In a week when Chelsea’s John Terry emerged with some credit from the England match, following his heartache in the Champion’s League Final, we have had to endure the usual tripe about how brave he is etc.
I fully understand his distress at losing in Moscow and that he would have had to pull himself together for the international match against the USA, but ‘brave’ ? Don’t make me laugh !
It’s football, not war. However, today we have news of an event that really is bravery personified. This was not war, either. But, you have to take your hat off to the immense courage shown by Carol Saldinack. This is the lady who reported her sons to the Police for carrying out a vicious attack on a man, which left him blind in one eye; and resulted in them serving a prison sentence.
Any parents putting themselves in Mrs. Saldinack’s shoes will understand just how brave she has been. Nuff said - Respect !

As the summer gets into full swing now, with the first test starting today at Lords, click on the link below to take you to my bizarre, but true, cricket tale :
Cricket is a Strange Animal

If Gordon Brown is serious about winning back the support of voters, as a result of a sickening tragedy, he was handed a perfect opportunity at the weekend.
The cowardly murder of 16-year-old Jimmy Mizen in a bakery in South London on Saturday angers me to the point of rage. I am an advocate of each and every one of us taking responsibility for what transpires in society but, Jimmy’s death should surely act as a catalyst. This is now a time for our leader to stand up, grasp the nettle and show some mettle.
Tell us what the government are going to do to protect those that they serve; tell us what they are going to do to protect victims of crime; tell us what they are going to do to rid the streets of the guns and knives; tell us what they are going to do to catch these criminals; tell us what they are going to do to start properly punishing these criminals; tell us what they are going to do to start ensuring that these sorts of crimes become less prevalent.
I am happy to play my part, as I’m sure are many others. I want to begin feeling that somebody in a position of power is taking it seriously, though; because I don’t at the moment. I am sick and tired of the lack of respect shown to others and the ‘you can’t tell me what to do’ mentality displayed by some of these scum. The fact is that we have failed as a society when we are resorting to ‘telling’ people what to do most of the time.
You have to start somewhere, which is true. I also have a few suggestions as to where they might start – for instance, I remain to be convinced otherwise that violent video games do not contribute to this escalation in violence. Some of these people are probably too thick to realise that just because one of CJ’s victims is back on his feet the next day when they log-on, it doesn’t work like that in real life !
But, the real answer is people in positions of trust and authority – MP’s and teachers for example – and, most importantly, parents taking the responsibility to show people from a very early age how to behave. It simply isn’t happening enough !
And, Mr. Brown, I am not inclined to give you my vote at the moment but, one thing is for certain, if you were able to demonstrate to me that you were going to tackle this head-on with real conviction, not just election-talk to win my vote, then this issue more than any other would influence where I put my cross. I suspect that many others would agree too !

Back in October, in this column, I commented on the trials being conducted on the use of Voice Risk Analysis (VRA) in the drive to route out fraudsters in Housing Benefit.
Several Local Authorities (LA’s) were involved in the pilot projects and, they have proved so successful that, the Government has today announced further funding for another 15 pilots to be undertaken.
At the outset, concern had been expressed in some quarters that this scheme may have the effect of discouraging some genuine claimants from applying for benefit. Reports from my colleagues across the country suggest not and, in fact, it is proving to be a very useful tool in not only identifying potential fraudsters but, getting payment to those genuine claimants much quicker.
So, every one’s a winner and, once again, proof that you may never know the real advantages of something until you try it!