What a state we are in!

 The world seems to be continuing on its way to hell in a handcart:  Netanyahu declares that Israel is now at war, and much of the media appears to accept that it’s okay for Ukraine to defend itself against an aggressor but not for Palestine to do the same; there has been an earthquake in Afghanistan; the trains were not running to Scotland yesterday because of the rain; and there is so much stuff going on on the world that the inhabitable areas will continue to shrink and we truly can expect Suella Braverman’s ‘hurricane’ of immigrants, not just here but everywhere. 

The Labour Party is busy conferencing in Liverpool, where demonstrations are planned to try to have Starmer restore the whip to Diane Abbott. We live in strange times where people will become afraid to express views that are not totally in line with what the leaders dictate - just the kind of thing we criticise other countries for. Whatever happened to civilised debate?

There are plans afoot to tinker with the sixth form examination and qualifications system yet again amid protests that the plans are unworkable because there simply aren’t enough teachers to make them possible. And at the other end of the education system, I read that small children are being excluded from school because of disruptive behaviour. I’m pretty sure primary teachers did not sign up for children arriving in the reception class not fully potty trained. Something has gone wrong with the health visitor system. When our children were babies we had fairly regular visits to check up that all was well, as much to help young mothers as the check up on babies and their progress. 

Goodness, our little chap even had to show he could put his own shoes on before starting pre-school. And now Kier Starmer has proposed that schools should be responsible for making sure children clean their teeth properly: “Labour wants to tackle tooth decay caused by poor dental hygiene, which is the most common reason for children aged between six and 10 to be admitted to hospital.” It will be interesting to see how that pans out … if they get into government! 

So, we seem to live in interesting times! 

But, hey, at least the sun is shining here, for a change, and maybe my washing will get dry and ai might even get around to tidying up the front garden. Between a bullying fern trying to take over, a flowering bush that has got out of hand, tall pampas grass going crazy and a rosebush sending long tendrils of briars all over the show, it’s a real mess at the moment. And it’s been so wet that I would almost need waterproof trousers just to venture into it! 

Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!