Bellenden Belle

I think IV is a really good example of how the benefit system can work to support people who find themselves in difficult circumstances. She's always worked, but needed a little help when she got divorced and her circumstances changed. It actually doesn't sound as if the number of children she had made a difference - she explains very eloquently how she cuts her cloth to make ends meet. And with her eldest child just finishing university it sounds as if she's done a bloody good job. I think it's clear in my earlier postings that I think people need to take responsibility for their children. But that doesn't mean as a society we shouldn't also invest in our future generations.

Having worked for a mental health charity that ran three social enterprises to support its work, I would absolutely say that I am a huge fan of social enterprises. These are small professional companies, given initial financial support in order that they can win tenders and develop their businesses, on the basis that their profits will go towards community projects and development. It was one of the small things Labour quietly did - starting up funds like Futurebuilders - to enable such businesses to get off the ground. I will be interested to see if The Big Society produces anything as effective. ???? Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Are you a fan of Social Enterprise? I can't quite > get my head round it but I think it looks a decent > potential solution to expensive "Statism" or > "Privatisation"...I'd like to see investment in > this type of thing and,in theory it should get it > from the tories as it kind of goes with the Big > Society thing but...I'm not holding my breathe.

Brendan - I absolutely agree that it's a very sad society indeed where we have to wait until we're in our 30s. And that's an extreme statement, probably based more on the demands of living in London than elsewhere. But no quids - I don't consider myself to be speaking on Cameronistic lines. I think their solutions are short term and they are tackling easy targets. I think our society is in a mess and that the level of inequality in our society has led to a status anxiety and rampant materialism that leaves every one unhappy and every one feeling hard done by. How we change the values we live by is a very hard question. At the moment all the news is about individual cuts. What worries me are the cuts to our public services - education, social services, etc - I work in the voluntary sector and the amount of public funding cuts on the horizon is frightening. And yet that's where I want to see investment - in supporting people to make their lives better. I'd like us to be a society that invests in people whilst at the same time people see they need to invest a little in themselves.

We have to get past this sense of entitlement which runs through every strata and every social class of this country. From the bankers who think they deserve huge bonuses; from the middle classes who think they deserve a nice house with a nice car and two long-haul holidays each year through to those who think they are entitled to be supported when they have children they can?t provide for. A reality check is needed throughout society ? not just with ?the poor? ? but they shouldn?t be excluded. It's ridiculous to put it down to a biological need to reproduce. We combine such impulses with rational thought - just check out how many people wait til their 30s to have children, ignoring all other "instincts" in favour of security and the right circumstances.

I have spent all week feeling like a Tory and finding it most uncomfortable. From conversations with friends bleating about how the loss of child support will affect them, to wondering why families have children without any planning, and how somehow that is a universal "right" whilst the rest of us drive ourselves crazy doing calculations in our head of how we might afford a family. I don't think it is too much to ask people to take responsibility for the children they bring into the world. Damn.

Oh for crying out loud.... I don't think the majority of people are squirrelling away their child benefit to pay for private education. As far as I know this has always been a tad more than ?80 a month. BB100 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I think new mother has a valid point if you > reverse her reasoning. By paying for her child's > education she relieves the state from the > financial burden of schooling her child. If giving > new mother child benefit enables her to do that > and she is saving the tax payer thousands of > pounds and freeing up a state school place then > taking child benefit away is short-sighted > foolishness. > > Investing can reap greater gains than penny > pinching.

crystal7 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Belle Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > I don't think the burden of private school fees > is > > comparable to that of childcare if we're > talking > > about expenses - the latter is a necessary cost > > for any working parent (excepting those with > > relatives who will do the caring for free), the > > former is absolutely a choice. > > > Couldn't agree more Belle! Hear hear...private education is not a necessity for middle-class parents.

But if child benefit was means tested for each family / household income exactly where would people's cut- off be? 45K appears reasonable to me, and is above the average even for London. My rough maths suggests that equals an income of aboout three grand. That doesnt leave much change after mortgage and bills, but it's possible. Many of our parents survived on less. If two parents are working it could well be because they can't afford to live on a single salary - imagine two incomes of 30K and then take off childcare expenses. That's still less than that single earner of 45K. Working single parents who earn just above the threshold but still have childcare expenses are surely the hardest hit? Cuts are always painful, but this feels fairer than some. Yes, it's hitting the middle classes but perhaps a reality check of how little some families live on is needed.

I haven't been in a while but am hugely grateful to Georgia for all the work she has done. I had some terrific nights and made some wonderful friends (and met a partner too). I agree that it is perhaps evidence of the success of the nights that people now meet up and no longer feel the need to go along to a specific night. I agree that Sean's idea is a good one. Here's to one last hoorah!

Hi Plimsoul, I think they would be fine. We have two different versions - one for 1-2 year olds and one for 3-5 year olds, so the play is very specifically targeted at particular age groups. And even I have been enchanted by some of the Adventure Theatre shows at the ripe old age of thirty-something! There are only 70 spaces in the Adventure theatre which does mean it sells incredibly quickly - a number of performances are already sold out. Just to warn you!

As mentioned by Espelli, Polka Theatre in Wimbledon is a theatre - two theatres in fact - designed specifically for children. The Adventure Theatre is for the under 5s and is a small intimate space, which offers a really memorable first experience of theatre. The Christmas show is Oliver Jeffers Lost and Found. Upstairs in the main house is an adaptation of The Snow Queen. It's a lovely venue too - with a dressing up box, children's book corner, playground, garden and home to the the teddy bear museum, all creating a child friendly environment which offers an experience very different to other adult theatres. I confess to working there but my enthusiasm and love for the place is genuine.

Well quite SM.... PR - you expressed support of other people's questions / views earlier on in this thread and the tone of your posts suggests you oppose the letter - while ironically you appear quite indignant at times to have not received one. So at least say that's your view - don't pretend you are being impartial : 'Me? Dont question me! I'm just asking is all.....'

PeckhamRose Wrote: > But what do I know, I am merely a patient and > someone who bothers to turn up to meetings to > reflect other people's concerns. I had indeed been > a recent patient and remain one, yet have never > received the letters. I asked questions for others > who were not there. PeckhamRose - on your own admission you have not received the letter. Whilst it is admirable that you take the time to support your local hospital by turning up to these public meetings, perhaps you should use it as an opportunity to voice your own personal concerns, rather than choosing to speak up for "others who were not there". Quite frankly, had your question been asked in public you may have found many people would have had the opportunity to put forward the alternate opinion, that this is a worthy cause deserving of public support and recognition - as has been demonstrated by this very thread.

Oh and I love the meals his grandma serves him as a vegetarian.... 'shall I bring your avocado out now Simon?'

I went to Tayyabs abotu a month ago...or at least I tried to....I have never seen so many people queuing for a table. Don't know if you can book, but if you can, definitely do to avoid disappointment.

There's a lovely bar with a really great atmosphere here: http://www.carnivale.co.uk/Carnivale/Carnivale_Whitechapel_London_Home.html Just at the bottom of Brick Lane - a good place to start.

This is the only programme currently on I always watch. I love it. Anyone who has ever returned to their parents' suburban house, sat on the settee - always a settee, never a sofa - and just observed these people with whom you share familial ties and found the whole experience slightly surreal will get this immediately. And what is perhaps surprising and rather lovely about S A's writing and performance is that his character shows such affection for his family. There's real warmth in the show. Another series please.

I once gave someone "negative chi", He made our finishing sound as if it was a sacrifice on behalf of his yoga group as he felt he was carrying the negative energy with him into his class.

I'm not a road user at all....I don't drive and so that probably clouds my judgement or lack of it. But those lanes really don't look that wide to me - have drivers really experienced difficulties with these lines?

Does that mean it does come down to a certain resentment at cyclists being given space on the road Peckhamrose? Surely, as more vulnerable road users, it's a concession worth making? DJKQ - I didn't realise that about duplicate routes. Although one could argue that I am a very good example of why this scheme might just have an impact; I don't know about existing cycle lanes, even being told about them I don't know if I'd still feel particularly confident at using them, so yes - paint something a garish colour, re-brand and repackage an old idea for me, and you know what - I might just try it. Perhaps it's irrational, and demonstrates how gullible I am to marketing, but I suspect there's a few people out there like me and this scheme might just encourage a few of us to get on our bikes.

I'm surprised you're being so negative Peckhamrose....I doubt few people are going to be using these as a route planner. Instead, I think it will help raise awareness of cyclists and encourage people who perhaps have always been too nervous to cycle on the road to give it a go. It's about creating a legitimate space for cyclists on the roads - surely that's a good thing? On another note - three cheers for Southwark for giving everyone a chance to have a one-to-one bike lesson. http://www.cyclinginstructor.com/cyclinginstructor.nsf/%28$Category1%29/6627A293DE39FDCC802571CD0059876B?OpenDocument I had my lesson on Saturday and it was brilliant.

I had this problem and found a replaced washing machine was the solution. It wasn't just on white clothes either - I found black dresses were ruined by the same marks.

Knowing what a seasoned bunch of travellers frequent this forum, I'm wondering if some might offer some advice. We're off to Vietnam for three weeks in December. We're spending a fair bit of time in the North, then heading to Hoi An. But how long should we allow for Saigon (Ho Chi Minh)? Is a week too much (allowing for a couple of day trips fitted in?) Should we consider visiting the Mekong Delta too? Any tips much appreciated.

Live music is worth considering - there's this website (recommended by the Arts Council) http://www.underagegigs.com/about.php And you could always suggest she has a listen on myspace to some of the bands to see which ones she likes.

HeidiHi Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- if someone wore real fur in > public, they leave themselves open to abuse, if > someone smokes with a huge bump in public, they > leave themselves open to abuse, even if no one > says anything, you can bet someone will be tutting > or giving them evil looks. No Heidi - nobody should feel their legal actions "leave them open to abuse" in society. We are all entitled to live the life we see fit, provided our actions are not against the law. A person can passionately support the need for more health education, or can campaign against the fur trade - but that is where a person's involvement should end.