The important things in life?

Anyone who knows me will know I am a positive upbeat person who enjoys the simple things in life even when the complex ones aren’t going to plan. I think this is a healthy attitude to have and I try to maintain this sunshine outlook on life.

Unfortunately the music industry seems to be filled with singers and songwriters who are either drunk /on abooty call or depressed, most seem to lack genuine depth. British singer Adele is a sexy lady with a very soulful voice, her music is loved by millions across the globe and her latest melancholy song “Someone like you” has had extensive airplay on both radio and TV. . . . . I hate it! I disliked it on first hearing and with it’s repeated over playing I find I am more and more annoyed by the song and the coverage it gets.



Sure it’s a touching song full of sorrow for a lost love, we can all relate to that and its beautifully sung but if you listen to the story its just pathetic. The character turns up at the house of a man she lost, and since that time he has married and had a kid. Someone who not only holds a torch for that long but also acts on her heartache and despair so long after their parting is not in a healthy place. Love is important but dwelling on the past is depressingly sad and not in a good way.

Here instead listen to some Palo Nuttini, the cheerful chap who brightens up my day with his bouncy tunes and appealing lyrics about enjoying the simple important things in life :)



Remember that if you have shoes on your feet, a roof over your head and food in your belly you are better off that 2/3rds of the worlds population, stop winging and enjoy good health and the warm sunshine on your face :)

Court Dates

Many of those reading will know I lost my job last year, my employer owed me a lot of money and we had a disagreement regarding said money shortly before the company went under. I wasn’t asking much; wages owed to me and expenses that were agreed upon before hand -namely vet bills for the company owned dog. At the time of our disagreement the largest chunked owed to me was from 6 months prior and I had enough of waiting. I had been supportive and patient as the company was getting off its feet but had been fobbed off too many times, I’d had enough, my demands for payment were met with some choice words from my “delightful” former employer and he then ignored my calls and attempts to contact him. I decided to take him to small claims court and fight for my money.

It wasn’t about the cash (although it was substantial chunk of our family income) but more about not letting him getting away with it. He was nice enough guy to start with but due to his poor management and business skills the company was struggling and left many employees and contractors without the simplest of rights – their pay. I believe that as managing director he had a responsibility to those people, whom were owed hundreds of thousands, and should be held accountable for his actions. It’s taken me over 5 months but I feel the end is finally in my sights!

It has been stressful and has meant sleepless nights, health issues and general hair pulling but it is great how everyone has been so supportive. I am feeling very positive about the court case as it draws to a close, its been heard and tried now its just final stages of getting a CCJ against my former employer and then enforcing that with the sheriff (&bailiffs if he doesn't comply). It finally feels like the hard work is paying off, the only shame is can’t charge him for the many man-hours I spent putting forward and representing my case!


Specials thanks to Lorraine for letting me complain, my dad for his counsel and to my David for his calming influence and patience, I couldn’t have done it alone xxx

The Blame Game

I haven't done many political posts recently, mostly because I haven't been keeping up with the news - or in my case the olds - but a sideline I heard yesterday reminded me of something; Its so infuriating when the media blame social services for child abuse, and there for encourages the public to do so as well, and even the bosses. I'd like to think they are trying to avoid a witch hunt but I doubt it.

Christopher Sellman, 24, killed Tiffany Sellman Burdge, his 25 day old daughter the first time that he was left alone with her. Social services came into the blame after a family member told a social worker, who was working on another case, that he had a bad temper before the baby was born. The story was printed in the Telegraph yesterday.

Maybe I'm being cynical (its happening more and more these days) but if one person mentions in passing about a another man's bad temper, a man who has no previous history of violence? The grandmother didn't report it correctly, there is a lot of information available on how to report concerns for child welfare to social services. I do not think mentioning it to a health visitor or a social worker in passing is acceptable for someone who is "seriously concerned" from what I've read it seems Chris' mother made a casual comment instead of a raising her concerns seriously.

If he had a bad temper why didn't the baby's mother, Pamela Burdge, mention something? Why didn't the close family know about this temper? And it couldn't have been that bad as Pamela trusted him to be left alone with the baby. Chris did have issue with social services, in the past there have been concerns of neglect with regards to 2 older children but no reports of violence or physical abuse. Not that I'm condoning his actions, or berating Tiffany's family but this baby was let down but half a dozen important and supposedly responsible people in her short life, not just Kent social services. This has to be the most tragic case of misplaced trust and betrayal I have heard of, my thoughts are with Pamela and her family, Chris' family too for that matter.

Torture in Edlington

There is a disturbing long list of torture inflicted on 2 cousins from Edlington aged 9 and 10 when lured from the play ground to a waste ground by 2 of their "friends" a pair of brothers who were 10 and 11 at the time. I can't express the horror this evoked in me, despite being on holiday I was deeply troubled as the story unfolded during the court case, when snippets of information came across the globe to my aghast ears.

Some of the abuses inflicted include; severe beating, burning plastic onto their skin and dragging barbed wire across the wounds, smashing a sink over the elder victims head and forcing them to perform sex acts on one another. The elder victim begged to die and when the younger escaped to get help he saved both their lives. But despite this life saving act, the young boy feels immense guilt and distress at leaving his cousin alone with the attackers, the mental trauma caused to these 2 young boys by their peers is irreversible. The full extent of the torture will never be know by any one person, not even the judge, due to the distressing nature of crimes committed. Mr Justice Keith said in court: “This was prolonged, sadistic violence for no reason other than that you got a real kick out of hurting and humiliating them.”

For their crimes the boys, tried as children despite the appalling actions of abuse they may only serve 5 years of the sentence, meaning they will be released in their teens, which is very worrying for other potential victims of their cruelty. Detectives will study evidence of the boys' "toxic home life", which could lead to charges of child abuse and neglect against their Parents. Peter Kelson, who represents the eldest brother, said his client watched ultra-violent films like the "Saw" series, had access to pornographic DVDs, drank cider, had 10 cigarettes a day and smoked cannabis grown on his father's plot from the age of 9. It is also reported that thier mother put cannabis in boys baby bottles when they were toddlers to make then "shut up".

Repatriation of our own.

This year has been a hard one for the British military. We have had full frontal assaults on the Taliban all summer and hitting them hard where it hurts, but we pay a price of our own, and that price is paid in blood.

Today I paid my respects to the 97th solider to die in Afghanistan this year, at the 100th repatriation parade in Wooton Basset. To my husband and I, Loren Marlton-Thomas is more than just a statistic, he is a comrade and neighbour, he is one of our own. 33 Royal Engineer Regiment has lost one of our boys. The shock to us all is obvious, there is a new but close community here and there has been a dark air hovering over our camp all week, the grief is far too close to home.

Today at Wooton Basset I was amazed by the support and respect offered by the crowds, the amount of towns’ people, shop keepers, comrades, cadets and veterans who have turned out to pay their respects is quite overwhelming. It has been a long heart-rending day full of reverence and tears but a very moving and proud one, we stand together strong in out support and tall in our pride. Today I have gained a new respect for the job our husbands sign up to do, they save lives at a great personal and physical sacrifice to themselves. Loren and Nikki have paid the ultimate price and I know that I speak for many when I say our thoughts are with them both on this poignant day and through the difficult days that are still to come.

Lest we forget, remembrance day now holds new poignancy for our generation after this past year of grief.