Steve Crook

He is a good writer though, especially for Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister

Steve

odysseymoon

Haven't been able to go abroad in years since I became disabled. Last August, however, I sat amidst the grassy cliffs of Berry Head in South Devon. I wonder how many service men and women serving overseas have longed to see the coastline of home. This country is diverse and beautiful; and not just in its topography. We have to work at making our homeland truly fit for those willing to lay down their lives overseas. Our homeland has become culturally diversified. Maybe we can one day learn from each other instead of retreating into our ghettos. In times of strife we have fought alongside men and women from all over the commenwealth; what a shame we cannot learn to live side by side in times of 'relative' peace. I still yearn to travel: to feel again the vibrancy of New York, the teeming new life of India and the endless Steppes. But for now, I am more than happy to sit on Berry Head wrapped up in my dreams of lands afar and the beauty that is still my homeland.

batman

Good for you my friend ... .

Bats.

lordtednfs

My father left Ireland in the late 50's for work in London and bought us there a few years later where I stayed for 45 years. During that time there were so many changes to life that things have changed for the worst. Once upon a time you could leave your door open, you knew your neighbours very well and would enjoy tea in each others home, kids would be seen and heard out at play, not now.

The country is in ruin caused by various present and past governments, high taxation on everything, expensive transportation, immigration, crime, yob culture, severe wage controls (unless you are the boss), higher taxes on homes, the threat of attack from loony sects in the UK and from around the world.

I don't blame anyone for wanting to leave the UK at. It's no longer a good place to bring kids up, it's not safe and The Brit is fast becoming an endangered species. I give thanks to the good people of the UK for those 45 years that I was there, but towards the end I began to see what was happening and decided to get out before things came to ahead.

I am now so very much happier living abroad. I sleep peacefully everynight and enjoy an excellent quality of life I could only ever have dreamt of with my family.

Sorry Carmel, but I have to disagree with you. I have being living in the Philippines now for just over 4 years and I certainly don't get homesick, yes I miss my siblings, but how can I miss anything else. We have a duty to ourselves and our families to have a better quality of life and if it means moving to pasteurs new, then go for it. It takes a brave person to make a big decsion but as Del Boy said "You know it makes sense!" Bonjour

_______________________
Hooked off the line

Steve Crook

Yes, everybody could leave their doors open and they weren't robbed - because nobody had anything worth stealing

Please go easy on the tired clichés

Steve

foha80

Excellent post full of wisdom,thank you for sharing.

Terry

David Brent

A recent news item in the 'Birmingham Mail' reported on how local police were hoping to counter attack the thug gangs and yobo behavior which are usually experienced on Halloween night.
In the past gangs in parts of Birmingham have targeted the homes of pensioners on Halloween night using threatening behavior and vandalism in order to demand money from their victims.
Where does this scum actually breed from?

Maybe it's time that this unwanted American import should be banned.

Dave.

Steve Crook

It has been as far as I'm concerned. If they knock I tell them it's called demanding money with menaces and is against the law - and that the police have already been called. That really scares the under 10s who are the only ones we ever had trying it. They don't do it any more.

Apart from me and my strange ways, most adult round here wouldn't have any idea what the kids were trying to do anyway

Steve

smudge

If you check out the history of T or T you find it's actually an amalgam of much older traditions imported to America from England, Ireland and Europe - so we can't really send it back as an 'unwanted alien' because it's just home from the colonies, having 'made good'...

Smudge

Welcome to my house. Enter freely, and of your own will...

batman

We take the Boy Wonder 'trick or treating', but we only visit houses where his friends or schoolmates live and they come to us in return. That way none of us disturbs people who don't want to be involved. Also. some of the other people in our neighbourhood, often pensioners, actually tell us that's it's OK to visit them and they have treats ready. They tell us that they like to see the kids enjoying themselves.

Bats.

Bell Bottom George

Regarding Halloween night, do as I do ; either just don`t answer the door, or go out, preferably to the cinema. Same with `carol singers` later in the year. Sod the lot of `em !

"What larks we had Mr Pip...........what larks !"

smudge

That's a good idea Bats.

As ever it's the problem with the stupid few who tarnish the whole event with their greed/stupidity - trouble is it's only the idiots whose behaviour gets reported and perceptions change accordingly...

Smudge

Welcome to my house. Enter freely, and of your own will...

BristolUK

Not answering the door back in Bristol risked eggs and flour everywhere.

One year I had about ten bags of sweets, choc and fruit made up. It had all gone by 6.15 and I went to the shops to get more so I at least had something to dish out.

Steve Crook

Citation please
Halloween in Britain was celebrated with harmless pursuits like apple bobbing and wassailing when I were but a lad. Part of wassailing might involve going round to houses in the neighbourhood but there were no threats of "tricks" or demanding money with menaces. The wassailers were rewarded with food and drink, but that was in reward for singing. It was all part of the pagan custom of blessing the apple trees in particular so that they'd give a good crop next year. There was no penalty if anyone didn't want to join in. As far as I can see, the "trick" part is a purely American addition that corrupts an otherwise harmless tradition.

Steve

BristolUK

I agree. But I usually made up goodie bags to dish out as I thought that was better than giving money to kids for dangerous fireworks.