A glimpse at the "sex-ed`' movement in the UK

I went to a talk recently, by Louise Kirk - author of a new book called "Sexuality Explained - a guide for parents and children" (published by Gracewing - www.gracewing.co.uk)

Louise Kirk is a mother to four children and she was also a parent governor of her children's Church of England primary school. It was while she was a governor that she learnt of the new sex education which was being introduced nationally.

Why was sex education introduced? Primarily as a tool to bring down teenage pregnancies. The obstretritrian and gynaecological department  were pushing for this rather than school teachers.

A bit of history - free birth control became free for all in 1974.

In 1991 a report was compiled on the alarming rise in teen pregnancies - which pressurised for sex education. In 1999 the numbers were so bad that Tony Blair lamented the UK being amongst the highest for teen mothers - saying it was shameful. Around this time STIs (sexually transmitted infections) soared.

The policy of handing out free birth control for all was deemed a failure - instead of bringing down unwanted pregnancies (not just in teenagers but older women too) - it had the opposite effect - the pregnancies soared.

Why had this policy failed?

Apparently teenagers don't like the idea of birth control devices (spoils the fun - they say). Teenage drunkenness also makes them less inhibited to indulge in risky behaviour, plus they are too inebriated
to bother with precautions. Girls often forget to 'take the pill'. The other factor is that teenage girls want babies - in some areas it is considered 'cool' to be a teenage mum. There is no longer any stigma attached to unmarried mothers - which there was in the 1960s. Teenage mothers often come from broken homes and having a baby gives them something to cling to.

So who actually produces sex-ed materials? It is companies with vested interests - such as the pharmaceutical companies (the pill, morning-after pill etc) . Durex too has a vested interest and they sponsor some materials - as do Proctor and Gamble. There is a body called the "sex-ed forum" -
comprising of 8 people - they too make materials. The ideology behind sex-ed is to take away all natural modesty and remove any religious barriers. This removal of any religious framework becomes in itself part of the secular creed - a new religion without God.

Pressurising young girls to indulge in sexual activity affects them hugely when the relationship finishes. Studies show that they get depressed which can lead to drink and drugs. Each broken relationship further damages their ability to bond.

So what is the answer?

Louise Kirk says good sex-ed is what is needed - one that preserves modesty and teaches one to have the courage and confidence to say no. This makes a person stronger in all areas of life. She recommends a good programme called - "Alive to the World" by Christine Volmer. It started in Latin America and the website address is www.alivetotheworld.co.uk. It is suitable for home and school use.

"Sexuality explained`' complements "Alive to the world". It takes the form of a fictional story which takes away any embarrassment. There are 5 chapters for girls, 4 for boys and 2 for both. It includes menstruation and STIs. It has whole page illustrations  by Jessie Gillick. Louise Kirk also made sure it was biologically correct by getting doctors to thoroughly vet it.

Here are some sobering statistics

If you only indulge in sexual activity with the person you marry - you are 80% more likely to remain married to that person. Add another sexual partner and you have a 57% chance of staying married. The more sexual partners you have the less likely you are to stay married.

Taxing sugar? I'm all for that.

Cigarettes are taxed to the hilt - which certainly deters many people from taking up the habit. And that's a good thing. Electronic cigarettes seem to be taking off but no one really knows what the dangers are - yet. Time will tell if these e-ciggies are safe.

Sugar has been described as legal chemical cosh - because it is highly addictive. It is also costing the tax payer millions because the NHS is having to give so many prescriptions related to diabetes - caused by too much sugar and hence we have one of the most overweight countries in the world. It is a serious issue and one that involves all of us.

I think the government should tax sugar - it is madness that children have access to things like Sugar puffs and Frosties - these are appalling cereals - saturated with sugar. Poor children.

Natural sugar substitutes are good but can be pricey but you don't need much.
Honey is a good one and quite cheap aswell as providing good health benefits.
Bananas and other fruit are good plus raisins, sultanas etc.

Chemical sugar is deadly - Sweetex and the like are now known to cause cancer (in USA this has recently been discovered).

OH THE JOYS AND HORRORS OF CLEARING OUT YOUR ADULT DAUGHTER'S BEDROOM!

On the plane back from Spain (we had spent a brilliant week in La Manga Club with our very good friends), I read a good article about micro homes, and how they are growing in popularity. Why? They are cheap to run and are cleverly designed so that a single person has everything they need. The trouble with space - is that we fill it! No joke - the bigger the house - the more we accumulate yet more stuff we frankly don't need. In a smaller house, it is easy to clean because you are limited as to what you can physically fit inside (and the less you have the less dusting!). I dream of a micro-home - it takes me a whole school day to clean my old farmhouse! I say to myself - it saves on a gym fee.

A few months ago, my husband felt it would be kind to our 22 year-old daughter if we encouraged her to become more domestic. She was living at home and we felt it was time to acquire some skills in the home. So she agreed to 'move out' - well - only across the driveway into our converted stable annexe, which our eldest son had vacated back in 2011 (he found the commute to London ghastly). Anyway she has to keep it clean and tidy and do her own laundry, ironing etc. She has a spare room for her pals so she can entertain too.

So she moved out of her old room of 13 years. Trouble is she left so much junk I didn't know where to begin. I gave her a deadline of a month. Either this stuff goes or I bin the lot! You see - my 7 year-old niece was going to sleep in this room - she had been to Lourdes and was saying a decade of the rosary daily - a most pious child - she wants to become a nun and reads about St Bernadette all the time. I couldn't let her sleep in a room full of junk - she may come across some unsuitable items! Couldn't have that - no.

The day came - it was still full of trash so I got 4 bin bags. 1 for rubbish, 1 for recycling, 1 for parish bazaar stuff, and 1 for textiles. She seemed quite happy with this arrangement.

It's amazing how a good chuck-out clears the mind.

It's amazing what one learns about ones children too, in the clearing out process.

First - there was a load of empty fag packets behind the desk (no surprise there).

One drawer was full of unopened 'The Stage' magazines. That was a wasted subscription!

One drawer was full of dressing- up clothes - of a risque theme - in the bin they went! She had a fancy dress party for her 18th and wore a French maid's outfit. Don't think the parish bazaar would like that, no no.

Next drawer had hair extensions of varying styles and colours - in the bin.

Under the bed was fun - sweet packets shredded by a mouse.

Then I had to tackle the make-up drawers - all in the bin.

One drawer had some things in packets - oh dear I thought. In the bin anyway. But I tackled her about these items and her reply was, "Oh they are not mine - the doc gives you those whenever you have an appointment, everyone gets those apparently" - oh really - I thought. No wonder young people can't control themselves - and the government positively encourages young people to do it with every young person they meet. Yikes - what sort of society are we becoming. The trouble is - young people don't like to 'use' these items (they are passion killers) - so the docs then have to send out sex disease testing kits! I wonder how much all this costs the taxpayer.

Anyhow - it was all done and cleared.

Oh for micro homes!!!

The joy of porridge - AND IT LOWERS CHLORESTOROL!

I was never a porridge fan and not sure I ever tried it - even as a child.
So on our easy jet flight to La Manga in Spain I decided to try it - yes it was on the in-flight menu. It was delicious. I am converted to this humble oat and in our cold English climate, heartily recommend it. Just put half a mug of oats in a non-stick pan and add a mug and a half of water or skimmed milk (with milk you get important calcium), then stir over hear for a couple of minutes. Put in a bowl and stand it for a minute, then add a swirl of honey, maple syrup or brown sugar. Amazing!

The Day we venerated the relic of St Cuthbert Mayne

The relic of St Cuthbert Mayne



I always go to Cornwall when the school breaks up for the summer holidays -  we visit my mother who lives in Truro. This Summer (2012) my youngest son and I flew down to Newquay. Very close to the airport is the pretty village of St. Mawgan - where Lanherne convent is located. The Carmelite nuns used to live here, but now a few Franciscan friars live here. This order says the Old Rite exclusively (Latin Mass) every day of the week. The chapel is exquisite.

My mother came to collect us and as usual we went to visit Lanherne convent  - I love the little shop attached - full of holy medals and orthodox Catholic literature - not to mention the gorgeous homemade jams made by the sisters - yes the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate live here too.

On this particular day in mid July we went into the chapel to say a few prayers and we just happened to enter when something rather special was happening. All 6 candles on the altar were lit. There were a few people kneeling. The friar had gone to get something - it was the relic of St Cuthbert Mayne - housed in a glass case. He stood on the altar and invited people to go up and venerate this holy relic.

My little son was silent and transfixed by what was going on - he queued up and kissed the glass case holding the - what must be the wounded skull of this holy martyr. This holy man was an Anglican vicar, who became a Catholic priest and died a martyr's death in 1577. The little prayer card says he is "the Protomartyr of Seminary Priests".

We left the chapel and there were some free range chickens running around. Unfortunately we left the gate open so some of them escaped. We got them back in eventually.

Then off to visit granny's grave - she was allowed to be buried in the cemetery - as she was a Third Order Carmelite.

The day was rather special and we felt priviledged to be there to venerate this holy relic.

Rupert Everett - best looking queen of them all!

I have always liked Rupert Everett's acting. He is still dazzlingly good-looking.
So I feel very perturbed that he is now getting horrid hate mail from "All the queens out there" (he said this) purely because he stated that he does not think a gay couple should adopt children. He says can you possibly imagine going to speech day with 2 dads there! And he further goes on -"and when you are trying to sleep and dads are having queenie rows! His choice of phrase is piquant! He is close to his mother - he understands how important a mother is. His mama still prays that he will be swept off his feet by a woman and marry her. Who knows what is round the corner!
Good on you dear boy!

BINGE DRINKING

Oh Dear! It seems we are a nation of binge drinkers! Or at least regular bingers.
A binge drinker is someone who consumes more than 6 units - for women, or 8 units for men - in one sitting. A bottle of wine contains 9 units - which means that 4 glasses of 125ml wine is tops - any more and you are a binge drinker.

I don't like being called a binge drinker (of which I am guilty sometimes) - it disturbs me. It puts one on the level of slapper or hoydenish behaviour. Not nice.

More than 6 units for women and 8 units for men in one session. Those are the facts..

Does this mean that if at lunch time you have 6 units of alcohol - no more, and then at supper you have 6 units - no more - are you not a binger then? The medics or experts said per session - they need to clarify this. Also - some people are able to consume more than this and they are completely sober.

The other thing - surely it depends on ones weight? If one is thin you can't drink much and if you are too fat - 7 units won't affect you.

My favourite tipple is fizzy wine - Champagne, English Sparkling wine etc. I know it’s very bad to mix drinks so best to stick to one variety at a time. Mixing can have terrible consequences.

But this news shook me up. Enough to watch the units.

It is certainly food for thought.