Contrary
to the messages I know many froggers are getting, people are most certainly 'allowed' to post comments and we're not trying to shut you out!
Archives for January 2007
When froggers go on holiday
they keep in touch - which we love.
Jonnie says: "This photo was taken last Wednesday at the Elephant Orphanage in Sri Lanka called Pinnawela. There are around 76 Elephants at the Orphanage and they are taken twice a day to bathe from the river Maha Oya that runs by the Orphanage. You can see two very young ones if you look closely. Tried to send this last Thursday but the one dial-up computer refused to cooperate."
Certainly it knocks Chris' efforts outside our office window into a cocked hat...
Supercasino: It's Manchester.
What do YOU think?
STRAPLINES!
Come on! We need new ones. We still get a regular supply from some people (you know who you are) and we'll use them...but we need more. In case you don't know what we're on about, straplines are the comments at the top of the Blog page - today's is from Fifi - "When we break the news, it stays broken."
Just email them please to pm@bbc.co.uk and they'll go in our file and will appear like clockwork. You know. Like everything happens round here!
Should I start a discussion on gambling? The big supercasino decision is imminent. If there's demand, I'll start a page - or if you prefer, pull up a stool at The Furrowed Brow.
It's been funny
reading some of the emails in recent weeks about the "mystery" voices who give us the phone number and blog details. A few people have sussed there is no "mystery". Who can be first to accurately name them all? There will be a prize....
Our friends who moderate the blog
tell us the moderators had technical problems at the weekend which caused them to fall significantly behind with some comments taking 20 hours to clear. The system, whilst a bit slow, seems to have corrected itself.
So again, our apologies - the moderators work very hard but sometimes the system fails - hopefully things will improve shortly. And watch this space for news of more substantial improvements soon.
For reasons
I am working to establish - the blog has been a pretty dreary place for froggers of late. I apologise. We're trying to identify the problem and fix it. Postings go astray (I wrote one myself on The Beach early this morning and it hasn't appeared either) and there are huge time lapses.
None of this is helped having woken shortly after midnight and couldn't get back to sleep. Rather tired and grumpy now. Any good cures for pointlessly lying awake? Do you get up and do something? If you have any faith left in us - let me know. Will also try to find some fun audio to post to cheer us all up.
The Beach
What is the Beach?
It’s a place to go when the stresses of your real life need relieving. Sometimes it is fairly quiet and you might feel like you’re the only one around, but you can leave your ‘footprints’ for others to find later on. Othertimes it is the home for a real party, with constant gossip, leg-pulling, rumour, innuendo, chit-chat and weirdness. If this were a forum (and it sort of is because we post responses to each other, not just to Eddie, hence our term for ourselves 'Froggers', a combination of forum and blogger) then the beach would be the off-topic area.
It's a tropical location, no matter the time of year it's always warm and pleasant there. Sunrises and sunsets are spectacular, the evenings balmy. It has a number of different locations; the Nick Clarke waterfront bar; the smokers corner; Fido's Run for the dog-walkers; the Naughty Step and many others.
How do you find your way around? There is no direct answer to the question. The beach is a moveable feast, literally. It will be renewed by our Lord and master Mr. Edward de Mair each Sunday morning. This is because we have found in the past that when the number of posts exceeds about 600 the entire thing becomes unwieldy and unstable. A case of the beach turning to quicksand.
Froggers often leave bottles / glasses / trays of their favourite tipple on the bar for others to sample, not to mention big / small eats.
There is a herd of camels who frequent the sands, which froggers are very fond of. There are sun-loungers, so you can take it easy and catch some rays. Quite often the late-night attendees will have a barbie.
It's a fun place, with only one real rule; Be nice to each other; we are ALL chums here. New Froggers are ALWAYS welcome.
The real debate happens on the other threads. The beach is a place for banter, whimsy, relaxation and friendship, where jarring comments are not particularly welcome. There are certain very mild protocols, which you tend to pick up as you go along. So slip your shoes off, feel the sand between your toes, relax and enjoy yourself.
Schools music
the link promised on the programme tonight is here
Fantastic News!
PM's just been emailed this. I think we're all billionaires! Fantastic!
"We Happily announce to you of our Visa Credit Card Bonus Winning Prize for this year 2007. Luckily your Email appears to be one of the 7 Lucky Winners, with the following Numbers:
Winning Number: 90038.
Play Number: 777V-S-S.
Registered Code: AX-0033V-L-3181-C-C
Notification Number 1100VC, KXQ
You are advised to Contact our Approved Claims Department citing your Winning Number, Play Number and Registered Code for Validation.
Contact Person: Mr. Reynold Hunter
Email Address: reyn_hunter@winning.com
Telephone Number: +44 (0) 701 113 3698
Fax Number: +44 (0) 709 288 3345
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Yours' Sincerely,
Mrs.Angelina Ashton,"
An otherwise uneventful day yesterday
was enlivened by CBeebies' Sarah-Jane appearing outside our window dressed as a baby with an exceptionally large nappy. Chris Jarvis is seen on the right.
The Furrowed Brow
A comfy place for serious talk on serious subjects - YOU choose...
Should we change our clocks?
what's wrong with the ones you've got?
Windows on Your World update
As advertised, it is now too late to send your picture. We are currently collating all those that we received with a view to finalising the display by the end of January. Then we'll work on posting those that fell through the gaps!
Thank you for sending. There'll be more on-air material on Windows coming soon.
If anyone knows the listener
who called in last night to the ±«Óãtv Listener Log to say:
"A guest was telling everyone listening about the components of a bomb and this was a bad example as potential terrorists might use this information."
could you pass on their details to me? I want to take away their radio. And the foil on their head.
Loveliest sound?
What is it? (and to inspire you is the link to the worst sounds again!)
The worst sound in the world...
what is it? Tonight we'll talk to a chap who's been searching for it. He's compiled a list .
After the programme, we'll look for the loveliest sound.
Tonight's programme, like so many others today, will come live
from the World Economic Forum in Davros. I will be reporting from inside the leader of the Daleks, firing rasping questions at Gordon Brown about poverty, while waving my withered hand at him. He will smile, winningly.
In the meantime, if you have a photograph of the weather near you, please send it to someone who cares.
I'd like a photo, please, of your treasured memories of Switzerland.
Oscar fever
has swept the PM office.
Moments after he learned of his nomination as Best Director (for The Queen), I grabbed a word with Stephen Frears. I wouldn't normally name drop like this (unlike my very very very good friend Nelson Mandela) but Mr Frears, as he was told it was an interview for PM said "Oh - I listen to that".
So we are now officially backing him and all the other nominees from the film for the Oscars.
Does anyone know how we can influence the judges (short of bribery, obviously)?
Lissa - former PM blogmeister
has moved house, and sends us this snap of Eccles Pike of Chinley on Sunday afternoon. It's been snowing.
The PM newsletter - posted here because it may never reach you.
Lord Coe is on the television wearing a hard hat. It's that sort of day.
Here in the PM office we are all sick. That's right, it's our annual bout of Oscar fever. Most of tonight's programme will be dedicated to the Oscar nominations, which are seen by industry insiders as a guide to who might win an Oscar. Wall to wall coverage, with reaction to the noms from LA, London and Basra.
We're trying to get a member of the Channel 4 board to talk to us. I won't be talking to them - I talk to the bored every night. We'll be back on a certain beach, and we've a report on free newspapers - one council is rather unhappy with them.
All that plus your chance to adopt a child - in PM, at 5.
I'm excited to announce
that tonight's programme will, for the first time, be broadcast in HD. This is a thrilling development, which will greatly enhance your enjoyment of the programme.
You shouldn't need any new equipment, but for extra clarity, our engineers recommend you clean any nearby windows. Spraying an air freshener near (but not at) your radio half an hour or so before transmission will also improve the quality.
The change means that I will have to wear even more make up - such is the clarity of the broadcast. It also means political bullsh*t will be all the more apparent.
There are people who say radio should stay out of HD but not us. It's the future.
Well, as the sun sets slowly
behind the clouds...I can exclusively reveal that the newsletter was sent before noon, and has clearly been diverted. Too late, of course, as it's time to put the bucket under the cow.
But as a consolation - here's the newsletter what I wrote (copyright E. Wise)
"Hello,
In the programme tonight - should everyone at Channel 4 be hanged? And then - should the hanging be filmed? We'll debate whether the corpses of executives should be used as puppets in a sick new version of the Muppets. And then whether the corpses should be hanged again.
Also: goodies galore on a Devon beach. The police ombudsman for Northern Ireland is holding a news conference right now - we'll have more on that. We've reports from India and New Orleans, and possibly something about tax.
See you on the ice at 5,
Eric Duncan"
The highlight of my week
and possibly my year is a recording I now have of Fenella Fielding, saying: "Eddie - time to put the bucket under the cow".
I have Paddy and his team to thank for this. If I get a moment later, I will explain why it matters*.
I am collating - because I am going through my own customer service nightmare - YOUR worst customer service story. You know, when things go wrong and a company has the chance to sort it, but then makes things worse? Only if you can be bothered. No pressure. And please, don't mention the non-functioning newsletter. THAT would be cruel.
*it doesn't really.
The Beach
What is the Beach?
It’s a place to go when the stresses of your real life need relieving. Sometimes it is fairly quiet and you might feel like you’re the only one around, but you can leave your ‘footprints’ for others to find later on. Othertimes it is the home for a real party, with constant gossip, leg-pulling, rumour, innuendo, chit-chat and weirdness. If this were a forum (and it sort of is because we post responses to each other, not just to Eddie, hence our term for ourselves 'Froggers', a combination of forum and blogger) then the beach would be the off-topic area.
It's a tropical location, no matter the time of year it's always warm and pleasant there. Sunrises and sunsets are spectacular, the evenings balmy. It has a number of different locations; the Nick Clarke waterfront bar; the smokers corner; Fido's Run for the dog-walkers; the Naughty Step and many others.
How do you find your way around? There is no direct answer to the question. The beach is a moveable feast, literally. It will be renewed by our Lord and master Mr. Edward de Mair each Monday morning. This is because we have found in the past that when the number of posts exceeds about 600 the entire thing becomes unwieldy and unstable. A case of the beach turning to quicksand.
Froggers often leave bottles / glasses / trays of their favourite tipple on the bar for others to sample, not to mention big / small eats.
There is a herd of camels who frequent the sands, which froggers are very fond of. There are sun-loungers, so you can take it easy and catch some rays. Quite often the late-night attendees will have a barbie.
It's a fun place, with only one real rule; Be nice to each other; we are ALL chums here. New Froggers are ALWAYS welcome.
The real debate happens on the other threads. The beach is a place for banter, whimsy, relaxation and friendship, where jarring comments are not particularly welcome. There are certain very mild protocols, which you tend to pick up as you go along. So slip your shoes off, feel the sand between your toes, relax and enjoy yourself.
The Furrowed Brow
is open for business 24 hours a day. The venue for serious talk on serious issues. And Big Brother...
And so we say
goodbye to Lissa. Her leaving do last night marked the end of her time with us. She worked on PM during the day, especially on the opening headline sequence (fretting that her Jowell was too long) and then we retired to a place not far from work. I did take two photos of her on my phone. One is of her grinning like a maniac, and the other she's threatening to sue over. I wasn't there long - and she promised not to be on account of the removal men coming at 0800 this morning.
She feels a bit cut off as her broadband was removed a week ago, but I think we can safely say she will be around once she's reconnected. She left a special place in her leaving speech for the froggers.
We've just tried to send the PM newsletter
because we're nothing if not optimistic people. In the hugely unlikely event that it doesn't arrive (see laughter on previous postings) here's what it says.
Day five without a newsletter in the PM house.
We're all shouting at each other. There's a huge amount of yelling. And it's all over a stock cube. Or the licence fee settlement. I don't know. As is so often the case, I forgot what caused the original argument.
The newsletter is bgrd. The blog was bgrd yesterday but thankfully the ±«Óãtv is not taking millions from Radio 4 to pour into new media.
Where was I? Yes stock cubes. Well, they're wet in this weather. We'll do something on Iraq, the July 21st trial and stock cubes. There'll be something on young Olympians too.
By the way, in the unlikely event that this reaches you before the ±«Óãtv is shut down, please let us know if you have a view about the Licence Fee deal just announced by Mrs Jowell: " The ±«Óãtv licence fee will rise by 3% to £135.50 from April under a six-year funding deal announced by the Government today. Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said the settlement would allow 3% increases for the first two years, 2% in the next three and up to 2% in year six. The licence will rise from its current level of £131.50 to up to £151.50 in 2012, she told Mps."
What, in your view, should the ±«Óãtv cut?
Eric Shetty
Ironically,
there are problems posting comments to the post below which is in itself an apology for not being able to send a newsletter.
I'm trying to look on the funny side (although many people think I already do).
HahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaHahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Problems.
Sorry to report more of them. I'm having trouble adding comments to the posting below - and I know others are. Sorry. We've reported it.
Windows on Your World
Blogmeister Marc tells me MORE Windows on Your World pictures have been added to the last gallery. A reminder that we need them ALL in by Jan 24. Or I may have said 25. I can't remember. Certainly we can't do anything after Burns' Night, on account of being hungover for a week. We aim to get them all posted by the end of the month. THEN we'll deal with the people we've let down.
Talking of which, the newsletter, which returned for a triumphant day, remains broken. Negotiations are underway.
In the absence of the facility to send subscribers an email - here's what we're planning for tonight.
1: Should a TV show which thrives on publicity keep getting it?
2: Should politicians really get upset about a TV show that needs publicity?
3: Do politicians need publicity?
4: Should Channel 4 be shut down?
5: Should everyone at Channel 4 be put down?
6: Should anyone be surprised that viewing figures for the hugely controversial and shocking show are up by about a million?
7: Should we be doing more on this?
8: No, really?
9: Is there anything else going on in the world?
10: (time permitting) ±«Óãtv Office disarray, people on trial for conspiracy to murder, German attempts to make Holocaust denial an EU-wide offence, snow being airlifted to the alps, people fleeing Lebanon, Israeli politics in flux, and an increase in treasure. Oh and something about Big Brother. And perhaps about how the comment link doesn't work.
Well of course the newsletter
didn't arrive yesterday. I think we tried to send it about five times - which almost inevitably means that they will all arrive in your inbox on Saturday week at 03.30. Tired of hearing me apologise for our incompetence? Fed up that we don't do what we promise? You and me both brother (or sister, because it's nobody's fault you can't have babies, not even the Romans).
I'm going to need a LOT more coffee to get through today. Howabout you?
This is nothing to do with anything really
but your new blogmeister, Marc with a c, was having a partee at his lovely home yesterday, to celebrate his birthday. I wouldn't normally mention this kind of thing, but in the space of one minute I met two couples there who both met each other through speed dating. I had never met anyone who'd successfully speed dated then four came along at once.
This greatly annoyed someone else there. She's been looking for the ideal man through internet dating but says they're all drips.
The Beach
Emboldened by the rare sunshine, my mind turned to the beach - and Simon's nifty new intro. If you're puzzled by "The Beach"...read on..
What is the Beach?
It’s a place to go when the stresses of your real life need relieving. Sometimes it is fairly quiet and you might feel like you’re the only one around, but you can leave your ‘footprints’ for others to find later on. Othertimes it is the home for a real party, with constant gossip, leg-pulling, rumour, innuendo, chit-chat and weirdness. If this were a forum (and it sort of is because we post responses to each other, not just to Eddie, hence our term for ourselves 'Froggers', a combination of forum and blogger) then the beach would be the off-topic area.
It's a tropical location, no matter the time of year it's always warm and pleasant there. Sunrises and sunsets are spectacular, the evenings balmy. It has a number of different locations; the Nick Clarke waterfront bar; the smokers corner; Fido's Run for the dog-walkers; the Naughty Step and many others.
How do you find your way around? There is no direct answer to the question. The beach is a moveable feast, literally. It will be renewed by our Lord and master Mr. Edward de Mair each Monday morning. This is because we have found in the past that when the number of posts exceeds about 600 the entire thing becomes unwieldy and unstable. A case of the beach turning to quicksand.
Froggers often leave bottles / glasses / trays of their favourite tipple on the bar for others to sample, not to mention big / small eats.
There is a herd of camels who frequent the sands, which froggers are very fond of. There are sun-loungers, so you can take it easy and catch some rays. Quite often the late-night attendees will have a barbie.
It's a fun place, with only one real rule; Be nice to each other; we are ALL chums here. New Froggers are ALWAYS welcome.
The real debate happens on the other threads. The beach is a place for banter, whimsy, relaxation and friendship, where jarring comments are not particularly welcome. There are certain very mild protocols, which you tend to pick up as you go along. So slip your shoes off, feel the sand between your toes, relax and enjoy yourself.
The Furrowed Brow.
Now open for serious talk....:o)
Windows on Your World
is coming to a close. We need your photo by January 24th at the latest! As it is, we've received so many, the ±«Óãtv has run out of storage space (true!) So the remaining photos are being stored .
Oh and gallery 33 has been fixed!
The new Bush plan for Iraq
what do you think - and what did you think of the defence secretary's thoughts?
Tomorrow, Marc
takes over from Lissa (who incidentally is "number 2" on tonight's PM. She is sitting opposite me. I'm going to miss her, unless my aim improves) anyway where was I? Oh yes, Marc is having a brief break in France before he starts Blogging duties. He's just sent this photo which clearly indicates he is thinking of you.
EXCLUSIVE BLOG NEWSLETTER NEWS!
We have sent one today - in the last five minutes - and think it might get to you. Watch your inbox! (WARNING: NEWSLETTER CONTAINS THE WORD "BLOODY")
Broken links
No idea how to fix them, but sometimes me just adding another entry frees up the comment link on the previous entry. If there's an R in the month.
Normally
on the programme I write my own introductions. When you hear a rubbish one - it's mine. This is less possible with news that breaks while we're on the air - such as last night with the police story about the files on people convicted abroad sitting around on desks at the ±«Óãtv Office.
madmary obeserved on the "Paddy and I" thread:
"That was very funny Eddie. What made it funnier was that I was listening whilst you were struggling with summarising the problems of the police data base. I trust you've saved that snippet for another day."
Well - maybe this will help explain. It was one of those introductions I hadn't written, and, because of a large number of "live" items, I hadn't had a chance to read beforehand. So these are the words in the introduction, which I was seeing for the first time as I broadcast:
"More on the revelation that more than 500 criminals convicted abroad was left sitting in desk files in the ±«Óãtv Office and not processed. "
The ±«Óãtv. It's what we do.
TWENTY THOUSAND BLOG COMMENTS
passed at 16.09. This is also my 300th posting. And a good time to thank you once again and ask for more STRAPLINE ideas!
Trebles all round...
Today could be the day...
...that this Blog explodes through the 20,000 comment mark! Thanks to our regular contributors - and the occasional ones too - we're at 19,867 as I write.
Congratulations!
Ten days ago, Paddy and I
sat down to record his trail for the end of PM. Traditionally his Friday trail for Broadcasting House is live, but on that last Friday of 2006, he had to record it. As you'll hear, it's best to do it live, no?
WINDOW ON YOUR WORLD DEADLINE
In order to sort everything out, please make sure you send in your Window on Your World picture (from December 5th) by January 24th. By the end of January we hope to have them all posted.
Please don't send duplicates of photos you've sent but not seen - it only causes confusion (and we've caused enough of our own thank you very much!)
Ruth Kelly
Your thoughts?
Fifi
emails with this (I rather like the idea...we could call it The Furrowed Brow or something. If you have a view, or additional ideas, you know what to do.
(No, I really did mean post a comment)
"Hello Eddie, and the rest of the PM team.
Back in December, before Christmas really kicked in, a few of us were kicking around an idea for the blog. How does this sound to you?
Many of us love the Beach - you can relax and chill out there. But it's not the place for heavy duty debate.
The daily thread often (but not always) suggests a serious topic around which we flock. But you choose it, and some of us feel constrained not to stray too far onto other subjects.
What about an equivalent thread to the Beach ... say, a club/pub/library sort of indoorsy place ... where the serious thinkers can thrash out any topic they like?
... you could go there for inspiration, before the 11am meeting, to see if there's a suggestion for a less-than-obvious news story.
... there would be less chance of we froggers missing a really good knockabout debate, having got lost in too-many serious threads elsewhere.
... the purely frivolous froggers (and anyone having a bad day!) would know to avoid it, because it's not going to suit them.
We the froggers would take care of the decor, house rules, smoking/nosmoking areas, catering, environmentally friendly heating etc. Trolls would be as ruthlessly ignored there as on the Beach.
And you the ±«Óãtv would have created an online venue for serious thinking -- surely a Public Service Broadcasting point or two to be scored at least! -- which would have grown organically out of actual practice by a well-developed community of listeners.
Could we? Could we? Hmmmm? Please?"
What do you reckon?
Regular frogger Roberto (Alvarez-Galloso) emails to say: "You cannot have a beach without the palm trees."
Should I attach this to the Beach every week?
The Beach
Welcome to the Beach. For new visitors, here’s a quick guide provided for Molly by Simon Worrall.
Sometimes it is fairly quiet, but you can leave your footprints for others to find later on. Othertimes it is the home for a real party, with constant gossip, rumour, innuendo, chit-chat and so on.
There is no direct answer to your question about finding your way. The beach is a moveable feast, literally. It will be renewed by our Lord and master Mr. Edward de Mair each Monday morning. This is because we have found in the past that when the number of posts exceeds about 600 the entire thing becomes unwieldy and unstable.
If this were a forum (and it sort of is because we post responses to each other, not just to Eddie, hence our term for ourselves 'Froggers', a combination of forum and blogger) then the beach would be the off-topic area.
It's a tropical location, no matter the time of year it's always warm and pleasant there. Sunrises and sunsets are spectacular and the evenings are balmy. It has a number of different locations; the Nick Clarke waterfront bar; the smokers corner; Fido's Run for the dog-walkers; and others.
Froggers often leave bottles / glasses of their favourite tipple on the bar for others to sample, not to mention big / small eats. For example last Thursday I left a bottle of Talisker and some crudites there, which were well received in some quarters.
There is a herd of camels who frequent the sands, which froggers are very fond of. Lately a bunch of reindeer have showed up from who-knows-where. There are sun-loungers, so you can take it easy and catch some rays. Quite often the late-night attendees will have a barbie.
It's a fun place, with only one real rule; Be nice to each other. To answer another point you raise; we are ALL chums here.
The real debate happens on the other threads. The beach is a place for banter, whimsy, relaxation and friendship, where jarring comments are not particularly welcome. There are certain very mild protocols, which you tend to pick up as you go along. So slip your shoes off, feel the sand between your toes, relax and enjoy.
And by the way, if you are interested the froggers have also created their own site at https://www.pmblog.co.uk/ .
A lot of people have been asking me
when I intend to make my views clear on the hanging of Saddam. To avoid confusion, it will be three weeks on Thursday.
It is with deep and profound regret that I post the following.
Dear Froggers,
Mr Knibbs is tired of London life so we're moving to the country which means that with great sadness I have to hand in my notice as PM's Blog Editor. I'd be grateful if you could suggest a suitable alias for me to blog/frog under from my country cottage in Derbyshire.
Thanks for making the PM blog launch such a success.
Lissa, PM Blog Editor
Eddie writes: an announcement about who will take over Lissa's job will appear soon. Thank you Lissa for YOUR role in making the PM blog launch such a success.
Little Chef
Miss it, or loathe it?
This blog
was never intended to replace the emailed newsletter, but since, patently, the ±«Óãtv cannot manage to send emailed newsletters, it's going to have to - for now at least. Thanks if you took the trouble to send an email alerting us to when yours arrived. Midnight was quite popular.
People are very good-natured about it, but we really should be doing it properly or not at all. So for now - until someone with letters after their name assures me it's going to work - we won't bother. I apologise.
The programme tonight will touch once again on the hanging of Saddam. Tony Blair's spokesman has just said something about it - but not what some people wanted to hear. We've our eye on the young Brit who's about to successfully sail the Atlantic on his own. Nils Blythe is heading to a Little Chef (when did you last eat in one?) and we'll talk about pantomimes. Why not? We appear in one every night.
WINDOWS ON YOUR WORLD
galleries posted on the right - numbered one to forty. There ARE still photos to be posted...but we're almost there with those we've received...
Coming soon: a total of 40 WINDOW ON YOUR WORLD galleries
...with more to come. When the 40 are posted (including the missing links to some existing galleries) we'll have posted more than 3,300 photos. Look for the links on the right hand side of this page...SOON!
The Saddam video
Do you want to watch it? Will you avoid it? Have you seen it?
On the programme tonight - live debate. Feel free to add your view below. One of our guests, by the way, is from .
NEW year - NEW Windows On Your World!
Here is gallery 36
37, 38, and there are three more here, here and here.
Once the Festive Season is over (though it already is for some of us...) we will sort the various broken links, and organise the gallery numbers so they make sense. But the galleries above are now available so I thought you'd want to see them as soon as possible. Happy New Year! On that point, since the weather meant the new year wasn't welcomed in in some parts of the UK - will the New Year feel snubbed and angry?
The New Year 2007 Beach
Welcome to the New Year beach. For new New Year visitors, here’s a quick guide provided for Molly by Simon Worrall.
Sometimes it is fairly quiet, but you can leave your footprints for others to find later on. Othertimes it is the home for a real New Year party, with constant gossip, rumour, innuendo, chit-chat and so on.
There is no direct answer to your question about finding your way. The beach is a moveable feast, literally. It will be renewed by our Lord and master Mr. Edward de Mair each Monday morning. This is because we have found in the past that when the number of posts exceeds about 600 the entire thing becomes unwieldy and unstable.
If this were a forum (and it sort of is because we post responses to each other, not just to Eddie, hence our term for ourselves 'Froggers', a combination of forum and blogger) then the beach would be the off-topic area. It's a tropical location, no matter the time of year it's always warm and pleasant there. Sunrises and sunsets are spectacular and the evenings are balmy. It has a number of different locations; the Nick Clarke waterfront bar; the smokers corner; Fido's Run for the dog-walkers; and others.
Froggers often leave bottles / glasses of their favourite tipple on the bar for others to sample, not to mention big / small eats. For example last Thursday I left a bottle of Talisker and some crudites there, which were well received in some quarters.
There is a herd of camels who frequent the sands, which froggers are very fond of. Lately a bunch of reindeer have showed up from who-knows-where. There are sun-loungers, so you can take it easy and catch some rays. Quite often the late-night attendees will have a barbie.
It's a fun place, with only one real rule; Be nice to each other. To answer another point you raise; we are ALL chums here.
The real debate happens on the other threads. The beach is a place for banter, whimsy, relaxation and friendship, where jarring comments are not particularly welcome. There are certain very mild protocols, which you tend to pick up as you go along. So slip your shoes off, feel the sand between your toes, relax and enjoy the New Year.
And by the way, if you are interested the froggers have also created their own site at https://www.pmblog.co.uk/ .
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