Knives in school

Did anyone else notice there was an announcement yesterday that metal detectors were to be installed to prevent knives being taken into schools and, today, there was an announcement that cooking will be a compulsory school subject. What will they cook? Jelly and blancmange?

More seriously, most boys carried at least penknives when I was at school and I had to carry either a jack-knife or a sheath-knife when I was in Scout uniform. Like most boys, I got into fights from time to time, but I never drew my knife or had one drawn against me.

MPs' pay

In most occupations, there is at least an approximate relationship between pay and market forces.  Even if they do not strike, there will be a tendency for more to leave the occupation than to enter it if they are chronically underpaid and recruitment will be difficult until pay is increased.  Conversely, applications will exceed vacancies if the occupation is overpaid.

 

There were 3,554 candidates for only 646 vacancies at the 2005 General Election.  This was the second highest number of candidates on record, 235 more than in 2001 and an average of 5.5 for each vacancy, so should MPs vote themselves any pay rise or are they overpaid already?

 

 

Wendy

Today is the first anniversary of Wendy's death.  It is sad but not depressing and it has been happier than last year.  Our daughter came to stay overnight yesterday and we visited Wendy's grave together today before going on to the hospice, where the book of remembrance was open at her name.

 

The Christmas and New Year period was also happier than last year, when there was the stress of wishing she was not about to die and yet also wanting her suffering to end.  Our daughter went out of her way to make the period pleasant for me this year and, of course, our granddaughters made it enjoyable without even trying.