Don't Even Say the Word Project

Hi Everyone

About two years ago in this Rubbish I explained that as teenagers, if you can remember that far back, we had a little of our own little world, things that we did that our parents did not know about. Looking back, it was a different world in that what we kept from our parents were mostly very innocent and would not have caused much of a problem if they had found out about our indiscretions. We had no internet, computers, mobile phones; in fact, for us, the words had not even been invented. I think that most of us at odd times were a pain to our parents during our teenage years, and from some of the Rubbish that I havet told you about the Senior Partner it was certainly the case for me even though I was completey innocent. Whatever problems our parents had with us, it is now much harder for parents of today to understand and track what their teenagers are doing and seeing. Just in the last couple of weeks a series gas appeared on Netflix, the story of a thirteen year old boy who stabbed to death a girl of similar age. Apparently the film has quickly gone worldwide, and it shows the devastation it brings to the families involved and to the boy himself as he faces the trauma of a trail and prison. While the boys' parents were what would be defined today as good parents, the values, discipline and work ethic that was instilled into us is, in many cases, missing today.

Now, this is the time of the year to have a project, usually something the Main Contractor has dreamt up. When we built our present home sixteen years ago we had a summerhouse erected at the bottom of the garden which we used originally to store building materials. I then built a wooden decking area surrounded by a balustrade for us to use as a summer outdoor eating area. I am not sure whose idea that was but although we maintained the area to a good standard, due to the English weather, we hardly ever used it except as somewhere to grow soft fruits and tomatoes. with the summerhame being converted into a workshop. Although we had applied non slip wax to the decking, the area is now dangerous when wet, which is often especially during last winter. That decided this Spring's project, remove it all. What I did not realise is that I had made a very good job of it, and as we now toil to remove it, we are now approaching middle age. Our neighbour popped his head over fence to see what was going on. His reaction was to say "You are both mad" and by this point in the project, we had to agree with him. By that point, we were surrounded by damaged and rotten wood that would probably cost more to remove from site than it cost to build it. Thankfully, our good neighbour is taking all the rotten and damaged wood for his wood burning stove and pizza oven with the promise of a pizza and glass of wine when the sun shines. There is still a lot to do, and approaching middle age is slowing us down, but we will get there, I think.

The other day, I had final proof that Trump reads this Rubbish. Two or three weeks ago, I criticised him for withdrawing funds to locate about 20,000 Ukrainian children stolen by the Russians. This week, he changed his mind or, more likely, had his mind changed for him and reinstated the funding. Perhaps he has a conscience after all.

Just a Thought :

I'm thankful I only have to grow old once. I don't think I could do it twice.

My friend says that when your children are teenagers, it is important to have a dog so that at least someone in the house is happy to see you.

I can learn to live without a lot of things. However, music is not one of them.

Brian