Would a knitted pompom make you feel safe?

 I am beginning to think that the world is going totally barmy. I have just been reading a news article entitled "The science behind police attempts to regain communities".  Apparently in Leicester the police have resorted to guerrilla knitting to rid people of their disproportionate fear of crime. They say crime is not as rife as we think andI hanging their knitted decorations in the trees will make people feel safer!  

Think I'm joking?  I kid you not. This is real.

They have attached hundreds of knitted pompoms to trees and lamp posts in Bede Park and Great Central Way, Leicester. They are hoping that this will encourage people to use the two areas of Leicester - but opinion appears split as to whether it will make any difference!!

Apparently Criminologists at De Montfort University say making the area look cosier will make it feel safer, but residents in Leicester appear unconvinced.

I have seen and heard it all now.  I simply cannot believe that attaching a knitted bauble to a tree would make anyone feel safe.  It doesn't do it for me. What are your thoughts?   What do my Merikan friends think?  Hey, I have an idea....... hand in all your guns, hang pompoms in the trees;  you will not need your gun ever again! 

Shouldn't our police force have better things to be doing?  Like fighting crime?   We are constantly hearing about the difficult financial situation and how we are losing police officers because of it. There are not enough officers on the beat and yet East Midlands force seems to think this is the best way to deploy them.  CRAZY!

You can see the full article and more photos here: Leicester police

Thursday 14th March

Just realised that I haven't been here for 2 weeks. I have read blogs from time to time and I have had good intentions but other stuff has got in the way. I know I have said it before but I really do need double the hours in my day.  I am just so busy.  The sewing and Etsy shop is taking up time and also my volunteer work with the dogs is taking more time too. 

So what is new?  Best news ever is that our little, tiny grandson, Jackson has had his feeding tube removed.  Yay! He is now 8 weeks old and weighs 5lb 1oz so he is doing fantastically.  Remember that he still shouldn't even be here for another 2 weeks. 

That reminds me, big congratulations to my friend Pam and her daughter Stephie.  Stephie has just given Pam another grandson.  Little Adam. 

I have a headache today.  It started yesterday and I can't get rid of it.  Hence, I’m doing some blogging rather than anything else. I have the TV on in the bedroom and am just watching “This Morning" and there is this really weird man, David Icke, who thinks the world is a hologram. Apparently we are all being controlled by members of the Royal family!  Weird or what? 

I actually do think that we are controlled by many forces and organisations but the Royal family?  No. Our governments, the church, yes, Royal family, no.  Speaking of the church reminds me of the election of the new Pope. Now there is a controlling organisation if ever there was one.  The Catholic Church. Oh yes, you better believe it.  Did you see all the faithful waiting to learn the name of the new head?  Sheep. Most have no idea who this guy even is but they will revere him anyway. 

Coralie posted on her Facebook page yesterday, "Dare we hope for a slightly more progressive thinking Pope? One who can lead the Catholic Church into the modern world?"  There is no way that will happen.  They are not interested.  They just want to stick with the old ways. They want to stay in control.  

My response was “Dare we hope for someone who will put an end to the sexual abuse that is so rife throughout the Catholic Church?”  Interestingly, Coralie deleted that.   I find that interesting in itself.   Coralie is someone who would normally welcome debate.  Seemingly my opinions are not appropriate for her page.  Hmmm, makes me really wonder.

So, Pope, Francis the first.  He is a very conservative, 76 year old. Is he going to change anything?  Is he heck?  That is why he was voted in.  They will never dare risk anything else.  He is anti-gays, anti-abortion, and anti-euthanasia need I go on?  Interesting that he is also a Jesuit.  Anyone recall from their history lessons how the Jesuits became so powerful at the end of the 18th century that they were suppressed?  Hmmm, power and control. 

OK, my brain is hurting, and I am waffling and not being coherent. I think you have realised by now that I am not impressed.  

For anyone that doesn't know, I was christened at my parent’s local parish church.  (Common C of E).  After my marriage, in a very misguided attempt to be accepted by the outlaws, I was confirmed in the Roman Catholic Church.  Our children grew up in that faith and at primary age they went to a Catholic school.  I have never believed. Simon has never believed. We were both just trying to fit in with his family. It didn't work. Nothing will ever work there, but that is another story.  

Basically as we got older we realised that there was no point in pretending to be something that we are not.  We have not attended church for years and never will again. (Weddings and funerals excepted). Simon believes very strongly that the church is just an organisation that controls the masses for their own purposes. I mostly don't even bother to think about it. If I am anything, then I am probably a sort of Pagan.  But I prefer not to define myself.  I am me and I believe in balance and good and..........oh  my goodness what a lot more drivel.  This is what happens when I have a headache!

I am being driven crazy buy Alfie.  We were all 3 of us on the bed.  Alfie was in Simon’s place at the top of the bed next to me and Loulou was at the bottom by my feet.  I got up to go to the loo and Alfie followed me.  Of course Loulou then saw her opportunity and moved into the prime position.  Alfie is not pleased.  This happens all the time.  I wish he would just realise that I am only going to be 2 minutes and stay where he is. He then tries to get on my lap which doesn't work with my lap top.  I have moved to the chair and he keeps trying to get up here with me. I might shut them both downstairs for a while. I think I need to close the curtains and lie down quietly.   Stupid headache.

At least I managed a blog.

Facebook

Facebook is a wonderful social medium.  No, really it is!  I don't post much personal stuff there and I certainly do not post status updates telling you that it is 2pm and I am in Starbucks having a coffee.  That is drivel.  Come to think of it, I post a lot of drivel on my blog!  My point is that many people do post such updates, my own family included.  I choose not to comment.  I do not tell them they are posting drivel.

So what do I do on there?  Well I play a few games and I check out the photos posted by family and friends.  I quite like that aspect of it as it is a way of keeping up with people you don't see often.  I post  occasional news updates such as those the last week regarding my new grandson.  It is one way of keeping friends informed of how he is doing.  The last 2 weeks I have also been promoting my Fabrilushus shop as well.  Something which will no doubt annoy some friends, but hey you can just skip it.

I am sure that many of you will have also noticed that I regularly share posts regarding dogs.  I share photos of dogs needing to be rescued and stories of the appalling cruelty that man is capable of towards the animal supposedly his best friend.   I post these in the hope that someone, somewhere, may be able to help these poor animals and to raise awareness of the terrible things that we allow to happen.

Yes, they are couched in emotive language.  It helps to make a point.  They have graphic photos quite often. If they make you feel sick, well good, so it should.  Maybe, just maybe, it might make you think. Someone mentioned that there was no point to these posts as they will not reach the people concerned.  That is absolutely true but it might reach others who care enough to take a stand.  Like most things in life it only needs a few to stand up and be counted.

I do realise that dogs are not the only ones to suffer.  I am not stupid.  I am intelligent and well educated.  I know what happens to cows, lambs, chickens, horses...... the list goes on.  Sadly I do not have the time to champion them all.  I have always loved dogs.  I have a strong affinity with them.  For that reason I concentrate all my efforts in trying to do whatever I can, in any small way, to help their plight.

Some people do not like dogs.  That is fine, I do not have a problem with that as long as you treat them decently.  Some people have a problem with my posts.  I do not.  It is simple, if you don't like a post then move on.  If you have something to say then say it.  If you want to share the post then please do.  But don't try to detract from the issue by going on about the emotive language.   These posts are written that way for a reason.    I respect your right to post as you see fit, please respect mine.

Finally if you really couldn't care less then I stick by what I said on my last facebook posting........ you are hard hearted.  I defy anybody to look at the photo and read that post about the use of bolt guns to kill Greyhounds  and not be in tears.  It doesn't matter how much you do, or how much you have seen that post should still make you cry.   It is happening here in the UK.  I shared it because I think that most people would not have any knowledge of this practise.  Now they do my hope is that they will  step forward and help to get the law changed to make this practise illegal.   If that happens then my overly emotive postings will have achieved something.

PS.  Before anyone jumps up and down and spits their dummy  ......... this post is NOT directed at anyone in particular.  I have had many comments and messages and I am  putting my side.  Nothing more, nothing less.

PPS.  It has amazed me how many "friends" commented on my last few doggie  postings on facebook and yet those same friends have made no comment what so ever on my new little grandson.  The little grandson who was born 10 weeks prematurely and will be in the Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit for several months.  No comments.  Odd.  Maybe they only like commenting when they can be negative.    Maybe they just didn't read fully.  C'est la vie.

PPS.  He is doing very well, thanks for asking!

Think I shall go and play some mindless facebook game now.

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