Tuesday 5th Feb

Had to take the youngest for an annual Asthma check-up today, which was good timing as the cold weather brings it out. Had an interesting conversation with the Asthma Nurse who informed me that up to a third of the population may now have Asthma, and the increase is being blamed on environmental issues. So for instance poor nutritional choices, which infers people buying poor quality food, ready meals, etc … plus a lack of exercise in young people, because exercise helps to open up the lungs. So it appears to be a vicious circle, people on low incomes buy what they can afford  which is not always the best quality, kids are getting less exercise as schools offer less sports both curricular and extracurricular, and kids develop asthma. I’m probably simplifying things but it is a bit Catch 22.

Another interesting thing I found out at the doctors today was that a lack of sleep inhibits growth hormones in youngsters. So those kids locked to their Xboxes and Playstations’ into the wee small hours on school nights, may have potential to be smaller. Fortunately in the Perry household the xbox goes off around 9’ish, and the kids get plenty of exercise both in school and outside. Good parenting or dumb luck, who can tell? Just need to get the mobiles turned off, and we’ll have it cracked.

Work experience, something we never had in my day but schools are keen on now. So the kids in Year 10 have to arrange a week’s work experience for themselves in the Summer Term. A large number appear to end up at their parents’ work place, and it has become obvious as we have recently sought a place for one of our kids, that a lot of places that used to offer this support to young people no longer do. Guess what reason we have been given the most for this? Would you believe Health and Safety regulations? Of course you would. Now whether this is true or just an excuse we don’t know. Interesting to note that the local council which used to offer work experience no longer does, and you really would have thought that local government might want to support youngsters experiencing the workplace, funny that. Fortunately, we heard today that it looks like we’ve got something sorted, and it’s somewhere Perry Junior wants to go, so fingers crossed it all comes off. Otherwise they’ll be going to work with Mrs Perry, and I’m not sure that’s in anyone’s best interests.

 

Thoughtfully yours

 

Jay