Hi All

Sorry I've had a while away. I'm getting to grips with the fact that two dear friends of mine are splitting up after 10 years or so of marriage. They have a 5 year old boy they adopted 3 years ago and I can't imagine the impact it's going to have on him. I've spent half the last fortnight crying.

Now I get home and my wife informs me that a local mutual friend was arrested this week for downloading child pornography. He's a respected local everything. Governor and parent of two kids at my son's school, leading rotarian and charity worker, etc etc. Now his life is down the crapper and I, like several of his friends, are asking ourselves if we're going to be seen as guilty by association. After all, paedos always come in evil little rings don't they?

We're a small close knit community of only 3000 or so and in the next few days the whole place is going to know what's happened. The sh*t is already hitting the fan. Maybe surprisingly, I had no idea about this guy (but then whoever does until...) and I still don't know the full details. He's obviously not considered a serious threat by social services though, or he wouldn't be allowed to be still at home with his kids, although he's been 'advised' not to be alone with them! I don't even know if he's a BL or GL.

Anyway, my life's crappy at the moment and all around me are people having crappy times so spare a prayer for "Dave" if you can - God only knows what the future holds for him now - and for me if you're inclined.

Finally, anyone have any experience of guilt by association? We're a pretty unforgiving bunch around here and it wouldn't surprise me if there's a witch-hunt brewing...

Life.

*sigh*



God bless all

EMPIRE