This idea of doing valid, even valiant, work in one’s pyjamas (and note to colonial cousins, it is py not pa) seems to have taken flight after being used as a dismissal of the veracity or usefulness of blogging (the actual quote was, I believe, that blogs are something done by some guy in his living room in his pyjamas). I’ll admit to not having really understood the remark at first. I mean who dresses up to blog? Second thoughts were that perhaps we should be like early BBC radio announcers (under Reith) and wear black tie and a dinner jacket (tuxedo for said colonial cousins) for even though we cannot be seen in action we should at least be properly dressed.
This morning’s Telegraph provides evidence that we are, in fact, simply the latest manifestation of a long running theme. In the obituary of Group Captain Tom Dalton-Morgan, a WWII Hurricane pilot and ace, and co-incidentally a descendant of Sir Henry Morgan of Caribbean privateer and rum fame, we see this:

He quickly established himself as a fearless leader. On July 12, he shared in the destruction of a Heinkel bomber; but he was forced to bale out the following day when he destroyed another and then was hit by crossfire. With no badges of rank in evidence – he was wearing pyjamas under his flying suit – he was “captured” by a bobby who placed him in the cells along with the German bomber crew he had just shot down.

To compare actions in the Battle of Britain with the ridiculing of Dan Rather would be trite, yet knowing that our forefathers considered pyjamas suitable attire for defending civilisation does bring on the desire for a little shopping trip. Something in silk with a paisley pattern I think. For important subjects, cat, dog or recipe blogging, perhaps a smoking jacket a la Noel Coward?