During the rioting in Tottenham, looters broke into the White Hart Lane trophy room, Unfortunately the only thing to steal was the carpet.

Afternoon all.  The post title is a reference to the violence in London last night, and the picture, to the way ManUre seem to have loads of time added on when they are behind.

It has been a while since my last post about the kids, and for that I am sorry.

Since I last posted, we have been enjoying me having two weeks off.  I have been moonlighting over this time, but only at times.  We have watched a few films, both on DVD and at the cinema.  We have been to the beach and today, to the Brightlingsea Music Festival.  The only downside is that it rained.  When I say rained, it poured down.  And even that did not put a down on my day as I got to enjoy it with my family.  All were soaked to the skin but it was a laugh in many ways.

Other news, my daughter has lost three of her front teeth.  They have been falling out over the last two weeks, the third one having to be pulled out by my wife this morning.  It had started to come out yesterday after her brother's head smashed into her.  Both screamed a bit, especially as she cut her lip, her screaming due to her blood, he screaming as he saw his sister was bleeding!  She even had to see the dentist today afterwards as she was in pain, but typically, but the time she saw the dentist, things had got better.

Anyway, time to go and i hope the jokes bring a smile to your face.

McDonalds. Helping young footballer's shine.

With sweat, after making them 15 stone. 

Man City have offered ex MP David Blunkett £20,000 a week for next season.
They hope he will show them how to hold on to a lead. 

Roberto Mancini is looking for a new house in Manchester, nothing too extravagent though.

Just a 2 up, 3 down 

In the 64th minute of the 5 added on Man Utd score the winner, shock. 

I walked into a library and asked, do you have a book on drugs? The lady said, yes, it's wandering around aisle three talking to itself.

Well, I thought that with the death of Amy Winehouse, this would be a good time to make a post about the evil of drugs.

Her death was a tragic event, someone so talented, but, and I am sorry if this was sounds cynical, it was only a matter of time before it happened.

The simple message is that drugs screw people up.  Yes, I know that with her, alcohol was an issue as well, but with her, it appeared that both were responsible for killing her.  I work in health-care and see the harm that both drugs and alcohol cause.  While alcohol in moderation is not a problem, so long as it is drunk in a responsible manner, people still have problems with addiction to it.  And the simple fact is that drugs have a much more addictive nature.  I have seen harm come to users, and I have seen the damage that it does to the family and friends of addicts, both of alcohol and narcotics.

Many argue that cannabis is not harmful, but they ignore the issue that it is a mind affecting drug.  And there is a concrete link between cannabis use and schizophrenia.  Mild use is deemed by many to be harmful.  Personally, I am not too bothered if someone smokes the occasional joint.  Not that I ever have (when in Amsterdam with friends, I went to a cafe and was the only person there drinking coffee, my friends all smoking a joint).  But people who state that it causes no problems are not aware of the risks it has.  I have seen people who have had problems after just one joint, and I have seen people who have become addicted to cannabis.

As for heroin, cocaine and other drugs, again I have seen the problems that they cause.  While cannabis is not a problem for most, and stronger drugs are not a problem for a few people, all these drugs ruin lives.

Drugs ruin lives.

Which makes my views on drug legalisation strange to some.  I am in favour of legalisation of drugs, but also regulation.  We are not winning the war on drugs.  When I was a child, in an inner city school, drugs were not a problem.  Go to my old school now, and you will find that it is more of an issue as it is affecting the young more than it has in the past.  I was aware about drugs, and living in inner city London, I of course was 'exposed' to drugs in that I have been in places were drugs have been taken (again, not by me), but it is far more of a problem now.

Drugs fund terrorism, they fund crime and they ruin the lives of many of those who use them, and those who care about them, innocents caught up in drug related crime, and of course, those who grow them and others in nations where they are grown and nearby.  The thing is that heroin and cocaine have medical uses.  When made legally, they cost the health service pennies.  But, due to them being illegal, people have to pay inflated costs to buy them.  And when you are addicted to drugs, you have to pay for them, which means that for many, you have to engage in crime to fund your habit.

The profit from drugs being illegal means that drug barons and others who profit from the drugs trade will make money, loads of money.  In order to get money, drug wars take place, which would not bother me if they only harmed those involved in the drugs trade, but they do not.  Make drugs legal, and regulate them and you take away the profit motive that drives the crime associated with the movement of drugs from one country to another.  And make them legal, and there will be far less of a profit for those who grow them.

I once had the chance to talk to Brian Paddick (an ex-senior police officer) and his view, despite his actions on drugs when he worked in London, was that drugs should not be legalised due to the harm they cause to the people who use them (and those around them).  And if legalisation is to take place, that is a very important message to keep telling people.

Either way, while addicts have to want to be treated, it would be of use if there was more help for those who do want to come off drugs.  That way, god willing, the deaths of other addicts may be prevented.

But the bottom line is that the current approach is not wining the war on drugs.  We need a new approach, to prevent lives being ruined by them.

Steven Gerrard is set to miss the start of the season with a groin problem, leaving Kenny Dalglish with just 17 midfielders to choose from.

Of course this not a post about football.

Rather this is an update on the family.  I have been on holiday this week, though not much of one.  Last year on this day, I left my last job and instead I started to work in my new job.  It has required a pay cut, and due to that, I have had to work most weekends.  My new job involves me working harder than I did in my last job.  Due to working on the weekends, I do not get to see my family as much as I did before.

But I am so happy!

It is not just that I love where I work, it is not just that I can pop home on some Tuesday's to have lunch with my family, but it is the attitude of people where I work.  It is much more of a team, the people at the top leading from the front.  And they support each other.  

But back to me and the family.  I have had to do some moonlighting in the two weeks I have off.  And after having to work last week, we spent time with my wife's parents.  And today, we dropped my mother home who had been staying with us for two nights.  She kindly agreed to come up to babysit as on Friday night, my wife and I went out with some friends into Colchester for a muscial night out.  I had to miss the first part (as I was working) but I arrived for the last bit.  It was great to dance, and there were loads of kids there.  It is something that we might go to next year.  

And of course, the kids loved being in contact with their Grandparents.  It is great to be able to bring joy both to my mother and my mother-in-law and father-in-law and as the kids love it, well, seeing them smile makes me laugh.

I have to say, the last few days have been great, today especially so as it is the first Saturday night I have spent with my wife in ages.  And I miss Saturday's like this.

Anyone else find it funny that a group calling itself "Unite Against Fascism" wants to ban the BNP because they don't agree with their views?

Afternoon all.

I thought I would make this post about the far right today to highlight the links between the far right and terrorism, and of course, the links between supporters of the far right and other crmes.

I do not think that parties like the BNP should be banned, but I do think it is important that people know that the BNP are like, as well as the links between the far right and terrorism.

Of course, because of the tragic events in Norway, this is a big issue at present, but it has been a big issue for a while.  It is just that it is in the public eye again.

So, let me post about terrorists who have been associated with the far right in the UK.  Some of this has been taken from the Hope not Hate website, but I have expanded on the information that they have provided as the information they have is out of date.  In addition to which, I think that it is important to highlight the links of the far right to other crimes.  I am aware though that not all these criminals are linked to the BNP.  I am also aware that there are bad eggs in other political parties in the UK, each political party having ex-members who have convictions for violence and child abuse (or related crimes).  Other than Sinn Féin I do not really see any other political party in the UK having as many terrorists as the BNP.  Basically, I think it is important to publicise this, especially as the Far Right love to mention it when ethnic minorities, especially Muslims, are involved in crime.

• DAVID COPELAND – London nail bomber David Copeland brought havoc to London when he set off three nail bombs in 1999. He was a BNP member and activist in East London. He told police when questioned that he wanted to ignite a race war in Britain so that the white population would vote for a BNP government. Read more
• STEPHEN LENNON - convicted for football related violence, he is one of the founders of the EDL. 
• TONY LECOMBER was convicted and imprisoned for three years for five offences under the Explosives Act after he tried to blow up the offices of a political party. Police found hand grenades and detonators at his home. Despite this the BNP kept him on its payroll for over ten years. He was eventually forced out of his job after he approached Joe Owens to kill a leading politician.
• RODERICK ROWLEY - sentenced to 15 months in prison after admitting to fourteen charges of making, distributing or possessing obscene images of children.  He was a BNP candidate in Coventry.
• ALLEN BOYCE and TERRY COLLINS In July 2006 Allen Boyce, a BNP supporter, received a two-year suspended sentence for providing Terry Collins, a BNP activist, with bomb making instructions. Collins himself was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment in 2005 for conducting a racist terror campaign against the Asian community in Eastbourne. Read more 
• KARL HANSON - a BNP candidate found with heroin and crack cocaine before the election he stood for the BNP in 2005. 
• NEIL KEILTY - has a string of convictions dating back to 1987, including threatening behaviour, criminal damage and possession of an offensive weapon. In 1994, Keilty, was sentenced to one year for his part in an attack on a pub in London. He has a long history of involvement with extreme Right-wing groups, such as the National Front and Friends of Oswald Mosley, and has twice been banned from football grounds for hooligan behaviour.  And guess what, yes, involved with the BNP as well.
• MARK BULMAN – arsonist Mark Bulman, a BNP activist, was jailed for five years in January after trying to set fire to Swindon’s Broad Street mosque. He used a BNP leaflet as a fuse for his petrol bomb. Read more 
• JOHN JONES - from the non-racist party that has nothing to do with Hitler, was found guilty of giving a Nazi salute.
• JOHN LAIDLAW - another member of the far right who claimed links to the BNP was arrested after a shooting spree where he targeted black men.
• JOE OWENS – gangland hitman For three years until summer 2004 Joe Owens acted as the personal bodyguard to Nick Griffin, the BNP leader, as well as being the Merseyside organiser of the BNP. However, Owens was also known locally as a gangland hitman, whom police had linked to several underworld murders. 
• ROBERT BENNETT - used by the BNP to hand out leaflets, he was convicted of the rape of two 17 year old girls and had to serve five years.  This being before he was used by the BNP to spread the message of hate.
•  ROBERT COTTAGE convicted for possession of explosives once again highlighted the link between BNP members and racial violence and terrorism. While the BNP moved quickly to distance itself from the actions of a man who stood in three local elections as a BNP candidate, he joins a growing list of BNP members who have engaged in some form of terrorist or murderous behaviour. Read more.
• NEIL LEWINGTON - picked up by the police for an offence unrelated to terrorism, he was found to have bomb making equipment in his home the intention to launch a terror campaign.  At his home, the police found extreme right-wing material, including videos of notorious racist or white-supremacist bombers.  No link to the BNP, but a member of the far right. 
• IAN HINDLE and ANDREW WELLS - both were BNP members and were convicted for getting two fourteen year old girls drunk to have sex with them.
• STEVEN BARKER - the killer of Baby P, also known as Peter Connelly.  He was a member of the far right.  And later he was also convicted for raping a baby girl.  Not a BNP member though.  

And of course, let us remember that Nick Griffin went to Libya to get funding, from the leader who sponsored the IRA.

Amy Winehouse - The only person who had a surname to describe her liver

Afternoon all.  Right, first of all Friday.  As I mentioned before, it was my daughters last day at school.  My wife thanked her teacher for teaching her, and she said that it was a pleasure to teach my daughter and that also that my daughter loves to learn.  I do not know of any parent who does not like to hear nice things about their kids.

I did not get to spend as much time with them as I would have liked, both on Friday, or on Saturday.  My mother did come up though on Friday to baby sit so that we could go out for a meal with a couple that we know through school.  It was a great meal, and a bit of alcohol was drunk.  Of course, this was not helpful for me, as I had to go to work yesterday morning.  It was a long day with a three hour break, starting at ten, ending at midnight.  I did get to see them in the morning, and I had the energy to appreciate them.  And of course, I have played with them today.  I have managed to get some time away while they are watching My Favourite Martian upstairs.  Anyway, time to go upstairs to watch it with them.

Take care all. 

The comments below with the commentary are a list of things that Sara Cox says that you should not say to children.

1) "Leave me alone!"

Ok, so this one I've definitely said, to be precise though I say the Northern version, handed down through generations of proud Boltonian women: "Stop mithering!"

See also "Get out from under my feet!" which is most effective when thundered lovingly from atop a juddering ample bosom clad in a housecoat.

This one is a no-brainer for me; when pans are bubbling over and there's a child pulling at your arms, I see it as a warm shooing away for their own safety. Ok, next:

2) "You're so.."

Hmm, this is an interesting one 'cos there's so many words you can tag onto this: selfish/lazy/stupid are ones I'd never ever use. Daft/dramatic/soppy maybe, but said in a chiding way, though probably not ideal. Must try harder Saz. Labeling your child by telling them they are something is probably best avoided, unless its "You're so gorgeous/sweet/brilliant"

3) "Don't cry"

Yep, said it. This isn't really a bad one. It's more about validating their feelings. Saying "you must be sad Jamie cant play out today" is preferable though does take a while.

4) "Why can't you be more like your sister?"

This one only works if your child has a sister, otherwise they'll think you're insane. I don't do this one, but must confess to saying pointedly, "Oh, good girl Lola, eating your dinner so nicely" as Isaac rubs mashed potato in his hair.

5) "You Know Better Than That!"

Oh no. Wish I'd never started this! Yup, I've definitely said a version of that to Lola. When she's wrestling with a 6-pint carton of milk and spills it (though not worth crying over) I have been known to say "You kinda knew that'd happen, ask me for help next time". I suppose next time I ought to miss off the first half of the statement. Or buy smaller cartons of milk.

6) "Stop or I'll give you something to cry about!"

Ok, this one I never say. For two reasons: my mum used to say it a lot and I remember hating the menacing undercurrent of a promised smack and also, I'm a firm believer in following through threats and seeing as I don't hit my kids, this threat would be pointless.

I must however say I do now with hindsight understand why my mum would say it, as there are few things more annoying than a child theatrically bursting into tears at the drop of a hat/flapjack/crayon. It's manipulative and noisy.

7) "Hurry up!"

Well, I may as well get this one tattooed somewhere on my midriff to save time in a morning, so when I'm halfway out the door on a rainy Monday AM with a baby/blazer/book bag/games kit in my arms and my darling daughter not only hasn't put her shoes on (as I've asked her to six times) but is instead perched on the stairs plaiting her dolls hair I can simply flash my tummy tattoo instead of growling "hurry up" through a mouthful of half-munched apple.

8) "Wait 'til daddy gets home!"

Never said it. That's no threat. I'm the boss and they know it. In fact, they're probably excited about his arrival home to save them from me.

9) "Great job!" or "good girl!"

Hmm, apparently its better to be more specific, like "I can see how beautifully you've coloured in the butterfly wings on that picture" which obviously takes longer. I'm taking that one on board and will do my best, unless of course the butterfly is being illustrated when she should be getting her school shoes on (see above)

So that's the naughty nine. Whatever your score there's probably room for improvement but let's not beat ourselves up too much. I'm sure most of us had some of the 9 said to us as children and we're ok. Now stop mithering me, I'm off to bed.

There are two types of people on this planet. Those who finish what they start and

Morning all.  It is the last day at school for my daughter today.  Not that I will get to see her that much.  It has been an amazing year with her development.  She has learned so much.  Do not get me wrong, my son has as well, but I guess I can remember more of what she did not know before she went to school.  I am proud of them both, but on days like this, when I it is brought back to me, just how much she has learned, I am even prouder.

My son yesterday decided to dice with death.  He was taken on a trip to Walton and when there, decided to try and drown himself.  Not content with going into the water, he then decided to fall down.  Fortunately my wife was at hand to look after him.  The problem for her was that she, due to the cold, was not wearing gear to be in the water.  Not only did that happen, but yesterday he called her a pillock and told her to shut up!  When I got back and heard about the pillock comment, I did laugh, but I managed to hide it from him.  He still got in trouble.

Anyway, time to go.  To think, this time last year, I was working in a place that was bad for me, and now, I am so much better! 


*TRADITIONAL ECONOMICS*
You have two cows.
You sell one and buy a bull.
Your herd multiplies and the economy grows.
You retire on the income.

*INDIAN ECONOMICS *
You have two cows.
You worship them.

* PAKISTAN ECONOMICS*
You don't have any cows.
You claim that the Indian cows belong to you.
You ask the US for financial aid,
China for military aid,
Britain for warplanes,
Italy for machines,
Germany for technology,
France for submarines,
Switzerland for loans,
Russia for drugs and
Japan for equipment.
You buy the cows with all this and claim of exploitation by the world

*AMERICAN ECONOMICS*
You have two cows.
You sell one and force the other to produce the milk of four cows.
You profess surprise when the cow drops dead.
You put the blame on some nation with cows & naturally that nation will be a danger to mankind.
You wage a war to save the world and grab the cows.

*JAPANESE ECONOMICS*
You have two cows.
You re-design them so that they are one-tenth the size of an ordinary cow and produce twenty times the milk.
You then create cute cartoon cow images called Cowkimon and market them worldwide.
*CHINESE ECONOMICS *
You have two cows.
You have 300 people milking them.
You claim full employment, high bovine productivity and arrest anyone reporting the actual numbers.

*RUSSIAN ECONOMICS*
You have two cows.
You count them and learn you have five cows.
You count them again and learn you have 42 cows.
You count them again and learn you have 17 cows.
You give up counting and open another bottle of Vodka

* FRENCH ECONOMICS *
You have two cows.
You go on strike because you want three cows.

*GERMAN ECONOMICS *
You have two cows.
You re-engineer them so that they live for 100 years, eat once a month and milk themselves.
You invade Poland for land to store the cows.

*BRITISH ECONOMICS *
You have two cows.
They are both mad.

*ITALIAN ECONOMICS*
You have two cows.
You don't know where they are.
You break for lunch.

*SWISS ECONOMICS *
You have 5000 cows, none of which belong to you. You charge others for storing them.
*WELSH ECONOMICS*
You have a cow.
You sell it for a sheep.

The other night I was expecting an important phone call, so I slept with my mobile under the pillow. When I woke up, it was gone and there was just a shiny new fifty pence piece where I'd left it. Damn that blue-tooth fairy!

Well, I have enjoyed today.

As usual, I woke early and went into work to do some paperwork.  And as usual, I came home to take the kids to school and pre-school.  After dropping my daughter at school, I took my son to his pre-school and there he met one of his friends, Celeste.  She was starting today.  He knows her as my wife knows her mother, and my daughter is in her sisters class at school, and the two of them are good friends (well, as good friends as five year olds are).  When I picked him up, there was a leaving ceremony for the kids who were leaving for good, to start at school in September.  It was touching to see the teachers in the pre-school cry when they were hugged.  Especially as this time next year, my son will be one of those children.  Anyway, he refused to mention who he played with when I took him home.  I thought that was because he was using his scooter to get home for the first time ever with me.  Later I found it was because he had spent his time looking after Celeste!  He does have a heart of gold.

After lunch at home with my son and wife, as usual I went back to work.  Now, after last week, I was not going to be late to pick up my daughter (not that I wanted to be late the first time), but I got a phone call from my wife as my daughter had been stung by a wasp.  It flew out of nowhere (she said later) and stung her.  One of the boys at school, a lad called Edward, stamped on it afterwards.  She was very brave and did not cry and when given the option to come home early, wanted to stay at school.  She showed me her finger (where she was stung) and also her tooth, which became very wobbly.  She too used her scooter to get home and I have to say, she is getting very good on it.

But once at home, after eating her dinner, her tooth came out!

It is sad really that I get sentimental about things.  She is a child, and she is going to grow up.  But this time last year, she was terrible at reading.  Do not get me wrong, aged four she was able to read a few words, but she seemed determined not to want to read.  Now, she is doing really really well.  It came to me when I was reading her the three billy goats.  I used to get her to read the easy words before.  Now, a year later, she is able to read the entire book with just a little bit of help.  The reason it is sad, is after all, that is what children are meant to do, grow, and develop.  My wife was in tears though.  My daughter though was very excited, and now is asleep, hoping that the tooth fairy is to come (fingers crossed for her).

Anyway, time to go.