I look around now and see a lot of similarities in my view, to that time , but in a modern version. So looking back there were all those things like dancing for 24 hours , and going looking for work and unrest and people having difficult times with the rise of such as Hitler and Mosley etc, etc.
The parallels are there to see now. Instead of 24 hour dances, we have people supposedly racing round the world (what is the point , using up resources for no good reasons, and not learning about the lives and countries that you visit but just grabbing what you can?!) Or so called celebrities going off to visit far flung places that the tv people are paying for. (Dont include things like Micheal Palin s good trips or the great David Attenborough journeys and wildlife things)
Then I am really fed up to the back teeth with the endless repeats on tv of the same boring things such as cooking shows, which are not there to give you good ideas and tips to save money and cook yourself but setting people up in endless competitions, where the ingredients are usually things that you are not likely to have in your own cupboards, or give you any inspiration. Endless repeats of boring programmes or things that if they are not your interest , are about as worth watching as paint drying. So, we have the Sewing Bee, and now for heavens sake a Sandcastle building competition. Nothing wrong with any of these things if they appeal to you, but again they all seem to be done on the basis of pitting people against each other, whether in groups or individually, and with emphasis on spending a lot of money etc. We need to be supporting sustainable and sensible ways of living, and good ideas on restyling your own clothes, or how to use second hand things in a practical way, and tips on sharing things, whether packets of seeds or having swap shops.
In real life there are quite a few good ideas happening, in local groups. So these very good pop up days , where you can take things to be mended by experts so that you can reuse and not waste things, recycling banks, gardening groups where you can swap plants and for many with small gardens these days, sharing a packet of seeds and swapping , so waste not want not. I have never been particularly bothered about fashion, not having the money to spend on clothes that were often very pretty , but not practical and man made fibres. When bringing up a family having an up to date wardrobe was way down the list of importance. I would more notice what was fashionable and look to see which of my things were now back in fashion and wear them again.
So, far worse than these things, in my opinion, is the world situation . Look at the similarities, instead of Hitler and Mosley, we have Trump and Farage! With available news every 5 minutes . we are endlessly shown how these narcisistic and dangerous people behave. The appalling Taliban ruling in Afganistan , where womens lives are getting worse by the day, and both politicians and press deliberately setting groups of people against each other for cheap and dangerous scoring points. When we read of NHS staff facing violence and needing security staff , when their role is to help people in need, and the rise in racist attacks both verbal and physical, the attention that Farage is given , where he incites the worst in people to put the blame for everything onto immigrants etc, is definitely a modern day match for Mosley.
Personally I feel much of the rot started with Thatcher , with her encouragement for selfishness and take everything you can. So with the sale of council houses, and thinking what would get her votes, it encouraged people to think only of themselves and an attitude of " what can I grab, and to hell with everyone else"
There are many people today doing sterling work, giving time and energy to good ideas such as retired people giving their time and expertise to mending things, and running food banks etc. Providing people with help with the endless government forms , running clubs and litter picking. Yet these things are seen as only fit for "and finally - " items at the end of the news. I would say that at least 90% of the news at the moment is totally doom and gloom, which is made worse by it being continually repeated on the hour so that you are depressed and inundated by the appalling situations , many of which you are unable to do anything much about as an individual. I do not bury my head in the sand, and follow the news and discussions of what is happening both here and abroad, but I now, do not watch any news after 6pm, as it is all so depressing and I would find that I would go to bed and think of all these things, both when I got into bed, and when I wake up in pain, in the middle of the night, that does not help at all.
I am very grateful for GN, as there is a great variety of things to read about and comment on, and when you hear of the worst of behaviour everywhere and the emphasis on the dreadful, which does not necessarily tell the truth, GN gives a more positive and balanced view. Only yesterday I heard a very good programme talking about the fact that there were statistics to show that there were lower levels in crimes in various categories, yet the press prefer to just talk about the bad areas and not have any balance about the good. The NHS is constantly being held up for poor standards, waiting times and the mistakes made. Yes of course we must do what we can to improve these situations, but why is there so little made of the wonderful things too, such as the way that has been found to be able to make individual vaccines or medication, to improve treatments for rare cancers. The good use of modern communications that allow people with very very rare conditions throughout the world to get together and help each other. The people who, in very dire situations, trialling new drugs, which may help them to have a little longer life or less pain, but which also help others
I have a personal story, where a very dear friend , many years ago, who had two little girls, had severe bad arthritis and had difficulty even walking across the school playground. She then was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, and was having treatment for this. She went to see her arthritis consultant, and he said "oh you are walking much better, what do you think has helped ? " to which she replied " the leukemia treatment!" and although she sadly died, this connection between her cancer treatment and the arthritis was made and I think she is even in the text books, because something new was found out., so that they were then able to look at this treatment for a totally different illness. The great strides being made in medication, and the good use of computers , that now allow people to communicate with such as eye movements, or electric wheel chairs that allow people to still live a life that they want to. Why is this not given the attention as well as the bad side of things.? Well , it is the old thing that sensationalism sells and they think that we dont want to know about the good things. I disagree and think we need to share every good idea, and encourage good practise. At the moment there is endless news about the drought and dry weather. Having lived abroad I am well aware of saving water at all times never mind just drought times, and seeing drinking water used to wash cars, and leaving hoses running in the street , always annoyed me.
There has been enough warning on climate change, which people like Trump and others choose to ignore or deny, yet still houses are being allowed to be built, with no water butts or good insulation or solar panels. We have to do what we can to improve homes already built, but there should be a law to make all new properties be built to sensible standards for the future. If that was a law that all builders had to abide by, it would benefit everyone that used them, and not let the builders say they couldnt afford to build these houses or other people would under cut them. Good insulation, double or triple glazed windows , not only keeps in heat, but deadens noise too, which is of value too, and if there were waterbutts taking rain from the gutters, it would be another good way of saving water. We have to have the attitude that any small steps that we can each take is worthwhile when multiplied by 1000's of us doing it. In the end we have to look at our grandchildren and at the very least say that we did our best not to waste resources. We cannot let the news make us feel that there is so little we can do as individuals that it is not worth trying.
Ah well I have had my rant and will be interested in the comments made. Time to put the kettle on for a much needed coffee - ranting is thirsty work!
So Harry and family are coming back!
Early reading v continental custom - teachers’ thoughts sought
