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                                       NEWS & VIEWS

                                                                                      MULTICULTURAL
         IS IT FUN                                                                     CELEBRATIONS
    TO BE A MUM?                                                                      The Link  3-5  Playgroup cele-
      (OR A DAD?)                                                                     brated festivals from two differ-
                                                                                      ent cultures during the autumn
   Debs Osorio would like to find                                                     months.
   people who can give her a few                                                       A few weeks ago the children
   answers. No doubt any parents                                                      and staff celebrated the Christmas
   who ask themselves the question                                                    message with parties and displays.
   will have their own, as a result of                                                But at the end of October, they
   their particular experiences.                                                      also learnt a little about the
     The whole business of being a                                                    biggest festival in the Hindu year,
   parent is greatly unrecognised                                                     Diwali.
   according to Debs. "There's no                                                      With the help of assistant
   training or preparation for the                                                    playgroup leader Kuki Patel, the
   sheer hard work of being a parent.   Children from Link 3-5 Playgroup in front of their Dicali and   children were able to experience
   Some find it straightforward, but   Christmas displays with Kuki Patel, right, college student Soma   some of the excitement of Diwali,
   others find it very demanding;   Gray, right, and committee member Rachel Leighfield at the rear.   which is also known as 'The
   and it's usually the mums who                                                      Festival of Lights'. During the
   carry most of the load. Being a                LETTERS                             fourteen days of celebrations oil
   parent is a 24 hour a day job and   DOGGIE-DO  'S             RUBBISH!             lamps are displayed inside and
   lasts for up to 20 years. I don't                            by Debbie Griffiths   outside houses, gifts are ex-
   think mums are appreciated          AGAIN              We were at the West Swindon   changed and fireworks are let
   enough for the effort they put in.   Joyce Romans of Oakwood Road,  Centre no.  5  bus stop recently.   off.
     "There are lots of us going  Eastleaze writes to correct a false  The lady in front of us casually   Diwali is the most significant
   around with a lot to say about  impression given in her letter in  dropped her used sticking plaster   and popular festival in India and
   our situation, but many just  December's Link.         plus the packet onto the ground.   symbolises the return of the God
   don't have an outlet to express   "I should like to state that  Knowing full well that it was   Rama after fourteen years in the
   worries, anxieties, frustrations,  being a true dog lover, I take my  rubbish I politely said, "I think   wilderness. This was a triumph
   anger or the joy when things are  dog out twice a day on a lead.  you've dropped something."   for good over evil and the lights
   going well."                When getting to the fields, I let  Not perturbed or embarrassed,   represent a symbol of knowledge,
     Debs is running a course as part  my dog off the leash to run freely  she cooly replied, "It's rubbish."   wisdom and realisation.
   of the spring Adult Education  over the grass.           Me and my big mouths thinks   Mrs. Patel, of Westlea,, des-
   programme. "It's an experiment   "There must be people letting   I. So I picked it up and said I'd   cribed Diwali as the passing of
   and I do not know if anybody will  their dogs roam which is to be   take it home and put it in the bin.   the old year and the beginning of
   be interested. It is strange to be  condemned. I agree that the   My 2 year old son had other   a new. "It is a happy time for
   asked to pay a course fee to take  resulting mess is repugnant and   ideas. As if I hadn't made the   everybody from all religions. In
   part in discussions about being a  we, the said dog lovers, dislike it   point strongly enough, he insisted   playgroup we made a collage
                                                           on putting it on the lamp post bin
   parents, but I hope we will be  as much as others, if not more so.   about ten yards away in the   which shows the lights, fireworks
   able to share ideas, support each  We too have to sidestep it."   Carrefour (whoops, sorry -   and people having a good time.
   other and generally help those in                       Gateway) car park.         We tried traditional Indian sweets
   the group to feel that parents  From Mr and Mrs Povey,    Off we trekked, to return all   and some of the mothers brought
   often go through the same prob-  Poynings Way, Grange Park   muddy from sliding down the   in food that is cooked at Diwali
   lems in bringing up children. The   "We thought the poem in the   slippery slope between the   to try. At the top of the collage,
   course is going to be fun and is  October Link about dogs fouling   bushes (sorry conservationists).   the words in Gujarati say 'Happy
   also open to fathers.       was excellent. But the reply in   but we have made our point and   New Year',"
     'Is it Fun to be a Mum?' will  the December Link by Joyce  entertained the people at the bus
   take place on Wednesdays, 9.30  Romans has made us FURIOUS!   stop. If everyone who stood at   Clothing Alterations
   a.m. to 11.30 a.m. from January   "A we live opposite a CHILD-  that, or any, bus stop dropped a   & Repairs Tel: 872096
   20th and will last for 5 weeks at  RENS play area and regularly  piece of litter, we would be knee   Mrs. White, Freshbrook
   Greendown. A creche will be  see dog owners ALLOW their  deep in rubbish by the end of a
   available. To sign on, pick up a  dogs to foul, it is obvious to us  week. Please Thamesdown, put
   leaflet from the library or tele- that all dog owners are not as  a bin nearer the bus stop. And   TO ADVERTISE IN
   phone Rod Kensett on 871413  responsible at Joyce Romans  please, 'lady with the sore heels   THE LINK
   (don't be put off the the ansa- would like us to believe.   from her new shoes', put your   RING 771534/872282
   phone!)                       "There is a place for your dogs  litter in the bin.
   Debs Osorio, (left)         to go where other children won't
                               play - YOUR BACK GARDEN.               Are you taking out
                                 "If it is acceptable for dogs to
                               foul in public places, then we   a new mortgage in 1988?
                               cannot see any objection for
                               them to go in their own back        If so, consider the following:
                               gardens. And if they do go when
                               out for exercise, then we suggest     Up to 4 x salary available.
                               the owners should clear up after        Maximum rate 10.5%.
                               their dogs, like we parents clear
                               up after our own children.            Decision within 48 hours.
                               A letter was received from a   £100 worth of travel cheque vouchers
                               'Freshbrook Resident' on this
                               subject. However there was no   with each completed endowment.
                               name and address given which
                               does not permit its publication.       Telephone: Cohn Wood
                                 Letters are welcomed but name           on Swindon 870603
                               and address must be produced.
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