BOO to the festive rotters who snatched a much loved telly tubby garden ornament from Atherton.

Muriel Andrews, of Bolton Road, has reported the loss of Po from her patch.

I do hope blame cannot be laid at the feet of carol singers who called at the house before Christmas.

Anyway grandma Muriel would be delighted if the thieves could return the statue without question to avoid her granddaughter's disappointment on her next visit.

What a mean trick at a time of goodwill.

WHAT will the new century and Millennium bring? It doesn't bear thinking about.

Looking back over the last 1,000 years it's amazing to think how times have changed so dramatically. I wonder what the people of the next millennium will think of we backward lot?

Even the changes that the last century have brought have been too much to comprehend.

To my mind the best inventions are the radio (I can't stand silence in the house), TV (that big friend in the corner), the washing machine (how did we manage without?) and the modern car.

Planes too have been a boon making the world a more accessible place.

To me the most welcome innovation for the new century would be a robot that brings in the washing, irons it and puts it all away.

Surely someone can manage that.

You can keep all you high-tech computers and digital phone twaddle.

I AM delighted to report that Leigh Cats and Dogs home has had its best Christmas ever.

People have thankfully been more caring this year.

Not one pet has been dumped over the festive period - for the first time in years.

That's one report that makes me feel really happy.

Let's just hope its not the lull before the storm.

WHAT can you say about television over the holidays? Not much, apart from the fact that it was abysmal. Whoever was responsible for programming should be shot.

I WAS well and truly struck down by the Millennium bug over the holidays, floored by the flu for the first time since 1969 - and it's not pleasant.

I suppose I was only one of hundreds whose festive season was wiped out, and who spent the time tucked up in bed wearing two sweaters, jogging pants and socks.

I sympathise with everyone who suffered. The only good thing to come of it was the loss of appetite. Still it's a great start to the annual resolution to shed weight - which usually lasts a couple of weeks, then falls by the wayside.

I DON'T wish to cast aspertions on supermarket checkout girls, but I was caught up in what could easily have been a mistake - or a planned scam.

I never normally check my till receipt, but I didn't need as many groceries as usual. When the bill still amounted to well over £50 alarm bells started to ring.

I went through it, and almost at the bottom found a £10 gift voucher had been rung up. Very convenient!

I went back to complain, and the checkout operator apologised and said she must have knocked the button with my potatoes.

I wonder how many times she could have got away with that as people rushed through with baskets piled high?

In my case she unfortunately picked on the wrong person. It just shows. No matter how much you spend always check your receipt.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.