Its been a funny day all round. This morning I was writing reports, sorting out some editing (for others), making suggestions on a research piece, reading post-grad research material, sorting out some conference expenses, answering emails, setting up supervision meetings and generally tidying up. Then I had a lunchtime meeting on behalf of BH-LSCB - Brighton and Home Local Safeguarding Children Board, which I volunteer on. The meeting was at BOP - Brighton Oasis Project, about safeguarding children. Its a volunteer mother and child drug rehabilitation centre. The work they do is inspirational and a real dedication to those less fortunate. But hugely disappointing is the realisation that they rely, year on year, on 'bids' for finance, 68% of which comes from charities. The hand-to-mouth existence doesn't seem to dent their enthusiasm and the creche, the breakout rooms for older children, are all there to keep the children safe while their mothers are encouraged through a re-hab programme; their substance misuse being a lot worse than the occasional binge drink. Its a humbling experience seeing those people working so hard for others. But just to provide a contrast, I got my hair cut on the way home, completed a few more lines of a song I have been working on and then started working again on the research material I have collecting for a conference in July - and all the time I was doing so I was thinking, how lucky am I. Its now approaching ten in the evening, I have cooked, eaten and washed up, and now I am winding down the day by getting ready to go out for a walk. I like walking in the dark, its a pleasure I seem to share with the urban foxes and on the way round about (I have no fixed route) I will put some thought to how I might be able to help BOP - I guess there is only one song to be posted. This is from the album, Bop 'til You Drop - and its the mercurial Little Sister - well, we all need to get our dancing shoes on occasionally:
