Fat children ‘should be taken into care’

I tell you what. I just got back from a holiday in Menorca. It was full of Brits obviously, but it was a lovely place etc etc. Anyhow, I could not believe how fucking fat all the British kids are. I would say that 80% of them are overweight if not obese. It was absolutely outrageous.

This promted a few discussions between the wife and I about possible causes. I think it is far too easy and lazy to blame computer games. When I was growing up as kid ( 7 - 12 ) the Atari games console had just come out. Nothing like it had ever been released before and it was absolutely awsome, and owning one was kind of a big status thing. It would have been easy for me to stay in all day playing on it with al my friends. However, every day during the school holidays I was out in the park climbing trees, riding my bmx, playing football, fighting etc. Or I was going swimming or down to the adventure playground. Whatever. I used to play on the Atari for about an hour or so a day, or if it was raining.

This lack of console playing though, wasn't due to my parents putting a limit on the amount of time I was allowed to spend on it. It was due to my desire to be outside and being active. There was just so much stuf to do. However, going towards my teenage years, the local council slowly started shuttng down these possibilities for outdoor activities. Both local swimming pools were closed. One an indoor one was shut to make some shitty flats. Another, and this was a real tragedy, an amazing art-deco open air pool ( Finchley Lido ) was knocked down for a fucking cinema, bowling, fast food complex.

Then, the council banned playing football in the park, closely followed by cycling. Then the field which we used to use ( albiet illegaly ) for football was sold of to a bunch of of toffee-nosed cricket fuckers. Then the tennis courts were knocked down for a shitty housing development.

I suppose what I am getting at is that the fault cannot be apportitioned to one particular thing but a combination of factors. The local councils do not make it easy for kids to get out and do stuff like they used to be able to. Parents don't really seem to give a shit. And I dont accept that thing about its not safe for kids to be outside anymore. Thats just bollox.

There was a local pervert in Finchley, well known to every parent. When we used to see him we used to chase after him on our bikes throwing sticks at him, some times we would catch him and try and beat him up. It was all part of the fun. I remember another pervert came running towards us with no pants on. Again, we stormed after him. He must of got the shock of his life! Trying to scare us like that never really worked. Also, the big kids used to come down every now and then and beat us up! Yeah we got a few black eyes and bruised ribs etc, but it was all part of it. They never stole our bikes or our trainers though. Actually I did have my walkman stolen once. But I guess if you send your kid out with a £150+ ipod and mobile phone, then there is more chance for this kind of thing. I am not sure how wise it is to do that though. But I dont have kids so I ma be wrong here.

Anyway thats my tuppance. I believe a whole new strategy is required. Back to scratch as it were. Much like the drug laws in this country. They dont fucking work. Legalise all drugs, will sort out some of the problems in this country. Anyway thats another issue. But yeah, I also blame the Taliban, and Iran. Perhaps we need another war. What about conscription. Now theres an idea!