PETROL PRICES CONTINUE TO RISE

According to the BP chairman, British petrol prices could soon top £1 per litre if the costs of crude oil continue to rise. Apparently due to the current rising prices of petrol, most Britons think long and hard before setting off on long journeys now. It’s seems there’s only one solution. Everyone in the country (including myself) will have to invest in a bike and cycle everywhere! It would certainly make for a healthier nation and there would be a lot less pollution!

CLEANING RULES FOR BRITISH WOMEN!

British women can’t get enough of cleaning their houses according to a recent poll, with their favourite job being vacuuming. The poll was conducted on behalf of a Discovery Home and Health channel programme, “Cleanaholics”. Apparently one in three women find housework more satisfying than sex. So there we go!

DIARY FROM ENGLAND UPDATE

I'd just like to take the opportunity to thank everyone who has e-mailed me to say how much they like this site and enjoy their visits here. Apart from personal e-mails to myself, there is also the facility to post messages to the Guestbook as well, if anyone would like to do that.

I looked at my counter tonight and couldn't believe that already I've passed the 1,000 visitor mark already. I think that's pretty good going considering the site has only been running since January.

Thank you to all my visitors for taking the time and trouble to call in here. I'm hoping to add some more features to the site in the future. Watch this space!

MAJORITY OF BRITISH WOMEN MEASURE UP TO JENNIFER

According to a recent report the majority of British women are “pear shaped” and built more like Jennifer Lopez than Kate Winslet. So now we know! Apparently the results of the report will help clothing companies to design better-fitting women’s clothes. With so many clothing companies producing clothes designed more for skinny models than the average sized British woman, let’s hope so!

MICHAEL DOUGLAS REWARDED WITH DEGREE

American actor Michael Douglas, (husband of Welsh actress Catherine Zeta Jones) is to receive a Doctor of Laws degree from St Andrews University for his contribution to British film. Congratulations Michael!

LONDON MARATHON RUNNERS OUT IN FORCE

Thousands of runners from around the globe were out in force today running the London Marathon. About 80% were running for charity with last year’s marathon netting over £19million for various charitable causes. They were joined by British celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey. The men’s race was won by Kenyan Felix Limo, whilst American Deena Kastor became the first American to win the women’s race. A Hampshire couple decided to combine their wedding with the event and were married on Tower Bridge, a halfway point of the race. Well done to all of them!

BRITISH GP'S OVERPAID DUE TO CONTRACTS BLUNDER

Britain’s family doctors (GP’s) are earning up to £250,000 a year due to a government contracts blunder. Is it any wonder the National Health Service is short of money and in deep financial crisis? Tony Blair’s excuse is that paying people well ensures better service. I’m not convinced and neither are many other people in this country. It sounds like a lame excuse for the government getting it badly wrong to me.

HAPPY ST GEORGE'S DAY!

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.

RIVAL LOTTERY TO BE LAUNCHED

A new lottery, “Monday – The Charities Lottery” is to be launched in the U.K. next week. Its organisers claims that players are 27 times more likely to scoop a jackpot win than on the current National Lottery Game run by Camelot. Players will also be able to choose which charities they would like to benefit from each game they play. Monday has pledged to donate a bigger percentage of its profits to charitable causes. Many people (like myself!) have never won a penny on the National Lottery since it began and are looking for a fairer system that gives them a better chance of winning. In addition many people have cast doubt over how the National Lottery money is spent and how much of it goes to charitable causes. With a new rival on the scene, Camelot will have to re-assess their position on the lottery front or otherwise they could just be left behind as more and more people desert them to play with Monday instead.

"GREASY SPOON" CAFES DISAPPEARING FROM HIGH STREET

It seems the face of Britain’s high street is changing. Many “greasy spoon” cafes are now facing closure and disappearing from our high streets in favour of continental coffee bar chains. In years gone by, the “greasy spoon” café was a popular British institution serving up fry ups of sausage, bacon, egg and fried bread but its popularity has waned in recent years due to the current healthy eating trends.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MA'AM

The Queen celebrated her 80th birthday yesterday, spending the day quietly at Windsor Castle. The country’s most famous grandmother and octogenarian shows no signs of slowing down and has no plans to step down from the throne. Her Majesty enjoyed a walkabout meeting wellwishers in Windsor yesterday afternoon, whilst Prince Charles hosted a quiet family dinner last night, to celebrate his mother’s birthday. The Queen was voted the nation’s most popular royal family member in a recent ITN survey. There is a special 80th birthday special tribute to The Queen on the Monarchy website. You can access it through the link below.

http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page4817.asp

The Queen has received tens of thousands of birthday cards and e-mail messages from wellwishers across Britain and the Commonweath. In a personal expression of gratitude, the Queen said: "I would like to thank the many thousands of people from this country and overseas who have sent me cards and messages on my 80th birthday. I have been very touched by what you have written and would like to express my gratitude to you all for making this day such a special one for me."

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

CHIEF SCIENTIST WARNS OF DRASTIC EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE

The government’s Chief Scientist, Professor Sir David King, gave a stark warning to the world’s leaders (including Tony Blair), this week, stating that unless measures are taken now to stop global warning, the results for the planet could be catastrophic with rising sea levels, drought and famine threatening millions of lives. The professor warned the world’s leaders that there was no time for complacency and putting their heads in the sand. In order to save the planet for future generations, the world’s leaders need to act and put systems in place to reduce pollution and greenhouse gases now. I believe that climate change and global warning is something that we should all be aware of. Like the world’s leaders, everyone in this country needs to start doing their bit to protect the planet now, otherwise there will be nothing left of this planet for our children and grandchildren and future generations to inherit.

LASSIE TOP DOG FOR BRITONS

Faithful collie dog "Lassie" created by Yorkshire author Eric Knight, has been named Britain's favourite tv pet in a recent survey. I grew up watching Lassie movies and enjoyed every one of them. Well done Lassie!

BRITISH KIDS CASHING IN

British kids are quids in with the average child getting £8.20 in pocket money every week! (For the benefit of any foreign visitors, “Quids In” is a British expression for being in the money!) I don’t remember getting that much! It seems times have changed. Lucky kids! Most British children spend their pocket money on sweets and snacks, probably the reason why we have so many overweight kids in this country.

GORDON BROWN PLANS TO BANISH WORLD POVERTY

Gordon Brown believes that if everybody in this country and other countries of the world give 2p a day, it will banish world poverty. I wonder how much Mr Brown himself will be contributing to this. The phrase, “Charity begins at home”, comes to mind. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sorry for the people in the Third World but the way things are in this country, Gordon Brown would be well advised to spend some money sorting out matters closer to home, before he starts anywhere else.

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL MY READERS!

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.

A couple of foreign visitors asked if I could explain about the origins of Easter. Well for them and anybody else interested, here goes.

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!

BRITAIN NATION OF CHOCOHOLICS!

New figures out this week show that Britons are the biggest chocoholics in Europe munching through an average of 10Kg of chocolate every year! Unfortunately it’s not the healthy dark chocolate that we prefer but its milk chocolate counterpart!

Experiments have suggested that some types of dark chocolate could reduce clotting and the risk of heart attacks. The health benefits come from flavenoids found in dark chocolate and red wine. It seems that our continental neighbours (who love to indulge in both!) have the right idea. There is even talk this week of clinical trials being done, with heart patients being fed dark chocolate to see if it has any health benefits.

Still on the subject of chocolate, that great British institution the Mars bar which has over the years helped millions of Britons to “work, rest and play”, (the catchphrase used to describe it) is to be renamed, "Believe". Apparently the idea behind this is to rally England fans to support the World Cup. So there we go!

IF YOU ARE A WOMAN, PLEASE READ THIS. IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE!

Following on from my last post re. Ann Marie Roger's Herceptin victory, I received this from an American friend and know it will be of interest to all women visiting here.

Please go to the link below to read all about it.

http://www.healthypages.net/forum/tm.asp?m=85133&mpage=1&

This message should be taken seriously and passed on to as many of your relatives and friends as possible; it could save someone's life.

ANN MARIE ROGERS WINS HERCEPTIN BATTLE

I have been following the story of breast cancer sufferer Ann Marie Rogers. Mum of three Ann, has gone to the Court of Appeal and won her battle to be given the drug Herceptin free of charge after being initially refused the treatment by her local health authority. Herception is one of a new generation of targeted treatments which can attack only cancer cells and is tolerated much better than chemotherapy. The drug is currently only used on patients with advanced breast cancer in this country, but can be used on other patients at the doctors’ “discretion”. Research from America has shown that Herceptin can help patients in the early stages of breast cancer but many health authorities say they will only fund treatment in exceptional cases.

Ann likened the refusal of Herceptin treatment to being given a “death sentence”. Brave Ann has now paved the way for other women suffering from breast cancer to be given the drug as well. I think it’s disgusting in this day and age that people have to fight like this for the right to life, which is what it amounts to really. Getting certain types of treatment in this country is almost like a lottery and dependant on what area of the country you live in and if your health authority can “afford” it. Every individual in this country, man, woman and child, deserves the right to life and no health authority or government can put a price tag on that. They have no right to play God. Singer Kylie Minogue, herself a breast cancer sufferer, has also backed the campaign for all women to be given Herceptin.

After the court ruling Ann Marie said that she felt like she had “won the lottery”. "I feel like I've taken on the world and beaten it, not just for me but for everyone else.” What a brave lady! Everyone in this country wishes her well!

WINNIE THE POOH HONOURED WITH STAR

One of the nation’s favourite bears, Winnie the Pooh is celebrating this week after being given his own Walk of Fame star. Pooh bear created by British writer A.A. Milne, was presented with the star to mark his 80th anniversary. Like most British children I grew up reading A.A. Milne's classic tales of Winnie the Pooh and his friends, Eeyore, Piglet and Christopher Robin (amongst others!). Well done to him!

MRSA - GOOD NEWS FOR HOSPITAL PATIENTS

It has been discovered that pyjamas made from a fabric containing small threads of silver could stop the spread of hospital superbug MRSA. Silver has traditionally been used for centuries to fight germs and infection. The pyjamas are going on trial at a university hospital in London. If successful, they will become standard issue for all patients being admitted to hospital.

Meanwhile, researchers are claiming they have found a vaccine against MRSA. They are working with a manufacturer to develop an injectable version which would be given to hospital staff and patients. MRSA kills up to 800 people a year in the U.K. and is resistant to most antibiotics, so this is good news for all of us.

KELLY BROOK - IDEAL BRITISH WOMAN

According to a recent reader survey by Grazia magazine, British model and actress Kelly Brook has the figure and body that most British women would like to have. Kelly herself was surprised, claiming that like most women there were parts of her body she wasn't happy with. Kelly also admitted to having cellulite on the backs of her legs, which she managed to hide with good lighting. What most women forget is although people like Kelly are famous and in the public eye, they are still human, with the same faults and failings as the rest of us!

CHARLES & CAMILLA CELEBRATE 1ST WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

Prince Charles and new wife Camilla (or the Duchess of Cornwall as she’s now known), celebrated their first wedding anniversary this week. Photographer Mario Testino, famous for his glamorous photographs of Charles’ former wife Diana, (Princess of Wales), took some official photos of the Royal couple to mark the occasion. The Royal couple are spending their anniversary on the Balmoral estate, where they spent their honeymoon.

It seems that the public are finally starting to warm to Camilla but whether they will accept her as Queen is another matter. It is thought that if ever Charles does become King, she will instead take the title, "Princess Consort". Diana is a hard act to follow. She was the people's Princess, something Camilla will never be.

Prince Harry admitted in a recent interview that himself and his brother Prince William, "love Camilla to bits" and admire the way she's made their father so happy. It seems the two Princes like some members of the public have very short memories and forget Diana's immortal words, "There are three people in this marriage". There is a price to pay for most things in this life and in this case Diana was the unfortunate one who paid the price for Charles and Camilla's happiness.

IRELAND TRIUMPHS AT GRAND NATIONAL

The whole of the country was gripped by Grand National fever this weekend! Trade was brisk at the bookies as people flocked to place their bets on one of the world’s most famous horse races, run annually at Aintree. This year’s race was won by Numbersixvalverde, ridden by Irish jockey Niall Madden. Nina and Paul Carberry made Grand National history by becoming the first brother and sister to ride in the famous steeplechase. Numbersixvalverde’s win rewarded one lucky punter with a massive payout of £130,000 after he wagered just £2 on the totescoop6 at the bookies. Well done to him!

IL DIVO ON TOUR - NOT TO BE MISSED!

I had the great pleasure of seeing Il Divo last night at the M.E.N. Arena in Manchester. David, Sebastian, Carlos and Urs were in fine voice and look even better in the flesh than they do on tv! They were excellent and gave a superb performance. Il Divo are currently on tour in Britain. Don't miss them!

J K ROWLING SLAMS SOCIETY'S OBSESSION WITH WEIGHT

Harry Potter author J K Rowling has slammed the stick thin models and celebrities of today, referring to them as “talking toothpicks!” and “empty headed, obsessed, emaciated clones.” The best-selling writer and mum of three, expressed concern that these young women set a bad example and stereotype to young girls. J K Rowling stated that she feared for her own two daughters and other young girls growing up in a world obsessed by women looking “skinny”. I have to agree with that. Why is it that you never see plump women on the cover of glossy magazines? No wonder so many young women suffer from eating disorders with society’s obsession to be slim and a perfect size 10.

GWYNETH BRITAIN'S BEST-DRESSED WOMAN

Actress Gwyneth Paltrow has been named as Britain’s best-dressed woman, coming top of the annual list compiled by fashion magazine Harper’s Bazaar. The Oscar-winning star, who is expecting her second child, lives in London with her husband Coldplay’s Chris Martin and daughter Apple. Gwyneth also counts fashion designer Stella McCartney amongst her closest friends.

OBESITY DANGER IN UK KIDS

New Research shows that a total of 700,000 U.K. children are now clinically obese leading to a massive increase of diabetes and heart disease in youngsters. The main causes are lack of exercise and bad diet. Not surprising really, as the majority of today's children tend to spend all their leisure time either watching t.v. or on their computers. Also Jamie Oliver's healthier school meals have backfired in some schools, as many children prefer to tuck into their junk food laden lunchboxes rather than eat the healthy school meals on offer.

BRITONS LIKE TO KEEP UP WITH THE JONESES!

It's official! According to the results of a finance company survey this week, Britons spend over £900 per person per year to keep up with the Joneses! Most of this money is spent on gadgets, clothes, cars and on their homes, as they desperately try to impress their neighbours! So there we go. I went shopping for a new cordless phone this week and purchased an all-singing, all-dancing one (well almost! It has a lot of functions!) but I really needed one. Honestly! I'm not trying to impress the neighbours!

TONY BLAIR STAYING PUT FOR NOW

Britain’s Prime Minister, Tony Blair is insisting he’s here to stay, (For the time being anyway! More’s the pity!), and he has no intention of standing down by Summer. He dismissed claims of his imminent departure from No. 10 as “April Fool’s stories” and “soap opera politics”, insisting he wouldn’t be standing down anytime soon as he has a “huge amount” to do. Mr Blair described a massive workload ahead sorting out pensions, welfare, crime and health. I’d say he’s got his work cut out, judging by the current state of things in this country! According to the results of a poll this week, over half the British population believe Mr Blair has “run out of steam” and a third of the public think he should go now, whilst the remainder think he should stay.

NEWCASTLE NAMED AS BRITAIN'S WINDIEST CITY!

It’s official, Newcastle has been named as Britain’s windiest city and it’s nothing to do with the weather! According to a recent survey by British supermarket chain Asda, sales of Windeze and other similar anti-flatulence products have soared in Newcastle. Could it be due to the fact that the people in Newcastle eat a diet richer in wind-producing fruit and vegetables? If so the people in Newcastle are amongst the healthiest in Britain too!

GENE PITNEY DIES ON U.K. TOUR

Sad news from England today, the American singer Gene Pitney has died whilst on his U.K. tour. The singer who was famous for his hit song, “24 Hours From Tulsa”, was found dead in his Cardiff hotel room this morning. He was only 65 years old, comparatively young by today’s standards. It’s a true saying that we never know the time or the hour when things like this will happen. Another good reason to live life to the full and enjoy every moment. Rest in Peace Gene. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family.

LARGE SIZE TROUSERS COULD DAMAGE YOUR HEALTH!

A recent newspaper article made me smile. A British Department of Health Professor believes that larger size trousers (for bigger waisted people!) should come with a government health warning! His argument is that overweight people buying larger sized trousers are more at risk from heart disease and diabetes! The Professor suggests that a label should be sewn into the trousers, warning potential purchasers that they need to exercise more, eat a healthier diet and visit their doctor! What next!

ENGLISH BOOK NEWS

William Shakespeare is in the news this week. A rare folio edition of the bard's works which originally cost 20 shillings (one English pound in today's money) is up for sale at a cool asking price of £3.5million. The book is being described as the most important book in English Literature because half of its plays had never been printed before and would have been lost for all time. If William Shakespeare was alive today, he would be laughing all the way to the bank!

On another note, Harry Potter author, J K Rowling has won the coveted Book of the Year award for Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince at The British Book Awards Show. Cricket Star Freddie Flintoff scooped the Top Sports Book award for his book, "Being Freddie". Well done to both of them!

"HIMALAYA" TO BE ISSUED TO SCHOOLS

Every secondary school in England is to be issued with a copy of former Monty Python star Michael Palin’s best-selling book, “Himalaya” to encourage kids' interest in Geography. It seems that fewer and fewer children are now taking the subject at GCSE and Advanced level and according to the schools' watchdog, it is one of the worst taught subjects. I have to agree with that, from my own personal experience. As somebody who nearly became a teacher myself, I always think that in order for pupils to be interested in certain subjects, they have to be put to them in a certain way, to hold their interest. How a subject is taught and the teacher’s attitude is of paramount importance.

As Michael Palin himself explained: "You can travel the seas, poles, and deserts and see nothing. To really understand the world you need to get under the skin of people and places. In other words, learn about geography. I can't imagine a more relevant subject. We'd all be lost without it." I can't agree more and as somebody whose worst subject at school was Geography, I think issuing copies of “Himalaya” to all secondary schools is a brilliant idea!

GNARLS BARKLEY DOWNLOAD TOPS THE CHARTS

Gnarls Barkley has made history tonight by having the first downloaded single, “Crazy”, to reach No. 1 in the U.K. singles chart. Over 30,000 copies of the track have been downloaded so far. The fact that the single can only be downloaded and is not available in any shops until Monday, just goes to show the power of the internet on the U.K. music chart, with many U.K. music fans now preferring to download their favourite tracks, rather than buying cds. Last week’s No. 1 single, “So Sick” by Ne-Yo has now fallen to No. 2 in the charts.

RICE GREETED BY ANTI-WAR PROTESTORS

In the news this week, U.S. Secretary of State, Condoleeza Rice arrived in the U.K. amidst a storm of protest by anti-war protesters. Miss Rice was invited over by her new best friend, Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, who wanted to show her round his constituency and hometown of Blackburn (in the north of England). Miss Rice recently showed Jack Straw round her hometown of Birmingham, Alabama and he wanted to return the favour! Mr Straw was disappointed when a planned visit to a mosque was withdrawn and hadn’t counted on the strength of feeling against Miss Rice’s visit who some described as a “terrorist”. Miss Rice dismissed the demonstrations, saying, "It is part of the democratic process that if people have different views to express them. I think it is best if people have different views that they do express them and not bottle them up." Today Jack Straw and Condoleeza Rice made a surprise trip to Iraq to try to break the deadlock over setting up a new government. Hopefully this will happen sooner rather than later so both Britain and the U.S. can finally concentrate on sorting out the problems closer to home, in their own countries and the troops can come home.

TOM JONES CELEBRATING KNIGHTHOOD

Popular Welsh singer Tom Jones is celebrating this week after receiving a knighthood from the Queen. The 65 year old singer who still sounds and looks as good as ever has never forgotten his Welsh roots and "the green, green grass of home", even though he has lived in the States for many years. When he first moved to America, he was so homesick, he had a red telephone box shipped over from Wales, which he put in his backyard to remind him of home! Tom Jones is truly one of the greatest singers of our time. Well done to him!

CURE FOR UNRULY TEENAGERS?

Researchers have discovered that eating Fish Oil supplements can improve the behaviour of unruly teenagers. Apparently a study was done on a group of youngsters suffering from Attention Deficit Disorder and Hyperactivity and their behaviour improved dramatically after taking an Omega 3 supplement for 3 months. The results of this new research come hot on the heels of a report in The British Medical Journal the previous week, questioning the benefits of eating oily fish (such as tuna and salmon which are rich in Omega 3). The report concluded that it is unclear whether a diet rich in Omega 3 foods, actually reduces or increases total death rates from heart attacks and diseases such as cancer or strokes. Apparently compared to giving up smoking or taking regular exercise, the benefits of an Omega 3 rich diet are negligible. Despite this heart experts are still encouraging the public to eat foods high in Omega 3, including oily fish. I personally love tuna, sardines and salmon and will continue to eat them for a long time to come, whether they have health benefits or not.

EMBRACE TO RECORD ENGLAND ANTHEM

West Yorkshire band Embrace have been chosen to record the official England World Cup anthem, “World at Your Feet”. They follow in the footsteps of Baddiel and Skinner and New Order, who have both recorded World Cup songs in the past. According to the band’s lead singer, they can’t wait to get into the studio and record the new track. Good luck to them!

TONY BLAIR PLANS TO BID FAREWELL TO NO. 10

Tony Blair has finally come to the same conclusion as the majority of people in this country. He’s been Prime Minister for long enough and it’s time to go! Mr Blair is facing increasing pressure to name the day when he will be leaving No. 10 (Downing Street), after announcing in Australia that he will not be standing at the next General Election. Even the bookies are taking bets on when that day will come. Many British people feel let down that Mr Blair chose to make the announcement of his departure on the other side of the world (in Australia) and not here in England to those who voted for him. Apparently Mr Blair is regretting his announcement already as this has weakened his party leadership even more, although he has pledged to “fix” the NHS before he quits. That’ll be the day! If Mr Blair wants any help packing up his belongings, I’m sure there’ll be plenty of willing volunteers out there to help him on his way!

BRITONS LOSING SLEEP

According to a recent survey, more than 65% of the British public have trouble sleeping, with many averaging only 5 hours sleep a night. Is it any wonder with the current state of things in this country? The majority of people are probably losing sleep worrying over how they’re going to keep a roof over their heads with the soaring costs of both council tax and fuel costs!

BRITAIN HIT BY STRIKE ACTION

Millions of council workers came out in protest today over government plans to raise their retirement age from 60 to 65, in the biggest strike to hit Britain for 80 years. Thousands of schools, libraries and leisure centres around the country were closed and many bus and rail services came to a standstill causing travel chaos. Many council services across the U.K. were crippled by today’s strike. The issue of pensions is a problem that affects everyone in Britain, both public and private sector workers. Maybe the whole country should go on strike, it’s in such a mess! We’re being told that people are living longer and there’s no longer enough money in the state pension pot, so we will all have to work longer. Maybe if the government hadn’t wasted billions of money on three years of conflict in Iraq, we’d have plenty of money to cover everyone’s pensions, both the private and public sector workers.

TOP MUM SHARON MAKES HER STAGE DEBUT

XFactor judge Sharon Osbourne, recently voted Freemans Celebrity Mum of the Year made her stage debut last night in The Vagina Monologues at The Theatre Royal, Newcastle. Mum of three Sharon is the rock that holds her family together. Apart from fighting her own battle against colon cancer, Sharon has helped two of her children (Kelly and Jack) and rocker husband Ozzy through their addiction problems. On winning the award, Sharon said, “I’m delighted and the fact that this is a public vote makes it extra special.” Well done to her!

ANT & DEC ROYAL INTERVIEW

British tv presenters Ant and Dec have revealed plans to interview Prince Charles and his sons William and Harry in May. The duo plan to keep the interview lighthearted and are hoping to discover the Princes’ tastes in music, tv and films. The interview will mark the 30th anniversary of The Prince’s Trust.

NORMAN KEMBER ENJOYING HIS FREEDOM

Rescued British hostage Norman Kember settled back into home life again by attending a service yesterday at his local church. Many churchgoers were surprised to see the 74 year old peace campaigner so soon after his dramatic rescue. Mr Kember declined to discuss his experience of being held hostage for 4 months in Iraq and asked for privacy to reflect on his experiences.

In a statement Mr Kember said, "I do not believe that a lasting peace is achieved by armed force but I pay tribute to their courage and thank those who played a part in my rescue." He also thanked those people of all faiths who had prayed for his release. The dramatic rescue bid involved SAS, the American, Canadian and Iraq forces, who worked together to rescue Mr Kember and two other hostages. After the terrible murders of Ken Bigley and Tom Fox, at last we have some rare good news from Iraq. Everyone in Britain wishes Norman Kember and the two freed Canadian hostages well. After everything they've been through, they deserve it.

BRITAIN'S ROADS CRUMBLING

According to a recent survey Britain’s roads are crumbling due to lack of funding and a 10 year backlog of repairs. Apparently local council highways engineers are currently only getting 32% of the budget they need for maintenance work, despite the increasing amount of traffic on our roads. On average, the roads are only being resurfaced every 56 years, with local councils being blamed for not providing enough funding. According to the RAC, poor road surfacing is one of the top causes of accidents for motorcyclists.

The survey comes hot on the heels of the news that Britain is to have it’s first US-style car-share lane built on a motorway, in an effort to tackle pollution and traffic congestion. The lane can only be used by cars carrying two or more passengers and will open in 2007, in Leeds, West Yorkshire. Critics of the scheme argue that in America, quite often the lanes are under-used. Also the time saved by using the lanes is lost by stopping to pick up passengers!

DIANA MEMORIAL FOUNTAIN DEVELOPS CRACKS

The Diana Memorial Fountain appears to be cracking up after hairline cracks have been discovered in the structure. This is just the latest in a long line of problems to beset the troubled monument since it was opened by the Queen in 2004. First, the initial building work was delayed and cost well over budget, resulting in the memorial’s opening ceremony being delayed. Then the fountain had to be closed for two weeks after some visitors slipped and were injured. It was also hit by flooding. The cost of repairs will be a drain on the Royal Parks Agency (which is responsible for London’s major parks) and taxpayers, for years to come.

Maybe it’s a sign that the Memorial Fountain just isn’t meant to be and never should have been built in the first place. Surely a great lady like the Princess of Wales deserves something more to keep her memory alive. In my opinion a statue of the people’s Princess would have been a much better option and a lot less trouble as well.

On another note I discovered a beautiful Diana, Princess of Wales tribute site when I was surfing around the other day. If you would like to have a look, here’s the link:- http://www.truebritsjournal.co.uk/links/diana1.htm

KELLY DITCHES THE DODGERS

I was reading in the paper this week that Kelly Osbourne, (the daughter of XFactor judge Sharon and rocker Ozzy Osbourne), has managed to shed two and a half stone. Well done to her. She looks great. Maybe this will now put an end to all the nasty remarks in the press about her weight. Kelly (the face of my favourite shop Accessorize) credits her new slim figure to giving up her favourite biscuits and dancing. Kelly’s a girl after my own heart. She loves Jammie Dodgers. They’re my favourite biscuits too! But alas they’ve had to go as part of Kelly’s new healthy eating regime. Like Kelly I do a lot of dancing but giving up the dodgers – that’s another matter!

GORDON BROWN DELIVERS HIS TENTH BUDGET

In the news this week, Chancellor Gordon Brown delivered his tenth (and according to some Westminster predictions) final budget on Wednesday. As Tony Blair faces increasing calls to step down, Gordon Brown is hotly tipped to succeed him as the next Labour Prime Minister.

Pensioners’ groups were incensed as despite soaring fuel bills, there was no thought for the elderly whatsoever, with the scrapping of their £200 Council Tax rebate and no increase in pensioners' Winter Fuel payments. The major emphasis was on increased spending in schools, with the Chancellor describing his latest budget as “a Budget for Britain's future to secure fairness for each child by investing in every child".

But the Chancellor has made no provision for the cash-strapped National Health Service (NHS) in his budget proposals, claiming in a radio interview that there is a lot of money going into the NHS already and it is up to the NHS trusts to sort out their financial problems so that the public have value for money. Not sure how they’re going to do that, with cuts being made right, left and centre. The whole system just seems to be a shambles. But there we are. With NHS cuts taking place and hospitals being closed up and down the country, critics argue that the reason these cuts are being made is due to Gordon Brown’s failure to reform the NHS. Instead he has just abandoned it.

A package of “green” measures was also unveiled by Mr Brown, with increases in road tax for “4 x 4’s” and other gas guzzling vehicles.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

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 now on this lovely spring day! Happy Mothers Day to any mums reading this!

THE DEMISE OF THE FAMILY DINING TABLE

According to a recent poll, many British families have ditched the family dining table and the majority prefer to eat their meals on their knee in front of the tv. They also prefer to quaff (posh British word for drink!) champagne rather than sparkling wine. So there we go!

DRUG TEST DISASTER

I’ve been following the story of the six men who were in intensive care after suffering severe side-effects from testing the anti-inflammatory drug, TGN1412. Two of the men still remain in critical condition and it’s thought that one of them could remain in a coma for a year. It’s a terrible situation both for the volunteers and also their families.

Drugs like TGN1412 are usually tested in lab conditions first and then on animals, before going to the next stage of human trials. This latest drug trial disaster just proves how unreliable animal testing can be. Animals have different physiology to humans and react differently to certain drugs than we do. What is safe and works effectively for animals doesn’t always have the same effect in a human, and in some cases can have devastating and often dangerous effects as in this trial. A classic example is the Thalidomide drug which caused birth defects in thousands of people, when used by humans, despite having been tested on several different species of animals with no ill effects. Apparently TGN1412 (used to treat leukaemia), was tested on monkeys and the only effect was swollen glands but according to a relative of one of the men in critical condition, his head had swollen to twice its size and he resembled the elephant man, apart from his organs failing. I myself have always been against animal testing. After the latest fiasco, surely it’s time the medical professionals and pharmaceutical companies find a better and more reliable method of testing new drugs.

NHS IN CRISIS

The National Health Service is in crisis again! Nothing new there! Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt’s plan to save money is for some patients with serious conditions like asthma and heart disease to be treated at home by community nurses rather than in hospital.

Only one problem there, there aren’t enough community nurses and most are struggling to cope with their existing workload, so more nurses would have to be employed and paid a wage to look after these patients. Unless the government is prepared to put more money back into the community to fund this, it’s the patients that will be the sufferers. Ms Hewitt has done her sums and reckons that by all accounts the homecare system would save the NHS more than £400million a year. Very astute! but what about the poor patients? They, it seems come bottom of Ms Hewitt’s list of priorities. Her only concern is the savings that can be achieved by offering them substandard care!

Tony Blair had surgery for an irregular heartbeat a couple of years ago. If he has any further problems, I wonder if one of the local community nurses will be going round to see him. Somehow I very much doubt it.

ORSON TOPPING THE CHARTS

American band Orson have knocked Chico from the top spot, to become the new No. 1 in the UK singles chart with their hit song, "No Tomorrow". Well done to them!

DIGITAL TV BOOM

Nearly 70% of homes in the U.K. now have digital satellite tv , the highest percentage in the world. Satellite tv is a great invention! Technology has come so far now, it makes you wonder how we managed in the old days with just three tv stations! With more and more new channels springing up all the time, the main problem is finding enough spare hours in the day to watch them all!

TONY BLAIR'S POPULARITY SINKS TO AN ALL-TIME LOW

A Sunday Times poll has shown that Prime Minister Tony Blair is now even more unpopular than he’s ever been! Very interesting and no surprise at all! According to the poll, the majority of people still believe Tony Blair offered peerages in return for labour party funding, despite his assurances to the contrary.This also comes in the wake of anti-war protests held in London yesterday calling for the immediate withdrawal of British troops from Iraq.

CURRY FLAVOURED TOOTHPASTE!

I was reading in the newspaper this week that apparently a Japanese range of bizarre flavoured toothpastes, including curry, cola and chocolate flavours! are due to go on sale in the U.K. very soon. Apparently the idea behind them is that they will make cleaning your teeth a treat rather than a chore! Somehow I don't think they'll take off over here!

I think I'll stick with my usual mint flavoured toothpaste!

MULLER RECEIVES APOLOGY

Dr Adam Carey of popular British tv show, “Celebrity Fit Club”, issued an apology to German yoghurt giant Muller last week, after claiming in a January episode of the show that the yoghurts were full of sugar and had a high fat content.

Dr Carey admitted that he had made a mistake and in actual fact the yoghurts contain only 0.1% fat and naturally present fruit sugars.

Celebrity Fit Club follows two groups of overweight celebs as they battle to lose weight and get fit. The programme attracts four million viewers but even the experts get it wrong sometimes! Muller yoghurts are very healthy and ideal as part of a healthy, calorie controlled diet. The chocolate flavour yoghurts in particular are ideal to satisfy chocolate cravings but without the calories! Like the other yoghurts in the Muller range, they taste delicious!

POPE PLANNING VISIT TO BRITAIN

Pope Benedict is planning a visit to Britain in September next year. The actual details of the visit are being kept secret amidst tight security. However the news will delight the nation’s four million Catholics. The last papal visit to Britain was made by Pope John Paul II in 1982.

THE QUEEN'S TOUR OF AUSTRALIA

The Queen is on her way back to Britain after completing a week long tour of Australia and Singapore. Over 80,00 people cheered and joined opera singer Kiri Te Kanewa, in singing Happy Birthday to Her Majesty (in celebration of her 80th Birthday next month), as the Queen officially opened the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne on Wednesday.

The Australian press described this as The Queen's "farewell tour", bearing in mind her age (she will be 80 this year) and also the fact that many Australians are keen to replace Her Majesty with a president. Many believe it's ludicrous to have a citizen of another country who only visits Australia occasionally as their Head of State. Despite this, the warm and rapturous reception that the Queen received at every stop on her latest tour made it clear she is still as popular as ever down under. Long may she reign over all of us!

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OUTRAGE

England’s Prime Minister, Tony Blair has hit the headlines again this week, after it was announced that rapists’ jail sentences could be cut by 15% because jail is said to be “tougher”. What a load of rubbish! In addition, the Sentencing Guidelines Council (set up by Mr Blair) has suggested that men who hit their wives and partners should be sent on a course which challenges “their attitudes towards women”, rather than go to jail.

Women all over Britain (including myself) are outraged by this. Even Refuge (the charity which helps women who are victims of domestic violence) has condemned the new plans. It seems that Tony Blair is condoning domestic violence and trivialising it. If a member of his family was in an abusive relationship or had been raped, I’m sure he would take a different attitude. These plans will just give violent men free reign to rape and batter women and send out the completely wrong message to future offenders. They will put even more women’s lives at risk and also deter victims of domestic violence from coming forward. If Mr Blair lets these plans go ahead, he is letting down every woman in this country and sending out the message to men that it is okay to hit their wives and partners.

MARMITE - THE NATION'S FAVOURITE!

Marmite, the nation’s favourite spread, is to be re-packaged from it’s brown glass jar, into a squeezy plastic container. England has had a love affair with the gooey spread for the last decade with jars of Marmite continuing to fly off the supermarket shelves.

However it’s packaged, Marmite is still as good for you as it’s always been! It’s delicious by itself on hot buttered toast, or adds an extra bit of oomph to a cheese sandwich or cheese on toast! (my favourite way of eating it!) Marmite is a good source of B vitamins. It’s also suitable for vegetarians and completely low in fat and sugar. So go on, indulge yourself today!

LAPTOPS FOR TERRORIST SUSPECTS

Apparently terrorist suspects in Belmarsh Prison are now being issued with laptops, costing thousands of pounds. The official line is that these are to help them to "prepare defence for their upcoming legal cases". What a load of rubbish! Yet another example of how British taxpayers' money is being wasted! Critics argue that the laptops could actually encourage even more terrorist activity as if we don't have enough already! I'd love a laptop myself but can't afford one. Maybe if I ask the Government nicely, they'll issue me with one too! Or maybe the essential requirement is that I have to become a terrorist to get one!

HOSEPIPE BAN ANNOUNCED

Yesterday Thames Water announced plans to impose a hosepipe ban on London and some areas of the South East due to severe drought. It’s the first time in 15 years that they have had to resort to such measures. The move follows a long period of below average rainfall in the region.

No such problems up North! (English expression!) which (as some of you know), is where I live. It’s bucketing down with rain here and has been since last night! Still at least it's washed all the snow away and made it a bit warmer!

WIMBLEDON SEATS TO BE MADE LARGER

Apparently the seats at Wimbledon are being made bigger to accommodate the growing army of larger-framed tennis fans, who find the existing seats uncomfortable. It seems that whilst the tennis players are getting fitter, the fans are getting bigger and bigger! Maybe it’s eating an excess of the traditional Wimbledon fare of strawberries and cream that’s to blame! Either that or the fact that one in four Brits is now clinically obese - three times the rate in the 1990s. The new seats will be 18in wide and ready in time for this year’s June tournament.

BRITISH BEEF BACK ON THE MENU

British beef is due to go back onto the menu in Europe after an export ban lasting 10 years. The European Union originally announced the ban on the export of British Beef due to fears of mad cow disease and in response to public fears of it spreading to humans. The ban is now expected to be lifted in the next 6 weeks as the UK has made great strides in tackling the disease. Good news for British farmers, many of whom went bankrupt at the height of the BSE crisis.

ARE BLONDE DRIVERS A DANGER TO OUR ROADS?

In the news this week a blonde motorist was caught by a police camera doing over 30 miles per hour in a notorious accident blackspot area, whilst doing her makeup! Unbelievable! This comes not long after an incident where a women accidently drove her landrover into a freezing lake, using the excuse that she was having, "a blonde moment".

I noticed a couple of national newspapers posed the question, "Should blondes be driven from our roads?" Definitely not. As a blonde motorist myself, I would never dream of doing my makeup at the wheel. Hair colour doesn't affect your driving skills. In most cases it's lack of common sense. My advice to the police and other motorists is these were two isolated incidents, involving stupid women. Unfortunately it's women like these who give others like myself a bad name. There are some sensible women out there (including myself!). Please don't tar us all with the same brush!

MEET THE NEW FACES OF ASDA!

England footballer Wayne Rooney and his girlfriend Coleen McLoughlin have been chosen to replace Sharon Osbourne as the new faces of British supermarket chain Asda as part of a £3.5million deal. The couple will front campaigns for Asda for the next two and a half years. Not surprisingly the couple are delighted and Coleen is looking forward to designing clothing for Asda's George range as part of the deal.

It has been a good week for Wayne. In addition he has just signed a £5million book deal with publishing giant Harper Collins to write a minimum of five books about his life and career.

HAPPY SUNDAY FROM SNOWY ENGLAND!

This time the weather forecasters were correct when they forecast snow in north and central England. I took this photo through the window (from the comfort of the house!). 

NATIONAL NO SMOKING DAY

Today is National No Smoking Day. Over five million people in Britain have pledged to give up smoking to mark the day. Welsh “Voice of An Angel” singer Charlotte Church has encouraged people to give up the evil weed, after quitting her own 25 a day habit as part of her New Year's Resolution. Also the news this week that Superman actor Christopher Reeve’s non-smoking wife Dana has lost her battle with lung cancer (caused by passive smoking through singing in smokey environments), is even more of a reason to quit.

VOUCHER REWARDS FOR TEENS

In the news this week, Chancellor Gordon Brown has unveiled a voucher scheme to encourage youngsters to stay out of trouble. Well behaved kids who stay within the law will be rewarded with vouchers, whilst out of hand youngsters would be given “mentors” to keep them on the straight and narrow. What a load of rubbish! It will take more than a “mentor” to keep many of the teenage yobs in this country out of trouble.

Maybe they should start issuing vouchers to the government ministers who come up with all these bright ideas! Or maybe they should bring back good old fashioned discipline both at home and in schools and save taxpayers' hard-earned money! In an interview on GMTV this morning, Gordon Brown mentioned that the government is “toughening up” on anti-social behaviour. Apparently a lot of youth crime occurs because youngsters have nowhere to go and nothing to do, so the idea is that the vouchers which can be exchanged for sports and leisure facilities will channel youngsters’ interests. I’m not convinced. Perhaps American-style boot camps for young offenders would be a better idea or maybe bringing back National Service would do the trick.

BRITAIN'S OSCAR WINNERS

Actress Rachel Weisz and plasticine characters Wallace and Gromit did Britain proud at this year’s Oscar ceremony.

Rachel Weisz scooped an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in political thriller “The Constant Gardener”, whilst Wallace and Gromit won an Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film for the movie, “The Curse of the Were-Rabbit!” (gratefully accepted on their behalf by animator Nick Park and Co-Producer Steve Box). This is Nick’s fourth Oscar and his first for a full length feature film. Well done to all of them!

IT'S CHICO TIME!

XFactor contestant Chico failed to impress the XFactor judges but has certainly impressed the British public, going straight to No. 1 in this week's U.K. Singles Chart. Former stripper Chico has knocked Madonna from the top spot with his debut single, "It's Chico Time". Chico also has another reason to celebrate with the news that he is to become a dad. Congratulations Chico!

DIVINE INTERVENTION BLAMED FOR THE IRAQ WAR

Tony Blair last night became the first serving Prime Minister ever to be interviewed on the popular British chat show, Parkinson. He also hit a storm of controversy after telling host Michael Parkinson that he relied on his conscience as well as his faith in God, when making the decision to go to war with Iraq. Mr Blair also believes that God will be the final judge on the Iraq war. It sounds like he's losing the plot to me. As the death toll of British troops in Iraq continues to mount, it’s the judgement of the British people that Tony Blair needs to be worried about and not God’s judgement. Politics and religion don’t mix. To blame divine intervention for going to war is just passing the book. A true Christian would never condone war or knowingly send people to their deaths. Many anti-war campaigners and military groups were disgusted by Mr Blair’s comments. He has also been fiercely criticised by the families of troops killed in Iraq. Mr Blair follows in the footsteps of his friend and ally George Bush who reportedly claimed his decision to invade Iraq was a "mission from God". For Mr Blair to blame going to war on God is truly bizarre. He is just using religion as a get-out clause rather than being man enough to take responsibility for his own actions.

ROBBIE COLTRANE OBE

Congratulations to Robbie Coltrane. On Friday the Queen presented him with an OBE. Famous for his portrayal of Hagrid in the Harry Potter films and also the tv series Cracker, Robbie is one of Britain’s finest actors.

Others also being honoured by Her Majesty include actress Imelda Staunton (who also gained an OBE) and jazzman John Dankworth who gained a knighthood at age 78.

EDUCATION BILL

Tony Blair this week launched his controversial Education Bill. Under the new plans secondary schools would run independently from local authority control and become “trust” schools (more like private schools), free to run their own affairs and admissions policy.

Education Secretary Ruth Kelly claims that the new bill gives schools the freedom they need to raise standards.

Critics of the new system argue that the proposals will lead to a “two tier” system where children from disadvantaged backgrounds will lose out, as working class areas are left with declining schools. Even teaching unions have criticised the new plans saying that they won’t improve educational standards in England.

It is also argued that schools will be so concerned with achieving academic excellence and high standards that many children who are struggling and need extra help with schoolwork will be left behind. Critics argue that children like these will be more likely to "drop out" of school because of lack of motivation.

The Education Bill also encourages tougher discipline in schools and improved school meal standards. It gives local authorities the freedom to offer all pupils free meals, fresh fruit, milk or other refreshments during the school day, regardless of family income. Surely this must be good news. You can’t expect children to sit in a classroom and pay attention to lessons if they are ill nourished and ill fed. A healthy and nutritious diet boosts brain power and is crucial to a child's good academic performance in the classroom. So plans for local authorities to offer free healthy meals and snacks to all children, not just those from poor families are welcomed by everyone.

FOOTBALLERS WIVES

I was reading in the press this week that popular British TV series Footballers Wives has become a big hit in the States. Apparently over there they are comparing the show to Dallas and Dynasty. It certainly oozes glamour, that's for sure!

BLAIR TO TACKLE GENDER PAY GAP

In the news this week, England’s Prime Minister Tony Blair pledged to tackle the pay gap between men and women in the workplace and help women into better paid jobs, after a report revealed that girls are being steered towards badly paid jobs. Tony Blair hailed the findings of the report as a “ground-breaking piece of work”. Stating the obvious is what I would call it. We don't need a government report to tell us what we’ve always known that the women workforce in this country are undervalued and underpaid.

Apparently Mr Blair believes that one of the main things forcing women into low paid jobs and undervaluing their talents is the fact that they get poor careers advice at school. His solution is to increase the number of careers "coaches" in schools offering advice about job and training opportunities.
I’m not convinced that will solve the problem. A lot of state schools are turning out too many pupils (both boys and girls) that are simply not equipped to work. Maybe this is to do with the advent of the National Curriculum and the fact that many teachers are forced to spend more time completing forms and paperwork rather than spending valuable time in the classroom. Many pupils are lucky if they can write their own name, let alone a job application, when they leave school. In addition Mr Blair’s benefit system doesn’t encourage youngsters to want to work. Many teenage girls prefer to take the easy option of a baby, council flat and benefits, all provided for by the state, rather than working their way up the career ladder. And who can blame them?

In addition the rising costs of childcare in this country make it financially impossible for many mothers to return to work after taking maternity leave, again creating a gap in the skills market. Surely to build up the country and the economy, we should be doing everything we can to encourage new mothers to go back into the workplace.

Women make up a large percentage of the workforce in the U.K. yet many are working far below their abilities with their talents being wasted. It is high time that employers recognised the fact that women have an important part to play in the workplace and their skills are just as valuable, (if not more in some cases), than their male counterparts.

SPRING HAS SPRUNG!

Yesterday was the first day of Spring in England, but you wouldn’t think so judging by the nation's weather. Temperatures are hovering barely above freezing and some areas of the country have snow and blizzards with more on the way. Let’s hope we see an improvement soon!