I read a story in the Daily Mail about Margaret Thatcher and to be honest, I wasn't sure how I felt about it. I was in a quandary.Anyway I'll explain a bit about Mrs T, the Iron Lady or the longest serving British Prime Minister, what ever you'd like to call her. I think those are probably the most polite names I've mentioned as no doubt there are probably many more that even I am too well mannered to put into print.
Prime Minister Thatcher was in charge of the UK from 1979 to 1990, which were realistically my educational years from 8 to 19. However, there are landmarks I can recall without the aid of a history book, the ones that made an impression on me as a young pup.
I can remember the Falkland Islands conflict, the miner's strike, poll tax and privatisation of well, everything really.
Then we had the other things that I know about but don't directly remember like, the winter of discontent, USSR invading Afghanistan, Steel workers striking, Lord Mountbatten blown up by the IRA, the Brighton bombing, Reagan being elected President, Tiananmen Square Massacre, the Berlin Wall came down, USA air raids on Libya, Strangeways Prison Riots and of course the Trafalgar Square riot which kicked of due to the Poll Tax or Community Charge.
You can see that it really was quite an eventful time in politics. I don't DO politics, though I know that probably I should as what happens in Westminster will and does affect me. It's just so bloody dull and boring, a lot of stuffy old men shouting at each other.
Blah blah not interested, yawn yawn!
However, I'm not really going to write about politics, I'm writing about someone who used to be a politician. Incidentally Mrs T is also a qualified Chemist and Barrister as well, so you can't say she used her sexuality to get into the boys club. No, this is a smart cookie.
Not known for taking crap from people, she was considered brutal, calculating and ruthless by many, admired by some and when all else is said and done she more or less invented her own brand of politics.
Julie Burchill isn't my favourite journalist at all, however, she is quoted as saying something nice 'If she kicked away the crutches, it wasn’t for pleasure or profit — but because she genuinely believed that everyone had the ability to walk without them.'
I think this suits my Grandma too. You see it's the anniversary of my grandma's death today and I'll freely admit that she wasn't always the supportive loving grandparent that people expect.
Yes, sometimes I cried myself to sleep over things she had said to me and it is hard to take being subjected to that all the time. However, I didn't spend Christmas with her 2 years before she died and I feel guilty as hell that the time she needed me I wasn't there. I could say in my defence that I was in my mid 20s at the time and was being selfish but that realistically is no excuse.
So back to my original problem with Margaret Thatcher...... I read that for the last couple of years Baroness Thatcher has been spending Christmas and New Year with her niece and her housekeeper while her 2 kids are off living the dream so to speak like a pair of spoilt brats.
So for the sake of a couple of days I think Mark and Carol should at least bite the bullet and visit their mother more often.
She is your mother for Gods sake. Spent some time with her.
Now I know that sometimes families can be open to abuse, whether it's been physical, mental whatever and that sometimes it can be way too much to take. I know it can be really hard to watch someone you love and care about descend into dementia, I've been there. I know how much it hurts and that you don't want to remember that person in that way.
That painful memory of them not knowing who you are, or being able to converse about things from 1992 but can't remember if they put sugar in their tea will fade and go. Your memory is your memory and you have the power to recall what you want.
The Iron Lady is old, frail and unwell. Regardless of what she means to you, me or them, now she is an old biddy that needs her family.
I find it very sad that they aren't there when she needs them.
