From a local resident:

Christmas spirit in Stafford 2007

Are you the parents of the 2 young boys who were out carol singing the week before Christmas, in the Weeping Cross area and wearing red and white Santa hats?

If you are, then I regret to inform you that your children are CRIMINALS.

They knocked on my door during the evening and when I opened it they sang a few lines of ‘We wish you a Merry Christmas’. After about a minute or so I said thank you very much and closed the door.

The cursing which I then heard did not surprise me but their next action did. My wheelie bin was standing in my drive with a Christmas card, containing £10, taped to it addressed to the dustmen.

The delightful duo snatched the envelope as they left my drive, removed the £10 note and threw the card and envelope in the street. 

I gave chase but lost them in Bodmin Avenue.

In view of this I have written 3 Christmas messages as follows;

To the 2 boys - my dustmen would like their £10 back; after all they have emptied my dustbin every week for the last 12 months and deserve a small treat at this time of year.

To the parents of these 2 boys – your children may look sweet in their Santa hats but the reality is that your children are vile common thieves who have unfortunately learned that ‘Crime pays’.

To the honest men, women and youngsters who provide services to my home i.e.

• the dustmen who empty my dustbin,
• the man who washes my dustbin
• the milkman who delivers my milk
• the postman who delivers my mail
• the men who clean the windows and
• the girls and boys who deliver my newspapers is

I am very sorry but, I can no longer leave a Christmas tip out for you as a reward for your efforts over the year because there are evil juveniles about who think that a chorus of ‘We wish you a Merry Christmas’ entitles them to payment, and will steal from you if you disagree.

Despairing of Baswich