CONTROVERSIAL DIANA DOCUMENTARY SPARKS OUTRAGE

Plans by Channel 4 to show graphic photos of Princess Diana dying in the aftermath of the Paris car crash have been met with disgust and outrage. Channel 4 plan to broadcast the sickening photos showing Diana’s last moments as part of a documentary, “Diana: The Witnesses in the Tunnel”, on 6th June to mark the 10th anniversary of her death. The insensitivity of the media is unbelievable and yet another attempt to cash in on Diana's memory. To show images of this nature will cause unnecessary pain and heartbreak to Princes William and Harry who have repeatedly called on the media not to publish such upsetting photos of their mother. Last Summer an Italian magazine caused worldwide condemnation when it published a photo of Princess Diana dying in the wreckage of the car crash.

Meanwhile actress Keira Knightley is the hot favourite to play Princess Diana in a movie about her life. The movie will be based on a controversial book, "Diana and the Paparazzi" and the film’s producer is hoping the movie will follow in the footsteps of Helen Mirren’s movie, “The Queen”, and be a box office hit.

ALCOHOL TO CARRY GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING

Alcoholic drinks are to carry a government health warning by the end of next year. The government has made an agreement with the drinks industry that all drinks will carry details on the labels of the safe drinking levels for men and women. In addition they will carry details of how many alcoholic units each drink contains. The new rules have been brought into force after official figures revealed that over 7 million people are hazardous or harmful drinkers. Binge drinking is now a major public health concern in Britain.

The labelling decision comes hot on the heels of the Department of Health last week advising pregnant women and those trying to conceive to drink no alcohol at all, after it was revealed that many pregnant women believed it was still ok to drink as long as it was a small amount.

TEA - BEST DRINK OF THE DAY

Britons are the world's second biggest tea drinkers, behind the Irish, consuming 165 million cups a day. Researchers have discovered that drinking tea is even better for you than drinking water. It contains antioxidants and doesn’t dehydrate you. Three or more cups of tea a day can cut the risk of heart attacks whilst other benefits include bone strengthening and protection against dental plaque, one of the main causes of tooth decay. All the more reason to have a nice cup of tea!

FINGER LENGTH LINKED TO EXAM PERFORMANCE

Researchers at the University of Bath claim that results of Maths and English tests are linked to the length of pupils’ fingers. They believe that parents can predict their children’s exam performance just by looking at their hands. Apparently pupils with shorter ring fingers tend to be more literate and better at English, whilst their peers with longer ring fingers tend to be more numerate and better at Maths. Interesting.

Meanwhile a survey reveals that more and more people in the over 50’s age group are learning how to use Ipods, mobile phones and computers, after inheriting their children and grandchildren’s “cast-offs!” Apparently kids are passing their “old” gadgets onto their parents and grandparents when they upgrade to new, more sophisticated ones!

WORLD'S FIRST ADJUSTABLE HIGH HEELS LAUNCHED IN BRITAIN

Good news for women everywhere with the launch this week of the world’s first adjustable high heel shoes. The shoes which were launched in the U.S. four months ago are now available for the first time in Britain from Zappos.com. The 3¼ inch heels transform into comfortable 1 inch flat shoes in seconds. A steel rod inside the stiletto heel can be pulled out and tucked into a hidden cavity under the arch of the shoe, without having to take them off. The shoes are made of Italian leather and come with a £150 price tag! What a great idea but I don’t think many women will buy them at that price!

NEW TOOTHPASTE COULD END MISERY OF SENSITIVE TEETH

As someone who suffers with sensitive teeth, I was interested to hear of a new toothpaste which will be available in Britain at the end of the month. The wonder toothpaste claims to be the first on the market to actually treat the cause of sensitive teeth by re-building tooth enamel. Described by one dentist as a “unique product”, Arm and Hammer’s Enamel Care Sensitive contains a liquid form of calcium, a key component in tooth enamel. The calcium plugs tiny holes in the enamel and stops dental nerves becoming exposed and painful, ending the agony of sensitive teeth.

It sounds good in theory, but like all new inventions could be too good to be true. Recent research has linked calcium to Alzheimer’s and motor neurone disorders. Too much calcium can also cause nerve damage. However for people who suffer the daily misery of sensitive teeth, the benefits of this toothpaste will no doubt far outweigh the risks. I’ll probably give it a go myself.

HARRY POTTER CASTING A SPELL OVER STAMP COLLECTORS

Royal Mail is celebrating the launch of the last book in the Harry Potter series by launching a series of stamps featuring the boy wizard. Images from the covers of JK Rowling’s seven Harry Potter books will appear on 1st class stamps, with the crest from Hogwarts school and its four houses appearing on a special set of five stamps. The stamps are being developed via a special licensing agreement with Warner Brothers and Bloomsbury. They are due to be launched on 17th July, four days before the seventh and final Harry potter book, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” is due to go on sale in the U.K. The Royal Mail said it was "proud to commemorate and celebrate an illustrious British author and a true global publishing phenomenon".

Meanwhile JK Rowling is due to give a moonlight book signing to mark the publication of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”. The author will be meeting eager Potter fans at London’s Natural History Museum on 21st July. The event is due to begin at midnight and will last until dawn.

CUTTY SARK RAVAGED BY FIRE

Famous tea clipper, the Cutty Sark has been severely damaged by a mysterious fire. A symbol of the British Empire and a famous London landmark, the Cutty Sark was popular with tourists and historians alike, whilst she was dry-docked in Greenwich.

Fire broke out in the early hours of the morning and quickly spread through the timber and iron ship causing extensive damage. Firemen arrived to find huge flames and thick black smoke shooting up high into the sky. The blaze was eventually brought under control, revealing a mass of charred timbers on the deck of what was once the world's fastest tea clipper. Police are treating the blaze as suspicious and have appealed for witnesses.

A fund has been set up to restore the fire damaged vessel The ship's website crashed after being inundated with donations from wellwishers eager to see the Cutty Sark rise from the ashes and be restored to its former glory once again.

PHOTO:- COURTESY OF BBC WEBSITE

PLEASE HELP FIND LITTLE MADELEINE

Missing Madeleine!

Madeleine McCann was abducted from Praia Da Luz, Portugal on 03/05/07.

If you have any information about her whereabouts, please contact Crimestoppers on

0800 555 111 Please help

The international number for Crimestoppers is +44 1883 731 336. People with information about Madeleine can call anonymously.

Diary From England will be displaying the special banner shown at the top of the page, in a bid to help find Maddy. If you have any friends or relatives in Europe, particularly Spain and Portugal, please e-mail across a copy of Maddy's photo.

To read the background behind Maddy's disappearance please go to the link shown below:-

The Hunt Goes On For Missing Madeleine

BUCKINGHAM PALACE STAGING EXHIBITION TO MARK ROYAL ANNIVERSARY

The Queen and Prince Philip will be celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary later this year. To mark the occasion, Buckingham Palace will be staging an exhibition to celebrate their 60 years of marriage. Archive films of the Queen’s Wedding in 1947 will be shown. Behind the scenes preparations for the ceremony will also be made public for the first time. The Queen’s wedding dress will feature in the exhibition, together with the dresses worn by her mother and grandmother. Some of the Queen’s jewellery collection and military uniforms worn by Prince Philip and the Queen’s father, King George V1 will also go on display. The Queen and Prince Philip will be the first reigning monarchs to celebrate 60 years of marriage. The exhibition will open on 28th July and will be held until 25th September.

MORE BRITONS THAN EVER SURFING THE NET

According to a recent study, surfing the net has now become a mainstream activity for the British public. Apparently young women have taken over from young men as the main internet users in the U.K, whilst men over 50 are the largest male group who surf online. Surfing the net is certainly addictive, with e-mail being a popular form of communication. When my computer went down recently, I was lost without it. How did we ever manage without all this technology!

BABY GRANTED GUN LICENCE

Still on the subject of guns, I was shocked to hear that an 11 month old baby has been given a firearms licence in the U.S. Apparently the child’s father applied for the licence over the internet and it was granted with no questions asked. The baby’s granddad has since bought him a shotgun for when he’s older. It’s a sad and frightening sign of the times when somebody can get hold of a gun so easily and just goes to show how stupid the U.S. gun laws are. It’s no wonder you hear of so many shooting incidents. It’s such a trigger-happy society we live in now with guns too easily available, particularly in the U.S. The pro gun lobby there believes it’s every citizen’s right to carry a gun. They don’t stop to consider what happens when they fall into the hands of some crazy person.

Also violence is everywhere around us, on tv, in the movies, on the net and on computer games, helping to shape youngsters into disturbed and unbalanced individuals. Is it any wonder we live in an increasingly violent and menacing society?

MORE BRITISH POLICE SET TO BE ARMED WITH TASERS

Hundreds of British police officers are set to be armed with taser stun guns. Under the current system, only firearms officers dealing with armed suspects are allowed to carry them. They are used as a “non lethal” option of dealing with dangerous criminals where in the past the only alternative would be to shoot them. However the Home Office announced this week that it was planning to extend their use to all police officers, who will be able to use them when they face threats or violence. The 50,000 volt devices work by temporarily disabling a suspect.

However the plans for more wide taser gun useage have angered human rights groups who say tasers have been linked to many deaths in the U.S. and Canada. The Home Office stated that no deaths have been linked to their use in Britain. Independent medical research is currently being carried out to see whether the guns do cause any serious injury. One of Britain’s top police officers volunteered to be shot by a Taser in a bid to convince the public they are safe. A special police video shows him collapsing to the floor in excruciating pain after being shot. He says, “It hurt like hell!”, after being helped to his feet by two other officers. The Home Office are hoping to start trials of the Taser guns in September.

DECISION TAKEN AGAINST SENDING HARRY TO IRAQ

The Ministry of Defence announced this week that Prince Harry would not be going to serve with his regiment in Iraq. The decision has provoked a backlash of criticism from parents whose sons have been killed in Iraq. Many parents believe that the Ministry of Defence is sending the message that Harry’s life is more important than theirs and if it is too dangerous for Harry to go there, then it is too dangerous for the other troops to be there as well.

Harry is said to be bitterly disappointed, although he does understand and accept the decision that has been taken. A Statement released by Clarence House stated that Harry’s thoughts are with his troops and the rest of the battle group in Iraq. However the decision was taken as it was thought Harry and his regiment would be exposed to too much risk, after agents uncovered an Al-Qaeda terrorist plot to kidnap or kill him. Harry was due to be in charge of eleven soldiers and four reconnaissance vehicles.

TITANIC LIFEJACKET SOLD AT AUCTION

A lifejacket belonging to one of the survivors of the 1912 Titanic disaster has been sold at auction for £60,000 by Christies in London. The jacket belonged to Laura Francatelli who was secretary to a society dress designer. She left the jacket to her nephew in her will. The jacket was autographed by Laura and some of the other survivors of the tragedy. Included with the jacket was a letter written by Laura detailing her rescue from the doomed vessel. Hundreds of people were killed in the Titanic disaster when it sank on its maiden voyage after hitting an iceberg.

GRANDMOTHER FINED AND ALL FOR TWO CRISPS!

I couldn’t believe it when I heard about the toddler whose grandmother was fined because the 18th month old little girl dropped two crisps on a pavement in Crawley, West Sussex. Passers by were quite amused by the whole incident and looked on in stunned amazement as the child’s grandmother was approached by two council litter wardens carrying clipboards. One of them informed her that she would be fined for littering and handed her a notice. The grandmother (who was waiting for a bus with the little girl and her mother when the incident happened), asked the wardens what litter they were talking about as it was only a couple of crisps that a toddler had dropped. On reading the notice she was shocked to see that she had been fined £80! She appealed against the fine which the council decided to waive due to the extraordinary circumstances involved! I can understand how we all need to do our bit to keep Britain tidy but this sounds like bureaucracy gone mad!

DIARY FROM ENGLAND TIME SETTINGS

Many readers have remarked that some of my posts are done at odd times of the day and night! No I don't suffer from insomnia! The time settings on this blog have never been right since day one. As I'm not very technical, I wasn't sure how to fix them. Thanks very much to BizWhiz over at

Tips For New Bloggers

for your help and advice. All the settings are now correct so you should see posts at normal times! Tips for New Bloggers is a great site for people like me who are not technical. There are a lot of useful tips and advice over there. I'm not surprised this site is No. 1 over at Blog Village.

TONY BLAIR PLANNING FAREWELL TOUR

Tony Blair is planning a trip to the U.S. as part of a globe-trotting farewell tour after announcing he will be resigning from office on 27th June. After a decade as Prime Minister, Mr Blair is finally bidding farewell to no. 10. However he is poised for an even more lucrative career and is set to earn a staggering £40m from book deals and lecture tours in the wake of his departure – nice work if you can get it! President Bush will play host to Mr Blair next week when he makes his last official visit to the U.S. Tony Blair has faced staunch criticism at home for his backing of Bush and the U.S. invasion of Iraq and actually referred to this in his resignation speech, saying, “Hand on heart, I did what I thought was right,” and “I accept that mistakes were made”. Critics believe that it was because of this that Mr Blair resigned from the premiership earlier than expected.

Meanwhile the race is now on to find Mr Blair’s successor with Chancellor Gordon Brown being the hot favourite to fill his shoes. We can only hope that whoever succeeds him, does a better job than Mr Blair for the sake of everyone in Britain.

A FEW OF MY FAVOURITE THINGS

One of my favourite films is The Sound of Music. I like some of the songs from the film, particularly the one about, “My favourite things”. Here are a few of my favourite things that I’d like to share with you.

My favourite meal:- It has to be a traditional Sunday roast – very popular in England – and always a favourite with me!

My favourite perfume:- Estee Lauder Beautiful

My favourite book:- My all-time favourite is “A Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens, a classic British novel. My current favourite is Dan Brown’s “Da Vinci Code”.

My favourite colour:- Pink

My favourite flower:- Stargazer lilies – I love them and they have a special fragrance all of their own

My favourite film:- My all-time favourite has to be Dirty Dancing with Patrick Swayze.

My favourite fruit:- Banana – eating two every day helps lower blood pressure and keeps you healthy

My favourite season:- Autumn – I love it when the leaves change colour. I grew up in the country and have always loved trees.

Hope you enjoyed reading about some of my favourite things! If you wish to share yours in the comments that’s fine with me.

CARROTS KEY TO STAYING YOUNG AND SEXY

Scientists at the Universities of Exeter and Glasgow have discovered a link between carrots and staying youthful! Apparently Carotenoids which give carrots their orange colour help to slow down the ageing process. According to the experts who tested their research on male stickleback fish! eating Carotenoids (found in carrots), made the male fish live longer and boosted their sex appeal! Whether it has the same effect on humans remains to be seen! All the more reason to eat your carrots!

EDUCATION - I'VE BEEN TAGGED!

Diary From England will be taking part in the upcoming Meme Carnival being held at:-

http://thelivesandtimes.blogspot.com/2007/05/im-hosting-meme-carnival.html

and also the Education Carnival being held over at:-

http://gottsegnet.blogspot.com/2007/05/education.html

Still on the subject of Education, I have been tagged by Kilroy to answer the following questions as part of his Education Meme. So here goes:-

What was the name of the teacher that was most influential in your life from grades K through 6?
My answer: My English teacher Mr Ilett.

What subject did you favour in high school?
My answer: English (Language & Literature – I like my books!) and German

Did you attend a university and if so did you attain a degree?
My answer: No and no. I opted out of my original plan to become an English teacher and embarked on a Secretarial course at college instead.


Do you learn best through books, by watching or hands-on?
My answer: Through books.


Has education been an ongoing process for you? How do you feel about that?
My answer: Yes I love learning new things. I think life is a constant learning process. I have a great interest in complementary therapies and am hoping to take a course in either Aromatherapy, Reflexology or Indian Head Massage in September.

What seven people are you tagging to do this?
My answer: Sorry can’t think of seven people who have time on their hands to do this at the moment, but if anyone is visiting me and wishing to add their answers in the comments box, that’s ok with me.

THE HUNT GOES ON FOR MISSING MADELEINE

The hunt for missing British toddler Madeleine McCann has gripped the nation this week, with prayer vigils being held all over the country. The little girl’s parents Gerry and Kate McCann have vowed to leave “no stone unturned” in the search for their daughter who went missing whilst the family were holidaying in The Algarve region of Portugal.

Gerry and Kate were staying at The Mark Warner Holiday Complex in Praia De Luz a self-contained holiday village, with their children (two year old twins and Maddy 3). The couple had decided to celebrate the last night of their holiday by going out for a meal at a tapas restaurant, a few hundred yards from the apartment complex where they were staying. The couple have come under fierce criticism for not taking advantage of the holiday complex’s babysitting service, preferring instead to keep returning back to the apartment to check on Maddy and her younger brother and sister, at regular half hourly intervals. It was on one of these check-up visits at 10.00pm, that Kate returned to find Maddy’s bed empty, the apartment door and window were wide open, with signs of a forced entry to the window shutters. The other two children were still sleeping in their beds.

Little Maddy has now been missing since Thursday 3rd May and there are fears that she may have been taken across the border into Spain. There are many theories as to what happened, with one being that she was being watched for several days before being snatched by an international child abduction gang. The media have focused on reports of two men and women with a little girl being caught on CCTV at a petrol station, driving a car with a British number plate. We can only imagine what this poor child’s parents, both doctors, must be going through right now. Described by a family friend as "living for their children and loving them to bits", they will probably regret not using the complex's babysitting service for the rest of their lives, but it can be argued that in the safe and supposedly secure environment of the holiday village, you can be lulled into a false sense of security. The holiday village is promoted as a safe and family friendly environment. Also leaving children to be cared for by strangers is not always the best thing either. To lose a child in these circumstances must be one of the worst things that can happen to a family. It was little Maddy’s 4th birthday yesterday. The special Dr Who birthday cake that she asked for is all baked and ready, a poignant and sad reminder of what would have been a happy family occasion. We can only hope and pray for Maddy's safe return. Businessmen and others including Richard Branson and writer JK Rowling have pledged large sums of money for information leading to her safe return. The reward being offered is now up to £2.5 million. Also footballer David Beckham has been on tv making an emotional plea for Maddy to be returned to her family. Madeleine's aunt and family have urged the public to join in their poster and e-mail campaign to help find the little girl. In the meantime, the search goes on and the wait continues for her distraught parents.

SPIDERS SET UP HOME IN BOY'S EAR!

I couldn’t believe it when I heard about Jesse Courtney, the little boy from Albany, Oregon who complained about a popping noise in his left ear. It seems that a couple of spiders had set up home in his ear canal! His doctor looked inside the ear and thought he saw something but was as astonished as Jesse when he syringed the ear and two spiders were flushed out, one dead and the other still alive! Jessie’s doctor presented him with the spiders (both now dead) in a glass jar as a souvenir of his experience! It just goes to show you don’t know what you’re carrying around!

MIRACLE CREAM FLIES OFF THE SHELVES

It seems everyone is searching for the fountain of youth! Every year women spend millions of pounds on so-called wonder treatments, lotions and potions claiming to banish wrinkles and promote younger looking skin. Now it seems there is a treatment available that actually does work and scientists have proved that it does in fact repair sun damage and reduce the depth of wrinkles. Boots No. 7 Protect and Perfect serum became an overnight sensation after it was featured on the BBC’s Horizon programme, with some women camping outside their local Boots store to get their hands on it, as new deliveries arrived.

The product promises younger looking skin within four weeks and at £16.75 gives much better results than other more expensive creams. Within days of the product being featured on Horizon, sales soared and Boots online store reportedly sold one bottle every 10 seconds! Boots production staff have been working round the clock to meet demand for the product with customers being restricted to buying one 30ml bottle each. The No. 7 cosmetic brand is well known in the U.K., having been on the market since 1935.

BORAT STAR WINS FREDDIE MERCURY ROLE

Borat star Sacha Baron Cohen has beaten off stiff competition from Johnny Depp to win the role of Freddie Mercury in an upcoming movie about the Queen star’s life. Sacha Baron Cohen certainly bears an uncanny resemblance to the late singer, with his handlebar moustache and tight chest-baring outfits. The comedian famous for his controversial role as a Kazakhstan journalist is reportedly delighted at winning the coveted role of Freddie, having modelled Borat’s look on him.

QUEEN FULFILS LIFELONG AMBITION ON U.S. TOUR

The Queen has fulfilled a lifelong ambition by visiting the Kentucky Derby, one of America’s premier horse races, whilst on a week long tour of the U.S. Her Majesty was warmly greeted by the crowds as she began her first U.S. visit for 16 years, with a visit to Richmond, Virginia. Many people were eager to catch a glimpse of the real-life monarch made famous by Helen Mirren in her Oscar-winning movie, “The Queen”. Celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz has produced an official portrait of The Queen to mark her visit to America. The imposing photo was inspired by a Cecil Beaton photo of Her Majesty taken over 40 years ago and shows the Queen sitting in the White Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace, dressed in a pale gold evening dress, fur stole and diamond tiara.

Whilst in Virginia, The Queen paid tribute to the victims of the Virginia Tech shootings saying that her heart went out to them and had a private meeting with some of the survivors and bereaved families affected by the tragedy. The Queen and Prince Philip also toured Jamestown, celebrating its 400th anniversary as the first English settlement in the Americas.

U.S. President George Bush and his wife Laura are due to welcome the Queen and Prince Philip to the White House today, where a special banquet will be held in their honour. The Queen will then be delivering a keynote speech before heading off to a garden party at the British ambassador’s residence.

PHOTOS:- Courtesy of BBC Website

PIGGY CAKES TELLING PORKIES

Calling her cakes names like Robin tarts, Pig tarts and Paradise slices has landed baker Val Temple in trouble with her local Trading Standards. The 60 year old grandmother and cakemaker who runs a bakery in Weymouth, Dorset was stunned when council officials ordered her to rename some of her most popular cakes as their names were “misleading” to customers. The offending cakes include Piggy tarts and Robin tarts (fun little cakes which have little sugar paste pigs and robins on top of them) and Paradise slice (a slice containing almonds, sultanas and cherries). The council’s argument is that Piggy tarts don’t contain pig, Robin tarts don’t contain the red breasted bird! and Paradise slices don’t come from Paradise!

Val says she has been making the popular cakes which are different and fun, for over 20 years and has never had any complaints from either customers or Trading Standards until now. Val has now changed the names of the Robin and Piggy tarts to Novelty cakes and Paradise slice to Almond, Fruit and Nut slice but says that customers still call them by their original names. Council officials insist that they were right to step in as customers have a right to know what is in food. That’s all very well but this just sounds like bureaucracy gone mad! With so many British delicacies ambiguously named, liked spotted dick (a pudding containing currants) and Toad in the Hole (yorkshire pudding with sausages) – who knows which will be the next one to come under scrutiny! Val’s bemused customers have suggested that she should create a new cake in honour of the petty council officials and name it, “Nutty as a Fruitcake!”

KATE MOSS LAUNCHES FASHION COLLECTION

Thousands of shoppers lined the streets of London for the launch of model Kate Moss’s fashion collection at Topshop’s Oxford Street branch on Monday evening. Kate delighted the crowds as she appeared in the shop window posing alongside the mannequins as eager fans snapped photos of her on their mobile phones.

Kate Moss’s designs include clothes, bags, shoes and belts with prices ranging from £12 for a vest top to £150 for a cropped leather jacket. Apparently the inspiration from the designs has come from pieces which Kate already owns. Groups of 150 shoppers at a time were allowed into the store for 20 minutes during which time, they could buy up to five items, mainly to discourage people from selling the designs on Ebay. Despite this several items from the collection appeared on Ebay within hours of going on sale, before the collection went on general sale at Top Shop branches nationwide.

PRINCE CHARLES LIKENS CLIMATE CHANGE BATTLE TO WORLD WAR II

In a speech to business leaders this week, Prince Charles warned that we need to act, “very rapidly indeed” to avoid environmental disaster. The Prince likened the battle against climate change to World War II, saying, “We can do it. Just think what they did in the last war”. Prince Charles has always been a big supporter of green issues and in the past described climate change as, “the biggest threat to mankind”.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PLAYING THE TAG GAME

Some of the people I tagged have e-mailed me to ask how they go about creating a Jackson Pollock picture and posting this to their blog. I must admit when I did this I had an advantage as I have Paintshop installed on my p.c. However there is an easier way to do this. As many of you know I'm not a very technical person but have got some help and advice on this from my fellow Blog Villagers Tony

The Lives and Times

and Roy

For Your Success

So here goes, let the fun begin!

First of all you need to go onto the Jackson Pollock website and create your masterpiece!

Next hit the "Print Screen" button on your keyboard.

Then open the Microsoft Paint programme (this is a pretty standard tool that comes with Windows) by going to Start, Programs, Accessories, Paint.

Then in the Paint programe, do Edit, Paste

Left click on the rectangular box, you will see the word SELECT appear and a cross on your cursor.

Using your cursor, draw an outline around your painting (this is to cut off the explorer address bar and neaten up the drawing.

Once this is done, hit File, New, answer No to Save Changes question.

In the new window, hit Edit, Paste and as if by magic, your masterpiece will appear!

You then need to do File, Save As, give your design a name, and click on the little arrow next to the "Save as Type" box and save in JPEG format.

Your Jackson Pollock masterpiece is now ready to be posted and proudly displayed on your blog.

Hope you find these instructions helpful. I tried them out myself and they do work. I learnt something with this as well and had some fun at the same time. Many thanks to Tony and Roy for their help.

NAOMI'S BEEN TAGGED!

I haven't played tag since schooldays so was interested in playing along when I was tagged by Anthony McCune of

The Lives and Times

The idea is that you go to

Jackson Pollock.org

create a picture, post it to your blog and tag five other people to do the same. Once you have posted the picture, go to http://thelivesandtimes.blogspot.com/2007/04/who-wants-to-play-tag.html, write a comment with the url of you picture post mentioning the next five people you tagged. Ask the people that you tag to do the same.

I'd like to invite the following people to play along:-

Princess Haiku

LJP at

Save Save Save

Sank at

Old and In the Way

Sharon Lynne at

California Breeze

Friday's Child at

Fridays Child

Have fun everybody!

ROLL UP ROLL UP THE CARNIVALS ARE COMING TO TOWN!

As most of my readers know, I love carnivals! Diary from England will be participating in two upcoming carnivals. The first carnival is another one in the Gonzo series, being hosted by Blue Duck and Kilroy sponsored by For Your Success. The carnival is being held on 26th April. All entries must be submitted by 11.59pm on 23rd April. For more details go to the link shown below:-

http://1foryoursuccess.blogspot.com/2007/04/its-carnival-time-again-and-its-going.html

The second carnival, a Health Carnival, is being held over at Blog Village on 30th April. All entries must be submitted by 26th April. For more details go to the link shown below.

http://blogcarnival.com/bc/submit_972.html

I’m hoping to host a carnival myself here at Diary From England sometime in the future. Watch this space for details!

P.S. I was interested to see that it's not just me who loves carnivals. Fellow Blog Villager Anthony McCune

The Lives and Times

has caught the carnival bug too and is posting in several different ones. You can read all about them by going to:-

http://thelivesandtimes.blogspot.com/2007/04/making-another-round.html

BRITONS LEAVING FOR A LIFE IN THE SUN

Around 500 Britons a day are now leaving the country to live abroad, not surprising really. Most of them are heading for Australia, Spain and France. However the number of immigrants coming into this country far exceeds the number of people leaving. Britain’s soft touch welfare system makes it a magnet for immigrants.

I heard quite an interesting interview recently on a breakfast tv station here between an immigrant and a reporter. The reporter asked the man why he had chosen to come to Britain, to which he replied that it was a really easy country to get into. The man was also asked what he was going to do here and if he was going to get a job. The reply came back, “No I came to Britain for an easy life. I want a house". It’s no wonder the benefits system and the National Health Service here is in such a terrible state.

THOUSANDS QUEUE FOR HOURS TO BAG DESIGNER SHOPPING BAG

Thousands of women queued for several hours at branches of Sainsburys to get their hands on the latest must-have accessory, a £5 limited edition bag designed by Anya Hindmarch. The bag bears the immortal words, “I’m not a plastic bag” and is designed to be used for the weekly shop instead of carrier bags. Anya was clever enough to give the bag to some of her celebrity friends, including Keira Knightley and Lily Allen, who were all spotted with it, making it a “must have” item. The bags were snapped up within hours of going on sale and are now being sold on E-bay for as much as £250 each! A lot of money for a shopping bag! I wonder how many women will just use it as a fashion accessory, shopping bag come handbag, rather than the purpose for which it’s intended, to carry the weekly shop. Sort of defeats the object really!

PLANS TO ABOLISH WEEKLY RUBBISH COLLECTIONS PROVOKE PUBLIC OUTCRY

If you live in Britain and your local council is abolishing your weekly rubbish collection, the little chaps shown in the photo could soon be your new neighbours! As local councils up and down the country abandon weekly refuse collections in a bid to encourage recycling, many residents are now faced with unhygienic conditions including the stench of rotting refuse, rat infestations and a risk of disease. Many neighbourhoods already have their refuse collected on a fortnightly basis, mine is one of them. This is ok for people living on their own or couples but for larger households, the system just doesn’t seem to be working. Many families have overfilled their bins and then been refused a collection by the council. Obviously if the council won’t collect the rubbish then people will just dump it somewhere else. Fly-tipping may be illegal but still councils deal with a million cases every year.

There is also growing concern that people who dispose of large amounts of rubbish may face an extra “pay as your throw” charge on top of their council tax bill, under new government plans. Ten thousand people have now joined an online campaign against fortnightly refuse collections adding weight to a growing national outcry over the scheme.

TICKETS FOR DIANA CONCERT SELL OUT IN MINUTES

Tickets for the concert being organised by Princes William and Harry to mark the 10th anniversary of their mother Diana’s death have sold out within minutes. It seems that the boys' initial fears that the concert would be a disaster and overshadowed by the Live Earth concert being held a week later have been unfounded. The Diana concert will be held at the new Wembley arena on 1st July which would have been Diana’s 46th birthday, with all proceeds going to the Princess’s favourite charities. Artists due to perform at the special concert include Elton John, Rod Stewart, Joss Stone and Duran Duran.

To read more about this special concert and an interview with Princes William and Harry about the upcoming concert, click on the link below:-

Concert For Diana

I will also be adding this link to the special England related links in the left column of my blog if you miss this post. Happy surfing!

ELECTRIC BLANKETS LINKED TO CANCER

Scientists have discovered a link between electric blanket use and cancer of the womb, after conducting studies on 90,000 women who used them. The study found that 1,500 women developed a tumour of the womb known as endometrial cancer. It seems that women who use electric blankets regularly raise their risk of contracting womb cancer by more than a third. Apparently researchers believe that the blankets expose women to low levels of electromagnetic radiation which inhibits the production of melatonin, a cancer fighting chemical. Melatonin is also thought to protect women from high levels of oestrogen, a major risk factor for cancers of the ovaries, breast and womb. Cancer Research UK stated that the findings should be treated with caution.

The results of the study also add to the controversy over whether electromagnetic fields in the home are dangerous. However scientists say that in most households, the blankets are the biggest source of electromagnetic radiation and women who use them for 20 years or more have a significantly increased risk of developing endometrial cancer. Frightening news.

CAMPAIGN TO SAVE DWINDLING BEE POPULATION

Following on from my post about our disappearing bee population:-

Mobiles Killing Bee Population

a campaign has been launched this week to save them. 5,000 primary schools will be creating bee habitats to encourage the insects to come back, after an 80% fall in numbers. Also makers of the breakfast cereal Sugar Puffs, loved by many British children, will be giving away flower planting kits. Definitely a step in the right direction. Maybe we'll see some bees this summer after all.

SO LONG ACTION MAN

It's funny how toys come and go. I was sad to hear of the demise of poor old Action Man, a sad casualty in the current toy wars. The Action Man figures have been around for over 40 years. I remember my brother had one when he was growing up. They used to be really popular. Sadly Action Man with his old fashioned worn out equipment couldn’t compete with the likes of Spider Man and the Star Wars figures with their high tech gadgets, which today’s kids prefer. It was a no-win situation. So long Action Man, you will be sadly missed.

BABY MILK COULD END OBESITY

British scientists are currently developing a special baby milk as the latest weapon in the fight against obesity. The special milk which contains the hormone leptin (found in breast milk) works by suppressing hunger and is designed to prevent children from growing into overweight adults. Scientists say if the milk is given to babies, it can programme the brain to prevent overeating in later life. They argue that putting leptin in the milk is simply adding something that is already present in breast milk but not in formula feeds. Extensive studies have already been carried out on rats with successful results. However many scientists are sceptical as to whether the special milk will work on humans, whilst others are worried about potential health risks.

HAPPY EARTH DAY!

Today is Earth Day, a good opportunity for everyone to think about how they can do their bit to save our planet, help prevent global warming and save the environment for future generations. Earth Day was founded in 1971 by American Senator and environmental activist Gaylord Nelson, with the aim of uniting people all over the world in the quest to save the planet. Even small changes made by several people the world over can make a big difference. Some examples of how we can be more “green” are shown below:-

1. By not leaving tv, dvds and computers on standby
2. Switching to energy saving lightbulbs – you’ll save money too!
3. Washing clothes at lower temperatures
4. By cycling or using public transport rather than using the car
5. By recycling household rubbish as much as possible
6. By insulating our homes and turning the heating down – you’ll save money
too!

EATING LESS SALT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE

As the campaign to cut the amount of salt in our food continues, the results of a 15 year study by British doctors have shown that eating less salt cuts the chances of a stroke or heart attack. Scientists hope the findings will convince the government to do more to cut salt intake in our food. Many foods, particularly ready meals, some breakfast cereals and canned foods contain high levels of salt. I think we all need to be more aware and read the ingredients labels on food items as much as possible before we buy them. We also need to try and use as little salt in our cooking as possible. If you really can’t live without salt, the healthiest thing to use is a salt alternative like No Salt.

TAGGING ELDERLY SUGGESTION PROVOKES OUTRAGE

A government minister has sparked outrage this week by suggesting that elderly people suffering from dementia and Alzheimer's disease should be electronically tagged in the same way as we tag criminals, so that their families can keep track of them. A satellite would monitor their every move. I personally think that this is a disgusting way to treat the elderly in our society. These are people who have worked all their lives and paid taxes into this country and deserve to get something back. My own mother is 75 years old but thankfully is very healthy. But if she suffered from a debilitating disease like Alzheimer's, I would never want her to be treated this way. The elderly of our society deserve to be treated with some respect and a decent standard of care. The government owes it to them to provide this. It is their duty to ensure that there are enough trained nurses and specialist care workers to look after them. Electronic tags are for thieves, rapists and murderers, not innocent elderly people in what is supposed to be a free country.

DARK CHOCOLATE GIVES MORE OF A BUZZ THAN KISSING!

British scientists discovered this week that people get more of a buzz from chocolate than they do from a passionate kiss. A study monitored brain activity of people whilst kissing their partner and also whilst eating dark chocolate. Volunteers wore heart monitors and electrodes attached to their heads and were told to put a piece of dark chocolate on their tongue without chewing it and indicate when it started to melt. They were later told to kiss their partners as they normally would. The chocolate beat the kiss hands down giving a much longer body and brain buzz! Apparently as soon as the chocolate started to melt in the volunteers' mouths, all areas of the brain were stimulated far more intensely and for longer than from kissing! Interesting!

VIRGINIA TECH SHOOTING

We were all saddened this week by the shootings at Virginia Tech College. It was a terrible tragedy with the loss of so many young lives. Only last year when I was on holiday in Canada, there was a similar incident at Dawson College. Although on a smaller scale, it just goes to show what can happen when guns fall into the wrong hands. Britain suffered a similar incident a few years ago with the Dunblane massacre. Unfortunately we live in a trigger happy society, where particularly in the U.S., guns are readily available. The pro gun lobby there believes it’s every citizen’s right to carry a gun. They don’t stop to consider what happens when they fall into the hands of some crazy person.

Also violence is everywhere around us, on tv, in the movies, on the net and on computer games, helping to shape youngsters into disturbed and unbalanced individuals. Is it any wonder we live in an increasingly violent and menacing society? It has emerged that the killer responsible for the Virginia Tech shootings was seriously disturbed and unbalanced, just like the Dunblane killer. He had serious mental health problems which were not adequately addressed, resulting in the loss of all these innocent young lives. How many more incidents like both Dunblane and Virginia Tech will it take before our governments in both Britain and the U.S. put systems in place to offer better care and support to the mentally ill?

MOBILES KILLING BEE POPULATION

Using cell phones isn't for everyone, but sometimes an alternative form of telephone use isn't readily known. The old standby of phone calling cards could be one way to help you make phone calls on the run without having to use cell phones on a daily basis.


Scientists believe that mobile phones could be responsible for the disappearance of millions of bees. Apparently signals from mobiles interfere with bees’ natural inbuilt radar systems which help guide them back to their hives. When this happens the bees become lost and disorientated and eventually die, resulting in empty hives, no bees to pollinate crops and flowers and a shortage of honey. I was just thinking I hadn’t seen many bees around recently. Now I know the reason why.

IT'S ALL OVER FOR KATE & WILLIAM

Sadly the relationship between Prince William and Kate Middleton has come to an end. The couple had been together for 4 years with many people comparing the relationship to that of Charles and Diana. For most of the time the couple were together, the public have closely followed their romance, hoping that Kate would one day become Queen. But sadly it was not to be. High street store Woolworths had even produced souvenir mugs bearing a photo of the couple in anticipation of an impending wedding, which have now been destroyed. Some may say Kate has had a lucky escape from the goldfish bowl existence of becoming a member of the Royal family. Certainly she has had a taste of what it’s like to be in the media spotlight with the press following her every move, to the extent that she made a formal complaint. Now the rumour mill has gone into overdrive. First it’s said that Kate’s family background wasn’t suitable for a future Queen and because of this, William was encouraged by palace courtiers to end the relationship. If this is the case, William has followed in his father’s footsteps and allowed himself to be dictated to by the royal machine. Let’s hope for his own sake, we don’t see a repeat of the Charles and Camilla situation, where William is forced into an arranged marriage of convenience, to produce an heir and a spare.

Kate’s mother apparently annoyed the Queen by saying, “toilet”, instead of “lavatory” and “pardon” instead of “what”, amongst other things. Her parents, self-made business people, have been branded “social climbers”. To read these sorts of comments in the press would be upsetting to anyone but it must be particularly upsetting to Kate now that her relationship has come to an end. It’s also been widely reported that William ended the relationship via a phone call to Kate’s mobile. However it ended, we will never know. It’s always sad when a relationship comes to an end but it must be even more difficult when you are in the public arena. The press owe it to both Kate and William to give them some space to get over their break up in private.

MODEL EMPLOYEES

As some of you know, working in an office, I get quite a lot of funny e-mails sent to me. I just received this one today from one of my colleagues and thought I would share it with you.

Can you imagine working for a company that has a little more than 600 employees and has the following employee statistics?

29 have been accused of spouse abuse

7 have been arrested for fraud

19 have been accused of writing bad cheques

117 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses

3 have done time for assault

71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit

14 have been arrested on drug-related charges

8 have been arrested for shoplifting

21 are currently defendants in lawsuits

84 have been arrested for drink driving in the last year

Which organization is this? ……………………………………

It's the 635 members of the House of Commons, the same group that cranks out hundreds of new laws each year designed to keep the rest of us in line.

KYLIE WOWS FANS IN SHANGHAI

It was good to see Kylie Minogue looking radiant and happy as she wowed fans at the opening of H & M’s new branch in Shanghai. Kylie has helped to design a new Aussie themed swimwear range for H & M which will go on sale worldwide next month.

PHOTO:- Courtesy of Sky News

HAIRDRESSERS HAPPIEST WORKERS

According to a recent poll, hairdressers are the happiest workers in Britain. It’s not the money they earn that makes them love their job so much. Apparently they just love chatting to customers about upcoming weddings, the latest soaps and holidays as they cut, perm, wash and blow-dry. It was interesting to note that my line of work, Secretarial, PA, Administration came bottom of the list at no. 20. I must be in the wrong job!

POOR BANNED FROM DORSET BANKING BRANCH

A high street bank has sparked fury amongst local people in the seaside town of Canford Cliffs, Dorset, by restricting the services of its local branch to wealthy customers only. In the future only customers with £50,000 in savings, a £200,000 or £100,000 mortgage or an annual income of £75,000 will be able to use the bank’s services. All other account holders will have to make do with using the cash machine outside. The only way they will be allowed to use the branch is by paying the princely sum of £20.00 per month for the privilege!

A bank spokesman has rubbed salt in the wound by announcing in The Guardian, “We are trying to treat everyone fairly – not everybody in the world is equal”. Try telling that to the number of elderly and less able bodied customers who now have to travel to a branch in another area, because they are no longer welcome at their local branch. It doesn’t sound very fair to a lot of people including myself. At the end of the day it’s all about money and greedy bank bosses wanting to make as much money as they can, even if it means riding rough shod over ordinary people like you and I. Let’s hope that other high street banks don’t follow suit. Otherwise we’ll end up with a society where there’s a clear division between rich and poor and banking facilities are only available for the very affluent.

WORDSWORTH GETS HIP!

Cumbria Tourist Board is hoping to attract a whole new generation of visitors to the English Lake District and update its image with a rap version of William Wordsworth’s classic poem,

“I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze….”

The tourist board have released a video featuring Sam the red squirrel (the mascot of the Lake District). Sam has been re-named MC Nuts! and is shown in the video rapping to Wordsworth’s famous poem and at one point breakdancing on the lake! A spokesman from the Cumbria Tourist Board, who have renamed themselves, “Go Lakes”, explained the importance of moving with the times. Apparently they are hoping to attract the “You Tube” generation with the new-style video. You can watch Sam the squirrel aka MC Nuts in action on the Go Lakes website by following the link below:-

http://www.golakes.co.uk/wordsworthrap/

ANSWERS TO SOME QUESTIONS

One of my cyberfriends and a fellow Blog Villager Janey Loree from

PJs Paper Doll Cut Outs

was asking me a few questions.

What is a famous English butterfly? The most famous one that springs to mind is the Red Admiral. I remember learning about this particular type of butterfly at school. You can read more about it by clicking on the link shown below.

The Butterfly Garden

What is a traditional English musical instrument? I would have to say the piano. Steinway is one of the most famous and most sought after brands of pianos found in the U.K. Brass bands are very popular here in England too. If I had to name a traditional English brass instrument, I would probably go for the trombone.





What is the colour of a traditional English rose? The rose is the national flower of England and the emblem most associated with this country. It is traditionally worn on St George’s Day. There are many varieties of rose around. The most famous ones are the red rose of Lancashire and the white rose of Yorkshire, which go back to medieval times when the War of the Roses was fought. The Tudor rose is a traditional heraldic emblem of England and takes its origins from Henry Tudor who brought the War of the Roses to an end and joined the red and white roses together.

Well Janey I hope that’s answered all your questions and to anyone else reading this, I hope you found it interesting and it’s improved your knowledge of some things found in England.

MYSTERIOUS CAT WHO LOVES RIDING ON BUSES

I smiled when I heard about the mysterious cat that has regularly taken the No. 331 bus in Wolverhampton for the past 3 months! It seems the cat usually jumps on the bus at a certain stop, sits near the front and waits patiently until the bus reaches a couple of stops along, which just happens to be opposite a fish a chip shop! Then as soon as the doors open he’s off! At first many people believed the cat was with someone but it soon became obvious he was a lone traveller! Bus drivers and commuters have grown quite fond of the cat who they have nicknamed, “Macavity”, after the mysterious cat in the T.S. Elliot poem. The bus company which runs the service said the cat certainly knows how to use buses and is a regular traveller on the No. 331! One passenger remarked that Macavity is the perfect passenger. The only problem is he never pays!

PHOTOS:- Courtesy of Daily Mail