Where's the Oil?

A couple of weeks ago a major cyclone hit Burma flooding the Irrawaddy Delta. As a result hundreds of thousands have been made homeless, thousands have died and there are major problems with lack of food, clean water and disease. The Burmese Junta have, however, refused entry to any aid workers and emergency aid supplies are lying idle because they cannot be distributed. As a result, more and more people are dying.

Given what happened in Iraq - invasion by the US and UK on the grounds that Saddam was guilty of genocide against his own people (WMDs a red herring) - why is there no move against the Burmese dictatorship in view of their recklessness and genocide by neglect?

Where's the oil?

Moving Mother

Last weekend we moved mother from her three bedroomed house to an elderly person's bungalow in Stonehouse. She had lived in her house for 45 years and I and my brothers had all seen part of our childhood or early teens in it. It must have been a huge wrench to leave her house and her friends but it became inevitable when father died and she could no longer climb the stairs or look after the house or garden.

The move was accomplished with help from Jon, Val, Clare and Chris (who came down from Loughton to help). It was a long, hard weekend as there was quite a bit of work to do on the bungalow to make it habitable. However, by the time mother moved in it was looking very cosy and she appeared happy enough - though it's always difficult to tell since she is not blessed with a wide range of emotions!

We now have to hope that she will communicate and socialise with her neighbours and form a new circle of friends - not easy at 82 it has to be said. She will also expect and require frequent visits as both Jon and I are now within easy reach - overall though life will be easier for all concerned.

Back to Work for a Rest

Last week Mary and I went up to London to look after our 3 1/2 and 1 1/2 year old grandsons as the nanny was on holiday. Despite the joy of interacting with your own genes this was damn hard work! Quite how my daughter copes with a high power job in the city and these two energy gobbling entities I have no idea. OK, a nanny helps but even an hour of input represents a challenge to patience, intellect and negotiating skills unmatched by that demanded from any adult.

However, it was fun and we were blessed by Mediterranean weather which meant we could chase each other around the garden for much of the day (I'm now fully fit for the next London Marathon).

We also got to take Jamie to school in the morning (he only goes in the morning), which was quite fascinating given the diversity of the pupils and the (to us) alien social culture prevailing in this part of the UK. The road to the school gates was choked by new or nearly new 4x4s of one sort or another. Indeed, one struggled to find a vehicle under 2 years old anywhere in Loughton - do they all just earn a lot or do they spend what they earn on cars? One of life's enduring mysteries.