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    <title>iPM</title>
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    <id>tag:www.bbc.co.uk,2009-05-07:/blogs/ipm//96</id>
    <updated>2009-11-27T10:27:45Z</updated>
    <subtitle>The programme that starts with its listeners. Join daily discussions online and contribute ideas for a weekly programme  presented by Eddie Mair and Jennifer Tracey.</subtitle>
    <generator uri="http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/">Movable Type 4.1</generator>

<entry>
    <title>Nominate someone for an iPM New Year Honours</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2009/11/nominate_someone_for_an_ipm_ne.shtml" />
    <id>tag:www.bbc.co.uk,2009:/blogs/ipm//96.168786</id>


    <published>2009-11-23T17:03:24Z</published>
    <updated>2009-11-27T10:27:45Z</updated>


    <summary> So, there&apos;s the official New Year Honours and then there&apos;s the iPM New Year Honours. Is there someone you know, a colleague at work, a member of your family, someone you read about in the paper who YOU think...</summary>
    <author>
        <name>Jennifer Tracey</name>
        
    </author>
    
        <category term="New Year Honours 09" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
    
    <category term="honour" label="honour" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
    <category term="ipmnewyearhonours" label="ipm new year honours" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
    <category term="nominations" label="nominations" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
    
    <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/">
        <![CDATA[<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="The Queen" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/queenNYHonour.jpg" width="290" height="200" class="mt-image-none" style="" /></span></p>

<p>So, there's <a href="http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/UKgovernment/Honoursawardsandmedals/DG_067977">the official New Year Honours</a> and then there's the iPM New Year Honours. </p>

<p>Is there someone you know, a colleague at work, a member of your family, someone you read about in the paper who YOU think deserves a New Year Honour? Let us know. </p>

<p>Maybe they've achieved something extraordinary, or maybe you just think they deserve some attention. We don't want to be prescriptive about it, but remember to tell us why you think they should receive an iPM honour.</p>

<p>There's no prize, just us making a bit of a fuss. </p>

<p><strong>How do I nominate someone</strong><br />
Email <a href="mailto:ipm@bbc.co.uk">ipm [at] bbc.co.uk</a>, please put HONOUR in the subject line. </p>

<p>Or write to <br />
iPM New Year's Honours<br />
Room G601, <br />
BBC TV Centre, <br />
London W12 7RJ</p>

<p><strong>Closing date for entries</strong><br />
Midnight Saturday 12 December</p>

<p><strong>Who decides the winner</strong><br />
The iPM production team will choose a winner from the entries we receive and its decision will be final.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2009/11/ipm_new_year_honour_terms_and.shtml">Read the terms and conditions</a></p>]]>
        
    </content>
</entry>

<entry>
    <title>Secrets </title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2009/11/secrets.shtml" />
    <id>tag:www.bbc.co.uk,2009:/blogs/ipm//96.168112</id>


    <published>2009-11-21T05:25:35Z</published>
    <updated>2009-11-20T19:30:53Z</updated>


    <summary> We asked if listeners had secrets they kept from their partners. Turns out they do. We promised not to reveal identities. Money, affairs, cross dressing, lemonade and tarantulas appeared in our inbox. You can tell us yours if you...</summary>
    <author>
        <name>Jennifer Tracey</name>
        
    </author>
    
    <category term="secrets" label="secrets" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
    
    <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/">
        <![CDATA[<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="secret whisper" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/secret_whisper.jpg" width="466" height="260" class="mt-image-none" style="" /></span></p>

<p>We asked if listeners had secrets they kept from their partners. Turns out they do. We promised not to reveal identities. Money, affairs, cross dressing, lemonade and tarantulas appeared in our inbox.  </p>

<p>You can tell us yours if you like, <a href="mailto:ipm@bbc.co.uk">email us</a>. Or run a mile. We understand either way.</p>]]>
        
    </content>
</entry>

<entry>
    <title>Nuclear reaction</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2009/11/nuclear_reaction.shtml" />
    <id>tag:www.bbc.co.uk,2009:/blogs/ipm//96.166046</id>


    <published>2009-11-14T06:02:07Z</published>
    <updated>2009-11-13T18:56:49Z</updated>


    <summary> Earlier this week, alongside wave, wind and what&apos;s called clean coal power stations, the government gave the go ahead for 10 new nuclear facilities and a new planning system. There was a mixed reaction from listeners who emailed, but...</summary>
    <author>
        <name>Jennifer Tracey</name>
        
    </author>
    
        <category term="Nuclear power" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
    
    <category term="kirksanton" label="kirksanton" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
    <category term="nuclearpower" label="nuclear power" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
    <category term="nuclearpowerstation" label="nuclear power station" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
    <category term="powerplant" label="power plant" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
    
    <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/">
        <![CDATA[<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Listener mock-up of nuclear power site in Kirksanton " src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/nuke.jpg" width="600" height="300" class="mt-image-none" style="" /></span></p>

<p>Earlier this week, alongside wave, wind and what's called clean coal power stations, <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8349715.stm">the government gave the go ahead</a> for 10 new nuclear facilities and a new planning system.</p>

<p>There was a mixed reaction from listeners who emailed, but there were two that caught our eye and we invited their authors onto the programme to discuss it. </p>

<p>Patrick McCarron is a retired lawyer who's been a strong supporter of nuclear power since the 1950s. He's frustrated it's taken the Government so long to give nuclear the go-ahead. </p>

<p>Sally Millar lives near Kirksanton, one of the proposed sites. She's been talking about climate change as an environmental educator for the last 20 years. (She mocked up the photo above to show what her neighbourhood might look like.)</p>

<p>Here's what happened when we brought them together...</p>

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<p><br />
</p>]]>
        
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</entry>

<entry>
    <title>Your News with Sir John Tusa</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2009/11/your_news_with_sir_john_tusa.shtml" />
    <id>tag:www.bbc.co.uk,2009:/blogs/ipm//96.166037</id>


    <published>2009-11-13T05:15:03Z</published>
    <updated>2009-11-13T18:56:23Z</updated>


    <summary> BBC legend Sir John Tusa reads Your News sentences this week. Drop us a line about your week if you fancy, or tweet. I won £10 on the Lotto for the first time in years. It will make such...</summary>
    <author>
        <name>Jennifer Tracey</name>
        
    </author>
    
        <category term="Your News" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
    
    <category term="sentenceofnews" label="sentence of news" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
    <category term="stories" label="stories" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
    <category term="yournews" label="your news" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
    
    <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/">
        <![CDATA[<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="John Tusa" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/tusa.jpg" width="600" height="300" class="mt-image-none" style="" /></span></p>

<p>BBC legend <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Tusa">Sir John Tusa</a> reads Your News sentences this week. <a href="mailto:ipm@bbc.co.uk">Drop us a line</a> about your week if you fancy, or <a href="http://twitter.com/ipmradio4">tweet</a>.</p>

<p>I won £10 on the Lotto for the first time in years. It will make such a difference to my life, especially as I have been unemployed for eight months. </p>

<p>On the first really cold and foggy morning my car had a flat battery due to the passenger door light being on for 16 hours.</p>

<p>My son was attacked and robbed in his home by a gang of lowlife scum wielding gun, knife and baseball bat, he was smashed over the head with one of these and all I want to do is thank them for not killing him.</p>

<p>Fed my bees today, they seem to be doing fine.</p>

<p>I met my internet date but after a pleasant couple hours dining in the pub she gave me "the brush-off".</p>

<p>I set fire to the house last night; it was an accident but I wish I hadn't waited until the decorating was finished.</p>

<p>My brother and sister and I learnt on national TV that we are not loved by our parents.</p>

<p>I met Andrew Neil last night and decided he had an orange face.</p>

<p>The council is refusing to empty our cat poo bin.</p>

<p>I want to tell my partner that I'm a secret nudist and long to be naked at home, but I'm afraid he won't understand and ask me to leave.</p>

<p>Just cut a wedge from my first homemade cheddar cheese to find an unexpected vein of blue mould inside and I wonder if it's edible.</p>

<p>I twisted my ankle wearing my new stiletto heels, but my wife just laughed.<br />
</p>]]>
        
    </content>
</entry>

<entry>
    <title>iPM New Year Honour terms and conditions</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2009/11/ipm_new_year_honour_terms_and.shtml" />
    <id>tag:www.bbc.co.uk,2009:/blogs/ipm//96.169902</id>


    <published>2009-11-12T10:08:19Z</published>
    <updated>2009-11-27T10:18:12Z</updated>


    <summary>The small print...for your attention please... 1. In order to nominate someone, you must be a UK resident (including Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) and not be a BBC employee, employee of any of its affiliates, close relative...</summary>
    <author>
        <name>Jennifer Tracey</name>
        
    </author>
    
    <category term="ipmnewyearhonour" label="iPM new year honour" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
    <category term="termsandconditions" label="terms and conditions" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
    
    <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/">
        <![CDATA[<p>The small print...for your attention please...</p>

<p>1. In order to nominate someone, you must be a UK resident (including Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) and not be a BBC employee, employee of any of its affiliates, close relative of any such employees or connected to the award directly or through a close relative.</p>

<p>2. Any UK resident (incl. Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) aged 10 is eligible to be nominated, except BBC employees, employees of any of its affiliates, close relatives of any such employees or connected to the award directly or through a close relative. Proof of age, identity and eligibility may be requested.</p>

<p>3. Nominations can be made online by: (i) e-mailing the programme <a href="mailto:ipm@bbc.co.uk">ipm [@] bbc.co.uk</a>; (ii) leaving a comment on the iPM blog www.bbc.co.uk/ipm or; (iii) sending a postal entry to <strong>iPM Honours, iPM, Room G601, BBC TV Centre, London W12 7RJ</strong>. The closing time for receipt of entries is 00:01 on 13th December 2009. No entries received after that time will be considered. Nominations cannot be acknowledged or returned. Full details of opening and closing times will be given on air.</p>

<p>4. You will be required to provide evidence of the nominee's permission to take part in any post-award publicity. Winner will be expected to allow the use of their names for publicity purposes as may be required. For entrants/winners under 18 years of age, parent or guardian's consent may be required. </p>

<p>5. As this is mostly an award for fun, ie there is no prize, there is a wide criteria to qualify for nomination. The nominee should deserve recognition for some aspect of their life which is extraordinary or deserves to be given attention.</p>

<p>6. The BBC may contact both the nominator and nominee to verify facts and/or events and whether the relevant consents have been obtained. This should not be interpreted as anything other than an information gathering exercise.</p>

<p>7. The BBC team will select a winner based on the above criteria.  </p>

<p>8. The winner will be notified within seven days of the close of the nominations by post or telephone or email. The winner will also be announced on the 2nd January 2010 on iPM.</p>

<p>9. The BBC's decision as to the winner is final. No correspondence relating to the award will be entered. <br />
 <br />
10. The winners will receive the iPM New Year's Honour Award, which consists purely of such mention. There are no prizes, no cash alternative and the award cannot be sold or transferred in any circumstances.</p>

<p>11. The BBC reserves the right to: (i) vary the opening times of the awards; (ii) disqualify any nominee who breaches the rules or has acted fraudulently in any way; and (iii) cancel the awards, at any stage, if in its opinion it is deemed necessary or if circumstances arise outside its control. <br />
 <br />
12. The BBC, its sub-contractors, subsidiaries and/or agencies cannot accept any responsibility whatsoever for any technical failure or malfunction or any other problem which may result in any nomination not properly registered. </p>

<p>13. The BBC will only use personal details for the purposes of administering this award and will not publish or provide them to anyone without permission. You can read more about the BBC Privacy Policy on: <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/privacy/">http://www.bbc.co.uk/privacy/</a><br />
 <br />
14. The promoter of the awards is the British Broadcasting Corporation and these terms and conditions are subject to the laws of England and Wales.<br />
</p>]]>
        
    </content>
</entry>

<entry>
    <title>Yours truly...</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2009/11/your_war_letters.shtml" />
    <id>tag:www.bbc.co.uk,2009:/blogs/ipm//96.164008</id>


    <published>2009-11-07T05:45:00Z</published>
    <updated>2009-11-06T19:34:15Z</updated>


    <summary> Ahead of Remembrance Sunday, listeners share their letters and messages from loved ones and relatives sent away to war. The letters span World War I to Afghanistan and are written from the heart. You can listen to the letters...</summary>
    <author>
        <name>Jennifer Tracey</name>
        
    </author>
    
    <category term="afghanistan" label="afghanistan" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
    <category term="soldiers" label="soldiers" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
    <category term="warletters" label="war letters" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
    <category term="worldwari" label="world war I" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
    <category term="worldwarii" label="world war II" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
    
    <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/">
        <![CDATA[<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Prisoner of war postcard" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/pow.jpg" width="600" height="364" class="mt-image-none" style="" /></span></p>

<p>Ahead of Remembrance Sunday, listeners share their letters and messages from loved ones and relatives sent away to war. The letters span World War I to Afghanistan and are written from the heart. </p>

<p>You can listen to the letters here:</p>

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<p>Thanks to everyone who contributed, we've included more letters below. If you have a letter you'd like to send us <a href="mailto:ipm@bbc.co.uk">drop us an email</a>.</p>]]>
        <![CDATA[<p>This letter was received by my father William Thornber,when he was in hospital in England after having been shot in Northern France in 1916.<br />
                                                                                    <br />
London, August 31st 1916<br />
 <br />
Dear Mr Thornber,<br />
I am very sorry to inform you of the death of our dear son Fred, (your companion in the trenches, in France) on July 18th last, by the bursting of a shell whilst attending a wounded soldier.</p>

<p>We have only just found your address in his note book, which has been so kindly sent over to us, with other presonal effects, by his comrades of his platoon, or we would have written to you sooner. His death has been an awful blow to us, especially to his mother who has tendered and cared for him, as only a loving mother can, for her dear one, her only boy.We miss his cheerful letters to us, for he always made light of the many dangerous expeditions, that you & he were engaged in and he wrote to us and told us how much he missed you, after you were wounded and sent to England.</p>

<p>His mother and I were sorry to hear you had been seriously wounded but were glad to hear from him that you were getting on well and we hope, by now that you are convalescent and will soon be yourself again.</p>

<p>We have heard indirectly, that the 20th Battalion have suffered very severly since poor Fred's death in the wood.</p>

<p>Hoping you will excuse this unavoidable delay.<br />
I remain<br />
Yours sincerely,<br />
J. Dittmer</p>

<p>Sent By Dr. Caroline Sheldrick<br />
Colchester<br />
Essex</p>

<p><br />
Dear Sirs,<br />
I do hope you will be able to feature some letters about the Irish who fell in the war. In particular the southern Irish who are not as well remembered as they perhaps should be.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.freewebs.com/ireland1418/irishonthesomme.htm">This link</a> describes the story of a Cork man who fell on the Somme and the letters sent to his wife following his death, by an English soldier who discovered his body.  It is particularly poignant story. The text of the letter is there in full and there is also a pencil sketch of the dead soldier, drawn by his wife, which you are free to use with my permission as the author of the piece.<br />
John McGuiggan</p>

<p><br />
Good morning <br />
Please find attached postcards from my father Norman France who was part of the expeditionary force; later rescued from Dunkirk only to find himself in Singapore as he states </p>

<p>'.... a throng of civilians and our troops were listening to the Governor of Singapore, who was perched on top of a lorry telling us that our Generals were having a conference with the Japanese General Staff as to terms of surrender, but urging the boys to go back to the front lines and fight on until we know our ultimate fate'  </p>

<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Japanese Army postcard" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/imperialJapaneseArmy.jpg" width="600" height="400" class="mt-image-none" style="" /></span><br />
 <br />
He was interned by the Japanese later at the infamous Changi jail and working on the Burma Railway but the last two paragraphs of his unpublished manuscript may give hope;<br />
 <br />
'For three and a half years of life akin to slavery we had dreamed of this day, each of us had built up hopes and dreamed of a happy future, this was a war to end war, for us that had suffered and those who gave the supreme sacrifice we pray that it will be.<br />
 <br />
But we face the future with a new heart, and to begin our life where we left off, amongst those we love and cherished friendships'<br />
Regards<br />
Michael France</p>

<p>From a few days after their marriage in 1942 until well into 1946 our parents (Eric & Joan Pearson) wrote to each other several times a week. My mother from England, where she continued to live with her parents in Surrey, commuting every day into the Stationery Office in London where she was a Fire Warden, and my father from Madagascar, Burma, India and the devastation of Belgium and Germany immediately after the war. They wrote hundreds of detailed, intimate letters, combining very loving paragraphs with their own  interpretation of the profound events taking place, and a great deal about the detail of their lives, the memories of the few days they spent together after their wedding and their plans for the future. </p>

<p>Our father was with the 14th Army in Burma and sent many letters from there, of which the following is typical..</p>

<p>Letter No 201 July 18th 1944 <br />
"Well, darling, things have moved fast since I last wrote and as you probably know the Japs have pulled out fast in several areas though they are still hanging on in others. I've spent the last fortnight chasing them around and the people I was with killed quite a lot. It's been very tough going through thick jungle and up practically vertical hillsides - it has to be seen to be believed and I'll tell you it takes some doing to carry a pack all the time and not with much sleep. We march by night as much as by day. We waded through a few rivers up to our waists just to add a little variety, not that it was needed. Still, its quite fun when you are chasing the Japs and nice to bring in a few swords (I wouldn't like to be a Jap officer and carry them through the jungle). Though we cannot get any of them as they all have to be sent back through HQ. Just before we really started chasing them I went out with an infantry officer and a few of his men to have a look at a Jap position. When we were about 20 yards from it they suddenly opened up on three sides, so there was nothing for it but to beat it, we were only a small party. ...the Japs chased us for 900 yards until we were back in our perimeter" </p>

<p>On August 11th 1945 Eric wrote from India "If you note the date you may realise the whole world is now observing the Jap peace offer. I must confess I am rather surprised but I think Russia and the new atomic bomb have done the trick. All we know at the moment is that that they have made the peace offer with the proviso about their "son of heaven" . I shouldn't think that we would accept that but nevertheless I think we'll come to some sort of peace so there is cause for some measure of celebration though we mustn't get over-optimistic just yet. There are fears that the Japs here might never hear from Japan and go on fighting till "Kingdom come."  <br />
  <br />
"Then on 17th August  (No 300)  "How is her loveliness? Well, I hope, and as happy as she can be under the circumstances. No doubt you're feeling very relieved and cheerful now the peace nears. I must say it was all rather a surprise to us and now it's come we don't quite know what to think of it.</p>

<p>It's all to the good and will save thousands of lives and thousands of prisoners will be released much sooner than anyone had dared to hope. Let's hope the "cease fire" (when it comes) will reach Japanese troops everywhere quickly, though I suspect there will be hundreds of Burmese who won't get it in less than a month".  <br />
  <br />
"Don't expect repat. to be speeded up darling. There is every reason why it shouldn't be. Firstly we've got to rush out several divisions to occupy the countries the Japs now hold - secondly I shouldn't think any single ship will  be made to take troops home until all the British prisoners that can be got hold of at first are sent home. If anything repat. will slow down at first. I think release may speed up considerably so you might find me in civvy clothes in the new year + I will have to embark on the all important business of homemaking."  </p>

<p>Through early 1946 Eric writes from Germany; for example,  March 10th 1946, "...I think it is the first time I have really spoken to Germans. A child's bread ration is 1 lb per week which is less than one slice per day. A company director is working here as a clerk and is apparently envious of a man who is washing pots and pans in the cookhouse because that man may occasionally get a good meal. Its all very perplexing really because so far I haven't found an unfriendly German. They don't complain about the British but they are on the verge of starvation.</p>

<p>We have over 1000 letters but are only just reading through them as they were packed away, presumably because of the very intimate nature of many of them. Our father is almost 90 and our mother died in 1997.<br />
Angela Penrose</p>]]>
    </content>
</entry>

<entry>
    <title>War letters</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2009/11/war_letters.shtml" />
    <id>tag:www.bbc.co.uk,2009:/blogs/ipm//96.162574</id>


    <published>2009-11-02T15:40:12Z</published>
    <updated>2009-11-02T16:59:16Z</updated>


    <summary> Do you have any wartime correspondence you&apos;d like to share with us? To mark Remembrance Sunday we&apos;d like to read letters, postcards and emails from the frontline. It may be that you have letters from family members from World...</summary>
    <author>
        <name>Jennifer Tracey</name>
        
    </author>
    
    <category term="warcorrespondence" label="war correspondence" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
    <category term="wartimeletters" label="wartime letters" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
    
    <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/">
        <![CDATA[<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Letters home" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/writing.jpg" width="600" height="300" class="mt-image-none" style="" /></span></p>

<p>Do you have any wartime correspondence you'd like to share with us? To mark Remembrance Sunday we'd like to read letters, postcards and emails from the frontline. </p>

<p>It may be that you have letters from family members from World War I and II, or perhaps more recent emails, e-blueys and text messages to/from a loved one serving in the forces abroad. </p>

<p>From big emotional events to the minutiae of daily life, drop us a line on <strong><a href="mailto:ipm@bbc.co.uk">ipm [at] bbc.co.uk</a></strong></p>

<p>Listen to the story of one very moving letter read on Radio 4's BH programme.The letter was written by 19-year-old Cyrus Thatcher from Reading who died recently in Afghanistan. </p>

<p>Kevin Connolly presents (duration 8.33 mins). <br />
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    </content>
</entry>

<entry>
    <title>Please identify yourself...</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2009/11/please_identify_yourself.shtml" />
    <id>tag:www.bbc.co.uk,2009:/blogs/ipm//96.162439</id>


    <published>2009-11-02T08:42:07Z</published>
    <updated>2009-11-02T09:19:00Z</updated>


    <summary>BBC iD</summary>
    <author>
        <name>Jennifer Tracey</name>
        
    </author>
    
    <category term="bbcid" label="BBC iD" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
    
    <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/">
        <![CDATA[<p>...for all I know you could be a robot. Cue robot pic.</p>

<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Robothead" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/robothead.jpg" width="600" height="250" class="mt-image-none" style="" /></span></p>

<p>No really. The BBC has a new blog sign-in called BBC iD. If you add a comment from now on you'll be prompted to upgrade your account(s). You only have to do it once and it should be quick (was for me).</p>

<p>One note of caution though: if you've got multiple BBC accounts, you'll only be able to upgrade one of them to BBC iD using your preferred username and email address.</p>

<p>If you have any questions or need a hand, you can get help over at the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcinternet/2009/10/welcome_to_bbc_id.html">BBC Internet Blog</a></p>]]>
        
    </content>
</entry>

<entry>
    <title>Your ideas and news</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2009/10/your_ideas_and_news.shtml" />
    <id>tag:www.bbc.co.uk,2009:/blogs/ipm//96.161710</id>


    <published>2009-10-31T05:15:05Z</published>
    <updated>2009-11-02T08:33:10Z</updated>


    <summary> If you&apos;ve a story you think we should investigate or your own experience will help us shed more light on the news...get in touch. Or send us a single sentence of news about your week, your halloween visitors or...</summary>
    <author>
        <name>Jennifer Tracey</name>
        
    </author>
    
        <category term="Suggest" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
    
    <category term="suggeststory" label="suggest story" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
    
    <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/">
        <![CDATA[<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="lantern tales" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/lantern.jpg" width="600" height="250" class="mt-image-none" style="" /></span></p>

<p>If you've a story you think we should investigate or your own experience will help us shed more light on the news...get in touch. </p>

<p>Or send us a single sentence of news about your week, your halloween visitors or just to tell us your post has arrived.</p>

<p>Leave a comment below, <a href="mailto:ipm@bbc.co.uk">email us</a> or Tweet.<br />
</p>]]>
        
    </content>
</entry>

<entry>
    <title>The Yes/No Challenge for politicians</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2009/10/the_yesno_challenge_for_politi.shtml" />
    <id>tag:www.bbc.co.uk,2009:/blogs/ipm//96.158638</id>


    <published>2009-10-27T10:56:51Z</published>
    <updated>2009-10-27T11:40:23Z</updated>


    <summary> Tired of hearing politicians avoid answering yes or no to interview questions - one listener wrote to us appealing for some straightforward answers. So we asked the three main UK parties if they could each provide us with an...</summary>
    <author>
        <name>Jennifer Tracey</name>
        
    </author>
    
    <category term="grantshapps" label="grant shapps" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
    <category term="normanbaker" label="norman baker" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
    <category term="politicians" label="politicians" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
    <category term="stephenpound" label="stephen pound" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
    <category term="yesnoquestions" label="yes no questions" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
    
    <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/">
        <![CDATA[<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Studio mics" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/microphones_studio.jpg" width="600" height="250" class="mt-image-none" style="" /></span><br />
Tired of hearing politicians avoid answering yes or no to interview questions - one listener wrote to us <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2009/10/should_politicians_be_forced_t.shtml">appealing for some straightforward answers</a>. </p>

<p>So we asked the three main UK parties if they could each provide us with an MP to answer yes or no to questions sent in by listeners. </p>

<p>The <a href="http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/grant_shapps/welwyn_hatfield">Conservative shadow housing minister Grant Shapps</a> agreed to take part. As did the <a href="http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/norman_baker/lewes">Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker</a> who speaks for the party on transport and the <a href="http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/stephen_pound/ealing_north">Labour MP for Ealing North, Stephen Pound</a>. </p>

<p>As some of you missed the programme from a few weeks ago - here's the discussion. Each politician answers a series of ten yes/no questions and talks about what makes it so difficult (Duration: 11.40 mins).</p>

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<p>And if you want to hear Eddie Mair take a yes/no challenge (he really does spend all day Googling himself), have a listen here (Duration: 1.10 mins). </p>

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    </content>
</entry>

<entry>
    <title>Did your career advice at school help you?</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2009/10/did_your_career_advice_at_scho.shtml" />
    <id>tag:www.bbc.co.uk,2009:/blogs/ipm//96.158423</id>


    <published>2009-10-26T17:09:28Z</published>
    <updated>2009-10-26T18:28:16Z</updated>


    <summary>Fish Farm Manager, Probation Officer and Librarian. Some of the careers advice suggested to journalists in our office (between you and me, she&apos;d have been far better managing fish). We got talking about it after news today that children as...</summary>
    <author>
        <name>Jennifer Tracey</name>
        
    </author>
    
    <category term="career" label="career" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
    <category term="careeradvice" label="career advice" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
    <category term="teacher" label="teacher" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
    
    <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/">
        <![CDATA[<p>Fish Farm Manager, Probation Officer and Librarian. Some of the careers advice suggested to journalists in our office (between you and me, she'd have been far better managing fish).  </p>

<p>We got talking about it after news today that children as young as seven are to be offered careers guidance under a new government scheme in England.</p>

<p>We may not have gone on into the suggested careers but it influenced our thinking about jobs. </p>

<p>Did the careers advice you received effect what you went on to do? Or perhaps you're a careers advisor or teacher who has watched pupils go on to do the most unexpected things? Comment below, <a href="mailto:ipm@bbc.co.uk">email us</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/ipmradio4">tweet</a>.</p>

<p><br />
</p>]]>
        
    </content>
</entry>

<entry>
    <title>Good morning. </title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2009/10/good_morning_2.shtml" />
    <id>tag:www.bbc.co.uk,2009:/blogs/ipm//96.157434</id>


    <published>2009-10-24T04:39:56Z</published>
    <updated>2009-10-24T08:57:05Z</updated>


    <summary> Question Time attracted 7.8 million viewers at its peak on Thursday night. So many people took an interest in what was happening. But during the broadcast I was with two people with a special interest in it. Alan and...</summary>
    <author>
        <name>Eddie Mair</name>
        
    </author>
    
        <category term="BNP" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
    
    
    <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/">
        <![CDATA[<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Nick Griffin" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/Griffin.jpg" width="600" height="300" class="mt-image-none" style="" /></span></p>

<p>Question Time attracted 7.8 million viewers at its peak on Thursday night. So many people took an interest in what was happening. But during the broadcast I was with two people with a special interest in it.</p>

<p>Alan and Tom are neighbours in Shrewsbury. Alan is a big BNP supporter and Tom is fervently opposed. A few months back, in the wake of our iPM opinion poll on neighbourliness, we brought them together for their first real conversation in 18 years. They had a sharp and frank discussion in our Shrewsbury studio about their politics. You can hear it in full and read listeners' reactions <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2009/06/my_neighbour_is_an_enthusiasti.shtml">here</a>.</p>

<p>We wondered how Alan and Tom felt about Nick Griffin being on the programme, so I paid them a visit at their homes, before during and after Question Time. </p>]]>
        
    </content>
</entry>

<entry>
    <title>Make a suggestion</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2009/10/make_a_suggestion.shtml" />
    <id>tag:www.bbc.co.uk,2009:/blogs/ipm//96.154014</id>


    <published>2009-10-17T04:25:38Z</published>
    <updated>2009-10-15T16:50:48Z</updated>


    <summary> Our three politicians in the green room before coming on the show.... No, not really, it&apos;s the creators of the Z Cars (David E. Rose, Michael Leeston-Smith, John Hopkins) ruminating over ideas in 1963. If there are some ideas...</summary>
    <author>
        <name>Jennifer Tracey</name>
        
    </author>
    
        <category term="Suggest" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
    
    <category term="suggeststoryipm" label="suggest story ipm" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
    
    <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/">
        <![CDATA[<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Z Cars creators 1963" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/z-cars1963.jpg" width="600" height="300" class="mt-image-none" style="" /></span></p>

<p>Our three politicians in the green room before coming on the show.... No, not really, it's the creators of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Z-Cars">Z Cars</a> (David E. Rose, Michael Leeston-Smith, John Hopkins) ruminating over ideas in 1963.</p>

<p>If there are some ideas you'd like to ruminate with us over - get in touch.</p>

<p>Or just send us a single sentence about your week. My favourite from last week</p>

<p><strong>"I've just done three rounds of Silverstone at 150 mph. Not bad for a granny of 72."</strong></p>

<p>Comment below, <a href="mailto:ipm@bbc.co.uk">email us</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/ipmradio4">tweet</a>.</p>]]>
        
    </content>
</entry>

<entry>
    <title>Should politicians be forced to give yes/no answers?</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2009/10/should_politicians_be_forced_t.shtml" />
    <id>tag:www.bbc.co.uk,2009:/blogs/ipm//96.151718</id>


    <published>2009-10-10T04:52:34Z</published>
    <updated>2009-10-08T18:19:44Z</updated>


    <summary>One of our listeners thinks...er yes, they should. We&apos;re going to ask the three main UK parties to give us a senior figure willing to try just giving yes or no replies. Got a good question for them? Email ipm@bbc.co.uk....</summary>
    <author>
        <name>Eddie Mair</name>
        
    </author>
    
        <category term="All stories in production" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
    
    
    <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/">
        <![CDATA[<p>One of our listeners thinks...er yes, they should.</p>

<p>We're going to ask the three main UK parties to give us a senior figure willing to try just giving yes or no replies.</p>

<p>Got a good question for them? Email ipm@bbc.co.uk.</p>

<p>In the meantime, let's remember what it's like trying NOT to say yes or no...</p>

<p><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/irg29je8G8k&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/irg29je8G8k&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></p>]]>
        
    </content>
</entry>

<entry>
    <title>Long boats and ideas</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2009/10/long_boats_and_ideas.shtml" />
    <id>tag:www.bbc.co.uk,2009:/blogs/ipm//96.151713</id>


    <published>2009-10-10T04:30:38Z</published>
    <updated>2009-10-08T18:20:23Z</updated>


    <summary> Last week, we had a viking expert (not pictured) get in touch about her concerns that important archaeological finds in England and Wales are not being reported. Have a listen. What would you like to hear about next week?...</summary>
    <author>
        <name>Jennifer Tracey</name>
        
    </author>
    
        <category term="Suggest" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category" />
    
    <category term="knowledge" label="knowledge" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
    <category term="suggest" label="suggest" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
    <category term="viking" label="viking" scheme="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#tag" />
    
    <content type="html" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/">
        <![CDATA[<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Share what you know....vikings?" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/viking.jpg" width="600" height="300" class="mt-image-none" style="" /></span></p>

<p>Last week, we had a viking expert (not pictured) get in touch about her concerns that important archaeological finds in England and Wales are not being reported.  <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/ipm/">Have a listen.</a></p>

<p>What would you like to hear about next week? Do you have some expert knowledge and experience? Heard something in the news that needs followed up?</p>

<p>Or send us a single sentence of news about your week.</p>

<p>Comment below, <a href="mailto:ipm@bbc.co.uk">email us </a>or <a href="http://twitter.com/ipmradio4">tweet</a>.</p>]]>
        
    </content>
</entry>

</feed>



 