environmental stuff
There has been a large furor lately about a fox attack that happened on two babies who were lying in their cot - in their house, on the third floor. Both babies were seriously injured, and while they are both home now, one of them may need plastic surgery throughout her life, due to the facial injuries.
Apparently 6 foxes have now been trapped in their backyard and put to death.
Nothing can lessen the horror of this event - particularly the fact that the fox had to travel up 2 flights of stairs to get at the girls. That they were not safe in their own bedroom.
What bites on me - however - is...
We spent Saturday of last weekend at a scout camp, doing organised activities, playing in the woods and camping. And also, snapping some photos....
I start so many blog posts in my head, get to about the third paragraph, then forget the entire thing. Which is a real shame, because I am hugely witty in my head. Words flow very easily in my mind in a way that they don't necessarily do if I speak them out loud.In my head I am very eloquent. But really, it's only relevant to an audience of one. If I can entertain myself, then job done! That's probably why when I'm alone I hold conversations with myself and monologue in silly voices.But the trick is not knowing how...
In case you missed it the first time round, or haven't read my about me page (which is called introspective, because that's all fancy and stuff), I am an Australian.I've lived here in old blighty (yes, i AM allowed to call it that, I paid my dues!) for nearly 14 years now. Some of it feels like home, which is a disconcerting thought. But after over a decade, parts of daily life in Britain are as familar as the opening strains of the muppet show theme tune, and almost as likely to make me smile.Things like chunky powerpoints, victorian architecture...
One green bottle, hanging on the wall, one green bottle, hanging on the wall, and if one green bottle should accidently fall, it will bounce softly because I got a soft padded zip up jacket to go with it - woah me.Ok, so I bought the girls new drink bottles for school this term. We have literally thousands of the things (ok, about eight). But I've just bought them new ones because last term I put Molly's in the freezer (with the LID OFF I might add) and it split. Jagged metal splits right down through the puppy's face. Ooops....
"Daddy is this really summer?"I had a discussion (read argument) with Mr Boxer Shorts about the weather the other day. He objected to my use of the word "crap" when used in conjunction with the word "summer". This is how that conversation went."It's been yet another crap summer.""Crap?! What are you talking about? It's been a great summer.""No it hasn't, it's been mediocre at best.""You just love to moan, don't you?"There really is no point continuing that one - once I get accused of moaning the conversation is simply over. That's his knee jerk response to anything I say that...
Apparently the boffins are now claiming that man's pollution is having diddly squat effect on the whole global warming malarky. Which gives rise to that subset of internews that revolves around the idea that global warming is a hoax perpetrated by government to make businesses pay more tax.The point that seems to be missed on a daily basis by both extremes is - does it matter what the exact long term result will be? Whether our pollution is killing our earth or not, is not the finer subtext of the whole argument the question of whether we want to live...
For a shining moment there, we almost had a proper autumn here in London. There was a glorious three weeks of dry crisp autumnal weather. Clear blue skies appeared overhead and crunchy brown and yellow leaves underfoot. Thankfully, equilibrium has returned. The weather has recovered its senses and started behaving normally. Now we can go outside and get thoroughly drenched in rain that is more like mist with attitude. The leaves on the ground now hide fetid and slimy surprises, like diaretic fox scat, mouldy dog doo and slugs with their innards bursting out from the last boot that trod...
The school holidays come to an end in 2 days, as the toothless wonder goes back to school on Monday. In the past 6 weeks however, we've had less than 4 days of sunshine. It's been cold, it's been windy, it's been rainy. And if not those at the same time (which it has been) it's been at least totally grey and gloomy. I really can't understand anymore why I am still living in this country....
