A season of privation begins (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

A season of privation begins

4:31pm Wednesday 25th February 2009

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Sadly, we've had no stories of tap dancing ex-KGB grandmothers or globe trotting former elbow disorder sufferers and neither, indeed, have we had any tales of life-saving retired circus monkeys.

This is a great pity, in my humble opinion, but there is always next week - and now that I've set the appeal in motion, perhaps some benevolent eccentric type will send us something even better.

This is not to say, however, that this week has been entirely devoid of good news, and also hilarious and somewhat improbable news.

Death, destruction and violence aside, it was with some gratification that I learned that a severely disabled man is to have his benefits reinstated, having had them mistakenly cut off, following a story we ran last week.

Of course, I couldn't categorically say that this was as a direct result of the story, but it does seem that things started moving after I did some badgering.

I therefore consider this an example of good badgering, if nothing else, and also a much-needed breath of fresh air in the face of everything that seems to have gone wrong lately.

It was also highly amusing to learn that council leaflets have again been found dumped in the street near Queen's Road Station, this time strewn among the bushes along with a lot of other litter.

The council did diligently remove the offending leaflets (though not the litter - for why, we know not) and gave an absolutely incredible explanation for how they came to be in the bushes in the first place, which, good readers, you should be able to find out tomorrow, all being well.

I say all being well because, technology being what it is, we've had all manner of computer malfunctions this afternoon, leading to a significantly stressed editorial team over the last couple of hours.

It is also the beginning of Lent and in spite of the general lack of religious feeling in the office, most people seem to have given something up, or at least, they're trying to do so. This means stress levels are further heightened as people try to do without their little guilty pleasures - chocolate chief among them, it seems.

I've given up tea, for my sins. This is particularly difficult as I am now restricted in my hot beverage consumption and also because the announcement of a tea round usually elicits such wild and rapturous delight from all quarters.

I might not survive.