Where's Corporal Jones when we need him?

Tell me, dear reader... How do you make it clear that you're not panic-buying petrol when your car just happens to have run out at the same time as the 'crisis' starts?

Panic is, of course, the in-thing these days. We have so much to fear, and if we don't sort ourselves out sharpish, things will happen. And I don't see the next generation getting over this panic-fest in a hurry, if my glimpse of modern parenting methods are anything to go buy.

I was in a cafe the other day, when a young woman with two very small children went up to the counter to pay. Her little girl (probably about 2 years old) couldn't stand still and wandered out the door. Her mum called out to her, "Don't go outside on your own, you might be abducted!".

Of course, I believe it's good to instill a healthy fear of scary strangers from an early age. But the likelihood of this little girl even knowing what 'abducted' meant, let alone that being the most imminent danger in a busy high street, seems remote. "You might get lost" or "You might get run over" seems a much more appropriate warning. Perhaps it's me...

I work hard these days to suppress feelings of panic when I find myself in a supermarket without my non-plastic carrier bags, or when I leave home without my mobile phone.

I think the nervous energy created by all the scaremongering is probably contributing to something bad somewhere. Yeah, whatever...

All the news that's fit to print... or is it?

I have to come clean and admit that I no longer read a newspaper. These days I only know what's going on in the world when I happen to catch the on-the-hour radio bulletins or an infrequent glimpse of the headlines on TV. If I'm feeling particularly ill-informed I'll drop into the BBC News website, just to make sure that nothing of any importance is going on, but I generally feel more content in my ignorance. I know that's not really how I should be, but I am. So there. I'm happy in my ignorance.

I think there are usually only a few important news stories that really matter, and most of what is reported is really just 'filling'. You might say that it's a good thing that we're so much better informed these days, and it often is, but I can't help thinking that so much of our 'news', well, isn't.

Just today I saw a couple of examples...

• Billie Piper was photographed on holiday with her new husband. In one of the pictures she had her hand on her stomach. Is she pregnant? (Incidentally, in two of the pictures she didn't have her hand on her stomach - I'm not sure what we should construe from that...)
• The local paper reports of a person who had a win on the lottery, but was just one number away from an even bigger prize. Surely (or is it me?) everyone who wins the lottery, except the jackpot winner, is one number away from a bigger prize...?

And finally, while I'm on the subject, it would be great if whoever is responsible for publishing these things could be a bit more discerning when it comes to videos and pictures sent in by members of the public. Can anyone tell me what's going on here??

I'm not here... but here I am

Yes, I know. I haven't been blogging, or reading, or commenting. Neither have I been keeping you up-to-date with my weight loss over at Less Is Me. I make no excuse for my blog living up to its name so well, other than that I've been off. Taking a break from everything. And it's been just lovely.

Seven weeks is just about up now, though, so I should be making an effort to reintroduce myself back into society.

I haven't been doing very much at all. I haven't been idle - there've been gym sessions, shopping, a bit of domestic stuff - but nothing too taxing.

Now, though, I'm going to start doing stuff. I've promised myself a complete house declutter. And some decorating. I ought to give a bit of thought to job-hunting, I s'pose. I should socialise with some friends before they all forget me.

Oh, and I have taken up glass jewellery making. I went on a course with PT's LYW, way back when I first left work, and I've now got myself set up with a workspace (thanks, Dad!) and a kiln (thanks, EA!). We'll just have to wait and see what creative masterpieces I can come up with to make my fortune...