READERS LETTER

Dear Editor.
I am sure that most of the mothers and fathers reading this paper put the welfare of their children at the very top of their list of their priorities. From that delightful first nappy, through the trials and tribulations of growing up, school life, and onto adulthood. We hope that we have taught them values that will make them decent human beings. We work our butts off to provide and care for them, and could never imagine doing them any harm, physically or mentally. One would like to think that in this age of enlightenment, that is par for the course. Of course it is not, and I am not so ignorant as to believe so.

There are children being abused right under our noses, either through neglect, physically and or mentally. I’m talking about the parents that allow their children to wander about or congregate on the streets unchecked all hours of the day and night disturbing other peoples lives. The parents that allow their children to become so obese that they cannot walk in a straight line properly, to those that think nothing of screaming abuse at their children in the street because that child had the audacity to ask a question, or did not particularly want to watch their mother getting drunk again. I am damned sure my mother never met me from school drunk, never hurled abuse at me whilst dragging me along the street, only to keep me standing outside in the cold whilst she had a drunken argument in the street. Neither did she allow me to stuff enough sugar and fat down my neck on a daily basis to keep a small army buzzing, but to some children this seems to be the norm. What makes this kind of person tick I will never understand. I recently saw a mother use the F word toward her child for no reason other than the child was probably slowing her down in getting to the pub.

I have two words for this type of person: Disgusting, and Contraception. These children did not ask to be born, and do not deserved to be punished for existing. I make no apology for being so angry about it. I, like most parents, adore my children and only want the best for them. It just saddens and angers me that a minority see them as nothing more than a hindrance to their own selfishness. There. I’ve finished my rant. Whether this is printed or not, it has probably stopped me getting my baseball bat out and doing some re-educating.
Chris Jewers-Hall.

SHERINGHAM BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT - Commencing April 11th 2005

Sheringham Bereavement Support is coming into existence to promote the well-being of bereaved people, and to enable anyone suffering bereavement caused by death to understand their grief and cope with their loss. Vollunteers have received training and have been vetted by a professional body before being accepted. Some are retired people, who bring with them many qualities and skills often acquired through working in the community. Their services are confidential and free, with financial support being given by participating churches in Sheringham and individual sponsors. The service is for everyone whatever their age, gender, creed or cultural background, and consists of:
1. Telephone Helpline, manned Mondays and Wednesdays (10-12 noon) and Fridays (7-9pm).An answering service is available at all other times to leave a message. 01263 820907.
2. One-to-one bereavement support from a bereavement volunteer either at home, at the Salvation Army Citadel or at a volunteer's home.
3. Support in a bereavement group at the Salvation Army Citadel on Friday mornings from 10-12noon.
4. If there are any queries before April 11th, please ring Betty Taylor on (01263 822391)

KIDZ CORNER Okay, all you children aged 1 - 12 years, this column is for you.  Enter the competition(s) and you may win a prize.

Which word is the odd one out?

that  hat  what  mat  cat  sat  pat  chat

I once heard a child say, "God invented time to keep everything from happening at once".

"CONNECT-3"
An exhibition of the most recent work by Trevor Woods
The Old Workshop Gallery in Corpusty
Saturday 26th March to Sunday 8th May 2005
Open Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sunday 12noon to 5pm
The exhibition also includes works by Malcolm Woods and Maureen Beer-Paine
Preview evening on Friday 25th March from 7pm
More info from: twoods@blake360.fsnet.co.uk or visit www.twoodsimages.co.uk