Cultured Views

How do you deal with school bullies?

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Well, I was always taught that the only way is to stand up to them - give them a taste of their own medicine if possible. And on a couple of occasions that is exactly what I did at the age of 13 when one girl decided to make a habit of pulling my hair - life can be pretty tough in an all-girl school - but after a couple of well placed slaps to her mouth and the problem was solved.

But what if it is your child who is being bullied at school - what do you do then? a couple in Australia got so fed up with their 14 year old daughter being bullied that they took the law into their own hands and gave the assailant a taste of her own medicine. Stephan and Suzanne Baker complained to the school and police on several occasions for something to be done about what was happening to their daughter and, of course, nothing was done. Nothing ever really is these days.

They decided to act themselves, took on the female responsible, and gave her a few whacks so she could have a dose of what she was doling out herself. Of course, the parents are now in trouble for doing so. But, and I know many would disagree with this, I applaud them. I would have done exactly the same thing. Because I have been through this with my own kids.

There is only one reason why bullying is at such high proportions and that is because, simply, the young yobs get away with it. Pure and simple. Teachers these days are scared of the kids themselves and to say something to the little critters results in being confronted by their equally useless and in-denial parents. The police are just as useless issuing those ineffective verbal warnings that achieve nothing. Meanwhile your kid gets punched around and humiliated on a daily basis whilst the authorities concerned wrap themselves in their protective cloak of political correctness and do absolutely nothing about it.

In my own case where my kids were concerned I quietly approached the particular thugs making my son’s life hell after school and told them in no uncertain terms what would happen if they did not lay off…it worked. I also told my boys not to stand and take it - if they hit you then hit them back harder. It worked. There comes a time when a bully will meet his/her match - it’s about time that happened on a much bigger scale.

Popularity: 9% [?]

The Sydney Royal Easter Show - I wanna go!

This is the time of year when all the kid’s in NSW get excited, not as much as we adults do though, because it’s Easter Show time!

For those of you who don’t know and have never been The Royal Easter Show is the biggest thing to hit Sydney each year, and not surprisingly, it is getting more expensive each year to go. But who cares…we go for the fun, the rides, to see the folk from the rural areas showing their beautiful livestock and those hunks who do the woodchopping contests. We go to eat loads of very overpriced rubbish and then throw it all up on the roller coaster, or the ferris wheel.

I have not been to a Show since 1997 but have vivid memories of all the show’s I have been to back when I was a kid. We always went every year. When we were kids in the 70’s Dad would give my sister and me $2.00 each (!) and we would take all day spending it and come home with arm loads of stuff…these days’ sadly that $2.00 would not buy you a can of cola. Back then the show bags were priced between 30 cents and $1.50 but boy were they loaded with goodies. When we got home we would lay all our loot out over our beds and decide which to eat first.

The popular show bags back then were the Commonwealth Bank Bag where you always got money boxes, pencils, books and other good stuff. Then there were the Freddo Frog/Bertie Beetle Bags; all the kids bought these ones, the Schweppes or Coca Cola bags were next as you got cans of soft drink and crisps as well as toys in them. My own favourites were the Fielders Bakery Bag as you got easter hot cross buns in them, a couple of loaves of fresh bread, butter, jam and honey samples. Mum always bought the Red Tulip bag for the chocolates. The showbag pavilion was so crowded you had to walk single file to get through the crush. And, for some reason, each year we went it always rained and by the time we got back to the car our showbags (made from paper back then) were soaked and started to fall apart.

It was about $5.00 for a family entry back then, these days people pay with credit cards as it has got so expensive.  But what hasn’t these days? it was a lot of fun.

Popularity: 54% [?]

Seeing Sydney again

I am keeping my fingers crossed that sometime later this year we will get the chance to take a trip out to Australia for a few weeks. But it is all riding on us selling this place as soon as possible.

I haven’t seen Australia since February 2002, not to mention my sister, aunts and cousins. My son William is living back there too and I’m desperate to see him again. I know he’s only been gone since November but I miss him like mad. Alot has changed in my neighbourhood since I left; more shops, more cars (naturally), new Govt…but everyone I know and love is still there and that’s good enough reason.

I grew up in Manly, just over from Sydney, and it’s funny how much for granted I took travelling on the ferry. It was just like hopping on a bus to me! But next time I climb aboard I shall be feeling every bit as excited as a first time visitor to my beautiful city.

Can’t wait

Popularity: 32% [?]