There are times when I give up hope for humanity (quite often at present) and this is definitely one of those occasions. This could be straight out of CSI or Law and Order (there are distinct echoes of one episode of the latter series), but this is real life and it literally (sic) makes me weep. I despair for the hope of the human race on reading things like this.
Sadly too, cases such as this aren't isolated incidents. As long as there are predators about they will always take advantage of the weak and helpless in society. I read of things as dreadful as this all too often. Just imagine the many horrors that go unreported.
This hardly surprised me. In my MA in Criminology I looked into crime against older people. As with other vulnerable groups (children, the disabled) they are generally more at risk of crime (theft, violence, fraud) from people caring for them than from strangers.
Here's the most chilling bit; a quote from Ginny Jenkin, then director of Action for Elder Abuse - 'It's not about sex, it's about power,' she added. 'There are even pages on paedophile websites encouraging men finding it hard to access children to gain employment at care homes. They say the sex is just as good and there's far less risk of getting caught.'
I used to cope with what was then called 'gallows humour'. Anyone over 30 probably knows the kind of thing I mean, especially if they know lots of doctors and nurses. Now I just have another drink :-(
It ought to be axiomatic that, in setting up any institution that has the potential for abuse of (e.g.) residents, as seen by those who might commit such, is properly evaluated and as far as possible 'designed out'.
In one class, none at all! We were looking at epitaphs, especially humourous ones and neither the name of Mel Blanc - understandable perhaps - nor the phrase "That's All Folks!" which he had inscribed on his tombstone were familiar to them.
Plus DNA testing will only be of any use if they have samples from the putative father. OK, they might find him one day, but it's not as though his name is going to pop up on the test results is it? They might narrow it down (ethnic background, etc) but I fear it will remain a mystery, until he does something that results in a police record.
It appears to me the 'dots' are holes / perforations in the bricks. Such perforations are common in structural bricks - particularly those that aren't planned to be visible in the finished structure.
I thought about that... in which case they are oddly out of alignment with the body of the brick. Historical/archaeological bricks tend to be uniformish at least within the batch I think? So the unpleasantness with this solution would be that they are a ;load of friday afternoon specials and about to collapse! I am wondering if we are looking at the right hand edge of a fireplace opening which would make more sense of teh rest of it.
I think the photographer is sitting on it? isn't seen in the mirror for example. Which means that there's a looooooong stretch to the paper!
That's what it looks like to me.
Thats what I was thinking - the loo looks to be a hell of a long way from the paper!
another unpleasantness......
Nope - the photographer isn't sitting on it. The door latch visible in the upper right is the latch visible in the mirror. If the photographer's sitting on the toilet it's located in the middle of the doorway.
You really don't want to have to stand up afterwards to get the loo roll...
Bin liner in bin - what's the problem?!
Oh, I'm well familiar with the hurdy gurdy and nearly bought one (in need of repair) at a flea market years ago, along with a perfectly servicable zither.Andy,
This has proved to be puzzling.
Most certainty a phrase I've never heard of and would expert otherwise.
One suggestion is that 'windae' is not referring to a window, instead it's related to the hurdy-gurdy being a musical instrument which requires to be 'hand cranked' - as in a 'windy (*wyndy*) box'.
Hmmm, not sure about that...
There is a debate about whether the lyrics are, 'in the windae boxes', or, 'all the windae boxes'. If the latter, makes more sense.
Anyway, as an aside, searching online, naturally came across references to Donavan's song, 'Hurdy Gurdy Man'.
One thing that leapt out was a mention Donavan being a Scottish singer-songwriter.
Dinnae think so... must be an error.
Part of the soundtrack from my youngling years, would surely have known if that was the case.
Duly check this out and stunned to find that he was born in Maryhill, Glasgow...
Alex, I was 'born and bred' in Maryhill...
If anyone would like to experience the sound of a hurdy gurdy, check this out:
Another revelation from my adventures...!
There's one in kit form on Amazon from a company called Ugears for about 65 quid. 100% positive reviews mainly focus on the satisfaction gained in the modelling process, not so much on how it sounds.
He's been sacked.
I'm sure he'll make a big splash.
Was it a Sperm Whale and did he do it on Porpoise?
