Margaret Carey Foundation

Whilst writing my last post I came across a charity which offers interesting opportunities for prisoners to engage in projects that provide them with skills and that provide much needed support to those in need. The extent to which such charities or workshops exist or actually run in the increasingly over crowded prisons of today, I do not know. All I know is that I don't believe prison is the answer to today's ills. Brandishing everyone with the same brush is a crude form of self regulation for society. In the same way that one would not use a detention system in school time and again for every student if it wasn't working, surely society should look at the way it deals with apparent criminals. In light of what have been seen as very harsh recent punishments, I do have to question the motives behind them. Is it a sign of the stresses of today's society or of power crazed individuals? Are people trying to stamp their authority? I say this because frankly I don't understand.

Locking people up and forgetting about them will not, in my opinion, remove society's problems. It will merely exacerbate them. Reform and genuine engagement and care are what cause change. Punishment may result in obedience and submission but genuine care, education and opportunity enable loyalty and motivation for change.

In my opinion it is short sighted to think otherwise. But as I said, I'm no expert. 

Riots report: society today

With news of the leaked report on the reasons behind the riots I thought it would be interesting to post my views on the subject which don't just encompass the riots but offer a comment on British society. I am not an expert by any means but merely an observer of and participant in society.

My view is that riots happen because those who riot are unhappy about some aspect of their lives or something in society that they feel they cannot change through other means. Riots are used as a last resort. Now on a message board this evening, I saw comments that many rioters were black teens, and I have to say some people had  a good old rant about this and unsurprisingly made typically small minded comments about race and about teenage mothers.

However, my view that riots happen because people are unhappy about some aspect of their lives that they feel they have no control over would fit quite well with this higher proportion of ethnic minority participants and with them being young. Why? Well, I don't know whether the statistic is true but if it were and hypothetically you were a black person and you lived in a society where opportunities were denied you time and again- not of course because of your colour- that would never happen in a civilised society such as Britain, but let's just say for argument's sake by some strange coincidence, opportunities were denied you time and again, people were hostile towards you, you were passed over for promotion or failed at job interviews and were offered jobs below your calibre, accusations were thrown at you and you were just generally made to feel unwelcome, - just for argument's sake - if all this happened to you and on top of that the police stopped you more often than others, charged you or cautioned you and let others off scott free, then I think you might feel a little unhappy mightn't you? And this might lead you to lash out a little if those you spoke to were in complete denial and thought it was just plain coincidence, or life. I'm just saying hypothetically that is a possibility isn't it? It would take a very level headed person to maintain one's calm in the face of such adversity, and no doubt some people do but as the riots showed not everyone does. Then again with unemployment as it is and fewer youngsters leaving school / college with a job to go to, if you were a youth or a teen, then I think this hypothetically might also lead you to feel a little unhappy mightn't it? I mean it is a possibility isn't it?

Now, as I say, I'm no expert and before you ask, no I didn't contribute to the report.... and I have to admit that the riots happened when I was abroad so in all fairness who am I to debate the reasons behind them? I'm just an observer making comments, as I said. 

Writers' Forum and Educational Writing

Those keen writers among you may well subscribe to or buy the magazine Writers' Forum . Well, in the May edition, which is out now at W H Smiths, there is a two page spread on how to break into educational writing. I am happy to say I'm one of four writers who features here, having been interviewed about my educational writing. I'm really happy with how the article has turned out.  Although my blog isn't listed, my linkedin presence is which will point people towards here.

As my advice says, for those wishing to break into educational writing- don't expect to make a living from it and make sure you enjoy it.

Having had some less than happy news recently, I was pleased to see the article in print and hope it's a sign of more positive things to come for everyone.

Too many cooks spoil the broth

Today I am discussing how too many people involved in one piece of writing can change it immeasurably and often not for the better. This explains my post title of too many cooks spoiling the broth.

Have you ever written anything which was clear and accurate - only to have someone else interfere and change it - making it worse?

If you have, then you will no doubt relate to just how annoying it is. For a start, who wants to have his/ her name attributed to something that bears no relation to the original written piece, or that has errors that were not in the original? I'm all for constructive criticism if it enhances something but not if it doesn't.

Sometimes I am left wondering whether individuals deliberately sabotage one`s efforts or whether individuals are just plain unwitting in their destructiveness?

In the publishing world, we have copywriters, proofs which are proof read multiple times and options to change any errors on second print runs if any errors have been found. In other arenas this is not the case so when someone blithely changes something with complete disregard it frankly makes my blood boil.

I am all for making something better but who ever heard of improving the quality of something by making it worse. I am currently experiencing a classic case of too many cooks spoil the broth.

Animal antics

Well it's been some time since I last wrote, so I thought it was probably about time that I did. A couple of weeks ago I went into London to watch a play which had rave reviews and was described as quirky and funny. As it turned out, the play wasn't really my cup of tea. In fact out of five stars I'd probably give it one if that. Lots of people were there and it was a sold-out show more or less and quite a few spectators were laughing, but I think I and the two people I went with must have had a different sense of humour to them. I won't name the show but what I will say is that it consists of two men dressed as if they are going to bed. My advice if you are considering going is DON'T!

The evening was not a complete loss as an executive decision was made to leave. It's one of the few times I've actually left a show midway through. A lovely meal followed but the  highlight of the evening came when I spotted this rather unusual sign near a building site.... yes.. look again... Pied Piper springs to mind...

... which led me to consider the sorts of signs there are for strange wildlife in the UK and perhaps in the world. It seems to me that a sign consisting of a bridge with a number of rats on it is highly unusual and I for one have never seen one before. But then I came across this.....

And this... which just goes to show you learn something new every day.