H.A.P.P.Y.

I'm trying to educate the Beaker Folk, after a long period when they seem to have believed that life is basically good and the world - against all available evidence - is in a perfect state, to realising that there is sadness and darkness in this world. These things have to be faced if you want to be a grown-up.

Clearly one way of allowing them to realise that there is darkness to be faced is to make them watch "The Apprentice". But that would be a form of mental cruelty. So instead I've been playing them the "bonus track re-mix with additional tracks" version of Kirsty MacColl's Kite album. Not the "divorce album" - Titanic Days - I'm not sure they are up to such strong meat. No, Kite has its light moments as well as the bitterness of What do Pretty Girls do  - but it should bring them up sharp on their current frivolous trajectory. This is real life - separation, anger, bitterness and that haunting fore-echo of death. But they look at me, their happy eyes glowing, and sing La Fôret de Mimosas as if it's a happy little French ditty.

If ignorance is bliss, should I really want them to be wise?