I was just driving to pick up D from his girlfriend's house but, as I drove through the village my attention was drawn to a large group of people outside the Age Concern shop.
It turned out to be more of an under-age concern, as there,beside their bicycles, were the "Community Support Officers," stopping and searching my kids because they had been drinking. To be honest, it was probably fortunate that they had been stopped, as in among the large gang of hoodied onlookers was, I have been informed, the young man who punched D's nose a couple of weeks ago.

If it would do any good I would consider balls and chains on a Friday evening!

It didn't feel appropriate to mention the good laugh the three guys had given us on their race earlier, once I had done a U-turn in the middle of the High Street and jumped out of my car to see what was going on. According to them the kids were collapsed in the street but, in fact, if they know I'm on my way they sit down and wait, chatting. Though we are more naturally disposed to sitting on the floor, anything other than the conventional sitting on a chair is seen as abnormal, at the very least.

Some of societies conventions discourage contact with the Earth.

I love to sit on the ground.
I love to lay on the ground, watching clouds, or birds, or bats at dusk.
I love to walk barefoot on the Earth.
I love to sing as I walk.
I love to sit and lean against a tree-trunk, listening to the leaves whispering their prayers of love....

Those things are real and True.
These things keep me real.

If you see me doing them, it means I am well, and happy, and balanced, and sane.

If I don't see you doing them, I wonder....