Maiden Blog

Perhaps this is some kind of diary, the sort I kept when I was younger and before self-analysis and paranoid partners put an end to the past time. Who knows? Least of all me, but I have the feeling that the clutter of thoughts rattling round my head are about to outgrow their space and I need to do something fast. Time to brain dump and hopefully receive some balanced and thought provoking replies from anyone else interested.

Here's an example, slightly old, but still rubbing me raw.

Was I the only one who missed the irony of two news items breaking on the same day, or did I miss some off stage incredulity that I should be tapping into? I'm talking about Paul McCartney's financial battle with Haggling Heather, to the tune of something like a £7 million pay off, while a UK soldier is offered £250,000 (only after fighting for a revised settlement) to pay for the 24-hour care and specially adapted house he will need (for the rest of his life) after being blown apart in Iraq. If there are any journalists with a conscience, they must have been on a tea break when this got through.

And what about today's Missed Point? The 10-year old Indian children sweat-shopping round the clock, just to ensure that our own 10-year olds have their GAP Christmas outfits in time. No, to be absolutely fair, the journalists have highlighted this part (or how else would I know about it?), but they seem to have overlooked the real horror tucked away in GAP's response. See if you can spot it?

In 2004, when it launched its social audit, it (GAP) admitted that forced labour, child labour, wages below the minimum wage, physical punishment and coercion were among abuses it had found at some factories producing garments for it. It added that it had terminated contracts with 136 suppliers as a consequence. The Observer, 28.10.07

So, 136 suppliers have lost their business. Good, but where will the business go next. China? Who knows? But certainly not back to the more expensive place they came from, where wages and social support (are supposed to) exist.

Got it?? If not, try watching Michael Moore's 'The Big One'.

And in the rest of my, very small world, life goes on, relentlessly. Daughter, Lucy, is planning her future far from home and I am encouraging her all the way, though every cell in my body wishes it could be otherwise. As I write, she is filling out her forms to become a French citizen.

New husband, still wearing well after one week of married life and much loved for most of the 5 years we have known each other. This morning we took our horses out for an autumn ride (cold, damp and too close to winter) and remembered how much we missed being with them. We are planning a trip to Utah beach within the next few days for a last gallop before hibernation (ours and theirs). Roll on summer …. in Italy.