I knew it wouldn't be long before people started bellyaching about the sentences handed down to the scum involved with the riots. During the day they should be made to put right the damage, however long that takes, and spend each night in secure accommodation.

I have two of my grandsons (7&5) here for the next couple of days. I was discussing the riots with the older lad and was interested to hear his views, which weren't prompted by me. He said that there was no excuse for what happened and they were all stupid and bad as they weren't hungry, or had no clothes like the people in Africa. He added that they wouldn't be able to get good jobs when they had a criminal record. He also said that he was going to keep out of trouble when he was a teenager and had his football (he hopes to play for Liverpool and England) to keep him occupied when not busy with his schoolwork (he is quite bright).  I wish I had taken a recording of that to play it back when he is a teenager.   

We went on to discuss good parenting techniques, he reckoned that it was great to have fun with parents and grandparent as the children do, but agreed with me that it is good that we are quite strict too. Out of the mouths of babes! My grandchildren are very fortunate kids, they all have parents who love, nurture and spend time with them.