Yes, that's why I asked how it got to the attention of the newspaper.  I don't know how the press get to find out these things.

Obviously, she must have told them.

One of her outraged, tabloid-reading friends or family probably.  I bet they've wound her up and then introduced her to Sun Reporter Avec Chequebook.

Well in that case, that was my original objection.  When you're in a grieving state, you don't go running to the press.

I think what he did was nice and to be pilloried over it seems harsh, especially when he is the first PM to do this and with his sight difficulties as well, but as usual the Scum  has to find things to have a go at him about.

As for the soldiers mum, it was horrible the way he died and we should not be there, but that's another thread, to publicise it seems wrong to me.

Actually, the Sun has included exactly one of those sort of photos in its article:

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/ho...-our-name-right.html

At least the poor woman knows the reason why her son was out in Afghanistan: "He was so proud to be serving his country and making life better for the people of Afghanistan." rather than the numpties over the weekend who think they're out there fighting for and protecting our freedoms.

If you were from Berlin, you'd say:  Ich komme aus Berlin. That wouldn't have sounded quite as dramatic, although most people had a laugh about the wording anyway.

After the fun poked at Kennedy at the time and over the years, I would hope even Gordon made an effort to avoid the phrase, technically correct or not. 

Birmingham Christmas Fair has some lovely berliners for sale every year.  Mmm.  And those chocolate covered flavoured marshmallow things on a biscuit base. 

What's more, according to the scum, he committed the heinous crime of missing dots off his "i"s.

I agree with those who think his gesture was well meant, and wonder why the woman felt it necessary to go to the newspaper about it.

They used to be called something extremely un pc. Fortunately that was in the dark ages and all rectified now.

Well if he and his war criminal predecessor hadn't sent our troops into unwinnable situations, then this offensive letter would not have happened.


That said if taken in isolation, should not matter so much, apparently the slime mandleson has taken umbridge at the sun for "forcing" the pm to apologise, that in itself is a total disgrace.


Whilst I feel for the Janes family, I cannot help myself at laughing at GB yet again showing what a total and utter idiot he is.

Has anyone mentioned there was no stamp? 

  I dread to think.

Ikea sell something a bit similar.  Called a cocosball I think.

The Christmas fair ones are 50p a go and very sickly but nice.

Mmm, schaumkuss.

Oh, I've found the name you're referring to. 

Aye me too.

I don't like tunnocks so not sure I'd like them.  We used to get the kids a gingerbread house from the German Market every xmas...until we realised it was only us eating it and they didn't touch it

They sell those in Ikea at this time of year too!  God, I love Ikea!  I used to love it more when they sold dill flavoured crisps like you get everywhere in Stockholm, but hey ho.

The meatballs are lush...we've bought the kids a daim cake for after xmas dinner

Lidl sell them in small sizes, much nicer, the big ones are a bit too sweet.

I always get my stollen from Lidl, I've seen them in TK Maxx way more expensive but the Lidl one is nice, not sure if it's worth the extra fork out.

This thread is now totally derailed

 I was going to say that as well. Anyway, Lidl is great for these things, no point paying more, they're good quality. Mind you, I still make my own, I've made a rod for my back because I give them as presents to some friends.

I want a gingerbread house

The German Market in Sunderland Saz, I'm sure I've seen them at Dalton Park too.

Mind you the market was rubbish last year, just a few wooden sheds...it used to be nicer.  And I have no idea why a few of them sell Chinese ornaments and gifts.

The Sun's own website contains a filmed interview with the mother, which appears to be the source of the story. It therefore looks like the mother (or at least the family) approached the press.


Although I understand it would be upsetting for her to have her son's name given incorrectly, and while I would join the chorus suggesting that Brown sacks his PA for not spotting the mistake: the lad's name was Jamie Janes. it doesn't take much to realize the scope for error there, and  I absolutely refuse to believe that Gordon Brown is the first person ever to get it wrong...


The final irony is that amongst all the errors in the letter that the mother points out on the video (and it's interesting that she doesn't draw attention to the occasions where Gordon gets Jamie's name correct), she happens to mention that Jamie was severely dyslexic...

I had those tonight!

it now appears the Sun taped the PRIVATE tlephone call, and has put the transcript in the paper, SHAME ON THEM for exploiting her grief.

now they are supporting the opposition he is in for one hell of a ride IMO.

The original wall or the U2 wall?

IKEA!

Just a note on Ikea cakes; punschrullar are absolutely the nicest!

Just a thought on this that I also have a problem writing then when I write I sometimes write too many or too few bumps and this could be the cause of the Janes/James thing and was not even a spelling mistake.

Is it Dickmen? For some unknown reason this cracks up m'German friends, as does the term Dichmilch, and the place name Clitheroe.

Officially, The Sun is claiming that Mrs Janes recorded the conversation on her own initiative. However as the call took place on late Sunday night (i.e. as the original story was going to the presses), the whole thing smacks of a Sun set-up.


One interesting point: a contributor over on the Sun's own comment boards has pointed out that it's illegal to record a telephone conversation without informing the other person. I wonder if Mrs Janes is going to apologize to Gordon Brown?

I think it has all been blown out of proportion BUT I don't think his poor eyesight is an excuse for bad spelling.  You can still spell with your eyes closed so while it may excuse the handwriting, it does not excuse the fact that the guy can't spell.

Maybe he didn't have much time with all the letters he's writing to families at the minute.

No excuse imo - someone should have checked the letter first.  As for the lady going to the press - I would imagine that she is desperate to have any sort of platform to air her views, anger and sorrow - who can blame her?  What she has gone through, is the worst possible thing.

I have to ask - do you mean the ones in leather shorts  

But have to agree about the German market, it's brilliant and a must visit each year.

Should be opening soon I would imagaine

The Scum "news" paper isn't fit to line my rabbits cages with.

The only thing I use the so called paper for is to line my cats litter tray TBH

Thank Bog! They just had a  hero's mum on the Jeremy Vine show. She was the only woman who could tell it as it was, and indeed she laid into the sun and the woman concerned.

I think if we were talking about any other visually impared persons handwriting, we'd be up in arms about all this critisism.

See that's the thing, he's the prime minister of the UK, why the hell should such brief letters need to be proof read?  They should be good enough without the need of a checker, surely?  It's not like it had typos or anything, it's a sorry state of affairs.

It's not about the handwriting though, it's the bad spelling!  You don't need to be bale to see to spell, as I said earlier.

The lady in question was moaning yesterday that it was illegable.