INFLUENCES: Having just seen on the TV that teenagers and young adults are influenced by videos of celebrities showing the young drinking, smoking and behaving badly, I wonder why people are so surprised. The people behind these videos are making a fortune and are probably backed by drink and tobacco companies who realise how vulnerable the young can be regarding fashion and images of so called sophistication. ROADWORKS: Thank goodness a lot of the road works around here are now easier to negotiate, especially in the Ringmer area. I feel so sorry for the men and the occasional women one sees working in the most terrible weather whilst drivers in warm, comfortable cars, listening to their radio, glare at them from traffic lined up at lights. Let’s face it, without these people doing such work, we would not have such comfortable lives. It’s a strange life really when you think of people paying high prices to stand in all weathers to watch over-paid footballers, pop stars etc., yet many of the people are so important in all our lives, such as people in the medical professions are having to strike just to get a decent way of life. HOMELESS: I have just seen a TV programme about a homeless couple who were helped by two young women to have a comfortable Christmas in a hotel with their dog. They then trashed the room on leaving. This made me think of several people I know who had also put themselves out to help such people get onto the right path but had had their kindness thrown back in their face. I and several nice, kind people in this village tried quite a few years ago to help out a young man who used to do odd jobs such as gardening around the villages in the valley. He was likeable and a hard worker, but in the end let a lot of us down badly. I suppose you just can’t help some people. THE WEATHER: It’s been lovely seeing glimpses of the sun this week, but we need the ground to dry out. The height of the grass is getting horrendous and will no doubt be quite a problem for the future, when we all get our mowers out. Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live. Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on. 1) Make our website your homepage at www.sussexexpress.co.uk/ 2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/Sussex-Express/ 3) Follow us on Twitter @sussex_express 4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here. And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out! The Sussex Express - always the first with your local news. Be part of it.