h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

It's getting so that I can't watch the news, read the papers (I rarely get British ones though) or check the news online now. And if it's in the car and on the radio I have to switch it off.

It's a complete tragedy what has happened to Madeline and her family. Since I became a mum these sorts of things reduce me to very very quickly so I'd rather switch them off.

But what is it with this case? She's certainly a beautiful girl (and I am desperately hoping that she's been kidnapped by someone who wants to bring her up as their own - alternatives reduce me to a gibbering wreck) But enough is enough.

Do we have to have so many tv shows about it too? Frankly speaking her parents, while they will get all the sympathy in the world, deserve a big slap.

As others have pointed out, if her parents were (non)Working-class the other two children would have been whipped into care before they had even left their holiday. And I've been to the Algarve - I know that you can take even small children out to eat in the evening.

And if you don't want to: for crying out loud! they were all IVF children, so obviously desperately wanted. What's missing out on a few years of eating out? What the heck, couldn't they afford the baby sitting service? Honestly, I could shake them for their stupidity.

And I'm speaking as a mum who has only just started to do things like leave the Gruesomes at home (in bed already) for an hour while I go to their parents evenings. But I know my two, they are older and we all know what to do in the event of an emergency.

So on the one hand for the little girl, the family and so on. But when will people learn: children really are our most valuable "posession"

Hear hear, when this first came out I wondered what the hell her parents were doing leaving the kids alone in the apartment, even in this country I've seen kids of that age in a restaurant, while I have every sympathy for the parent's, you're right Sho they deserve a slap

and I feel so very mean for saying it too
poor little lamb, it's her birthday today.

The saddest part?

There is a babysitting service in that complex. The parents frequent returning and leaving probably drew attention to that apartment.

yep, and I really feel for the people running that place - what sort of publicity is it for them? the Manager, from what I've read of his comments (which isn't much) is being very restrained in saying that "for some reason they didn't choose to use the babysitting service"

And you know, I read an article in the Torygraph this week by little Ben Needham's mum. I know that the information superhighway wasn't available then, and all the satellite TV but we didn't get wall to wall coverage of that case.

Ben's is a very sad case. The entire family have been left with a feeling of guilt.

You can never take a holiday from being a parent. My daughter and I had a (private) discussion about this last week which I won't repeat, but it's basically what Sho's said.

My thoughts and prayers are with Madeleine on her birthday please please please let her be found soon.

...

*translates as 'without words' ...*

There's nothing anyone can say that those parents won't already have said to themselves - and will probably keep on saying for the rest of their lives.

I can't imagine they'll ever recover from this.


I've had a few holidays in that wee resort and it feels like the safest place on earth.

oh yes, I fully agree - nothing anyone else will ever say will compare to what they're saying to themselves. And, eventually, to each other.

The loss of a child (no matter how) leads to awful things and nobody gets out of it unscathed.

It's my daughter's birthday tomorrow and I've just wrapped her gift and written her card for delivery in the morning. I didn't manage it without a lump in my throat.