"it is unacceptable for men or women to call in because a child is sick in my view."

[hunkermunker]

Xenia says "it is unacceptable for men or women to call in because a child is sick in my view."

I am interested to know what other people do in this situation.

The equal pay case the women are having to use lawyers and the union is dragging its feet because I think their male members aren't too happy women will get paid the same. It's one of those equal pay for equal value cases. But I've no problems with unions in principle as they are just a natural consequence of market forces working. If demands get too high people outsource to China or whatever. The changes we made to laws relating to unions were one of the most important changes which helped get the country back on its feet in those difficult times. Of course for me it was huge fun because we had oil lamps at home and candles when the power went off. I just remember how exciting it all was as I was fairly little.

DC - I'm 45. Time to leave this thread.

ps, I being middle class we had central heating installed when I was about 5 in about 1966 but when the power went off the heating went off too I think so we had to buy different kinds of heaters.

Xenia - same here - new house in 1966 had central heating - the one we left had been built in 1960 and didn't. Most houses built prior to the mid 60's lacked central heating (I knew people who still had an outside loo). The house I own now was built in 1910 and didn't have ch when we bought it in 1991. It wasn't particularly unusual, was it? (I know you're mid 40's, too.)
I also remember in about 1973 or 4 my father being issued with a fuel ration book as the Govt thought that it would be necessary to ration drivers to 2 gallons a week.

Yes, I know there are historians who specialise in the late 20th century - DS is currently becoming one of them at Warwick University - he's doing History & Politics and one of the things I find most fascinating (being a historian myself) is how the stuff I studied as 'politics' at A level is now 'history'
My real point is that it makes me feel old.. (I'm 50 btw, so maybe you'd say I am old )

Rusty - no, not old - there are more of us lurking on mn than you might imagine

Perhaps we should have a clique

Soz if I sounded patronising Rusty - did get the feeling I was telling my granny how to suck eggs [grin[ ..now that just sounds insulting

Crikey DC - chill will ya! I'm sure not all the miners were stupid thugs.

We had an outside loo 'til I was 7. One coal fire and no hot water. Can I be in the oldies clique........we did have one before I think, but we've probably forgotten where we left it.

Didn't have a problem with you, little monkey

Not quite a granny yet I hope, unless there's something my kids aren't telling me!!
It's OK - I guess I'm just a bit sensitive on age as I've just passed the 50 mark - I'll probably get more philosophical about it when I get used to being in my second half century!

Saggarmakersbottomknocker - what shall we have as a lower age limit?

Rusty - my colleague is 50 and has a 7 year old grandson already. She has a mental age of about 17, though.

If we have 43 I can be the baby of the group.

I was asked to fill in a survey today that had an age group of 45-64. Made me feel very old!

These heated messages have reminded me of the smell of our old parafin heater which we lit when the power cuts started. I can hear my mother's worried voice telling me to be careful

Monkeytrousers, well argued. DC, so graphic.

Can I just say that it wasn't my intention to be bullying towards Xenia by posting this as a quote.

It wasn't my viewpoint, so I posted it as I would've done a quote I'd heard in the news.

Xenia was quite happy to give that view on another thread, so I assumed that she wouldn't mind it being discussed.

I work full time and have two children. I or DH takes time off if they are too disgustingly sick to go to their grandparents. We have no other option - we are bloody lucky to have the GPs close by in the first place. Therefore, I was interested to see what other people did if they worked and their children were sick, given that Xenia held the opinion that she did (and I assumed that it would go without saying that other people must hold similar opinions - I know I've come across them in the past).