Oh, Thank you Sir/Madam!

[Mitch]

Pinching an idea from the New Statesman (introduced in the Burnley Voice, Issue 5, 1976, p.3), we want to start/revive (if ok with you all!) a 'Thank you, Sir/Madam' column. The principle is simple enough. Whenever a judge or a councillor or M.P. or anyone in 'authority' gives his/her 'approval' or 'permission' to an activity or action, we all rise from off our grubby knees and in all humility, with due respect, a proper sense of awe and with immense gratititude we say, 'Oh, thank you, Sir/Madam'.

Anyone care to start with an example? They come thick and fast mosts weeks, so please send them in!!.

[michele cryer]

A great idea Mitch...will get me thinking cap on sharp!

[Mitch]

Thank you Pendle Borough Council for our wheelie bins, great hulking things which are a practical nightmare for anyone with mobility issues or problems with lifting heavy things, especially round Nelson where we live in tenement housing with small, slippery alley ways where we have to put these wheelie bins.

Here's what Alice said the in the Nelson Leader this week, Friday 3rd June 2005: p. 13

"They're changing bins at our little palace",

Christopher Robin grumbled to Alice.

"Now I'll ev to wheel rubbish t'front, from t'back yard.

Life for us old folk is getting quite hard",

Sighed Alice.

Thank you sirs/madams - Pendle Borough Council.

[michele cryer]

Here, here...Thank you sirs/madams - Pendle Borough Council...

[Mitch]

Oh thank you, sirs/madams in PUAF, Pendle United Against Fascism for not inviting me to a gathering at some expensive restaurant in Colne the other day.

As you all know in PUAF I am committed to fighting fascism in Burnley and Pendle, but it appears that anyone who makes any challenge to RESPECT or the Socialist Workers Party is not welcome at an anti-fascist gathering.

May I ask sirs/madams whether this was a genuine open gathering, with all welcome who are committed to fighting against fascism, or was it some cliquey recruitment exercise for RESPECT - a bit like your meeting on housing issues in Nelson last year?

Fact is sirs/madams I couldn't afford at the moment to bob to some expensive restaurante anyway.

Also, sirs/madams will you be following up on the foul diatribe by that fascist Dawson in the Nelson leader, who responded to a letter you put in? Just wondered?

Democratic process, my arse.

Oh thank you, sirs/madams.

[michele cryer]

LOL Mitch...just for your info, and the others who didn't receive invites, I DID receive me usual invite, and was gonna go along, after inviting you and the others...unfortunately cash and lack of time/energy was against me...very sad that they didn't give you lot a direct invite tho!