LEADER

Tree House
We find out that Julian Weatherley, who has been told to demolish his tree house, or perhaps better described as "a shed in a tree", has had a previous run-in with the authorities over planning in the last year.

Only, that time he and other residents were objecting to the new hockey pitch at Burgess Hill School for Girls. The Town Council agreed with their objections and blocked planning permission, which was later overruled by the district council. Mr Weatherley described himself as being "betrayed" by his brothers in arms, as he had been their spokesman in the dispute with the school.

"Tough!" say I. A friend of mine had to give a speech at the Triangle, justifying the school's desire to expand, and she told me that the local residents were so agitated that some had to be removed. So, really, how can he complain when that rabble give him the taste of the same?

Poets Group
Burgess Hill Poets Group is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a poetry anthology entitled "Millennium Celebration." Bit late now, isn't it?

MIDDY

School Raid
Raiders burgled St Wilfred's Primary School in Haywards Heath. There's one of those glorious pictures only a local paper would stage, with children frowning and pointing at an empty cabinet.

Brazenly, the thieves tucked in to biscuits and sweets as they collected their stash. Or that's the cleaner's story, anyway. And what a stash it was: 8 laptops, a DVD player/burner and my favourite a fingerprint scanner. Good! Yes, good! Instead of playing with computers, perhaps children can now chant their times tables or learn to read a book.

The fingerprint scanner was supposed to be used for book lending at the library. Talk about extravagant! What's wrong with library cards or a barcode reader? The thieves aren't very bright. I don't know how they expect to find anybody in a pub looking for a hooky fingerprint scanner.

However, when some teacher tells you that state education isn't very good because of "a lack of resources", tell them about St Wilfred's. Perhaps teachers should try teaching. They will find books and paper are actually quite cheap.

Letters
Sylvia Neumann of the Warren warns "The Government is facing difficult decisions as it seeks to ensure energy supplies for the future...Christmas lights may be a luxury that we can ill afford."

Well, I'm pleased I didn't spend Christmas with her. I really wouldn't want to take my turn peddling, making sure the dynamo was well cranked so she could warm her nut cutlets.

If we can't let go at Christmas, then when? I love people testing the national grid with their over-the-top creations. Ms Neumann says, "I don't like to seem a killjoy." No, you are not like a killjoy, you are a killjoy.