bridge too far

I didn't see the programme last night but I did watch the discussion on Newsnight afterwards. My poor mum, who was paralysed in one arm from polio at the age of 32, suffered dreadfully towards the end of her life. She had diabetes that caused her to lose her sight and leukaemia. The drugs she took for that made her very sick. Because of her lack of sight and because she was weak from leukaemia, she had a bad fall that, unbeknown to us (and her GP) caused a problem with her spine. So gradually she lost all movement. In many ways the worst thing was that she had all her mental faculties. So there she was, unable to move and barely eat and blind into the bargain. What a dreadful life! She often said to me that she wished she could 'join Dad' who had died 10 years earlier. I'm too scared to suffer like that. I would want to end my life on a comparative high.

So - if a man walks into a bar wearing tight jeans and a T shirt to show off a fit body, he only has himself to blame if he's raped by another bloke in an alleyway next to the pub?

Worryingly, a fair few number of very elderly women get raped. Now it can't be because they are a turn-on, can it. So it goes back to power or maybe revenge (the rapist hating his mother sort of thing). And I don't know how true the stories are of Libyan soldiers being told to rape the women supporting the opposition, but that is about power and revenge (on their husbands / brothers / sons). And what about male rape? Mostly carried out by fiercely heterosexual males (who are also fiercely homophobic). Prostitutes dress provocatively to advertise their trade. But they, too, get raped (probably as a 'punishment'). I wonder how many men would react if they were told they shouldn't dress in a certain way?

Quite right. And most rape isn't about sex. It's about power and revenge.

Cruising doesn't really appeal to us but we would be tempted by one of the Hurtigruten trips. http://www.hurtigruten.co.uk/norway/?_$ja=kw:hurtigruten|cgn:Pure+Brand_Exact|cgid:2159026628|tsid:29675|cn:Brand|cid:51588608|lid:342993828|mt:Exact|nw:search|crid:8081509868&gclid=CMTEtsXcsKkCFQoY4QodOD36LQ (Jeez - that's a link and a half ) My parents did a trip years ago on a Norwegian trawler and went right to the Russian border. But I doubt we'd ever be able to afford anything like that

Oh I'd love to do that. One of many long-distance train journeys I'd like to do. My parents did such a trip years ago and absolutely loved it.

I think I heard that he was married once but she left him. Blimey! A sensible skatette!

He's well able to answer for himself but I suspect he means 'forces from most countries deployed in the Middle East' rather than most British forces. Again, I refer you to the four links I posted earlier. I also think there have been a number of US soldiers tried and convicted of rape in the ME. But, of course, the vast, vast majority of British forces are decent, law-abiding citizens - of that I have no doubt.

Friends of ours live near Javea and, one day, they took us to Benidorm (their daughter was working as a Rep / Resort manager there at the time). We were amazed - we thought we were in Blackpool or similar! Hardly any real Spanish atmosphere at all. As some have said above, just loads of drunk Brits and very blonde older ladies with skin looking like leather. Whatever floats your boat, I guess (or sub in TDD's case)

I thought he owned it?

^^^ Why do you say that she's a lesbian? From what I've read she was a rabid heterosexual in her youth and was married but it didn't work out because she had affairs. She's 72 now, I think. She's not left-wing - she's more than that. She's a Marxist Anarchist and, whilst most men will dismiss her without reading any of her books, intellectually she's well regarded.

Now, I didn't see the programme because I was on holiday. So I only have the currant bun's version. But from what I read in that article, she didn't say MOST British forces were rapists, did she? She said some might be and I guess that's sort of backed up by the links I posted above.

Well, as the mother-in-law of a male early years teacher, you can only expect me to agree with what you say. Whilst not, in any way shape or form, looking to excuse the Plymouth woman, I believe that such female monsters carry out the abuse not for their own 'gratification' but to placate / appeal to male paedophiles. No excuse - because they know it's wrong and, rightly, they should be punished. But I think I'm right in saying that the greatest percentage by far of abuse of small children is carried out by immediate family / friends.

Absolutely there should be more men involved in childcare, either professionally or on a voluntary basis. But, Hypo, when you read about this: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-13713147 and this http://www.nurseryworld.co.uk/News/MostRead/1073868/Nursery-worker-admits-child-rape/ you can understand why there can be suspicions. These cases are rare (thank goodness) but it's easy to see why some people jump to conclusions.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/sep/14/iraq-rape-british-soldiers-accused http://www.raceandhistory.com/cgi-bin/forum/webbbs_config.pl/noframes/read/1099 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2932007.stm http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/kenyan-children-among-british-army-rape-victims-says-lawyer-581462.html All allegations.

What's happened to Deppo then?

Been - just got back! Wonderful week in Norfolk, dead lucky with the weather too. Visited some fantastic places. My favourite - a steam collection at Thursford - steam organs, steam engines, steam fairground rides, a Wurlitzer organ. I love steam engines http://www.thursford.com/ Had a boat out on the Broads, went to Sutton Hoo and Southwold. And visited Norwich - it's a charming city (well, the centre is). Back to earth now

I read that his 3 sisters each married a Nazi. That must have caused some disquiet in the Royal household during WW2.

Isn't there a clue in the thread title?

Deflated because the silicone's been removed, do you think?

A soothsayer / clairvoyant / fortune teller?

I think you're indulging in 'clairvoyant-speak', Phil Post something nebulous and fuzzy that we can read anything we like into.

Usually found on partners of men with saggy gonads and miniscule penises I'm told.

Lots of pet hates but here's a couple 1) When people answer a question with 'So ......' 2) 'Managing expectations' 3) 'There is an issue around ........' (No - there's an issue WITH or, more accurately, there's a problem with) I think my current 'favourite' is 'Going forward'

The whole thing's a mess http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/planned-gp-consortia-could-lead-to-chaos-ndash-and-topdown-diktats-2291516.html