I'll drink to that!

As someone under the age of legal drinking in the UK, I have never consumed alcohol on anything more than a "Taste" basis. All around me, friends and peers post photos of a drunk night out, and in my opinion, this is a case of their choice.
The laws now surrounding the purchase of alcohol are, in my opinion, strong enough, and if a young person decides to have a drink, then they must face the consequences. I cannot condone Binge drinking, however. This greed of alcohol has led individuals to become addicted to losing sight of their morals and sense, just for the sake of a good night out.
I can tell you now, that I have never been anywhere close to drunk, but I have had many a good night out.
This neccesity to drink is what has led the nation to its binge drinking days.
The fact that alcoholism affects your health now puts strain on the health service to provide care to drunken alcoholics who don't know when to stop.
Taxpayer money that could be put towards better use is being wasted on a minority who can't keep control of themselves.
I have absolutely no problem with people drinking, and I am sure that in my future I will enjoy the rare drink, but I just can't bring myself to respect those who drink too much too often and then expect money to be spent on paying for their idiocy.

A video was posted on the BBC news website today, of a heavily intoxicated woman falling under a train.

Click here to view the video

We can only imagine what must have happened next, but I would guess that time and money was spent on a) saving the woman from under the train and b) treating the woman for her minor injuries.
There's nothing we can really do about this problem though, and it perhaps it is something we will just have to grow to accept it as part of society.

I just don't think its fair, that people put becoming drunk over saving the NHS money so that they can help others who need more help. If you have a drink, that's fine and I hope you enjoy it, but please remember before you get that one too many, that someone is going to have to help you find your feet and make your way home.

Oh I wish it could be Christmas everyday!!

As a child growing up, I absolutely loved Christmas. The snow, Santa, the reindeer, the tree, the presents, the carols and songs... It was the best time of the year.

That was only a few years ago, but in that short space of time, Christmas has become much more of a strain. Buying presents, sending cards, wrapping gifts and at the same time trying to give off an air of merriment and joy makes for a hard time.

The icing on this miserable Christmas cake, was as I was descending from the bus on the way in to college, I slipped on ice, fell and whacked my knee off the pavement. This was not quite as sore as the sheer embarassment of falling in front of a busload of people. On the bright side, the heat from my blushing face warmed the freezing air a little.

I don't think of myself as a Scrooge, however, and I always try my best to buy presents for family and friends (even if it is just a box of chocolates out of poundland) or at least offer a card with a few Christmas-related words etched inside.

In actualiy, it takes me until about 10pm on Christmas Eve to fully get in the spirit of the festivities, as we sit as a family, eating crispy duck and pancakes, watching the Muppets Christmas Carol.

The Sneddon family has recently started a new tradition of giving "Little House on the Prarie" gifts, which take the form of home-made presents made by us. For example, in the brief history of this gift-swapping event, members of the family have been offered hand-made scarves and hats, stories and games. This rather quaint affair, has now turned into a stormy cloud of panic, as you reach the 24th, and realise that you forgot someone in the family, and have about 2 hours to create an artistic masterpiece.

Apart from the flaw of not having enough time, the idea itself is quite a nice one. As the saying goes "It's the thought that counts", and even if your dog-shaped hot water bottle cover has been already ripped in 2 by the wrapping paper alone, it is still better than that afore-mentioned poundland chocolate.

The Microscope/Telescope Combo

We talk all of the time about the over-commercialism of the festive period, and I agree that people shouldn't give a present just for the sake of giving it. I would much rather that you donated a few pounds to charity, than to buy me a telescope/microscope combo utensil, which I received from the same person two years running.

There is now almost a requirement to buy all of your friends a gift, even if you know they won't like it or use it, just so that there is something to hand them in return for the equally useless gift they just handed you.

I am not saying I don't enjoy recieving presents, or giving them for that matter, but I believe that buying for the sake of buying is not the right thing to be doing. A home-made card is much better to recieve than a mass-produced mildly entertaining gift.

In recent years, we have been given the opportunity to let our friends decide what they want, through the art of giftcards and vouchers. An iTunes voucher opens up the entire world of music and apps, whilst a Book token allows the recipient to choose their own novel. There are even now giftcards for anything from Asda's to World of Warcraft, so there is a guarantee that there will be a giftcard that suits you perfectly.

Christmas has become more about the presents, than spending time with your loved ones, sharing happiness, and pulling the crackers together as you delve into your Christmas dinner.

This Christmas we are having an elderly friend round to join us for lunch, as she lives by herself, and normally has to spend the day sitting lonely in her house. I know that her being there, will be the best present that both she, and us, will get this year.

The gift of giving

Christmas is on its way, as we take the first step into the last month of 2011.
As I woke up this morning, to a cold and dark house, the sight of a "Toy Story" Advent calender lit up the room.

Even as a teenager, I still really love Christmas, although perhaps for different reasons than I used to. Of course I still love unwrapping the presents on Christmas morning, but nowadays I enjoy giving gifts as well. There's something quite special about passing someone a packaged parcel, with a mutual knowledge that you spent time, money and effort on buying them something. Even a Christmas card with a personal message inside, gives the receiver and the giver a magical feeling.

Of course we all know that Christmas originated as a celebration of the birth of a Jesus, but beneath it all the real message in my opinion, is sharing and giving.

I really believe the best gift you can receive at Christmas is a smile from a friend that you have just given a present to, and I hate seeing those who would rather take than give.

It is the one time of the year, spare birthdays, when the thought on everyone's mind is "What will I get for them? What will they get for me?", and I think it's great. Whether you believe it really is the day when the son of God was born, or you believe it's just a time to show thanks and recognition, or indeed if you believe that you have to leave mince pies and carrots for Santa and Rudolph so that they will pay a visit, Christmas is a time for sharing. And I really hope everyone does just that, and shares a bit of love this December.

Striking a blow??

In years gone by, a strike would grind the country to a halt. We have all heard the tales of violence filled days in the Mining strikes; of the need to have police protection for the Scabs, and the clashes between law and protest.



Strikers in action



As I've posted before, I was involved in a film about the 1926 General Strike over the Summer. This was a strike of massive proportions, and lasted approximately 15 days. It was, however, a lost cause, and the miners had to return to work for longer hours, and less pay.

Even then, when the entire country was out in support of them, the miners couldn't win a strike. Maybe this is a sign that they just don't work.

Strike

The feelings of anger and frustration displayed quite clearly by the strikers, seems to have very little effect on the Government. In reality, a day without teachers causes more problems for an adult needing childcare, than it does to Mr Cameron and Clegg.

 Maybe we need a new way of making a point, that will have more of an impact on the Government. The riots certainly made a point, yet resulted in punishment for all involved. There are plenty of other ways to raise issues in Parliament nowadays as well. Petitions for example. If a certain number of signatures are on your petition, it is taken to the House of Commons for debate. Although this is a good way of making Parliament more accessible, I doubt that it would in fact make much difference.

I'm not saying that this strike was a failure, I have no doubt it has, but unless it is followed through by more action, its effect is unlikely to last. Talk is being made of a longer strike of 6-8 weeks, being held by Border Control, Teachers etc. Now that would make a difference.



Jeremy Clarkson ~ Top Gear



Two months of uncontrolled entry into the country would almost certainly stop the Con-Dems in their tracks. It is that sort of protest that the Unions need.

As for Jeremy Clarkson, who appeared on the One show last night, your comments are apalling and disgusting. He said on the hit BBC show "I'd have them all shot. I would take them outside and execute them in front of their families."





From a man who does very little for an awful lot of money, it is completely ludicrous to make such insulting and violent comments. I can quite understand that the union Unison is now seeking legal advice to take action against you Mr Clarkson. It's been a long time coming.

David Cameron, meanwhile, has called the strike action "futile" despite an estimated 2 million workers going on strike. To be fair, they just saved him 2 million days worth of salary, but the fact his proposed changes are going to clearly affect 2 million people, maybe he should take the hint and change his ideas.