The latest spin on the message of spreading peace and goodwill comes from Electric Mail, the ESB staff newspaper which contains a cautionary article on credit cards by Colm Rapple. "Flexible friends are a mixed Christmas blessing", the headline ran. Fair enough. But the Margin was intrigued by part of the sub heading which stated: "Spending is a convenient way of spreading peace and goodwill". Not according to most religious traditions, but perhaps this is the secret of ESB's industrial policy.

Meanwhile, ESB workers are to receive between £300 and £800 for working on the millennium bank holiday. All 650 workers concerned will also get normal bank holiday premiums plus a day off in lieu.

As a colleague of the Margin's pointed out, nobody need have any worries if the ESB falls prey to Y2K. Sure can't we use the millennium candles which we all got?