Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Mysteryman on 27 January 2011, 19:05:51
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Similar, as it involves animal cruelty, but different.
I can't elaborate much here, for obvious reasons:
Two of my wifes staff went on a home visit this afternoon. They came back traumatised by the filth and signs of neglect they had found, both to the children and the pet dog.
Social care and the RSPCA were informed. The RSPCA sent an officer round within the hour. Social care said they didn't have the resources and would respond in due course.
Australia looks nice, if somewhat damp. :(
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Similar, as it involves animal cruelty, but different.
I can't elaborate much here, for obvious reasons:
Two of my wifes staff went on a home visit this afternoon. They came back traumatised by the filth and signs of neglect they had found, both to the children and the pet dog.
Social care and the RSPCA were informed. The RSPCA sent an officer round within the hour. Social care said they didn't have the resources and would respond in due course.
Australia looks nice, if somewhat damp. :(
Par for the course Steve, sadly >:(
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Similar, as it involves animal cruelty, but different.
I can't elaborate much here, for obvious reasons:
Two of my wifes staff went on a home visit this afternoon. They came back traumatised by the filth and signs of neglect they had found, both to the children and the pet dog.
Social care and the RSPCA were informed. The RSPCA sent an officer round within the hour. Social care said they didn't have the resources and would respond in due course.
Australia looks nice, if somewhat damp. :(
I remain firmly convinced that given the generally higher birthrate that seems to favour 'certain' base-sections of our society (fact: brighter/more-able/altruistic people tend to have smaller families) the eventual outcome for Britain will be a "lowest common denominator" amoral society........it may take several generations but 'they' will win. ::)
I never thought I`d live to see the practical appeal of eugenics! :-X
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Bloody Hell Steve, I sincerely hope that post is tongue in cheek & not the Gods Honest Truth?!! :-/
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Bloody Hell Steve, I sincerely hope that post is tongue in cheek & not the Gods Honest Truth?!! :-/
Bloody sad isn't it, pets sorted but the kids have to wait >:( >:(
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Bloody Hell Steve, I sincerely hope that post is tongue in cheek & not the Gods Honest Truth?!! :-/
I don't do tongue-in-cheek where kids are concerned Phil.
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Well then that is bloody diabolical! someone needs their arse kicked >:(very hard!
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Well then that is bloody diabolical! someone needs their arse kicked >:(very hard!
I'm araid that you are deluded if you think that is anything but the norm in large cities Phil.
The workload and the 'targets' got too much for all the experienced social workers long ago. The poor kids that do the job now get a weeks training and are sent out. A lot of them end up 'on the sick'.
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Not unsurprising unfortunately ... see this quite often at work ... SS / Probation claiming "understaffing" .. RSPCA willing to actually do the job first then argue about "rules" later.
Says a lot about our "civil servants" .. and yes ... SS workers ARE civil servants.
:(
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The only saving feature of this is at least now we have Social Services, good or bad.
Cruelty to children, and animals, is as old as time itself. It is not that long ago relatively speaking that 5 year olds would have to crawl through the looms of our great industries, or all the other horrors of the (Great?) Victorian Age were being exposed by Charles Dickens, with multi-family occupation of small one bedroom homes. People suspected of 'simple' crime, like stealing a loaf of bread, could be flogged, transported, or hung. Animals were also being flogged to death hauling unbearable loads, and dogs kicked from one street to another. It was a very cruel society, but that is how it was.
Now even small acts of cruely to both children and animals are repulsive to us, and much law making has been done to implement controls, along with procedures, to tackle the problems. We have advanced no matter what at times we think after reading cases in the media. We generally care now, with only a relatively small percentage of society who still carryout sub-human acts. These people are the ones that have now got to be stopped.
However, never forget it was far worse, with limited care expressed by society. Today it is an improving situation, not a declining one, although with a rising population numerically more cases will no doubt come to light :'( :'(
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The only saving feature of this is at least now we have Social Services, good or bad.
Cruelty to children, and animals, is as old as time itself. It is not that long ago relatively speaking that 5 year olds would have to crawl through the looms of our great industries, or all the other horrors of the (Great?) Victorian Age were being exposed by Charles Dickens, with multi-family occupation of small one bedroom homes. People suspected of 'simple' crime, like stealing a loaf of bread, could be flogged, transported, or hung. Animals were also being flogged to death hauling unbearable loads, and dogs kicked from one street to another. It was a very cruel society, but that is how it was.
Now even small acts of cruely to both children and animals are repulsive to us, and much law making has been done to implement controls, along with procedures, to tackle the problems. We have advanced no matter what at times we think after reading cases in the media. We generally care now, with only a relatively small percentage of society who still carryout sub-human acts. These people are the ones that have now got to be stopped.
However, never forget it was far worse, with limited care expressed by society. Today it is an improving situation, not a declining one, although with a rising population numerically more cases will no doubt come to light :'( :'(
Some of that is true, some is twaddle. I, for one, would like to go back in time. Then, at least, we could hang the b@st@rds.
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The only saving feature of this is at least now we have Social Services, good or bad.
Cruelty to children, and animals, is as old as time itself. It is not that long ago relatively speaking that 5 year olds would have to crawl through the looms of our great industries, or all the other horrors of the (Great?) Victorian Age were being exposed by Charles Dickens, with multi-family occupation of small one bedroom homes. People suspected of 'simple' crime, like stealing a loaf of bread, could be flogged, transported, or hung. Animals were also being flogged to death hauling unbearable loads, and dogs kicked from one street to another. It was a very cruel society, but that is how it was.
Now even small acts of cruely to both children and animals are repulsive to us, and much law making has been done to implement controls, along with procedures, to tackle the problems. We have advanced no matter what at times we think after reading cases in the media. We generally care now, with only a relatively small percentage of society who still carryout sub-human acts. These people are the ones that have now got to be stopped.
However, never forget it was far worse, with limited care expressed by society. Today it is an improving situation, not a declining one, although with a rising population numerically more cases will no doubt come to light :'( :'(
Some of that is true, some is twaddle. I, for one, would like to go back in time. Then, at least, we could hang the b@st@rds.
What is Steve? :-/ :-/
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The only saving feature of this is at least now we have Social Services, good or bad.
Cruelty to children, and animals, is as old as time itself. It is not that long ago relatively speaking that 5 year olds would have to crawl through the looms of our great industries, or all the other horrors of the (Great?) Victorian Age were being exposed by Charles Dickens, with multi-family occupation of small one bedroom homes. People suspected of 'simple' crime, like stealing a loaf of bread, could be flogged, transported, or hung. Animals were also being flogged to death hauling unbearable loads, and dogs kicked from one street to another. It was a very cruel society, but that is how it was.
Now even small acts of cruely to both children and animals are repulsive to us, and much law making has been done to implement controls, along with procedures, to tackle the problems. We have advanced no matter what at times we think after reading cases in the media. We generally care now, with only a relatively small percentage of society who still carryout sub-human acts. These people are the ones that have now got to be stopped.
However, never forget it was far worse, with limited care expressed by society. Today it is an improving situation, not a declining one, although with a rising population numerically more cases will no doubt come to light :'( :'(
Some of that is true, some is twaddle. I, for one, would like to go back in time. Then, at least, we could hang the b@st@rds.
What is Steve? :-/ :-/
I don't want to enter into a discussion really Lizzie, it depresses me. I don't know where you are getting your info from. I can understand the historical perspective, and you are probably more knowledgeable than me in that department. But, let me assure you, from first-hand knowledge, it is not an improving situation, quite the opposite.
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The only saving feature of this is at least now we have Social Services, good or bad.
Cruelty to children, and animals, is as old as time itself. It is not that long ago relatively speaking that 5 year olds would have to crawl through the looms of our great industries, or all the other horrors of the (Great?) Victorian Age were being exposed by Charles Dickens, with multi-family occupation of small one bedroom homes. People suspected of 'simple' crime, like stealing a loaf of bread, could be flogged, transported, or hung. Animals were also being flogged to death hauling unbearable loads, and dogs kicked from one street to another. It was a very cruel society, but that is how it was.
Now even small acts of cruely to both children and animals are repulsive to us, and much law making has been done to implement controls, along with procedures, to tackle the problems. We have advanced no matter what at times we think after reading cases in the media. We generally care now, with only a relatively small percentage of society who still carryout sub-human acts. These people are the ones that have now got to be stopped.
However, never forget it was far worse, with limited care expressed by society. Today it is an improving situation, not a declining one, although with a rising population numerically more cases will no doubt come to light :'( :'(
Some of that is true, some is twaddle. I, for one, would like to go back in time. Then, at least, we could hang the b@st@rds.
What is Steve? :-/ :-/
I don't want to enter into a discussion really Lizzie, it depresses me. I don't know where you are getting your info from. I can understand the historical perspective, and you are probably more knowledgeable than me in that department. But, let me assure you, from first-hand knowledge, it is not an improving situation, quite the opposite.
Fair enough Steve, I can quiet understand as I know during my Police and CPS work, let alone general living around some deprived areas that some sights are best not described, and can be really upsetting. Obviously when children are involved it can become terrible. When you witness for yourself a family consisting of 5 very young children and babies walking around rooms littered with dog and human excrement, dirty nappies, stale food, then eating off the same floors you know it is not right! Social Services stepped in and put those children into care. That is not the only case of course, and I could probably take someone to a few other homes in a bad state.
However Steve, it was worse believe it not two hundred years ago. My information is from many academic historical sources over many years, including these books in particular:
Daunton, M.J. Progress and Poverty An Economic and Social History of Britain 1700 - 1850 Oxford University Press (1995)
Chase, M Chartism A New History Manchester University Press (2007)
Brown, R. Society and Economy in Modern Britain 1700 - 1850 Routledge (2002)
Mathias, P. The First Industrial Nation 2nd Ed. Methuen (1983)
Timmins,G & King,S Making Sense of the Industrial Revolution Manchester University Press (2001)
I obviously do not want to distress anyone with extracts and further information of some very dark times, which included cruel child labour in unsuitable industry, without any education. But on the subject of housing and the appalling conditions of the Victorian past let me quote in full the following:
During a visit to the Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Midland textile industrial areas in 1842, Mr. William Cooke-Taylor noted in Bolton:
"In all I visited eighty-three [yes 83!!] dwellings, selected at hazard. They were destitute of furniture save old boxes for tables, and stools, or even large stones, for chairs; the beds were composed of straw and shavings, sometimes with torn pieces of carpet or packing canvass for covering and sometimes without any kind of covering whatever. The food was oatmeal and water for breakfast, flour and water with a little skimmed milk for dinner; oatmeal and water again for a third supply, with those who went through the form of eating three meals a-day.....I was an eye-witness to children appeasing the cravings of the stomach by the refuse of decayed vegetables in the root-market" Timmins & King p.57 (2001)
Yes, today things may not be ideal, but they are better than in the past. ;) ;)
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The only saving feature of this is at least now we have Social Services, good or bad.
Cruelty to children, and animals, is as old as time itself. It is not that long ago relatively speaking that 5 year olds would have to crawl through the looms of our great industries, or all the other horrors of the (Great?) Victorian Age were being exposed by Charles Dickens, with multi-family occupation of small one bedroom homes. People suspected of 'simple' crime, like stealing a loaf of bread, could be flogged, transported, or hung. Animals were also being flogged to death hauling unbearable loads, and dogs kicked from one street to another. It was a very cruel society, but that is how it was.
Now even small acts of cruely to both children and animals are repulsive to us, and much law making has been done to implement controls, along with procedures, to tackle the problems. We have advanced no matter what at times we think after reading cases in the media. We generally care now, with only a relatively small percentage of society who still carryout sub-human acts. These people are the ones that have now got to be stopped.
However, never forget it was far worse, with limited care expressed by society. Today it is an improving situation, not a declining one, although with a rising population numerically more cases will no doubt come to light :'( :'(
Some of that is true, some is twaddle. I, for one, would like to go back in time. Then, at least, we could hang the b@st@rds.
What is Steve? :-/ :-/
I don't want to enter into a discussion really Lizzie, it depresses me. I don't know where you are getting your info from. I can understand the historical perspective, and you are probably more knowledgeable than me in that department. But, let me assure you, from first-hand knowledge, it is not an improving situation, quite the opposite.
Fair enough Steve, I can quiet understand as I know during my Police and CPS work, let alone general living around some deprived areas that some sights are best not described, and can be really upsetting. Obviously when children are involved it can become terrible. When you witness for yourself a family consisting of 5 very young children and babies walking around rooms littered with dog and human excrement, dirty nappies, stale food, then eating off the same floors you know it is not right! Social Services stepped in and put those children into care. That is not the only case of course, and I could probably take someone to a few other homes in a bad state.
However Steve, it was worse believe it not two hundred years ago. My information is from many academic historical sources over many years, including these books in particular:
Daunton, M.J. Progress and Poverty An Economic and Social History of Britain 1700 - 1850 Oxford University Press (1995)
Chase, M Chartism A New History Manchester University Press (2007)
Brown, R. Society and Economy in Modern Britain 1700 - 1850 Routledge (2002)
Mathias, P. The First Industrial Nation 2nd Ed. Methuen (1983)
Timmins,G & King,S Making Sense of the Industrial Revolution Manchester University Press (2001)
I obviously do not want to distress anyone with extracts and further information of some very dark times, which included cruel child labour in unsuitable industry, without any education. But on the subject of housing and the appalling conditions of the Victorian past let me quote in full the following:
During a visit to the Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Midland textile industrial areas in 1842, Mr. William Cooke-Taylor noted in Bolton:
"In all I visited eighty-three [yes 83!!] dwellings, selected at hazard. They were destitute of furniture save old boxes for tables, and stools, or even large stones, for chairs; the beds were composed of straw and shavings, sometimes with torn pieces of carpet or packing canvass for covering and sometimes without any kind of covering whatever. The food was oatmeal and water for breakfast, flour and water with a little skimmed milk for dinner; oatmeal and water again for a third supply, with those who went through the form of eating three meals a-day.....I was an eye-witness to children appeasing the cravings of the stomach by the refuse of decayed vegetables in the root-market" Timmins & King p.57 (2001)
Yes, today things may not be ideal, but they are better than in the past. ;) ;)
But not 'an improving situation', unless you want to take the whole of the last two hundred years as an example.
Take the last ten years as an example, it is getting worse.
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Well then that is bloody diabolical! someone needs their arse kicked >:(very hard!
I'm araid that you are deluded if you think that is anything but the norm in large cities Phil.
The workload and the 'targets' got too much for all the experienced social workers long ago. The poor kids that do the job now get a weeks training and are sent out. A lot of them end up 'on the sick'.
Paperwork
Many of
Too much theoretical and PC type drivel and not enough on the REAL job training
Sadly not only limited to the Inner Cities, otherwise I agree with you Steve :o :o :o
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Sad to say but I am used to the sights your wife met today and they are disturbing indeed, a dog in a car on a summers day will bring immediate calls to RSPCA and crowds galore, a child being neglected however is very often " Best not stick our noses in " view from neighbours, family etc.
The RSPCA receives tenfold the donations that the RSPCC does FFS ! >:(
I couldn't be a social worker,but do work very closely with and admire them greatly, the pressure and accountability is huge and they are poorly paid beyond belief.
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I wonder if the hard pressed folk in social services will see job cuts and be urged to exercise wage restraint?
If so it doesn't bode well.
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I wonder if the hard pressed folk in social services will see job cuts and be urged to exercise wage restraint?
If so it doesn't bode well.
God help any person in need if that were to happen, there are not enough, in all areas, not just child protection......Pay, it is my understanding that they have not had a pay rise nor are they expecting one.
It easy to knock Social workers, but walk in their steps before doing so......
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Well then that is bloody diabolical! someone needs their arse kicked >:(very hard!
I'm araid that you are deluded if you think that is anything but the norm in large cities Phil.
The workload and the 'targets' got too much for all the experienced social workers long ago. The poor kids that do the job now get a weeks training and are sent out. A lot of them end up 'on the sick'.
Paperwork
Many of
Too much theoretical and PC type drivel and not enough on the REAL job training
Sadly not only limited to the Inner Cities, otherwise I agree with you Steve :o :o :o
:y
a total shower of inepts if there is such a word.
they either fail miserably or interfere when not required.
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hard pressed folk in social services In our dealings with them I'm afraid I cannot agree, unless it was the quality of my cups of tea? But then all of those social workers who visited seemed able to overrun on their alotted time, sitting comfortably in the warm drinking many cups of tea and munching their way through the biscuits.
In my experience and dealings with social services I have to agree with my barrister when he said, 'they are poorly educated, poorly trained and poorly paid, but you 'MUST' get them on your side, as the government gives them so much power'... :(
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Well then that is bloody diabolical! someone needs their arse kicked >:(very hard!
I'm araid that you are deluded if you think that is anything but the norm in large cities Phil.
The workload and the 'targets' got too much for all the experienced social workers long ago. The poor kids that do the job now get a weeks training and are sent out. A lot of them end up 'on the sick'.
Paperwork
Many of
Too much theoretical and PC type drivel and not enough on the REAL job training
Sadly not only limited to the Inner Cities, otherwise I agree with you Steve :o :o :o
:y
a total shower of inepts if there is such a word.
they either fail miserably or interfere when not required.
[/highlight]
You have obviously had a 'Visit' otherwise you could not know that..... ::) ::)
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Well then that is bloody diabolical! someone needs their arse kicked >:(very hard!
I'm araid that you are deluded if you think that is anything but the norm in large cities Phil.
The workload and the 'targets' got too much for all the experienced social workers long ago. The poor kids that do the job now get a weeks training and are sent out. A lot of them end up 'on the sick'.
Paperwork
Many of
Too much theoretical and PC type drivel and not enough on the REAL job training
Sadly not only limited to the Inner Cities, otherwise I agree with you Steve :o :o :o
:y
a total shower of inepts if there is such a word.
they either fail miserably or interfere when not required.
[/highlight]
You have obviously had a 'Visit' otherwise you could not know that..... ::) ::)
dealing with them still annoys many years down the line.
three publicly aired cases that have ended in misery along with all the ones that dont make the headlines.
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Well then that is bloody diabolical! someone needs their arse kicked >:(very hard!
I'm araid that you are deluded if you think that is anything but the norm in large cities Phil.
The workload and the 'targets' got too much for all the experienced social workers long ago. The poor kids that do the job now get a weeks training and are sent out. A lot of them end up 'on the sick'.
Paperwork
Many of
Too much theoretical and PC type drivel and not enough on the REAL job training
Sadly not only limited to the Inner Cities, otherwise I agree with you Steve :o :o :o
:y
a total shower of inepts if there is such a word.
they either fail miserably or interfere when not required.
[/highlight]
You have obviously had a 'Visit' otherwise you could not know that..... ::) ::)
dealing with them still annoys many years down the line.
three publicly aired cases that have ended in misery along with all the ones that dont make the headlines.
I can understand that, what about the thousands of successful interventions that do not get publicised?....just a thought, bit like garages really, good ones and bad ones........any trade or proffession......sadly....although I accept they are not dealing with lives, just thought to put it into context......
It is easy to criticise overworked and under funded workers where the law is NOT on their side..
:(
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is the law not on their side? jusme thinks they have too much power?
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what about the thousands of successful interventions that do not get publicised?
Or of course, the thousands of 'UNSUCCESFUL' interventions that do not get publicised.. :( The law may not be on their side, depending on which part of the law of course, but do not underestimate the power they wield when making their innacurate, and poorly punctuated reports to the family courts, punctuations that can totally turn what was said or meant, completely on it's head..
When it was alleged and supported by a consultant paedeatrician that my ex was beating my son, social services accepted her reason and took no action, as the court case moved along and each reason for his injuries was challenged, social services accepted the further FIVE reasons given for his injuries, until the extremely wise and experienced judge called her a 'liar'... Social services ?? ' HAH' !.. >:(
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what about the thousands of successful interventions that do not get publicised?
Or of course, the thousands of 'UNSUCCESFUL' interventions that do not get publicised.. :( The law may not be on their side, depending on which part of the law of course, but do not underestimate the power they wield when making their innacurate, and poorly punctuated reports to the family courts, punctuations that can totally turn what was said or meant, completely on it's head..
When it was alleged and supported by a consultant paedeatrician that my ex was beating my son, social services accepted her reason and took no action, as the court case moved along and each reason for his injuries was challenged, social services accepted the further FIVE reasons given for his injuries, until the extremely wise and experienced judge called her a 'liar'... Social services ?? ' HAH' !.. >:(
I am convinced, you are right, they are crap, lets get rid of all Social Workers, but keep the RSPCA...... :y :y
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Thanks for that Vamps... ;) This subject is a pet hate of mine, that's the social services side, 'of course'. Was getting truly hot under the collar about the memories surrounding my dealings with social in our ridiculously long and drawn out court battle, which I'm pleased to say, 'I won'. Went off to cool down for five minutes, returned and read your reply, best laugh I've had this week... :y But I agree about the RSPCA.... :y :y
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Thanks for that Vamps... ;) This subject is a pet hate of mine, that's the social services side, 'of course'. Was getting truly hot under the collar about the memories surrounding my dealings with social in our ridiculously long and drawn out court battle, which I'm pleased to say, 'I won'. Went off to cool down for five minutes, returned and read your reply, best laugh I've had this week... :y But I agree about the RSPCA.... :y :y
:)
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Pleases note here that I wasn't tearing into social workers in general. As has been said, there are good and bad. I was expressing my frustration at a system which, sadly, does not permit the time for a 'caring' investigation.
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what about the thousands of successful interventions that do not get publicised?
Or of course, the thousands of 'UNSUCCESFUL' interventions that do not get publicised.. :( The law may not be on their side, depending on which part of the law of course, but do not underestimate the power they wield when making their innacurate, and poorly punctuated reports to the family courts, punctuations that can totally turn what was said or meant, completely on it's head..
When it was alleged and supported by a consultant paedeatrician that my ex was beating my son, social services accepted her reason and took no action, as the court case moved along and each reason for his injuries was challenged, social services accepted the further FIVE reasons given for his injuries, until the extremely wise and experienced judge called her a 'liar'... Social services ?? ' HAH' !.. >:(
I can sympathise Jusme with your point of view having seen at close quarters how Social Services in Kent operate. They have recently been judged to be the worst performing Social Services in the UK!
In fact within Kent Police social services are renowned to be a "law unto themselves" (a quote from a senior police officer I was speaking to). To reinforce this I personally know of a lady who lost a child to care due, in the official words of a Kent judge, and recorded in an official court document I have seen, 8 counts of Social Services committing illegal acts.
No doubt there are many good SS workers, and I have met some of them, but their power often corrupts and they do not always act in the interests of both the parents and child, especially with "soft target" cases. In the case of a "hard target" which I can quote in fact they took far too long to take any action at all to take children into care who were living in terrible conditions.
They have just got to improve their performance, and now Kent County Council are taking the necessary steps to resolve this. ;) ;)
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what about the thousands of successful interventions that do not get publicised?
Or of course, the thousands of 'UNSUCCESFUL' interventions that do not get publicised.. :( The law may not be on their side, depending on which part of the law of course, but do not underestimate the power they wield when making their innacurate, and poorly punctuated reports to the family courts, punctuations that can totally turn what was said or meant, completely on it's head..
When it was alleged and supported by a consultant paedeatrician that my ex was beating my son, social services accepted her reason and took no action, as the court case moved along and each reason for his injuries was challenged, social services accepted the further FIVE reasons given for his injuries, until the extremely wise and experienced judge called her a 'liar'... Social services ?? ' HAH' !.. >:(
I can sympathise Jusme with your point of view having seen at close quarters how Social Services in Kent operate. They have recently been judged to be the worst performing Social Services in the UK!
In fact within Kent Police social services are renowned to be a "law unto themselves" (a quote from a senior police officer I was speaking to). To reinforce this I personaly know of a lady who lost a child to care due, in the official words of a Kent judge, and recorded in an official court document I have seen, 8 counts of Social Services committing illegal acts.
No doubt there are many good SS workers, and I have met some of them, but their power often corrupts and they do not always act in the interests of both the parents and child, especially with "soft target" cases. In the case of a "hard target" which I can quote in fact they took far too long to take any action at all to take children into care who were living in terrible conditions.
They have just got to improve their performance, and now Kent County Council are taking the necessary steps to resolve this. ;) ;)
Which will probably be done by setting some arbitrary "targets" which will mean the "soft" cases getting even more priority as they are "easy" and the "hard" cases sliding to the back of the queue even further.
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I'm definately showing my age & ignorance of current affairs here, but when I was a young man of 23 I had to get Compassionate Leave to look after my 6 siblings after my mam contracted cancer of the cervix & went into hospital 40 miles away from home for several months of Surgery & Radiotherapy. In those days you were in Hospital until Cured or Discharged & I was damned if the Family was going to be split up & sent to various childrens homes as I & my brother had been 12 years earlier & experienced at first hand a regime as dire & as anything Charles Dickens had envisioned! My C.O. warned me as he handed over the rail warrant to keep the Civil Authorities well at arms length unless & until I felt I was not keeping my head above water! Bloody good advice then & taken to heart, & this in the days when most people still did look out for each other & not only helped but minded their own business when it was expedient to do so! Our 'Society' is, in my humble opinion in terminal decline, there seems to be no self respect, self reliance or self discipline taught these days! everything has to be had NOW, with a 'Why should I' shrug & 'easy come, easy go' mentality. No Respect either for themselves or any bugger else >:( There is no respect for any form of Authority now, & to be honest why should there be? The lunatics are running the asylum & making a bloody poor show of it whichever viewpoint you take! Social Workers are nothing more than a sticking plaster on the arsehole of the Massed Ranks of the Unedified & have always struggled to fulfill their remit because their Political Masters have never expected them to make a real difference, & therefore never provided the proper funding or backup required! Life's a bitch & then you die! Enjoy as much of it as you can & don't allow yourself to dwell too much on the bad bits! You know it makes sense ;) ;D