In The News
« Previous EntriesIf you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands
Tuesday, June 5th, 2007While there are still some days when I wish my eldest son was in school, so I can drink my coffee in peace rather than yelling at him and his brothers to PLEASE STOP THAT GODDAMN FIGHTING (I might not actually swear, but I am definitely swearing in my head), when I read stories like this one about how four year olds in UK schools are to be tested on their happiness I am glad he is being schooled at home. Where he actually learns some stuff.
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Posted in In The News
Terrorism and the threat to airline security
Thursday, August 10th, 2006Unusually, no-one I know is travelling by air today and, selfishly, I am thankful for that. Heathrow, as is the case at most UK airports, is in chaos as security has been increased and almost all hand luggage has been banned. Flights in and out of the UK have been severely disrupted as airlines assess the threat and the delays and cancel services accordingly.
I have huge respect for our security services who were heavily criticised after the 7/7 London Underground bombings. Several plots have been foiled since 9/11, today’s probably the most critical. Had the terrorists been successful today, or tomorrow, or the day after that - whenever they planned to inflict their carnage - one can only imagine the horror and loss of life they would have caused both here and in the US.
After 9/11 Matthew and I talked, like many people in the Western world, about security at airports and on airlines. Matthew regularly travels with a lot of equipment and it is very rarely checked at UK airports. After 9/11 I wondered why passengers couldn’t be made to carry transparent carry-on luggage with the minimum of items allowed. We both agreed that it might be a step too far for most travellers. I am glad that from today it seems that we are being forced to do just that. I, for one, can live without my laptop and iPod for the duration of a flight if I thought it would increase my safety. Only just, but I could.
But that’s all theoretical, because as I won’t be allowed my anti-bacterial hand gel and wipes anymore on those germ-ridden tin-can people carriers, my anally-retentive, freaked-out-by-other-people’s-germs self is unlikely to be flying again.
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Posted in Worrying About Society, In The News
Exits and apologies
Sunday, July 2nd, 2006The crowds were ready to chant, to roar, to drink themselves into oblivion if we won. Rooney, our golden boy, was match-fit after all the pre-World Cup media frenzy about his broken foot. Beckham had shown, in the previous match, that his free-kick skills were worth every penny. Portugal was a good team, but not insurmountable. We were ready to win.
Instead we lost. On penalties.
So now we have lost a quarter-final, our captain, our coach. Rooney was sent off. Beckham cried. Then quit. Eriksson apologised nine times in five minutes for his performance over the last five years.
It was not a good night for our World Cup dream.
But then I only watch the football for the fit men running around and getting sweaty, so what do I care?
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Posted in In The News
Why mothers should be offered caesareans
Monday, March 6th, 2006I can’t quite believe that such an irresponsible piece of journalism appeared in the Observer this weekend. I’m all for mothers being able to choose the kind of birth they want and being supported in their choice but Jo Revill’s argument is wrong on so many levels.
How anyone can argue that “We are fast approaching the point where logically we should encourage women to have a caesarean whether or not they have a medical or psychological reason for wanting one. This is because women are having babies later and because the babies themselves are becoming bigger” or arguing that a planned c-section is better than attempting labour because “By having a planned surgical delivery, you simply avoid the biggest risk factor of all: the possibility of an emergency caesarean” defeats me.
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Posted in In The News
Whipping them out in public
Tuesday, November 22nd, 2005This was reported on Sky news today.
Mum ‘Felt Like Criminal’
A mother has spoken of her disgust at being stopped by a police officer for breastfeeding in public.
Margaret Boyle-White said she was “made to feel like a criminal”.
She had finished breastfeeding her 28-day-old daughter Niamh in Watton, Norfolk, when an officer told her he had received a complaint from a member of the public.
The policeman suggested that if she wanted to breastfeed in public in the future she should use a pub or a restaurant, she said.
“I just felt so embarrassed,” the first-time mother from Carbrooke, Norfolk, said.
“I have never been stopped by the police before and this came as a complete shock.
“I said ‘at the end of the day the Government encourages mothers to breastfeed and if I want to breastfeed my daughter on a public bench I think I should be entitled to do so.”‘
She added: “I was made to feel like a criminal. I was very upset and angry about it. I have not breastfed in public again since this. It was humiliating.”
A Norfolk Police spokesman said the officer had dealt with the matter in a “discreet, professional manner”
“Norfolk Constabulary doesn’t have an issue with mothers breastfeeding in public,” he said.
“We can confirm that we have not received any formal complaint from Mrs Boyle-White, but we are happy to talk with her further about the incident.”
I avoided feeding in public wherever possible because I was worried about others making me feel uncomfortable but when I read about experiences like this it makes me so mad. I’m not saying that mothers should whip their boobs out at every opportunity but discreet feeding when a baby is hungry should be acceptable pretty much anywhere.
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Posted in Parenting, In The News
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