Should auld acquaintance be forgot...

Hello and Happy New Year from all of us at PM...

I won't detain you too long, just a quick word about some of the items we hope to include in the programme this evening:

*** we should get some details about how the NHS is coping this winter
*** there are meetings in Northern Ireland about the ongoing water problems
*** we've another in our series of interviews with Olympic hopefuls
*** a round-up of your correspondence to the programme this week.

The rest, as they say, is a work in progress.

Now, get back to planning what you are going to do tonight.

See you, hopefully, at 5

Carolyn

PM: 6 Geese a-laying Thursday

Hello,

Sorry I'm a bit late with this… we've just been looking through the New Year's Honours list to see if any of us are on there. We aren't. Maybe next time…*

Anyway… a little taster of PM tonight…

Northern Ireland water…we'll have the outcome of the emergency meeting of the Executive at Stormont.

More than ten million people in the UK today can expect to live to see their 100th birthday. Happy about that? And what are the policy implications? I've been asking the Work and Pensions minister Steve Webb.

We've got a hugely moving interview with two people affected by the 7/7 London terror attacks. Jon Manel brought together the man who survived with the severest injuries - Daniel Biddle - and the South African man- Adrian Heili- who saved his life.

Advice from Australia on how to handle coalition government.

And we're hoping a plumber or heating engineer will be able to give us some advice on what to do about frozen pipes. With temperatures likely to plummet again over the next weeks, what should we do to prevent leaks? If we go away should we turn off the water at the mains or should we keep the central heating and hot water on to flow through the pipes? Maybe we'll have the definitive answer by the end of the day…

Joanna Carr is in charge. Just off to buy her a coffee and some chocolates. Every little helps. **

See you at 5.

Carolyn

* I like Baroness Quinn of PM and Lord Mair of Upshares- Ed.
** Other brands of sycophancy are available- Ed.

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PM Newsletter

Hello,

We are operating on caffeine and sugar in the PM office today - those big green triangles of chocolate are particularly crucial to the creative process.

We've got a number of items we're working on - firstly the awful situation in parts of Northern Ireland, where tens of thousands of people are struggling to cope without water. The authorities are warning the situation could continue like that for several more days.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-12088075

We're hoping to speak to a doctor in Newry who is facing the eighth day without water in his home. He says that this is now a public health emergency.

I've just recorded an interview with the Charities Aid Foundation and with the Cabinet Office Minister, Francis Maude, about proposals the Government is putting forward to encourage more charitable giving. People could, for example, give to charity every time they use bank cards in shops or at cash machines. They could also be prompted to give money when they fill in tax returns or apply for passports and driving licences. Are these sensible proposals or a badly-timed move as people prepare to face tough austerity measures including a rise in VAT, job losses and a public sector pay freeze? Would you want to be asked to make a donation every time you withdraw cash?

We'll be reflecting on - and not at all in a gloating way - England's retention of the Ashes. And hearing how former GP Sarah Wollaston is adapting to life as a Conservative MP.

And we'll also catch up with an American family going through the adoption of a three-year-old boy, who was orphaned in the Haiti earthquake at the start of the year.

Join us if you can at 5

Carolyn

PM Newsletter

Hello,

Let me guide you through our PM selection box today. Eddie has entrusted the keys to his special story cupboard which we'll be opening during this period between Christmas and New Year:

I'll be recording an interview later with the Russian charge d'affaires in London who'll be responding to the criticism by the US and Europe of the outcome of the Khodorkovsky trial.

The head of the Roman Catholic church in England and Wales, Archbishop Vincent Nichols, reflects on a difficult year for his Church.

Will you feel more involved in politics now that the government is to allow popular online petitions to be debated in Parliament?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12084525

The Labour MP Stephen Pound, who in 2003 agreed to sponsor a bill suggested by Today programme listeners, gives us his opinion of this latest move.

And... you may not read this newsletter until later if you have been hitting the shops. Maybe you're returning or exchanging some unwanted Christmas gifts? But what do you make of this idea being put up by an online retailer? They've patented a system that would allow people to identify bad gift givers and return their gifts before they are event sent.
Practical move?
A way to prevent wasteful spending on presents the recipient won't like?
Or an example of cold cynicism and materialism, removing the joy that an expected, unrequested gift can bring?

What's the best unexpected gift you've ever received? Anyway,we're hoping to talk about this more on the programme this evening.

And some other things as well - but we are still thinking!

See you at 5

Carolyn

PM Newsletter

Hello

On PM today. As the thaw starts here, snow emergencies have been declared in several eastern US states. We'll have the latest on the disruption caused to transatlantic air travel.

We'll assess what the second guilty verdict in the case of former Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky tells us about the state of his country's democracy and the likely outcome of Russia's next presidential election.

Plus, former England cricket captain Mike Gatting on why an umpire's decision is final; reporter Jon Manel finds out what it takes to reach the top in taekwondo and we'll wonder how Prince William and his bride-to-be will cope without servants?

It's Glenn Campbell in for Eddie - PM's live from 5pm.

Seasonal PM

Hello from PM,

Christmas Eve is here, as you've noticed, but Eddie Mair is not*. PM fights on, with a crack team, and we're sending you best wishes if you've got a break yourself, leaving others safe at work in the office/workplace/empire.

After the Pope gave us a Thought for the Day, we'll discuss the Pope. Did he really shift debate in the UK this year, and what kind of lasting effect has the visit had on pilgrims and critics?

Flu's doing the rounds. Last year, when a pandemic failed to materialise, there were noises off about all those preparations made, and then not needed. But PM is following up warnings that this complacency might lead us to be unprepared. One doctor warns of the pressure on beds in intensive care from accidents linked to the weather, and a rise in recorded flu cases. Whatever we hear on the radio, there will still be some who say: "STOP going on about Swine Flu.!"

It's early in the day yet, and anything could happen to change these plans. You can also be sure we're keeping an eye on the annual travel fiasco, by tradition blamed on once in a generation events.

Here's to you from the team

* Paddy O'Connell

PM Newsletter

Hello,

And Happy Christmas from me to you: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/pm/2010/12/essential_reading_this_christm.shtml

Eddie

Wednesday's PM newsletter

Hello,

Can't decide whether to listen to PM tonight? Get Jeremy Hunt to decide for you!

We'll be talking about the Lib Dems of course, as well as the snow, of course. We've sent a reporter to learn how to drive in the snow. The police have revealed more information about Gareth Williams, the spy whose body was found in a padlocked holdall.

Plus - remember Gillian Duffy? She is the woman whose encounter with Gordon Brown was a feature of the General Election campaign. I've been speaking to her about that event, and how she reflects on it now.

See you at 5,

Eric

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PM Newsletter

Hello,

We'll have more on the weather, of course. Also in the news, a 40-year-old student has admitted murdering three women in Bradford. The Mauritian government is taking legal action against the UK over the creation by the British government of a Marine Protection Area (MPA) around the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean. And we'll be asking Chris Huhne if there's any public subsidy for Vince Cable's nuclear option.

Plus - public libraries at a time of public spending cuts.

See you on the ice at 5,

Zara Muir

PM Newsletter

Hello.

In the programme tonight, we'll talk about the weather. I'm wondering whether you have a cheery travel tale? Did the airline behave superbly? Was the train company magnificent? Drop me an email.

We'll take a look at South Korea's newest military exercise - to be released as a fitness DVD on Boxing Day, I understand. We'll listen in to Michael Gove's latest thinking on school sport.

We'll also take some time in the programme to hear tributes to the BBC's Brian Hanrahan, who has died. We'll listen in to some of his best-known reports too: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/pm/2010/12/brian_hanrahan_1.shtml

Eddie

PM Newsletter

Hello.

Oh the weather outside is frightful,
But the fire is so delightful,
And since we've no place to go,
Why not tune into PM tonight at 5?

We'll talk about the weather, health targets, immigration, reforms in Cuba, Wikileaks, Pakistan and the PM week.

See you at 5.

Eric

Thursday's PM Newsletter

Helloh what a night. Late December back in 63. Http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wD7LNDLKfWY

WARNING: Clicking on the above link will result in a song being stuck in your head all day.

There is some talk of this winter being as bad as 63. I'm wondering whether you have any memory of that winter that you could email us about. PM@bbc.co.uk. Perhaps you're too young to remember, too old to remember or were too busy enjoying the 60s to remember but if you have a snowy tale to tell, do drop me a line.

In the programme tonight, snow, Julian Assange, and news from Afghanistan - including what Germany plans to do there.

See you on the ice and snow at 5

Eric

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Wednesday's PM Newsletter

Hello.

The PM election panel will be on the programme tonight. Don't worry, there's not another election. But we thought it would be fun to hear what Lord Steele, Baroness Prosser and Lord Parkinson make of what's been an eventful year.

We'll hear from someone who witnessed this horror: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11997231

We'll talk about the government's plans for the NHS, and we have an eye on what's happening with the founder of Wikileaks.

Here's something that didn't make it onto the programme last night - http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/pm/2010/12/sometimes_things_dont_make_it.shtml

See you on the ice at 5,

Eric.

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Tuesday's PM Newsletter

Hello,

We have our eye on all things Berlusconi. Inflation is up, Lords are debating tuition fees and the Government has announced it will close the Forensic Science Service.

Those are our plans at this stage in the day.

Eric

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Monday's PM Newsletter

Hello.

Very soon we'll start going through all the entries for the iPM New Year's Honour. Thanks if you took the trouble to nominate. We'll announce the winner in iPM on New Year's Day (at 0545 and 17.30) but will feature nominees well into the New year.

In the programme tonight, more on the bombing in Sweden. We'll hear those details of council budgets which Eric Pickles wasn't giving away on Radio 4's Today, and we'll ask - what is so great about water cannon?

Plus, was X-Factor too raunchy on Saturday? And a "glorious display of shooting stars is set to light up the winter sky today and tomorrow as Earth encounters the Geminid meteors" it says here.

Join me if you can at 5,

Eric Muir

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PM Newsletter

Hello.

In the programme tonight, the aftermath of last night's you know what. We'll listen in to the awarding this lunchtime of the you know what. And we may have an update on the wikiyou know what.

Plus: what's happening with the BNP these days. We might hear again from the Tommy Sheridan trial and of course we'll look back on the week in Previously on PM.

See you on the ice at 5,

Eric Muir

Thursday's PM Newsletter

Hello. It's been a long time. Sorry about that.

I could bore you with the reasons this newsletter hasn't appeared for several days. But my goodness, it's very boring. I am falling asleep just thinking about the reasons. I feel my eyelids becoming heavy, and my head feels like it's going to slump forward onto my keyboard. Bnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbnbn.

Sorry.

The BBC loves a repeat so here are some of the links from the now legendary "missing" newsletters:

This is a sign: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/pm/2010/12/its_a_sign.shtml

This is Damascus as seen by Hugh: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/pm/2010/12/hugh_in_damascus.shtml

This is Beirut as seen by Hugh: : http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/pm/2010/12/hugh_in_beirut.shtml

And here's something brand new: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/pm/2010/12/its_another_sign.shtml#comments

As for tonight's programme, two words: Tuition fees. Repeated throughout the hour. Mmmmmm.

See you on the ice at 5,

Eric

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eddiepm

Hello,

In the programme tonight we'll have more on the judgement of a court in Paris which has said that Continental Airlines was "criminally responsible" for the crash of a Concorde. We'll have our eye on the Wikileaks business and may well report on Ivory Coast.

Also, back in August on the programme we looked at the plan to merge two racially segregated schools in Oldham. What happened next? We'll tell you tonight.

That's all from the newsletter for today.

Eric Muir

Friday's PM Newsletter

Hello from PM,

We're covering the snow, err covering the land. We will have reporters standing in snow, predicting the weekend weather. We'll also check on the current toll on health and wealth. If you've a tale to tell, do email pm@bbc.co.uk. I suspect there will not be much blog action today.*

We hear from the scene as the Aircraft Carrier Ark Royal docks at its home port for the final inbound journey. Its next voyage is to be scrapped. We hope to hear from Israel, where fires are raging and foreign crews are arriving to help. Hugh Sykes will have a separate report with the mother of an Israeli soldier who was killed in action, and who forgives his killer, a sniper who may be traded in a prisoner swap.

There's another effort to alter daylight saving times. This time, there's a Private Member's Bill in Parliament this afternoon, and we expect a verdict by the time PM comes to air. Johnny Marr - of the band The Smiths - is so horrified that the Prime Minister likes their music that he wants to ban him from listening. If you have an in with Mr Marr, (not Andrew, no offence) please get in touch.

We're researching a dispute over the planned sale of a First World War memorial on the auction site eBay. A charity wants it stopped, but as I type, the item is still there for sale.

Parish Notices # 435, Snow News: I'm standing in for Glenn Campbell, who was standing in for Carolyn Quinn, who was standing in for Eddie Mair. Carolyn is instead standing in for Shaun Ley, who stands in for Martha Kearney on Fridays on the World At One.

So do go easy.

Yours, proud to be first choice,

Paddy O'Connell
*I have no blog access, it must be blamed on snow.

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PM newsletter

Hello

I'm writing this on a train back to London. I've been out of the office whizzing by the snowy countryside having recorded an interview you'll be able to hear over the festive season.

Tonight's programme will be mainly football and weather I guess but having missed all the meetings I couldn't tell you for sure.

The news from my train carriage is that a baby has woken up and is crying a bit. The man with the leaky headphones is having a nap and the weather looks a lot more sinister than five minutes ago.

See you on the ice at 5,

Eric.

Wednesday's PM Newsletter

Hello.

And now something we're shamelessly stealing from today's Independent. Can you name ten things you didn't like when you were 25 that you like now? Obviously if you're 25 or under, you don't have to play along. Otherwise feel free to email your list to pm@bbc.co.uk.

You can read Elton John's list here: http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/elton-john-read-my-lists-ndash-and-ill-tell-you-who-i-am-2147823.html

Tonight in the programme, the snow, England's World Cup bid and some more thoughts on those Wikileaks. Michael Buchanan will report from Afghanistan. You can see more here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/pm/2010/12/michael_buchanan_in_afghanista.shtml

See you on the ice and snow at 5,

Eric

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