Stowaways entering Britain

The situation of people trying to enter the UK illegally is chronic. I feel sorry for the genuine people who are trying to reach Britain because the conditions in their home countries are so dreadful. I don't agree with people just wanting to come here because we are a "soft touch". Personally, I would filter genuine needy immigrants (true refugees) and turn away all others unless they are people we need because of skills shortages.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-28841545 .

Family day

With grandson Edward.

Today we went to Canterbury (and back) on the train by day return from Cambridge. Using our railcards, it is not expensive and parking is also good value at the station on Sundays. We are now back home after having a good 4 hours with them all.

From behind, the two grandchildren

UK growth

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-28800141 .

UK.growth puzzles me. Apparently the economy has now passed the re-recession peak and the economy is growing nicely/faster compared with other economies. Is this true? Are we really better than all those other economies that are so much more efficient?

What about our deficit? We still seem to be borrowing astronomic amounts and, as a nation, living well beyond our means.Surely,  in the end, we have to be living as a nation and as individual citizens within our means? This is clearly not the case at present.

Emotional pain

For reasons I don't want to discuss here, I am reminded that we simply cannot know the inner emotional pain that others are suffering at any time. In the same way, others have no idea what we might be suffering quietly. We should always be kind to others as inside they may have all sorts of issues to deal with. They are reflections of us.

Gettting Ebola under control

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-28807281 .

See álso: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs103/en/ .

The medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) which is working in West Africa believes the deadly Ebola virus will take 6 months to bring under control.  I hope it can be quicker as drugs to treat the condition seem a long way off still and this is a condition that could spread world-wide with modern transport means like planes and ships. Transmission between humans depends on a mingling of bodily fluids and this may help us. Infected people can be isolated to stop the disease spreading. West Africa is a place best avoided for now.

Where have our red-legged partridges gone?

http://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/redleggedpartridge_tcm9-18426.jpg?width=530&crop=(282,326,936,694)

Until about a week ago, for at least a year, there was a pair of red-legged partridges always to be seen in our Close and in the garden. Then a third bird appeared - maybe a rival male?  Since then, all have disappeared. It is a total mystery. Birds have bird minds and bird brains, but I for one miss their presence.

See http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/r/redleggedpartridge/ .

Sex trials and anonymity

Yet again, we hear in the news that a high profile singer is "in the frame" for possible child abuse. Yet again, this person is named and shamed well before any legal action is taken, or even considered. The person named says he is totally innocent. To my mind this is wrong, both for the accused and the victim(s).

Anonymity should be given too ALL involved until anyone is found guilty. If found guilty, the law of the land is quite able to deal with it. It is WRONG that people who may well be innocent are still treated as guilty even before a case is heard. In this country, it is the law that a person is innocent until the prosecution proves beyond reasonable doubt that the accused is guilty.

In recent months, some high profile cases have been heard. Some have received long custodial sentences. Some were innocent. Let us not be too keen to judge without having heard the evidence.