Latest Moan From You and Me 2025

I reared my three children at the time mothers started to work full time (many unnecessarily) and put their own children into nurseries. Boy, could I tell the difference between those reared by parents and those given to others. Why bother having children that are reared by someone else?

 

What's people's thoughts on smacking young children?

 

As a once upon a time much-smacked child I would argue that discussion and enquiry are more effective than smacking. I lived in a house where everyone swore and used profanities. As a small child, one day I saw something that surprised me and I responded with the sort of words that I had heard other members of my family use. One of those family members heard me and slapped me round the back of the head so hard that I almost fell over. I didn’t understand what I had done wrong. The injustice of the slap bred fear and anger and contempt in me. Stupid.

 

The standard of parenting has been declining for decades IMO.
I see young-ish children messing about in shops with no fear of accountability. There was the 2 on an electric scooter last year - riding around inside a busy shop, that I'd already seen on the pavement on my approach to the car park. Illegal to start with in a public place, but I see them regularly when out walking. There was another incident inside Sainsbury's a week or two ago. 2 teenagers playing with a football [one that they'd removed from a nearby shelf] - throwing it, and kicking it, to each other etc. I stood and watched them - and they knew I was watching, but still carried on. Eventually, a shop worker came along and I mentioned them to him. He wasn't amused, and they saw me talking to him and started to head to the door. The worker headed that way too, along a different aisle, but I don't know if he caught up with them. I regularly see parents with children who are riding bikes around in our local supermarket.
People are frightened to say anything - just in case. The parents don't seem to care, even if they're actually present.
I read about this earlier, and can't see the actual piece I read, but this is similar.
AOL is part of the Yahoo family of brands.
The human race in the 21st century eh? Brilliant.

 

I doubt I was smacked more than about half a dozen times as a kid. It would even then generally only be a single slap across the back of the legs - and it hurt. There would always be plenty of warnings before it happened, so if it got to that stage I really only had myself to blame. There is a massive difference between that sort of treatment, and a kid being constantly beaten for any minor 'offence'.

 

I've always been blamed for things i didn't do, even had slaps for it as well, i now don't go out in crowded place's, i keep myself to myself just in case, even get roomer's about things because the other person didn't see all that have happened etc
IE
Someone asked me to move one of their vehicles because they couldn't, i said, does it need moving now or can it be done early next morning on my way to work, this was fine, so i went in early (5am)moved said vehicle and then went to work, next thing i heard was that i was having an afair with the lady because someone didn't see me go in but sore me come out and go straight the work

 

This was my experience as well. I was given lots of warnings and it was truely a last resort but I don't have any complaints. My parents aren't violent in anyway and it would have hurt them to do it but I guess it's the way they had been brought up.

 

I'd very much like to smack our Green Waste service ( I use the word "service" TIC ). Make your payment for the coming year - easy to do online. No way does the site enable you to do it at all never mind easily and that's trying for 3 days tho it was simple enough last year. So have to resort to their phone line ( not cheap ) and have to suffer the endless muzac and we love you and you are important to us, blah, blah.
Manage to do it eventually, put the phone down and breathe a sigh of relief. Minutes later, phone goes and it's the Electricity supplier banging on about needing to install a Smart Meter. This must be about the 6th "conversation" we've had with them over the last couple of years. Same old spiel about the original meter possibly overcharging but no answer when you say it could be undercharging just as easily. Suggest if they are really concerned, they could send someone out to check it. Shock/Horror at such an idea.
Then they wonder about the increasing numbers of people suffering from Mental Health problems

 

I've had many calls in the past about Smart meters and Mr S received text messages now and again but we've always refused. Having moved house almost a year ago there was one already here which we weren't happy about. It's for both electric and gas (same company) and the gas side of it has never worked. It's been checked and the fault can't be found. Ironically a meter reader turns up every few months to record the gas used, which defeats the object of this marvel of modern technology.

Having said that, we haven't owned a television for 15 years plus, but we still get pestered by the BBC about not having a licence. They give us a lot of spiel about them calling on us to check that we haven't got a tv. That has not happened and they wouldn't get past the front door anyway.

I've told this tale once before but some of you newer folk here may find it amusing...

Before moving here to Scotland I lived on the Isle of Man for 24 years. Until recent years anyone wanting to live and work on the island needed a work permit for ten years, applied for by the prospective employer, from the government. The employer had to prove there was need for the abilities of the prospective employee over anyone Manx or those already settled there.

Referring to the television licence - now and again the BBC would send a detector van to the island seeking out those who hadn't paid. A member of the public thought about this on one of those occasions and questioned whether the BBC needed a work permit for the duration they were on the island. The answer was yes and the van and it's occupants were ousted from the island, and as far as I know they've not been back.

 

Yesterday I received a letter from HMRC. Always a pleasure ... not! Anyway what seriously peeved me before I'd even opened the envelope was on the front is printed "Your tax service - here to support"!!!

Now this would be the gov body that is incapable of answering the phone and, if by some miracle, you do get through, won't discuss your tax return with you anyway. A less supportive service would be hard to imagine.

Whoever decided on that particular mantra for the envelope clearly has a warped sense of humour.

 

I am reading through a series of books and am ready for No.4. Checked my library and they have a copy, but it is out on loan. Wait patiently for the loan period to expire ... and one day before it is due back, the borrower renews it. Sigh deeply, and sit out the next three weeks. It is due back this Friday ... and today the borrower has renewed again! Argghh!

I could reserve it, but that costs me 75p ... and having already wasted 5 weeks, with 3 more to add to that now, I am not minded to fork out, but technically the current borrower could renew 5 times.