Museum has partially reopened in Damascus for the 1st time in 6 year is it's being seen as another move by the government to try to show that Syria is returning to some kind of normality after years of civil war the. Years for Fears are selling off instruments equipment and clothes which have been in storage for more than 20 years the collection from the 1964 will be auctioned in December tonight's weather further showers are expected for eastern areas largely dry elsewhere with clear spells B.B.C. News. This is just mean call B.B.C. 3 Counties radio. 3 Counties radio Sunday evening. 8 minutes past 7 very well now this week so the launch of the annual Poppy Appeal the Royal British Legion used the campaign to raise money to support personnel but apparently a growing number of people are choosing not to buy a traditional red poppy and opt for white poppy instead and white poppies provoke a mixed reaction with some who say that they're an insult to the memory of fallen soldiers and others believing that their symbol of peace ball is from High Wycombe and served in the R.A.F. And military intelligence and joins me on the line now good evening. Good evening thank you for having me well thank you for talking to as Cam Can I ask you 1st of all what do you make of the white poppy. Since early controversy to subject. On too quickly honest I do find the not necessarily offensive and people can wear what they want while you find some more slightly disrespectful for those who are. And actually what's. Popular main. Staple for those that don't because you know you often grow up with it as a tradition and you kind of all my stunt question that you recognize is something to do with you know commemorating those we've lost but the real Bushies Legion which sells the red poppy is clear that. There it's not a sign of support for war and death. And the white poppies are distributed by the Peace Pledge Union the U.K. Sold a secular and pacifist group. And a paladin know this they were created just 12 years after the red vision in 1980 and at the time many people will the Y.P. To stress the never again message which emerged after World War One So what is it about the white poppy that for you doesn't quite work as you said not necessarily offensive but it's not something you feel aligned with. Constantly are something. I want. Very young I mean I joined the motion or in oil left in 2000 serves in Iraq and Afghanistan remains red poppies all symbolize the OK it's commemorate and represents your soldiers who. Died in sacrificing your small stock far removed and thus a symbol of the end and that's how I go with me if you were to ask any of us how many 5 years ago knew what the white floppy was people would say no you know they didn't know what it was it was only up until I think last year that Slowly people started to I think Jeremy called him a warning and a few. Painful and and it's come out so I mean even if what you saying there are good arguments know that you know it's being launched 12 years after you know they read hockey as well there's like something very recent Doesn't it and that's the point I think. We exception should change and different yes but there's certain things and you know in our own beliefs are wrong sort of history our own source you know how we've been broken you know and for me that's what the red poppy you know commemorates are I affiliated so shaped not red pocket with the role British Legion and you know to those who have fallen and you know is that as a rule British Legion is also said it doesn't you know commemorate so is the fact that it's about war it's just about you know those military personnel our soldiers are for themselves it's interesting as I'm just reading having read about the white the white poppy also symbolizes remembered for the victims of war and the the piece by Jeannie and say that the white poppy also represents a lasting commitment to peace in the belief that war should not be silent celebrated Obama Rice I wonder if these people out there that might wear both together because it they don't seem to be necessarily you know at all odds. I mean why would you want to do on a sun why anybody would tune any case I mean the Royal British Legion and what they do with every purchase very red poppy you know what happens with the money is so commendable you know the amount of people even on a personal front on know that the role British Legion of help because of the sales and talkies and. You know where when to read in a wife I don't understand why you would do the my personal thoughts are why change a script for a change to bring this in any sense since I think there are less popular we will all become accustomed to and used to it's not that we're not wearing said a certain change you thought it commemorates the fact that we are here because of the sacrifices of those people you know who serve you will too except when you know I don't see any sort of me to wear what topic. Can do you think that in the last see as there seems to be this annual row about poppies and about wearing them not wearing them which one you wear. It's become very selective things when facial when you've got people like Jeremy called and then people who do wear white poppies and where the celebrities or certain things. Start to do you tend to. Differentiate themselves you've got to look at the actual reason behind the whole reason why have they never done it before. So. I just don't understand why why this if I'm completely honest why it's become so big and such a contraception and controversial now more so than ever I mean let's just remember those people who have sacrificed the ultimate sacrifice so people I mean you can even talk on that now you know this is the most. You know sacrifice your work to ease the fact that the red poppy can no rights everybody as a rule British Legion I don't you can correct me if I'm wrong but I know that they have nots so that as you mentioned earlier they've never said that it is to commemorate any sort of conflict or anything else is purely for one reason it's the death of those people. Like me and everybody else when they say they stressed that it's a symbol for remembrance and how you can should not be seen as a symbol of religion or politics interesting that you mention German call but I'm just looking at a photo of him on remembered study I remembered Sunday last year and he's wearing a red copy alongside all the other. You know main politicians but I know you're right in saying that there's a lot of people who have. Arguably you know hijacked not hijacked the issue but as you say have a lot to say about it is he very controversial for you Khayyam if you saw someone wearing a white poppy would you say something to him. If. I were an arguer it depends on the circumstance that you Asian I think understanding the reasons behind it look I don't I don't disagree with the reasoning behind the why topic look come in peace and not going to conflict I'll think everybody wants the you know normal she's enjoying source just to go into war is and certainly should not be in the military. I don't think I'd approach them it depends on. How they react or behave or what in what context. But for me the red poppy symbolizes one thing and I will always support is a British Muslim I mean it's like the rest popular job I don't know if you've heard a lot of help that there's things like that that are around the ball you know and last year and there was a controversial call it's these individuals and people showing that respect you know and gratitude. You know the people to have sacrificed in order to have what we have it's all being based upon the spot that red coffee and the message it carries but most importantly what is it that the role British Legion does with the money that is race is so commendable I have no idea what the white populace where that what they do with the money how much they raise I believe I read it's close to a 100000 pounds or something last year. Since the money they helped out a helps show the maids all about the red poppy. Well thank you. For talking to us tonight Kay I make a call there from High Wycombe he said in the R.A.F. What about you have you seen these white puppies around would you wear one would you web both together IMO Do you agree with that the original red puppy. Is the one that means the the mice to you that it commemorates those lost to mourn there's no reason to wear a different one if you want to get in touch and talk about this is a 13 double 3 on the text start your message with 3 C. All or you can tweet at B.B.C. 3. That. Morning. And. You can. Thank you very. Much for. 3 Counties radio. Am digital and this. On B.B.C. 3 Counties radio now I might have been a Halloween Grinch last year but even I'm sort of getting swept up with it always seems to become such a huge thing and with Halloween being around the corner nobody is ripping the hounds in excitements more than my next guest that nip in by Judge from Milton Keynes now from humble beginnings that the family now own one of the biggest party Web businesses in the country and this of course is turning into one of his busiest times of the and he joins me on the line now good evening to you I have been tell you I'm very well thank you I'm sitting back and thinking that I was quite mean last year when I didn't open the door to the trick or treat isn't just a all the charts might. Have brought shame on myself. But it's not every person you speak to that runs a company said Tell me how did the business start. Started many years ago actually . My parents bought a shop and bought a cookware shop that sold lots of pots and pans and random bits and pieces ready and just made their way into disposable party we. Actually started off. With an argument between my parents my mom says that we should start selling balloons and my dad said famously said they'll never sell. They argued that evening and they the same amount won the argument and that's how we're going to part it so you morphed slowly from from pots and pans into you into ghouls and ghosts literally yes I mean everything you know unicorns. Ghouls ghosts Christmas wear and everything in between and as you said it's it's a crazy time of the year for us it's very very busy and we start gearing up for Halloween which I believe in around February February March that period yeah. That's when we have to start doing ordering Christmas and how doing ordering the son of February March which is really Are you surprised by how big the whole costuming thing has become in the U.K. Because particularly with Halloween we we celebrated how we know how and how we trick or treat and that kind of the but now it was always seen as a very American thing wasn't it but now it seems the chair. We've seen it grow year on year ready. And we could see it start happening maybe 67 years ago we start seeing more and more decorations coming out coming from a from America that style and people are using that now we see and many of the areas that we that we're in people are trying to outdo each other and have more that creations than a big Halloween displays with we've seen a growing every single year and it doesn't seem to be stopping and the thing is more and more of the big companies now doing hallowing decorations you can buy them in your petrol station and you can find the supermarkets so it's yes. More and more people doing it do you go in for Halloween yourself do you like to put on a little costume a little bit of the old white scary makeup do you get to go for that. I'm not much of a Christian person myself we were treating with with our 2 children. Regime of really have free reign of the shop Yeah. Ready I mean. Literally my my my children are in that warehouse every every opportunity they can and testing out all the all the little toys and to her ration and everything else and yeah we did we do we did to create the house the fat cat mount all the windows a couple of lights out there. So yeah we definitely get involved so what Al says has grown in in terms of events over the last few years for policies and for costumes. Christmas is Christmas has been becoming bigger and bigger with seeing more and more people celebrating Christmas parties. The big one for us this year was actually the royal weddings huge huge for us this year what will people buying for that things slide right we we could not bring in enough buns think I think we sold my 4 or 5000 sets of fun things. And busy I think now I'm M.K. Went heavy on the on the room when I mean we supply around Europe as well so we we were really busy but yeah I'd say at everything party things because there's more and more people using balloons and celebrating and with we're seeing a lot of people buying Vivaldi stuff this year for more which is the really because everyone's getting involved you know whether it be able to volley or you know a bar mitzvah waste we're getting we're seeing more and more every year and we're growing so you have half a bottle we will tell you what sells consistently since you've changed since you made that change from from cookware balloons been about your mum was right about those below you oh yes blues. Balloons there are a best seller and yeah that is the designs of styles and in the shop we've got you know really an office almost you know they do these fantastic displays and yeah it's incredible Nothing says party more than a balloon. I love it now I don't know if you work in the shop yourself we've got stuff but is it a prerequisite they have to be dressed up particular around occasion times like hello and. We we try to encourage it would never make someone do something that was they want comfortable with but yes some of the stuff this week has been have been dressed up in the. Costumes or somebody else or Red Devils Yes We we do we do get involved I mean well that will have our staff Halloween party this Friday in the warehouse. And I. People dressed up as some some of the guys get much more involved than others think imagine but it's changed a lot has it because it did used to be you know let's go through the standard ones you've got. Ghosts and ghouls the skeletons. Vampires which is and the black cat and all of that but this year for the 1st time I've seen people doing things like characters who were nothing to do with Halloween but just making them how we need like my friend how in Princess Laya and she was pictured with her friend he was a Halloween Frida Kahlo So you know things are changing Yeah I think I think. Who with the course of U 2 and the idea of you know makeup and everything. The opportunities to be different and to sing a little bit you know a lot actually. But many more to do that we're seeing so many more people doing. That sort of thing where they're not necessarily buying a costume vampire costume or cheerleader question letting themselves and then there's a recall make up for it I mean we sell out of the latex glove and the latex. All of the gruesome latex stuff. Really really now so you see more and more people ready to really different stuff now to cope Oh going to ization is the name of the game then if you want to get your cost human in your party gear All right. I know and it's that the whole day of the dead thing that has gotten bigger as well which is why you see people going to so much effort with the with the makeup and the costume says Yeah I mean I'm standing all of people to go to go to that much effort I'd be there with just the sheet as a side and you know cut the. Rubbish and cut the 2 holes and be done with it you know have you have a fantastic Halloween the valley all the events coming up a good luck a party Rama isn't it and M.K. . And you got the balloons every day all the time. It's a good. Thank you. I'm starting to think maybe I could have a bit of costume envy that maybe maybe make a bit more if it this year OK what if I get the sheet cut the 2 holes out and then maybe just put some like red lipstick you know. On the sheet to make blood it's a lot of effort going into this isn't it that very nearly half past 7 let's get the . 3 Counties radio. Junction 15. Of those delays to remind also looking. At the moment. Public transport. That's because of engineering works. Thanks. Well keep saying B.B.C. 3 Counties radio I don't mean like sitting next to Lucy I mean from the track you know that right. Sunday evening 26 minutes. Takes over. But. Gentleman sitting in front of me he will get to in just a moment. Keith still talking so rude of me to talk over the top of him moves sounds like he's going to have gas there so I've got a text here from Mary and we've been talking about the red poppy and the white poppy and Marian has texted him to say hi by the way marriage she says who cares and what right has chaos he was speaking earlier to say what I wear or not I've got 300 bed poppies and the women who made them to naked all the money to the British Legion red being the traditional British Legion one white for peace and purple for the animals why does cam feel the need to tell me what to wear I hate the poppy police you just make it more likely that people are going to wear the white poppy and by the way I went as an old and I be last night for the poppy fields display hundreds of them and apparently 6000 saw them on Friday and 800001 Saturday at Marion thank you for texting and getting in touch appreciate your text if you have something to say about they were wearing the white poppy and whether or not you would wear you can get in touch it's a 13 double 3 on the text start your message with 3 C. . This is Jasmine come on B.B.C. 3 Counties radio. Now. Time for props to this is a feature where we give props where we celebrate the achievements of local Asian people this evening it's the turn of a bustle down from Luton in December he's trekking to Everest base camp for charity and he joins in the studio Hello thank you for coming in so how and why are you going to efforts. Because I'm crazy Well I didn't like to say. No. Everest has is by far the biggest mountain in the world it is a big challenge to go there is something that I've always wanted to do so going to base camp is my 1st step to of Lee in the future getting to the top really and you doing all of this to raise money for Jesse Have you already started raising that money yes we have so I've been raising money since March I'm currently at 9 and a half 1000. Minimum target was about 4 and a half as how have you got money series that so far so majority of the money came from my scouts they helped me raise about 7 that just over 7000 pounds I ran an event where sold donuts in Ramadan that's a lot of dough not see very exactly as a lot of us are is about 2000 pounds from that and the rest were just from friends and family I've got to ask you about these don't make the Media Sell it was possibly cream OK it was just the fundraiser packs right get them for. A get there had about a few 100 boxes and just over to a friend's houses and he managed to write 2000 just that way yes my friends and family helped out and we just delivered and he said you've obviously smashed the original target Have you got a new target in mind now 10000 pounds 10000 a year OK And so the journey to Everest is this something you you know you mentioned scouts they're quite active of you done tracking Have you done any kind of mountaineering before been hiking for about 2 years now so it's been very on and off start off with Snowden like everyone else. From there I thought I want to climb high mountains so I went to Ben Nevis went to scaffold pike and since then. One of the I used to follow this guy on. Twitter his name was aren't from any appeal I don't really know him but he's just run along just followed him and back in March he posted about going to Everest I gave him a call and here I am and it's. And what you're raising the money for so we're r