The PM Newsletter.

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• 1. At 12:24pm on 05 Nov 2009, Lady Sue wrote:

  Wow. That looks like fun.

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• 2. At 12:26pm on 05 Nov 2009, jonnie wrote:

  Just the Newsletter?

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• 3. At 12:29pm on 05 Nov 2009, Sid wrote:

  Jack looks well, doesn't he? (Let's draw a discreet veil over Vera.)
  
  

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• 4. At 12:34pm on 05 Nov 2009, Big Sister wrote:

  Wasn't that the sketch where Andy wanted all his belongings burnt?

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• 5. At 12:37pm on 05 Nov 2009, Vyle Hernia wrote:

  Because my email address has just changed, I enrolled under the new name before the old one was superseded, expecting thereby to receive 2 newsletters and to unsubscribe the old one once the new was known to be working properly. Bah, humbug.

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• 6. At 12:47pm on 05 Nov 2009, Fearless Fred wrote:

  PM Newsletter: "The Computer says no..."

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• 7. At 12:48pm on 05 Nov 2009, Big Sister wrote:

  Burn the computer, Fred?

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• 8. At 12:54pm on 05 Nov 2009, jonnie wrote:

  Ah here it is : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lh6cD92N3bM

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• 9. At 12:59pm on 05 Nov 2009, jonnie wrote:

  The evil Pole ;-) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9jEvjBhqJc

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• 10. At 1:02pm on 05 Nov 2009, steelpulse wrote:

  Little Britain? Ah thank you. I rejected response to something today left for me in the bookmakers but those two word speak to my pain. I toyed with the idea to respond - "No parents and no parenthesis" and lyrics to a particular David Bowie song (other singers are available) but a USA phrase seemed apt to use to not "Simply The best" allegedly but "simples!" The phrase? "Shooting fish in a barrel" it was so easy - to respond I mean but why bother?
  Good for starting fires though said issue of newspaper and I mean BONFIRES.
  I simply wondered is this sort of without apology headline not frowned on by who ever runs press complaint bodies?

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• 11. At 1:34pm on 05 Nov 2009, TheWildOracle wrote:

  Bonfires and fireworks may warm the hands and look spectacular, but what cost to the environment.
  Has anyone calculated the emissions from all of the bonfires and fireworks?
  What about harnessing the energy to power essentials like hospitals and schools?
  The other problem is the effect on wildlife. Look at the reaction of domestic pets who have caring and considerate humans to look after them.
  It must be time to ban the public sale of fireworks and restrict access to licensed organised events.
  The licence fees may help to pay off the national debt.

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• 12. At 2:14pm on 05 Nov 2009, funnyJoedunn wrote:

  The blog format was all weird. Then I signed in and it came normal...eh!

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• 13. At 2:44pm on 05 Nov 2009, Frances O wrote:

  Sid, you got there before me. But was it really only yesterday?

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• 14. At 11:40pm on 05 Nov 2009, Captain wrote:

  I heard a gentleman on PM tonight stating that people in Britain are currently spending more on celebrating Hallowe'en than Bonfire night.
  
  Apparently many people don't know the history of Bonfire night and this accounts for part of the demise of the old custom of begging for a penny for the guy. The speaker then went on to explain a little of the history, and explain how since he was a baptised Catholic he refused to offer money to a bemused boy asking him for a penny.
  
  I was not surprised about the lack of history knowledge. This is a source of fury for me particularly in the winter months as we approach Christmas.
  
  It annoys me intensely that the supermarkets furnish their seasonal aisles like clockwork - School equipment in June, Hallowe'en festivities in September - to be removed on the afternoon of Oct 31 and replaced immediately with unashamed Christmas presentations, removed on Dec 24th with promises of sales, then Valentine's day in on January 5, followed by Easter on Feb 15th.
  
  I believe that this is how most people mark their annual calenders, and where is any mention of any historical significance with any of it? What advert urging us to spend on trivia in November mentions anything about the event being a celebration of Jesus' birth? How many children know that they eat Easter eggs to mark the gruesome torture and subsequent death of Jesus at the hands of the Romans and the message of hope he left for mankind?
  
  This amounts to one of the most depressing times of the year as greed and avarice seem to be celebrated in abundance and this is the tradition many people relish, now far divorced from any memory of whet it is really about.
  
  Even the speaker let himself down, though. He seemed unconvinced about the origins of Hallowe'en as a Celtic festival.
  
  Originally Samhain, a Celtic celebration of revered ancestors at a time when it was believed that the gates of the otherworld were unlocked, came at the end of summer. When this country was 'Christianised', this was fixed to a date; 1 Nov, and renamed All Souls/Saints/Hallows day, whose eve comes the day before; All Hallow's Eve (Evening) and shortened to Hallowe'en (Holy evening).
  
  Celebrations and festivities like this have always been designed to pass the traditions on to the young so they continue, the sweets and games keep them interested, but where is the passing on of knowledge any more? How many adults know this themselves?
  
  Surely we have to keep on educating the children? If you buy them Easter eggs, tell them why. If you participate in Christmas, at least think about God and Jesus' messages to the world. His name is in the festival for goodness' sake!
  
  People who do Christmas and say they aren't religious are hypocrites.
  
  As a teacher, I have worked with hundreds of children who have said that they don't believe in God or Jesus but gaily go on to participate in Christmas celebrations and try to out-do each other with the most expensive presents. And the fact that it affects all our traditional celebrations in this so called Christian country now never fails to sadden me.
  
  I fear there is little hope.
  
  
  

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• 15. At 00:09am on 06 Nov 2009, lucien_desgai wrote:

  You needn't worry, Captain, this isn't a christian country. We are a multi-cultural society where fewer than 10% of the population attend regular christian worship.
  I hope that makes you fear a little less.

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• 16. At 09:35am on 06 Nov 2009, Gillianian wrote:

  Captain (14) I've always thought the festivals came before Christians re-named them.
  Some of us prefer to carry on as before!

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• 17. At 10:02am on 06 Nov 2009, Big Sister wrote:

  So, Gillianian, did you enjoy Samhain this year? ;)

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• 18. At 10:55am on 06 Nov 2009, idontcareanymore wrote:

  "People who do Christmas and say they aren't religious are hypocrites." (Captain@14)
  
  What about atheists who get married in church?

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