How should I punish my children? '“ Rick Jackson

Every time I go to do something with her, it's '˜no daddy, I want mummy to do it, I don't want you daddy'.

Hard words to take for a man who adores his little girl and loves those little jobs, like helping her dress or go to the toilet.

Both our children are at the age where our actions will have an effect on them and this is where the age-old debate about smacking comes in.

My folks used to smack me. In fact, several times I was given a good hiding and looking back I'm pretty sure I deserved it. It was a deterrent and it worked.

Modern parenting tells us not to smack. It's banned in public in many places and anyone you come into contact with, through social services or in education, will tell you it's not the done thing.

Instead, we are now told that we have to speak to our children firmly.

We have to tell them what they are doing is not acceptable and if needs be, put them on the naughty step.

But what if this is not enough?

When I told Freddie off recently for biting his sister, he laughed when I told him to go and stand on the naughty step.

When I threaten them with '˜do you want to go on to the naughty step' I get an '˜OK' in reply.

Even after taking their toys away, it still doesn't teach them a lesson and at that point I have nothing left.

I don't smack, although I'll be honest, there have been plenty of times when I've understood why my parents did.

As a result I think I now shout too much. It seems to be the only thing I have left in my armoury to show my kids that I'm annoyed with their behaviour, but it's because of this that Holly thinks I'm the big bad ogre.

Parenting is without doubt the toughest job I've ever had.

It's so challenging and demanding at times with the 18-month age gap between the two of them, but the rewards are so worth it. Honestly!

My nan, on the other-hand, has kindly offered me the use of her well-worn wooden spoon!

 

Young doctors need bigger incentives to become GPs

The problems reported at the Waterside Medical Centre, Gosport, highlight the immense pressure GP services are under.

Patients have had to wait weeks for appointments and MP Caroline Dinenage is now involved. Our surgery at Alverstoke is also severely overstretched. There simply are not enough doctors.

Our friends' eldest has just qualified and is still undecided what to specialise in. Mention being a GP and he screws up his face. The way general practice is run by the NHS needs to change radically. Less bureaucracy and more incentives for young doctors to see this as a fulfilling career might spark life into what might become an automated service.

 

If that's all you've got to moan about, you're lucky'¦

Portsmouth, Waterlooville and Gosport were hit by power cuts earlier this week. Some people were without power until midnight. We had a slight glitch at Alverstoke as all our electronic equipment reset itself. We were back to normal in seconds.

For some though, it must have been like a return to the 1970s when the power regularly went off. I bet there was plenty of clambering for torches and candles.

What made me laugh were the complaints, not about the darkness or heating not working, no. The majority of complaints on social media was the fact that many missed I'm A Celebrity...  If this was the biggest complaint, aren't we lucky to live in this wonderful country!