Jimbo

I think most people that heard the news as it very first broke didn't understand the severity of the attack.

I remember my Mrs telling me about the news as it broke, I thought it was just some twat in a small light-aircraft who got too close, only when I switched SKY News on did the full horror of the situation hit me, litterally spent the rest of the day glued to the TV.

If you're being watched by someone intent of abducting a child (i think it's fair to assume that it most likely wasn't a moment of opportunism) then it doesn't matter if your back is turned for 2 minutes or 20 - once it's turned, they'll make their move. Its the moral high ground issue. We all (and i'm talking about parents up and down the country) can sit here and say "there's no way I'd have left my kids in that situation" and as Gemmill pointed out, I'm as guilty as anyone for saying it but looking at it rationally: 1) We're saying it with the benefit of hindsight (what a wonderful thing that is and I bet the McCanns wish they'd had the opportunity) 2) It is totally impossible to watch you kids for every single moment of their life I don't see what the argument is, leaving children alone either in your own home or in a holiday appartment is completely inexcusable. It's not a moral high-ground point of view, there is simply no argument for their actions regardless of the outcome of this tragedy

Contrast that with this: ....from page 1 and 2 of this thread. Oh I know - ironically i'd just re-read that all myself. I still maintain that there is no justification for it and I personally wouldn't have left my kids. My big irk is with the fact that people are getting at the McCann's because they were "living it up" while they'd left their kids when in reality, what they were actually doing at the time of the abduction shouldn't make an ounce of difference. Like I said, morally they've fucked up, but had Madeleine not disappeared, would we be berating them? Would we fuck! If Maddie had not "dissappeared" we wouldn't know about the incident. would we ?

I'm not getting this comparision between "I'll just take my eyes off my kids for a second" and "Lets go out for drinkies and leave the kids alone"

I'll wag the finger, what they did was simply inexcusable regardless of the hindsight of the abduction, I would never leave my children unattended under any circumstances. Seriously Jimbo, have you never left the kids in the house and popped out to get something out of the car? I don't leave them unattended.

Every league club has a "World TV" on their website, and they featuring live commentary, match highlights and shitty interviews. But it would be a real upgrade if they would make some old games available, and god forbid they would hire some pundits who would talk a half an hour about our next match and put it on .cock 1 or 2 days before the match. Agreed, and a proper TV channel would be even better[/armchairfan]

I think its only human nature to react in that manner, previous generations have no-doubt done the same, the Kennedy assasination being one example.

Newcastle World TV has been around for years on .cock.

I'll wag the finger, what they did was simply inexcusable regardless of the hindsight of the abduction, I would never leave my children unattended under any circumstances.

....and who are they here to service? Yes you got it.... Do you mind, I'm trying to read the Daily Mail.

You're not alone, but it seems like a missed opportunity though.

Its the asylum seekers tbh.

I've often thought that too, even Real Madrid have their own channel on SKY

Forgive me, I thought the idea of living for 22 years at a Travelodge somewhat unusual. Seems to me like a story jumped on by travelodge as a bit of free advertising. Quite probably

Some sense at last:

You can't help thinking if it had been a single mother from a council estate called Tracy who had been out clubbing in her white Stillettoes waving her knickers in the air, who had left her kids alone, she'd have been vilified from the very begining.

Forgive me, I thought the idea of living for 22 years at a Travelodge somewhat unusual.

Travelodge couple's 22-year stay David Davidson, 79, and his wife, Jean, 70, have a flat in Sheffield but have lived in the hotels near Newark, Notts and then Grantham, Lincs, since 1985. The couple have spent about £100,000 but said they do not have to worry about bills, cooking or making the bed. Room 1 of the Gonerby Moor Travelodge near the A1 will now be called The Davidson Suite, complete with a plaque. The couple stayed at the first ever Travelodge in Barton-under-Needwood, Staffordshire and liked it so much they began to stay more and more often, finally choosing the hotel in Newark. By booking 12 months in advance, they pay £90 a week and have all housework done by maids while often eating at the nearby Little Chef. World War II veteran Mr Davidson said: "We get great rates because we book well in advance and we even have our own personal housekeeper. It doesn't get much better than that, does it? "We do have to be a bit choosy about what we keep in our room as it can fill up easily - but our must-have item is our framed personal photograph." He continued: "The Travelodge room suits us so much better than our first-floor flat in Sheffield, which has no disabled access for Jean. It's important as she now suffers from a bone disease and uses a wheelchair." And, of course, the couple use the hotel chain when they go on holiday. Paul Anstey, Travelodge director of operations for the North, said: "We know Travelodge has really loyal customers throughout the UK but the Davidsons are unique - they've literally made a Travelodge into their home."

Perhaps its just my warped brain but the icon used on that advert reminds me of something...... The Jimbo (and me) equivlent of seeing the face of christ in a cheese toastie. or a dogs arse

Perhaps its just my warped brain but the icon used on that advert reminds me of something......

Its not a thought anyone wants to consider, agreed, but this couple is already less than whiter than white, they either accidently killed their daughter and disposed of the body (which for the record I doubt is what happened) or they left her and her sibblings unattended whilst they pissed it up. Either way they are not exactly in the running for Parents of the year.

I don't think there's been a witch hunt either, I think the media have been very sympathetic to their cause so far, they are quite within their rights to be reporting on the findings of the Portugese investigation.

Happy Birthday dude !