Madeleine McCann Alone in Apartment: children will go missing or abducted

Oh come on I am sick of hearing they left them alone! We know the world know`s this but remember someone abducted her, that does not give them the right! Madeleine`s parents made a mistake which they are dearly paying for now. They are good parents it`s easy to see that. We need to move on from punishing them as they have gone through the worst thing ever and the press coverage has been a nightmare for them. Lets remember Madeleine is missing and it`s possible she is still alive,she need`s to be found.
I`m sure with all the publicity this has had if parents out there have been leaving children alone they will earn from this! and I being the mother of two young children would not ever leave my children alone but would certainly not take the opportunity to kick someone while they are down!!!
GodBless Madeleine hope she is found soon.

The McCanns are no victims. The victim is Madeleine. Therefore, I have no simpathy whatsoever for them; they left her and the twins alone, she would be ok if they had behaved like proper parents, so she is the victim, and they are the ones to blame. There would be no justice until they are punished in some way. I’m sorry to be harsh, but I don’t think they have paid dearly, Maddie has paid dearly, and for something that wasn’t her fault. And, of couse, they are not good parents at all, good parents don´t behave like them

Hey Maryjoe – How do you know the child was abducted? What about the theory – she woke up – scared, alone – no friends staying over as they did the nights before, got up walked oustide. Part of the street was really dug up and then paved over that morning. And no one has dug up that street to see if she could have fell in among all the debris! The parents are responsible! My children are 9 and 10 and never left alone! They aren’t even allowed out of the yard, and certainly know they are not allowed near the street. I’d much rather be safe than sorry! I know it could happen in a minute. Accidents, child abductors, etc. Anything can happen, that is why it is our duty as parents to take every step to keep our children safe. What about the 11 year old boy that was kidnapped on his walk from the school bus to his house! Or Cedrika Provencher – 9 years old and kidnapped trying to help a man find a lost dog in the park! I hope they find her alive, but will she even remember her parents after this much time? It is very very sad. They were so far away, that if she would have got up and gone outside and yelled for her parents, they wouldn’t have heard her! There was no excuse. Free babysitting too that they refused. I am sure they have learned to never do that again. I would think parents of lower class would do this sort of thing due to money and education, not such an upstanding and educated couple.

Poor Maryjoe,

I agree with your emotions about this, but several thoughts come to mind. One – we have very few solid facts about this case, (this leads us to obsess about what we do know for sure), and one fact is that the McCanns’ negligence is indisputable. Another solid fact is that Madeleine is missing. Secondly, if you are truly sick of hearing about this, then you might be wise to try to stop reading these articles. I’m afraid the issue is very highly charged for most of us and will not go away easily.

What kind of person are you, Javier, that you have no sympathy? Only someone without a heart has no sympathy. I believe that leaving them was a mistake, but you are far from perfect, and you are horribly, terribly harsh, without one ounce of human decency.

Ann, you don’t know me, and you don’t know my acts, so you can’t say how am I or which are my motivations for saying it. I’m not going to say anything against you, because I don’t know anything about you, but the McCanns admitted, by their own words, that they had let their children alone in a foreign country, for several days in a row, to have dinner and drinks with their friends, and that, at least in my country, is serious negligence. No, I have no sympathy for such kind of people, all of it goes to their poor children (or victims). I think that I have more decency in a nail than the McCanns have in all their bodies, and I think that you have, too. I think that your sympathy is misplaced, but try to be less offensive next time you talk about someone you don’t know nothing about

Children should never be lef unattended. The Mccanns neglected the children and have shown little remorse for doing so. If it had been a single tennage mother would there be any support, I don’t know what happened to Poor Madeleine but the perants have to be held responsable.

Sad but true, Mrs. Tong and Javier are right. As for sympathy, imagine yourself making a film about these events. As director, you’d be hard pressed to accurately depict the dramatic circumstances while maintaining an audience’s identification with the parents: Close up of a wee child being made off with in the dark, eyes wide with terror, crying out for mama. Cut back to mother and dad drinking wine and carousing on the distant patio. Rated X for execrable behaviour.

My sympathy is with Madeleine, certainly NOT with her negligent parents. They made a mistake? They made the same mistake every single night of their holiday – allegedly. That is no mistake, it’s willful negligence and if Madeleine was abducted (and it’s a big IF)it is Madeleine’s suffering I am concerned about not theirs. They haven’t even got the decency to admit they were wrong to leave the children alone. They continually try to brainwash us into believing they are responsible parents and ‘everyone does it’ something I find deeply offensive. I do not do it and no one I know does it either.

What the Mccann’s have gone through, and will continue to is beyond imagination. There but by the grace of God go all parents. Losing a child, the thought of having to face that, is as bad a situation as life could present. Not knowing what’s happened to your child, whether she’s alive or dead, has to take this to a level of despair that is beyond any acceptable challenge that could occur in life. Unbelievably cruel.

To the person / persons responsible for Madeleine’s disappearance, if you felt a fraction of the pain that her parents must be feeling, that should be punishment enough. How cruel has life been to you that you can inflict this level of pain on anyone? How could a person evolve to be so evil? How do you begin to equate the benefits to you of this abduction against the costs inflicted? Maybe the power of having achieved that provides you with some sense of perverse achievement and pleasure. But no, you’re little. You’re disgusting. You’re ill-equipped to deal with life. And one day, you’ll die alone. I hope that it was worth it.

If Madelaine is dead, her parents need to know. If she is alive, she needs to be returned. And if you confront this, then seek help. It’s your only chance of ever feeling anything; of being alive. You’re sadder than Madelaine could ever be – she was just a victim. You, on the other hand, are just lost! Until you fix this situation, you’re nothing!

I’ve just read some of your comments. The fact that the Mccann’s may have been irresponsible is surely besides the point! A child is missing. How many mishaps (some of enormous consequences) could have been avoided by thinking differently at the moment / being in the right place at the right time? So yes, the Mccann’s behaviour was short-sighted at best. Irreponsible, yes. But do you deserve to lose a child? No.

And Javier, before you make harsh statements, at least learn how to spell: it’s sympathy, not “simpathy’! Perhaps you should refrain from commenting in the English language (any language) until you’re able to master it?

I’ve just read some of your comments. The Mccann’s may have been short-sighted, irresponsible at best in leaving their children unattended. But did they deserve this as a result? Did Madelaine? No. So please leave inane accusations aside.

Javier, before making harsh comments, at least learn how to spell: it’s “sympathy” not “simpathy”. So perhaps concern yourself with mastering your first language before aspiring to air fundemental ignorance on a public forum?

http://tinyurl.com/3yoyae

Evidence against the McCann’s has “collapsed” as DNA evidence proves inconclusive.

The McCanns are grieving parents. Would any of you have the audacity to hurl abuse at ANY other grieving parents? Because Mrs Needham (Ben’s mother) had no access to funds or connections, her son has been forgotten for 16 years. Because of the McCanns campaign, people are more aware of the dangers of predators who could be lurking anywhere, around any of our children, at beaches, funfairs, cinemas. Who can tell a predator from any other person? There should have been posters up at the Ocean Club, highlighting that a girl had been missing for three years and had never been found. That would have made parents less likely to feel lulled into a sense of false security whilst on holiday and maybe, just maybe, Madeleine would not have been targetted. Instead, the Mark Warner brochures sold the idea that it was a resort that had won awards for their childcare facilities, and child safety, even showing a picture of a kayak (out at rough sea) containing one adult member of staff and 5 children. Supposing two children fell overboard? That would mean leaving 3 children unattended in a boat whilst the adult went to rescue the two overboard. Is this a satisfactory situation in which to place our children? Mark Warner thinks it is.

The McCanns sad case has highlighted the fact that security is very lax at holiday complexes and at holiday times. Nobody wants a holiday complex to look like a prison camp, enclosed by 50 metre fences or walls. These resorts are meant to fit in with the environment in their open-plan design and easy access, which a predator would always find easy to penetrate. The McCanns were on holiday in a supposedly safe place. Please stop judging their behavior, which is exemplary and strong. I could not be able to endure the pain they are going through and they are holding their heads high and getting on with family life despite their tragedy

This couple have had the most horrendous allegations levelled at them, only one being the unsubstantiated slur that they are “swingers”. They have lost their precious daughter and must be totally devasated. In addition they now have to prepare a defence for themselves in the event that the Portugese Police bring charges against them. I agree that they were selfish and irresponsible in leaving their small children alone but their lives are forever changed and they will live with their mistake for the rest of their lives. It would seem, however that some people will not be satisfaied till this couple are totally and utterly destroyed. It strikes me that the couple are in real denial as to their role into Madeleine’s abduction. They know they failed to protect Madeleine on that fateful night so doing the countless interviews, keeping diaries, writing blogs keeps them from facing up to their neglectful actions during that holiday. Its a mechanism for dealing with the guilt.

Javier, you saying to Ann that she doesn’t know you and stuff. Well, you don’t know the McCann’s and your talking crap about them, so knock it off, how would you like it if you child, went missing and I was all up in your face saying oh, your not a good parent and I have no simpathy for you. Think about it, you wouldn’t like it would you? NO! You wouldn’t so if your going to say something negetaive to someone than shut up! No one wants to hear. Yes, I’m going to say this I hope if you have kids that something like this happens then when it does, everyone is going to be in your face saying we have no simpathy for you at all. It’s a mistake so leave them alone! Your not exactly perfect yourself the only one who is and ever will be perfect is God and Jesus. Not you! So give the McCann’s a break, just stop, and shut up!

your right javier!!!!!

Neglect is the only appropriate word. In my country it is an offence to leave children, home alone, under the age of 12 yrs, so in most Brits eyes, the parents are the offenders and should be punished. I am a mother of 3 and feel it is every parents instinct to cherish and protect their children. Sadly, the McCann children were neglected. For goodness sake, Gerry & Kate not only left them alone in a strange country, but didn’t even lock the door!

Oh, sorry for my spelling, as you have noticed, I’m not a native English speaker, but I suppose I’m allowed to have an opinion, anyway, right? I have never claimed, and never will, that I’m perfect. And what I know about the McCanns is what everyone knows: that they left their children unattended again and again and again; that’s no mistake, that’s negligence, and they are the ones to blame for it. I’m not saying that they have killed Maddie, and I’m not speculating about anything, just saying the hard facts. If you don’t want to acknowledge them, it’s ok, but they are true, nonetheless. And don´t worry,Leanza, my kids are going to be ok, because they know they can count on dad and mum, we are not going to leave them unattended, not ever. Hope I have not committed any unforgivable mistake in my spelling…

Javier
The people you should be blaming for taken Madeleine are the criminal’s that took her-let’s not forget that!!! The parents just made it easier for them. It was wrong for the McCann’s and ‘all’ the other holiday makers to leave their children alone but don’t lose track of the fact there are people out there that steal children for their own perverted needs and will go to ‘great’ lengths to get their prey!! There have been many children stolen out of their beds/baths while the parent have been in the very next room!!
To not have any sympathies for the McCann’s is very very harsh and cold, you are obviously not a parent!

Mom
The baby sitting service offered was appalling and Mark Warner should be prosecuted for offering such a service! Madeleine McCann’s was stolen from her bed, Portugal is rife with paedophilia, there is a know paedophile from England at his very moment living very near to where Madeline was staying – go on Sarah’s Law web site and you will get all the info. Don’t be naive here, if Madeleine just wondered off she would have been found by now. Oh I think your comment on ‘lower class’ was snobby and uncalled for, what kind of ‘class’ are you that makes you so perfect!

Alymm
Are you blind? The McCann’s are like walking zombies, they are in a never-ending nightmare!

J Cator
If you live in the UK, you will find that it is not an offence to leave children alone. Go to the NSPCC web site and all the info is there. I’m not saying that its ok to be illegal, just pointing out the facts. If you feel strongly about this then get writing the letters to Gordon Brown and the NSPCC to get the law changed!

Leanza
I can understand your frustrating at Javier’s post, but to say you hope its happens to them is being as cold as he/she is, as some little child will have to suffer the same fate as Madeleine, but I’m sure you didn’t mean it .

Kirsty-good post!
Maryjoe-good post!

Just keep focused on what is important here and that is finding Madeleine, if you want to attack the parents then at least wait until Madeleine is found, in the meantime the McCann’s need all the help and support they can get to keep them strong in there mission to find their daughter.

Well said Maggie.

What is wrong with people that they feel the need to excuse the McCanns’ behaviour? Whether they actually harmed her or not, we still do do know. But we do know that they have a direct role in what happened to that poor child. People should not have children if they do not understand that parenting is a full time job with no vacations and no pay. And what makes it worse is that these parents had the means to hire someone to watch the children. They should disgust all thinking and feeling people.

I get bored with “holier -than – thous” who go on and on and on ad infinitum with recriminations! It must be great for them to feel they have the right to judge people they do not know and feel so righteous. Whatever mistakes Kate and Gerry McCann made does not make them evil, which is exactly what many of their commenting on different sites really are. Their minds are worse than sewers!!!!!

Dot

Javier, never mind the ignorant comments about spelling, they just reveal the narrow-mindedness of the commentator,who doubtless only knows one language and is jealous of those who can communicate in more than one.
Kate, though your last name might mean you aren’t a native English speaker, I doubt it you are fluent enough in another language to write as well in it as Javier does in English.
If you want to insult someone, I suggest you stick to the facts about the case, not personal remarks.
And Javier, I agree with you for the most part.I feel sypathy for the McCanns, but I blame them completely for what happened to Madeleine.

Kate -you make powerful assertions yet you attack Javier for doing likewise, but you go further and attack his spelling, ergot, his right to post on this site. You should take 5 minutes to think about that. This site is for the free expression of opinion, surely you would agree with that fundemental premise. If we all had the same opinion, blogs like this would have no purpose. And, people would be so bored, they would not feel the need to contribute. We can have a lively debate but being insulting as you have been to Javier is so off-putting.
Re The McCanns, Kate, I do agree with some of what you say. The venom being shown to them is totally undeserved. I do have compassion for their plight but I think if they stopped being in denial about their actions re leaving their babies alone they would receive less hostility. Their continuing stance, that they were responsible parents during the holiday is I feel at the core of some of the less favourable comments made against them. They installed their three small children in a creche by day and left them unattended for 6 consecutive evenings whilst they ate at the tapas bar This behaviour speaks volumes on thier idea of a family holiday.

Sabrina, thanks for your kind words; and, Rena, that’s exactly what I thought when I began posting, that everyone of us could share our opinions and argue in a civilized way, without having to insult each other.
I’ve been accused in this forum of being harsh and cold, and perhaps I’ve been, but my sympathy (go to check my spelling – ok) for the McCanns, if it exists at all, is buried deep under my sympathy for the small child that dissappeared due to, at least in my opinion, a behaviour that can only be addressed as careless. Of course I know that the perpetrator/s are the real monsters, but everybody knows that, sadly, this world is far from perfect, and such people exist, so you should have a lot of care with such small children; apart from that, lots of things can happen to young kids when they are alone and nobody is there to help and assist them. So, where is the thin line in which a mistake is no longer a mistake, and becomes negligence? Gerry McCann said -at least, I’ve read so-, that he had the hunch that a predator was stalking them. So is it sensible or acceptable, if you really have had that uneasy feeling, to leave your children alone? I don’t think so. Clarence Mitchell has said that a lot of people behave that way, and that they have done nothing wrong, and I think it is irresponsible and dangerous to say things like those.
And, Maggie, is it true that the baby sitting service offered was so appaling? Because I really don’t know anything about that, and I got quite surprised when I read it; if you have some info about that, perhaps a link to a news article in which it is stated, would you be so kind as to post it? I’m really interested in that.

Maggie
If the babysitting service was so appalling, why did they use it every day of their holiday? Mark Warner employ the SAME people to babysit in the evenings as are in the creche in the day time.
Get your facts straight before you post.
BTW I am a parent, that is why my sympathy is for Madeleine.

There is nothing holier-than-thou about questioning the fitness of thesee parents. It saddens me how cheap come the lives of children as opposed to their parents. The baby is the victim here; the parents are at a bare minimum active participants in what happened to her. This is not gross negligence – it is abuse. She was not even 4, not secured in a cot, not even locked in the room. How frightened she must have been even before the event happened. My heart breaks for her. But not for her parents.

I have now checked many web articles about the Mark Warner Holiday Firm and the babysittng and creche facilities offered. It seems that a creche facility is available to parents up to 11.30 pm. The concensus seems to be that the services offered by “Mark Warner ” are excellent if a tad expensive. That said I don’t know if the Mcann’s holiday complex offered this or not. But read article in Telegraph printed the day after Madeleine disappeared i.e. 4th May. In this piece the Resort Manager stated categorically that a babysitting service andlistening service was available to the McCann Group but they had not made use of it during their stay at the resort. Is this helpful-fellow bloggers??

My only other comment this evening is to say that I think the British and Portugese Press have turned this tale into the circus we see now, with their wild speculation endless and un-substantiated theories. As previoulsy stated I think the MCanns and thir holiday companions were incredibly selfish and stupid by leaving their young kids alone night after night but what other couple have been given superstar treatment in the early days only now to be villified as the most hated couple in the World. I guess I’m trying to play devil’s advocate here. Each day there are claims of a clue here and new lead but the official investigators never give credence to them , so why should we. When a newspaper states ” a source revealed” or “it is reported that”, it generally means they cant substantiate these stories. Given the secrecy laws that the Portugese Police have to adhere to- we shall never know the veracity of these stories -our common sense must surely take over. The McCanns have been the victims of unprecedented leaks to the Portugese press who are clearly hostile to the couple. The Question must be why- I’d be interested in any ideas on this. We have all become amateur sleuths, based on questionable evidence, inuendo, rumour and blatant made-up stories. Kate and Gerry Mcann are victims too, tho Madeleine is the only true innocent victim. Despite my anger at their stupidity in leaving their children I am sure they are only guilty of being very very stupid. They don’t need me to harp on about what will haunt them for the rest of thier lives.

Julie
What facts? Are there any facts? I get my information the exact same place as you get yours. So before you accuse me of getting my facts right I suggest you do the same.
Now Julie, for your information the following is FACT! And straight from the horses mouth so to speak!
The baby sitting service consisted of a member of staff, usually (but not always) a local teenager earning some extra pocket money.
They would listen at the door of each apartment to see if a child was crying, if a child was crying they would go into the restaurant and hold a board up with the room number on advertising to all and their aunty the fact that children were left alone. MW resort is not the family friendly place that is advertised; in fact they encourage parents NOT to bring their children into their restaurants in the evenings. The same rules DO NOT apply to the daytime care that is offered in the crèche. The crèche has rules and regulation to abide by. The evening babysitting service offered does not! FACT!

The McCanns did not use this service because they thought that between them all they could ‘look in’ on their children more regular then the service that was offered. This was said by Kate McCann on a video.

Javier
There have been plenty of newspaper article about the bad baby sitting service, but like everything we read its not always the truth. The above info is the truth.

As I thought, people from MW say one thing, the McCanns another and the newspapers contradict themselves every day, so it’s up to us to believe or not any information. Hard facts are very, very difficult to find out in this case, as Rena has said before, and I’m afraid that it will end and nobody will be the wiser.

Maggie
You are wrong. MW may offer that service in other resorts but not in PdL. FYI the McCanns apartment was OUTSIDE the Ocean Club boundary as are a number of others so the listening service is deemed unsuitable for that particular resort.The same nannies were available for babysitting in the evenings as they used in the day time creche. It was their way of earning extra money. The McCann children were left everyday in the creche so why in Gods name did they not use a sitter to look after their children in the evenings?
The children were left alone EVERY night and that FACT you can’t argue with. God Bless Madeleine, she deserved better.

Maggie
LOL at your response to MOM ” the babysitting service was appalling and MW should be prosecuted”
Well, strange how it’s only the mcCanns kid got lost then eh?
Can you imagine what the McCanns would say if they’d hired a babysitter and she’d left the children for the ’5 minute window’ that was available to the mcductor? I can. They’d be sueing them out of business.

Maggie
You seem to be priveleged to reliable information- you state is”FACT” or at least you imply that in your last post i.e “straight from the horses mouth” I think should be clearer as to where you garnered your information. I would never dare to assume that info gleaned from the web is fact- its dangerous and may I say naive . I myself checked at least 6 differenct websites and at least another dozen newspaper articles re Max Warner. But I would never be so arrogant as to suggest my findings were “fact” One has to weigh up the evidence found when checking any articles, look for named and independent sources and finally make an informed choice as to how much you feel could be true. But unless you spoke to the Resort Manager or the nannies employed in Prai de Luz I’d not repeat your assertions as fact- merely as something you’ve heard. The situation you describe sounds like the baby listening service offered. There apparently was the possibility the creche could have been used up to 11.30pm or the babysitting service used for I heard 10 euros an hour. But I cant’ state this as fact only throwing this into the pot for our discussion.

Not sure as to whether I should post on this or not. May God Bless Maddy and bring her back to her loving family that miss her dearly and wish they could fix all their wrong doings from May 3rd 2007.
God Bless each and every one of you for your posts
But lets just hope God somehow keeps her safe until she is found.

Jennifer your sentiments are very sweet and appropriately focus on Madeleine, who seems to becoming incidental in this crime.

Yes, Jennifer, perhaps a lot of us get carried away easily by our feelings, which sometimes are a little too strong, and express our opinions in a way that seems more focused in punishing the McCanns for their wrong doings, as you said, than in finding the little poor girl; your post is moving. God bless you, too

I am at a loss to understand how any criticism of the parents is supposed to detract from the investigation.
One of the reasons so many people are talking about the parents is that they give us something solid to focus on. Whereas Madeleine is gone who knows where.

So – back to the parents – I wouldn’t leave my dog in a strange apartment with the door unlocked – let alone a 3 year old and two babies. Says it all, doesn’t it.

And yes they have paid a terrible price. So? What about Madeleine?

If they are not to be charged on the grounds that they have ‘suffered enough’, does this mean I can kill someone by dangerous driving and get off so long as I feel suitably bad about it? Etc etc.

Irrespective of their loss, a message needs to go out that this behaviour is not acceptable.

I am at a loss to understand how any criticism of the parents is supposed to detract from the investigation.
One of the reasons so many people are talking about the parents is that they give us something solid to focus on. Whereas Madeleine is gone who knows where.
So – back to the parents – I wouldn’t leave my dog in a strange apartment with the door unlocked – let alone a 3 year old and two babies. Says it all, doesn’t it.
And yes they have paid a terrible price. So? What about Madeleine?
If they are not to be charged on the grounds that they have ‘suffered enough’, does this mean I can kill someone by dangerous driving and get off so long as I feel suitably bad about it? Etc etc.
Irrespective of their loss, a message needs to go out that this behaviour is not acceptable.

That’s why I said before that Clarence Mitchell’s words were irresponsible and dangerous, because he said to society that there was nothing wrong with the behaviour of the McCanns during their holidays, and that’s a very wrong message.
But I don´t think the McCanns should be left with their grief, and that’s the end of the story, not at all. It’s just that sometimes it seems that we are only concerned with their punishment, and not with the fate of Madeleine; of course I think, and I’ve been defending it since the beginning of my posts, that they should be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted for their negligence; but we must not forget that Maddy’s fate is the first thing for us to be worried, not Kate and Gerry’s.

I PERSONALLY DO NOT THINK ANY FURTHER PUNITIVE ACTION AGAINST THIS COUPLE IS IN ANYONE’S INTEREST. I THINK THE MESSAGE HAS GONE OUT LOUD AND CLEAR THAT RESPONSIBLE PARENTS DO NOT DO AS THE MCCANNS DID. BUT JUST WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO SATISFY PROPONENTS OF PUNISHING THE MCCANNS FURTHER – SERIOUSLY I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR WHAT FURTHER PUNISHMENT SHOULD BE MEATED OUT TO THE COUPLE AND WHY??. DON’T GET ME WRONG, I AGREE WITH ANOTHER CONTRIBUTOR ON HERE THAT A MESSAGE HAS TO GO OUT- I PERSONALLY THINK THAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED. THE LOSS OF CARREERS, FACING FINANCIAL RUIN, THEIR INTEGRITY IN TATTERS, THE IMMENENT THREAT OF ARREST , THE SICK VIDEOS DOING THE ROUNDS ON UTUBE, HATE MAIL,THE VITREOLE ON BLOGS AND FORUMS I WON’T GO ON. JUST ONE MORE THING TO COPE WITH -THEIR DAUGHTER IS PROBABLY DEAD!!!

I don’t think anyone wants them “punished”. I don’t. I pity them. But I think I know their sort, as I have had to struggle against “friends” who made me feel stupid for not wanting to leave my little boy alone at night to party with them, some making fun of me and telling me how a few drops of cough syrup would keep him quiet. What contempt for the child. Also they made me feel silly and boring in the eyes of my husband and said “everybody does it, you are spoiling our evening”. This was years ago, and I still remember how they tried to manipulate me by letting my husband know he had married a square. I have found those people never learn. According to them it’s bad luck when tragedies happen, and they genuinely love their children, What is love, though? Just a feeling, or real care for the safety of a little one whose welfare depends completely on you? It is difficult not to find their attitude towards little children despicable (I don’t despise them, as I think there is something wrong with them, but I have no admiration for their behaviour). Also, for a foreigner like me, drinking too much isn’t honourable, and doesn’t precisely attract esteem from others. We who love England don’t understand why some English feel compelled to defend what is hardly defendable, when we all know most English really care for their childen, and all the people who study childen’s psychology learn Winnicott’s marvelous books almost by heart. Your country is great, and you are rightly proud of it. So you don’t need to be proud of every British on holidays abroad, and consenquently hate the foreigners, … or despise them for making spelling mistakes, in English!!!!