Diary From England

BLOGBLAST FOR PEACE 2011

2011-11-04T19:52:00.003Z

Peace on Earth and Goodwill to all men - as we approach the Christmas season, it's what we all hope for - to live in a world without war. As we blogblast for peace, this is our hope and dream - now and forever.

BRITISH COURTS ON TV

2011-09-13T22:36:00.003+01:00

The British version of Judge Judy could soon be appearing on our screens as tv cameras are allowed to film inside British court rooms for the first time ever. In the past cameras were only allowed in the Supreme court. However the ban on filming victims, witnesses, jurors and offenders will remain. Only filming of the judge’s summary remarks will be allowed. It is believed the new system will help to improve the public’s understanding of the British justice system. Only time will tell. It should certainly be very entertaining anyway if the US version is anything to go by!

9/11 - WE WILL NEVER FORGET

2011-09-11T15:39:00.001+01:00

R.I.P to all the people that lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks 10 years ago. Gone but not forgotten

FAIRYTALE WEDDING FOR WILLIAM & KATE

2011-04-29T21:19:00.005+01:00

The nation rejoiced today as Prince William married his bride Kate Middleton in a historic ceremony at Westminster Abbey. There was an extraordinary atmosphere of happiness and goodwill as millions of people lined the streets of London hoping to catch a glimpse of the happy couple.

Kate looked stunning and every inch the fairytale Princess in her beautiful Alexander McQueen wedding gown, whilst Prince William was in smart military uniform, wearing the scarlet tunic of The Irish Guards. The ceremony went smoothly and without a hitch apart from the moment when Prince William seemed to struggle when he tried to place the wedding ring on his new bride's finger.

The happy couple will now be known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge after the Queen gave Prince William a dukedom - the highest rank in British peerage - on his wedding day.

Congratulations to them both!

KATE & WILLS PERFORM FIRST OFFICIAL ROYAL ENGAGEMENT TOGETHER

2011-03-06T19:51:00.005Z

As Royal Wedding fever hits England, it was nice to see William and Kate performing their first official Royal Engagement together. Crowds were gathered around, eagerly awaiting a glimpse of Prince William’s future bride as the couple launched a lifeboat in Anglesey, where William is currently stationed doing his helicopter training. The couple have a house nearby and are regularly seen in the local pubs and restaurants. Kate was happy and relaxed on home ground as she performed her first engagement for “the firm”. In the current economic climate, it was also nice to see that Kate has a thrifty side too, wearing a five year old coat that she had previously worn to the Cheltenham Gold Cup. The coat had been shortened to make it even more stylish and up to date.

As she walked around and shook hands with some of the many wellwishers it was clear to see that like Diana, Kate is a natural and knows how to work a crowd. As Kate bent down to shake the hands of some of the many children who had gathered, it was almost like watching Diana again. Kate even stopped to stroke the head of a little Westie terrier dog. Carrying armfuls of flowers and bouquets from a delighted crowd, it was clear to see that the public have taken Kate into their hearts. Her first public engagement with Prince William was a great success. It is inevitable that comparisons will be made with Diana and like Diana, it is clear to see that Kate is very much in touch with the ordinary people, introducing a nice breath of fresh air into the Royal Family. With all the recent doom and gloom of these recession hit times, coupled with trouble in the Middle East, the prospect of an upcoming Royal Wedding has helped to lift people’s spirits and given them something to look forward to. We can only hope that lessons have been learnt from Diana and Kate will have a much happier Royal life and marriage than she did.

WILLIAM AND KATE TO MARRY

2010-11-18T20:43:00.002Z

Congratulations to Prince William and Kate Middleton. Clarence House has announced that the happy couple are to marry in either Spring or Summer next year. After all the grim news recently about cutbacks and Britain heading back into recession, it’s nice to have some happy news for a change. A Royal wedding is just what Britain needs to raise public morale again. It will be also bring a tremendous boost to Britain’s economy breathing life into the beleaguered tourism industry.

The couple first met more than 8 years ago at St Andrew’s University in Scotland and have actually been engaged since October when Prince William proposed to Kate during a private holiday in Kenya. He gave Kate his mother’s engagement ring, joking she would be in “big trouble” if she ever lost it. Prince William stated that giving Kate his mother Diana’s beautiful sapphire and diamond engagement ring was his way of making sure that his mother didn’t miss out on the excitement and joy of the day. I’m sure Diana would have been very happy and proud of her son’s choice of bride. It is believed the ceremony will take place at Westminster Abbey. The happy couple will live in North Wales after their wedding where William, who is second in line to the throne, will continue to serve with the Royal Air Force.

The Duchess of Cornwall described the engagement as “brilliant news”, saying, “I’m so happy for both of them”, whilst Prince Charles said he was “thrilled” and that they had been “practising” long enough. Prince William’s brother Prince Harry said he was happy to be gaining a sister.

Congratulations to them both!

THE QUEEN JOINS FACEBOOK

2010-11-08T23:30:00.002Z

The Queen has joined the Facebook generation with her own page on the social networking site. Now age 84, her Majesty has always been keen to embrace the latest technology and has her own email address and enjoys surfing the net. There is also a Royal You Tube Channel and Royal Twitter and Flickr pages.

Facebook fans can “like” the British Monarchy page and get regular updates and news on the Queen and other members of the Royal family. It will feature a copy of the Court Circular, giving details of the Royal family’s official engagements. However they can’t send her Majesty a friend request or “poke” her. After all one has to have some standards – doesn’t one?

A RIVAL FOR SUSAN BOYLE

2010-05-09T22:30:00.007+01:00

As the new series of Britain's Got Talent gets underway, there are many popular new acts being showcased as always. It's hard to believe this lady is 80 years old. She looks great and has a wonderful singing voice. Susan Boyle definitely has a rival. Follow the link shown below to hear the beautiful voice of Janey Cutler:-

Janey Cutler sings on Britains Got Talent

NIGEL KENNEDY LAUNCHES NEW ALBUM

2010-04-18T16:45:00.012+01:00

Acknowledged as one of the world’s leading violin virtuosos, Nigel Kennedy is without doubt one of Britain’s finest and most unpredictable musicians. His latest album Shhh! recorded with the Polish musicians who make up the Nigel Kennedy Quintet surely confirms this. There is a surprising guest appearance by Boy George who collaborates on one of the album’s tracks, a cover version of the Nick Drake song, ‘River Man’. George’s delicate vocal on ‘River Man’ points Kennedy’s music into a new direction, a gentle chamber pop which brings out the understated lyrical tone in his violin playing. The remaining songs on the album are all Kennedy originals. The album begins with a long instrumental opener, ‘Transfiguration’ which resembles the airborne songs of the orchestra. The moods on the album are very diverse, making the transition from one style of music to another. We have the sparse and desolate calm of ‘The Empty Bottle’ and the uplifting track, ‘Silver Lining’, whilst the album ends with the funk rock track, ‘Oy!.

Shhh! is due for release on 10th May. Nigel Kennedy will be officially unveiling the album during Nigel Kennedy’s Polish Weekend, a bank holiday festival celebrating all things Polish at London’s Southbank Centre from 29th – 31st May. You can pre-order Shhh! now at Amazon
and watch a clip about the album by clicking on the player shown below:-

AVATAR NAMES BECOMING POPULAR

2010-01-23T10:38:00.003Z

The new film Avatar has enjoyed great success over here. They said on the radio that many people are now naming their babies after some of the characters in the film. One of the popular ones is Neytiri after the character of the warrior princess. Should make for interesting school registers in years to come! And I thought I had an unusual name! Ha ha

HELLO AGAIN

2010-01-23T10:34:00.004Z

Hello to all my readers after a long absence. Due to pressure of work I have been unable to post on here as often as I would like. It's so difficult sometimes trying to find enough hours in a day to get everything done. As most of you know, I'm one of those people if I can't give 100% to something then I won't do it. However I'm going to try and post at least once a week or even a month from now on.

SUSAN BOYLE'S NEW ALBUM TOPS BESTSELLER LIST ON AMERICAN AMAZON

2009-10-11T16:50:00.001+01:00

Like a lot of other Susan Boyle fans out there, I’m eagerly awaiting the release of her new album. It’s one of most hotly anticipated album releases of the year. Many thousands of U.S. fans have already flooded Amazon.com with pre-orders for the album, “I Dreamed a Dream”, some three months before it’s due to go on sale. It has already topped their bestseller list. Wow! To hear Susan singing “Wild Horses” on “America’s Got Talent”, click on player shown below:-

NAME THAT TUNE SET TO RETURN TO OUR SCREENS

2009-10-05T21:10:00.010+01:00

I was interested to hear that Channel 5 are planning to revamp and relaunch the old quiz show, “Name That Tune” with Ant and Dec as presenters. I remember that show well. I always used to think it was very good. (I'll name that tune in one note!) Comedian Tom O’Connor was at the helm in those days. It’s funny how some of the old shows are starting to make a comeback. I used to enjoy “Mr and Mrs” with Derek Batey too. The 21st century version is even better, hosted by Fern and Phil.

How many of the old game shows do you remember and which ones were your favourites? I enjoyed “The Golden Shot” presented by Bob Monkhouse and “Celebrity Squares” (which he also presented). I also used to enjoy “321”. Who can forget the star of the show Dusty Bin and presenter Ted Rogers with his wonderful upbeat humour! Bull’s Eye (you can’t beat a bit of bully!) and Play Your Cards Right ("it could still be a big night if you play your cards right!" according to host Bruce Forsyth’s catchphrase) were also firm favourites.

For a trip down Memory Lane, click on the link shown below:-

UK Game Shows

GUINNESS CELEBRATES 250TH BIRTHDAY

2009-09-29T20:29:00.005+01:00

Ireland led the way as Guinness recently celebrated its 250th birthday with live music in Dublin’s pubs. Singer Tom Jones began the celebrations at The Guinness Storehouse, one of Ireland’s top tourist attractions. Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen hailed the anniversary of Ireland’s unofficial national drink as “an excuse for having a great party!” As some of my readers know, I’m part Irish and do sometimes enjoy a drop of the “black stuff” myself, usually on St Patrick’s Day!

However Guinness isn’t just popular with the Irish, it’s now a global phenomenon with some 10 million pints being drunk every day in over 100 countries of the world! It’s hard to believe it’s now 250 years old! To read more about the history of Guinness and how it all started, follow the link shown below:-

Guinness Official Website

NAOMI'S BACK

2009-09-23T20:04:00.010+01:00

Hello Everybody

I'm back blogging again after my break. I was only away for 4 days but we crammed so much in during that time. My Mum and I thoroughly enjoyed our trip. We spent the first day in Lincoln. It’s a really nice city. We visited Lincoln Cathedral which sits high on top of Steep Hill, dominating the skyline of this ancient city. Steep Hill, as the name suggests, is just that, a very steep hill in the heart of Lincoln. If you are fit, it is a bit of a climb to get to the top of the hill but well worth it! However for those not so able-bodied or if you just want to take life at a more leisurely pace, you can take a bus ride to the top of the hill and then back down again!

Day Two saw us in Cambridge. We had a wonderful visit to King's College and toured around the chapel and grounds. King’s College Chapel is a stunning piece of architecture and a “must-see” if you are visiting Cambridge. Founded by Henry VI in 1441, King’s is one of Cambridge’s oldest colleges and is best known for its chapel, one of the outstanding medieval buildings of Europe. Next on our list was Clare College, the second oldest college in Cambridge with the oldest surviving river bridge. We ended our trip to Cambridge with a leisurely punt on the river. Wonderful! We spent the remainder of the day in the relaxing surroundings of the Cambridge University Botanic Gardens, a haven of beautiful gardens and glasshouses with the best arboretum in the East of England.

Day Three found us travelling to Norfolk. We visited Norfolk Lavender in the morning . It was a good chance to see many different varieties of lavender. I never realised there were so many! The Gift Shop is also well worth a visit. It stocks the full range of Norfolk Lavender’s famous products, together with a wide choice of other gifts to suit all pockets. The tearoom specialises in cream teas, freshly baked cakes and lunches. I purchased some lavender honey which had a delicious flowery taste. Apparently according to popular folklore, it’s particularly good for those with respiratory conditions or asthma. In the afternoon, we visited Sandringham which for me was the highlight of the trip. Set in 60 acres of stunning gardens, Sandringham is the Queen’s Norfolk retreat. It is neither a palace or a castle but a private residence of the British Royal family and not part of the Crown estate. The main ground floor rooms (which are regularly used by the Royal Family), are open to the public and it’s really interesting to take a peak inside. The Queen and her family regularly spend Christmas at Sandringham. The first televised Christmas broadcast (when the Queen addresses the nation) was broadcast from there. Apart from the vast and extensive gardens and grounds which are wonderful to explore on a warm, sunny day, there is also a church and museum which adds to the enjoyment of a visit. The Church of St Mary Magdalene dates back to the 16th century and is regularly used by the Royal Family and the estate staff as a place of worship. The museum holds a wonderful collection of unique artefacts and vehicles. I enjoyed looking at the royal cars on display, particularly a miniature silver Aston Martin that was on display. It was presented to the Queen for Prince Andrew when he was a child Those are the kind of cars that dreams are made of!

The fourth and final day of our trip was spent in Peterborough. We spent an enjoyable couple of hours visiting Peterborough Cathedral. Situated in the heart of the city centre, it provides a wonderful haven of peace and tranquillity away from the hustle bustle. The magnificent cathedral church was given cathedral status by Henry VIII in 1541. Prior to that it had been one of the great Benedictine Abbey churches. Henry VIII's first queen Katharine of Aragon is buried at the cathedral. We were lucky enough to see a special Henry VIII exhibition which was on display in the cathedral on the day we visited. It was very interesting.

I’m back home again now and will be posting some photos of my trip to share with you all very soon. Watch this space!

NAOMI'S AWAY

2009-09-10T14:42:00.005+01:00

I'm heading off down South again tomorrow for another well-earned rest, so this will be my last post before I go away. Like many people here, I'm holidaying in England this year. I'm going to be spending a few days touring around the Cambridge and Sandringham area. Fingers crossed for good weather! Hopefully I'll be able to get some good photos to post on here.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank my friends Kyle and Svet from
Windows to Russia for the great little vacation banner they made for me. Windows to Russia is a wonderful site and well worth a visit. It's full of very interesting and informative posts and gives a great insight into life in Russia by a couple who live there. Kyle is originally from the States and moved to Russia after meeting his Russian wife Svet. Kyle and Svet also maintain several other sites too; Windows to Russia - Video, Windows to Russia - News, Windows to Russia - Sports and Windows to Russia - CCCP. They are all great sites and well worth a visit.

I'll be back posting again very soon. See you when I get back!

SEPTEMBER 11TH - THE NATION REMEMBERS

2009-09-10T14:31:00.003+01:00

Tomorrow will be September 11th, a day when we remember all the brave men and women who lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks, the day the world changed forever. I watched a program recently which featured families remembering some of their loved ones who were trapped in the burning towers on that fateful day. One man still had the poignant voice message that his new bride had left him, telling him that she loved him. The young woman worked on one of the high upper floors of one of the towers. We can only imagine what went through those people's minds that day. It must have been devastating both for those involved and for the loved ones they left behind.

We will never forget the events of that terrible day, they will be etched in our minds forever. Our hearts go out to those who lost their loved ones that day. They are gone but certainly not forgotten. May they all rest in peace.

BEATLES DIGITALLY REMASTERED INTO 21ST CENTURY

2009-09-10T14:23:00.001+01:00

We celebrated Beatles Day here in England yesterday, with the news that the whole catalogue of Beatles hits has now been digitally re-mastered at Abbey Road Studios! A treat for Beatles’ fans everywhere! The Fab Four now sound better than ever!

In addition the Beatles Rock Band video game was also launched yesterday. It’s a game that children, parents and grandparents can enjoy playing together – a chance to be your own Beatle! Sounds good to me!

Who can forget John, Paul, George and Ringo. Discovered at The Cavern Club, they were four lads from Liverpool better known as "The Fab Four" to their fans. They became famous in the sixties with such hits as "Help, "Ticket to Ride" and "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and went on to become one of the most successful pop bands of all time. They also had a big impact on society through both their music and fashion style, with their collarless jackets, psychadelic fashions and "mop-top" hair cuts. It’s hard to believe that it’s been 40 years since the Beatles were together in a studio. The Beatles are still as popular as ever in the U.K. and indeed throughout the world. The Fab Four are now set to gain a whole new legion of fans as youngsters discover their music through the Beatles Rock Band game!

LIVES PUT AT RISK BY 999 HOAX CALLS

2009-09-09T22:37:00.004+01:00

Today (being the 9/09/09), the Emergency Services have revealed details of some of the hundreds of time-wasting calls they receive every year. Amongst them was a call from a man about leaving his coat on the bus and another from a lady making a complaint about somebody drawing on the pavement! Unbelievable! The Emergency Services warned that lives are continually being put at risk by hoaxers blocking up the lines with minor complaints.

WINDSOR & BATH TRIP

2009-09-02T22:10:00.002+01:00

STOP PRESS! I've just uploaded some photos to my Flickr album from my recent trip. Click on the Flickr album in the left hand column of this blog to find out more.

Happy viewing!

VICTORIA BECKHAM LANDS GUEST SPOT ON IDOL

2009-08-30T22:51:00.003+01:00

I’m really enjoying the new series of XFactor. It’s one of my favourite shows. I’m quite surprised that some people don’t like the new format. I personally think it’s a great idea to hold the auditions in front of a large studio audience. I think lessons need to be learnt after what happened with Susan Boyle and it’s more important than ever to get potential Xfactor contestants used to performing in front of a live audience. They need time to build up their confidence and get used to being in the limelight if they are fortune enough to go the distance in the show. Meanwhile across the pond, Victoria Beckham is celebrating after landing a guest judge spot on American Idol, in the wake of Paula Abdul’s departure. Victoria has been trying for some time to raise her profile in the States and appearing on Idol will certainly help to do that. Then again according to news reports this week, Victoria’s performance on the show has been strongly criticized for being “too nice”. Well at least she’s not being criticized for being nasty like a certain Mr Cowell!

EDINBURGH TOP CITY TO SEE BEFORE YOU DIE

2009-08-27T19:55:00.008+01:00

Edinburgh has been named the top city that most people would like to see before they die in a recent poll by hotel chain Travelodge. Scotland’s capital city pipped both Liverpool and Bath to the post to win the coveted title. It seems Edinburgh is the place everyone wants to visit. Not surprising really as there is lots to see and do there.
Edinburgh Castle, Holyroodhouse, the Royal Botanic Garden and
the Royal Yacht Britannia (to name but a few!) are all well worth a visit. Edinburgh is an award winning, world class tourist destination. I have visited there on a few occasions myself. As a child, one of my favourite tourist attractions was that of Greyfriars Bobby, a statue erected in memory of the little Skye terrier who guarded his master’s grave until the day he died.

The Edinburgh Festival is well worth a visit too. Some of the country’s best entertainers, musicians and comedians have showcased their talents there over the years. The Edinburgh Tattoo is also a fantastic event and well worth going to see. The writer Robert Louis Stevenson once described Edinburgh as “what Paris ought to be”. It seems the Scottish accent is very popular too. Edinburgh was also voted the city where the locals had the sexiest accent! It’s certainly a great city well worth visiting. To find out more, click on the link shown below:-

Edinburgh - Inspiring Capital

STRICTLY CELEBRITIES REVEALED

2009-08-26T21:22:00.004+01:00

Find out more on the show at:-
www.bbc.co.uk/strictlycomedancing

Follow @bbcstrictly on Twitter

Sign up for text alerts at:- http://www.bbc.co.uk/strictlycomedancing/news/text_club.shtml

FANS CELEBRATE ABBEY ROAD 40TH ANNIVERSARY

2009-08-16T14:50:00.002+01:00

Millions of Beatles fans made a pilgrimage to London’s Abbey Road recently to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the famous album. The celebrations brought traffic to a complete standstill as a Beatles tribute band walked along the zebra crossing made famous by the Fab Four and featured in the photo on the front of their album. Meanwhile fans gathered around the crossing singing Beatles songs. The Beatles definitely put Abbey Road on the map and made it part of musical history. The Fab Four recorded some of their best music in the Abbey Road studio nearby. It’s hard to believe it’s been 40 years since the Beatles crossed Abbey Road in London’s St John’s Wood, creating one of the most recognisable and iconic album covers of all time in the process. How time flies!

RECESSION HIT BRITS FOLLOWING IN WOMBLES FOOTSTEPS

2009-08-11T20:09:00.004+01:00

Most people remember the Wombles of Wimbledon Common. Created by author Elizabeth Beresford, the pointy-nosed furry creatures lived in burrows on Wimbledon Common. They helped the environment by collecting and recycling rubbish in useful and ingenious ways. The Wombles became nationally famous in the mid 70’s as a result of their popular tv show and also popular novelty songs which were released about them. I used to love The Wombles. Who can forget Uncle Bulgaria and friends!

It seems that the Wombles are as popular today as they have always been and according to the results of a recent survey over one in ten of the 2,000 people who took part say they most relate to the pointy nosed furry creatures, making good use of things that other people throw away. The recession has certainly made us Brits more resourceful. Many Brits now admit to baking bread, walking and cycling more, cooking meals from scratch and growing their own fruit and vegetables. Apparently Scrooge is the character that most of us relate to most when it comes to looking after our personal finances. However far from becoming a nation of misers, it seems that the current tough economic times have brought out the best in all of us. The majority of Brits believe that the recession has been life changing and completely changed the way they think about money. The top five money saving measures adopted by today’s Brits include ditching their gym memberships in favour of walking and cycling; collecting money off coupons before dining out; shopping more in charity shops; using leftovers to make soups and casseroles rather than throwing them away and switching from bottled to tap water.

Some Brits who were interviewed admitted going to even more extreme measures to save money including saving money on razors by growing a beard (oh dear!) and training the cat to use the loo to save on cat litter! (Well that is taking things a bit far! Ha ha!) Reminds me of Mr Jinx, the clever cat on Meet the Fockers!

NEW POINTS SYSTEM TO GAIN BRITISH PASSPORT

2009-08-10T21:13:00.004+01:00

The government is planning to launch a new points based system for foreign immigrants wishing to gain British citizenship. Under the new system immigrants can gain extra points by learning to speak English, becoming active members of political parties or trade unions and doing voluntary work in the community. However points will be deducted for bad behaviour including anti-social behaviour and taking part in anti-war demonstrations, The Australian style points-based system also proposes harder language and history tests for any prospective British citizens, before full citizenship can be awarded. Under the new system it may take foreigners several years before they are able to gain a British passport. Immigration Minister Phil Woolas stated that the new proposals were designed to control immigration and encourage integration. It’s almost like the format for a new tv gameshow, “Who wants to be a British citizen?” Collect enough points and you can gain the ultimate prize – a British passport! Let’s hope the new system works.

REAL LIFE MIDSOMER MURDER

2009-08-08T23:39:00.004+01:00

I always enjoy a good murder mystery and one of my favourite shows is Midsomer Murders”. One of my work colleagues jokes that there must be hardly anybody left in that village, so many people have come to a grisley end since the series started! The fictional village of Midsomer must be one of the most dangerous counties in the land! Don’t think I’d like to live there! However now Midsomer (or rather one of the real life villages in Buckinghamshire used to film several episodes of the show) has become the scene of a real life murder investigation after a pensioner’s body was found in a field. Police are now conducting a murder investigation and have stepped up patrols in the area, after reassuring locals that (unlike fictional Midsomer!) incidents of this kind are very rare in the village. Anybody who saw anything suspicious in connection with the death is urged to get in touch with Det Chief Insp Pete Vigurs at Aylesbury police station on 0845 8 505505. Sounds like they need to get Inspector Barnaby on the job!

VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED TO EAT CHOCOLATE!

2009-08-01T16:30:00.005+01:00

As a chocoholic, I was very interested to hear about clinical trials being run by a hospital in Norwich and the University of East Anglia. Prospective women volunteers will be required to eat chocolate every day for a year to test its health benefits! Oh well it’s a tough job but somebody has to do it! (Sounds like the ideal job for me!) One group of volunteers will be required to eat two pieces of a special super strength Belgian chocolate every day, whilst another group will be required to eat normal chocolate as a placebo. Sounds good to me and it’s all in the name of medical science! Apparently researchers are trying to find out whether eating chocolate can help to cut the risk of heart disease and need forty women volunteers to help them. Unfortunately there is a catch! Volunteers need to be menopausal, aged under 75 and also have type two diabetes. ?The women will be monitored and given regular health checks whilst consuming the chocolate. It is hoped that the study will help to determine whether the flavonoid compounds in chocolate can help to reduce the risk of heart disease. If successful, the results of the trials could be the first step in helping to improve the lives of those people at increased risk of heart disease. All the more reason for prospective volunteers to come forward! After all it isn’t every day that you get the chance to indulge yourself in the name of science!

SWINE FLU HELPLINE LAUNCHED

2009-07-26T20:19:00.005+01:00

A special telephone helpline service for victims of swine flu has just been launched in England this week. Capable of answering a million calls a week, the special phoneline is part of England’s National Pandemic Flu Service.

The helpline service has come under fierce criticism as it isn’t staffed by medical professionals but by call centre staff with no medical training. The idea is that it will take some pressure off the NHS hospitals and GP’s surgeries. The government argue that the helpline is a quick and easy way for patients to get access to Tamiflu and other anti-viral drugs, without a visit to a GP surgery or hospital. However it is all too easy for medical professionals to make a wrong diagnosis so there is a real risk that the helpline staff could wrongly diagnose somebody too. There is always a danger that swine flu symptoms could mask a much more serious condition like meningitis.

Suspected swine flu sufferers will have the option of either visiting the National Pandemic Flu Service and filling in an online questionnaire or phoning the helpline and answering a checklist of questions about their symptoms, over the phone. Any sufferers are advised to enlist the help of a “flu friend”. If they get a positive diagnosis of swine flu, they will be given a special authorisation number so that their flu friend can pick up their Tamiflu or anti-viral medication from a designated collection point. The service sounds good in theory. Only time will tell how well it actually works.

Over 100,000 people are estimated to have contracted swine flu over here in the past week alone, whilst approximately 30 people have died from it. Within a few days of being launched, the website has already been inundated with visitors. New adverts for the service have just been launched as part of a £2.4million advertising campaign to promote it. The adverts detail the symptoms of swine flu which include a fever or a high temperature over 38C or 100.4F. The government is also advising people of the importance of sneezing into a handkerchief or tissue, rather than into the air, “catching the sneeze and binning it” and also the importance of hand hygiene and washing hands regularly. Many companies (including the company where I work) have invested in special hand gel which kills any germs associated with the virus. In the case of most illnesses, including swine flu, prevention is definitely better than cure.

The website address for the National Pandemic Flu Service for England is www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu and the phone number is 0800 1513 100.

NAOMI'S BACK

2009-07-19T19:58:00.015+01:00

Hello Everybody

I'm back blogging again after my break. I was only away for 4 days but we crammed so much in during that time. My Mum and I thoroughly enjoyed our trip. We spent the first day in Oxford. It's a lovely city. We saw Oxford Castle and also Christ Church College. We also went for a walk down to the river and saw all the punts on the river. It was very enjoyable and a nice way to spend a sunny afternoon.

Day Two saw us in Windsor. To get the best views of the city we took a ride on the little visitor train that takes visitors past all the best tourist attractions. Another good way to see the sights of this beautiful city is by taking an open top bus tour. However as it was raining heavily when we arrived, we decided to take shelter on the little train! Our trip to Windsor Castle was definitely the highlight of the day. I also had a ride on the Windsor Wheel, a mini version of the London Eye. It was fun and you get such great views over the city, whatever the weather. We ended the afternoon with a scenic French Brothers' cruise on the Thames, complete with commentary, passing singer Natalie Imbruglia's house and also Royal Windsor Racecouse, a fitting end to an interesting day.

We spend Day Three in Bath. We went to the Jane Austen Centre, which is well worth a visit, if you are ever in the area. We also visited Bath Abbey and the world famous Roman baths. It was also nice to admire the beautiful houses in The Circus, a curved millionaire's row of houses, situated in the heart of Bath. The prestigious neighbourhood was once featured in an episode of Inspector Morse, the film Vanity Fair and actor Nicolas Cage owns one, although we didn't catch a glimpse of him the day I was there!

The fourth and final day of our trip was spent in Cheltenham. Sadly it was raining quite hard that day. However, we consoled ourselves with some retail therapy. There are some wonderful shops in Cheltenham. It is also famous for Cheltenham Ladies' College, a college attended by one of my schoolfriends.

I've now back at home again. Glad to be back for a rest! I went back to work on Wednesday and it was busy, it now feels like I've never been away! I'll be posting some photos of my trip to share with you all very soon. Watch this space!

PLEASE NOTE:- The Windsor Castle photo shown above is courtesy of www.freefoto.com as we had some heavy rain the day we visited Windsor, it made taking some good photos a bit difficult!

NAOMI'S AWAY

2009-07-09T22:27:00.002+01:00

Well it's that time of year again, I'm heading off down South on holiday tomorrow so this will be my last post before I go away. Like many people here, I'll be holidaying in England this year. I'm going to be spending a few days touring around the Windsor and Bath area. Fingers crossed for good weather! Hopefully I'll be able to get some good photos to post on here.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank my friends Kyle and Svet from
Windows to Russia for the great little vacation banner they made for me. Windows to Russia is a wonderful site and well worth a visit. It's full of very interesting and informative posts and gives a great insight into life in Russia by a couple who live there. Kyle is originally from the States and moved to Russia after meeting his Russian wife Svet. Kyle and Svet also maintain several other sites too; Windows to Russia - Video, Windows to Russia - News, Windows to Russia - Sports and Windows to Russia - CCCP. They are all great sites and well worth a visit.

I'll be back posting again very soon. See you when I get back!

JULY 7TH - THE NATION REMEMBERS

2009-07-07T20:52:00.002+01:00

A memorial to the victims of the 2005 July 7th bombings was unveiled in London today. Situated in Hyde Park, the memorial consists of 52 stainless steel pillars, representing the 52 lives that were sadly lost that day. Prince Charles spoke of a day of “cruel and mindless carnage”. It was certainly that. Whilst Boris Johnson, the Major of London stated that we would never forget the tragic events that took place that day. They are etched in all our hearts and minds forever. Let us not forget those poor people who were injured and killed in these deadly and mindless acts of terrorism, which left 52 people dead and many hundreds badly injured. The memories of that terrible day will stay with us all forever. Our hearts go out to all those poor people who were injured and to those who sadly lost their lives that day and to the families they left behind. May they never be forgotten.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE - BRITAIN'S GREATEST NATIONAL TREASURE

2009-07-05T19:33:00.004+01:00

William Shakespeare has been voted Britain’s greatest national treasure. The Bard beat Buckingham Palace into second place, whilst fish and chips came in third, just ahead of Buckingham Palace at number 4. The writer of such famous works as “Hamlet” and “Romeo and Juliet”, Shakespeare has always been regarded as a British icon. He is considered by many to be one of the greatest playwrights of all time. Apart from writing some of the most powerful tragedies, he has also written some of the funniest comedies ever to appear on an English stage. His plays are classics and feature as set works by many examination boards here. I enjoyed studying Shakepeare's plays at school and remember seeing "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" performed at the RSC as a student. It was excellent. "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare" containing all his plays still takes pride of place on my bookshelf. Much of the beauty of the Bard’s work lies in the language more than the actual plot. Many of Shakespeare’s plays contain finely crafted passages. “Some are born great others achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them”, in the words of Malvolio a character from Twelfth Night, one of the Bard’s most famous plays. Well according to the results of a poll by Mivvi icecream makers, now it’s official William Shakespeare is the greatest of them all!

EU RELAXES RULES ON SALES OF WONKY FRUIT & VEG

2009-07-05T17:11:00.004+01:00

For the first time in over 20 years, the EU has relaxed its rules regarding misshapen fruit and vegetables. In the next few weeks, nobbly carrots, bendy bananas and curly cucumbers will be returning to a supermarket near you! In years gone by the EU made a rule (at the food industry’s request) that only the best looking fruit and vegetables would appear on our supermarket shelves and dinner tables. Any produce not up to standard would be discarded by suppliers and thrown away. At a time when the government is encouraging consumers to try and cut down on the amount of food being wasted and trying to reduce landfill, it certainly makes sense to sell misshapen fruit and vegetables rather than throwing them away. Farmers will now be able to use more of their crop. Many people forget that apart from being wasteful, throwing away food damages the environment too. The majority of waste food goes into landfill, producing methane, a greenhouse gas much more powerful than carbon dioxide.

Also at a time when food prices are soaring in Britain, selling wonky shaped fruit and veg gives consumers a choice and a chance to save some money when doing the weekly shop. They can either buy perfectly shaped fruit and vegetables at a slightly higher price or choose their misshapen alternatives at a fraction of the cost. The shape of the fruit and vegetables certainly does nothing to affect their flavour or the amount of vitamins and minerals they contain. They still count towards one of your five a day. I’m sure they will prove very popular in these recession-hit times, when shoppers are looking for a cheap and satisfying way to feed their families healthily.

POSTCARDS OF THE QUEEN - NO. 1 SOUVENIR

2009-06-29T21:09:00.003+01:00

At a time when millions of foreign holidaymakers are flocking to Britain for their Summer vacation, gift and souvenir shops are gearing up for the holiday rush as eager tourists come in search of novel souvenirs to take back home. However according to the results of a recent poll, by far the most popular souvenir amongst foreign tourists is postcards of the Queen. The cards featuring her Majesty came in at No. 1 in a poll by B.A.A. at London Heathrow Airport, closely followed by Union Jack T-shirts and badges at No. 2 and replicas of Big Ben at No. 3. She may be in her eighties but The Queen is still as popular as she has always been and is one of the U.K.’s best ambassadors. She represents everything that is good about Britain and it’s not surprising that foreign tourists want to take Royal postcards home as a fitting reminder of their trip over here.

ENGLAND MY ENGLAND - QUINTESSENTIAL ENGLISH MUSIC

2009-06-24T20:19:00.007+01:00

There is surely no more quintessentially English sound than that of the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, and the true beauty of its unaccompanied voices can now be experienced through the new album,
‘England my England’, which is due to be released by EMI Classics on 6th July 2009.

This is intensely moving and profoundly beautiful music. Don’t be surprised if you are moved to tears upon first hearing this album. The Choir of King’s College are definitely one of the jewels in England’s crown and this album showcases their talents beautifully. You can almost imagine you are there in King’s College Chapel listening to them, as their voices invoke images of serenity and peace in a church or cathedral setting.

This essential English collection opens and closes with coronation music. “Zadok the Priest” was written for the crowning of George II in 1727, whilst “I was glad” was composed for the coronation of Edward VII in 1902, and they have both been sung at coronation ceremonies ever since. Listeners will recognize many of the pieces on the album, partly due to their association with key English history events. John Ireland’s “Greater love hath no man” is often heard on Remembrance Sunday. Sir John Tavener’s “Song for Athene” made a powerful impression at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales; whilst John Rutter’s small-scale, personal “Requiem” touched a wider public following the attacks of 11 September 2001. Queen Mary’s 1694 birthday ode, “Come ye sons of art away”, composed by Purcell, together with the music he wrote for her funeral nine months later, “Thou knowest Lord” is also featured. Many favourite hymns and well known psalms sung to Anglican chant, feature on the album, sandwiched amongst both ancient and modern motets. In addition the album features a choral version of “Nimrod”, “Lux aeterna” composed by Edward Elgar, which epitomizes the music of national remembrance.

All in all listening to this album is an intensely beautiful and very moving musical experience. I can thoroughly recommend it.

GORDON BROWN TO APPEAR ON SONGS OF PRAISE

2009-06-23T19:48:00.003+01:00

As Gordon Brown’s popularity continues to sink to an all-time low, he is hoping to re-connect with voters by appearing on “Songs of Praise”. It seems when times get tough Mr Brown, like many others, is turning to religion. Psalm 23, The Lord is My Shepherd was on Mr Brown’s list of chosen hymns. He could certainly do with some divine intervention at the moment! The programme usually features famous churchgoers talking about their favourite hymns. Although Gordon’s father was a Church of Scotland minister, unlike his predecessor Tony Blair, he has never been known as a regular churchgoer. Gordon will be featured in a special edition of the programme which focuses on the subject of courage, something he once wrote a book about. The programme shows Gordon and tv presenter Sally Magnusson discussing the importance of courage. It is thought that Mr Brown’s appearance on the show will help to boost his public image and show him in a more human light. He certainly made an interesting choice of hymns. It’s quite ironic that one of Gordon’s chosen hymns is “Fight the Good Fight”, especially since he has had quite a fight on his hands recently, fighting for his political life in the wake of the recent Westminster MP’s expenses scandal. Well never mind, chin up Gordon! The D-ream song, “Things can only get better” comes to mind!

NEW AD AGAINST BENEFIT THIEVES

2009-06-16T20:20:00.006+01:00

As many of you know, working in an office, I quite often get funny emails sent to my inbox. This one made me laugh and I thought it was quite appropriate, given the current spate of MP's claiming for second home benefits for the rest of us to pay for and generally trying to squeeze as much money out of the already severely cash strapped economy as they possibly can! As many of us struggle to pay the mortgage on our one and only home and keep a roof over our heads, the recent revelation of MP's expenses claims is certainly quite an eye opener! The Department of Work and Pensions Fraud Team could do to keep a close watch on the lot of them! I'm sure they'd have their work cut out!

QUEEN UNVEILS ORGANIC VEGETABLE GARDEN AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE

2009-06-16T19:48:00.004+01:00

The credit crunch has seen a massive rise in allotments as many Britons want to live the “Good Life” and grow their own vegetables. Now the Queen is following in the footsteps of Britons everywhere by having her own organic vegetable plot at her Buckingham Palace gardens. Her Majesty is also following in the footsteps of new First Lady Michelle Obama who recently created a vegetable garden at The White House. The Queen, who attends the Chelsea Flower Show every year, has always had a keen interest in gardens. Vegetables are now growing alongside ornamental plants in the royal gardens, for the first time since the Second World War. Liquid seaweed is being used to cultivate them rather than chemicals. The Queen and Prince Philip will soon be able to savour the fruits of their gardeners’ labours as a range of produce including beetroot, carrots, runner beans and leeks are grown and cultivated in their gardens. The Palace gardens are regularly used for Royal family celebrations and official entertaining and are the scene of the Queen’s annual Summer garden parties. They were recently opened to the public for the first time in 200 years. For £20 a ticket, visitors can now wander round what has been described as “a large oasis” in the centre of London. The gardens are the largest of their kind in the capital and apart from the many varieties of trees and wild flowers, tourists can also view the Palace tennis court where Fred Perry played against George VI in the 30’s. The garden also boasts the oldest private helicopter pad in central London. Public tours run in April, May and June, when the Queen is not in residence and are limited to twenty five visitors at a time. All monies from the tours go towards the upkeep of the gardens.

Britons have often turned their backs to the land in times of crisis, so it is no surprise that allotments have become so popular in the current recession-hit times. Millions of Britons became vegetable gardeners during World War Two, in a bid to feed their families healthily in times of rationing. Allotments were first created in Victorian times to feed factory workers and encourage them to eat healthily. However in modern times, allotments have now crossed the class barriers, providing a relaxing, healthy and money saving pastime for today’s stressed workers. Certainly there is nothing more rewarding than growing, harvesting and eating your own fruit and vegetables. They are also much healthier than their supermarket counterparts which are often full of pesticides. You can hear more about the Royal allotment by clicking on the player shown below:-

PRINCE PHILIP CELEBRATES 88TH BIRTHDAY

2009-06-14T19:39:00.004+01:00

Another person celebrating a birthday this week is Prince Philip. The Prince celebrated his 88th birthday on Wednesday and like the Queen, shows no signs of slowing down and is as busy as ever. A member of the Greek Royal family, Prince Philip was born in 1921 and has been married to The Queen since 1947. The couple have four children and eight grandchildren. The Duke of Edinburgh is only the fifth consort to a reigning Queen in British history and gave up his navy career to support the then Princess Elizabeth when she became Queen. On 18th April this year, Prince Philip also became the longest serving consort in British history.

Both the Queen and Prince Philip are great-great grandchildren of Queen Victoria. Like his eldest son Prince Charles, Prince Philip takes a great interest in the environment, using an LPG powered taxi cab around London to attend engagements. Apart from being an active supporter of a wide range of charities, the Duke of Edinburgh has also founded his own Duke of Edinburgh national and international award scheme, to introduce young people to new challenges and experiences. The scheme has proved to be extremely successful both here and abroad. Prince Philip undertakes a number of Royal engagements himself, in addition to accompanying the Queen on all her overseas tours and visits and on some engagements in this country too. Apart from carrying the title of The Duke of Edinburgh, he also carries the titles of The Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

2009-06-14T19:38:00.000+01:00

I can’t believe how fast this year is flying by! Today I’ve been busy celebrating yet another birthday. However I don’t feel any older and am telling myself that I’m like fine wine! I get better with age! Ha ha!

BIG BEN - BRITAIN'S FAVOURITE TOURIST ATTRACTION

2009-06-10T21:22:00.007+01:00

I’m not surprised to hear that Michelle Obama and her daughters were very keen to visit Big Ben during their private tour of London this week. With its distinctive chimes, Big Ben is one of London’s most famous landmarks and a very popular tourist attraction. The famous icon recently celebrated its 150th anniversary. It is the biggest chiming clock tower in the world. However the name, “Big Ben” actually refers to the 13.5 tonne bell inside rather than the clock itself. The death of the monarch is usually marked by the tolling of the bell. Big Ben is a magnificent piece of Victorian engineering that was built to last for hundreds of years. The famous clock tower in Parliament Square and the Palace of Westminster were commissioned in 1834, after a fire destroyed most of the original Houses of Parliament. The clock was designed by Edmund Beckett Denison, a member of Parliament. It was completed in 1854 and installed in 1859, after the clock tower was completed. The bell was made in Whitechapel and sent out its first chimes in July of that year. Many people believe the clock is electronic, but this is not the case. Big Ben is clockwork and driven by weights which need regular winding. The clock is wound by hand three times a week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The whole process takes over an hour as it isn’t possible to wind the clock whilst it is chiming. The clock’s hour hand was famously immobilised in 1944 when a flock of starlings chose it for a perch! The clock face is usually cleaned by abseilers about every five years. Westminster’s famous landmark clock was silenced for the first time in 51 years in August 2007, when the final phase of work to clean the four clock faces and replace parts took place in preparation for the clock’s 150th anniversary celebration. London tourists and spectators were surprised to see engineers and workers abseiling down the south clock face to repair and clean it. Big Ben was named Britain’s favourite attraction in a recent poll and still holds a special place in many people’s hearts. Big Ben’s chimes can be downloaded as a ringtone at:- www.bigben.parliament.uk

MADE IN BRITAIN

2009-06-01T21:19:00.006+01:00

In these credit crunch times when more and more companies are going to the wall and so many people are losing their jobs, it makes sense to support your country and buy British. Have you ever looked round your home and realised just how many items you have that were made and produced in other countries of the world, other than the U.K.? British businesses are the lifeline of our economy and need our support now. Like many other Brits, I’m an avid supporter of buybritish.com and always try wherever possible to buy British goods and services. Consequently I was very interested to hear about a new tv show about to hit our screens.

"Made in Britain" features award-winning tv comedian Dom Joly , as one man, literally stripped of everything he owns and challenged to buy British. Dom’s family home is also stripped from top to bottom of anything not made in this country. As you can imagine, once Dom’s Japanese tv, French pots and pans, German fridge and several other foreign household items have been removed, there is not much left and all that remains is an almost empty shell of a house with several empty rooms to fill! Dom is then challenged to travel the length and breadth of the country to try and replace all his foreign goods with British made ones. Every episode of the show features Dom dealing with a different room in his house and attempting to fill it with only British made goods. It’s very interesting to watch Dom on his travels to various popular British companies, some well-known and some not so well-known. He meets some quirky, colourful and interesting characters along the way, all of whom believe passionately in the quality of the products they produce. It’s all an exciting voyage of discovery for Dom as he travels around Blighty (as England is affectionately known!) and learns what it really means to be “Made in Britain”. Along the way he visits well-known British toiletries company Lush, now a global success story and also one of Europe’s oldest waterbed companies (surprisingly it was the Brits who first invented them and not the Americans as a lot of people believe!)

You can watch “Made in Britain” on Sky Channel 534 and Virgin TV 206. The new show starts next Monday (8th June) at 8.00pm.

To hear more about it, click on the player shown below:-

DIVERSITY WIN BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT

2009-06-01T21:11:00.002+01:00

Congratulations to popular dance troupe Diversity, who were crowned the winners of 2009’s Britain’s Got Talent. The dance group who hail from London and Essex, take away a £100,000 prize and the chance to perform in front of Her Majesty the Queen at The Royal Variety Performance. They blew the judges and the audience away with their amazing “transformer” dance routine. Bookies’ favourite and global phenomena, Susan Boyle came second but was a gracious loser, telling Ant and Dec that the best people won and wishing Diversity all the best. Despite losing out to Diversity for the coveted No. 1 spot, Susan is expected to make millions from tv appearances, contracts and CD recordings. To see Diversity in action, click on the player shown below:-

SUSAN BOYLE WOWS BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT

2009-05-25T20:39:00.005+01:00

Susan Boyle has once again wowed Britain’s Got Talent with her amazing voice, winning herself a place in the show’s grand final. The singer and church volunteer from Blackburn, West Lothian looked a little different from when she last appeared on the show, having undergone a glamorous makeover. Susan sang her version of "Memory" from Cats and received a standing ovation from both the stunned judges and audience. The Scottish singing sensation is now a worldwide phenomena after her first appearance on the show singing “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Miserables. Within a short time of appearing on the show, she received over 100 million hits on You Tube. Wow! Susan has also appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show and counts Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher amongst her fans, after they were heard “twittering” about her. Even Homer Simpson mentioned her as his inspiration to audition for a talent show in a recent episode of hit show The Simpsons. Bookmaker William Hill is already tipping Susan as odds on favourite to win Britain’s Got Talent. The winner of the popular talent show will take away £100,000 and the chance to perform at The Royal Variety Performance in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen. Susan has already mentioned that she would love the chance to perform in front of the Queen. It looks like the Scottish spinster’s dream could soon become reality!

WIDOW WEAVES DANGEROUS WEB ACROSS BRITAIN

2009-05-24T14:29:00.004+01:00

Most people have phobias and as many of my readers know, mine is spiders. If there is a spider in any room of the house, I have to get it removed (not by me!) before I will even attempt to go in there. I can’t touch them, pick them up or even be in the same place as a spider! I was shocked to hear that a dangerous spider related to the deadly Black Widow spider is currently weaving it’s web and crawling its way across Britain. Gardeners beware! Scientists are blaming global warming for the current influx. The False Widow is a purple and black creature about the size of a one pence piece. Apparently unlike the Black Widow, it’s not deadly but its bite can cause severe pain and swelling. One lady in Egremont, Cumbria suffered an allergic reaction after being bitten by one of the nasty little creatures whilst she was in bed and had to be rushed to hospital. It seems the creatures can also hide themselves in bunches of grapes and bananas (both fruits I enjoy!) and arrive here that way. Scary! As you can imagine, I’m keeping a sharp lookout!

BLACKPOOL - THE PARIS OF THE NORTH

2009-05-14T20:40:00.003+01:00

Blackpool is being promoted as the Paris of the North West in a new continental style ad. The ad which is being shown on You Tube, is aimed at promoting the North West seaside resort as the ideal tourist destination for both Brits and our French neighbours across the channel. Blackpool is already a popular British holiday resort with approximately 10 million tourists visiting the seaside town every year. My maternal grandparents (who lived in Manchester) used to take my Mum for many happy family holidays there when she was growing up.

It is thought that more Brits than ever will be holidaying at home this year due to the credit crunch. Also the strong Euro means that thousands more French people are expected to visit Britain than ever before this year. Entitled “J’aime la Tour”, the ad features a French speaking girl sitting in a chic art deco cafe in Blackpool with her boyfriend. Rather than ordering sophisticated French cuisine, the girl orders a traditional Northern dish, Lancashire Hotpot in French. A popular resort for stag and hen dos, complete with arcades and donkey rides, Blackpool is desperately trying to revamp its image as part of an advertising campaign to boost tourism to its windswept beaches. The aim of the ad is to attract tourists who in the past thought Blackpool wasn’t their sort of place. The 90 second film features shots of Blackpool’s famous tower, fairground and trams. It aims to put Blackpool on the map and promote it as a classy and sophisticated holiday destination to our French neighbours. Oh la la!

COMPETITION FOR SUSAN BOYLE

2009-05-11T19:14:00.004+01:00

Britain's Got Talent 2009 - Greg PRITCHARD
Uploaded by glide64. - Watch more music videos, in HD!

This young lad is amazing. When I first saw him, he reminded me of Billy Ray Cyrus. Like a lot of other viewers, I expected to hear him sing a heavy metal or rock track. But what a surprise when he opened his mouth and launched into his version of the classic Nessun Dorma! It just goes to show how appearances can be deceptive. Even Simon Cowell was shocked at Greg's male soprano voice and said hearing him sing was like "having a dog that miaows!" Not a bad thing according to Simon! Greg admitted that he almost gave up singing altogether when his friends laughed at his high pitched, falsetto singing voice. We're so glad he didn't! Greg is very talented and I'm sure he'll give Susan Boyle a run for her money!

MOD LAUNCHES NEW ACTION FIGURE TOYS

2009-05-10T17:30:00.006+01:00

The Ministry of Defence has caused controversy by launching a range of all action figures. The toys are based on military personnel in the navy, army and airforce and are being sold under the "HM Armed Forces" brand name. The M.O.D. will get a percentage of the profits from each toy sold. However the fact that the money will be used to top up the M.O.D's advertising budget rather than being spent on new equipment for frontline soldiers has sparked outrage amongst real-life service personnel. Each 10" figure wears authentic scaled down versions of the clothing worn by their real-life counterparts. There are three different action figures in each category. Each figure comes with its own accessories. There is a navy diver complete with wetsuit and flippers and a commando complete with his own canoe! Working vehicles including a remote control hovercraft which travels over water and land and also a tank with a spring-powered gun only add to the fun! Critics argue that the figures aren't true to life as they don't represent the many female and multi racial members of the armed forces. Only one black doll is included in the range and there are no female figures at all. The M.O.D. says it plans to rectify this by lauching a female figure and more black figures next year. There is also talk that Ghurka figures may also be launched. Some people argue that the toys glorify images of war and violence and could be a bad influence on today's children. Whilst others believe the figures represent good role models for children to look up to. An M.O.D. spokesman commented, "The British Armed Forces have a very high reputation in this country and throughout the world and we feel the toys reflect that. The products are realistic and accurate and are very much a tribute to the service men and women who always conduct themselves with professionalism and dignity".

Action Man figures and military toy soldiers have always been amongst the most popular boys' toys over the years. It is thought that the new M.O.D. toys will fill the gap in the toy market, left by poor Action Man's demise a few years ago. The new M.O.D. figures are now available to buy in good toy shops everywhere. They will however face tough competition from popular action figures already on the market including Power Rangers and Spiderman. Also many children nowadays prefer to play computer games rather than play with toys. In the days when Action Man was around, computers hadn't been invented! I always remember the original Action Man figures. With their familiar "bushy" close-cropped haircut, they were always very popular with children of my generation. My brother used to have one and had endless fun playing with it. I always remember one of the accessories was a "working" radio that came out with things like, "Bazooka attack!" Very authentic! Wonder if these new action figures have gripping hands like the Action Man toys of yesteryear!

MAY DAY ORIGINS

2009-05-05T20:55:00.009+01:00

We just celebrated the May Day Bank Holiday here in England. I can't believe how fast this year has flown by and we're in May again already! Like a lot of people I always look forward to May as the beginning of Summer. A time when the trees and flowers start to blossom. I also like to think of it as a time to cast off the Winter woolies and hopefully (fingers crossed!) look forward to some warmer weather! Unfortunately that's not the case at the moment as we have a lot of wind and rain here in England. But hopefully that will pass over and we'll have some fine weather soon.

I grew up in the country and as a child, I remember Maypole dancing, (which I used to love at this time of year). Maypole dancing is a very popular and traditional part of English life in many country towns and villages. The dancing often takes place on village greens. Coloured ribbons are attached to a wooden "pole" and each dancer takes the end of a piece of ribbon. The dancers dance around the pole, weaving in and out with the pieces of ribbon, creating beautiful colourful patterns in the process. However if somebody steps out of line, then the ribbons can end up being tangled and then they have to be untangled which only adds to the fun! I always enjoyed Maypole dancing as a child. We used to practice for hours to make sure we got it just right! In olden times, people used to cut down young trees, plant the tree poles in the ground and dance around them to celebrate the end of Winter and the beginning of Summer (even though Summer doesn't offcially begin until June!). This is how Maypole dancing first began. Shakespeare also mentioned the Maypole in his play, "A Midsummer Night's Dream", comparing the character of Helena to a "painted maypole". It's also a tradition here in England to have May Day parades and festivals and crown a May Queen. Morris dancing is also popular in some areas of the country. Morris dancing is a popular type of English folk dancing involving both men and women dressed in bright and colourful costumes. Like Maypole dancing it's a lot of fun! I always enjoy watching Morris dancers. May Day has its origins in Roman times when the festival of Flora was celebrated. Flora was the Roman goddess of fruit and flowers and nowadays she is represented by the May Queen in parades and festivals.

THOUSANDS JOIN FORCES TO RUN LONDON MARATHON

2009-04-29T20:12:00.005+01:00

Celebrities joined ordinary members of the public to run in the London Marathon on Sunday. Thousands of spectators lined the route to cheer them on as they left Greenwich Park and headed eastwards towards Woolwich Royal Artillery barracks before making their way back across the river at Tower Bridge. Reality tv stars Katie Price and Peter Andre, celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay and model Nell McAndrew were amongst some of the famous names taking part. They were joined by runners in fancy dress, professional athletes, those running in support of various charities and fun runners. It always helps when the weather is good. This year the many thousands of runners who took part were lucky enough to enjoy a fine, sunny day. Kenyan Olympic champion Sammy Wanjiru won the men's race, completing the marathon in a record time of 2:05:10, smashing the current record by five seconds. Meanwhile German Irina Mikitenko triumphed in the women's event for the second year running.

The London Marathon is one of Britain's biggest and most popular sporting events. Welcomed by charities, it is also one of the world's biggest and best fundraisers. It's a great annual event which brings people from all different walks of life together, all running and trying to do their bit for their chosen charities, as every year the city comes alive with the sound of pounding feet! Despite all the doom and gloom of the current financial recession, we still have the marathon, an event that definitely brings out the best in everyone taking part. The runners might end up tired and with blistered feet but the tremendous sense of achievement that everyone gets from taking part is well worth it. To read more about this great event, click on the link shown below:-

LONDON MARATHON

LAUREL AND HARDY STATUE UNVEILED IN ULVERSTON

2009-04-26T19:05:00.005+01:00

I've always liked Laurel and Hardy. My grandparents were big fans of the comic duo and as a child, I spent many happy hours round at their house watching Laurel and Hardy films. Laurel and Hardy were a classic and unique comedy duo. Unfortunately they don't make films like that any more. I'm sure some of the innocent slapstick comedy of yesteryear would be lost on some of today's movie goers.

Not many people know but Stan Laurel wasn't American, he was actually English. Arthur Stanley Jefferson or Stan Laurel (as he is more famously known) was born in Ulverston, Cumbria in 1890. He met Oliver Hardy in 1926 when they were both in Hollywood working for the Hal Roach Studios. The two formed a comedy partnership that lasted 31 years. Stan and Ollie appeared in 106 short films and motion pictures spanning the silent film era until the 1950's. Now the famous comedy duo have been immortalised with a £60,000 bronze sculpture which was unveiled last weekend by comedian Ken Dodd in Ulverston. Ken arrived for the ceremony in a vintage Model T Ford with Laurel and Hardy lookalikes to add to the fun. Hundreds of people, including members of The Sons of the Desert (Laurel and Hardy Appreciation Society) gathered to watch the unveiling ceremony. The sculpture which now stands in Ulverston's County Square shows Stan and Ollie leaning against a lamppost. Stan brought Ollie back to his hometown of Ulverston in 1947, with the duo famously waving from the Coronation Hall balcony to a huge crowd of adoring fans standing below. One of my favourite all-time Laurel and Hardy classics is a scene from the movie, "Way Out West", where they sing, "On the Trail of the Lonesome Pine". To view it, click on the player shown below:-

HANNAH MONTANA FEVER HITS LONDON

2009-04-26T14:45:00.004+01:00

Hannah Montana fever hit London this week as teen star Miley Cyrus wowed fans at the premiere of Hannah Montana The Movie in Leicester Square. The streets were lined with thousands of children and teenagers, some of whom had queued for hours to catch a glimpse of their favourite Disney idol. Dressed in a short and sparkley Herve Leger dress and silver heels, Miley didn't disappoint her loyal army of fans and looked quite the fashion icon, She was accompanied by her dad, country music singer Billy Ray Cyrus. To the delight of eager fans, Miley and her dad happily shook hands, signed autographs and posed for photographs.

Billy Ray, famous for his hit song Achy Breaky Heart (I loved that song!) spoke of his pride of both his daughter and the new film. It's definitely a case of life imitating art, as Billy Ray plays Miley's dad in the movie too. As Hannah Montana The Movie shot to no. 1 in its opening weekend in the States, Billy spoke of the amazing reaction of fans and said the new movie had a great cast and crew. The film follows on from the Disney tv series about Miley Stewart who leads a secret double life, acting as a normal teenager and schoolgirl by day but who dons a blonde wig by night to become singing star and alter-ego Hannah Montana. The movie follows Miley as she is ready to crack under the pressure of the soaring popularity of her singing sensation other half. Her dad thinks she needs a reality check and takes her back home to Tennessee, where movie goers can follow her fun and romance filled adventures. Billy Ray explained that going back to Miley's roots in Tennessee was the heart and soul of the film. Miley Cyrus is definitely one of Disney's shining stars. The Hannah Montana tv series has grown into a worldwide billion dollar phenomena. The tv series is loved by millions of children and teenagers, not just in Britain but the world over. I'm sure the movie will be just as popular. To see the trailer, click on the link shown below:-

HANNAH MONTANA THE MOVIE - OFFICIAL TRAILER

HAPPY ST GEORGE'S DAY

2009-04-23T18:22:00.004+01:00

Today in England we celebrate St George’s Day. St George is the patron saint of England, better known for slaying a dragon (evil), as the story goes and rescuing a trapped maiden. St George’s emblem is a red cross on a white background, which is England’s flag and forms part of Britain’s Union Jack flag. The flag has grown in popularity in recent years, particularly with football fans who display it on their cars at the time of the World Cup matches.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MA'AM

2009-04-21T20:08:00.004+01:00

The Queen celebrated her 83rd birthday today, spending the day quietly at Windsor Castle with her husband Prince Philip. Union Jack flags will be flying above government buildings until sunset today in her Majesty's honour, whilst a 41-Gun salute was fired in the centre of London by the Kings Troop Royal Artillery. Despite being in her eighties, the Queen is still one of the hardest working members of the Royal family and shows no signs of slowing down. She also has no plans to step down from the throne. As the great grandchild of Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth is the last female sovereign. The Queen and Prince Philip have been married for over 61 years and have four children and eight grandchildren. Apart from being a mum and grandmother, the Queen is also Head of State, Head of the Church of England, the Commonwealth and the Armed Forces.

The Queen traditionally celebrates two birthdays every year. Her actual birthday is in April, whilst she celebrates a second official birthday in June with the traditional Trooping the Colour ceremony. The tradition of two birthdays goes back to the time when if monarchs were born in Winter, the weather was deemed unsuitable for outdoor events so a second “birthday” had to be created for them. Unfortunately when this tradition came into being, they didn’t count on how unpredictable the British weather can be!

Happy Birthday Ma’am. Long may you reign over us!

SUSAN BOYLE - A YOU TUBE SENSATION

2009-04-18T17:33:00.007+01:00

Scottish spinster Susan Boyle has become an overnight sensation after her recent appearance on Britain's Got Talent. The judges were about to dismiss the volunteer charity worker until she started to sing her version of the Les Miserables song "I Dreamed a Dream", blowing the audience away with her amazing voice. The judges watched in stunned silence with Piers Morgan describing her performance as, "amazing, incredible and stunning". Amanda Holden said it had been a "complete privilege" listening to her. Simon Cowell described her performance as extraordinary. A video of Susan's appearance on the show has become an instant hit on You Tube with over 18 million hits. It seems that word of Susan's amazing voice has spread far and wide! Even Demi Moore and her husband Ashton Kutcher were heard "twittering" about it. Wow! News travels fast! Susan is this year's hot favourite to win the show. There are also rumours she will soon be a special guest on the Oprah Winfrey Show, after wowing Americans with her recent appearance on CBS's "The Early Show". To hear Susan sing, follow the link shown below:-

Susan Boyle on Britain's Got Talent

THUMBS DOWN FOR GORDON BROWN DOLL

2009-04-17T23:36:00.003+01:00

I was interested to hear about the new Michelle and Barrack Obama dolls being brought out in the States. The President and his wife seem to be a well-liked and high profile couple. I'm sure the dolls will prove very popular with American children. I can't see the idea taking off here though. I can't imagine anyone wanting a Gordon Brown doll! Then again, maybe it would prove popular with some adults, if only to stick pins in! Things are in such a state in this country!

INTELLIGENT KITCHENS CATERING FOR OUR EVERY NEED

2009-04-17T23:27:00.006+01:00

What's for dinner? The eternal question and one that many busy wives and mums struggle to answer, particularly after a difficult day at work. Well it seems their prayers are about to be answered. I smiled when I read about the results of a recent report compiled by the Future Laboratory Consultancy on behalf of British electrical retailer Comet. The report predicts that in the future intelligent fridges and ovens will do the thinking for us! Interesting! Apparently in the next 10 years, we could see fridges that will make menu suggestions for dinner according to the contents inside them and even let us know when we're running low on supplies so we know exactly what to buy when we go shopping without forgetting anything! In the home of the future, intelligent bathroom scales will be connected to the kitchen and keep an eye on our waistlines. If we're putting on weight, the fridge of the future will make menu suggestions to encourage us to eat more healthily and shed the excess pounds.

Can't cook? Well that's not a problem either! The report predicts that in the kitchen of the future, intelligent ovens will automatically calculate the correct cooking times and conditions for every type of food, to ensure perfect results every time! If you live alone, that's no problem either! You'll never be lonely in the kitchen of the future as all singing, all dancing (well almost!) ovens and fridges communicate verbally with their owners, understanding and responding to our every need via Voice Recognition Technology. Sounds like fun! I wonder if they do the cleaning, washing and ironing and put the bins out as well? No doubt there will be some intelligent, labour saving devices to do that as well in 10 years' time. Can't wait!

LIZ & CHARLES LAUNCH ORGANIC RANGE

2009-04-14T09:42:00.003+01:00

Prince Charles is joining forces with British actress Liz Hurley to launch a range of "modern, healthy" organic produce. The Prince plans to market a selection of organic meat and grain products using ingredients sourced from the actress's nearby farm. The new products will be on sale from October and will be sold under Prince Charles' Duchy Originals label. The Austin Powers actress described Prince Charles as an "inspiration" due to his belief in organic food and farming and said that she felt honoured to be associated with Duchy Originals. Liz Hurley currently breeds cows, pigs and chickens at her 400 acre organic farm. Her organic and rare breed lamb, pork and beef are used by some of London and Gloucestershire's leading chefs. Prince Charles is a long time advocate of organic and sustainable farming. Duchy Originals currently sells a range of over 200 "quintessentially British" products, with all profits going to the Prince's Charities Foundation.

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL MY READERS!

2009-04-10T17:48:00.002+01:00

This year has gone by so fast, I can't believe it's the big Easter weekend again over here in England and yet again Easter eggs appeared on sale in the shops here in February! I'm sure it gets earlier every year as Easter, (like every other holiday), gets more and more commercialised.

The pagan origins of Easter are thought to derive from Eostre (or Oestre as it’s sometimes spelt), a fertility godess. As the egg is the symbol of fertility and rebirth, this is where the custom of Easter eggs came from. Easter bunnies too originate from here as rabbits are very fertile creatures. Easter egg rolling is also popular at this time of year. In some areas of England, it still continues today, usually on Easter Monday. This is symbolic in Christian tradition of the stone being rolled away from Christ’s tomb. Spring and Easter is traditionally a time of rebirth.

Even though Easter has become commercialised now, we mustn’t forget it’s true meaning. In Christianity, Maundy Thursday recalls the Last Supper, the agony in the garden and Jesus’s arrest. For centuries, people in authority have washed the feet of their followers on this day. In England, the Queen traditionally presents “Maundy” money to pensioners (nominated by clergy of various denominations), for their service to the church. Good Friday remembers Jesus’s death on the cross and how he died to save us all. Easter Saturday is the final day of Lent. Easter Sunday celebrates Jesus’s resurrection. Happy Easter Everybody!

HOT CROSS BUNS - AN EASTER TRADITION

2009-04-10T17:29:00.006+01:00

"Hot Cross Buns - one a penny, two a penny, Hot Cross Buns!"

Who can forget that popular little nursery rhyme! It could have come straight out of the pages of a Dickens' novel and was regularly chanted by street vendors who sold the warm, fresh buns straight from the oven on Good Friday. Until recent years, Hot Cross Buns were only available to buy on Good Friday, as a result of a London bylaw which was introduced back in Tudor times, banning the sale of them at any other times. The little fruited and spiced buns with a cross carved on top have long been a symbol of Good Friday. Hot Cross Buns have been a Good Friday and Lenten tradition for centuries. Even though nowadays we associate them with Christianity, some people believe the original roots of the buns lie in pagan times when the cross symbolised the four corners of the moon. Also in Roman times, an ox would traditionally be sacrified at Easter and the image of it's horns carved into a ritual bread bun, which later evolved to become the Hot Cross Bun we know today. To the Romans the cross symbol represented the ox's horns. The word bun is actually derived from the Saxon word boun which means sacred ox. In the late 1300's a monk, Father Thomas Rockliffe distributed the buns to the poor of St Albans on Good Friday. They were made to a secret recipe and became very popular. Soon afterwards they became a christian tradition with the cross symbolising the crucifixion and reminding us that Jesus died on the cross.

There are many old English superstitions and folklore tales surrounding the buns. The buns have long been associated with healing and protection. It was once thought that taking a Hot Cross Bun on a sea voyage helped to guard against shipwreck! Other popular beliefs are that if a bun is halfed and shared, the person you share it with will remain a lifelong friend and also that hanging a hot cross bun up in the house ensures good luck for the coming year! In years gone by, buns made on Good Friday were used in powdered form to treat a variety of illnesses. Today Hot Cross Buns are available to buy in supermarkets and bakeries thoughout the Easter season. I love Hot Cross Buns and always enjoy them at this time of year. My favourite way of eating them is toasted and buttered with some cheese in the middle. If you would like to have a go at making some delicious Hot Cross Buns yourself, click on the link shown below:-

Hot Cross Bun Recipe from Delia Online

BRITAIN WELCOMES PRESIDENT OBAMA AND WIFE MICHELLE

2009-04-10T15:05:00.004+01:00

It was a historic day as America's new President Obama and his wife Michelle made their first visit to the U.K. for the historic G20 summit. The couple were greeted warmly by Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah, enjoying a special dinner cooked by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver. The couple were also granted a private audience with Her Majesty the Queen as part of their visit. America has always enjoyed a special relationship with Britain, so it was no surprise that the President's wife Michelle dispensed with protocol and hugged the Queen. Her Majesty, who had earlier placed a white gloved hand around Michelle's waist, asked her to keep in touch. Michelle wowed everyone she met with her easygoing manner and dazzling outfits. I think she will make a wonderful First Lady. Michelle reminds me a lot of Princess Diana. She seems like a warm and compassionate woman, someone who is not afraid to show emotion and is able to communicate with people from all walks of life.

President Obama said that the Queen was one of the main reasons he loved the U.K. He also spoke of the "extraordinary affinity and kinship" between the British and American people.

As Gordon Brown's popularity sinks lower by the day, he was no doubt hoping that Barack Obama's visit would help to boost his profile. Certainly Gordon Brown's diplomatic skills came to the fore as he brought together the world's leaders at the G20 summit and thrashed out a $1trillion bailout deal from some of the world's richest countries to kickstart global economic growth. The deal will see some of the world's wealthiest nations injecting a huge amount of money into the International Monetary Fund. The Prime Minister described it as, "the day the world came together to fight back against the global recession - not with words, but with a plan for global recovery and reform". He received a standing ovation from world leaders after the deal was secured. Mr Brown has flown half way round the world in recent weeks, in a bid to persuade some of the world's most powerful leaders to support his plans at the G20 summit. However he still refused to take all the credit for the successful outcome, describing the bailout deal as a good example of the world working together. Economists predict that as a result of the deal, we should see a way out of this terrible global recession next year. Only time will tell if they are right. With so many people here losing their jobs and homes, we can only hope that things will get better and there is a brighter economic future ahead for all of us.

OXFORD & CAMBRIDGE BOAT RACE

2009-03-29T11:40:00.002+01:00

The Oxford and Cambridge Boat race is being held today. One of London's greatest annual events, it always attracts the crowds who come to watch the students as they try to out row one another in their paddle boats along the banks of the River Thames. Thankfully the sun is shining so it looks like being a nice fine day. That always helps! The boat race described by some as "the world's longest surviving sporting challenge", takes place between the students of London's famous Oxford and Cambridge Universities.

The historical annual event dates back to the 1800's when Charles Merivale, a student at Oxford challenged his friend (also called Charles, who just happened to be the famous poet William Wordsworth's nephew!) to a boat race. Charles Wordsworth was a student at the rival Cambridge University. The famous race, one of London's most celebrated events still continues to this day and is watched by many millions of people worldwide.

You can read more about it by following the link shown below:-

www.theboatrace.org

SPOOKY CASTLE GHOST CAUSES STIR

2009-03-29T10:45:00.003+01:00

As most of my readers know I like to keep an open mind on things like UFO's, ghosts and spiritual things. However probably the best proof yet of the existence of ghosts was unveiled this week. A spooky photo showing a ghost in period costume looking out of the barred window of a Scottish castle has baffled experts. The photo was taken at Tantallon Castle, a ruined fortress which dates back to the 14th century and lies on a remote, rocky headland of Scotland's East Coast, near North Berwick. The fortress was badly damaged by Oliver Cromwell's forces in 1651. The man that took the photo said that he didn't notice anything untoward when the picture was taken. It was only later when he got home that he spotted the strange and eerie presence.

Members of the public were asked to submit photos of ghostly images for experts to examine. The best ones are featured on www.scienceofhauntings.com. Over 250 photos were received from all over the world and over quarter of a million people voted for what they considered to be the best photo. The Ghost in the Castle took the No. 1 spot. I'm not surprised! The eerie photo shows a figure wearing a ruff at the neck, however no costumed guides are employed at the castle. Staff at the castle also confirmed that no historical events were going on that day, no little old ladies were seen wearing ruffs and there are no sinister dummies in period costume around! Also experts have confirmed that the photo is genuine and no digital tampering or trickery has been used. Some experts believe the spooky figure could be King James V of Scotland. The photo has caused quite a stir and has certainly got people talking - that's for sure! Even hardened sceptics are baffled by it. Some people belief that the past, present and future exist at the same time. This photo is real evidence of that and living proof that ghosts really do exist, even in this day and age.

Photo:- Courtesy of Yahoo and Sky News

BRITISH SUMMERTIME BEGINS

2009-03-29T10:06:00.004+01:00

I can't believe how fast this year is flying by! We put the clocks forward one hour at midnight last night to mark British Summertime. The bad news is we've all lost one hour's sleep! However the good news is lighter evenings and not having to drive home from work in the dark!

The origins of daylight saving lie in 18th century Paris, when Benjamin Franklin first came up with the idea of making the most of the daylight and saving money spent on candles in 1784. The idea was met with mixed reactions and wasn't heard of again until the early 1900's when William Willett, a London businessman published a booklet entitled, "The Waste of Daylight". Willett believed that summer morning light was being wasted as people slept and that time would be better utilised in the afternoons by putting the clocks forward one hour. Willett's suggestion became a reality around the time of the First World War when the British Government adopted the idea, following in the footsteps of their German and European neighbours to save on coal and boost wartime production. Many other countries followed suit and nowadays around seventy countries have daylight saving time.

There are many advantages to daylight saving and British Summertime, the main one being a reduction in the number of fatal road traffic accidents. In addition, I always think that lighter evenings make people feel better and encourage them to get out of the house more and do outdoor activities. Anything that promotes our health and wellbeing can only be a good thing. Now all we need is some nice Summer weather to go with it! Roll on Summer!

JADE GOODY DEAD

2009-03-22T17:38:00.010Z

Reality tv star Jade Goody has lost her brave fight for life. Jade passed away in the early hours of this morning, with her mother Jackiey and her new husband Jack by her side. One of Jade's last wishes was that she would live long enough to spend one last Mother's Day with her two young sons. Sadly it was not to be.

A former dental nurse, Jade found fame on British reality tv show, "Big Brother" in 2002. She hit the headlines in 2007, after being accused of racially bullying fellow Celebrity Big Brother contestant Shilpa Shetty. However the storm blew over and the two became friends. Jade was diagnosed with cervical cancer whilst appearing in the Indian version of the hit show. The reality tv star has lived most of her life in the public eye and chose to fight her cancer battle in the public arena, securing tv, magazine and newspaper deals in the last few weeks before her death. She was determined to ensure the financial security of her two boys, even paying their school fees until they are 16, in the only way she knew how, by continuing to live the final weeks of her life in the spotlight. Even her funeral is set to be a big public and media event.

Jade's legacy was to raise awareness of cervical cancer. Thanks to her, the number of women going for smear tests has now risen by a third. Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in Britain, particularly in women under 35, killing many thousands of women every year. Jade was only 27 when she died.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown led the tributes to Jade describing her as a "courageous woman in life and death". He said he was deeply saddened by her death and that the whole country admired her determination to provide a bright future for her children. Our thought and wishes are with her family. Rest in peace Jade.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

2009-03-22T13:23:00.001Z

Today we celebrate Mother’s Day in England, a special day when we can show our Mum just how much we love and appreciate her! Traditionally Mother’s Day has always been celebrated (in Britain), on the fourth Sunday of Lent since about the 16th century. The original roots of Mother’s Day probably lie in the church festival of “Refreshment Sunday”, when traditionally people would go back to visit their “Mother” church, i.e. the church where they were baptised. As time went by this custom changed to using the day for people to honour their mothers rather than the church. I’m taking my own Mum out for a meal to celebrate her special day! Happy Mothers Day to any mums reading this!

PRINCE WILLIAM SENSE OF EMPTINESS AT LOSS OF DIANA

2009-03-22T13:16:00.004Z

As Britons everywhere celebrate Mother's Day, please spare a thought for those who have lost their mothers and also for mothers who have lost children. For them and others like them, today is always a very difficult day. Prince William spoke of the emptiness he feels at the loss of his mother, Diana this week saying, "Never being able to say the word 'Mummy' again in your life sounds like a small thing. However, for many, including me, it is now really just a word - hollow and evoking only memories". William was just 15 when his mother died in the tragic Paris car crash.

The Prince's comments were made as he became patron of the Child Bereavement Charity, a charity which his late mother was also involved with. The Prince also helped the charity to launch a special Mother's Day campaign to raise awareness of the problems faced by children who lose their mothers and mothers who lose their children, both on Mother's Day and every day. Prince William stated that he could wholeheartedly relate to the Mother's Day campaign as he too had felt and still felt a sense of emptiness on days like Mother's Day.

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE & A FAB FOUR DEGREE

2009-03-16T21:41:00.003Z

Liverpool's Hope University has made headlines by becoming the first in the U.K. (and the world!) to launch a Masters' Degree Course in The Beatles! Who can forget John, Paul, George and Ringo. Discovered at The Cavern Club, they were four lads from Liverpool better known as "The Fab Four" to their fans. They became famous in the sixties with such hits as "Help, "Ticket to Ride" and "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and went on to become one of the most successful pop bands of all time. They also had a big impact on society through both their music and fashion style, with their collarless jackets, psychadelic fashions and "mop-top" hair cuts.

The Beatles are still as popular as ever in the U.K. and indeed throughout the world. With only 30 course places available, the university has been inundated with enquiries from Beatles fans from as far away as the States. On the question as to whether the degree would equip graduates for today's tough job market, the course leader replied that Masters' degrees of any description are vital for the workplace. It seems all you need to get on in the world (apart from love!) is a fab four degree!

PRINCE CHARLES LAUNCHES DUCHY HERBALS

2009-03-15T17:51:00.003Z

Prince Charles has launched a range of herbal tinctures under his Duchy label. The new Duchy Herbals products are all made from plants and are available to buy at branches of Boots and Waitrose for the princely sum of £10! The tinctures which are made from plants include Echincea reflief to help ease symptoms of the common cold; Hyperi-Life to help symptoms of anxiety and depression and Detox to help eliminate toxins and aid digestion. A Duchy spokesman said, "The decision to launch these products reflects the Prince of Wales's passion for integrated healthcare". The Prince has always been a great advocate of complementary treatments and therapies. He once famously remarked that modern medicine needs to adopt a more "integrated and holistic approach". Prince Charles was also quoted as saying that he believed the proper mix of proven complementary, traditional and modern remedies which emphasise the active participation of the patient can help to create a "powerful healing force" for our world.

Prince Charles's new Detox tincture has come under fierce criticism by a leading British academic expert in the field of complementary medicine. Edzard Ernst, a professor of complentary medicine at Exeter University has branded the artichoke and dandelion mix, "outright quackery" and accused the Prince of financially exploiting a gullible public in times of hardship. Ernst claims that Prince Charles is contributing to the ill health of the nation and pretending we can all overindulge, then take the Detox tincture and feel fine again. He also stressed that there was no evidence that the tincture worked. A Duchy spokesman hit back by saying that the Detox tincture had never been described as, "a remedy, cure or treatment" for any disease and satisfied all relevant sections of European and UK food laws. Nelsons, the firm which manufactures the Duchy Originals Herbals, stated that Artichoke and Dandelion had been used for hundreds of years as an aid to digestion and they didn't believe the product contributed to ill health by encouraging over indulgence. I personally believe the products are very good. As some of you know, I work in the Vitamin and Supplement industry myself and am a great believer in complementary therapies and remedies. However in my opinion, they should never replace traditional modern medicine but should ideally work alongside it, to complement any existing treatment a patient is receiving. I also think that it's very important that herbal medicines, like traditional medicines are regulated. I know from personal experience that some herbal products, particularly those containing St Johns Wort, can have contraindications with other traditional medicines that a patient may be taking. It's always worth consulting your doctor and asking their advice before you take any complentary herbal product, just to be on the safe side.

DOODLE YOUR WAY TO A BETTER MEMORY

2009-03-14T15:55:00.006Z

Like most office workers, I know at least one colleague who loves to doodle. I know quite a few people (not mentioning any names!) who love to relieve their boredom by doodling the hours away at meetings. I've seen the artistic little drawings on their notepads to prove it! Doodles are quite an interesting art form, a product of our subconscious mind and many psychologists say that studying them can reveal quite a lot about a person. Many famous people love to doodle, including the late Richard Nixon and Bill Gates. Doodling is regarded by many as the height of rudeness and bad manners, especially when done whilst someone is speaking to you. It usually sends the message to the other person that you are bored and disinterested in what they are saying. Not a good message to be sending, especially if it's the boss who's doing the talking!

However according to new research from the University of Plymouth, doodling is good exercise for the brain and actually helps to actively improve memory recall and aids concentration by keeping the mind focused. Apparently when people are bored, their minds start to wander and they daydream. However doodling is a way to stop them from dreaming and keep them focused on the task in hand. A leading psychologist from the university says that far from being frowned upon, doodling should be actively encouraged, particularly at meetings. To prove his point, the professor led a study, where a group of people were asked to listen to a tape of a boring telephone message whilst doodling. The message mentioned the names of people who had been invited to a party. A random test was done to see how much the participants could remember. The doodlers did very well and managed to recall details of those people who were attending the party and also their names. Their power of recall was much better than that of the participants who listened to the message and weren't occupied doodling. The research was undertaken in connection with National Doodle Day. Hundreds of celebrities including Ricky Gervais (from The Office) have created doodles, which will be auctioned online to raise money for charity. So there you go! Maybe doodling to relieve boredom isn't such a bad thing after all and could help us all to improve our memories!

DIARY FROM ENGLAND UPDATE

2009-03-01T20:40:00.002Z

As you've probably gathered Diary From England is on temporary hold. Due to ongoing computer problems (my old computer died on me a few weeks ago!) and a busy work schedule, I've been unable to post as often as I would like, so thought it was best to put a hold on things. I've now got a new computer but seem to have made myself even more problems as it runs on Vista and most of my equipment like my printer and camera doesn't seem to be compatible. I couldn't even get my internet connection to work at first as my existing modem wasn't compatible! Oh the wonders of modern technology - can't live with it - can't live without it! Thanks to everyone for the kind thoughts and wishes. As some of you know I've been resting this week after being in hospital having a minor procedure done. I'll be back posting again very soon.

NAOMI

BRITISH WOMEN SPEND HALF THEIR TIME ONLINE

2009-01-13T21:34:00.004Z

According to the results of a recent survey, British women are leading the way in internet use, spending nearly half their free time surfing the net. That’s more than the national average of women in most other countries of the world. I personally love spending time on the computer and can’t imagine life without one.

More than 81% of British women questioned rated using the internet as “very important”, with many choosing to shop online rather than hit the high street for bargains. It seems that the majority of time British women spend on the net is spent shopping, with the current recession hit times doing nothing to dampen their appetite as they spend their hard-earned cash online. Apparently recent figures show that people in Britain are currently spending over £1billion a month in sales made over the internet. Wow! No wonder so many high street shops are going out of business! It seems that more and more people are now choosing to shop on the net. The main advantages being that you can shop online 24 hours a day in the comfort of your own home, saving on petrol costs and having to go round the shops in freezing cold weather. It must be very difficult for retail businesses to keep going nowadays as the internet is certainly a tempting alternative for many customers.

Apparently the survey also found that more people than ever are now choosing to use the internet to socialise and make new friends. Apparently a quarter of the average Brit’s friends are online friends who they have never met in person! Oh dear! It seems like many Brits are now living in their own little virtual worlds! Technology is a wonderful thing. The advent of computers has made life a lot easier for many people nowadays. Computers hadn’t even been invented when I was growing up. It’s nice to have online friends. I have some myself, through this blog but they are no substitute for real-life friends. Existing in a virtual world can’t be healthy. I think it’s important to strike a balance. Everyone needs to have at least some social interaction with other people. I personally think it’s important to have real life friends as well as cyberfriends. Happy surfing everyone!

GREEN QUEEN RUNNING BENTLEYS ON BIOFUEL

2009-01-05T20:50:00.002Z

Her Majesty the Queen is doing her bit for the environment by converting her two state Bentleys to run on biofuel. The two Bentleys are said to be worth in the region of £10million each. Crewe based luxury British car company Bentley presented the Queen with one of the vehicles as a gift to celebrate her Golden Jubilee in 2002. She was so impressed with it that she bought a second one to ensure that there was always a vehicle available when she was travelling around the country on state visits. Bentley are keen to ditch the “gas guzzling” image of their vehicles and are planning to launch a new biofuel high performance car in the New Year. Bentley executives stated that the Royal family had been very supportive of the luxury car company’s plans to go green. The company, who continue to maintain the royal state Bentleys said it was a relatively simple procedure to replace the engines on the vehicles to run on biofuel.

The Queen is following in the footsteps of her son, Prince Charles who recently found a novel way to run his car and help the environment at the same time. The Prince recently converted his beloved Aston Martin to run on wine, or rather 100% bioethanol fuel which is distilled from surplus British wine. The fuel is made from surplus supplies from local vineyards. He has already converted his Range Rover, Audi and Jaguar to run on biodiesel fuel produced from used cooking oil. Meanwhile his father Prince Philip uses an LPG powered taxi cab to travel around London to attend engagements. Prince Charles has always been a big supporter of green issues and in the past described climate change as, “the biggest threat to mankind”.

PANTOMIME - A GREAT BRITISH INSTITUTION

2009-01-04T21:51:00.007Z

The Pantomime season is currently in full swing here in England, with many British, Australian and American stars strutting their stuff in full costume, to a captive audience of adults and children alike. Amongst the American stars taking part are Henry Winkler (better known as The Fonz!) and Steve Guttenberg (Police Academy). It’s even rumoured that the Hoff was considering taking part in a British panto! Many Australian actors and actresses from Home and Away and Neighbours are also eager to star in British panto. Pantomime (or panto as it’s also known) is one of those great British institutions, loved by children and adults of all ages. It’s a unique form of entertainment not found in any other country of the world. Pantomime is always performed around Christmas time (running until early in the New Year) and is usually based around popular children’s stories such as Peter Pan, Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk and Sleeping Beauty. The stories always have a happy fairytale ending. There is always a villain who comes to upset the proceedings but by the end of the show, he or she has been defeated and true love and happiness reigns supreme. Pantomime is great for children as it sends them the underlying message that good will always triumph over evil. Audience participation is positively encouraged and all part of the fun of panto. Children and adults alike love to boo the villain and warn the hero or heroine of the show where the villain is, shouting, “He’s (She’s) behind you!”. “Oh Yes he is! Oh No he isn’t!” Pantomimes are always great fun for both children and adults alike.

The word Pantomime literally means “all kinds of mime”. It is thought that British Pantomime has its origins and is modelled on the early masques of Stuart and Elizabethan times. The early masques of the 14th century tended to be mime, musical or spoken dramas performed in some of the grand English country houses. Times have certainly changed quite a bit since then and from the 17th century, they evolved into a theme party. Almost every pantomime nowadays has a Dame who is usually played by a man and a Principal Boy character who is usually played by a woman. This is thought to have its origins from the “Feast of Fools”, an entertainment event held in Tudor times which involved role reversal, drinking and revelry! Pantomimes are always well attended and despite the credit crunch, over 3 million people (including myself!) will visit a panto this season. So if you’re an overseas visitor staying in England at the moment, don’t forget to go and visit a Pantomime. It’s a unique experience you’ll never forget and I can promise you’ll have lots of fun, light relief from all the bad things going on in the world at the moment. Go on, visit a Pantomime today.

THE QUO UK'S HARDEST WORKING ROCKERS

2009-01-04T15:41:00.005Z

Les Battersby's favourite rock band Status Quo have been named Britain’s hardest working rockers after performing in the most arena concerts during 2008. The band managed to beat popular British boy band Take That who successfully performed a series of thirty four sellout comeback concerts to packed arenas. The Quo, famous for their hit, “Rockin All Over the World”, performed to over 300,000 fans, who flocked to see their thirty five U.K. performances. The Quo’s lead singer and front man, Francis Rossi explained that playing to their fans is still and has always been the band’s top priority. Rossi stated that nothing beats playing live and this is as relevant today as it’s always been. Status Quo have released 75 U.K. singles since performing their first gig in South London in 1962.

* Foreign and overseas visitors, please note that Les Battersby was a popular character in one of Britain’s favourite soaps, “Coronation Street”. He was also a big fan of The Quo!

PHOTO:- Courtesy of Yahoo News

PRINCE CHARLES HARDEST WORKING ROYAL

2009-01-04T15:08:00.002Z

For the first time ever, Prince Charles has overtaken his sister Princess Anne to become Britain’s hardest working Royal. Prince Charles notched up over 560 official engagements, carrying out more official duties than any other senior member of the Royal family. Princess Anne, (better known as the Princess Royal), only carried out 534 official engagements last year, according to the results of a recent survey. However Princess Anne was still as hardworking as ever, going out and about to meet members of the public. Her events were mainly comprised of opening ceremonies, official visits and other engagements, whilst Prince Charles carried out more meetings, audiences and investitures, no doubt in preparation for when he becomes King.

Despite both being in their eighties, the Queen and Prince Philip are still as busy and hardworking as ever and show no signs of slowing down. The Queen carried out 417 official engagements last year, whilst Prince Philip carried out 354. By contrast Princes William and Harry only managed to carry out a meagre 41 official engagements between them.

JOHN LENNON COMES BACK TO LIFE IN TV AD

2009-01-04T13:12:00.002Z

John Lennon has come back to life again thanks to the wonders of modern technology, to appear in an American tv ad. The ad is for American charity, "One Laptop Per Child", which pledges to provide solar powered computers to some of the world’s poorest children. John’s widow Yoko Ono gave her permission for the ad to be produced. It is quite strange to see John alive again over twenty years after his death, although I think the voice they used sounds nothing like him. The ad is currently being shown on donated advertising slots in the U.S. John wears his trademark round glasses in the ad, telling viewers in a Liverpudlian accent that they can change the world by giving a child a laptop.

Using the title of his hit song, John says, “Imagine every child no matter where in the world they were could access a universe of knowledge”. Well they can certainly do that if they have a laptop, something that hadn’t even been invented in the days when John Lennon and the Beatles became so famous. John was shot and killed less than three weeks before Christmas in 1980. Fortunately we still have the legacy of John Lennon’s music to keep his memory alive. John is following in the footsteps of the late British comedian Bob Monkhouse, who was also brought back to life in a British tv ad for a prostate cancer charity. Bob died from the condition four years before the ad was produced.

TATOOED, OVERWEIGHT CRIMINALS – YOUR COUNTRY NEEDS YOU!

2009-01-03T23:52:00.003Z

Are you a reformed criminal? Do you have tattoos? Overweight? If so, your country needs you! (They want you. They want you. They want you as a new recruit! – to quote the words of the Village People song!) The British army are currently so desperate for new recruits, they are prepared to relax the rules and allow overweight, tattooed criminals to join the ranks, in a bid to boost flagging numbers of new applicants. Apparently they will only take ex offenders who show that they are prepared to turn over a new leaf and get back on the straight and narrow! Plumper soldiers may soon be the norm too, although an army spokesperson says the idea is that they will burn off any excess weight during training and become fitter. Rules which currently ban the recruitment of soldiers with visible tattoos are also set to be relaxed.

One of the main reasons for the drastic drop in numbers of army recruits is that many solders have left the army because they are disillusioned with the government’s treatment and attitude towards them. Critics argue that this is the root cause and main problem that needs to be addressed. The government needs to take a long hard look at the very difficult and dangerous job our soldiers have, particularly those serving on the front line. Investing in their future and welfare would be a good start and maybe then we wouldn’t have a recruitment crisis.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2009-01-03T23:44:00.003Z

I’d like to take this opportunity of wishing all my readers a very happy and prosperous New Year, wherever you may be in the world! Unfortunately with the current economic crisis, 2009 looks like being a difficult year for many of us here in Britain. Hundreds of poor people have already lost their jobs as a lot of companies have suffered a downturn in sales. I can’t believe that my local Woolworths store, a fixture on our high streets for so many years is about to close its doors for the final time. A sad sign of the times. The Queen delivered a particularly sombre Christmas message referring to the global credit crunch as well as those suffering violence in overseas countries. She acknowledged the fact that Christmas this year would be a worrying time for many people as they could no longer take things for granted due to the current economic climate. We can only hope and pray for global and financial stability and that better times are ahead for all of us. To hear the Queen’s Christmas broadcast in full, click on the player shown below. Happy New Year!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL MY READERS!

2008-12-21T21:54:00.002Z

I hope you've enjoyed your visits to Diary From England this year. I'd like to take this opportunity of wishing all my readers a Merry Christmas and a very Happy and Prosperous New Year!

MERRY XMAS! (WAR IS OVER)

2008-12-21T21:20:00.002Z

I’ve always been a Beatles fan and wanted to share this video with you. It has some great still footage of the fab four. I love this Christmas song which was written by John Lennon and Yoko Ono in their New York City hotel room. It’s such a wonderful haunting melody and in my opinion one of the best Christmas songs ever written. John and Yoko were both great anti-war campaigners and spent a lot of time in the late 60’s and early 70’s campaigning for peace. In 1969, they even went as far as putting up billboard advertisements saying, “War is over! (if you want it)”, in some of the world’s major cities. Two year’s later the slogan became the basis for this unique and special Christmas song with John and Yoko’s special anti-war message. I think the song is really relevant to this time of year. “Peace on earth and goodwill to all men”. It would be so wonderful to live in a world where there were no wars.

After the Beatles split up, both Paul McCartney and John Lennon went on to form successful solo careers. Along with “Imagine”, "Happy Xmas (War is Over)" is one of my favourite John Lennon tracks. John's murder came as a shock to a lot of people including myself. Like Princess Diana's death, most people can remember where they were and what they were doing the day it happened. His death was a terrible tragedy and a great loss to his millions of fans around the world. Fortunately we still have the legacy of John Lennon’s music to keep his memory alive. John was shot and killed less than 3 weeks before Christmas in 1980. This special Christmas song was re-released in the UK in December of the same year. Merry Christmas and Rest in Peace John!

BRITONS GO ON XMAS SPENDING SPREE AS STORES SLASH PRICES

2008-12-21T15:15:00.002Z

It’s spend, spend, spend for credit crunch Britons as some of our major shops and stores have slashed prices to encourage shoppers to hit the high street in the run up to Christmas. With only a few Xmas shopping days left, many Britons have now gone on a Christmas shopping bonanza, with many purposely waiting until the last minute in a bid to grab those last-minute bargains.

With rising unemployment and the current gloomy economic outlook, more and more people are choosing to pay for goods and services using their credit cards. The current credit crunch has done nothing to diminish the British love affair with credit cards. Britain is still known as the credit capital of Europe. Many Britons including myself can’t imagine life without a credit card. Balance transfer cards in particular have become increasingly popular amongst consumers. More and more people are transferring balances from one card to another, to take advantage of 0% and other great low rate deals to ensure they pay as little interest as possible. According to recent research millions of us are looking to transfer billions of pounds collectively over the next few months alone in a bid to save on interest on our existing higher interest rate credit cards. Indeed many people have already saved themselves a small fortune on interest by switching their balances and in the case of a 0% balance transfer card, repaying the total amount owed within the interest free period.

There has never been a better time to take advantage of some of the great balance transfer card deals out there. As the credit crunch bites, we have all become more choosey about our cards and want the best deals and rewards for our money to make shopping even more enjoyable.

SIMON COWELL MORE FAMOUS THAN GOD!

2008-12-21T15:06:00.002Z

According to the results of a recent survey of British youngsters for National Kid’s Day, XFactor judge Simon Cowell is now more famous with British kids than the Queen or God! Her Majesty was No. 1 on the list last year. However Simon Cowell managed to knock the Queen off the top spot this year, taking the coveted No. 1 place with God coming second. It was interesting to note that if kids ruled the world, one of the top things they would ban is being overweight, closely followed by divorce and bullying. They rated these on a list of the worst things in the world. Top of the list of the best things in the world was good looks, closely followed by fame and riches. Just goes to show what an increasingly shallow society we have come to live in. Interesting!

ALEXANDRA CROWNED XFACTOR WINNER

2008-12-21T14:48:00.001Z

Congratulations to this year’s XFactor winner Alexandra Burke. Prime Minister Gordon Brown is one of Alexandra’s biggest fans and says he will be following in the footsteps of millions of other Britons by buying Alexandra’s hit single, “Hallelujah”. Mr Brown revealed his plans to buy the single as “one of his Christmas presents”, at a Downing Street press conference. Alexandra who is following in the footsteps of her mother, Melissa Bell, ex lead singer of hit group Soul II Soul, is expected to take the Christmas No. 1 spot with the hit song. Alexandra’s “Hallelujah” song has already become the fastest selling download in history with over 105,000 copies sold on its first day of release, smashing the 82,000 sales record set by Leona Lewis for her XFactor winning song, “A Moment Like This”. To see Alexandra in action, click on the player shown below:-

HOLIDAY CAMPS HIT HI DE HI NOTE WITH BRITISH HOLIDAYMAKERS

2008-12-14T20:24:00.007Z

I used to love the 80’s comedy show, "Hi-De-Hi". Set in the fictional Maplins holiday camp of the 1950s, it bore more than a striking resemblance to many British holiday camps of years gone by. One of my favourite characters was chief Yellowcoat Gladys Pugh who woke unsuspecting campers with the immortal words, “Morning Campers! Hi-De-Hi!”. Billy Butlin opened Britain’s first ever holiday camp in Skegness in 1936 and despite some early teething troubles, the venture was an immediate success. The aim was to offer cheap and cheerful family holidays in luxury chalet accommodation that ordinary working families could afford, complete with all singing, all dancing Redcoat entertainers to attend to their every need. Meanwhile Butlin’s rival Sir Fred Pontin opened his first holiday camp at Brean Sands in Somerset in 1946 to meet the demand for family holidays from soldiers returning from World War II, offering families a low cost, chalet holiday with entertainment from Bluecoats entertainers. Some of Britain's most famous entertainers and comedians including the likes of Des O'Connor and Shane Ritchie, started their lives as Bluecoat and Redcoat entertainers at the famous holiday camps.

However today’s holiday camps are unrecognisable from those of years gone by, having done much to ditch their “Hi-De-Hi leaking chalets” and “knobbly knees contests” image with many having undergone massive refurbishments. Despite the credit crunch, business is booming at Britain’s holiday camps which have now turned into a billion pound a year industry as they enjoy a mini revival. Many Brits particularly those with families are choosing to holiday at home both to save money and to avoid the inevitable airport queues. More and more people are concerned at the impact of flying on the environment and the increasing number of airport security delays. So the likes of Butlins and Pontins have become more popular than ever, with bookings rising by as much as 8% in the past five years alone. Even the unreliable British weather is not a problem anymore as many camps boast indoor pools, restaurants and entertainment centres. There are also kids clubs to look after the children, whilst the adults enjoy the top quality entertainment and variety acts on offer. Many holiday camps are also offering themed entertainment weekends out of season to attract groups of single adults too, with many choosing to hold their stag and hen weekends there. There really is something for everyone at today’s holiday camps making holidaying in the U.K. an even more attractive proposition.

ARE YOU AN AVID READER? - JOIN THE CLUB!

2008-12-10T21:36:00.002Z

It’s the National Year of Reading in England and it’s not surprising that reading is becoming an increasingly popular pastime with both children and adults alike. Reading a book can be like stepping into another world, a place where the reader can let their imagination run wild and makes great escapism from the boring and mundane routine of everyday life. Step onto any train or bus and you will invariably see commuters reading a book to help ease the boredom of a long journey. For people like myself who love books, life without them is unthinkable. There are so many different titles and genres to choose from. Where would we be without them!

Reading a good book can be addictive. I think that by far the best books are those that you pick up and can’t put down until you get to the end! My personal favourites are the Harry Potter books. However I also enjoyed Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code too. With many books, once you start reading, it’s hard to stop and when most people finish one book, they can’t wait to start reading another one. Indeed many people enjoy reading so much, they have two or three books on the go at the same time! Whatever type of book you prefer, more and more people are opting to join a book club to ensure they get a regular supply of their favourite reading material. It’s so easy and convenient, with books delivered to your home at regular intervals

However there are so many book clubs around, finding the right one to join at the right price can be quite a daunting task. All Book Clubs.com is one of the best and most comprehensive online resource sites available for book lovers everywhere. The site enables avid readers to compare the vast selection of book clubs available quickly and easily online to find the best deals available for your favourite type of books. You might prefer fiction, the likes of a good murder mystery, romantic novel, or a horror from the pen of the likes of Stephen King, something to make your hair stand on end with fear! On the other hand you may want an educational reference type book that will help you to learn a new skill or pastime or you may be looking for children’s books to encourage your child to read. Whatever your personal preference, All Book Clubs.com features a book club for you. The site enables you to search by book category as well as price making joining a book club really fast and simple. It is also possible to compare the best introductory deals available, helping you to get your favourite books at the best prices available. The majority of book clubs offer several books for a minimal price as a special introductory offer, with many offering a free gift as well. The good news is that many books are up to 60% cheaper than on the high street. Good news for avid readers everywhere! Selecting and ordering books has never been easier and all at the click of a mouse, in the comfort of your own home!

So what are you waiting for, log onto All Book Clubs.com now and get yourself a great book club deal today!

LAKE DISTRICT BRITAIN'S FAVOURITE TRAVEL DESTINATION

2008-12-07T20:01:00.006Z

The English Lake District has been named the British public’s favourite travel destination, beating Cornwall and London to the top spot at the 2008 British Travel Awards ceremony. It’s not surprising really. The English Lake District is one of my personal favourite places and one of the most picturesque areas of England. It looks like a lot of people agree with me. Wastwater, a three mile long lake in the Wasdale Valley area of the Lake District has already been named Britain’s favourite view in a television poll. At 258 feet, it’s England’s deepest lake and is flanked by three mountains, Lingmell, Great Gable and Scafell Pike.

The Lake District is 33 miles wide and 40 miles long and is renowned for its beautiful and spectacular scenery. To this day, thousands of visitors flock to Dove Cottage in Grasmere to see where the famous poet, William Wordsworth lived. No doubt he got inspiration for his poetry from some of the beautiful scenery in the surrounding area. Grasmere is a haven for walkers and cyclists and is also famous for its delicious gingerbread. Bowness On Windermere is one of my personal favourite areas of the Lake District and home to the popular World of Beatrix Potter tourist attraction. The famous writer and creater of characters like Jemima Puddleduck was another famous resident of the area. To read more about Bowness, click on the link shown below:-

Bowness On Windermere

You can find some of my Lake District photos posted in the Flickr album which is located underneath my profile and underneath the Blog Village logo in the left hand column of this blog. Hope you enjoy them!

ELEANOR RIGBY DOCUMENT AUCTIONED

2008-11-30T19:56:00.000Z

Most Beatles fans remember their famous song about Eleanor Rigby, the famous lady who picked up the rice in a church where a wedding had been! However the question as to whether or not Eleanor Rigby was a real character has intrigued Beatles fans for many years. The song was always thought to be based on a fictional character especially after one of the fab four Paul McCartney told fans they would never find a trace of Eleanor as she was entirely fictitious, even though a gravestone bearing her name was discovered in a churchyard in the 1980’s. But it seems that Eleanor Rigby did actually exist in the flesh and Paul McCartney knew more about her than he was letting on! After being asked for a donation from The Sunbeam Trust, a charity which uses music to help children with special needs, Paul sent them a document.

The document was none other than a Liverpool City Hospital salary register, featuring the signature of one E Rigby. Eleanor Rigby worked there as a scullery maid and had to sign for her monthly wage. She earned £14 per annum. How times change! That wouldn’t get you very far today the way the cost of living has risen nowadays. The document dated back to 1911 and is one of the biggest clues to date of the true identity of the Beatle’s Eleanor Rigby, a poor soul who dies lonely and alone with nobody to mourn her according to the song. It was auctioned for charity this week and sold for £115,000. Wow! All the money raised from the sale will go towards helping children with special needs. The Beatles are as popular today as they have always been. The fab four’s album Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band was recently voted the nation’s favourite no. 1 album in the BBC’s Radio 2 Music Club Top 100 Album chart.

To hear more about Eleanor Rigby, click on the player shown below:-

LORD COE CALMS OLYMPIC MONEY FEARS

2008-11-30T18:22:00.005Z

As the credit crunch continues to bite, Lord Sebastian Coe has calmed Olympic money fears and reassured the Olympic Committee that London will still be going ahead with plans to host the Olympic Games in 2012, despite the current economic climate. London is currently facing a major challenge to stay within its £9.3billion budget, mainly because of problems in raising the anticipated level of private financing to cover the cost of the £40million media centre and £1billion Olympic village.

After the lavish spectacular of the Beijing Olympic Games, Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge stressed the importance of holding down the cost and size of future games to ensure that they remained affordable in these current tough economic times. Lord Coe once an Olympic athlete himself, stated that the economic climate in Britain now was very different to the time when London first bid for the chance to host the games but nevertheless the city was determined to honour its commitments. Oh well they could always host an “It’s a Knockout” style games and save even more money. Maybe Stuart Hall will come out of retirement to host them. Just a suggestion! Ha ha!

KYLIE TO HOST BRIT AWARDS

2008-11-28T22:32:00.007Z

It's rumoured that Australian pop princess Kylie Minogue will be hosting next year's Brit Awards ceremony in February. However she won't be alone and will be sharing presenting duties with Gavin and Stacey stars Matthew Home and James Corden. Apparently Kylie has been in lengthy talks with the organisers of the ceremony, who are said to be planning “the best show ever”. It will certainly be very different to this year's show hosted by the Osbournes, when viewers jammed the Offcom switchboard complaining about the bad language used during the show. Last minute details of next year’s Brits are still being finalised but according to a show insider, organisers believe getting Kylie to host is “the icing on cake”. Kylie is herself a Brit award winner, having won several awards in the past.

The British public took Kylie into their hearts after she starred in the Australian soap, “Neighbours” in the mid 1980’s. She then went on to launch a successful singing career, selling millions of albums and producing many hit songs along the way. She was awarded an OBE by Prince Charles earlier this year for her services to the music industry. Kyle was also an inspiration to millions of women after fighting her way back to health from breast cancer. The singer has always acknowledged Britain as her “adopted homeland”.

PEDAL POWER FOR BRITISH WORKERS

2008-11-23T19:48:00.003Z

As the credit crunch continues to bite, It seems that more British workers than ever before are now cycling to work both to save money on petrol and public transport. According to the results of a recent survey by Sainsburys Home Insurance, up to eight per cent of workers and fifteen per cent of men are now cycling to their jobs on a daily basis resulting in big savings on transport costs. On average the survey found that using pedal power as opposed to cars or public transport, results in average savings of £33.70 a week or a whopping £11 million a year! Even more reason to cycle to work! There are also the health benefits as well.

Regular aerobic exercise such as cycling can help to reduce the risk of various life threatening conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer and diabetes. Cycling is one of the best forms of aerobic exercise available, giving the body a vigorous and energetic workout. It is the third most popular sport in the U.K. and one of the easiest to fit into your daily routine. Cycling helps to reduce obesity, burning away body fat and keeping the body toned and healthy. It is also one of the few forms of exercise that actually helps to reduce cellulite. Good news for women everywhere! Cycling home is a good stress reliever too, just the thing to help you wind down after a stressful day at work. Any form of exercise is also good for releasing lots of the body’s “feel good” hormones, helping to banish any symptoms of S.A.D. or the Winter blues. So what are you waiting for! Get on your bike!

BECKS HAS NO. 1 CELEBRITY CALENDAR

2008-11-16T17:54:00.004Z

Well it’s that time of year again! You know Christmas is just around the corner when the suite adverts start appearing on tv. It seems everybody wants a new settee in time for Christmas to impress the outlaws and other relatives! And if that wasn’t enough, next year’s calendars have been in the shops since September! It seems they have proved very popular with shoppers too! According to the results of a recent Woolworths survey, David Beckham is definitely the hottest date in Britain with his new calendar shooting straight to the top of the celebrity calendar charts and David is laughing all the way to the bank! Other popular celebrity calendars in the top 10 include Kylie Minogue, Cliff Richard, Dr Who star David Tennant and popular girl band Girls Aloud.

BEING BRITISH NO LONGER POLITICALLY CORRECT

2008-11-16T17:28:00.002Z

Under new guidelines recently set out, Welsh council workers have been warned not to call Scots people British in case it causes offence. Apparently it is no longer politically correct to describe yourself as being British as it could cause offence to people from Scotland, Wales and Ireland and ethnic minorities. Sounds like Gordon Brown definitely needs to seriously re-think his thoughts and comments on Britishness then lest he should cause offence! Please accept my apologies if I’ve ever described myself as British on this blog. No offence intended! Honestly! I always try to fly the flag for common sense on this blog. I think some people more than others need a large dose of it!

SHORTAGE OF SHEEP SHEARERS IN BRITAIN

2008-11-16T14:32:00.003Z

Are you an accomplished sheep shearer or talented ballerina? Then Britain wants you! Under a new Australian style immigration points system, the two career options appear on a list of occupations where there is a skills shortage. The new system is described as the biggest shakeup of the immigration system for a generation. Other occupations where there is a skills shortage include chefs and pipe welders! It’s quite funny that Britain now has a shortage of accomplished sheep shearers, a popular occupation in some parts of Australia. In years gone by, many Britons with this skill would take the opportunity to emigrate to Oz to take full advantage of their skills over there but now it’s the other way round! There is a catch however. Pipe welders will need to have at least three years experience, sheep shearers will need to hold the British Wool Marketing Board Bronze Medal and chefs will need to be able to earn at least £8 per hour after board and lodging deductions. The new rules also demand that employers must prove that they can’t find a suitable employee to fill a vacancy locally before offering the job to an overseas applicant.

PRINCE CHARLES CELEBRATES 60TH BIRTHDAY

2008-11-15T23:23:00.004Z

Princes William and Harry described their father Prince Charles as an “inspiration” to them and many others as he celebrated his 60th birthday yesterday, whilst the Queen praised his work with the Prince’s Trust saying his “vision and conviction” had transformed “countless lives”. The Prince spent his birthday meeting schoolchildren at a special classical music concert held in his honour at The Royal Opera House. The children joined Camilla in singing a special rendition of “Happy Birthday” to the Prince, whilst a 41 gun military salute was fired in Hyde Park to mark the occasion. The concert was one of many special events held to celebrate Prince Charles’ milestone birthday. A special comedy gala night was also held in the Prince’s honour on Wednesday night, whilst the Queen hosted a special dinner at Buckingham Palace on Thursday night and Camilla is planning to host an informal party on Saturday evening with Rod Stewart providing the entertainment.

An official portrait showing Prince Charles wearing the ceremonial uniform of the Welsh Guards was released to mark his milestone birthday. It’s hard to believe that Prince Charles is now 60. Charles Philip Arthur George was born at Buckingham Palace on 14th November 1948. He was just 3 years old when his mother became Queen. Time flies by so fast and still Prince Charles is no nearer to becoming King. The Queen at 82, is one of the oldest reigning monarchs in the nation’s history. Sh is still in good health, one of the hardest working members of the Royal family and shows no signs of slowing down. According to the results of a recent YouGov poll, the majority of Britons don’t think Prince Charles is too old to become King and believe he rather than Prince William should succeed the Queen as Monarch. Despite the fact that Prince Charles is one of the most experienced and well trained heirs to the throne we have ever had, until recently many members of the public were still reluctant to accept him as King, preferring William to take the throne in his place. Many remained unforgiving over Charles’ marriage breakup and were reluctant to accept Camilla as a possible future Queen, preferring the late Princess Diana. However it seems that many people have now warmed to Camilla since her marriage to Prince Charles. They also admire Prince Charles for his charity work and his views on climate change.

Photo:- Courtesy of Yahoo News

THE QUEEN LEADS THE NATION IN REMEMBRANCE

2008-11-10T21:15:00.004Z

The Queen led the nation in two minute's silence laying the first wreath at the Centotaph memorial in Whitehall yesterday on Remembrance Sunday, as the Royal family, politicians and war veterans gathered for the Remembrance day service in honour of British serviceman killed in battle. This year’s service was particularly poignant as it marked the 90th anniversary of the end of World War 1. Crowds lined the streets to watch the annual Remembrance Day parade, as similar ceremonies took place all over England to honour those who have given their lives for their country.

My grandmother on my mum's side was the eldest of eleven children and I grew up hearing how some of her brothers and cousins fought in the World Wars. I always support the British Legion's Poppy Appeal and wear my poppy with pride at this time of year. I think everyone should.

Photo:- Courtesy of Yahoo News

QUANTUM OF SOLACE RECEIVES ROYAL SEAL OF APPROVAL

2008-11-09T20:16:00.003Z

Actor Daniel Craig was shaken but not stirred after meeting Princes William and Harry at the premiere of his latest Bond film Quantum of Solace. The movie’s glittering premiere was held at The Odeon in London’s Leicester Square, where outside crowds of eager fans lined the streets in the freezing cold, hoping to get a glimpse of some of their favourite stars. Daniel Craig duly obliged by signing autographs and waving to the crowd. The sound of old and new Bond theme music could be heard playing through giant speakers, setting the scene for the premiere of the 22nd Bond movie. Daniel arrived dressed to kill with his arm in a sling, the result of an injury during filming final scenes of the movie. The actor, who arrived with his partner Satsuki Michell, was asked who his favourite Bond girl was and replied, “I can’t say. The one on my arm of course.” Craig also stated the importance of the Bond premiere being held in London, as it’s “Bond” and as “British as you can get”. Meanwhile another star of the film, the Aston Martin car took pride of place in the centre of Leicester Square Park. Other stars joining Daniel Craig on the red carpet at Quantum’s explosive premiere, included Bond girls Gemma Arterton and Olga Kuryl who wowed fans with their daring choice of outfits.

Quantum of Solace is very different to the other Bond films and the first Bond sequel of its kind, continuing on from where the last movie Casino Royale ended. The mood of the film is much darker than usual, with Bond seeking revenge for his love Vesper, whilst trying to stop a mad environmentalist from taking over a country’s water supply. Veteran actress Judi Dench who also attended the premiere complete with glittery 007 tattoo on her back, reprises her role as the formidable “M”. The new Bond film has received a severe mauling from the critics, many of whom have criticised the thin plot line and compared the new film to the Bourne movies. I certainly don’t think it’s as good as Casino Royale, even if Princes William and Harry have given Quantum of Solace the royal seal of approval. On the other hand it’s still worth going to see the movie just to get another glimpse of hunky Daniel Craig starring in the role he has made his own!

To view the film’s trailer, click on the player shown below:-

BONFIRE NIGHT

2008-11-04T21:13:00.000Z

"REMEMBER REMEMBER THE FIFTH OF NOVEMBER, GUNPOWDER, TREASON AND PLOT"

Tomorrow night we celebrate Bonfire Night, one of my favourite times of the year. I love watching firework displays. I also love Parkin and Treacle Toffee, which are traditionally eaten at this time of year. Parkin and Treacle Toffee are as much a part of Bonfire Night as Guy Fawkes himself.

Here's a recipe for Parkin, the traditional cake eaten at this time of year. The recipe comes courtesy of the BBC Food website.

Ingredients
350g/12oz medium oatmeal
175g/6oz self-raising flour
2 tsp ground ginger
175g/6oz soft brown sugar
175g/6oz butter
250g/9fl oz golden syrup
50g/2oz black treacle
2 free-range eggs
110ml/4oz milk

Method
1. Preheat the oven to 150C/300F/Gas 2 and line a small, deep baking tray with parchment paper. Combine the oatmeal, flour and ginger in a large mixing bowl.
2. Melt the sugar, butter, syrup and treacle in a bowl in the microwave or in a saucepan over a low heat. Pour the melted ingredients into the flour with the eggs and milk and stir well.
3. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking tray.
4. Bake for 45 minutes until golden brown, but still soft and sticky on top. Reduce the oven to 130C/250F/Gas 1 and bake for a further 30 minutes until firm to the touch.
5. Allow to cool, before tightly wrapping in cling film. Store for at least three to five days to mature.

The origins of Bonfire or Guy Fawkes Night (as it's also known) go back to 1605 when a man called Guy Fawkes plotted with a band of others to blow up the Houses of Parliament, in the "Gunpowder Plot". They were angry at the persecution of Catholics by the King and planned to kill him in the explosion. The group were captured in the cellar of parliament, and executed before they had chance to go ahead with their plan. All over Britain on 5th November, we celebrate the capture of Guy Fawkes by having bonfire and fireworks displays and burning an effigy of Guy Fawkes. Groups of children can be seen with "guys" made out of old clothes asking for a "penny for the guy", a few days before Bonfire Night. Happy Bonfire Night everyone!

BRITISH SCIENTISTS CREATE PURPLE CANCER FIGHTING TOMATOES

2008-11-04T20:27:00.002Z

I’ve always loved tomatoes and was quite excited to hear that British scientists have created a genetically modified purple tomato that will help in the fight against cancer. Good news for all of us! The purple super tomato contains anthocyanins, antioxidants found in blueberries and blackcurrants that give them their distinctive purple colour. The unusual looking fruit, which was created by genetically combining a normal tomato with genes from a snap dragon flower, has been shown to extend the lives of cancer prone mice. In addition researchers have discovered that the anthocyanins contained in the tomatoes are thought to protect against heart disease and degenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s.

Scientists stated that the purple tomatoes could be on sale within the next 3 years. However the bad news is that it’s unlikely they will be sold in England due to strict European regulations governing genetically modified foods. Instead the purple tomatoes are likely to make their debut in India, China and the U.S. which are all counties with more relaxed regulations. Things are changing so fast, let’s hope the regulations will have relaxed a bit more by then to allow foods like this with health giving properties to be sold in Britain as well as other countries of the world. The new tomatoes will certainly brighten up a salad with their distinctive purple colour and help us all to live longer too! Can't wait to try them!