Purple PawPaw

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is the most signed up to Convention in the history of the world (as we know it). Article 12 which says that children and young people have the right to have their say about decisions that affect them is the statement upon which the last 10 years of my career is predicated upon. It is something about which I am passionate.

While eating crispy toast and talking this morning I thought I heard a snippet on the radio about how the UK was going to pull out of the Convention. I was surprised about the feeling of panic that gripped my stomach and in my head groups of young people were already marching on Downing Street.

Such was my dismay that husband recognised the pointlessness in trying to enagage me in converstaion and I dashed to check on BBC. Relief and joy…

The UK has only ever partially signed up to the Convention – this has meant that there has been a loophole for children and young people who were asylum seekers or migrants. It has meant that our country has been allowed to lock these children up without judicial scrutiny.

Now we are completely obliged at all times, with all children to put their needs first, thus protecting all children, but some of the most vulnerable who were previously not protected.

This is a happy day for workers like me – and for all children and young people in the country.

When I was in my teens I used to cycle to school pretty much whatever the weather. Today I cycled to work – only a couple of miles across Exeter – but it was in the rain!

Somehow the rain penetrated every pore and I sat steaming for the next 2 hours. I don’t remember any of this happening to me as a young person. I don’t believe that waterproofs were better, or that rain was less wet…so maybe my brain has edited out the grimness of it all, or maybe I just didn’t care.

Either way if I want to continue bicycle commuting I either need to get up earlier or find a way not to get so wet!

So said Keats – it seems Autumn is proving to be slightly a season of disappointment – at least in the garden – tomatoes all green, butter nut squash not yet ready, apples small and wasp ridden.

However despite this we are managing to forage for things and live contentedly. We have squashed apples to make cider (an exciting experiment) and apple juice (sharp bu lovely) and have stewed loads for apple sauce through the year. Our beetroot are lovely and the PSB looks like it might do some good.

We have been offered a 1/3 of  an allotment to share with our neighbours. This is quite thrilling and I hope will give some more balance to life in what could otherwise be an entirely work orientated life.