Hudson are in rude health and DO NOT possess a disabled badge for their car, which displays a distinctive personalised registration plate.
I was therefore, surprised to see this car parked in a disabled space.
Given their positions of local prominance, perhaps they could both show a little more consideration to those less fortunate.
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