The Terri Schiavo case has been in the news for some time now - in fact, I remember reading about it a couple of years ago when Jeb Bush stepped in to intercede on Schiavo’s parents’ behalf. Now she’s died after having her feeding tube removed 13 days ago.

I find it astonishing that this legal battle for a person’s life went on for 15 years. Terri Schiavo was in what the doctors described as a ‘persistent vegetative state’ all that time. There are some - i.e. her parents - that say that she should have been given every chance to recover, even if that meant maintaining the feeding tube for the rest of her natural life. Her ex-husband, on the other hand, felt it was more humane to let her die, stating that he didn’t believe Terri would have wanted to live that way. I actually agree with the ex-husband. Terri’s parents talked about getting smiles and other signs of life out of her; but ‘life’ is very different to ‘quality of life’, and I don’t think Terri Schiavo had any of the latter.

What I don’t agree with, however, is the way in which Terri Schiavo died. Her feeding tube was removed, and she slowly starved to death over a period of a little under two weeks. Whether she was consciously aware or in pain or not, starving someone to death is horribly inhumane.
Euthanasia is still a huge moral dilemma. Ultimately, I believe if there’s no quality of life, death by choice should be an option - but not slowly and drawn out.

Had to comment on the return of Doctor Who to our screens last night. As a self-confessed rabid sci-fi geek I’d been on tenterhooks for most of the week, exploring the BBC website (although I kept away from the rogue ep that found its way onto the internet) and eagerly awaiting Saturday @ 7pm.

And the result? I reckon it was well worth it. I already knew Christopher Eccleston was an excellent actor, and it was great that he didn’t play the Doctor too seriously. There was definitely underlying seriousness there, but he also nailed the eccentricity and humour. As for Billie Piper, and all the naysayers who laughed at the idea of a teen-pop princess playing a Doctor Who companion - they were wrong, and I reckon she did a very good job. Can’t quite say the same for the guy who played her boyfriend Micky, but hey, you can’t have everything. The special effects didn’t blow me away, but I didn’t mind a bit - after all, Doctor Who of the past was well known for being slightly ropey and camp in places. It just adds to the happy nostalgia factor for me. Keep it up, guys.

P.S. Anyone else a Cardiff spotter? Having lived there for 7 years myself whilst at university and for a while afterwards, I couldn’t help bouncing off my seat at the sight of Queen’s Arcade, the edge of the park, and Howells (aka Henricks). I think the location of Clive’s house might have been Roath / Claude Rd area, but I couldn’t be sure.

Prompted by the meme from Ilona and Radmila and my Dad, my poem:

I am from Mojos and Pacers from the shop down the street,
From ten pence mixes filled with twenty sweets.
I am from waiting at the corner for my Dad’s motorbike,
Sitting in front and holding on tight.

I am from the ladder up to the loft where I slept,
And the cupboard in which my secrets were kept.

I am from the sycamore, long since gone,
And the local park with the ducks and the swans.

I am of Limerick and Antrim and Kemnay,
From the Tame and the Anker and the heart of the UK.

I am from siblings all younger than me,
Brothers two, and sisters three.
Sometimes close, and oft times not,
(You see, as kids, we squabbled a lot).

From McGinty’s goat and tales of faeries,
A blossoming tree dripping with cherries.
A solar eclipse seen through smokey glass,
Mint leaves and marigolds and freshly cut grass.

I’m from the Celts, the emerald and blue,
Home made stovies and dumplings and soup and stew.

From the old man who beckoned me close to confide,
The offer of a sweet from the dish at his side.

I am from birds flying away, Peter and Paul,
One pound notes and grandparents, one tall and one small.
I am from Christmas on my granddad’s knee,
And from presents after Mass from under the tree.

I’m from cinefilm on a large screen,
The whirr of the film projecting a scene.

I am from Catholic, atheist, agnostic in turn,
A lifelong journey with lots still to learn.