At Last

I'm VERY pleased with new legislation that has just come into force making the theft of a cat or taking or detaining a dog a criminal offence in England and Northern Ireland. Under the Pet Abduction Act 2024, anyone found guilty of stealing a cat or dog could face up to five years in prison as well as a fine. Personally I would shoot them.

For years campaigners have been calling for more stringent measures against the crime of pet theft. The bill was promoted by Anna Firth, who was Conservative MP for Southend West and Leigh. It was one of the last pieces of legislation passed before the general election.

Pet abduction has become a growing concern in the UK in recent years, with dogs the most commonly stolen animals. Research from Direct Line Pet Insurance suggests that 2,290 dogs were reported stolen in 2023, equivalent to six animals a day. But until now, abduction of a pet was considered theft of property, and the legal measures fell under the 1968 Theft Act, treated no differently from the theft of a mobile phone or laptop.

For most owners, a pet is a member of the family, and being separated from them, without knowing where they are, is devastating. This new law finally recognises the emotional toll the crime takes on victims and will be aimed at criminals who until now had free rein to target much-loved animals for their own nefarious gain. Hopefully it will deter them from continuing with their wickedness.

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x

A Harrowing Read

In Order to Live by Yeonmi Park
I have mixed feelings about this. Some things just don’t add up. Maybe the publisher has embellished some facts in order to create a best seller, it wouldn’t be the first time. 

Yeonmi came from an educated, politically connected family that turned to black market trading during North Korea's economic collapse. After her father was sent to a labour camp for smuggling, her family faced starvation, her mother left them for weeks in search of work.

In 2007 aged 13 Yeonmi and her mother fled to China where they fell into the hands of human traffickers and were sold into slavery before escaping to Mongolia, and eventually made it to South Korea two years later. Her sister had escaped earlier. This is where I started to have mixed feelings. Chinese traffickers rape women, but Yeonmi avoided this because she screamed and kicked. But eventually she agreed to being raped when a big Chinese gangster offered to help her family. The deal involved her being the gangster’s right arm in the human trafficking business - I can understand that happening though. But then another new bigger gangster arrives who kidnaps and tries to rape her. The previous gangster (practically her partner) wants to get her back, and the love triangle breaks when gang wars threaten to start.

In 2014 she arrived in the USA where she became a human rights activist and rose to global prominence after delivering a speech at the One Young World Summit in Dublin, Ireland — an annual summit that gathers young people from around the world to develop solutions to global problems.

Her speech, about her experience escaping from North Korea, received 50 million views in two days on YouTube and social media, with a current total of more than 80 million.

As far as the book goes, whether it's all true or not, there is no doubt that North Korea ranks as one of the world’s worst places to be born, and this was 18 years ago when she was only 13. Horrible things happened to people trying to escape - women and children sold, people beaten, raped and tortured, people ate grass, witnessed executions and loved ones starving to death, many just dropping dead in the street. Desperate human beings risk anything to escape.

She was eventually reunited with her sister.

Polly x

Hyde Hall

My WI group recently enjoyed a day out at Hyde Hall, an RHS garden centre. 

The gardens are beautiful

We moved some tables into the shade to eat our lunch

Then strolled around 

and finished at the shop

I looked at jewellery and scarves but decided I have enough of both!

How cute is this. I miss buying cute things for my grandson, he's 20 now!

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x

A Good Read

Best Kept Secret by Jeffrey Archer is the third book in the Clifton Chronicles
1945, the vote in the House of Lords as to who should inherit the Barrington family fortune has ended in a tie, and the Lord Chancellor’s deciding vote will cast a long shadow over the lives of Harry and Giles. Harry returns briefly to America to publicise his latest novel, while Emma goes in search of a girl to adopt (Jessica, her half sister, fathered by Hugo). Meanwhile Giles falls in love with the horrible scheming Lady Virginia, which could prove to be his undoing, and as Sebastian grows and starts to make his way in the world, he gets himself into what could be serious trouble.

∼ Happy Reading∼ 

Polly x

Swanage

My friend M and I love a bit of nostalgia so when we saw our local coach company had a trip going to Swanage which included a journey on the

Swanage Railway steam train we booked it straight away. Our friend D joined us.

We arrived at Norden with time to spare

to look around the lovely little station 

            Station Master's office                               Buffet

before boarding the train to Swanage

The remains of Corfe Castle

Corfe Castle station

It was lunchtime when we arrived so our thoughts turned to

food - fish and chips in particular!

We chose a restaurant with an upstairs overlooking the harbour. However the prices for the privilege of a sea view were much higher than those for sitting downstairs - upstairs a piece of haddock was £13, downstairs I got haddock, chips, a can of coke and two sachets of condiments for the same price! It was very good.

After lunch we meandered around the town

In and out of a few shops before returning to

Swanage station.

For our train back to Norden

The coach we were assigned to didn't have tables so we moved here. We had taken scones, cream and jam for a cream tea on the way back. D bought a flask of hot water and teabags. Once again I forgot to take photos before we tucked in!

It was a long day but a very enjoyable one, and the weather was glorious.

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x

Seaside

The Lovely lady at the hospital has been busy with another decorative scene at her workstation

I smile each time I walk past.

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x

A Good Read

The Sins of the Father by Jeffrey Archer

Only days before Britain declares war on Germany, Harry, hoping to escape the consequences of long-buried family secrets, and forced to accept that his desire to marry Emma will never be fulfilled, has joined the Merchant Navy. When his ship is sunk by a German U-boat an American cruise liner rescues a handful of sailors, among them Harry and the third officer, an American named Tom Bradshaw. When Bradshaw dies, Harry sees a chance to escape his tangled past and assumes his identity. On landing in America, he quickly learns the disastrous mistake he has made, he is arrested for murder, and with no way of proving his true identity he is imprisoned.

The second book in the Clifton Chronicles series, and another very good story.

∼ Happy Reading∼ 

Polly x

Teapot Island

After our visit to Hever Castle we came here for a cream tea and a visit to the teapot collection.

Situated alongside the river Medway Teapot Island in Yalding, Kent is a family-run business that was established in 2003. There has been a café on the site since the 1950's and it still has a 50's vibe. It started life as a tin shack serving tea and selling bait to the fisherman. A two-time Guinness World Records winner, it's home to the biggest collection of teapots in England, with over 8,500 teapots on display.

This 3 metre tall Wishing Well teapot and cup from Germany is used to raise funds for Kent Air Ambulance. People toss coins into the cup.

As well as visits from various celebrities they have also enjoyed a visit from the King and Queen.

It's a brilliant collection. If you can think it there is a teapot for it. The owner started her collection 40 years ago. The cafe is up for sale, she is hoping to find a buyer for the collection. I would have liked to photograph many more but people were getting in the way and we ran out of time. 

∼ Be safe and well∼ 

Polly x