What austerity looks like?: The British army is told to take the month off

"The British Army has been ordered to take an extended 25-day
Christmas holiday or ‘work from home' in an attempt to cut its gas and electricity bills," reports a British
newspaper.  This reminds me of George
Marshall as a Depression-era garrison commander encouraging his married troops
to take time to plant vegetables.

Not so, Joe, responds
the Ministry of Defence's blog. "To suggest the Christmas leave plan is a cost-cutting measure is
not true. In recognition of the exceptionally busy year the Army has had, both
on operations and at home -- including vital support to the London 2012
Olympics, fuel tanker drivers' strike and the Diamond Jubilee -- the usual
Christmas leave period has been extended. Personnel who are essential to
supporting operations will remain on task regardless of this leave period and
there will be no impact on the mission in Afghanistan."

From that blog, I also learned that the Welsh regiment has a "goat
major." That is different, apparently, from
aging majors who are old goats.

Also, if you believe the Daily Mail (and you may well not) someone stole
a pony from the British armed forces.