....look no further!

We here at Goth Towers will provide all the material you need.

Here are a few greatest hits;

Helmets The twin urchins (8) cycle a mile to school daily along path and cycle track sans said devices. Not because I have read and digested all the research on the matter, and come to a reasoned conclusion, but because I cannot be arsed with the argument any more.

Trampolines We have a large trampoline. It has no net <horrors> I have also elected to largely ignore the safety advice that came with the trampoline, that may be reduced to this precis: (1) stand, alone, on 'x' in centre. (2) only do so if you are an adult (3) only do this if you are an exceptionally light adult (4) For fucks sake don't bounce.

Lack Of Adult Supervision I frequently leave the larger urchins (10 and 12) unaccompanied for up to an hour. Not to do so would make simple things very difficult indeed. Sometimes I will leave all four when the younger two are abed for essential trips to the local emporium. Such as the essential trip earlier to buy the wine that is fuelling this post.

(it may further interest the Health and Safety freaks to learn that I am an A and E Charge Nurse. So I should know better)

...there are many, many more that would garner opprobrium here. I've left out the best stuff.

Why this post? I was just remembering a family holiday in 2006, a Eurocamp in Brittany. I recall the feral urchin befriending two boys of similar age, who were there with their Dad (their Mum had recently died). They were perfectly pleasant boys, but Mrs Goth and I were shocked at the astonishing amount of latitude they were given. They were going to Eurodisney afterwards....

To my eternal shame, I recall uttering the words 'life insurance cash being spent, methinks'. I wasn't to know that Mrs Goth would snuff it 6 weeks later, but am still paying penance.....