Write-Place

I am not sure how this will come across to people. Probably with mixed reactions. It's often difficult to portray what we really intend on a blog - especially when one's blog has gone from being an upbeat, regular "topical" piece to an almost non-entity ! However, as I am having a problem writing much at the moment, I wanted to acknowledge that and to also acknowledge that I am sure there are many others feeling the same, but perhaps not wanting to voice their thoughts. It's Christmas, and usually at this time of year I am well into the festive spirit with shopping like crazy, making sure I have all the foodstuffs that I know won't even be eaten, but have to have because its Christmas, playing carols and singing with the kids etc. I have to admit that I can hardly believe that it is Christmas Eve and I have only just put up the tree this year (and a very small one at that) I have presents not wrapped and every advert on the TV for the "magical" da...

Things are not good when I don't post blogs for days on end , then post a poem !! Well at least am in "thinking a bit" mode . Beginnings I watched them rub the twigs until a spark flicked into flame And then they took the rock and carved the spear to hunt the game A stone was fashioned in a round to move the carcass of the beast While the fire burned on and all prepared to engage in the feast. And the sun shone down. I saw them take the branches from the trees and make them bend to blast the sharpened sticks to wherever they could send a message to another, that told them – “ keep away from here; this territory’s ours and your presence is too near “ And the rain fell softly. Still as I looked they turned their thoughts towards machines. Their works became more powerful in their minds and in their dreams. And the world was changing faster than each man would dare to think, As they searched for more yet somehow moved away from a joini...

The next Wentworth Valley Area Assembly (Rotherham, South Yorkshire) will be held on 8th January 2009, at 4pm at Wickersley School and Sports College, Wickersley, Rotherham. The theme of the meeting will be "DEMOCRACY". This should be a very interesting meeting with the "new chairman" Cllr C McMahon chairing the meeting after the completely UN - democratic way that the current Chair, Cllr Peter Thirlwall has been ousted from his post. Cllr Peter Thirlwall had the full support of the members of the assembly (public and cllrs) and yet has been thrown out of his post by the "democratic" labour members of RMBC. When a motion is carried despite the support of the opposing party for the support of a member, and the complete LACK of support by the electorate ...something has surely gone desperately wrong with our system. Wake up Rotherham to what is really happening with the governing of our town !

Someone posed the question on a writer’s forum today about whether they have got a few too many unfinished projects on the go. She has about eight different things that she is working on at the moment. She likes “ diversity” she says – I am not sure if this is a deadly serious comment or not - but finishing things can soon become a problem, if we let it. Some people only do one thing at a time (men, I usually find – but that’s a sexist remark which has no place on a blog such as this !) It’s got to be good to have a variety of things to be thinking about, lots of ideas to work on, lots of things on the go. You can then take a break from one and return to it refreshed and ready to move on with it, That’s the theory anyway, I suppose. Some people write lists - on a short, medium & long-term basis. Prioritising things. Some may not happen, depending on circumstances; some may get completed before their allocated time. I think the idea is to stop your mind from jumping from one thin...

What a joke some newspapers have now become - now the Daily Mail online is even more pathetic than it's hard copy version. Following the report and pics of the "contrite" and "slimline" Ross after his supposedly feeling the "pressure" of his latest ridiculous and overly paid antics...Daily Mail online then posts immediately "Ads By Google...Prank Call to your friend, Prank Calls"and best of all "Want a job in journalism" ! The Editor needs a job in reality, I think.

Yesterday I went on the first of an 8 week "Condition Management Programme". I knew how the day was going to be - been there done it loads of times over the years on various study courses, training things etc, but sometimes you just have to "play the game". The first "activity" was "breaking the ice". I immediately said - oh, are we going to ask each other what animal we would choose to be ? To which I was told..no, no ! Its not that sort of thing ! Well it was that sort of thing, only we told our partners our fave food, film, who we would like to meet, where we would choose to be and then reported back our partners info. I know I am cynical about most things (and I really have done this stuff TOO many times) but still can't get over how others define us, or why we feel the need to define people. By just chatting naturally, we could easily have broken the ice, I am sure, but now I am "Brenda who likes salad, would like to be in her back...

In a recent pub quiz (in which I had the dubious role of being question master) one of the trivia type questions was this – A Boeing 747 weighs approximately the same as how many African elephants ? 25, 55, 125, or 225 ? Yes, I know – a rather silly question that not many people need to know the answer to, except perhaps someone who has the task of transporting a couple of African Elephants on a Boeing 747 – but this was a pub quiz remember. Anyway, great consternation went around the room together with a discussion on what one elephant might possibly weigh (Ok, there was also discussion on whether the question master had gone totally doollally, but that’s a different blog topic) Some people said they had no idea and couldn’t even give a wild guess. Others started talking about what could they relate the weight to - how many “average” men/women would be the same weight as one average elephant? Could we translate this into how many people would be the same weight as a plane and work it...

Think of the word house. Should the indefinite article before it be “a” or “an”? And what about “a historic event”, or should that be “an historic “ ? Discussing this issue (recently on Writer’s News Talkback) it seems that general opinion is that “an house” sounds quite wrong, and that we use 'an' before words that begin with a vowel - apple, egg, icicle, umbrella …..you know what the vowels are ….but also before words that sound as if they begin with a vowel eg. hour, heir, honest and others that begin with a silent “h”. Then there’s words such as uniform and unit, that clearly begin with a vowel but are not pronounced as such , so “a” is used before them. "An hotel" is still used on some occasions. Which to me always was and still is ridiculous. By trying to say "an hotel" we end up dropping the aitch, and it comes out as "an 'otel" which can't be right - unless you are acting in "allo, allo". I used to have lengthy discussi...

What do you do with a group of people who continually rebel against you for putting up a twenty feet high concrete wall just feet away from their home, preventing them from getting to their land, their work, their family ? Well you could cut off their water and their electricity when ever you felt like it, without their knowledge. Or you could burst into people’s homes and arrest them for some alleged crime such as throwing rocks at your soldiers. If they try to intervene you could shoot them at close range with rubber- coated steel bullets. This might smash their jaw, fracture their skull or blind them if you get them right in the eye. This is what Israeli soldiers did to a man in the Palestinian West Bank town of Nilin, 3 weeks ago. It is a miracle that the man is alive – losing his sight in only one eye is little consolation, I think. After an “investigation” Israel has decided that the soldier acted properly in firing the shots, when the man tried to prevent his brother from being ...

Today my website has had 991 hits to date ! Now I am not saying this is an incredible achievement, or even any achievement at all on my part. But it is sort of exciting. Hits does not exactly mean visits, and visits also does not mean that those visitors even got past clicking on the browser bar, let alone reading or digesting anything on the site or blog But I know some have and I can go as far as to say that I know many have read bits or all of the site and certainly have had thoughts about my thoughts - and commented on them. So this I feel, entitles me to feel more than a little pleased and gives me a sense of purpose to my ramblings - which on a bad day feel (and maybe are, on a bad day!) no different/better/worse/worthy of putting down , than any one else's. But my whole idea of having a website and blog was/is for communication. It is my big "thing" in life - that we communicate, however poorly or unecessarily this may seem to some people, sometimes. (Communicat...

As from today anyone wishing to be married has a greater choice of the venue following new rules from the Anglican Church Where previously couples could get married in a church only if they attended regularly or lived in the parish, it will now be easier to have their wedding service in a church where they have a family or special connection – anywhere they have lived for six months or where their parents or grandparents were married. The Bishop of Reading says “ People who are serious about getting married naturally want a marriage ceremony and a setting which is equally serious - only the Church provides this”. Perhaps, but if you are that serious about getting married, does it really matter where this happens, or rather in which church it happens? A church is a church. Granted, many are more beautifully situated, historically connected or architecturally significant. But isn’t the idea that the marriage is taking place in the presence of God ? And surely, God is all around and ever...

A number of people have said this poem of mine is good...so am posting it here : Encounter There’s a very fine line between pleasure and pain. There’s a point where you can’t tell the mad from the sane. And the sun keeps on shining in spite of the rain. You’re a fighter. The door that says entrance is exit as well. An end is a start even though you can’t tell. And her idea of heaven is maybe your hell. But don’t doubt her. I can see in her face that she senses your fears. She is opening her heart up and fighting the tears. All the feelings you hoped would last so many years are about her. If the outlook seems bleak and you’re turning away for there doesn’t seem any good reason to stay, Just take a look back to that very first day – Your encounter.

Ok - I said yesterday on this blog that that was the last bit of angst - well it was, for now anyway. Today is another day - the sun is shining, the sky is blue, there's not a cloud to spoil the view...oops, there I go again with song lyrics, and cliches! So, just a few thoughts that someone gave me yesterday, until I am back into writing my own... Count your numbers but do not count on them. Value your friends but do not rely on them. Disgrace can only be brought on a person by that person themself. And one from Ursula Leguin - "It is good to have an end to journey toward, but it is the journey that matters, in the end" http://uk.youtube.com/results?search_query=impossible+dream+martt+monroe&search_type=&aq=f Enjoy your day.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=U-AG3LYAM3w

The story of my life, Begins and ends with you That day I started living That start of something new. Didn't think you'd end this feeling Didn't think you'd set me free In the power of all I'm feeling I’m not wanting to be me. So when your life is over Even when it’s not too clear to think I made some difference to you- remember I was here. You are the story of my life.

Yeah - another depressing title for a discussion, sorry, but how DO you know? I have never been one for giving up on anything - but seems like I have to this time. I am not talking about writing here, in the big scheme of things, writing is just writing - if it gets read it gets read, if it doesn't then it doesn't. Am talking about people, and life stuff ...and yes I have a new grandson 2 weeks old today...and 3 other beautiful grandchildren and a wonderful family, so I am lucky. But is this world a place to bring them into? Are there really any genuinely honest people - seems its difficult to find them. Lies destroy the soul of the liar and the dig deep into the mind of the listener. How far do you go on fighting for a cause that you believe in - till your death ? Regardless of your health and regardless what your family say ?Are we responsible enough for the well being of the next generation - or should we just push a button now and have done with it. Too many questions and ...

Life sometimes seems more of a struggle than we can be bothered with or we can bear. To realise that what you held dear and believed in, was either never there or changed suddenly is hard to come to terms with. The worst thing ever for me, is dishonesty or appearing to be someone you are not. Khalil Gibran speaks for me today in these words, and possibly for others too. "You ask me how I became a madman. It happened thus: One day, long before many gods were born, I woke from a deep sleep and found all my masks were stolen - the seven masks I have fashioned and worn in seven lives - I ran maskless through the crowded streets shouting, "Thieves, thieves, the cursed thieves." Men and women laughed at me and some ran to their houses in fear of me. And when I reached the market place, a youth standing on a house-top cried, "He is a madman." I looked up to behold him; the sun kissed my own naked face for the first time. For the first time the sun kissed my own naked...

Admit it! It did cross your mind when Gordon Brown made his announcement on Thursday, about the energy saving plan agreed with the big power companies, that it was too good to be true. Well, you know what they say about things appearing too good to be true – they mostly are and so was this one. Mr Brown had said that all lower income and all pensioner households would be eligible for free loft and cavity wall insulation and other energy saving measures that could save them up to £300 a year in their bills. A lot of people aged 60 and over were very interested in this plan, but unfortunately were told by the government's helpline that Mr Brown had “made a mistake”. In fact, only pensioners over 70 and some pensioners on benefits will be eligible for free cavity wall or loft insulation and there will be discounts for others. A lot of people aged 60 and over were then, understandably, very disappointed. A Conservative spokesman has said that this is yet more evidence that the governm...

I have just received an email from someone (who is clearly in very “deep thinking mode”) asking my views on heaven. He questions the scenario of him being married in this life to a number of different women who all die before him and then when he himself dies, he meets them all at the entrance to the after life. Would chaos ensue, he wonders, or would it just be a very difficult situation where he would have to introduce everyone to everyone else ? Perhaps it would not be difficult at all and they all could “live” happily ever after, together. Would this be heaven ? After all – he loved each one of them at the time he was married to them, so to be with them all must surely be paradise. Or not. It’s not an easy question. In fact, as it’s the classic basic question humans would like answering, that is – what happens when we die ? – it seems that it is an impossible question. But maybe it is our own interpretation of what we expect to happen that defines our heaven or otherwise. Some peop...

It may be stating the obvious, but there’s nothing more natural than giving birth. The process of reproduction in living things has gone on for a very long time – whether we believe in evolution or creation theory, it’s still many years. The act of giving birth is as much a part of life as the need for air, food or water, yet it remains one of the most fascinating and marvellous happenings imaginable. It is also one of the most physically painful yet emotionally fulfilling experiences that we, as humans have (I cannot comment on the emotional aspects of animals, having never been one) I have still not quite worked out, even after half a century, why it is so physically painful (perhaps someone could enlighten me) and have had various theories of my own as to possible answers. Maybe it is so that we appreciate life itself more, knowing that it is a struggle for mother and child to come into the world or maybe it’s natures way of limiting the population…. Anyway, it hurts ! And it does ...

Following my blog the other day about how to address people, I have recieved many people's thoughts on this subject and am grateful for their responses. Thanks everyone - it shows that it is NOT "just me" ! Many people have talked of the condescending attitude of those in authority and it seems as though these attitudes are most prevalent in the health services - a department where one would think that it is extremely important to be aware and sympathetic of "customers" feelings and responses, after all we are dealing with sick people and their relatives and friends here. My two daughters feel the same and their concern is often with the attitude of the doctors too .A couple of months ago, one of my daughters was diagnosed with some pre- cancerous cells (I forget the medical term) Anyway, at the second visit to the hospital they said that the cells were verging on the cancerous and need removing immediately - which they did. Now, her sisters son was diagnosed wi...

I have just been writing a letter to an old friend of my mother's. Well, this lady is the mother of a girl I went to school with (and haven't seen for about 30 years) but the lady goes to my mother's church and betwen them they share family stories and pass them on. My mother came to visit me last week and brought with her a letter to me from this lady and a selection of old journals and magazines from a writing group she attends.So my letter is a one of thanks to her. But how do I address her? My mother calls her by her first name (of course) but to me she always has been "Mrs... " "or Hazel's mam," or even at one stage in our lives, "Guider" when she was leader of the Girl Guide Group I was a member of. Of course, I have addresed her as "Mrs..." and then went on to explain this to her. Should I need to explain to her why I have not called her by her first name ? Maybe not, and maybe when she receives the letter she will find it ...

How do those of us who are trying to embrace a philosophy of doing what we believe to be good/right deal with the anger and despair that we feel over the injustices all around us? Would you rather give the world a hug, or a slap in the face? Would you rather get up there and battle, or leave it alone for the sake of a peaceful life? I am sure that many of us can relate to this. It isn’t just my worry, it’s a human question. We all fight with our anger over issues in our own lives as well as in the wider world. Often, it leads us to the depths of despair and we feel any effort on our part is futile. So we give up. But anger is a powerful emotion, and when it is channeled properly, it can be a force used to positive affect. Rather than ranting at the world – or worse, allowing the anger to destroy you inside by keeping it hidden, we need to find a way to use it and work for change. "The reasonable man attempts to adapt himself to the world and the unreasonable man attempts to adapt ...

I had a feeling that as soon as I wrote the phrase “…I was incredibly proud to be British” on this blog , the other day, that within a short space of time I would have reason to question my views. And yes, I already have these reasons. I read that a 16 year old student from Qatar is beaten and left for dead by a drunken mob, which police have confirmed was a racist attack. Mohammed Al-Majed, died from his injuries two days later. He was on a visit to Britain to learn about it’s culture and traditions. There’s little that can be said about this appalling tragedy which wouldn’t sound patronising to the family. An 18 month old baby boy is critically ill in hospital after his five year old sister accidentally shot him in the head with their father’s air rifle. Do we need to discuss why the air rifle was even in the home? A schizophrenic who was locked up indefinitely 10 years ago, for killing Police Constable Nina Mackay, is back on the streets in preparation for his permanent release. El...

I must admit, I have been rather cynical recently, of the government’s rules and regulations on immigration and gaining British Citizenship. (What you - cynical? I hear you say with more than a little irony) The“British Citizenship Test” which began in 2005 – the year my husband and step family came to Britain to live – didn’t inspire me with much confidence of what the government thinks constitutes “being British”. But if you want the passport, then you have to read the “Life in the UK” book then take the test on society, history and culture. A 45 minute test, which costs you £34, of questions that many people born and educated in Britain struggle to answer, doesn’t seem to be the best way to integrate people from different cultures into a culture that is difficult to define – but there you go, that’s what you have to do. Almost 60m people live in the UK. By what factor do the native-born English outnumber their Scots or Welsh neighbours? A) 9 to 1? B)7 to 1? C) 6 to 1? Blowed if I ...

To : Cllr A Rushforth , Maltby Town Council, Rotherham I am writing to take issue with you over the comments that you have made and are quoted in The Star, Tuesday August 19th 2008 I quote “Town Councillor Amy Rushforth ….who was not at the meeting when Mr Morton was suspended said “This confirms what I said at the start of this episode that the suspension of the clerk had not been done correctly and there would be repercussions about what they had done” What THEY had done? Who are THEY Cllr Rushforth? Are you not one of THEM yourself? Firstly, I am concerned that you feel able to comment on events at a meeting that you did not attend. Everyone appreciates your unfortunate personal circumstances of late, but you have not attended any Maltby Town Council meeting now since April and four months is an extremely long time to keep track of the happenings within the council, even when attending and minuting meetings, which many residents are doing recently due to disputes concerning record...

I do wish people would stop describing the worst areas of our country and communities as “like Beirut”. Areas which are constantly suffering from anti-social behaviour and criminal activity are often referred to in this way. A newspaper report tells us that residents in the Page Hall area of Sheffield say that they are living in a “hell hole which belongs in downtown Beirut, not 21st century South Yorkshire”. Note - not even just Beirut, but downtown Beirut. Now I am not for one moment suggesting that Page Hall is not experiencing serious problems (as are many areas, with the numbers of incidents increasing) There are reports of appalling behaviour, with partying till all hours with loud music, people living far too many to one house to be either healthy, safe or legal, car racing, rubbish being thrown on the streets and into others gardens and other totally unacceptable ways of living within a community. They are particularly despondent and despairing that the efforts that were pu...

It would be good to be able to comment that Maltby Town Council, amidst it’s current situation and disputes, is turning around for the better. However, this does not seem to be the case. The last full Town Council meeting on 23rd July had, yet again, members of the public and councillors being verbally abused and treated with total disrespect by certain councillors. A meeting of the Environment Committee last night, showed one of these same councillors - in the public gallery for this meeting- and her daughter, treating members of the public with the same appalling attitude and disrespect. The Chair of this meeting handled this by telling everyone to be quiet so that the meeting could continue. Though this is fair enough comment for the immediate situation at a meeting, it does nothing to resolve the real problems. No matter how much people in Maltby want the council to move forward and be supportive of the town and it’s residents, progress cannot be made until past and present grievan...

How often do you congratulate yourself ? On anything at all ? It’s not often I do. In fact, without being pious or sanctimonious, I don’t think I have ever really said “well done me”, even if what I have just done or achieved is something that I would definitely have congratulated someone else on. We say it to other people all the time, often at times when it’s really unnecessary. It’s your birthday, congratulations ! Like you did some major thing for the sake of mankind. All you did was just “be”, for another year. Well done , you just won a tenner on the lottery ! Thankyou, it took such a lot of effort to buy that ticket when I was in the supermarket. One I saw today – My Blog Is One Year Old ! (and a flurry of well dones, and good for yous followed) Wow – you mean a year ago you started writing down your thoughts hoping others would read them, and you have written 6 pieces since? Such stamina. I’m not saying we shouldn’t say well done when someone has achieved something or som...

Recent turbulent times have seen residents’ attendance at Maltby Town Council meetings increase, but many of the public and councillors themselves are still unhappy at the shortage of answers. Eight councillors, still legally serving on the council and innocent till proven guilty of what is alleged to have been committed (if the British system still works that way) A Town Clerk, who was suspended then resigned. Continuing unresolved questions about minutes, receipts and the signing of cheques. An unsettling and inappropriate attitude and approach to colleagues and the public by certain councillors. The question of the signing of the cheque for the Maltby Festival compared to the signing of the cheque for the Bede Playgroup is still being raisedand still no answers are given. The issue of user’s access to the Edward Dunn building is also still being raised - some users are concerned that whilst they have a room booked they are unable to gain access because of the doors being locked. Th...

There’s something about being in hospital that causes almost instant friendships to happen, often with people that you might not normally give a second glance to. It’s also quite irrelevant to your state of health (provided you are not completely comatose). As long as you can make a few noises in response, even whilst laid flat on your back with a view of nothing but glaring strip lights on the ceiling, you can make friends. In fact you WILL make friends. Of course, this must have something to do with personality. It must appear to me that this happens, because I can’t even buy a bottle of milk from the corner shop, without getting involved in a lengthy conversation with at least 2 other people. This usually starts with the state of the weather, trails around a few common family traits, before reverting back to the weather as we take our leave of each other. If I sit on a bench in town for a few minutes, the person next to me finds themselves regaled with a story of why I have sat down...

“When did the police start thinking it was their job to moralise about the people they arrest? “ Peter Hitchens asks in his column today. He refers to the case of Anne Darwin and her disappearing and reappearing husband, which whilst fraudulent, clearly, is surely not the most despicable crime ever committed. Yet the Det. Inspector in charge of the case felt the need to damn Mrs Darwin as ‘out and out despicable’ and told us that he ‘didn’t have the time of day for her’. Maybe these are his feelings, but is it his role to voice them to the public in such a way? As many have noted in the past, the organisation that was once a police "force" is now a "service" and it is little wonder that we have the situation we have, in this country that is so often referred to as "feral". Not only do we now have the police moralising and giving us their views on whether they think the sentence or non-sentence was appropriate but we also have them advetising themselves, as...

Following his visit to Iraq, PM Gordon Brown has now had talks in Tel Aviv with President Shimon Peres, and then met the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, in Bethlehem. On his visit to the West Bank Brown promised £30m of extra financial support for the Palestinian Authority, and further support in training the Palestinian police. The finance is part of the ongoing backing for economic and social development, and Mr Brown believes that with the prospect of economic prosperity, the "great entrepreneurial flair" of the Palestinian people will come alive. He says that the barrier erected by Israel in the West Bank is evidence of the urgent need for justice for the Palestinian people and an end to the occupation of Palestinian land. I think he is right. But how this is going to be rectified and peace come about when more and more Israeli settlements are being made is not so easy to understand. Our Middle East peace envoy, Tony Blair, doesn’t seem to be around...

The bodies of two Israeli soldiers have been handed to the Red Cross by Hezbollah. This is to be in exchange for Lebanese prisoners who have been held by Israel and the “deal” is being seen as a triumph by the Lebanese Shi'ite group. Before the exchange, it was not clear whether the two soldiers were alive or not but the two plain black coffins delivered to the border told the soldiers' family what they had long feared. Earlier, five Lebanese prisoners were handed over at the Lebanese/Israeli border. These included Samir Qantar a Druze, who has been in prison in Israel for almost thirty years following a guerrilla raid which killed three Israelis, including a child. They are said by Hezbollah to be the last Lebanese prisoners from Israeli jails. Some Israelis see today’s events as an unfortunate but necessary act, others see it as a sorry state of affairs when an “agreement” such as this is made. The Israeli soldiers' capture caused war with Hezbollah, 2 years ago, that la...

The Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, (remember, she’s the one who claims that crime is not increasing and who wore the bullet proof vest to take a stroll around the streets – see my blog 3rd July “Walk on By” ) is making some plans again. She is planning to “shock young people who carry knives into a greater awareness of the impact of stabbing on victims” BBC News today. These plans include visits to hospitals where people are being treated for knife wounds. Now, call me too sensitive, but the last person that I would want to see when I am laid in my hospital bed trying to recover physically and mentally from a criminal, violent act committed on an innocent person, is a person who has committed a crime of this nature. I am 100% certain that the only shock factor would be on MY part. As most people who know me (and many who don't) are aware, I and my family have been victims of knife crime (I was lucky to not have the knife actually used on me, just a fist) I don’t want to dwell on ...

Heinz have announced that their baked beans are not going to be called "baked" beans anymore - just beans. (In fact in Heinz case, beanz, as it has been for a while now) Well, I suppose we can cope with that, those of us who have grown up with using the term "baked beans" and associating tins of Heinz legumes with the baked and in tomato sauce variety. In fact the beans are boiled in the sauce rather than baked anyway. But what of the next generation? Or newcomers to the country ? How will we then distinguish between the formerly called baked bean (haricot) and the broad bean or green bean, or the fava bean or red kidney bean, not to mention the more exotic berlotti or the plain old butter bean ?Now I don't suppose it would be a major problem in you put runner beans into your stew instead of broad beans - but what of coffee beans and cocoa beans? Am I worrying unnecessarily ?

There are more couples over 70 years old having sex – and enjoying it – than ever before, says a survey for the British Medical Journal. 1500 people have been asked by Swedish researchers about their sex lives, over a 30 year period (that’s the research that was over a thirty year period, not the questioning of the same people !) The number of people who said they had sex increased as well as the number of women claiming to be “fulfilled”, shall we say. An “expert” in the UK says older people today grew up in more sexually liberated times and though there are many studies about sexual "problems" to do with the older age groups there is little research about "normal" sexual behaviour later in life. So the scientists from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden got to work interviewing 70-year olds about periods of their life from the 1970’s onwards. Their results showed that the number of 70 year olds reporting to have sexual relations had risen quite dramatically, b...

“You couldn’t make it up”, is a phrase that we can now use on a daily basis it seems. New guidelines by Apco – The Association of Chief Police Officers – would be more aptly put in a joke book, a comedy show or be an item for April Fool’s Day. The guidelines state that police sniffer dogs will wear boots – yes, you did read that correctly – when searching certain houses for illegal substances or contraband goods. The households for which the new attire for these canines will be worn are not ones with new cream carpets. Nor is it a health and safety aspect (as we know, dogs do have a habit of walking in unmentionable stuff and bringing it inside if we are not careful) It is not even some kind of fashion statement No, the purpose of the boot wearing is to avoid causing offence and hurting the sensibilities of Muslims. Apparently, boot-wearing dogs have already been designated to search mosques (yes I know, mosque = religious centre, therefore by nature surely not a place of criminal act...