The dog that climbs trees.

You kept emailing us about it, so here it is again. Holly the Collie. The tree climbing dog.

Sad

Hello, everyone. I am afraid I am feeling desperately sad today. I expect you'll have heard about the collision between two military helicopters in Shropshire on Wednesday afternoon. One man was killed and three others injured. It was our lead story on BBC Midlands Today. Well this morning I learned that the dead man was someone I have known since childhood. Someone I grew up with...someone I remember with great affection. John Garnons Williams was the son of a teaching colleague of my father's at Berkhamsted School in Hertfordshire. He went on to have a distinguished career in the services and for some ten years had been a civilian helicopter instructor. I am shattered about it and found it very difficult to read out his name during our lunchtime news today. My parents, aged 91 and 84, are both deeply upset, as are all the many people who knew John and his family from his days living in Berkhamsted. My sympathies to his family in Shrewsbury which has been their home for a long time. People often ask if we are ever affected by the awful news we sometimes have to read out. Well, I certainly have been today, but there have been other cases in the past, particularly when it concerns someone I know or if it involves cruelty to children. It can be very distressing to talk about those stories on air. RIP John.
On a lighter note, hasn't the weather been just appalling? What is going on? And it always seems dark, whatever time of day!I am a bit concerned weatherwise about the big game tomorrow night at the Hawthorns between West Bromwich Albion and Luton Town. Hope it won't be rained off because of a waterlogged pitch. I am even more concerned that we have sold yet another top player, Rowan Vine..this time to Birmingham City for up to three million. Gutted, in fact. A terrific signing for Blues, a great loss toLuton, but that is what happens with a small club,always prey to the big predators. Players understandably have ambitions, both to play with a big club at the highest level and to earn as much as they can financially. Luton would never stand in their way, if the deal was right. In the last year we have lost Curtis Davies, Steve Howard, Kevin Nicholls, Carlos Edwards and now Vine. Half a side of extremely good players. I like to think Luton have contibuted hugely to making them the players they are now and that they will always have a place in their hearts for the homely confines of Kenilworth Road. Good luck Rowan and thanks for some cracking performances. Good player, solid character.
Must go and get on with the job of helping put the news together...thanks for all your great messages, as ever, and I am sorry I can't reply to them all. I do appreciate them. And, in answer to queries about my autobiog, it's called In the Time of Nick, published by Brewin Books. Keep smiling....Nick
Nick Owen

Ski Tracking

If you want to know more about the Sumit Ski Tracker as featured on today's programme you can find out more on their website www.sumitski.com
David Gregory

Did you have a Wii this Christmas?

I'm off to Blitze Games in Coventry this afternoon where they are showing us their new singing video game based on American Idol. You sing into a microphone and then Simon Cowell lets you know what he thinks with one of 2000 pre-selected phrases. It's game that really comes in to its own when played in a group, indeed the so called "party" game is set to be big news in 2007.
It lead to a heated debate in the office about video games. Still the preserve of spotty young boys playing on their own? Or was the whole family gathered around your Wii this Christmas united in laughter?
Let us know! Send stories, comments and pictures to midlandstoday@bbc.co.uk or leave a comment after this post and we may well be in touch.
Joan Cummins

UPDATE: Thanks for all your suggestions. Watch tonight to see it we use your pictures!