Articles written by Sandra Piddock

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About me - Sandra Piddock

I'm 56, and have been unable to work for some years as I suffer from 3 different kinds of arthritis. I've used the time to achieve 2 degrees in English and History, and I enjoy writing and surfing the Internet. I am passionate about Shakespeare, and enjoy

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Politics, News & Issues > Constitutional & Contract Law Do mandatory seat belt laws violate individual rights?: 1 of 33
Here in England, as we endure the seemingly never-ending inquest into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, one thing has become crystal clear. Disregard all the hype about plots to murder the couple because they were about to marry and maybe have a child together. Read my lips: they died because they didn't fasten their sea... More..
Creative Writing > Memoirs Memoirs: Your earliest memory: 10 of 310
I was three years old, and I remember being held up to a window to look at my father in his hospital bed. This was in the 1950's, when children, even the children of seriously ill patients, as my Dad was, were not allowed into hospital wards unless they were patients themselves. I can remember feeling really scared, which was... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Parenting Methods Should parents use corporal punishment to discipline children?: 2 of 52
'Spare the rod and spoil the child,' our parents used to say, but these days everyone seems to be against physical punishment for children. Like anyone else, I am firmly against gratuitous violence, particularly towards children but, in my opinion, a well-timed smack does no harm. A smack is an instant punishment which should... More..
Food & Drink > Poultry Recipes Recipes: The perfect holiday turkey: 1 of 22
Turkey is eaten at Christmas in many countries now, so they are readily available in Spain, if you must have one. Why not go native, though, and serve your turkey Catalan style for a tasty, Spanish alternative?The fruit, nut and meat stuffing is deliciously different, and very versatile. It can also be used with pork or chick... More..
Relationships & Family > Dating Dilemmas Does age matter in a relationship: 2 of 41
These days, it's so difficult to meet the right life partner. We all lead such busy lives, there seems to be little or no time for socialising, other than on the internet, and we have such high expectations. Because more people are moving away from home to find employment, hardly anybody marries the boy or girl next door any... More..
Health & Fitness > Nutrition & Health Issues Healthy eating: An individual choice or government responsibility?: 3 of 61
Your body is a temple, and whether you worship it or desecrate it is down to you and nobody else. Yes, you can sue Burger King because they made you fat and unhealthy, but did they really? Did the nice young man at the counter pin you down and force feed you with Double Whoppers until your weight 'mysteriously' shot up to 240... More..
Arts & Humanities > Poets & Poetry Does poetry matter in the 21st century?: 7 of 121
Poetry will always matter. When it doesn't, we are in big trouble. Poetry isn't just people in garrets, scratching away, or intellectuals in their ivory towers, proclaiming and declaiming to us lesser mortals. Poetry is life; life is poetry. Poetry is an individual observation on an aspect or a condition of life. It's not jus... More..
Arts & Humanities > William Shakespeare Shakespeare: Is the Bard's work still relevant: 1 of 17
Shakespeare didn't just write great drama. He was a sound observer of the human condition and a great social commentator. Insight like that is a rare and special gift which transcends cultures and centuries, so his work is every bit as relevant today as when it was first written.The most obvious example of a play for all seas... More..
Relationships & Family > Grief & Loss How to support a friend who is grieving: 4 of 67
When my father died suddenly, my mother said she felt like the invisible woman. Because people don't know what to say to someone who is grieving, they'll say nothing at all. They think that if they say anything, they will open the waterworks, and, having turned on the tap, not be able to turn it off! Even worse, people would ... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Politics, News & Issues (Other) Smoking in the UK: Was the government right to ban smoking in all public places: 2 of 31
It's all a question of geography, really. I live in Devon, where temperatures are a few degrees higher than most of the UK. Here,smokers are quite happy to sit in a designated outdoor area, which means the non-smokers can enjoy their food or drink in a smoke free shangri-la.However, on holiday in Scotland in June, which was a... More..