Busy/Date Rape

Hello,
Anyone scanning the archive of this blog would be forgiven for thinking that the repeated apologies for my absence were some sort of blog gimmick. Believe me they're nothing of the sort. I've been run off my feet to the extent that I missed an episode of The Bill this week.

Obviously there's the gardening which is taking up a fair bit of my time. Then there's work which is a trial -the fallout from the race row has been predictably poisonous -I shall be very glad to be made redundant at the end of the month! I've also been applying for jobs -though I'm ready to go business wise I need something to tide me over until the money comes in. I've also been blessed/cursed with more ideas for projects for the forthcoming year. Then there's all the work that needs doing for my stall at a craft fair next Saturday. Oh and my niece came to visit and is showing encouraging signs of fierceness by emitting a low growl and biting folk. Other than that it's been pretty quiet really.

I see that whilst my back has been turned Helen Mirren has gone and upset everyone by expressing a fairly sensible opinion on the subject of date rape. Should she get a bit busy I'd be quite happy to step in and do a bit of acting. One good turn deserves another.

Personally I'd be a lot happier if more men behaved decently but painful experience has taught me that whilst most men are good eggs enough of them behave appallingly to make a little vigilance and self protection worthwhile. There are no circumstances I can think of which justify rape. It's an outrageous crime that should be punished more severely than it currently is.

The difficulty with date rape as opposed to assault by a stranger is that in the absence of violence it's almost impossible to prove. How is a jury to decide who is telling the truth beyond a reasonable doubt? I would be very reluctant to convict anyone on the evidence of one person alone. At a guess I'd imagine that the percentage of women who make such allegations and go all the way to court who are lying is pretty small but that doesn't mean that it doesn't happen. Whilst my first instinct is to hoof the chap in the nuts and ask questions later, that isn't the best way to ensure justice is done. Much as I'd like to see all rapists locked up I don't think the law offers any suitable means to deal with non-violent date rape.

Mirren states that date rape 'is one of the many subtle parts of the men-women relationship that has to be negotiated and worked out between them.' A splendid idea! If the law can't offer any real protection then we have to protect ourselves. Good God! It'll be almost like being a real adult. Perhaps we could start with one of those crime prevention campaigns the government are so fond of. We could say all sorts of radical stuff like 'it's not a good idea to be alone with a man you hardly know and it's almost suicidal when pissed'. Similarly we could point out to the chaps that taking a women you hardly know home is leaving yourself wide open to false allegations. Having the right to behave foolishly does not make it a duty.

Now I shall end with a cautionary tale from my life before I met Mr Clairwil. It was a night in late summer, I was in a club stuffed choc full of morons when I got chatting to a mildly interesting chap. One thing led to another and I hopped in a cab and back to his place (or rather his parents). Unfortunately during the cab ride I discovered he was not at all 'mildly interesting' but a complete twat. Fortunately on arriving at his, an all male party was in full swing. I'm afraid I behaved rather badly.

He left the sitting room at which point I raided the kitchen and armed myself and the other guests with fruit. On his return we pelted him with a variety of fruit including a whole pineapple. Inspired by this success I phoned all the telephone numbers in the address book by the phone and made peculiar comments and animal noises. I lobbed toilet rolls and lightbulbs out of windows, rearranged furniture, discovered and distributed his parents porn collection. The moral of the story is that had he got to know me first the whole sorry incident could have been avoided. Still I don't feel bad I have a feeling it's one of the most exciting things that's ever happened to him. At the very least I expect it taught all present a valuable lesson.

Cheerio