Ellee Seymour

I’m just back from spending the day in Wisbech with my mother and we did a spot of shopping.  I can tell you they are very well dressed shoppers in the Fenland capital; we did not see one slovenly dressed shopper wearing slippers and pyjamas.

I was looking out for trolley pushers in their nightwear following the appearance of a bizarre notice in a Cardiff Tesco store which states: "Footwear must be worn at all times and no nightwear is permitted."

The Cardiff store has banned shoppers from wearing pyjamas, including Elaine Carmody, 24, who was refused service when the policy was introduced, and seems totally unembarrassed by her inappropriate attire.

However, I will admit that I have thrown a coat over my nightwear on a couple of occasions and jumped in the car to drive my son to the station for his early morning train when we have both overslept.

As I headed down the A10 into Ely, it felt like I was carrying a huge secret, and I hoped nothing would happen on the journey which would force me to stop.

While in Wisbech today, I was intrigued by a newish reptile shop which seems to be bucking the recession. My curiosity got the better of me and I stepped inside for a peek and was told about the customer who bought a tarantula every week for three months. Why would anyone want a dozen tarantulas? Yuk!!

They also rescue pythons which have done a runner. Apparently, when they captured a python from the engine of a car, the owner told them that as it was a sunny day, she decided to let it loose on the front garden for a good stretch…..

You couldn’t make it up!

*I’m delighted to see that Wisbech is recommended in today’s Times Weekend magazine as a great British weekend escape. Where I go, others obviously follow …..

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I never expected an apology or regrets from Tony Blair when he gave evidence at the Iraq Inquiry.  What I have always found surprising is that public fury over the war, the sexed-up dossier of weapons of mass destruction and the tragic death of Dr David Kelly in July 2003 did not cost Labour the general election two years later.

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My MEP Robert Sturdy is urging the UK government to support a ban prohibiting the sale of existing ivory stock by two African countries as he fears it could lead to the slaughter of more elephants and possible extinction.

Robert, who sits on both the International Trade Committee and the Sustainable Hunting Intergroup where this has been discussed, believes the European Parliament should strongly object to any plans by Tanzania and Zambia to offload existing ivory stock. There is concern that if sales went ahead, poachers could slaughter more elephants and pass off the ivory as old stock. Other countries led by Mali and Kenya are opposed to this.

We have issued a press release stating that as elephant numbers are already in decline across a number of African countries, and Sierra Leone’s elephant population wiped out since November, Conservative MEPs have warned that any moves to grant the sale of ivory would be a disaster and could see the near extinction of African elephants in the wild. The UK government has so far refused to rule out supporting a resumption of sales when the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species meets in Qatar in March.

Robert said: “I am very concerned that supporting these plans to trade ivory could easily lead to a rise in illegal poaching and threaten marginal elephant populations across Africa. We should be choking demand, not stocking it by legitimising the trade.

“The UK government has a chance to make a difference to the fate of elephants in the coming weeks by supporting this ban. I want the public to get behind my campaign to prevent the ivory trade being given the green light. I urge people to write to the government, or their elected representative, and asking them get off the fence and follow our lead in opposing the lifting of the ban to help African countries protect their precious but threatened wildlife heritage."

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The new Apple iPad looks amazing, particularly its price tag which starts at £310. But it’s hard to justify buying if, like me, you already own a MacBook and iPhone. One of its feature which could tempt me one day is its iBook, but as I already have a score of books on my heaving bookcase which I haven’t had time to read, I doubt I will get round to it on this super slate either. But it is certainly a fantastic addition.

I also think it’s best to wait a year for the upgraded model of any innovative device to come out so any glitches can be modified.

However, my iPhone contract comes up for renewal in June and I’m pretty sure I will be tempted to upgrade it for the iPhone 4G which, according to the grapevine,is being launched this summer. New features it may include are a better camera, an OLED screen, improved GPS, a removable battery and different casing. I’ve also heard it’s going to be priced very competitively.

I’m pretty sure my friend blogger Geoff will not be able to resist the iPad, and I know it has enthralled Stephen Fry who was at the launch and is positively drooling over it. Are you?

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This is what has been said about women parliamentarians in the Punjab Assembly. I sympathise with the struggles they  face to be taken seriously by their male counterparts. Here is the report when the derogatory remark about all female parliamentarians being “tissue paper” was made, which went unreprimanded, despite strong protests from the women. Disappointingly, support from fellow women legislators has not been forthcoming either.

LAHORE, Tuesday, January 26, 2010
By Babar Dogar

NO one heeded the protest registered by female parliamentarians on becoming the butt of male legislators’ remarks or use of derogatory remarks about women parliamentarians in media in the Punjab Assembly session on Monday.

Female parliamentarians particularly from the Pakistan Muslim League – PML-Q lodged strong protests against double-speak by their male counterparts but they could not get any support from their colleagues sitting on the other side of the divide.

The political divide among female parliamentarians in Punjab Assembly is so deep that they were digesting insulting remarks from male members of rival political parties without any support from women legislators.

Earlier on Monday, Shaikh Allaudin of the PML-Q (Forward Block) was called a turncoat by a female parliamentarian from opposition benches. Shaikh Allauddin in response said that all female parliamentarians were tissue papers and it was far better to be a turncoat then being used as a tissue paper. Remarks from Allauddin created unrest among female parliamentarians on opposition benches who protested before the Speaker against the legislator. Their protest, however, fell on deaf ears as neither the Speaker nor any female parliamentarian from treasury supported them.

Meanwhile, Law Minister Rana Sanaullah while responding to another query about Chief Secretary Javed Mahmood’s car accident claimed that he could not be dictated by a handful of females dancing on someone’s tune. Female opposition parliamentarians also lodged protest that treasury members were passing derogatory remarks about them but Speaker Rana Iqbal hushed them instead of listening to their complaints.

Afterwards, Ghazala Saad Rafique of the PML-N raised another issue, saying that a private television channel had passed derogatory remarks about female parliamentarians and they would not tolerate this. She was of the view that they had struggled and faced punishments along with their male members for revival of democracy but they were not being given due respect. She was supported by female colleagues from opposition benches who also raised voice against this. The Speaker also showed indifference and claimed that if women legislators had any grievance against any private channel they should begin a privilege motion.

Afterwards, talking with The News, Seemal Kamran of the PML-Q regretted that male treasury members habitually passed remarks about them but their female colleagues in ruling party never condemned them. She claimed that women legislators sitting on opposition benches had decided that they would not support female colleagues on treasury benches without weighing the seriousness of the matter at hand. She stated that treasury parliamentarians wanted them to boycott news channel responsible for passing insulting remarks about them but they had decided that they would not do it.

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It’s an eerie thought. Street lights switched off throughout the country between midnight and 5am to reduce carbon emissions. I wonder if this could really happen.

It’s already set to happen in parts of Norfolk, despite fears that it will lead to soaring crime when the streets are plunged into darkness. The switch off is already happening in Devon where more than 8,000 street lights will change from all night to  part-night lighting as a five-year  programme to save energy begins. It is anticipated the initiative  will cut Devon County Council’s  energy bill by £450,000 and save  up to 4,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

The Eastern Daily Press today reports that controversial plans to switch off up to 27,000 street lights across Norfolk between midnight and 5am have been agreed following a heated debate. It is believed to save £167,000 each year over the next three years, while cutting the council’s annual carbon emissions by about 1,000 tonnes.

Cabinet members agreed to push ahead with the plans, insisting lights will not be switched off in city centres, on major roads or in high crime areas, with a string of possible exemptions identified where lights will not be switched off. Those exemptions include streets with CCTV cameras, where lights have been installed to prevent accidents and places where police can demonstrate there will be an increase in crime and anti-social behaviour if the streets were blacked out.

I imagine other authorities across the country will be watching these two counties closely to see if this could work for them too. I expect crime levels in the blacked out areas will be monitored and any problem areas will be reviewed. I can see why this makes sense and it’s always a brave step to be one of the first to introduce new measures. Reducing carbon emissions requires drastic actions like this. At least the blackout is at a time of night when few people are out and about. Let’s watch this space!

Would it worry you? How would you feel if your street lights were switched off during those hours?

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If, like me, you are an Abba fan, you won’t want to miss the chance to boogie along to Dancing Queen and Waterloo at our Headway Cambridgeshire ball next month.

The Abba Queens tribute band will be topping the bill at Chilford Hall, near Cambridge on Saturday 27, February during our night of glitter and glamour. There will also be a casino and charity auction led by my husband who has the perfect voice for this role.

Many thanks to generous local businesses who are supporting us too by providing some fabulous items to sell, including massage from a highly regarded chiropractor (yes please!) and a signed cricked bat from Charlotte Edwards, captain of the England Women’s Cricket Team, donated by our terrific chief executive Andrew Gardener. A full list of sponsors will be published.

If you would also like to support our fundraising ball by offering prizes, or would like to attend, please contact Ann Weitzel on 01223 576550. And a thousand thanks to Katy, Susan, Ann, Andrew and everyone else for helping make this what I’m sure will be an outstanding night.

*For those who don’t know, I am chair of trustees for Headway Cambridgeshire, a wonderful charity which provides rehabilitation for adults with an acquired brain injury, the kind of accident I always say could happen to any of use expectedly one day, such as a fall, road accident or a medical condition such as a stroke.

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I cannot make any sense of it all. How can two GPs be expected to provide professional out-of-hours medical cover for an entire county? It’s been reported that this is sometimes the level of cover provided in Suffolk.

When my mother-in-law was dying last year, we called the out-of-hours emergency number and were surprised when she was visited at her home in Cambridgeshire by a doctor from Suffolk. From memory, he was based in Bury St Edmunds. Where were the doctors from Cambridgeshire? At least it was better than having someone who had just flown in from Germany and could barely speak English.

Best thing is not be sick after 5pm and during weekends. Do you know where your out-of-hours doctor comes from?

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As I celebrate a friend’s special birthday tonight, I must confess that my thoughts will not be with Jeremy Paxman and his guests from the political and celebrity world who are marking 30 years of Newsnight. I’m recording this on Sky+ to watch later.

It’s a considerable achievement for a programme to remain fresh, relevant and revered over three decades as Newsnight has done.

Among the guests tonight on BBC 2 at 8pm will be Tracey Emin, Jarvis Cocker, Neil Kinnock, and A S Byatt. Not sure if Michael Howard will be there, but the clip of his grilling in 1997 will be one of those highlighted, that’s for sure.

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It’s pot luck for a child whether it is born into a loving and supportive home or one where violence and fear prevails. Pity the child if it is the latter.

Hearing about the cruel and sadistic violence inflicted by two brothers when aged only 10 and 11 against a 9 and 11-year-old because they were bored has been truly shocking.  One of the helpless victims was only moments from death when his beaten and bloodied body was discovered by police. The unsuspecting lads were lured to an isolated wood ravine where they were strangled, stripped and forced to sexually abuse each other. The older victim was seriously injured when pieces of ceramic sink were dropped on his head.

Reading about their dysfunctional home life sent shivers through me. The young brothers, who had been placed in foster care a few months before the attack, had a chaotic upbringing with their violent father, mother and five brothers. They were shown "extreme" horror films and the younger brother had access to pornographic DVDs and smoked cannabis grown on his father’s allotment.

What happened to the innocence that young boys this age should be able to enjoy? When did they turn into such monsters? Their brutish and depraved behaviour was the result of their horrendous upbringing and the parents should somehow be made to face the consequences of their appalling parenting, if that is what you can call it. By law, they are able to hide behind their sons’ anonymity, but that should not deter them being called to account as well.

It was the lack of emotion which I found so chilling, the fact that these two brothers had no sense of reality and empathy when they chose this kind of vicious violence as a pastime because they had “nowt to do”.

The brothers have been detained indefinitely in detention after admitting causing grievous bodily harm, but were told they would serve a minimum five years. I can just imagine their parents saying, “it’s nowt to do with me”.

UPDATE 23 January: The Times today reports that the parents of the two torturers face prosecution for child neglect and abuse. Better late than never, hey?

It also states that they are considered to pose such a high risk to the public that they may never be released from custody. One is thought to be in danger of becoming a psychopath.

A serious case review found that agencies missed 31 opportunities to take action that would have prevented the crime. Only one member of staff has faced any disciplinary action.

Please, please, please let’s hear the full facts about this case in public so everyone can hear what happened and authorities can review their procedures and help deter such lapses happening again.

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