Dateline Thursday, 28th July.
17:30 London time
12:30 Washington DC time.

I'm seated on a transatlantic flight ... and I'm placed up towards the bulkhead seats where the mothers, babies and toddlers are seated; a full flight and a number of very-much-younger people around. Happy gurgling sounds, shrieks and (relief!) very few screams; the gamble of going for this seat in order to avoid lean-backs ahead of me seems to have paid off.

I'm struck by the mothers (and fathers, let's be PC ... no let's be honest and say MOSTLY the mothers) taking their offspring up the aisle to stretch, entertain, relieve, change ... and in every case leading poor junior along by a hand hauled high into the air. Do you, dear reader, walk along the street or around your house with hand held high, would you be comfortable doing so? So why oh why do we do it to our kids? I recall "reins" from many years ago. I also recall myself having kids who really early on could be guided by words and reason rather than by physical controls. Ah - but perhaps those are slightly later memories, fond ones, of taking two kids totalling no more that 10 years between them to far-flung destinations and, yes, as a lone father at times.

Perhaps it's that history that leaves me mellow as I sit and write here today. Perhaps its elements of that history the leave me that very odd combination of scientist and teacher. Perhaps it's some of that history that leaves me somewhat unphased by whatever my working day might bring.

Written in flight, posted later from solid earth
(written 2005-07-28, updated 2006-06-05)

 Z800 - Whimsy
  [4392] Interview conditions,and other instructions to staff - (2015-01-12)
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  [3868] How to make an ohno cake - (2012-09-23)
  [3851] Who is this? Picture Puzzle - (2012-08-28)
  [3738] Adoptive homes sought for abandoned babies - (2012-05-20)
  [3462] Hangers, luggage and possessions - (2011-10-01)
  [3369] Local Council leads bans on many activities - (2011-07-24)
  [3288] Random Questions ... - (2011-05-14)
  [3226] A busy morning for railway announcements - (2011-04-01)
  [3223] Answering at my earliest convenience - (2011-03-29)
  [3215] Solution looking for problem - (2011-03-27)
  [3203] Melksham Town Council announces ... - (2011-03-16)
  [3030] Liquorice allsorts and Dolly Mixtures - (2010-11-05)
  [2945] Last, final, etc - (2010-09-04)
  [2676] Changing Times - (2010-03-13)
  [2626] On Malachite Green - (2010-02-06)
  [2542] My armpit was like a zebra crossing - (2009-12-19)
  [2496] A better design of mouth - (2009-11-07)
  [2397] Signwriting is dead. Long live the sign. - (2009-09-06)
  [2256] Is it Python past cheetah already? - (2009-06-24)
  [2251] Over a third of numbers start with the digit 1 - (2009-06-19)
  [2250] Bluegrass comes to Melksham - (2009-06-19)
  [2180] Patterns in numbers - room occupancy - (2009-05-13)
  [2157] From the 51773 family - (2009-05-04)
  [2152] My four feet! - (2009-05-01)
  [2143] Throughout the year, around the world - (2009-04-27)
  [2138] Ski bore ... train bore ... dog bore - (2009-04-24)
  [2131] Patterns in street names - (2009-04-17)
  [2127] Call in the professionals! - (2009-04-12)
  [2108] Funny Amusing, Funny Amazing and The Smarts - (2009-03-29)
  [2089] The Longest Day - Wednesday, 28th September - (2009-03-18)
  [2050] Why the Pony Tail? - (2009-02-21)
  [2028] Things people say on the phone - (2009-02-06)
  [2009] The Royal Mail Receipt - (2009-01-26)
  [1988] Melksham, Wiltshire. Town Crier Competition, 2009 - (2009-01-11)
  [1980] Michelle - (2009-01-06)
  [1977] Going round the block - (2009-01-04)
  [1952] Small Print - (2008-12-19)
  [1886] Keys to friendless churches - (2008-11-15)
  [1662] Westonbirt Arboretum Postcode - (2008-05-31)
  [1604] M25 / South Mimms Service Area - (2008-04-07)
  [1440] Useful command or messy screen? - (2007-11-21)
  [1241] If I say 'I am fine', what do I mean? - (2007-06-23)
  [1171] Traffic light control for horses - (2007-05-01)
  [1167] Leaning tower of Cheeser - (2007-04-28)
  [1075] I'm not the father - (2007-02-11)
  [973] Too much used to Skype - (2006-12-08)
  [892] A pattern in change - (2006-10-12)
  [850] Lighter moments - (2006-08-31)
  [807] Telling large from small - (2006-07-18)
  [784] Which way to turn? - (2006-06-28)
  [761] Great new inventions - (2006-06-14)
  [758] Very good for woodlice - (2006-06-12)
  [701] Minature Cyclists only - limited headroom - (2006-04-27)
  [689] The call of nature - (2006-04-18)
  [661] Dressed up for a phone call - (2006-03-29)
  [610] Need a hankie - (2006-02-16)
  [568] NB ''Aspiration'' - (2006-01-18)
  [547] Taking the dog for a walk - (2005-12-29)
  [520] Three life changing comments - (2005-12-07)
  [346] No Smoking Pubs - (2005-06-13)
  [331] 08:45 is a difficult time - (2005-05-31)
  [300] Dentist's Waiting Room Syndrome - (2005-05-04)
  [156] Signage - (2004-12-18)
  [151] Coffee Standards - (2004-12-14)
  [94] Special change - (2004-10-20)
  [69] John Toner - (2004-10-01)
  [44] Serious subject - (2004-09-10)
  [39] A Change is as good as a rest - (2004-09-05)
  [24] Impossible terms - (2004-08-22)

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