In the last few years, Andrew and I have moved from Belfast to Gibraltar, from Gibraltar to Dublin, and from Dublin to the Irish midlands. Through all of those moves, I have had some boxes that have remained more or … Continue reading Decluttering – a difficult job for me
Apologies for the long posting – this is partially due to the response from the old school… but do read on…
Last year as part of Anti Bullying week, I took the opportunity to write to the headmaster of my old school, Ballymena Academy, to seek clarity on the school’s policy on bullying, particularly homophobic bullying.
I didn’t hear back from him, so in January I wrote again, but still heard nothing until this morning I got a response from him. It seems that the letter I wrote in November never arrived and that the letter that I wrote in January got lost in the depths of Royal Mail. However, the response is as follows:
22nd September, 2011
Dear Mr Campbell,
I am replying to your letter, received 21st September, 2011 but dated 13th January, 2011. There has not been any previous communication on this matter from you.
You raise several issus in your enquiry about the school’s measures to prevent homophobic bullying.
I will begin with pupils.
- In the 21st Century, Ballymena Academy takes all forms of bullying seriously and seeks to ensure that all our pupils benefit from their education, enjoy the experience of their schooling and feel that the school does value them as individuals and treats them with respect. Continue reading “the old school responds… and so do I…”
I’ve just been invited to a fundraiser in aid of Aware Defeat Depression in the John Hewitt bar, Donegall Street, Belfast on this Wednesday 25th May from 7.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m.. Aware Defeat Depression is currently coordinating our second annual Depression Aware Week. The week aims to raise public and political awareness of the condition, challenge myths and increase knowledge of the support services available to assist people to recover. As part of the week we’re holding a quiz night in the John Hewitt Bar in Belfast we have some ballot prizes which can be won. You can enter … Continue reading changing your mind is good – but don’t do it when they ask the questions
In a recent case before Mr Justice Mostyn the Court of Protection held in The Law Courts in Newcastle, a disabled man, aged 41 years (hereinafter referred to as ‘Alan’ in line with the judgment) has been barred from having sex with another man until he has a better grasp of the health implications of his act.
According to Pink News,
In the meantime, he will be closely supervised by the local council to ensure his sexual activity is restricted to masturbation in his bedroom or bathroom – and nothing more.
I have some questions about this. Continue reading “no sex other than masturbation allowed – how do you check?”
As we begin a new year, many think about the things that they can decide to do in the new year. For me some of these have already been decided. Some are very private, others are much more public.
Two of mine are ones that I want to tell you about. Continue reading “meditation: meds and myself…”
It is the start of Anti Bullying week, and I have taken the opportunity to write to the headmaster of my old school, Ballymena Academy, to seek clarity on the school’s policy on bullying, particularly homophobic bullying. Dear Headmaster, I write to enquire what measures are being put into place in Ballymena Academy to prevent bullying, particularly the bullying of pupils and staff because of their actual or perceived sexuality. As a concerned Old Pupil, I feel that it is part of my responsibility to the pupils of today to be concerned for their welfare – even if when I … Continue reading an old pupil writes, on behalf of the pupils of today
Thank you everyone who has been thinking about or praying for brother Duncan. According to my mother he has started to eat again, seems to be a diet of grapes that she takes him, but at least it is eating. Hopefully, the Health & Social Care service will start working with him – or possibly the other way around – to try and sort out what needs to be sorted out. Continue reading update on Duncan
Further to my post about the rescue of my brother, Duncan, from Slieve Donard, I am asking for prayers for him. This evening the emergency doctor was out to him because his GP was sufficiently worried about him. Unfortunately, the emergency doctor said that he didn’t feel able to section Duncan tonight as he didn’t know him well enough. As we left him this evening, knowing that his own GP will be out to see him in the morning, I said to our other brother Peter that Duncan really didn’t look like, or even sound like my brother Duncan. It … Continue reading Duncan – a brother in torment
This weekend has been a very difficult one for my family. This evening I would like to say a very big thank you to the members of the Mourne Mountain Rescue Team who trekked up Slieve Donard late on Friday evening/early on Saturday morning to find my brother, D-, who was up on the mountain with very little protection. Stephen’s post yesterday evening about suicide was very timely. D- is in a very bad way at the moment. However, other than the Mountain Rescue Team to thank, the Police Service of Northern Ireland in B district have been very very … Continue reading PSNI MMRT get gold stars: Belfast HSC Trust does not
Gyronny Herald 