In which I overinvest in kiddies' TV rather than deal with my own problems

[dolorous_ett]

I'm worried about Postman Pat. He's not been himself at all since the Post Office gave him the push in 2000 for not fitting in with their corporate image. Even though he's managed to get another job with the Special Delivery Service, it's like the heart went out of him when he left the Royal Mail, and it's really miserable to watch. We usually give

Comments

[lareinenoire]

Aw! I'm reminded of a very serious conversation J and I had at Christmas two years ago where he pointed out the imperialist and anti-union policies implemented by Sir Topham Hat in recent episodes of Thomas the Tank Engine (still my nephew's favourite series). I believe we also discussed which Backyardigan would need to be assassinated in order to disband the group, so...

[bookwormsarah]

Thomas broke a strike in Troublesome Engines. I only learned this recently and he has rapidly gone down in my estimation. Sir Topham Hat clearly has an allie.

[dolorous_ett]

SHAME ON YOU, THOMAS! To be sure, the vile Sir Topham Hatt is bound to be the manipulator behind the scenes, but Thomas really should have known better, even if he isn't the brightest piece of coal in the furnace...

[bookwormsarah]

We have regular Thomas days at my railway and we have to hire an authorised Sir Topham Hatt, who has attended the approved courses... The 'real' version fits with the image in the books...

That said, he did save Toby the Tram Engine (my personal favourite) from being scrapped so I shall always have a slightly soft spot for him.

[snorkackcatcher]

I hadn't even realised that Postman Pat was no longer working for the Post Office. *sobs* I presume they "sacked" him round about the time of the Consignia fiasco, otherwise known as "Bad Management 105: How to demonstrate you are completely up your own arse"?

[dolorous_ett]

I don't know about exactly when Consignia happened, but I completely agree with you about the result. And it's true that Pat does not now fit in with the overworked, demotivated, downtrodden Royal Mail staff... but it's hardly something you'd want to advertise, you'd think?

Bloody awful set of decisions, however you look at it *kicks Consignia, in all its iterations*

[cloudsinvenice]

That's what I find so weird about this - mostly when organisations betray their founding principles and relationships with stakeholders, they try to KEEP the cuddly innocuous frontman/sponsorship deal/mascot so people will think it's still the same old Royal Mail/Whoever they know and love...

[cloudsinvenice]

I... I can't believe this isn't satire... *clutches bits of shattered childhood*

[dolorous_ett]

It's awful, isn't it? I'm pretty gutted, and I didn't even catch Postman Pat the first time round...

[cloudsinvenice]

Just to be safe, we should probably avoid prying too deeply into Trumpton's swinging parties, Fireman Sam's drunkenness and Bagpuss's flea treatment records!

[dolorous_ett]

Not to mention Bob the Builder's tax fiddles, the Timmy Time nursery's OFTSTED reports and the drug-induced haze that surrounds In the Night Garden...