The hush-hush time

Most UK schools start their holidays at the end of July, and that marks, in certain communities, the start of of the hush-hush time.  It's the time that many immigrant families take their children back home for a long summer holiday.  Nothing hush-hush about that, but what may happen to their girls when they are out of this country most certainly is.

Anything from 500 to 2000 schoolgirls will be "cut" over the summer and then in September return to school with scars that are not only physical but mental too.  The Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003, makes it against the law for FGM to be performed anywhere in the world on UK permanent residents of any age and carries a maximum sentence of 14 years imprisonment.

So far, no prosecutions have been made under this law, though interventions have.  Project Azure, a unit in the London Metropolitan Police, intervened in 39 situations in 2008, 59 in 2009 and so far 25 this year.

There are 16 clinics in the UK to deal with FGM.  In 1997 there were two.  The reconstructive surgery that Papillon decided to have is not offered in the UK, though sometimes surgery can be done to reverse the procedure for Type III. 

But wouldn't it be better if none of this was necessary, if the message is clear of what can happen, physically, mentally, and also legally, if the girls are taken away for this procedure.

Read the whole article in the Observer.
Read the effect on Papillon and her efforts to reconstruct her life.

Colourful

This is the third time for "Colourful" in a Photo Hunt so originality is not about to happen.  But there's plenty of colour in the seaside area where I live, ranging from the gaudy to, well, less gaudy.

And here things do start to improve with one of several murals to make a dilapidated and unloved building look better.

To be fair, the local householders and business owners do try to keep the place looking pretty and cheerful with some stunning floral displays, helped this year by excellent weather.

Pay a visit to TNchick's site where you can find more interpretations of "colorful".  (I spelt it right this time. :)  )

Public display

It's carnival time in our area.  Everyone is making sure they look their best for being out in public.

 Some greet the public with a new coat of paint, hastily applied the day before (yesterday it was grey).

  The butterflies absorb sunlight along with the atmosphere

Some individuals survey the public from a safe distance and with a certain disdain.

Most make sure of a good vantage point ...

... for the public firework display on the beach.

So, if you'd like to meet the public in the Photo Hunt, pay a visit to TNchick's site where you can find out more.

Hanging around

When we decided to visit Prague, I realised I knew little about the city or the Czech Republic.  I did do some research before I left but there were all sorts of things that surprised me when I was there to see for myself, and among them, marionettes.  They were hanging everywhere.

On the market stalls they were with the postcards.  This row had a great family resemblance - all out of the same mould. :)

You could even buy them with your carrots and onions.

But elsewhere you could go to see a performance in what is reputed to be the world's oldest marionette theatre.  I don't know what, if any, symbolism is intended in the sign hanging over the entrance.

This was one of the more elaborate hanging figures.  Some of them seemed quite "dark".

The history of marionettes in the area goes back to the 18th century when travelling puppeteers would tour through the Czech lands.  The marionettes were made from lime wood by professional wood carvers who often carved church statues too.  Later amateur puppeteers became widespread.  Almost every town and village had their own.  The movement became associated with Czech history and national pride and is a remarkably interesting subject.

So, if you'd like to hang around with other people in the Photo Hunt, pay a visit to TNchick's site where you can find out more.

24 hours

I've been confined indoors for a while but it hasn't stopped me looking out of the window and seeing how changeable the scene is.

The 24 hours started with a thunderstorm followed by a rainbow.

Dawn brought clearer weather. Well, not quite dawn but about 6.00 am.

But there was a haze around and on the horizon it settled into a yellowish smog.  Is that from France?  From the shipping?  I can only assume it's as bad looking in the other direction.

Later the sun came out and I was watching this father and son playing with the kite.  Well the father was playing with the kite while the son watched.  It wasn't until later that I realised I'd managed to catch a view of the massive Thanet Offshore Windfarm on the horizon.  There are 100 turbines in place, and you can only hope they will help reduce that smog.  It may be just possible to see some of the turbines if you click on the photo for a larger size. 

Towards the end of the day this group arrived with a picnic, sat together yet apart, and left shortly afterwards.  You could write stories about why.

Count the triangles

The wonderfully grand staircases in the National Museum in Prague making beautiful shapes, among them are triangles.

If you'd like to join in the PhotoHunt and discover other players' interpretations, pay a visit to TNchick's site where you can find out more.

I am not going to be able to be at the computer very much this weekend, but I'll catch up with you as soon as I can.