Hockley Heights Gazette

Last week I was invited to an Assistive Technologies launch at the Houses of Parliament. We had a very enlightening and powerful speech from Baroness Campbell who, as a suffer of spinal muscular atrophy and user of assistive technologies, actively promotes the development of assistive technologies to enable all people to reach their full potential.

I listened to debate on whether the Blasphemy laws should be repealed in the House of Lords. There has not been a blasphemy case prosecuted in England and Wales since the passage of the Human Rights Act 1998 as it would be likely to fail or, if a conviction were secured, would probably be overturned on appeal (if not by the House of Lords then by the European Court of Human Rights) on grounds either of discrimination, of denial of the right to freedom of expression, or of the absence of certainty.

I also listened to a very lively debate as to whether there should be a referendum on the European Union (Amendment) Bill which aims to reform the European Union's institutions to enable it to run more efficiently with 27 members. Listening to English people within the community there is a very strong anti-European sentiment in the UK. There are similarities between the English wanting to keep their independence from the European continent, as the WA secessionists were much in favour of forming their own separate government and becoming their own country.

On Thursday I took part in a team building exercise for King's Business which involved gardening in Ruskin Park in Denmark Hill. We were specifically told how safe we were due to the CCTV cameras that over looked the park, but if we did spot any dangerous looking chavs to tell the supervisors immediately. Lucky to say I wasn't set upon by any knife wielding yoofs!

Today we had a visit from Anna and Sophia, a couple of Aussie gap students who have been in the UK for a couple of months and are a little home sick. They were delighted with a Sunday lamb roast and rhubarb and apple crumple with custard, a quick tour around the area and back to New Hall to sleep it off.

That's my commentary for the week folks, so catch you again soon.

A big happy birthday to Anne for this week, and Susan for next week!

Cheers

Kym

P.S. The pic for today is of a statue Kym received upon my return from Amsterdam, either penance for sinning by being away on our anniversary, or just a nice anniversary present? The bruisometer will have the full story!