Pictures

NHS Crisis - Cruising Not Caring is the solution

With the average cost for care home residents being in the region of £800 per week, it has occurred to me that the answer to the NHS crisis, and our increasingly ageing population, must surely be to send them all on a cruise. I may be quite mad but I am also quite serious about this. 
I am not a fan of cruises myself, having spent a truly dire week on board the ill fated Concordia, shortly before it sank. However, I am now of an age where the majority of my retired friends seem to look forward to a cruise as the highlight of their year. With holiday companies offering budget busting cruises for £400 per week or less, during the winter months, with heating bills through the roof, and ageing sickly patients clogging up the beds in our hospitals, it would seem to me to be the ideal solution. 
They would be in a relatively safe environment with round the clock attention, plenty of activities on offer to keep them occupied, en suite facilities, new people to meet, sights to see, and food on demand for the fussiest of palates. In addition to this, all cruise ships carry on board trained medical personnel, so barring major illnesses, most minor aches and pains could be adequately and promptly dealt with without waiting days for a doctor's appointment. They would also benefit from a change of scenery, returning refreshed and feeling better after having had a little holiday, all without having to worry whether or not they can afford to have the heating on. I do believe it's high time that in thinking 'outside the box' we should consider options such as this. Besides, it would certainly help to boost the tourist industry, sea sickness pills could be includes as an added bonus, and a canny person could also rent out their home to someone who could afford to keep it going.... just a thought.

Should Fast Food Be Banned?

One of the subjects chosen for debate by Year 6 Swanmead Community School students at this year's Rotary Youth Speaks competition was 'Should fast food advertising be allowed?' 

Those debating the subject came to the conclusion that fast food advertising should be banned, and that the sale of such foods in school should also be banned
I couldn't help but notice that there were several news items during the week on the same subject, with a call for a ban on advertising sugary foods in order to stem the growing waistline of childhood obesity.
I disagree entirely, as I believe we are missing the point here.
Fast food and sweets, like cigarettes and alcohol, are all legal substances so I fail to see why it is we continue to allow the 'nanny state' to push for the ban on advertising of them.
We turn a blind eye to the subversive sale of illegal drugs, yet we use the 'big stick' approach towards things that, yes can be harmful to our health, but are perfectly legitimate.
If we care that much, and believe they are so harmful, then why not just ban them?
I will be the first to admit that as I am childless, not by choice, I don't have to face the daily tantrums and demands of my offspring; but I do have a lot of involvement with children of all ages.
Where are we trying to teach them that they can't have everytihng they want, and to accept the word 'No'?
Each and every day we are all faced with temptations, overeating, excessive drinking, ovespending and getting into debt.... the list is endless.
The real issue is about 'self control'. Many of us have it, and many of us don't; this is the real social issue. Times are hard, so I would defend our right to the odd treat to cheer us up. And that's what is should remain, the odd forbidden treat. Bridget Jones comes to mind.

WHO CARES IF THEY'RE IN CARE?

For someone who does not 'do' the outdoors, let alone the wind and rain on a stormy weekend, it was hard to decide, as I took on the role of 'action woman', which of the activities was the least tortuous; abseiling, tunneling, rip sticking, shooting, rock climbing, or the blind folded sensory walk. Certainly, my vote for the worst was a toss up between being left hanging as I lost my foothold whilst rock climbing, or tunneling. In a moment of madness I, a childless woman, old enough to be their grandmother, had volunteered to join youth worker Catherine Newberry and Carolyn Drew from the County Council, on an outward bound type activity weekend at 'Parents Get Lost' in Weymouth, along with 11 young people from the Somerset in Care Council (SiCC). That'll teach me I thought, as a claustrophobic I found myself tunneling through a dark abyss, with barely enough room to wriggle in the mud, trying not to hyperventilate. In my elected County Council member role as cabinet support member for children and families, and as a long term school governor, I feel that practical involvement is key to understanding what we are doing to support our youngsters, particularly those that are vulnerable. In Somerset there are currently 500 children in care for a wide variety of reasons. Some are in long term placements, and the setting up of the SiCC has helped to give those that want to get involved (and some don't) the chance to meet up, and more importantly, to have a greater say over what happens to young people in care. This weekend was all about building relationships, learning to get on with others, to overcome fears and challenge boundaries. For some this was their first 'residential' trip away, and that in itself was something of an achievement as Carolyn and her team work towards ensuring the limited resources available are put to good use. I probably gained as much from the activities as the youngsters did; to witness the older ones taking on responsibility and looking out for the younger ones was a joy to witness, as was the extent that those who had iniitally declined to join in gradually opened up over the weekend, trying new things. Despite a severe lack of sleep, and very muddy clothes, the verdict was that the weekend was a real success for all of us. I'm now planning to help organise other similar events, but will be sure in future to avoid the lentil soup, as its effects were not much appreciated by all!

The Real Cost of Road Closures

Whilst it is admirable that local councils are keen to ensure that the county’s roads are properly maintained, I am increasingly engaged in conversations with local businesses that are suffering significantly as a result of this. They feel that their ongoing viability is seriously threatened, especially when the closure extends into several weeks or months.

One has to accept that in certain instances, particularly along our winding country roads, work can only be completed by closing the road. It is however, frustrating that having been informed of the date and length of the closure that this is either changed or extended, often for some considerable time. In my own case I have found that often when there is a ‘road closed’ sign that, early in the day, late at night or at weekends, there is in fact no need for this, and like many a local, I know that despite the sign there will be no road works to navigate.

Not only is there disruption for those travelling to and fro, both in terms of the additional time it takes to carry out their journey, but also the added cost of fuel where detours can be several miles long. It is however businesses I am most concerned about. I would fully expect that during the period of disruption their rates would be rebated at the very least, and consideration given to suitable compensation where appropriate, in addition to assistance with marketing and publicity material to alleviate their loss. I understand that on speaking with the owners of one local business that their trade drops by as much as 90%, for weeks at a time, which can hardly be fair at a time when all local councils should be doing everything they can to help. There must surely be a balance of interests somewhere. Incidentally, on writing this down in deepest, darkest Cornwall, where I work for around three days a month, and on looking up the Cornwall County Council website, I see they are keen to let residents know that since April 2013 they have answered in excess of 463,000 calls; that’s not far short of 2 calls per household across the entire county. Not something they should be at all proud of to my mind; if it were up to me I’d be asking what it is that’s going wrong for them to need to receive so many calls.

The Price of a Loaf of Bread

Firstly, a word about bread. I wouldn’t have much more idea than David Cameron about the price of a loaf of bread, as I rarely buy it, but I’d be damned if I’d use a posh bread maker to make it. Making bread is one of the simplest cooking skills, practically fool proof, taking only minutes to throw together, and costing a lot less. Child’s play, really.

However, during the latest party political conference, I see that the national daily press makes much of David Cameron’s assertion that profit is no longer a dirty word. Whilst in principal I might agree with him, as any company not making a profit cannot be sustainable, I would argue that it depends on the premise under which that profit is made. This applies not just to businesses, but equally to central government and local communities, where profit is not the issue, but balancing the books is. I believe there has to be an element of fairness and equity in how this is done. As I attend the latest round of budget meetings, setting the budget becomes ever harder in the face of the severe cuts we’ve all been suffering under, to try to reverse the effects of the recession. Individuals as well as portfolio holders will of course be fighting for their share of what little there is available; as one would expect. There has to be general acceptance though that things have got to change, and that services that are no longer considered essential may well have to be provided at an additional cost, or not at all.  To kick start the economy, profit making by businesses, both large and small, must only happen when those at the sharp end can be confident that they are getting value for money; that those they do business with are not raking in the profits at their expense. As a sales trainer I spend my time concentrating on value for money and matching customers’ needs cost effectively, not creating wealth at the expense of those that use the services provided. In the coming weeks and months we would all benefit from taking a long hard look at what we’re getting for our money, every time we spend it. Remember that every time a supermarket has a special offer, it is the supplier that is suffering, not the likes of Tesco, driving a hard bargain to ensure profits are maintained. At local government level I do believe that for taxpayers, given the circumstances, there is real effort to make sure that money is spent wisely. I wish I could say the same for many of the companies I do business with, where prices continue to rise, lining the pockets of their greedy shareholders, whilst I, as the customer, seem to get less and less for my money. Time to shop elsewhere I think.

Are Smart Offices a Good Idea

Many organisations, partly in response to financial constraints, have had to re-think the way in which they run their offices. The concept of 'open offices' has been around since the end of World War 2, when the old German regimented way of doing things, with a strict sense of hierarchy, went out of the window. The idea had been to allow increased opportunities for employee engagement, with a view to generating bigger and better ideas, like an informal brainstorming session.

The success of this way of working has however been mixed, where in an open office where the tendency to discuss last night's football results or the latest X-factor winner, provides a compelling distraction from daily work activities. In addition to this, the attendant background noise can negatively impact on the employee's ability to get down to the daily grind. Likewise, in a sales office for example, long periods of silence can be deafening. A certain background hum is necessary to avoid the embarrassment of conversations being overheard; some companies overcome this by the addition of ‘pink noise’.     

A 2009 report also found that the effects of open office working increases the prevalence of work related stress and high blood pressure. It is interesting to note, that despite an open office environment, it is still senior managers who hog the private corner office, with pleasant views overlooking the nearby park. Perks of the job you might say.

With the influx of immigrants arriving in the UK in the 1970s, and whilst working in Wolverhampton, I became used to the concept of ‘hot beds’, where there was a revolving door policy of shared mattresses in houses with up to 30 occupants; much like bunks on a naval ship.

Welcome to the 21^st century, and the concept of ‘hot desks’, which do allow for more cost effective, flexible working spaces, and increased working from home. The key question for management is how agreeable the environment is. There is also the issue of a shortage of daylight, whether or not the air conditioning or heating should be turned up, policies relating to eating food at the desk, even the sound of the telephone ring tone.

Whilst, cost driven, open plan offices and ‘hot desks’ are now the norm here and the USA, on the continent there has recently been a move away from open offices, with each German worker enjoying an average of 28.2sq.m. of personal space. I would argue that it is more a question of having control over your environment, and not a forced compromise between private and public space. Rather successfully in Switzerland employees are offered a choice of sofas, coffee table areas, libraries and even recliners in which to work. Personally, when working at home I much prefer to sit in bed with my laptop, rather than upright in my office, hence when the postman arrives mid morning and I’m still in my pyjamas, he thinks I’ve only just woken up, not working since 6am.  

Recent research has shown that people want to be able to ‘own’ their workspace; not knowing where you are going to be sitting from one day to the next can be unsettling. In addition to which, if everyone decides to come into work that day, there may well be nowhere to sit. Time to go home then?   

Should Babies Be Christened

The christening of baby Cambridge at St. James’s Palace brought to mind my own christening, which happened rather late in life, at the age of 36, in large part due to my mother’s staunch atheistic views. If I’m to be perfectly honest, at that time I got christened for two reasons. The first being that in order to be godmother to my best friend’s daughter the presiding vicar was adamant that godparents must themselves be christened. In addition, the church I chose to attend in order to qualify was the French Huguenot Church in New York, where I was living and working at the time, which gave free French lessons after church, plus the vicar got brownie points for christenings. The fact the he was in subsequent years de-frocked for embezzling church funds did not go unnoticed. Not the best of reasons for seeking god’s blessing I admit, but I’ve since seen the light and am now the proud godmother of four children altogether. However, I am in two minds about the value of christening babies at an age at which they are not able to make the decision for themselves. I ask this because I am often bemused by the wish for parents to have their children christened, when it may well be the only time apart from a wedding, funeral or annual nativity service, that they set foot through the door. I would be the last person to deny anyone access to the church, but I do wonder how meaningful it is. Perhaps it’s the religious equivalent of an insurance policy? To my mind a much better route, and one I was delighted to be invited to witness recently, was the thanksgiving service held by friends of mine at a local Baptist church, to celebrate the birth of their daughter; thus leaving it up to her to reach an age at which she could decide to choose for herself and make a knowing commitment to her faith. It does take all sorts, but no matter what route we choose in life I believe that an element of sincerity is necessary for it to be meaningful.

Samaritans 60th Anniversary

On November 2nd, Samaritans across the country celebrated their Diamond Jubilee. It hardly seems possible that 60 years has passed since Chad Varah received that first life saving telephone call. Little could we have predicted how much the organisation would grow to become such a vital life line to so many people in distress and despair, or how it has changed to reflect the gorwing needs and concerns of our current society. One thought of as the 'suicide' charity Samaritans has come of age as awareness of the many ways in which people from all walks of life can be helped in times of need, whether a sudden crisis, or an ongoing situation.
Local Samaritan Linda Vijeh says 'With ever tighter funding for social services, we are increasingly receiving calls from those with mental health issues, who traditionally would have been able to obtain treatment or help elsewhere. With our 24/7 service, although we do not offer advice, we are able to provide listening support, where sometimes there are just not any answers. People want to feel they have a voice, to be able to express their feelings, and gain confidential emotional support without being judged. Becoming a Samaritan just over 3 years ago is probably the most worthwhile and fulfilling thing I do.'
In celebration of the occasion BT tower in London was lit up in green.

Locally, Samaritans were be hard at work baking 60 cakes to sell at a fund raising coffee morning held on Saturday 2nd Nov. at North Street Congregational Church in Taunton from 10.30am - 12.30pm.
Amazingly, St. George's Church in Wilton had generously offered to donate the funds raised during their Sunday morning service on 3rd Nov. to Samaritans.

Rhone Wine Study Tour Report

A full report on the 2008 WSET Rhone study tour from Linda Piggott-Vijeh


The following is the report of Linda Piggott-Vijeh on her visit to La Madelene in October for the 2008 WSET wine tutors study tour. Linda is a multi-talented lady whose experience covers professional cooking, hotel inspecting, training in the advertising world as well as wine , cookery and french teaching. She also finds time to serve as a local councillor in her home of Somerset - she was a delight to host on the study tour. Here’s her report:



It was the last wine that did it for me…the 1999 Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape… my tasting notes read yummy, yummy, yummy, a meal in a mouthful, intense fruity nose, deep dark purple hue, tobacco, leather, spice, chocolate, coffee, SO complex, tannins still in evidence but soft, unctuous….. a classic blend of 30% mourvedre, 30% syrah, 30% grenache, with a smattering of…… (too tipsy by then to remember!). Well it would pass muster wouldn’t it, at over £100 a bottle, and then if the old purse strings could run to it in the current economic climate, hardly available. Oh well, reality sets in eventually, but what a wine to finish with.
I was later to learn that C-de-P do not contribute towards the overall marketing budget for promoting Rhone wines, preferring to remain aloof, not wanting to be seen to mix with the hoi polloi… snobs.
Thank you Philip. He being our host and tour leader, a recently displaced ex-pat from, you’ve guessed it, London. He, together with his amiable wife Jude, their adorable daughter Lily, and milkshake and pumpkin the two resident felines, the latter a late addition the day before our arrival, has quickly made his mark on the local wine scene offering tailor made tours for wine buffs and novices alike. Based at La Madelène, near Malaucène, their beautifully renovated, stylish, light and airy property, complete with wood burner and swimming pool, accommodates groups of up to 14,
On this trip there were just the 3 of us, a cosy and disparate group, some suffering from jet lag and a strong dislike of bovine flesh. Not me, not at all, although Jude was happy to cater to all diets with her fabulous home cooked meals, enough to convert any meat eater to the delights of chick pea and courgette pie.
Our three-day journey took us through the Southern Rhone, and an exposure to the delights of wines made from up to 15 different grape varieties, each one adding their own special character to the final blend. I’ve always been a fan of Rhone wines, the basic Cotes du Rhone Villages wines, readily available for under £4 a bottle, and always reliable, forms the backbone of my standard daily plonk at home. I had however remained largely oblivious to the depth and breadth of these great value wines. Get in while you can. Bargains abound as the wine toffs often shun these wines, overlooking them in favour of flashier Burgundy and Bordeaux.
On being collected from Marseille airport, we began our trip in earnest, in the delightful cru of Beaumes De Venise at Domaine des Bernardins.
This was the first winemaker to gain AOC status in B-de-V, back in 1943. As was soon to be the pattern for our visit, we were hosted by the youngest member to join the family winemaking business, in this case the affable Roman Hall (6th generation). Like many of the 60 wines we sampled during our stay, these are fermented and aged in stainless steel (in many others large cement tanks are also used). B-de-V is of course known for its intensely sweet fortified muscats but of the 7 wines produced here we were able to sample several reds, not often seen in B-de-V.
Over dinner the first night we sampled a modest selection of 8 (!) wines covering the spectrum of what we were to expect in the coming days. These included a grapefuity Viognier (Domaine Brusset, Les Clavelles2007) and another interesting white from Rasteau (Domaine des Coteaux des Travers 2006) with lime and citrus notes. Always a fan of single grape varieties I particularly enjoyed the opportunity to sample the 100% mourvedre (Domaine Rabasse Charavin 1999), like liquorice and cream. However, my pick for this tasting had to be the Muscat de B-de-V (Domaine de Beaumaric 2006), noted as rich, full bodied, like clotted cream on toast with a hint of honey and toffee undertones ‘thunder and lightening’ – did I mention that I’m particularly partial to dessert wines….!?
Back to work the next morning, in the classroom, when Philip introduced to his basement atelier and an excellent presentation introducing us properly to the delights of the region, its characteristics and history. On hand to keep us on our toes was fellow ex-pat Nick Thompson who makes wine at nearby Cairanne (L’Ameillaud), a village heavily pushing forward with plans for attaining AOC status, which could rock the boat a bit.
Next stop, the formidable Christine Saurel at biodynamic vineyard Montirius. She has been here for 22 years, the fifth generation of her family, a theme that ran throughout the week – it seems that once it’s in the blood ……. As practically a vineyard virgin it was a treat to find she had left some grapes on the vine for us to taste, despite the end of the harvest several weeks before. The grapes in this case were Syrah and in our tutored ‘tasting’ of them it was simple to identify the characteristics of each component –

Pulp – apples and almonds
Pips – pepper and hazelnuts
Skin – black cherries and plums
For Christine ‘balance’ is the key to the wines they make here. Montirius has been biodynamic for 12 years and all grapes are hand harvested, which takes around 18 days from their holdings of Grenache (70ha.); Syrah (30ha.) and Mourvedre (20ha.) situated mainly in the AC areas of Gigondas and Vacqueyras, with each plot co-planted. Once picked the grapes are only gently pressed to split the skins (as for the carbonic maceration method used in Beaujolais). Each day’s harvest is fermented separately (unusual), with no added yeast, in cement vats. Montirius produces around 150,000 bottles a year and in general their yield is slightly lower than the legal limit of 33hl./ha. All the red wines here undergo malo-lactic fermentation and are left on their lees for anywhere from 7 days to 3 weeks, before being aged for a minimum of 18 months. Stainless steel is only used for their white Vacqueyras. Like several other vineyards we visited there is a recent move here, for economic reasons, towards employing locals to help with the harvest. Down in the cellar we were able to sample wine from the same tank siphoned off just two days apart - the difference was remarkable. Back in the family tasting room we discovered the origins of the name Montirius – a combination of the names of their 3 children – Manon, Justine and Marius.
On to Domaine les Goubert in Gigondas, where young Florence Cartier, a recent wine school graduate, was our hostess, under the watchful eye of her parents. Here their 22ha. of vines, a full combination of the ubiquitous Rhone grapes, produce mostly red wines, approx. 60 -70% of their total production. All their wines undergo malo-lactic fermentation and their Gigondas is mainly aged in new French oak barrels for 9 -24 months, the oak coming from 3 different forests. Whilst wines have always been aged n oak here Florence’s father was the first to use new oak. White wines are aged in barrels that are 3-4 years old to give a softer character. Florence’s family have been making wine here for at least 300 years. They prefer not to filter their wines too much and all their wines are fermented separately prior to the assemblage. No chemicals are used in the vineyard and yield is between 25-30hl./ha., giving a total annual production of 80,000 bottles, 49% of which is Gigondas.
After a short break (we never seemed to get back as early as we’d planned, in large part due to the generosity of our hosts) we returned to restaurant L’Oustalet in Gigondas for a splendid fine dining experience in a village restaurant owned by the local mayor, who along with his relatives, seems to take a keen interest in all the activities hereabouts. One interesting feature of the meal was a ‘combination’ dessert with four different elements all made from olives.
The following day, intended as the highlight of the trip, we spent in Chateauneuf-du-Pape ,where the symbol of crossed keys is a prominent feature on every bottle produced. First stop was at Cuvee du Vatican where Karine Diffonty’s father-in-law was the mayor for 30years and one of the original members of the local Syndicat d’Initiative. A memorable ride in Karine Diffonty’s trusty (and very muddy) old camion took us up to their vines planted at ‘La Crau’, the very special location and site of the famous galets – round pebbles that are notable for their heat retention.
Here the Diffonty’s have 2.5ha. of gobelet trained Mourvedre and Grenache. This year the yield was very low, only 20hl./ha. By law only Syrah and Cinsault can be wire trained, all other grape varieties here are bush trained, hence their low stumpy knarled appearance. On ‘La Crau’ there are 300ha. the best vines C-d-P can offer, owned mainly by the top producers. This comprises 10% of total area under vine in C-d-P. Cuvee du Vatican produces around 100,000 bottles p.a. of which only a tiny proportion, 5%, is white. Fermentation takes around 3 weeks and natural yeast is used, although not exclusively. Karine was keen that we should taste their award winning cuvee (4th in Decanter tasting in 2005) and has few fears about the impending economic recession, maintaining that with the luxury end of the market, where demand always exceeds supply, the effect will not be drastic. Karine, along with other producers we spoke to was well aware of the changing face of the wine industry ‘We are not just farmers any more, we need to be involved in marketing, distribution and other commercial aspects’. Karine is also aware of other factors affecting their future, and with global warming in mind they plan to plant 1ha. of Counoise this coming year with a view to developing their future blends.
Domaine de la Solitude was next on the itinerary, where Florent Lancon, with his handsome Italianate looks, entertained us in style. The property has been in his family’s hands for 400 years when his ancestors came over with the Pope. Direct descendants of the Barbarini family whose, motto is ‘All that the Barbarians haven’t done, the Barbarini's will do’.
This is not a family to be messed with, evidenced by the many antiques that were plundered locally. Yields from their 33ha. of C-d-P and 40ha. of Cotes du Rhone, were again very low this year at around 20hl./ha., in line with others in the region. This was This comprises 10% of total area under vine in C-d-Planted by the very cold winter in 2007/8 , lots of rain preventing pollination of the flowers and the fact that due to the high rain levels many of the vines were affected by oidium. Florent was very excited by their new label the 100%Ggrenache ‘Cornelia Constanza’ his very first wine since graduating from college. The family also own 1ha. of precious pre-phylloxera Grenache vines, discovered when Florent was digging up old vines planted in a sandy area close to the house. The ‘Cornelia Constanza’ is aged in oak barrels from the Caucasus mountains, the reason for doing this explained by barrel maker Moreau offering a free trial.
Lunch followed at a hillside restaurant in C-d-P, Le Verger des Papes, which in fine weather would afford splendid views of the surrounding countryside. Although not as elegant as our dinner venue the night before I much preferred the honesty of the cuisine here.
Last stop of this memorable visit was to Domaine Maby in Lirac, where once again the latest generation of the family was beginning to exert their more modern approach towards wine making in the area. Richard’s grandfather, who is now 87, first started this vineyard and most grapes continue to be harvested by hand.
Richard Maby, whose harvest had only finished 10 days ago, told us that production this year was down by 25%. To make their fine award winning rose (La Fermade) the grapes are de-stemmed and macerated on their skins for 24-48 hours before being pressed pneumatically. All 13 approved Rhone grape varieties are grown on the 60ha. under vine here, although the bulk of their wines are made from Grenache or Grenache Blanc grapes. Six or more grape varieties are used in their rose blends, whilst for their white wines 5 varieties, including ugni blanc, are used. The grapes are macerated, and fermented in stainless steel, making it easier to control the temperature, allowing for a slow fermentation over 20 – 30 days. Additional yeast is not usually added, and with 300,000 bottles a year production, Domaine Maby is the 3rd largest producer in Tavel. The new bottling plant here also allows the wine to be bottled without any exposure to air and the traditional ageing in oak has been surpassed by the use of cement tanks, stainless steel and a small number of oak barriques.
The AC of Lirac has the only independent wine producer (Beaumont), whereas Tavel has 30, although Tavel is the only appellation in France with AOC for rose only.
All in all a great whirlwind trip covering the Southern Rhone, and all the more so because of our ‘selective’ group and the attentions of our hosts.

Linda Piggott-Vijeh
Nov. 2008

Poppies, Pride and Patriotism

I always feel that the sight of the bright red poppies worn on everyone’s lapels at this dull and dank time of year gives me pause for thought; about the reasons behind ‘Remembrance Day’. I consider the fragile ethereal beauty of these hardy blooms as they appeared on the battle fields of Flanders, the first flowers to grow on the soldiers’ graves, and the inspiration behind the World War 1 poem, ‘In Flanders Fields’, by John McCrae. This makes me wonder what lessons we have learned in the intervening years about the futility of war. Man is by nature not a peaceful being, but when I consider the cost of war, not just in terms of the lives lost and families destroyed, but also the economic cost to society; building weapons of war, and re-building towns and cities in the wake of their use, I can't help but feel helpless. Nowadays of course ‘war’ takes on a new and very sinister meaning, that of the war against terrorism, which knows no bounds and abides by no rules of engagement, a threat to us all, going about our daily business. The least we can all do is to support The Royal British Legion, whose work continues to ensure that our military personnel, and the debt we owe them, right or wrong, is repaid in what I see as a peaceful protest. Fiercely patriot, but not xenophobic I hope, I shall continue to wear my poppy with pride, lest I forget what has gone before, and the price paid to ensure my freedom.

Perfect Imperfections

Whilst having dinner with friends, who take some level of pride in rearing their own animals and growing their own produce, I was slightly taken aback when at the end of a meal recently they produced a plate of rather unappetising plums from their tree. I couldn’t help but think, as I regarded this dubious offering, ‘This isn’t like them.’ However, being polite, and urged to sample the gaping split plums, I took one, only to find out how wrong, and judgemental, I’d been. They were the juiciest, most luscious and tasty plums I had ever eaten, and I couldn’t help but want for more.
The surprise and shame I felt at having pre-judged them on their appearance, and by association my neighbours, in their generosity and eagerness to share, I started to consider some of the battles I frequently fight on behalf of those who suffer needlessly from pre-conceived ideas and prejudice.
Take supermarket produce for example. In their quest to provide us with perfectly formed, evenly sized cucumbers straight as an arrow, or pefectly formed tomatoes, strawberries, mushrooms, potatoes, eggs, you name it, all regimentally lined up in their protective trays, little consideration seems to be given to the cost of this, not just to us, the consumer, but also to the poor farmers who are growing the stuff. They are learning the hard way that nature does not produce the perfect veg., at least not without considerable human intervention. In their efforts to gain and retain the much-coveted right to provide avaricious supermarkets with the produce they demand, and which they insist we want, just how much goes to waste?
On the same day that I had been offered the plums, I had made a rare visit to a supermarket, and on leaving had gone to put some litter in the bin outside, only to spot an entire punnet of peaches that had been thrown away. I shamelessly fished the punnet out, ignoring the look of horror on another shopper’s face, and was mightily pleased on getting them home to find that only two out of the seven were in fact showing signs of going bad. Result.
This led me to thinking about other imperfections we encounter in our daily lives, and often dismiss or disregard those we encounter; the mongrel dog, the disabled person, the person who stutters or is dyslexic, the Heath Robinson contraption made for us by a loved one, the cake that sank in the middle, the jam that didn’t quite set. The list is endless.
So next time you are out and about, seek out the gnarled, mis-shapen fruit and veg, the people who don’t fit the mould, the imperfectly excuted piece of art; embrace them, and enjoy them for what they represent, priceless in their unique individuality. The fact is, that try as hard as we might, life and all that exists within it is far from perfect, but that doesn’t mean it, or they, are not worth our love and attention, and can be enjoyed with gay abandon, if we let ourselves.

MEETINGS – WHO NEEDS THEM?

 It’s a sad fact of life that the minute you decide to get involved in something, someone, somewhere, will decide to call a meeting; at which point, my heart sinks. Given all of the organisations I am involved in I probably average between 10 and 20 meetings a month, in addition to full time work. Not an easy task, and yes, I probably do need to get a life.  It isn’t the meetings however that I mind so much about, as to what is, or isn’t, achieved by attending them. To my mind all meetings should have a clear purpose and focus, with tangible outcomes and timescales, otherwise, why have them at all? We might all just as well sit down for a cup of tea and a cosy chat, which is in itself as good a thing to do when engaging with the local community.

If the intention is merely to inform there are other ways to achieve this. If opinion is sought, as increasingly organisations are required to ‘consult’, then more often than not a survey is used, with precious little response, as in my experience if people are happy with the status quo, then they will let things lie; and if not, they'll certainly find you.   

In raising the issue I readily admit that I’m more of an action person myself; tell me what needs to be done, to what standard, by when, and leave me to get on with it. Provided there isn’t anyone else to put a fly in the ointment, which sadly there often is. I pride myself on delivering on time.

Lest you think this is all moan and groan, I’m writing this as I’ve negotiated yet another lot of traffic to get myself to Taunton, where in a failed attempt to retain a super efficient persona in the public arena, I have other meetings planned around the original one, saving time and petrol. Except that the original meeting has been cancelled, without me being notified.

I run a very tight schedule and do get incredibly frustrated when meetings times, venues and dates are changed with a certain degree of alacrity, and little thought for those attending, and the knock on effects created.

I can think of one organisation I belong to where for some time, due to work commitments, I used to drive a 300 mile round trip every week just to make one 2 hour meeting. Did anyone notice or care, not at all; but for me it was a personal commitment I’d made and felt honour bound to keep. The personal outcome - I shan’t be quite so bothered to bust a gut to get there in future. It may well be cancelled after all.

So the next time I’m asked to either organise a meeting, or attend one, I will be asking why the meeting is being held, (fully expecting the response, ‘We meet every two months regardless’), what it is hoped will be decided or achieved at the meeting, and who is likely to benefit as a result.

LIVING WAGE

Recent pronouncements have called for us all to be paid a living wage, and although the intended aims are admirable, just how do you calculate a ‘living wage’?

Based on an average working week, at the intended living wage of £9 per hour, someone would have income of approx. £250 per week, after tax, to cover everything. On the surface, this might seem like a lot, but not when taking into account all of the basic necessities of life.

I’m extravagant by nature but frugal by necessity. In addition to, thankfully, a modest mortgage, my regular monthly expenses include such other items as house insurance, heat, light, water, car insurance, car tax, MOT, council tax, prescriptions, parking, RAC membership, ‘phone, petrol, TV license… the list is endless. This of course makes no allowance for clothes, food, necessities such a toilet rolls and household cleaning materials, the odd holiday break, household repairs and maintenance. I’m lucky, or unlucky, depending on which way you look at it, to have no dependents or pets, and am in reasonably good health.

For many, whilst it would allow a basic standard of living, there would be little leeway for emergencies, or to replace items such as furniture etc.

I am able to manage because I have several jobs, and have the capacity to take on extra work to make up any shortfall to provide life’s little luxuries, meals out, birthday gifts etc., and were I able to get out and about without the car I’d be saving a fortune.

The real issue though is not so much about ensuring a living wage but paying people for the skills and expertise required to perform a job well. The sad reality is that many employers now do not indicate a wage when advertising a vacancy, preferring the catch all cop out, ‘salary negotiable’, for which read ‘I’ll pay you as little as I can get away with’. Until we value people for what they can do we will never achieve the level of social equality that is much talked about.

Thankfully, public bodies are largely exempt from this approach, with fixed pay scales and a greater level of transparency, but until employers recognise the importance of treating employees as valuable assets a true ‘living wage’ will remain just a dream.

Ironically, there has been heated debate about the consequences of the anticipated influx of Bulgarians and Romanians in a week’s time, but you can bet there will be unscrupulous employers wiling to employ them for peanuts, whilst making their existing hard working staff redundant; and who will we blame? I have seen at first hand the hang ‘em and flog ‘em brigade at work on many occasions, particularly with many back office services outsourced to countries like India. In the end it is employers who are to blame, ensuring that their shareholders pockets remain well lined, and taking advantage of tax loopholes, whilst the rest of us struggle to make ends meet.

LIMITED OPTIONS FOR SCHOOL LEAVERS

 

As the new year begins, and clutching their latest batch of exam results, many young people across the country are gearing themselves up for entry into college or university.  But what of the options available to those who did not do as well as they’d hoped, failing to achieve the necessary grades for the university or course of their choice?

What of their future life ahead? I was seriously alarmed to discover recently the extent to which colleges seem to take something of a cavalier attitude towards cancelling courses at the last minute. 

I raise this because I was a victim of this myself some years ago. Having reached a ripe old age, and wanting to keep my employment opportunities open, after gaining my teaching qualification I elected, at my own expense, and in my own time, to take a TEFL course offered by Trinity College Cambridge. The course was to be an intensive month long, and in order to do this I had to put in place suitable domestic arrangements, in addition to securing time off work. Thus I was less than pleased to be informed just days before the start of the course it had been cancelled, due to lack of numbers. I felt I’d been left up the proverbial creek without the paddle, but tenacity is second nature to me so I set to, finding the same course on offer, at the same time, in Prague. Despite the stress caused, the upside was that the course was considerably cheaper, even taking into account accommodation, in an ex-communist block of flats.

This was some time ago so I hadn’t given much thought to this until recently, when I was alerted to the plight students who’d not done as well as they’d hoped in their exams, thereby failing to be given places to study for ‘A’ levels.

They enrolled on a business studies course at a local college, only to be told, on the day of registration, the course had been cancelled. They now find they are reluctantly enrolled on other courses. I fear for their future success in life. In my experience the best way to motivate someone is to get them engaged in something they are interested in, not offered a poor second option. I would not be at all surprised to find that sooner or later they have dropped out. I do appreciate that with tighter funding colleges are not in a position to offer courses where the take up is low and they need to consider carefully the viability of the courses they run, but there must surely be another way forward. I am also mindful of the ‘zero hours’ contracts that many tutors continue to be employed under, despite recent criticism of this practice. As colleges compete for student places someone must take active responsibility for ensuring the right courses are offered, and marketed appropriately to ensure healthy levels of take up; avoiding the disappointment that can be so damaging to youngsters at a vulnerable point in their lives, as they step out into the world hoping to make their mark.    

Internet Blackmail and Suicide

Once again the tragic deaths and attempted suicides of vulnerable youngsters as a result of internet activity becomes national news. 
Sadly, as a Samaritan, I am not at all surprised, as the increasing number of calls, emails and text messages from youngsters shows. Only yesterday in my local pharmacy I happened to speak to someone whose child was self harming and suicidal.
There are a number of issues here. Increasingly young people have access to the technology that many of us oldies can only have imagined when we were their age. Then the dangers were different, but of no less concern. When we left the house, apart from locating a push button pay phone, we remained uncontactable. Nowadays, we can all be contacted all of the time, 24 hours a day, with no let up. This means both positive and negative contact, and the constant need to know what others think or do. Much has been said about the increasing tendency to lead our lives literally hooked up to our ipads and mobiles. It's as if we feel we cannot perform without them. The extent to which my fellow councillors feel duty bound to check their messages during meetings is testimony to this, and as adults they should know better.
In addition to this it seems that the majority of children over the age of 9 or 10 now have a TV and computer in their bedroom, hidden away from prying adult lives. Increasingly isolated, because parents are either not around or too busy to interact properly, along with broken relationships, causing angst and stress for all concerned, the impact of this can only increase. It was something raised by the Chief Constable at last night's South Somerset District Council meeting at which he confirmed that the face of crime is changing, and rapidly. However, we can all do our bit to try to help or stem the flow of such invidious activity. As a County Councillor with particular interest in child welfare, I recently met with officers to discuss ways to 'Champion the Child', and in the coming months I will be meeting with all sectors of the community to look at ways we can protect our youngsters. One simple action can to be more observant, as changes in behaviour, loss of control or withdrawal, can be a valuable sign that all is not well. If we don't, the impact on all of us will be far reaching
In the meantime, the message is clear, if you are feeling vulnerable and suicidal call someone, it often helps to talk about it before its too late. Samaritans offers free, confidential help to everyone, and often it is that very anonymity that encourages someone to tell someone, and save precious lives.

Eating Horse Meat

Who better to know about the value of horse meat than Princess Anne. Although many may baulk at the idea, I have eaten horse meat on several occasons and find it, if properly cooked, delicious, lean and very heathly. Personally I don't see that the moral issue is very different from eating some of the 'specialty' meats that on occasion find their way onto out supermarket shelves, such a alligator and kangaroo. The issue, which is being widely discussed at present, is the welfare of the animal, and the way in which it is slaughtered. Eating horse meat would also certainly take the value out of the current black market use of it to deceive custotmers.
For recipes, you will find that pretty much any game recipe, for venison for example, will do the job nicely, especially if using a marinade. If wanting to eat it like steak, be careful not to overcook the meat if you don't want it to be tough and dry.

Fuel Poverty - The Moral Maze

I note with interest that the topic for this week’s Moral Maze programme on Radio 4 is the moral responsibility of energy companies not to squeeze us dry. I must be one of the only people to have recently received a hefty rebate from my energy supplier, EDF, for which I am very grateful. The reason for this is that unlike the last two years when I had a lodger living with me, I am now living alone again, and on an average day I leave home before 8am, frequently not returning until after 10pm, so my energy usage is minimal. Whilst having someone living with me they were at home all day using heating, lights, cooker, washing machine etc., as I expect are many of those who are either at home with young children, retired, in poor health or unemployed. Having recently experienced some very hard financial times myself, I am very frugal about my energy use, particularly as I have a flat in a listed building with electricity being the sole source of available energy, an immersion heater for hot water, wretched night storage heaters, 12 foot high ceilings, and no double glazing. 

My own solution is to spend what little time I am at home in bed with the electric blanket and the hot water bottle, with heavy curtains and shutters closed permanently from November until Easter. It’s like living in the twilight zone. However, I am fortunate in that I don’t have to consider others and can choose how I spend my hard earned money. If it’s a choice between heating, when an extra jumper would do, or a visit to the local pub for a meal, I know where my priorities lie. No wonder my friends won’t come and visit in the winter. What is at stake here is the issue of multi-national companies making huge profits at the expense of consumers. Much has been said about the benefits of switching, but this is something I have never considered, much preferring the reliability of a supplier that I can trust that provides good customer service; one of the reasons I still use BT, and am loyal to my mobile ‘phone company.  Most people on tight budgets do not have a choice as more and more of their income is spent on energy. 

As a councillor, I have been asked to help sort out the mess in the wake of constituents switching to dubious companies, just for a cheap quick fix that often goes sadly wrong. To an extent it is understandable that companies will seek to increase prices when their own expenses go up, but there is little evidence that these are reduced when the reverse happens. In the current economic climate local government and the NHS are suffering severe cut backs and expected to provide the same level of service with much less money; achieved either by redundancies or looking at different, more efficient, ways of working. Whilst energy companies seem to have carte blanche to increase prices at will there is no incentive for them to put their houses in order. I can appreciate that there is not necessarily the case for energy companies to operate within a tight moral framework, but we are increasingly expecting other sectors of the economy to behave in this way, so why should they be the exception?  

I await, with no great level of satisfaction, the news of the first death this winter of an elderly, frail person who couldn’t afford to heat their home.

JUST FIFTEEN MINUTES OF CARE AND ATTENTION

 In light of the recent headlines about the 15 minute time slots for carers going into people's homes, I was hot on the line at the crack of dawn to my local county council, and was heartened by the swift and emphatic reply 'We do not authorise 15 minute visits, and never have.' This however does not really address the key issue, the extent to which we should expect the local authority to provide a service beyond that which is a statutory responsibility.

I heard with interest the articulate account of an elderly lady living by herself who would have liked her daily carer to be able to spend more time with her, to sit down and enjoy a meal with her, and to be allowed to do those intimate tasks, such as cutting her toenails, which are now considered too risky. In an ideal world, as we all get older it would be brilliant if we could all benefit from a caring individual who calls daily for a bit of a gossip and a bite to eat, but is this realistic? To what extent should the state provide anything over and above the requirement to ensure that people as they become older and vulnerable are clean, safe, warm and well? In the past it would have been members of the local community, or even better, family members, who would drop in to perform tasks such a trip to the shops, or running a few errands. Sadly our family units are disparate, and those who live in our communities, if we know them at all, are often older and less able than ourselves, or with lives too busy to think of others. On a personal level, with few family members, and none of them nearby, I am quite fearful of growing older and positively petrified that I may end up being at the mercy of others; that is why, whilst still relatively in my prime, I have made it my business to cultivate and retain those life long friends, and their families, who I may well need to call on at some point. It is however a two way street, and I go out of my way to ensure that while I am still able to, I assist others in their hour of need, storing up the brownie points for when I run out of milk, tea bags and toilet rolls, and am too unwell to get to the village shop. I am much more concerned about those that are paid to provide a certain level of care, and time, and stint on that, thinking no-one will be any the wiser. Yes, we do deserve a decent service, but in a cohesive caring community we should all be looking out for ourselves and those close to us first of all, before we call in the 'professionals', and then ensure we get what we pay for, a different thing altogether to what we might think we deserve. What small service have you carried out for someone else today?

Energy and Passion of our Students

Whilst it is disappointing to read the less than inspiring results as the educational standards of our local youngsters has once again hit the headlines this week, I found myself at Wadham School again.

On this occasion, as I do every year, it was to assist The Rotary Club of Ilminster with their practice interviews. This is something the club have been doing at the school for some years now, enabling Year 11 students to see what it is like to be interviewed, and to give them pointers on how to sharpen up their CVs, their appearance and their communication skills, if required. Despite their usual initial apprehension and shyness, I found myself once again surprised and delighted at the 'energy' and 'passion' of these students just starting out on their journey to adulthood. For some youngsters life can be especially hard. We've all heard news of bullying, and in our current society there are many challenges to be overcome. What I found here though is that each and every one of them felt they had benefited from some support, be it from friends or family, their tutors, or the school as a whole, which if they are to be believed, excels in pastoral care. They all however had the ability, no matter what the situation, to pick themselves up, start all over again, and 'go for it'! 

I certainly went home in a pensive state of mind, for which I thank Wadham students, and the staff, of course. What the outcome of their exam results next year will be is anyone's guess, and yes the results will be important. In fact, for some they will be life changing. However, as someone who has largely been self-educated as an adult I am well aware, even if some employers are not, that it is not just about academic prowess but also about the person and the complex make up of skills, knowledge and character that will to a large part determine their success in life. 

By chance this week I have also been involved in the recruitment of non-executive directors at the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS FT, and we have been busy short listing candidates for their final interviews. In assessing their suitability, I was reminded of this whole issue of exam results when one candidate felt, at a rather advanced stage in their career it was appropriate to mention O-level achievement. I would certainly hope that on nearing retirement they had something else to offer other than exams taken at the age of 16. Likewise, another candidate felt it incumbent upon them to mention every single thing they had done in a career spanning 40 years, all 15 pages of it! 

They may well have been academic, and eminently suitable for selection, but in terms of their ability to put that across succinctly other less well qualified candidates were much more likely to pass muster. In many years of recruiting people from all walks of life, for many different jobs, it is sometimes those that on paper seem less impressive, that if given the chance, can really come up trumps.

DODGY COMPANY INTERVIEWS

Every year for a number of years now, The Rotary Club of Ilminster has conducted whole year interviews at Wadham School, with a view to giving the youngsters there the opportunity for discussion around what is expected them of them, and pointers in how best to present themselves both in person, and in submitting their CVs when applying for jobs. I’m sure I can speak for my fellow colleagues and volunteers when I say that I feel it is one of the most valuable things we do. You can imagine my concern therefore when the poor interview practices employed by many national companies was highlighted recently. I would suggest that no-one could prepare someone for an interview at which prospective employees were asked to imitate a chicken, or spend time preparing to give a presentation only to be asked to dance before an audience to rap music. I can just imagine the level of discomfort when the interviewee, in his 50s was asked to do this. It would seem that the sole aim of the interview process was to humiliate candidates. In my day job I spend a lot of time interviewing, and have done for many years, giving everyone from head teachers to potential Chairmen, and the office cleaner, the once over. I differ from many who hold that opinion that the interviewer/s should aim to put the candidates at their ease. Whilst not wanting to be deliberately difficult I do believe that certainly in the business world, there needs to be a toughness to survive, and I have no qualms about testing a person’s ability to hold their own when under fire. I have a reputation for it. However, what should be tested are those key skills, whether personal or academic, that are required to perform the job well, and have a positive impact on the company in question. These can be tested in a range of ways but should always, always, have a specific purpose, and this explained to the candidate so that they are fully aware of why that particular skill or experience is necessary to the role. One great bugbear of mine is that nowadays employers advertise posts with no salary given, obviously hoping to get someone on the cheap. It is the job that should warrant a certain level of pay NOT the post holder. Also, why is it that despite candidates spending considerable time and effort on completing application forms, that more often than not their application not even acknowledged, let alone proper feedback given as to why they might not quite fit the bill when compared with others, to give them the opportunity to gain those skills and experience for the future. it would seem that the standard line is ‘other candidates more closely met the criteria for this position’….. which is a cop out. In an ideal world none of us would consider working for such organisations, but sadly, at a time when good jobs are hard to come by, employers hold the reins of power.  

Do Immigrants Work Harder

As usual, the media got itself into something of a frenzy earlier this week over the issue of whether our natives are a lazy bunch sponging off society, where the results of yet another survey showed that immigrants work harder and are less likely to claim benefits. For fear of incurring the wrath of the local populace I am inclined to agree, but not for the reasons people might think. Humans are by and large social animals, with a basic need to form themselves into units, whether to procreate and keep the race going, for protection, or friendship. It is by working together that we have progressed from Neanderthals on four legs to the upright two legged beings we are today. So, when someone of their own free will chooses to flee their country of birth they are in general running away from something (fear of persecution, starvation, lack of political freedom etc.), or running towards something, such as a better standard of living, health care or education, and the availability of opportunity. As frustrating as it may seem, unlike us, who may have had fairly stable lives by comparison, they are highly motivated to achieve whatever it was that made them in many cases risk life or limb to get here, often illegally. They have a clear aim. It is this key factor that drives them on to achieve, admittedly sometimes by fair means or foul. I strongly suspect that were a similar survey carried out amongst expat Brits who have chosen to live abroad, apart from those fortunate enough to perhaps retire to a place in the sun, the results would be very similar. They went abroad to achieve something better for themselves, and are therefore highly motivated. It is only when those dreams go horribly wrong that they then think of returning to their homeland, as in the case of many immigrants, where they know that the friends and family they left behind will help them pick up the pieces. That is the crux of the matter, it is not to do with their nationality, but the reason they came in the first place. I went to work abroad in the early 1980s for three months, with three suitcases, and came back 10 years later, when it had all gone wrong, but my sense of achievement remains today.

Chef Served Weeds to Ambassador

Chef served weeds to French ambassador | Western Gazette

www.westerngazette.co.uk/Chef-served-weeds-French.../story.html‎

9 May 2013 - DESIGNING dinners for the delectation of Baroness Thatcher and other world leaders was all in a day's work for Linda Piggott-Vijeh when she ...

BUTTS AND BUCKS

I attended a recent meeting where two of the topics discussed, and voted on, were the ethics of pension fund investments in the tobacco industry, and whether or not payday loan companies should be permitted to operate. I voted against both motions to ban them, and I want to make myself absolutely clear; I abhor both the habit of smoking, and the ethos of payday loan companies, having suffered indirectly at the hands of both.

Despite my own life long abstinence, my entire family have always been heavy smokers, up to 60 a day at one point. It seems ironic that it is I, as a result of inhaling second hand smoke, who has suffered from lung problems for most of my life. A key contributory factor to the early death of my brother, to whom I was very close, by suicide, turned out to be the result of gambling debts, and trying keep up with extortionate loan repayments due to money problems.

However, I cannot ignore the fact that both the sale of tobacco and the ability to borrow money, albeit from unscrupulous lenders, are both legal activities; at the moment. Whether or not I agree is another matter altogether.

I’ve heard all of the arguments over health issues surrounding smoking, and the cost to the NHS, but if we are to take that stance where will it all stop?

Will we be barred from eating chocolate, taking up dangerous sports, driving fast cars?

Will pension funds be prevented from investing in pharmaceutical or energy companies, just for starters?

Yes, there are many children and adults in our society who are vulnerable, but playing the interfering ‘nanny state’ card will not address the underlying causes of why people, of their own free will, continue to do things that at heart they know will be detrimental to their health.

People start to smoke for all sorts of reasons, peer pressure, relief of stress, because they like it…. and borrow money for just as many; either they’ve spent beyond their budgets, or they’ve suffered a financial catastrophe and need money quickly, at any cost.

It’s not for me to judge.

Besides, as with alcohol, if the government felt that strongly about it, why not ban the sale of tobacco altogether? It’ll never happen, as without it the chancellor’s coffers would be severely depleted. Playing devil’s advocate, one could argue that it is the tax paid on the purchase of cigarettes that contributes heavily to future NHS care for smokers.

We can’t have it both ways. What we need is informed education, not lecturing, or a big stick to beat us all with.

Big Brother in Care Homes

Over the years since the publication of George Orwell's 1984, in 1949, and my exposure to it during my school years studying for 'O' levels, I have often wondered how long it would take for it to become reality. Each year we seem to get closer and closer to a police state where our every movement is monitored and analysed. Speed cameras, CCTV cameras in our town centres, GPS tracking devices on our cars and mobile phones, and now the threat of hidden cameras in care homes. Initially I was all for it, as I have mentioned on other occasions my own fear of growing older and being at the mercy of others who may care little for my physical or mental welfare, and may even choose to abuse me when at my most vulnerable. However, if I were resident in a care home would I want my every movement observed, even if for my own protection? Would this mean, I wonder, cameras in every toilet and bathroom where the most intimate tasks take place, often requiring assistance? It would be under these circumstances, where one would hope for a high degree of privacy, that the opportunity for inappropriate behaviour would be most likely to present itself to abusive carers. Does this mean that those observing these cameras will be sniggering to see our vulnerability and discomfort, or will the evidence only be seen once concerns are raised, when it may well be too late? I very much doubt they could be installed without anyone knowing, and I would want to know who would have access to the content. If I am the innocent party shouldn't I be informed that I might be filmed? Perhaps a better idea would be for those lucky individuals still living in their own homes, and relying on visiting carers, to have them installed, but who would foot the bill for the installation and the maintenance of them? There are many questions to be answered before this knee jerk reaction to an ongoing problem is put in place. In the first instance, from what I've seen of CQC reports, which still leave much to be desired, there needs to be less attention paid to systems and process, and a more common sense approach to observing what is really going on. It's a sad day for us all when this should become necessary, but there is still no substitute for each and every one of us to keep our eyes and ears open. Otherwise, at this rate it won't be long before the thought police get us too.    

Badger Stew

I have always been interested in words, and like many others I suspect, I was dismayed to hear of the start of the badger cull in West Somerset today. Don't get me wrong, I have every sympathy with the poor struggling farmers whose animals have succumbed to bovine TB, often it is thought, due to badgers.
However, from the little information I have been able to obtain about the 'cull', it is not intended to wipe out the badger population, so what of those that are left? How, when shooting them is one to determine whether or not they are infected?
National Farmers' Union (NFU) president Peter Kendall said: "This is an important step not just for cattle farmers but for the whole farming industry..... I hope the culls will show a reduction in TB in cattle."
Is 'hope' good enough? It suggests to me that there is a lack of firm evidence, otherwise I would expect him to be more confident in his selection of words.
Now for the word 'cull' itself. There are various definitions but in brief, the broad meaning is to 'select and remove'. This is precisely what Hitler was trying to do to the Jewish population, in an effort towards ethnic cleansing, least the rest of the population become contaminated. However, in Hitler's case it was intended to be the 'final solution'. I fear this will not be the case with the current cull.
Besides, I would be lot happier to think that having exterminated them the dead badgers could be put to some use, winter coats maybe, or even better, in my role as a professional chef, Badger Stew.
Here's a recipe, from a little known French book, Les Cuisines Oubliees.
To cook one badger you’ll need:
1 badger
1 glass of pig’s blood
1 small glass of armagnac
1 ginger root
1 bottle of dry, sparkling white wine
2 eggs
1 pot of crème fraîche
salt and pepper
500g forest mushrooms OR chestnuts to accompany
100g butter
oil
Eviscerate and skin your badger, and soak it in a fast-flowing river for at least 48 hours. This will help you to de-grease it more easily.
Once the badger is de-greased, cut it into pieces and brown it in a frying pan with butter. When the pieces are golden and stiff, flambée with the armagnac, season and add a grated soup-spoon of ginger, fresh if possible.
Pour over the wine, and simmer gently for at least two hours.
At the end of the cooking time, mix the chopped badger liver (cooked beforehand in a little oil), the glass of blood, two egg yolks, a coffee-spoon of ginger and the crème fraîche, and pour into the cooking dish. Serve immediately.
This dish goes well with wild mushrooms or chestnuts.

Attitude is Everything

My efforts to support local causes is well known but I was not at all prepared for what was presented to me today, while I was busy helping out at the Big Book Sale at The Market House in Ilminster to raise much needed funds for local charity Purple Field Productions.


Back in February I had attended the MAdD Hatters Tea Party, geld in Horton, to raise funds for their upcoming trip to the Edinburgh Fringe in August. I was successful in my bid to have a personalised poem written for me, which was to be written by local student Rosie Colthorpe, who is currently studying theology and worship in London.


Well, today she arrived with it, beautifully decorated and framed, and I have to say I am completely bowled over by her efforts, given that we had never spoken or met. Apparently she had, in her own words 'stalked me' on Google to provide material from which she produced the following:-

Attitude is Everything

The fight is over

And the job is done

She can go put her feet up

Now the battle is won

It's been long and tiring

And she needs her rest

But the challenge was worth it

She certainly did her best

The community is happy

Thanks to the goodness of her heart

But with so many problems

This is only the start

She's loyal till the end

Doing anything she can

Working for as long as possible

To make sure it all goes to plan

She's dedicated herself to the local people

To give them a better home

Their worries become her worries

Meaning they aren't alone

But even when she's at home

And she's left the office behind

The people that she dearly love

Are never far from her mind

And so she serves them

Prepared to do anything

Because in order to succeed

Attitude is everything

I could not wish for a more flattering view and it will certainly become one of my most treasured possessions. I recently asked my constituents to complete an online anonymous survey about my performance as their District Councillor, and am delighted that I scored 100% for involvement in the community - however, there are a few areas where they have told me I need to pull my socks up a little, so I guess I shall just have to keep working at it for a while longer!  

aircraft noise linked to illness

Much was made in the news this week of the findings published in the British Medical Journal, of the link between aircraft noise and the risk of stroke and heart disease, despite the fact that there is nothing new in this; research along these lines has been well aired in recent years. Yes, the noise of low-flying aircraft can be stressful, which may well be enough to raise one’s blood pressure, especially if it prevents you from getting a good night’s sleep. However, I feel that they are missing the point. What matters more, I would suggest, is the demographic make-up of those living under flight paths. 

No one in their right mind would actually choose to live with the constant noise of a busy airport intruding morning noon and night. Those that can, choose with more care where they opt to live, whether along tranquil country lanes or amidst the hustle and bustle of a big city, with sound insulating triple glazed windows. The point is, the people who cannot afford to live elsewhere have little option but to live where the cost of housing is within their grasp. They are likely to be on lower incomes, if in employment at all, and will have fewer options about their lifestyles, with little means of escape. This in itself will have a significant impact on their health, with the close proximity to aircraft noise just an additional factor.  Mention is made of the account planners should take when making decisions on the siting of airports, where once again those that have the wherewithal to shout longest and loudest are more likely to ensure their lives are not blighted, and their house values remain intact, or they up sticks and move. Those living in rented accommodation or social housing may not have that option. One thing we should not do is to blame the airlines. If we want to continue flying off to sunny Spain at the drop of a hat, sadly this is the price that many will pay. Let's hope they live long enough to enjoy it, provided the NHS has sufficient funds to keep them in pills.

LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION

IIt comes as no surprise to find that our local shops, described this morning as being in terminal decline, are in need of a bit of TLC. 

With few exceptions, a walk into town past empty premises is increasingly disheartening, but we only have ourselves to blame. Whilst it seems that at every turn in the run up to this Christmas season we are bombarded with inviting window displays, it is TV advertising, in the breaks between the likes of Strictly or Corrie, that dominate. Predictions of a huge upsurge in the trend for online spending only serves to make me more fearful for the future, and the impact on our rapidly dwindling pockets. Where once we might have saved all year for that single much coveted "big" present, anything you wish for is now readily available, all at the mere touch of a button. At the time of the transaction, no "real money" as such is changing hands at all. How easy it is to be lured by messages saying "customers who bought this were also interested in..." on sites such as Amazon, recently lambasted by Panorama for their unscrupulous employment practices.

So, is this really shopping when the only window to browse in is the one on our computer screens or iPads? Present sorted, wrapped and delivered in one easy click. For me, it takes all the fun out of carefully selecting just the right gift for my loved ones, and doing the visiting rounds to ensure safe delivery. Many of us will also want to support charities. Christmas is after all the season for giving, and as tough as things might be for some of us, there are always those worse off. I do wonder however, at what cost. Almost daily, envelopes find their way into our letterboxes, with cards, pens, bookmarks and the like, accompanied by ... a begging letter. The cost involved to the charities concerned, in sending out this unsolicited material, is enormous, and rather than warming to the cause concerned, I am much more inclined to give to organisations that ensure that as much money as possible goes to those who really need it, not towards propping up their marketing activity.

The same goes for our local shops, who incidentally do not benefit from the same tax breaks as those used by charities. Rather than line the pockets of Mr Tesco, Argos and their mates, I'd sooner see the survival of the couple running my local corner shop, trying to keep their heads above water. However, the only way to do this is to ensure that they provide what the customer wants, when they want it, and service with a smile. Much is made of the discounted pricing of large retailers but I am always mindful that saving money is only one of many reasons that customers choose to shop where they do. For the sake of a few pence I'd sooner keep them in business than prop up their benefits when they find they've gone under, along with all the stress and strife that brings, which we hear of every day at Samaritans.