Silly Scilly's part 2 - drop outs & opt outs

Well, Friday on the Scilly Isles, a place where approx. 85% of all income comes from tourism, but apparently not if the tourists dare to bring children with them.

I have never, in my life, visited, or even heard of anywhere that hates children quite so much as the Scillonians seem to. I should have been alerted by the difficulty I had trying to book a room a few weeks ago. Most of the hotels had a no children policy, a few allowed children over 12 years, and one let them in if they were over 6 years old. No good to me then, with two under two! However, I did find a couple of B&B's, so thought it was just the smarter places trying to stay smart.

No, once there, we discovered that the majority of the places to eat did not allow children in, none had childrens meals (not even the horrible sausage & chips that every restuarant here offers, although I prefer my children to have smaller versions of the adults menu), almost none had high chairs, and those that did only had one for the whole place. The pavements were very poorly maintained, there were no dropped curbs for wheelchairs or prams, the shops did not stock any clothes for children under 5 years old, the cars drive as though there are no pedestrians, and the people ......

The people were the rudest, most intolerant, ignorant people you can imagine. If they saw us coming with a pram, they would deliberately spread out across the pavement to ensure we couldn't pass. We actually had complaints about the fact that my children cried when strangers snap at them! The Islands appear to have opted out of the whole of the 21st and indeed the 20th century, and still believe that children are an embarressment that should be hidden away from society at large until ready to be married off.

This attitude could be seen in the school while I was tutoring the course. The school is completely inaccessable to anyone not in the peak of health, the only out of school clubs are run, voluntarily, by parents, the facilities are basic - there is not even a swiming pool available for their use anywhere on the islands, despite the fact that swimming is on the National Curriculum, and that they are ISLANDS! surrounded by water. The biggest hobby is boating. And half of them can't swim!

Six people were booked onto the course, but only 4 attended. One was ill, and did let me know, but the other just didn't turn up! The children came & went without any supervision, medical/contact forms (much to my disgust, as I'd actually sent forms out weeks ago), and the only people who came to find out how the course was going were a couple of interested parents - not the course organiser, teachers or even the council, who were footing the bill.

Still, the course went well. I'm sure all 4 will pass their exam in Feb, the children had a wonderful time, and I think a club will be started soon. I'm really pleased that I got to see some of the Scilly's. Especially that I got to see it for free considering the circumstances, because I would have been seething if I'd paid £1000's for such bad treatment. However, having said that, it's a fascinating place - I'd be happy to go back for a walking holiday when my children are up to walking 15 miles a day!