Santa's elves go on strike!

An emergency fax to my Niece, December 2013

Sophie

Can you please check your newspapers?  I don't know what to make of the news bulletin below, what do you think?  If true, it isn't looking good for Ian's jet bike again this year!

I have been unable to contact Father C, but there is an official press release from Lapland, I suspect it may be a cover up and worse still, the elves are in the frame!! 

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE – LAPLAND 24TH December 2013

cc by Jamie C2009

This morning in Lapland, the elves were revolting.  Several elves, led by known troublemakers, have persuaded many in the elf community to go on strike.  The Father Christmas official Government body does not sanction this strike and orders all elves to return to work immediately, OR ELSE!!!

The elves are claiming that Santa ALWAYS gets the whiskey, the mince pies and that he steals all of the credit for their hard work.  They are claiming he sits around, dishing out orders for 364 days each year, then puts in an appearance on one night and takes all the recognition and credit.

It is believed that many of the elves are above themselves following their successful appearance as extras on the recent Hollywood blockbuster Lord of the Rings, when in fact they only made a very brief appearance as extras in the final scene.

GFDL by überarbeitet von mir

Further trouble is expected from Rudolph, who is concerned about the new brakes that have been installed on the sleigh this year.  As Lead Reindeer, he is concerned that without seat-belts (which are not compulsory for this group of merry men), he may be in serious trouble in the event of an emergency stop.

The Lapland Government is requesting that children volunteer to assist in the final stages of present preparation.  All children wishing to assist should prepare a letter to this Government, explaining why they feel able to do the job and also confirming they are not more than 3 feet 10 inches tall (this is standard Government approved elf height).  Children greater than 3' 10" may also apply explaining how they might fit into a uniform designed to fit a smaller form and may be considered if there is a shortfall in the number of children required.  If we are not successful in meeting the minimal numbers, there is a danger that Christmas will be cancelled this year or at best, all deliveries will arrive on Boxing Day, 26th December.

Children are asked to be asleep early on Christmas Eve to ensure letters can be collected in a timely manner.  Letters should be left under the volunteer's pillow and will only be collected once everybody in the household is asleep.  

Letter collection is being organised by the tooth fairy.

cc by Heather Sunderland

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Santa a Terrorist... Breaking News....

News Update, Christmas 2004, fortunately Santa was released, albeit a little late and all children's parcels delivered safely and on time!!

cc by Oren neu dag

It has been reported that a large gentleman with a white beard and a red suit has been apprehended in the United States.  The gentleman in question, seen driving a sleigh recklessly at high speed, and carrying surveillance equipment, was escorted by two  helicopters to the local airport and later transferred to Guantanamo Bay, where President Bash will take personal responsibility for his interrogation.

A gentleman of similar appearance has recently been identified in the UK as a "hoody" and has repeatedly been asked to leave several shopping malls.  Previously, he was thought to have relocated to the zoo, however this is now known to have been an impostor.

President Bash alleges that the bearded guy does not hold a valid passport and is wanted in approximately 43 counties for a range of offences, including breaking & entering and rooftop tile damage.

Bash claims the geezer with the beard has been known to operate under several aliases, including Santa Claus, St Nicholas and more recently, Father Christmas.

cc by Hermielou Maria

A lawyer for Mr Claus claims that he has been repeatedly abused and threats made against his reindeer.   Photographs backing this claim have unofficially been released, however the only thing identifiable on these photographs is an Aussie Barbecue. 

A large sack of unmarked parcels was also found in Mr Claus possession, he claims that these are to be marked up for children around the world once he has completed his annual surveillance of good and bad kids, presumably hoping this explains away the night vision goggles found in the front seat of his sleigh.

cc by debaird

Observers and analysts believe President Bash's behaviour is directly related to trauma in his own childhood, likely because nobody bought him a teddy bear.

cc by Tom Brogan

An official spokesperson for the Government has stated that they do not believe Mr Claus' claims that he was doing a practice run for Christmas.  The spokesperson went on to state that several pictures of the offender have been widely distributed this year and they are glad to have finally made the capture.

British and Australian Governments are working together to secure the release of Mr Claus in time for Xmas, time is running short though and his release is looking increasingly unlikely.

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Dear Sophie, Santa's lost weight....

A copy of a letter to my niece, December 2002

Dear Sophie

Santa's just popped in, he is looking well, lost a bit of weight!  Much better than last year, don't tell anybody but I had a quiet word with him, he had really let himself go but happy to say, it seems to have done the trick.  He has cut out mince pies, eats Rudolph's carrots instead, and he has cut down on the drinking! He tends to mix his drinks, especially when he does the present run on Christmas Eve.

That has created another problem though! Rather than disappoint all the little children and not eat his mince pies, and drinks his beer, Santa has been passing it on to Rudolph instead!  NOT a good idea! You should see the state of Rudolph, he won't even pose for a photo!  If he did you would have trouble fitting him in the view finder!!  Santa looks slim and healthy but Rudolph is so fat he can barely pull the sleigh.  The snow doesn't help – a very slippy take off from Lapland!  Rudolph's nose is redder and even shinier than ever from all the whiskey and his eyes don't look good!

cc by Walter Baxter

Santa claims flying with Rudolph is a bit like being on a roller coaster this year because Rudolph has drunk too many beers.  I have suggested to Rudolph that he share with the other reindeer but he is a bit naughty and keeps it to himself.  It was funny watching him take off from here, he nearly landed in next door's tree!  That'd be trouble!

Santa's face was a picture…

You will definitely hear him land when he arrives on Christmas Eve - listen carefully, he is bigger than an elephant!  You had best check in the morning to make sure he managed to take off OK and that Santa didn't leave him behind.

I told Santa that you are going to midnight mass so he will deliver your presents last. He doesn't finish until after 4 in the morning so thinks you should be home in bed asleep by then. He said if you aren't asleep when he arrives, he will pass by and give you double next year, assuming you are a good girl between now and then of course!

Lots of love

Aunty Jay

XX

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They made a difference - Abraham Lincoln

12 February 1809 to 15 April 1865, age 56

Like many great people, taken too young.  Long before the assassination of JFK, the first president to be taken in such a way, and only days after the war he fought so hard to end and yet one he believed in so passionately.

A man taken too soon by an assassin's bullet, not unlike the 35th President almost 100 year's later - President John F Kennedy, the 50th anniversary of who's death was celebrated just last month.

President Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, not a Founding Father and yet a man who influenced modern times in equal, if not greater measure. Without him, could the world we live in today exist? I think not.

Born around 100 year's after the death of Abraham Lincoln, I feel we shared many of the same values. Above all justice, but also a belief in equality and fairness, in my mind, the same thing.

Who is truly qualified to write about such a great man? Not me, for sure, however a series discussing 'people who make a difference' could never be complete without mention of Abe Lincoln. Personally, I have deep respect and admiration for a man who balanced personal values and politics through such traumatic and chaotic times, in the face of adversity from his enemies and even, at times, his allies.

Like another great man from history (Winston Churchill), Abe Lincoln suffered from depression and yet like Winston, he overcame his own challenges for the good of a nation.  A man who, along with his wife Mary, whom he married at their second attempt and from a slave-owning family herself, suffered the premature loss of three children.  Heartbreaking, how does any parent recover from the loss of one child, never mind three?   Of the surviving gene pool, their direct descendants died out on December 24th 1985 with the demise of their childless Great Grandson, Robert Todd Lincoln Beckwith.

Born on the American frontier, at a time when education was rare and to a harsh life in a one room log cabin.  Largely self taught, an avid reader, both brave and unafraid.  They say an eldest child is destined to be the leader, yet this was not true for Abraham Lincoln who, even as the second child,  met his destiny full on and truly made a difference.

From a young age, when he witnessed slavery first hand soon after arriving in New Orleans, his actions did more than suggest he couldn't support it.   He wanted and strove for a united nation, a United States, one that outlawed slavery, was innovative and offered opportunity to anybody who wanted to capture it in their hands.  Sadly, even today, over a century later, discrimination continues and yet, without his conviction, the first step on the ladder to a unified people may never have been taken.

Lincoln's Gettysburg Address of 1863 remains today, the most quoted speech in US history and we all owe him a great debt.

Famous Quotes

"Both parties deprecated war, but one of them would make war rather than let the Nation survive, and the other would accept war rather than let it perish, and the war came"

"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt"

"You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all of the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time"

"Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be"

"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power" (my personal favourite!)

and perhaps most prophetic of all:

"In the end, it's not the years in your life that count.  It's the life in your years"

Useless facts:

• Sun sign (astrology): Aquarius
• Birthplace                : Kentucky
• Myers Briggs           : ISFJ

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So Very Sad, Nelson Mandela ...

18 July 1918 – 5 December 2015

Whatever name you knew him by, Mandela his "English" name, Rolihlahla meaning "troublemaker"  ... Madiba, his clan name, Dalibhunga his grown up name denoting 'convenor of the dialogue', Khulu, meaning "Great One" or Tata, meaning 'father' a term of endearment used by so many South Africans ...  this extraordinary man was inspirational.

cc by South Africa The Good News / www.sagoodnews.co.za

Let us never forget, his momentous fight against discrimination, his relentless determination to reconcile a broken nation, his heroic struggle against adversity, his generosity, his compassion, even towards his jailors, his remarkable and amazing life.  A father, a teacher, a charmer, a man loved by women and men alike, an exceptional orator and a natural leader with a great sense of humour.

That his family fight over his remains is perhaps the biggest tragedy of all ...

On 4th August earlier this year, as I wrote of Nelson Mandela  in my  'They Made a Difference series'... I knew many of us were sad to hear he was fading and now he has gone.

May Nelson Mandela rest in peace ... the world will surely mourn the passing of this genuine and gentle man ... a revolutionary who became a peacemaker ... undoubtedly the greatest man of our times ...

Dear Sophie, Santa's lost his naughty children list...

Dear Sophie

Father Christmas just dropped by to ask me to contact you, he is too embarrassed to tell you himself.  He was very red faced, can you believe, he has LOST his "naughty children list"!  

Can please write him a letter and remind him of all of the times you have been naughty this year.  He remembers you being cheeky to Mummy at least once, in June and he is sure there is more, but he just can't remember.  

He did say that if you write and claim you have been good, Mummy, Daddy AND Grandma will all need to sign the letter too so he knows it is true and accurate.

cc by Michael Coté

Santa will be watching extra carefully over the next few says, while he decides which children will get their presents this year.

Please write quickly, he needs an answer by tomorrow night!!!!

Lots of love

Aunty Jayjinx.com

XX

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Wills and Kate ...

cc by Kate and William, Canada Day 2011

So I'll be honest, I am struggling to make up my mind about this couple.  They seem pleasant, she smiles a lot, she makes him happy or so it seems.

And yet his behaviour and tacit acceptance of her family suggests he craves an ordinary life, he has a very beautiful wife and a bonny baby, he has a privileged life he is the son of, possibly, the most famous woman in the world and the heir to the British throne, so what's the problem?

Well, I guess the catch is this!

 

The constant portrayal of ordinary, a close family, the emphasis on 'no nanny' for the new bub although that didn't last long, the portrayal of the Middleton clan and their homemade 'official' snapshots of Britain's new Prince. Yet surrounded by aides, pomp and ceremony which they quite clearly enjoy.

You see, the trouble is, they are not ordinary, they can never be ordinary, they are Royal, the titles are a bit of a giveaway, clearly enjoyed too and as a Royalist I say "I don't want you to be ordinary, I don't want a Royal family who are just like me, what would be the point?"

Perhaps  Prince William's upbringing has been too 'ordinary' to the point he clearly no longer wishes to be considered Royal?  Perhaps this hints that Prince William is not a Royalist and indeed plans to skip the King bit?  How very sad if that is his choice.

And Kate?

When I first read of their marriage, a few years back, it was put out that she would prefer to be known as Catherine, it seems she soon learned that the public will call you by their own preferred affectionate name, in this case, "Kate" and so it would appear this wasn't pushed by the palace (pretentious perhaps?)

IMHO Kate really needs to cut the apron strings and understand she has married into a very important family who are not and should not be viewed as ordinary.  Ordinary people don't live in Kensington Palace in grand 21 room apartments, ordinary people don't converse with our Queen on a regular basis or stay in stately homes such as Balmoral and Windsor.  The news of the new Granny flat is just one in a long line of items underscoring how the Middleton's will influence the future of our Kingdom and I for one don't feel comfortable with that.  I am sure they mean well but they are no different to you or I, they just have more money and a daughter who married a Prince.

Kate and Will, if you truly wish to be ordinary, by all means be "normal rich people" and lose the titles.  Until then, you are not "normal", you are not "ordinary" you are Royals, accept it or take a back seat and stay quietly in the background, minus your titles of course.  We prefer you don't, we want to respect you but between you and Prince Charles, you are not making it easy to remain a Royalist!  I like and respect Camilla, despite the challenges she has faced, she has remained dignified.  I loved Dianna too, but she isn't here anymore and life moves on.

Long live the Queen and Prince Philip!

What do they want?

We have been witness to news reports of many acts of terrorism in recent years, Kenya being the most recent.  We have been victims of Governments inhibiting our freedom in the name of terrorism in recent years, there are numerous examples.

So here is my question ... What do they want?  The terrorists I mean - what is their end goal?

I am not for a minute suggesting we give it to them (never) it's just that I still don't know, what are they proposing we do to make them stop?

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They made a difference - Emily Pankhurst

cc by BBC Radio 4

15 July 1858 - 14 June 1928, age 69

Born Emmeline Goulden on 15 July 1858 in Moss Side, Manchester, educated in Paris and died, on 14 June 1928, age 69 in London, Emily Pankhurst was a powerhouse, a political activist and the champion of British suffragette's.

The eldest of five girls in a family of eleven children, with her maternal roots in the Isle of Man.  My own paternal roots also find themselves in the Isle of Man so it is amusing to fancy that a little bit of Emily's feistiness might also run through my own veins!

Perhaps not coincidentally, the Isle of Man was one of the earliest countries to grant women the right to vote in national elections, in 1881, albeit only property owners.

Much has already been written about Emily Pankhurst, so my intent is not to rewrite her biography, but rather post my own little tribute to a woman who dared to be different. By today's measures, Emily was a working mother with both a career and children, fighting her cause led to time in Holloway Prison and even hunger strikes in a bid to improve conditions for others, and this, long before Bobby Sands even took his first feed.

cc by Leonard Bentley

Emily's approach to women's suffrage took the movement in a different direction, after years of soft talking she encouraged a more militant approach. Their opposition to the draconian's of the time, including Winston Churchill often led to ridicule and casual references to "those ladies who are sometimes laughed at".....

No doubt her proposal to Richard Pankhurst that they enter into a free union was considered scandalous in their day, perhaps fortunately for Emily, he declined and so they wed in December 1879.

In 1914, Emily put aside her determined efforts and diverted her attention to war efforts, helping to recruit women into supporting roles and factories.  She expressed her desire to be consulted on matters of Government in a letter to the new Prime Minister, Lloyd George.
 
Through the achievements of women like Emily Pankhurst, women of Britain today can take for granted their right to vote. Without women like Mrs Pankhurst even the glass ceiling would be little more than a fantasy, we would still be oppressed, barefoot and chained to the sink, most likely pregnant!

In the United Kingdom in 1918, women over the age of 30 were granted the right to vote but it was another ten years and a little over two weeks after her death before women were granted a franchise equal to that of men when the Representation of the People (Equal Franchise) Act 1928 was finally given Royal assent on 2nd July 1928.

Thank you Emily Pankhurst!  You made a difference....

For more extensive history of related world dates .... Click here..... and for an interesting read about 'the story of Parliament and votes for women', try here....

Useless facts:

• Sun sign (astrology): Cancer
• Myers Briggs           : one can only wonder

cc by UK Government archives

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Good Night, and Good Luck

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Last week, quite by accident I came across a really excellent movie.  I had selected a few DVD's for weekend watching and this one, at only 93 minutes long didn't really qualify for a Saturday night blockbuster viewing.  So, Sunday evening, glass of wine in hand, I was ready for what I expected to be a mildly entertaining true story of a 1950's newspaperman calling out a US politician.

What I got was so much more, engaged from the offset I was riveted!  Initially, the dialogue was hard to follow, typical newsroom chaos, but after a few minutes you see the hero and the bad guy emerge.... as the story unfolds you recognise how it mirrors today... a story of politicians exaggerating a perceived threat, using it to generate paranoia, hysteria and fear and ultimately, becoming all powerful and eventually all but untouchable.  This is the story of a man who risked all, daring to challenge, sadly a man apparently without equal in today's modern era.

The name of the film?  Good Night, and Good Luck, directed by and starring George Clooney.  The movie tells the story of Ed Murrow challenging Senator Joe McCarthy, an anti-communist crusader, in a cold war era.  The man who's name coined the term McCarthyism, used today to describe the practice of making accusations of political disloyalty without evidence.

I won't spoil the storyline for you, but I will tell you, Ed Murrow will inspire.  An employee of CBS, his wartime broadcasts still famous today, his signature opening memorable, "This is London," and his closing catchphrase "good night, and good luck" not only the name used for this film but also adapted by a young Princess Elizabeth, making a radio broadcast in the time of the London blitz and signing off with "good night, and good luck to you all".

A life long chain smoker who died of lung cancer when only 57, his life story was captivating and his legacy, one of honesty and integrity, and one would hope, inspirational for journalists today.

There are many speeches and quotes attributed to Ed Murrow, for me, one of his best is as apt today as it was yesterday.... perhaps more so.....

"We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. We must remember always that accusation is not proof and that conviction depends upon evidence and due process of law. We will not walk in fear, one of another. We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason, if we dig deep in our history and our doctrine, and remember that we are not descended from fearful men – not from men who feared to write, to speak, to associate, and to defend causes that were, for the moment, unpopular....

......... We proclaim ourselves, as indeed we are, the defenders of freedom, wherever it continues to exist in the world, but we cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home. The actions of the junior Senator from Wisconsin have caused alarm and dismay amongst our allies abroad, and given considerable comfort to our enemies. And whose fault is that? Not really his. He didn't create this situation of fear; he merely exploited it—and rather successfully."

An awe inspiring WWII story

So many WWII stories are sad, shocking and appalling beyond words, but alongside the tragedy there are many tales of bravery, heroics and heart warming reports.  Rarely are these stories of "good Germans" perhaps with the exception of one of the most famous Oskar Schindler......

Every now and again however, a tale comes to light that is inspirational.... I recently came across one such tale and hope you are as moved by this story as I was.....

Wartime chivalry

or maybe this version ....

photo credit: Armchair Aviator cc

This is the story of an allied aircraft beaten so badly in an air fight, the crew so devastated by injury or death, that they were unlikely to make it home, the 21 year old American pilot, Lt Charlie Brown, on his first combat mission, alone over Germany in 1943 when a German Messerschmitt fighter plane, piloted by Luftwaffe veteran Franz Stigler, flew alongside them.... at a time when they thought they were sitting ducks, they witnessed an incredible act of chivalry....

photo credit: Jerry Gunner cc

A German fighter pilot, one strike away from winning Germany's highest honour for valour "The Knights Cross" had the allied aircraft in his sights.  A man who risked death for dishonour if the Nazi SS discovered his deed, flew alongside the ailing aircraft and honoured his humanity instead.  His respect for the code of honour and integrity of soldiers and fighting men through the ages... Not only did he not fire on them, he helped them avoid anti aircraft batteries lining the coast as he directed them towards neutral Sweden......

The bond between soldiers, even on opposing sides is a special one, [fortunately] not experienced by many of us.....

So wonderful that these two pilots of WWII were reunited post war in 1989 and went on to travel together, taking their story to others... dying only 8 months apart in 2008, may they rest in peace and may Hollywood make a movie that respects the sentiment, the integrity and the honour!

They made a difference - Nelson Mandela

18 July 1918 – present, age 95

photo credit: Archives de la Ville de Montréal  cc

So sad, if the news media is to be believed, Nelson Mandela is fading and likely to move on to another dimension soon.   Now if you care at all, you have to agree, here is a man who made a difference....

Described by Maggie Thatcher as a terrorist and indeed in technical terms, precisely that, he served many years in prison for leading attempts to overthrow white supremacy in South Africa.

He didn't just make a difference, he is a hero to so many, his forgiveness, his compassion, his humility, his commitment to ending racism, his diplomacy, his bravery, his intelligence..... so much...... never has a man earned the right to global respect and reverence as Nelson Mandela has.

Born of illiterate parents descended from African royalty, intelligent and well educated his rebel tendencies began to develop at university where he was suspended for his part in a boycott against the quality of food and subsequently left without a degree.

Everything about his life set him on the path to becoming this man.  His interest in politics, the timing of his birth, his teaming up with the African National Congress, once condemned as a terrorist organisation and now the governing political party of South Africa, and his own decisions to lead the ANC down a more radical and revolutionary path.  How different is perception when looked at through different eyes and in different times.

The expansion of apartheid by the extremist Government, Herenigde Nasionale Party and their unexpected 1948 (white only) election win, all led to making this man.

His arrest in 1962 and subsequent conviction in 1964, all led to making this man.

His, now famous, time incarcerated on Robben Island in a tiny cell, where his vision became impaired due to sunlight reflecting off lime in the quarry where he was assigned to work, his encouragement of others, his religious, Afrikaans and legal studies, even his prisoner number 46664 all served to make this man.

His correspondence with people such as Desmond Tutu, his influence on the political arena, the respect for this man, locked away from the world and yet still inspiring anti apartheid sanctions and rock concerts in his name, his eventual release on 11 February 1990, leading to a final end to apartheid in South Africa, his winning of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 and his election to President in 1994 all served to make this man.

Let's not forget F W de Klerk's role in negotiating an end to apartheid and freeing Nelson Mandela, enabling him to continue with his destiny, he too made a difference.

Would Nelson Mandela have made such a difference if he hadn't been imprisoned in the way he was?  Would he have been inspired to make a difference with a different lifestyle?  With different people?  If you are looking, Nelson Mandela is an example of somebody who was truly put on this earth to make a difference with all roads leading to the inevitable outcome. 

 photo credit: p_c_w cc

A man of many names, Mandela his "English" name given to him by his school teacher Miss Mdingane, Rolihlahla his birth name meaning "troublemaker" given to him by his father, well he certainly lived up to that one... Madiba, his very polite clan name, Dalibhunga his grown up name given to him aged 16 after his traditional rite of passage, meaning 'founder of the council' or 'convenor of the dialogue' and unquestionably a name he took to heart, then there is Khulu, meaning "Great One" and possibly the one he may value most is Tata, meaning 'father' and used as a term of endearment by so many South Africans.

In a perfect world, Mandela's commitment to reconciliation will become his legacy, however, sadly we live in an imperfect world and already there is dissension as his family fight over where he will be buried and that's before he is even dead!  Let's hope they reconcile before the inevitable end.

Long live Nelson Mandela!

Inspirational Quotes

To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world

A good leader can engage in a debate frankly and thoroughly, knowing that at the end he and the other side must be closer, and thus emerge stronger.  You don't have that idea when you are arrogant, superficial and uninformed

Read more here

Useless Facts

• Sun sign (astrology): Cancer
• Myers Briggs           : INFJ

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GP finds love with patient's husband....

Well... this is a tricky moral dilemma isn't it?  Judging others is such dangerous ground, after all, few of us a pure of heart and mind.... but on this one, I can't help but think that perhaps there was some middle ground...

"How our sister was betrayed by the doctor who put sex before duty"

Truth is, love happens, two people fell in love over the death bed of the spouse of one of the pair.... love happens.... it is precious and should never be discarded when it has a chance to blossom... (yikes you would think I am romantic, but honestly, I don't have a romantic bone in my body!).

However.... to my way of thinking, and there are, very rare, occasions when I'm wrong so don't quote me...  this doc didn't make her mistake in the two weeks after her patient passed away.  She made her mistake in the weeks or even months leading up to the death.  As soon as she began to have romantic feelings about the husband of her patient, she should have come clean.

If uncertain about her course of action, she should have consulted with the medical council!

 

Instead, she has created a situation where questions can be asked about the sad death of this poor woman, how can anybody ever be sure that her motives, in nursing a dying woman and signing the death certificate were pure?  Likely they were, but her behaviour has created a situation where questions COULD be asked about the death.  In doing this, she has shown herself to lack professionalism, thus there is only one right outcome.  She cannot be trusted to be a doctor and put the needs of her patient first and their combined actions have resulted in unnecessary distress for the relatives of Mrs Owens at a time when they should be able to focus on their grief at her passing.

Simple!

Don't judge her because she was married, she isn't the first to leave her husband for another man.... or as quoted by the family of the deceased, "because of indecent haste", but perhaps examine her actions because she created a situation that caused questions to be asked, interfering with the grieving process for her patient and a situation that could have been avoided with some honesty up front.

The Lucky kids....

I am incredibly lucky.... No question, no debate, I was born under a lucky star and for that I am forever and truly thankful....

My childhood was the best time ever to have been a kid, past, present or future.   Those of us who grew up in the original new age 70's and matured in the 80's were lucky... we had something kids before us and kids after us never had and likely never will again.

Freedom to be kids, explore, learn and imagine!!!!!!! 

Kids before us were bound by the culture of the day, if not down the mines or in servitude, then governed by ridiculous Victorian values or sadly, grew up in war or post war eras.  Kids after us?  Fear and technology has changed it for them, in an increasingly dangerous world, kids are encouraged to turn to modern technology for entertainment.

photo credit: ocad123 cc

Born at the tail end of '64, a leap year and a time for the history books.  I rocked up 6 months after they imprisoned Nelson Mandela, just over a month before our fearless wartime leader Winston Churchill passed on to a higher plane.... A few days after Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer first aired on TV.... Cilla Black was riding high in the charts, 'I feel Fine' was Number One and Beatlemania was at screaming pitch.  Just a year after Brad Pitt came into the world, the year of the American Civil Rights Act and the same year Martin Luther King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.  It was also the year of the last ever executions in Britain and how lucky were we to be a part of defining today's interpretation of Generation X!!

As 1970 dawned bright and clear I had just turned 5 and as we waved farewell to the 70's and welcomed that brave new world of the 1980's.... I turned 15, a magical age fraught with teenage angst, acne and iconic pop stars like Adam Ant asking us to Stand and Deliver, Madonna performing Like a Virgin at the start of an illustrious career, Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders had Brass in Pocket .... and what about Bob?  

Mr Geldof certainly gave us something to remember with Live Aid even if we all knew he never had a hope of solving world hunger!  It was one hell of a concert!  1980 was also the year John Lennon was so cruelly and unjustly murdered , just three years after another influential megastar met his untimely end.... Elvis!  (Did he really die on the toilet?  Another injustice perhaps?)

photo credit: Ramiro Garcia S cc

 

Bob's BFF Mr Midge Ure and Ultravox can claim a major injustice as they celebrated Vienna, the best single that never made it to number one!!  Pipped to the post initially by John Lennon's Woman, acceptable you might agree, but to be kept from the top spot by Joe Dolce's Shaddup You Face??

Seriously?  Judge for yourself....

It is devastating to hear of childhood role models, people who set themselves up as influences on our lives being denounced in the media today, but this does not change what was the best time to grow up!

The Boss may have sung of the Summer of '69, but as any British school kid of that era will tell you, the summer of 76 will live in our minds forever - remember the ladybird invasion?  To be 12, faced with 6 weeks of summer holidays and the hottest, driest summer forever .... bliss!  We didn't worry about the worst drought of the century, standpipes, crops or forest fires, we were 12, we built our make-shift tents from blankets on the back lawn, ready for sleep-outs and agonised over major decisions.... where to go tomorrow....???

As kids of the day, we didn't have air con or XBoxes.... No smart phones, no iPads, no mobiles.... No PCs, no Macs, no apps, no video, no computer games... we breathed fresh air, we talked to each other... face to face! We learned to understand the boundaries and acceptable social behaviour, but above all we used our imaginations!!

...... We had our imagination and our bikes!

photo credit: moriza cc

We set off daily, our jam buttes (jelly sandwiches) in our bags... And off we went exploring, swimming... fishing... whatever .... Our parents didn't worry so long as we were home for tea.... They didn't need to, perception of crime was less evident... We had fun.... 

...... And this is why I was born of the lucky generation....

photo credit: PETER9914 cc

They made a difference - Mo Mowlam

18 September 1949 to 19 August 2005, age 55

Those who know me, know it is almost unheard of for me to praise a Labour politician, but here it is.  Marjorie "Mo" Mowlam was an amazing woman, one who should never be forgotten and one who made a difference.

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photo credit: Bolckow cc

Mo was instrumental in bringing about the Good Friday Agreement and peace in Northern Ireland, an event typically attributed to Tony Blair [a man who made the wrong kind of difference] but it was Mo who was Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, in charge of the peace process at the time.  Mo who made the difference.  Mo who sat for long hours at the negotiating tables.  Mo who disarmed the Unionist politicians by hugging them.  Mo who kept the meaning and importance of life in context as they fought over the balance of power and the details.... and finally Mo who told Gerry Adams, as he hesitated over the signing “Bloody well get on and do it, otherwise I’ll head butt you!”

It was Mo who made this happen while slowly and tragically dying of a malignant brain tumour.

Given just three years to live in 1996, even before Labour swept to power and before Mo was appointed to the top position in the Northern Ireland Office.   Given the Troubles that had raged in Northern Ireland since the 1960's with echoes back down the centuries to the Middle Ages.... it could be argued this was the most demanding and stressful cabinet position ever.  Yet she didn't flinch, she accepted the position not even telling Blair that her brain tumour was malignant, in fact leading him to believe the tumour was benign and could be treated.  Many might argue a woman with a brain tumour should not be in such a senior position of power and yet, she was and she won.  Everybody won thanks to Mo.

She was frank, often blunt and refreshingly honest for a politician, a Cabinet Minister at that.

One can't even begin to imagine the trauma she and her family were enduring.  Throughout the exhausting peace talks, she continued her chemo, taking medication to prevent her being sick so she could stay at the table.  A table that culminated in the signing of the Good Friday Agreement on 10th April 1998.

Sadly Mo died in August 2005, aged just 55, her determination to win ensuring peace for a time in Northern Ireland and more than the 3 years she was allotted in 1996.  In her short time, she made a difference!

Inspirational Quotes

"There was no metaphorical gun at my head, ... Putting my case face-to-face, arguing it through with them, I thought was the best way to do it"

"Many of us would like to make progress much quicker, ... But we have to bear in ind there are people around hat table who have had relatives and friends killed.  You don't forget that overnight." 

Useless facts:

• Sun sign (astrology): Virgo
• Birthplace: Watford

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Mini update......

I have been a little busy for the last couple of weeks and if you spotted my other blog, you would know why but today, it's time for a little downtime and a couple of observations.....

Firstly I should mention I am spending a few weeks in Europe so it is interesting to see and hear the vastly different viewpoints.... Quite a lot of change since our last visit.... But the big stand out is the emotion associated with anti immigration and a notable increase in anti gay sentiment as well as more overt church attendance.

I can understand the immigration resentment, the UK is only a little island and cannot sustain such uncontrolled growth and certainly can't afford the huge financial impact on the social state. It is, of course, this feeling the UKIP are tapping into and although I don't support or condone their propaganda, Britain either needs to leave the EU or overhaul the benefit system. A referendum in 2017 is too far away, the strength of feeling suggests this issue needs to be resolved sooner not later.

I was highly amused to read this article about women wearing trousers to  "deliberately make themselves unattractive" ... Not only unattractive, but it is "hostile behaviour" ...... there was I, thinking our sole purpose in life was to please our men. Ohhhhh for a return to the Victorian era when women knew their place - barefoot, chained to the sink and ideally pregnant .... Not a huge surprise to note the author of this statement is the latest financial contributor to the UKIP! What is this guy on???? This is the 21st century!

.... On the plus side, the fact that his donation of £10K equates to 20% of all donations to the party this year suggests they aren't as popular as the media would have us all believe!

... [in case you didn't hear it, there was a jingle of sarcasm in that last paragraph] ...

I can't help but think Nigel Farage is reveling in his current news appearances, once again the word "hatred" is prominent in his dialogue..... Why? He is being deliberately provocative.....

Equally disappointing is the apparent anti gay feeling..... Such a retrograde and disappointing step .... It is time to put this argument to bed, whoever is sleeping in it! Once again, I refer to Maurice Williamson and his fabulous parliamentary speech in New Zealand recently... He summed it up perfectly...

Check out his video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCDEiaoEP2U&feature=youtube_gdata_player

They made a difference - Rosa Parks

4 February 1913 - 24 October 2005, age 92

Born Rosa Louise McCauley Parks, famous for her refusal to give up her seat on a bus to a white person! 

photo credit: rbanks cc

 
So, when you consider it is only a hundred years since she was born, consider just how recently African Americans were segregated.

We have all expressed outrage at South Africa's Apartheid and yet Rosa's show of defiance on a bus in the United States, in 1955 was just 58 years ago.  Rosa was arrested and charged, how quickly we forget!

photo credit: tobstone cc

Rosa was a brave and inspirational lady who played a key role in the Civil Rights Movement and along with people like Martin Luther King, she made a difference.  The people of the US finally did the right thing with the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 - just 48 years ago, bringing an end to discrimination although sadly not bigotry.

Inspirational Quotes

"I would like to be remembered as a person who wanted to be free ... so other people would be also free"

"I'm tired of being treated like a second-class citizen"

At the time I was arrested I had no idea it would turn into this.  It was just a day like any other day.  The only thing that made it significant was that the masses of the people joined in"

"It was not pre-arranged.  It just happened that the driver made a demand and I just didn't feel like obeying his demand.  I was quite tired after spending a full day working" 

Useless facts

• Sun sign (astrology): Aquarius
• Myers Briggs           : ISFJ