Vamos is icy. This is the coldest I remember ever being on Crete. The kitchen and my study are the two areas without central heating and walking into them is like walking into an icebox. We have however been spared the simply dreadful weather that has engulfed the rest of Europe. I see pictures where men in Orthodox countries brave icy waters for Epiphany. In Greece priests throw a crucifix into the sea and a dozen young men or more all dive in after it. I presume the one who claims it gets good luck for the year, that is if he recovers from pneumonia. Mind you, in Russia they have to break the ice. They’re all mad. The things people will do for religion!

It is said that those the gods wish to destroy they first make mad and without doubt the world is due for disintegration pretty darn soon because madness has surely set in.

As though the world didn’t have enough superstitions, enough religions, enough sects, the Swedish government has recognised a new one. The Church of Kopimism claims that "kopyacting" - sharing information through copying - is akin to a religious service. Can you really believe this? The "spiritual leader" of the church (or should one say charlatan to join all the other charlatans) said recognition was a "large step". But quite naturally others were less enthusiastic “It doesn't mean illegal file-sharing will become legal, any more than if 'Jedi' was recognised as a religion everyone would be walking around with light sabres,” he said.

A music analyst said. Kopimism as a religious organisation was registered shortly before Christmas. Gustav Nipe, chairman of the organisation said, “We had to apply three times.! Gosh! Third time lucky huh? The church, which holds CTRL+C and CTRL+V as sacred symbols, does not directly promote illegal file sharing, focusing instead on the open distribution of knowledge to all. It was founded by 19-year-old philosophy student and leader Isak Gerson. He hopes that file-sharing will now be given religious protection. "For the Church of Kopimism, information is holy and copying is a sacrament. Information holds a value, in itself and in what it contains and the value multiplies through copying. Therefore copying is central for the organisation and its members," he said in a statement. "Being recognised by the state of Sweden is a large step for all of Kopimi. Hopefully this is one step towards the day when we can live out our faith without fear of persecution," he added. Despite the new-found interest in the organisation, experts said religious status for file-sharing would have little effect on the global crackdown on piracy.

And that is what this ridiculous bullshit is all about – the protection of internet piracy. The government is pushing ahead with the controversial legislation despite continued opposition.

Further to my previous remarks regarding the feral youth of today, how about this for a bunch of bent bananas? A 10-year-old boy has been arrested over an alleged attack on two teachers at a school in south-east London. One of the victims, who are both women, suffered a broken leg and suspected dislocated kneecap and the other had a facial injury. The boy, who was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm, has since been bailed to return on a date in mid-February. Both women, who are in their 50s, were taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital in Orpington. What do you suppose will happen to the boy? He will be told don’t be a naughty boy and don’t do that again.