WERE THEY JUST BORN EVIL?
We had a discussion yesterday as to whether some people are born inherently bad. Nothing to do with parents or any other outward influence.
The papers and television have reported that one of the boys involved in the Jamie Bulger murder has been put back into prison.
Someone did tell me months ago that one of the boys had been involved in the hold up of a convenience shop in the neighbourhood in which he now lives under an assumed name.
Try as they may, authorities cannot prevent the people living within the vicinity of ex-criminals or others from finding out their true identity. This was very apparent when the girlfriend of the murderer of two little girls in Cambridgeshire a few years ago came to live in Whitby. Lots of people knew where she was living and her comings and goings.
As we all go about our daily routines, work, play and leisure activities, it is not in the nature of most people to deliberately cause harm or distress to others. Have murderers got some form of extreme evil within their make-up. Should those two ten year old boys ever been allowed to only serve an eight year sentence then to be released and commit other crimes.
We have a country that is filled with "do-gooders" and political correctness. There is no form of deterrent. Prisoners have television, playstations and rest areas. All mindful of their human rights. What of the rights of their victims, many of whom leave families to cope with lives of grief and regret and guilt feelings. The abolition of the death sentence was maybe not such a good thing.
Perhaps the government could save us millions by taking leisure goods out of prisons and euthanasing three strike offenders in certain crimes.
Published Date:
04/03/2010
Modified Date:
04/03/2010
HOMELESS SPIDERS
Yippee, at last one day when washing can be dried outside. The sun shone brightly through the front windows, sadly, revealing a layer of dust on furniture and the odd cobweb or three.
I love spring, the daffodils are a couple of weeks behind in comparison with last year but the crocuses are showing on the garden.
After zipping around with dusters and long brush to deprive spiders of their homes Tuesday morning was the day when my car had to go in for the replacement of the injectors, hopefully to quell the awful smell that's been filling the car over the past weeks.
I pulled into the diesel diagnostic garage, immediately noticing a burnt out wreck parked alongside rather smart Vauxhall. Bet they won't be able to renovate that, crossed my mind as I handed over my keys to the lovely helpful mechanic called Andy.
As he dropped me off at home, an assurance came that I would be phoned later saying when the repair was finished.
I waited all day, then at 4.20pm, I rang the garage and was told I could pick up my car. Handed over a rather large amount I thought and drove off. That was not the end of the matter, as Grumpo took the car out later and noted the trail of fuel on the driveway and an all pervading smell of diesel. Wednesday morning, car went back to garage, to be greeted with a sincere apology, mmm someone had not tightened a clip somewhere in the engine so a steam clean was in order as well. Luckily I didn't have to pay any more money as the onus was on the mechanics.
I had for a while thought that a Touran may be a likely new car for me, this thought was dispelled when, waiting at the garage for Andy to locate the owner of a rather large land rover with trailer attached who had parked it in such a way that no vehicle in the yard was going anywhere. What came in on a low loader, but a Touran, followed not long after by another one for repairs. Both of which were relatively new. Andy informed me that cars now were more electrical than mechanical and no matter what make, things go wrong.
Hopefully my car will now run smell free and I can keep it for a little while longer.
Published Date:
04/03/2010
Modified Date:
04/03/2010
STAND UP FOR YOUR SEATS
Last night was one of our now rare WRVS get togethers, this time we chose Jeremy's in Peasholm.
Our little soiree had previously been arranged for the week after New Year but we cancelled because of the snow, so we all had a lot to catch up on.
As I'd been warned it could be cold in that particular restaurant I was well prepared with a cosy wrap, but this definitely was not the case.
The ambience was very cosy, our only moan was that the lighting was such that we all had difficulty reading the menus.
One member of our party had paid a visit to relatives in Dorset and was regalling us with the story of the train seat.
All went well on the outward journey, but on the return, when they went to their seats, found that they were already occupied by a suited man and his "secretary". "Excuse me, but these are our seats" she claimed double checking her tickets. "Oh there's plenty of seats in the next carriage" came back the retort.
Now my friend is certainly not a dogmatic person, so standing her ground was a trifle out of character, but she was determined not to back down on this occasion.
After asking a couple more times she was becoming exasperated and the remaining passengers in the carriage were all quiet and listening to the conversation.
"Oh this is stupid" said the suit, shuffling in an arrogant way "Just go along to the next carriage."
"This is stupid, stupid, I'm standing and you are still occupying my seat" said friend.
Eventually the suit, took down his jacket from the rack and at the slowest speed possible donned the garment, gathered up his briefcase and followed by "secretary" moved off into the next carriage. This was accompanied by a round of applause by the other passengers. The lady adjacent to my friend, who, with her husband had settled down in their correct seats by this time, said. "Good for you, this sort of thing happens all the time and no one bothers to complain"
We all had a good laugh about one of our party standing up for her seat so to speak and of the obvious come uppance of an arrogant man who thought he could bully an elderly couple.
The food at Jeremy's was excellent, I could only manage 2 courses, although everyone else had 3. The cheeseboard was shared by three ladies however it was so laden with goodies, various cheeses, celery, grapes, delicious toasted walnut and raisin bread etc. The Cuban chocolate fondant looked tempting but I was so full.
We decided that due to the position of the restaurant, if the wind blows from the north, then perhaps it would be cold everytime the door opens as it is directly at the end of the road running along Peasholm Park.
Published Date:
25/02/2010
Modified Date:
25/02/2010
QUESTION OF THE DAY!!
Question, what is the difference between my new hairstyle and a broody hen. Answer, Grumpo gets excited over a broody hen.
Yesterday, I finally succumbed to the hairdresser's scissors and emerged an hour later with a completely new hairstyle.
As mentioned before Grumpo's poultry flock was decimated just before Christmas by a visit from foxes. Since then he has been saving some of the eggs from the remaining couple of Black Orpington hens in the hope that he would lay hands on a broody hen resulting in some offspring of the deceased flock.
Yesterday his hopes came to fruition with one of his cronies in the poultry world handing over a hen that was forever being broody. With great gusto he related the tale to me as he sped out of the door eager to put the hen to immediate use.
Later in the day, 6.30 pm to be precise, we'd had tea, talked over various stuff concerning Chris's new build and our lack of a vehicle (Grumpo's is in the garage awaiting new pump). The doorbell rang, window cleaner on doorstep waiting to be paid, said "You look glam are you going off somewhere" sadly no I retorted but thanks anyway, at least a person who I only see once every few weeks has noticed the difference. By this time I was feeling shall we say rather miffed, when Grumpo said, "You look different, have you had your hair done". At that point I quite felt like the proverbial invisible man (woman). Now I realise that after 45 years couples do tend to be offhand at times but a new hairdo is important at any age. Or maybe I am just a bit too precious about the whole issue. Like that pair in the news the other day, the secret of success at being married is separate televisions, Grumpo and I have completely different viewing favourites, he likes Star Trek and Sci fi, I like documentaries and detective shows. Which raises another thought. Anyone seeing Raymond Blanc's show on BBC 2 the other night will not doubt be quite bemused. Who, normally has a kitchen slave to clear up and take the temperature of melting chocolate. I am a fan of the masterchef Raymond but his kind of cheffing does not sit easy in the kitchens of the normal household. Now Delia, we can all relate to..
Published Date:
20/02/2010
Modified Date:
20/02/2010
HA HA NOT ME THIS TIME!
Yippee at last I have my computer up and running again. It was playing up and stuff kept appearing which I found very confusing. I do any essential work at the library but it is convenient having a pc handy.
Of course my family thought it was just my haphazard way of dealing with photos causing the inability to put photos on facebook and email photos to friends and family but this was not the case. Jamie, my man who can, told me it was a glitch in the programming that was stopping photos being sent, so ha ha not me to blame.
Grumpo has had a stroke of bad luck with his car this week. He was taking our dogs for a walk around the mere, when the vehicle just wouldn't start. I was at the time in a t'ai chi lesson. The lady taking the class kept hearing "voices" as she put it. My coat was on a chair behind her and unbeknown at the time it was my mobile phone that was the object causing the strange voices. Luckily for Grumpo my brother went to his rescue, towing the land rover to a nearby garage. However the errant vehicle will not be repaired until next week, we will see how he copes over the weekend. Grumpo treats his car as an extension of his legs and no doubt will be borrowing my car at every opportunity.
Roads around the borough are really suffering the results of the recent bouts of snow, ice, slush and rain. The potholes everywhere are humongous and there doesn't seem to be any sign of the council repairing many of them. There's no gritting or salting since Christmas and only this morning a fresh fall of snow was threatening to cause yet more chaos.
Tony and Sam are over in Dallas visiting our family there and by all accounts are having a ball, it is good for the cousins to get together every so often, I am eagerly awaiting photos to compare how they've all grown during the past year.
Published Date:
19/02/2010
Modified Date:
19/02/2010
EVEN CHANCES LOSE HALF.
Word on the street is that we are going to have another casino. There are already two licenses in town. The one that used to operate at the Grand Hotel, Grosvenor Casinos holds one of them
It'sto be below the George on Eastborough if rumour has it. There is one thing that I do know about and that is the habits of gamblers in casinos, me being one of the the first women to hold a grey license in the U.K
My feeling is that the dedicated gamblers will choose to use a smaller casino rather than the one on St Thomas Street which has become more of a night haunt than a gambling venue. Maybe at a later date the St Thomas Street one will become a night club, who knows but it seems a likely scenario.
Another grey miserable day today spent most of it catching up on chores as next week is the meeting of the Newby and Scalby parish council and there seems to be a lot of matter to discuss and planning applications to be addressed. These will take a lot of time and dedication.
Grumpo spent the day at Thirsk poultry sales. Restocking his depleted flock. He has brought home a trio of copper french marans which lay a deep brown egg. They are only pullets at present so said eggs will not appear until near Easter. Anyway Grumpo seems very happy with his purchases, I bet I won't be allowed to use the precious eggs to make yorkshire puddings though.
Published Date:
06/02/2010
Modified Date:
06/02/2010
WHERE'S JOHN PRESCOTT
Harping on about the Chilcot enquiry again. What has become of the then deputy prime minister the rather chatty John Prescott?
Is his presence either irrelevant or too provocative to be allowed in such a public arena. One thing for sure he couldn't be trusted to keep his mouth shut when asked probing questions.
What a shame that the council have deemed it necessary to build so many new homes at Scalby. It will undoubtedly change the whole character of the area. Scalby will become what Falsgrave did in the early 20th century and just be swallowed up by the borough.
Added to that where are all the new residents families going to go to school. Newby and Scalby schools are full to capacity already. What about doctors, transport and employment. Are we just going to see another estate full of drop outs from larger cities causing more financial drains on our already potless council. Executive housing I think not how many executives do we need? when push comes to shove the developers will take whatever means necessary to sell of or rent the properties to get their investment money back.
The new development will, if it goes ahead will make the Newby Scalby area a town in its own right maybe we should all put our hands up for the position of new mayor.
Published Date:
05/02/2010
Modified Date:
05/02/2010
AN OFFICE IN OUTER MONGOLIA
My dog is much better now. After another visit to the vet, who declared that her lungs were clear and heart alright and that he couldn't rule out it may be a habit, making me wonder if the injections, tablets and medicines had been shall we say a slight waste of money. I found on the internet that spaniels necks were particularly sensitive and the collar that she had been wearing over the past year or so was very sharp in places. Could this have been the culprit. Anyway it has been removed and she is very much better.
Sam and Tony are going to visit our eldest son and family in Dallas, a last minute change of mind in Sam's mother set of the process but sadly a visit to court had to be made. Why is everything with broken relationships so difficult nowadays. There is only one loser and that is the child or children. How sad about the children in the car-boot.
Well well, Tony Blair in the Chilcott enquiry. What difference will all this digging into the whys and wherefores make. All it does is make the Brits look bad in the eyes of the world. The world has moved on and as how ever hard we try we can't change history right or wrong. Put Tony Blair and the odious Alistair Campbell in an office somewhere in Outer Mongolia marking school papers and move on. Mind it is strange at this point in time how the other ministers and higher officials suddenly come to the conclusion that they were not in favour but went along with the decision to invade because it seemed the best thing at the time. Perhaps it was the best thing for their positions in government and their bank balances.
Just as a thought why do we pay road taxes. Is it to pay for the upkeep of our roads. I think not. The council did not grit the roads when the forecasters predicted this latest downfall of the white stuff. Consequently the icy footpaths and frost last night have made walking and driving difficult. That along with the news that our parking charges are going to be increased by some alarming amount makes you want to leave the country, but there hangs another tale.
Published Date:
31/01/2010
Modified Date:
31/01/2010