QUEEN OPENING PALACE GARDENS TO PUBLIC

The Queen is opening up the gardens of Buckingham Palace to the public for the first time in 200 years. For £20 a ticket, visitors will be able to wander round what has been described as “a large oasis” in the centre of London. The gardens are the largest of their kind in the capital and apart from the many varieties of trees and wild flowers, tourists will also be able to view the Palace tennis court where Fred Perry played against George VI in the 30’s. The garden also boasts the oldest private helicopter pad in central London. Visitors will also have a chance to admire the 19th century lake, the central feature of the gardens.

The Palace gardens are regularly used for Royal family celebrations and official entertaining and are the scene of the Queen’s annual Summer garden parties. Public tours will run in April, May and June, when the Queen is not in residence and will be limited to twenty five visitors at a time. All monies from the tours will go towards the upkeep of the gardens. The Queen first opened the state rooms of Buckingham Palace to the public in 1993. It is now one of London’s most popular tourist attractions, boasting over 360,000 visitors a year. To find out more, click on the link shown below:-

Buckingham Palace

NO MORE FAN MAIL FOR RINGO

Former Beatle Ringo Starr has angered fans by telling them to stop sending him fan mail. In a video posted on his website, Ringo tells fans that he has “too much to do”, to answer fan mail. Giving a deadline of 20th October, Ringo warns that any mail received after that date will be thrown into the bin. He has also warned fans not to send him anything to autograph. Presumably this will end up in the bin as well! It seems that Ringo has been inundated with fan mail since his appearance in an episode of The Simpsons a few years ago where he made a vow to answer all fan mail he received.

Ringo’s comments have provoked an angry reaction from some fans who accused him of biting the hand that feeds him. After all where would Ringo or The Beatles for that matter have been without their loyal army of fans all these years? It is their legion of fans that gave both Ringo and The Beatles the fame, wealth and success they still enjoy to this day. Other fans reacted more calmly saying it was understandable that Ringo had enough of signing autographs and fan mail after 45 years in the limelight! Ringo has already angered many Liverpool residents after making dismissive comments about his home city, resulting in the decapitation of a statue of him!

BIRMINGHAM HOME TO SOME OF BRITAIN'S UGLIEST BUILDINGS

It’s official Birmingham is Britain’s ugliest city. According to the results of a recent poll it is home to some of the ugliest buildings in Britain. Birmingham’s famous shopping centre, “The Bullring” came top of the list as Britain’s ugliest building. Birmingham’s Central Library came in at No.2 on the list and Birmingham’s Spaghetti Junction was also mentioned in the top 10. Even Prince Charles once condemned the Central Library, saying it resembled an incinerator more suited to burning books than storing them! Oh dear! It’s interesting to note that Birmingham’s Central Library could soon have the last laugh as English Heritage have recommended that it should have listed building status as it “defines an era” of the city’s history. I actually visited Birmingham on a day trip a while ago and didn’t think it was all that bad. I liked The Bullring shopping centre and thought it was very easy to find your way round. I found the people there very sociable and friendly too. But obviously the majority of the people surveyed don’t agree with me. Apparently many local people would like to see the Eiffel Tower or something similar in the middle of the city. By contrast, the famous French landmark was voted the most beautiful building in Europe.

Manchester’s Arndale Shopping Centre, Edinburgh’s Scottish Parliament Building and the Newcastle sculpture Angel of the North also came under fierce criticism for being ugly. Some people went as far as saying they would like to see Birmingham’s Spaghetti Junction, Liverpool’s Liver Building and also Plymouth’s Drakes Circus demolished as they are such eyesores.

GORDON BROWN ON THE MOVE

Gordon Brown has announced that he is moving out of No. 10. But don’t put the flags out just yet! The move is only temporary. Mr Brown and his team of key advisers need more space for their meetings to try and find solutions to the current global credit crisis. Under normal circumstances, the PM would be able to get the builders in to knock down walls to make more space. However as No. 10 is a listed building, major structural alterations are out of the question. Consequently our embattled PM has taken the decision to move himself and his advisers lock, stock and barrel into No.12, where they will direct operations from an open plan “war room”, although cabinet meetings will still continue to be held at No. 10. Currently No. 12 is home to the PM’s Press Office and the strategic communications unit.

By moving out of No. 10, Mr Brown has broken with more than 275 years of tradition. No. 10 Downing Street has been the seat of government since 1735. It is thought that Gordon Brown got his inspiration for the open plan office from New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg who also has one.

CREDIT CRUNCH BRITAIN

As some of you know, I quite often receive funny e-mails from work colleagues and friends. I wanted to share this one with you. Here are some images of Credit Crunch Britain to lighten your day!

Will one be wanting fries with that?

(Oh dear! What's the world coming to - Her poor Majesty reduced to working in a burger joint!)



(Our favourite quiz show renamed! If the prices of petrol continue to soar, there'll be no shortage of eager Britons wanting to play for this. I'll be first in the queue!)

ROD STEWART GIVING PRINCE CHARLES A SPECIAL PERFORMANCE

Rocker Rod Stewart has offered to perform for free at a private family party to celebrate Prince Charles’ 60th birthday. The Prince will be celebrating at his Highgrove home the day before his actual birthday on 14th November. Rod whose hits include, “Sailing” and “Maggie May”, usually charges £1million to perform at private functions. However he has waived his fee on this occasion, offering Prince Charles a free performance as a special birthday gift. A spokesman stated that Rod Stewart would provide the main musical entertainment at the party. Rod is a personal friend of Prince Charles and his wife Camilla and also an ambassador for the Prince’s Trust.

FORBES CROWNS JK ROWLING HIGHEST EARNING AUTHOR

Forbes magazine has named Harry Potter author JK Rowling as the highest earning author in the world, describing her as “a children’s literary sensation”. Harry earns his creator a staggering £5 per second! Wow! According to American business magazine Forbes, JK earned a whopping £170million last year alone, leaving the other writers on the list including James Patterson far behind. In addition, the author earns millions from merchandising and the big screen versions of Harry’s adventures.

JK Rowling is certainly laughing all the way to the bank after the phenomenal success of the Harry Potter books which have sold over 375 million copies worldwide. The boy wizard’s adventures have transformed her life, taking JK Rowling from being a single mum living on benefits to a billionaire. JK Rowling stated that she considered herself to be, “immensely privileged”, saying, “I am the luckiest woman in the world”.

RICK ASTLEY NOMINATED FOR MTV AWARD

Eighties pop sensation Rick Astley is a surprise nominee for the title of “Best Act Ever” at the MTV Europe Music Awards which will be broadcast live from Liverpool on 6th November. Rick will compete against the likes of Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Madonna and U2 to win the coveted title. The winner will be nominated online by fans and announced at the ceremony.

Rick’s new found popularity is partly due to the recent internet craze of “Rickrolling”, where unsuspecting net users click on a link and are taken to a video of Rick Astley’s hit song, “Never Gonna Give You Up”. The craze led to millions of plays of Rick’s hit song. It’s happened to me a couple of times, even though I’m a big Rick Astley fan anyway. “Never Gonna Give You Up”, was one of my favourite hit songs. I always loved that song. Millions of other people did too and it reached No. 1 in the U.K. charts in 1987. “Never Gonna Give You Up”, enjoyed similar success abroad, becoming a No.1 hit in 15 other countries. Thanks to the Rickrolling phenomenon, Rick has now gained a whole new generation of fans. MTV’s Senior Vice President, Richard Godfrey said, “The audience has spoken and MTV has been well and truly “Rickrolled”. The singer has never before been nominated in the event’s history but now his many fans out there have decided that he deserves recognition as an 80’s pop icon. We wish him every success. To see Rick in action, click on the link shown below:-

You've been Rickrolled!

BRIDESHEAD REVISITED HITS THE BIG SCREEN

I was a big fan of the tv series, “Brideshead Revisited”. It was probably one of the greatest tv adaptations of a classic British novel ever created. The series featured the cream of British acting talent including Anthony Andrews, Jeremy Irons, Laurence Olivier and Sir John Gielgud. Based on one of the most celebrated books in English literature by Evelyn Waugh, the tv series enjoyed great success, winning two Golden Globe awards, seven BAFTA’s and an Emmy for Lord Olivier.

The film version of Brideshead enjoyed its U.K. premiere this week. Starring Emma Thompson as the overbearing matriarch Lady Marchmain, the screen version of Brideshead is far darker and more serious than the popular tv series. The story centres around the friendship and later three way love story between Charles Ryder (played by Matthew Goode), the drunken and doomed aristocrat Sebastian (Ben Whishaw) and his beautiful and sophisticated sister Julia (played by Hayley Atwell). After meeting at university Charles and Sebastian become inseparable, culminating in Charles spending the Summer at Sebastian’s ancestral home, Brideshead. Charles becomes entranced with the Marchmain family and Brideshead but soon finds his atheist beliefs at odds with the family’s Roman Catholic beliefs. Set in the pre WWII era, Brideshead Revisited tells the story of loss of innocence and forbidden love.

The Marchmain family’s ancestral home, Brideshead Castle is more like a museum than a stately home, with many years of family secrets hidden within its walls. The family lineage is one based on lies, deception and an unflappable faith in God. Once again Castle Howard which featured as Brideshead Castle in the original tv series, plays host to the aristocratic Marchmain family in the big screen adaptation. Another stalwart and icon from the original Brideshead tv series is the little teddy bear Aloysius. Who could forget him! The little bear also features as Sebastian’s constant companion in the movie version too. With a great cast and wonderful locations, the big screen version of Brideshead Revisited looks like enjoying similar success to the tv series and certainly has all the ingredients of a hit movie. Can’t wait to see it! To view the trailer, click on the player shown below:-

BRITISH WOMEN FOOTING £29MILLION BILLS DUE TO LOVE OF HIGH HEELS

It seems that British women are paying a high price for their love of high heels, with many suffering from painful conditions including bunions, bent toes, damaged big toe joints, corns, in-growing toenails and trapped nerves. Ouch! Sounds painful! Injuries due to wearing heels are costing the nation’s women a staggering £29million a year! Wow! Many women are opting for private treatment due to long waiting lists for operations and procedures to repair injuries to damaged feet. One podiatrist recommended that women should alternate between wearing high heels and flat shoes, to give their bodies a chance to recover. It seems that wearing high heels for long periods of time is bad news for the health of our feet and our wallets! Even former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham recently admitted to suffering from painful bunions due to her love of wearing 4 inch stillettos!

I think there is a certain amount of glamour attached to wearing high heels. They do help women to feel better when they are feeling down, raising their self esteem and making them feel more confident about themselves. In addition they also add a bit of height if you’re not very tall and make your legs look longer and slimmer! According to the results of a recent survey done last year by Compeed, almost half of British women (48%) stated that they felt more confident when wearing high heels at work and nearly a quarter (24%) felt more assertive and acknowledged by others. It’s also interesting to note that almost a fifth of women (18%) believed that wearing high heels could have a positive effect on their work life giving them a greater chance of promotion. Despite the agonies caused by heels, over 78% of British women admit to wearing them, implying they are not willing to trade style for comfort. So there we go!

MEL B AUCTIONS SPICE GIRL MEMORABILIA FOR CHARITY

Former Spice Girl Mel B who now spends most of her time living and working in the U.S., is planning to auction off the contents of her London home to the highest bidder. The items up for auction include some of Mel’s treasured Spice Girls memorabilia, with all proceeds from the sale going to a cancer charity. Big hearted Mel, better known as Scary Spice is following in the footsteps of Ozzy Osbourne, who sold the contents of his Beverley Hills home in aid of charity. The Spice Girls were one of the most popular girls groups of all time. However after a successful run of hit records the girls split up and went their separate ways, embarking on solo careers. Mel B recently wowed American audiences with her appearance in the U.S. version of Strictly Come Dancing, "Dancing with the Stars".

Eager fans can log on to Mel B Sale.com between now and October 26th to get themselves a piece of Spice Girls memorabilia. Amongst the items up for grabs is Mel’s trademark leopard print outfit from her Spice Girls’ days and her personal copy of “Spiceworld – The Movie”. All proceeds from the sale go to CLIC Sargent, a charity that cares for children and young people suffering from cancer. Mel B said that she was happy to contribute to such an important cause and stated, “I hope people have fun bidding on a piece of me!” I think this is a wonderful gesture on Mel’s part. If only more people shared their good fortune like this, the world would be a nicer place. So what are you waiting for, log on to Mel B Sale.com now for a chance to get your hands on some treasured Spice Girls memorabilia!

ONE IN TEN BRITS PREFER TO STORE CASH UNDER MATTRESS

It’s been a bad week for Britain’s banking industry. First we hear that HBOS is in trouble and being taken over and then the news that Bradford and Bingley are also experiencing difficulties. Bradford and Bingley have reassured their customers that their savings are secure, with deposits of up to £35,000 covered by the government-backed protection scheme. However it’s little comfort to the many thousands of the bank’s customers. After the collapse of Northern Rock earlier this year and the current bleak economic climate, one in ten Brits now say they don’t trust banks and think it’s safer to store their cash under the mattress!

ROOT VEGETABLES MAKING A COMEBACK

Sales of root vegetables, particularly turnips have risen dramatically recently as cash-strapped Britons look for cheap and nutritious ways to feed their families. Turnips, swedes and parsnips have all become increasingly popular with British shoppers. Turnips were first grown in Europe over 2,000 years ago and were a prized vegetable to the Romans. They were particularly popular in wartime when food was rationed and they were seen as a cheap and cheerful vegetable, which was filling and readily available. However after the war, they had a certain amount of stigma attached to them with many Brits regarding them as peasant food. Their close relatives swedes and parsnips were seen as being much more sophisticated vegetables and became much more popular with shoppers. However all that looks set to change as some of Britain’s most famous chefs including Jamie Oliver and Delia Smith, use turnips, together with other root vegetables in their recipes. I enjoyed the BBC series Blackadder starring Rowan Atkinson in the title role. His trusty servant Baldrick loved turnips and gave them his seal of approval! Other popular root vegetables include carrots, potatoes, beetroots and sweet potatoes.

Root vegetables are also very easy to grow, even in the smallest garden and can be grown in large pots or containers. Getting children involved in helping to grow their own vegetables is always a good idea too. Most parents have an uphill struggle trying to persuade their children to eat vegetables. However many children are quite keen to eat vegetables they have grown themselves! Growing your own vegetables is a healthy and rewarding pastime for children and adults alike.

It’s funny how times and trends change. I always remember my grandparents cooking meals with root vegetables. As a child, I enjoyed swede and carrot mash, turnip mash and stews and soups containing a variety of root vegetables. Root vegetables taste as good today as they have always done. Packed with lots of vitamins and minerals, they are great winter warmers and particularly good for bulking out stews and casseroles. More importantly they also count towards your five fruit and vegetable a day target. I love honey glazed parsnips, a great accompaniment to so many dishes. Parsnip crisps are a great and healthy alternative to normal potato crisps sold in supermarkets for both children and adults alike. This recipe by Sophie Grigson is one of my favourites:-

Parsnip Crisps

Here’s a link to another great recipe which makes a tasty accompaniment to your favourite meat dish or an excellent and impressive main dish for vegetarians:-

Gratin of Carrots and Root Vegetables

Bon Appetit!

FORECASTERS PREDICT MILD WINTER AS BRITONS PREPARE FOR HIGHER FUEL BILLS

It’s 1st October next week and early Autumn but it feels more like Spring here with sunshine, blue skies and unseasonably warm weather. Met office forecasters say the good weather is set to continue and we’re all in for a warm, mild Winter. Let’s hope so. It’s certainly good news for all of us with rising gas and electricity prices making the cost of heating our homes increasingly more expensive.

I was interested to hear that Britain’s chimney sweeps (who are mostly only found at weddings nowadays as a sign of good luck!) are making a comeback. It seems that more and more Britons are cleaning out their chimneys and fireplaces in readiness for burning coal and wood fires as a cheaper way to heat their homes. I grew up in a house with no central heating and a coal burning fire. My parents had a fire guard in front of it, so it was quite safe for us as children. Sometimes central heating isn’t always a good thing. I certainly don’t remember getting quite as many colds then as I do now. Certainly every time the central heating goes on at the start of Winter, I always get a sore throat. I always associate the sight of a warm burning coal or log fire with home. There’s nothing like it.

IDENTITY THEFT COSTING U.K. £1.3BILLION

Identity theft is one of the fastest growing criminal activities in the U.K. and costs the country an estimated £1.3billion a year. It is now more important than ever to check your credit score and monitor your credit report regularly to check for any suspicious activity. Monitoring your credit report definitely enhances card fraud detection. Most identity thieves not only steal their victim’s identity but also steal money from financial organisations by impersonating their victims and opening accounts in their name. The effects of this can wreck your credit file and have a significant impact on your life. Fraudsters usually rely on the fact that their victims will be too busy to check their credit report or realise that under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, everyone has a legal right to credit score disputing if they discover fraudulent activity or accounts that have been opened by somebody else in their name.

You may think that identity theft is something that can never happen to you. However it seems that criminals are increasingly targeting people’s identities with at least one in ten of us falling victim. Prevention is definitely better than cure in the case of identity fraud as the mess it creates can be horrendous. Don’t let it happen to you!

THIRSTY BRITS SWIGGING OVER 33 BILLION CUPS OF TEA!

Britons have always been renowned for being a nation of tea drinkers (although many people here do drink coffee too and some prefer it to tea!) However it’s hard to believe that we get through over a staggering 33 billion cups of tea every year. Wow! Certainly the credit crunch seems to be doing little to diminish Britons’ tea consumption, if anything we as a nation are probably drinking more cups of tea than ever. People often reach for a cup of tea as a pick me up or to cheer them up in times of crisis. A cup of tea has become almost like a national icon to many people in this country and is quite often referred to as “the best drink of the day”. Invented by accident by an American in 1908, British tea company Tetley saw the possible marketing potential of teabags a few years later and launched them as an alternative to leaf tea. They proved an instant hit with the British public. The company has never looked back since. Teabags can now be found in virtually every home in Britain. It’s hard to imagine what life would be like without them.

It’s also interesting to note that according to secret documents released recently, government officials in Whitehall were worried about a possible tea shortage in the event of a nuclear attack in the 1950’s! Apparently the documentation revealed that a nuclear attack would result in the loss of 75% of tea stocks and the tea supply situation could be “very serious”. Never mind the radiation then!

According to the results of a recent survey, tea has been named as Britain’s favourite hot drink. Coffee came in second place, with Britain’s coffee drinkers getting through 20 billion cups a year. I personally prefer tea to coffee and get through several cups a day. I particularly enjoy Earl Grey and Lady Grey teas as well as ordinary tea. I also enjoy fruit and herb teas too. 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!

JK ROWLING RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS EDINBURGH AWARD

Harry Potter author JK Rowling has been honoured by the Scottish city where she first created the adventures of the famous boy wizard. JK Rowling penned many of the early stories about Harry whilst sitting in cafes around Edinburgh. Since then the boy wizard has become phenomenally successful the world over with book sales of over 400 million. The stories have also been translated into 67 languages.

JK Rowling has now received the prestigious Edinburgh award for her efforts. A judging panel consisting of members from the arts, science and business worlds unanimously voted her the 2008 winner, saying that her literary achievements have helped to put the Scottish city on the map. After receiving the award at a special ceremony in Edinburgh, JK Rowling said it was an “absolute honour” and she considered Edinburgh to be “home”. Rebus series creator and writer Ian Rankin won the prestigious award last year.

Meanwhile JK Rowling has just donated £1million to the Labour party, mainly because she believes in the party’s record on child poverty. JK Rowling stated that she believed that poor and vulnerable families would fare much better under Labour than under a Cameron-led Conservative party. The writer was herself a single mum, living on benefits when she wrote the first book about the boy wizard’s adventures. JK Rowling is a personal friend of Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah. No doubt Mr Brown will use some of the money to try and improve his public image as his popularity and that of the Labour party has now sank to an all-time low. Poor Gordon, as the British public struggle to cope with rising energy and food bills and the threat of job losses, JK Rowling must be his only friend in this country.

CHANGING FACE OF BRITISH DENTISTRY

Most Britons, including myself, are sick of having to pay inflated prices for dental treatment, so many welcomed the recent arrival in Britain of a group of Hungarian dentists. Complete with inflatable surgery tent, at first glance they might have been mistaken for being part of a travelling circus! The dentists have been busy touring some of Britain’s cities in an effort to encourage people to have dental treatment in Hungary rather than here. Hungary is currently known as the dental capital of Europe, with treatments costing about a third of what they do in Britain. The reason for the tour was to enable Brits to meet the dentists face to face, get prices for any treatments and get answers to any questions they may have. Apparently even with the cost of airfare and accommodation in Hungary, dental treatments over there are still considerably less than patients would pay over here. With the current state of NHS dentistry, dental tourism is growing in popularity and more and more Brits are choosing to travel to Hungary and other Eastern European countries for cheaper and better dental treatment. One Hungarian dentist remarked that he used to see mainly American and Canadian patients but was currently seeing increasing numbers of British patients too.

According to the results of a study done earlier this year as part of National Smile Month, it seems that one in four Brits are too embarrassed to smile in photos due to bad teeth. It’s not surprising many Brits have bad teeth as trying to find an NHS dentist in most areas of the country is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. You hear so many horror stories nowadays about many people using “DIY dentistry”, as they are unable to find an NHS dentist to treat them and unable to pay the very high fees charged by private dentists. I couldn’t believe it when I heard that one man had actually used superglue to fix a damaged crown on his front tooth. Unbelievable!

On another note a Manchester supermarket has just launched the first in-store walk-in dental surgery as part of a pilot scheme. The dental surgery, open seven days a week like the supermarket, will offer checkups and treatments to shoppers at reasonable, affordable prices for everyone. It will certainly make dental treatment much more accessible to people. I know so many of us are much busier than we used to be. Everyone (myself included!) is all working longer hours and consequently people have a lot less time on their hands! Most people prefer to buy everything they need in a once a week visit to the supermarket anyway, rather than going to several different shops to buy things. So why not add a visit to the dentist onto the weekly shopping list as well! Sounds like a great idea to me. It has certainly proved very popular with shoppers and the new supermarket surgery was swamped with patients eager to register on its first day of opening. If the scheme proves popular, we may see more dentists popping up in other branches of supermarkets around the country.

HARRY COOLEST YOUNG ROYAL

Prince Harry has been named the coolest young Royal in a recent poll. Harry, who celebrates his 24th birthday on Monday beat his cousins Princess Beatrice, Eugenie and Zara Philips to the coveted title. A Lieutenant in the Household Cavalry’s Blues and Royals, Prince Harry was deeply disappointed when he was told he wouldn’t be going to Iraq and considered leaving the army. However he decided to stay after being given a chance to fulfil a long held ambition earlier this year by serving on the front line in Afghanistan. Harry was bitterly disappointed when the Ministry of Defence took the decision to bring him home for his own safety and that of his fellow troops, after a website revealed his whereabouts making him a prime target for the Taliban.

Prince Harry who is third in line to the throne, spent part of the summer in Lesotho helping to refurbish a school for special needs children in connection with his Africa based charity Sentebale. Prince Harry launched Sentebale which means “Forget Me Not”, an Aids charity a couple of years ago in his late mother’s name. Prince Harry is definitely a chip off the old block. He is his mother’s son and we’ll never forget Diana, the people’s Princess, whilst Prince Harry follows in her footsteps and continues with the wonderful and charitable work that she started. Diana would have been so proud of Harry and his brother William.

BRITONS LOVE THEIR CURRY

These cash-strapped times have done nothing to diminish Britain’s love affair with curry. The average Briton spends £10 a week on curry and will probably spend a whopping £25,000 on it by retirement. Wow! It seems that men tend to prefer hotter curries like Madras and Vindaloo, whilst women tend to go for milder dishes like Korma. However by far the most popular Indian curry in this country is Chicken Tikka Masala. I enjoy Indian food myself and my favourite dish is Chicken Tikka Masala. I also enjoy a Chicken Pasanda dish too. I find Korma a bit too mild and prefer a medium, sweeter curry with fruits, almonds and spices. Accompanied by my favourite mushroom pilau rice, it’s a real treat. Chicken Tikka Masala started life in a New Delhi restaurant in October 1947. It proved an instant hit, when the first Indian restaurants opened in Britain in the 1950’s and became the U.K.’s No. 1 dish in 2001.

Britons have always been known as a nation of curry lovers, with curry being one of the U.K.’s most popular dishes. It’s also interesting to note that new research reveals that eating curry could help in the fight against Alzheimer's disease. Scientists recently discovered that a chemical called curcumin, found in curry and turmeric can help the body fight the disease. Curcumin helps the immune system to clear the brain of a waste product which is crucial in the development of Alzheimer's. As a curry lover myself, it’s good to know that something you enjoy has health giving properties too. It seems that one in two Britons enjoy cooking a curry meal at home at least once a week. If you would like to have a go, click on the link below to a delicious recipe by Roopa Gulati, courtesy of UKTV Food. Bon Appetit!

Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe

NO TEA BREAKS FOR BRITISH OFFICE WORKERS

It seems that the humble tea break is the latest victim of the credit crunch according to the results of a recent survey of workplace habits. One in five British office workers are choosing to forfeit their tea breaks as they live in constant fear of losing their jobs. Instead they are choosing to remain at their desks as they work in more pressurised office environments. Apparently human resources departments are currently the worst affected. However the recession doesn’t seem to have affected hairdressers, who have now overtaken builders to become Britain’s no. 1 tea break takers!

BRING ON THE CHINA PLATES FOR BRITISH SCHOOLCHILDREN

British school children could soon be eating their school dinners off china plates if new government plans go ahead. It’s all part of a new initiative to encourage more secondary school pupils to take school dinners. Education minister Ed Balls has urged schools to offer a better restaurant style service to pupils. He suggested that school dinners should be served to pupils on china plates rather than the “prison style” trays that are currently used and they should also be given proper cutlery. Mr Balls would like to see school children treated like paying customers in a restaurant and is eager to make their dining experience more healthy and enjoyable.

In the future school meals will have to meet stringently high nutritional standards and provide guaranteed minimum levels of protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals. They will also have to ensure that they don’t have a high salt, sugar or fat content. Schools which fail to meet the high standards required will be reported to local authorities. Future plans include staggered lunch break periods so that children who have just moved up to secondary school won’t feel intimidated eating meals in the same dining room as much older children. In addition children may soon be able to order their school meals on-line. The plans sound great in theory and if they get children staying at school and eating healthier meals, rather than going out at lunchtimes and eating chips and junk food, that’s great. The china plates and nice cutlery idea may encourage children to develop good table manners too, which is another plus factor.

BRITONS LEAD THE WAY IN EUROPE FOR CREDIT CARD USE

According to the results of a recent insurance company survey, many Brits are not at all worried about the ongoing global credit crunch with the majority saying that it was unlikely to affect either them or their lifestyles. Nearly 50% of people said they would not be cutting back on their spending. Not surprising really as Britain is known as the credit capital of Europe. Brits have twice as many credit cards as their European neighbours, with the average Brit carrying 1.4 credit cards. With the rising cost of living and the current economic climate, people enjoy the flexibility of being able to pay over a long period of time for goods and services.

Many Brits including myself can’t imagine life without a credit card. With the current economic climate, it is more important than ever to find the best credit card rates. More and more people are transferring balances from one card to another, to take advantage of 0% and other great low rate deals to ensure they pay as little interest as possible.

However there are so many different credit card deals on offer out there, it’s always important to compare the various different cards and deals available. Apply for Best Credit.com features some of the best 0% and low APR credit card deals on the internet and has many different types of cards available to suit your individual requirements, spending style and credit score, allowing you to compare credit card suppliers quickly and easily online, to find the best deals available.

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

So what are you waiting for log onto Apply for Best Credit.com today and get yourself a great credit card deal now.

GIANT SPIDER GOES WALKABOUT IN LIVERPOOL

A giant mechanical spider has gone on the rampage in Liverpool this week! The spider better known as La Princesse, is a giant mechanical sculpture created by French company La Machine as part of Liverpool’s Capital of Culture celebrations. Made of steel and wood, the giant arachnid has a sophisticated hydraulics system which allows engineers strapped to its frame to operate its legs, eyes and abdomen. The 37 ton creature can reach a top speed of 2mph on its articulated steel legs. The creature began by being suspended from the concourse building near to Lime Street Station. It appeared almost overnight shocking commuters who walked or drove past it the following day.

Thousands of people lined the streets to see the giant spider, the star attraction at the La Machine Extravaganza held in Liverpool this weekend. La Princesse is now going walkabout around the city over the next three days, before disappearing down the Mersey Tunnel! I personally think the giant creature looks quite scary. Looking at the photos and tv coverage, it reminded me of one of the creatures from the scifi movie War of the Worlds! Whilst it is an awesome sight, I’m sure it will strike fear into the hearts of those of a nervous disposition like myself who are scared of spiders! I’ve always been afraid of spiders so as you can imagine I stayed away from Liverpool this week and won’t be going back until I’m sure that spider is well out of the way!

CREDIT CRUNCH BRITONS FULL OF BEANS

Baked beans have always been a popular store cupboard staple for many British families. But sales of Britain’s favourite beans have soared recently as hard up families ditch more expensive fare in favour of cheaper, more filling alternatives. For the first time sales have now topped a staggering £300million a year! Wow! Love them or hate them baked beans are a big part of British culture like fish and chips, HP sauce and Cadbury’s chocolate. Most of us have enjoyed beans on toast as children and have grown up to still love them as adults. Baked beans are certainly a cheap and enjoyable source of protein and fibre for children and adults alike. They give the perfect combination of amino acids when served on toast or with cheese. Many people including myself still see them as comfort food. Certainly for me there is nothing more comforting than fish fingers and beans or beans on toast after a bad day at work! Eating fish fingers or any kind of fish with anything else but baked beans just doesn’t taste quite the same.

Baked beans first hit our shores in 1886. They were imported from Canada until 1928 when Heinz produced the first British made beans. The company now produces 1.5 million cans a day. Britons certainly love their beans! They are now more popular than ever with the credit crunch bringing the wind of change to many people’s diets! Beans on toast is still the healthiest meal it’s always been; high in fibre and low in fat. Baked beans also count towards your recommended daily intake of five fruit and vegetables per day. Here’s one of the best beans on toast recipes I’ve come across.

Warm some baked beans in a pan, whilst toasting a thick slice of nutty brown bread. Melt some grated cheese on top of the beans and add a dash of Worcestershire sauce on top. Pile the beans on top of the buttered bread and top it off with a fried egg. Delicious!

Bon Appetit!

MY GREAT-GRANDPARENTS - THE EPITOME OF STYLE & ELEGANCE

As some of you know I'm very interested in tracing my family tree and it's definitely something I'm hoping to do in the future. I'd like to share with you a rare and treasured photograph of my great-grandparents. It's hard to believe but this particular photo is over a hundred years old! It's actually a tin photo and extremely rare. I’ve used my scanner and some photo software to bring it up a little bit. The photo was given to me by my mother and shows her maternal grandparents, Mary (who liked to be known as Polly to her friends and family) and John. I was always told that Mary was a stunning and beautiful woman and she and John certainly make quite a striking couple. As you can see from this photo, John cuts quite a dash in his smart suit and bowler hat, whilst Mary is the epitome of style, beauty and elegance in her lovely dress and hat. This photo was actually taken at a wedding. However in those days, unlike today it was quite fashionable for both men and women to wear hats whether it was a special occasion or not. In years gone by hats were a lot more popular than they are today. Women of my great-grandmother’s generation would always wear a hat to church or synagogue, as well as wearing one on many other occasions too. Whilst men would regularly be seen wearing their bowler hats.

The bowler hat is a traditional symbol of Britishness. In years gone by, in the old movies, British men were always seen wearing bowler hats. They gained their name because of their shape (like a bowl) and also because they were made by a hatmaker called William Bowler. Not a lot of people know that. Many famous Britons wore them, including Patrick McNee (better known as the archetypical English spy John Steed from the New Avengers), Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel (the Brit born half of the Laurel and Hardy comedy duo). Even today bowler hats are frequently seen being worn on the streets of London, part of the city gent’s unofficial uniform, often teamed with a black rolled umbrella.

My great-grandparents Polly and John had 12 children. Big families were the norm in those days. Polly whose maiden name was Mulvee, lived to the ripe old age of 94. Her father was Irish and brought his family over to England during the potato famine. This is where I trace my Irish ancestry from.

I'm submitting this post to the 5th edition of Smile for the Camera – A Carnival of Images being hosted by my cyberfriend FootnoteMaven over at her blog Shades of the Departed

For this particular carnival our hostess has requested that you should submit a photo, perhaps of a relative, ancestor or even yourself that epitomises the words, “Crowning Glory”. I personally believe that this photo of my great-grandparents in their smart hats perfectly sums up that expression. I hope you’ve enjoyed meeting some members of my family.

You can find out more details of this carnival by following the link shown below:-

Smile for the Camera – A Carnival of Images

I look forward to seeing you there!

IDENTITY FRAUD RIFE IN U.K.

You may think that identity theft is something that can never happen to you. However it seems that criminals are increasingly targeting people’s identities with at least one in ten of us falling victim to identity fraud. Identity theft is one of the fastest growing criminal activities in the U.K. and costs the country an estimated £1.3billion a year. Most identity thieves not only steal their victim’s identity but also steal money from financial organisations by impersonating their victims. The effects of this can wreck your credit file and have a significant impact on your life. You may be refused credit cards or a loan if someone is running up bad credit in your name. Also mortgage lenders may not offer you a mortgage if you have a poor credit rating.

Don’t let it happen to you! Prevention is definitely better than cure in the case of identity fraud as the mess it creates can be horrendous. It is more important than ever to check your credit score and monitor your credit report regularly to check for any suspicious activity. Monitoring your credit report definitely enhances card fraud detection. Credit-Score.org is the ideal site to do this. You can get your credit score online and avoid embarrassing refusals when applying for loans, mortgages or credit cards, whilst also checking for fraudulent activity at the same time. You can also use the site to review articles on credit cards and get instructions on how to create a good credit history or how to improve a bad rating. The site also offers fraud prevention services, including identity theft insurance, essential in this day and age.

A recent survey revealed that many Britons don’t check their bank accounts or statements on a regular basis to spot identity fraud. The main reasons for this are they are afraid of seeing how far in the red they are or just forget to check due to lack of time. In fact only 14 per cent of Britons would notice if a £1,000 went missing from their account, whilst eight out of ten Britons wouldn’t notice. Frightening news and this plays right into the hands of fraudsters. You owe it to yourself and your security to always check bank and building society statements regularly. This is obviously now more important than ever nowadays when fraud and identity theft are rife.

BRITS CHOOSE SURFING OVER MEALS

It seems the majority of Brits including myself are addicted to the internet. According to the results of a recent survey by supermarket chain Somerfield, most Brits are so addicted to the internet that they forfeit their evening meal. The majority of the people surveyed said they preferred to munch on crisps and chocolate, whilst surfing the net and considered it more important to update their Facebook profile than eat a healthy meal! No wonder there is so much obesity in this country. A third of net surfers blamed their unhealthy habits for piling on the pounds. The majority of Brits spend an average of two and a half hours a day surfing the net. It seems that we have now become a dot.com nation!

We have certainly come a long way over the last few years, with the invention of computers and the digital age but unfortunately it seems that for many people, spending so much time online and not getting enough exercise has meant their health has suffered. I personally love spending time on the computer and can’t imagine life without one. My computer was in for repair recently and I really missed little things like picking up my e-mails every day. I was crawling the walls and couldn’t wait to get it back! My work is also computer based so consequently I spend quite a lot of time on there. However I take regular exercise and eat a balanced diet and would never forfeit eating a healthy meal, taking exercise or seeing friends or family to spend time online. At the end of the day, I think you just have to get your priorities right and strike a balance. Computers are great but they can be quite addictive for young and old alike. A U.S. study recently found that 6 per cent of internet users are addicted to surfing, whilst British psychiatrists recently found that between five and ten per cent of online surfers are internet addicts. Apparently net addiction is now a rising problem similar to other addictions like gambling, alcohol and drugs! Scary! So now we know!

QUEEN NO.12 ON FORBES RICH LIST

It seems that even the Queen is suffering the effects of the current credit crunch. She has dropped down to 12th place in Forbes list of the world’s richest monarchs. King Bhumibol of Thailand has topped the list with an estimated fortune of £19billion. Wow! Whilst the Queen is the 12th richest monarch in the world with an estimated fortune of £350million. Forbes say their estimate of the Queen’s fortune includes fine art, a stamp collection given to her by her grandfather George V, jewels and property. However many of the assets associated with the Queen, including Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and the Crown Jewels are not actually her property but belong to the nation. The true value of the Queen’s personal property which includes Sandringham, has never been revealed. A Buckingham Palace spokesman insisted that the Queen’s personal wealth has always been “grossly exaggerated”.

GOLDEN WEEKEND FOR TEAM GB

It was a golden weekend in more ways than one for Britain’s athletes at the Beijing Olympics as they gained a staggering 17 medals, including 8 golds in just two days. Swimmer Rebecca Adlington was amongst them, taking her second Olympic victory with a new world record in the 800 metres freestyle on Saturday, whilst blonde sailing trio Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson battled the bad weather to win the Yngling race. Team GB’s successful weekend was described as, “the greatest in British Olympic history” and puts them in third place in the medals table. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown praised Britain’s Olympic athletes, saying, “We are immensely proud of what they have achieved and inspired by their performance”. Meanwhile the Queen recorded a personal message of congratulations to Team GB, saying that she had followed their endeavours with great interest and admiration. All of the athletes are great role models for Britain’s children and we can only hope that seeing Team GB winning will encourage them to take part in different kinds of sports.

The Beijing closing ceremony and official Olympic handover was watched by millions across the U.K. whilst London hosted its own free concert to celebrate the occasion. The Olympic flag was handed over to London Mayor Boris Johnson in preparation for London hosting the games in 2012.

Picture:- Courtesy of Yahoo News

BT ANNOUNCE ADOPTION PLAN FOR RED TELEPHONE BOXES

It looks like red telephone boxes, once a popular site in England, may soon be making a welcome return to our towns and villages. British Telecom are now giving town councils the chance to adopt the red boxes to stop them disappearing from our streets altogether. Councils will have to pay £250 for a box without a working phone or £500 for one that contains a phone. They have until 1st October to make up their minds. Unfortunately the popularity of mobile phones (or cells as our American neighbours call them!) has meant the disappearance of many phone boxes from our high streets. In many areas they have now become obsolete. However there are some areas of the country where councils would like to keep the red boxes for cultural and heritage reasons. Kersall, a village in Nottinghamshire successfully battled against plans to remove their much loved red telephone box. The village prides itself on having the best kept box in the world. Residents put fresh flowers in it and even decorate it with lights at Christmas!

Red telephone boxes were a popular site in England when I was growing up, with their crown insignia and domed roof. Many foreign visitors saw them as a national icon and a symbol of our British heritage. Singer Tom Jones missed the “green, green grass of home” so much that he went as far as having a red telephone box shipped over to his American home. The box now takes pride of place in his back garden as a fond reminder of his British roots. The modern silver boxes that replaced them just didn’t have the same appeal.

CREDIT-SPY.COM FOR THE BEST CARD DEALS YOU CAN TRUST

According to a recent report by one of Britain’s largest building societies, cheques which were once used as a popular alternative to cash, will cease to exist in the next twenty years. It seems that more and more Britons prefer the convenience of using debit and credit cards. Also as more people purchase goods and services on the internet, the usage of cheques is now in steady decline. I personally can’t remember the last time I wrote a cheque. In these recession hit times, many people prefer the convenience of buying goods on credit cards and spreading the cost over a period of time. As well as offering convenience, credit cards also offer a certain amount of security as purchases are often insured when paying for them by credit card. However there are so many different credit cards out there that finding the right one can be quite a daunting task.

Credit-Spy.com is the ideal site to compare the various different cards and deals available and features some of the best on-line credit applications on the internet. The site features many different types of credit cards available to suit your individual requirements, spending style and credit score and allows you to compare credit card suppliers quickly and easily online to find the best deals available. If you have previously been refused credit or have a bad credit rating, don’t despair you can still compare bad credit card deals and find the right card for you and help to build, rebuild or re-establish your credit rating by making on-time payments and maintaining an account balance below the credit limit.

There has never been a better time to take advantage of some of the great card deals out there. As the credit crunch bites, we have all become more choosey about our cards and want the best deals and rewards for our money to make shopping even more enjoyable. With the average Brit carrying 1.4 credit cards, many people like myself can’t imagine life without one. The plastic explosion even looks set to threaten cash with the Bank of England issuing twenty five per cent fewer banknotes since 2001.

So what are you waiting for log onto Credit-Spy.com and get yourself a great credit card deal now.

BLOGGING FRIENDS FOREVER

I would like to say a big thank you to Linda aka The FootnoteMaven for awarding me the BFF (Blogging Friends Forever) award. I’m actually a new visitor to Linda’s websites Shades of the Departed and FootnoteMaven. Shades of the Departed
is a unique and beautifully designed photography blog showcasing many rare and old photographs, whilst FootnoteMaven is an interesting genealogy blog where Linda shares stories about her ancestors via interesting posts and treasured rare photos. As some of my readers know I’m very interested in tracing my own family tree and this is definitely something I look forward to doing in the future.

In turn I would like to pass this award onto Alastair, a Vicar and fellow Brit at New Kid on the Blog for his well written and interesting posts on everyday life and what it means to be a Christian in today’s busy society, Sank from Old and In the Way for his wonderful and sometimes very funny articles, some of which wouldn’t be out of place in fishing or boating magazines, Sandy from Writing in Faith for her beautiful and inspirational blog with its heartwarming posts and wonderful photos, Jackie from The Vegan Diet and Herbs 'n' Oils for the great recipes and wonderful, interesting posts. Both blogs hold a great wealth of information for those wishing to live a healthier lifestyle like myself,

And last but not least Kalafudra, a new visitor to my blog whose based in Vienna, one of my favourite European cities.

Please feel free to copy the award shown and display it on your blog. I have made so many friends in the Blogosphere. There are many more people I would like to pass this award onto – five is not nearly enough! I know some of you visit the same blogs I do so I'm sure between us we can ensure the award gets passed on to anyone whose not on my list.

The rules for passing on the award are:

1. Only five people are allowed to receive the award.
2. Four of them must be followers of your blog.
3. One has to be new to your blog and live in another part of the world.
4. You must link back to whoever gave you the award.

OAPS RULE IN BRITAIN

It’s official! For the first time ever, there are now more pensioners living in Britain than children. According to recent figures released by the Office of National Statistics there are now over 11 million pensioners in this country and 52,000 more pensioners than children under 16. Better nutrition and healthcare has meant that many people are now living longer with the over 80’s age group being the fastest growing. Government ministers are now struggling to find a way to fund the growing costs of social, health and nursing home care for Britain’s ageing population. The NHS is already restricting access to drugs which could benefit sufferers of Alzheimer’s and other conditions amidst fears that the financial strain could cripple the health service. I personally believe that this is very wrong. The age of people suffering from conditions like Alzheimer’s is irrelevant. What is important is that these people have worked all their lives and paid their taxes, some have even fought for this country in the war and the system is letting them down badly. I personally think this is a disgrace. They shouldn’t have to be the sufferers because the health service is in dire straits. Help the Aged, a charity representing the elderly in Britain, warned that the government must face up to the prospect of an ageing population and make a firm commitment to improve health services which enable people to stay healthy and independent for longer. I quite agree. Britain’s pensioners deserve nothing less.

HALLOWEEN BOOMING INDUSTRY IN BRITAIN

I can’t believe how fast this year is going by, only another couple of months and soon it will be Halloween again. Halloween is originally derived from the Celtic festival of Samhain, a time that marks the end of the Summer and the beginning of the Winter. Nowadays we associate it with people dressing up in Halloween costumes and going trick or treating. One of my personal favourite ways to spend Halloween is to go on a ghost walk where a guide takes a group of people on a walk around supposedly haunted parts of a town or city and tells spooky tales about it. It’s fun and great exercise too! One of my favourite Halloweens was spent at a place called Pendle Hill, home of the Lancashire witch trials. I took this spooky picture with my own fair hand. This witch is a permanent fixture and popular tourist attraction at the Barley Mow restaurant there.

When I was growing up, we never celebrated Halloween over here in England, even though it has always been a popular holiday in the States. It’s only in recent years that Halloween has become more popular in this country. Halloween has now become a million pound industry in Britain and we are fast catching up with our American neighbours. Halloween is now the most profitable time for British retailers after Christmas and Easter. The scariest thing is how much we now spend on Halloween in this country with a staggering £25million being spent on pumpkins alone. Wow! Most of the pumpkins sold in the U.K. are used for lantern carving. However pumpkin is delicious in recipes too. I tried pumpkin pie many years ago on a visit to the States. It was delicious. I have also had pumpkin soup which is nice too. However we are still a long way behind our American neighbours where the Halloween industry is worth a staggering £4.7billion!

Whole supermarket aisles are now dedicated to Halloween novelties as people shop for Halloween themed food and drink and decorations for their houses. Some people even want Halloween themed outfits for their pets! It’s a shame that teenagers in some areas of the country have chosen to spoil the holiday by knocking on people’s doors and demanding money with menace! Aside from that Halloween is a fun holiday and a great chance for children and adults alike to dress up in their Halloween outfits and go trick or treating.

POTTER PREQUEL BOOK BREAKS RECORD FOR FASTEST SALES

Following in the footsteps of the successful Harry Potter books, “What’s Your Story” a limited edition collection of short stories featuring an 80 word Harry Potter prequel by J K Rowling has broken all records to become the fastest selling short story collection of all time. Over 10,000 copies were sold on the book’s first day of release with some bookshops selling out of copies by lunchtime. The Harry Potter prequel is one of thirteen short stories featured in a story card book by various authors including Doris Lessing, Nick Hornby and Margaret Atwood. The short stories were originally written on A5 card as part of a charity initiative to raise money for Dyslexia Action and English Pen, a charity which promotes understanding through literature. Each story has been described as a “small masterpiece” but Waterstones have no doubt that JK Rowling is behind the book’s success as eager Potter fans have snapped up the majority of copies when the books went on general sale at branches of Waterstones up and down the country. The original Harry Potter story card handwritten by JK Rowling, which tells the story of the young boy wizard’s father James and his friend Sirius Black as youngsters was sold at auction by Sotheby’s raising £25,000 for charity. Eager Potter fans are now looking forward to JK Rowling’s next publication, a series of fairy tales entitled, “The Tales of Beedle the Bard” which is due to be published in December.

Meanwhile Potter fans will have to wait a little while longer for the release of the next instalment of the boy wizard’s adventures. “Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince” was originally due for release in November but has now been put back for release in July 2009. Warner Brothers blamed the Hollywood writers' strike for the delay and said it had been put back to guarantee them a Summer blockbuster in 2009. I’m sure eager Harry Potter fans like myself will be counting the months down to its release. Can’t wait!

NEWSPAPER DENIES PRINCE PHILIP CANCER CLAIMS

The London Evening Standard have made a public apology to The Queen after claiming that her husband Prince Philip was suffering from prostate cancer. Acting on Prince Philip’s instructions, Buckingham Palace took the unprecedented step of issuing a public denial, confirming that the story was untrue and they would be making a complaint to the Press Complaints Commission.. The palace confirmed that the 87 year old Duke, who is usually in robust health, was not suffering from prostate cancer and described the newspaper report as a “serious breach of his privacy”. The Palace has always maintained the fact that members of the Royal Family are entitled to their privacy just like the rest of us and quite right too. I personally believe that’s even more important when it comes to personal health matters. The London Evening Standard had previously claimed that the Duke had been diagnosed with prostate cancer after being admitted to hospital with a chest infection earlier this year. The Palace said they welcomed the newspaper’s apology which stated that they unreservedly apologised to Prince Philip and his family for making this distressing allegation and breaching his privacy.

A member of the Greek Royal family, Prince Philip was born in 1921. He’s 86 years old and has been married to The Queen since 1947. The Duke of Edinburgh is only the fifth consort to a reigning Queen in British history and gave up his navy career to support the then Princess Elizabeth when she became Queen. The couple have four children and eight grandchildren. Both the Queen and Prince Philip are great-great grandchildren of Queen Victoria. Apart from carrying the title of The Duke of Edinburgh, he also carries the titles of The Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich.

NO PORK PIES FOR HEALTH CONSCIOUS BRITS

I laughed when I heard that pork pie sales are down as health conscious Brits ditch them in favour of healthier fare! Pork pies have always been seen as a quick and tasty snack but it seems they have now become the latest victim as Brits fight the war against obesity. New figures show that British shoppers are buying fewer pork pies than they did a year ago. I’m pretty health conscious myself and try to eat a healthy balanced diet but I don’t think I could ever manage to give up the pork pies. I particularly enjoy them with salad in the Summertime. I tell myself that eating them with salad makes them that bit healthier! I think like most things in life, they are ok as long as they are eaten in moderation. The most famous English pork pies come from Melton Mowbray and they’re delicious! If you fancy having a go at making your own pork pies, click on the link shown below and Delia Smith, one of Britain’s favourite tv cooks will show you how.

Old-Fashioned Raised Pork Pies Recipe from Delia Online

NELSON GREATEST BRITISH MILITARY HERO

Admiral Lord Nelson has been named the greatest British military hero of all time in a recent poll. Lord Nelson who lost an eye and an arm in battle is best known for leading his men to victory at the Battle of Trafalgar and losing his own life in the process. Nelson beat other famous military leaders including the Duke of Wellington to gain the coveted title. Nelson became a national icon in 1805, famously inspiring his men to victory in the Battle of Trafalgar, with the immortal words, “England expects that every man will do his duty”. A brilliant naval commander, he was well known for his bold actions, often disregarding the orders of his superiors. If you’re visiting London, you can find Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square. It’s a magnificent monument to one of Britain’s best loved heroes. Field Marshal Montgomery, famous for his victory at El Alamein came in at No.2 in the poll, whilst the Duke of Wellington famous for his victory at Waterloo, came in at No. 3. On another note, at least a quarter of the people questioned couldn’t name any British military heroes of the past and didn’t know who was the best one. Shame on you!

BRITISH KIDS SNUB BRITISH SEASIDE

According to the results of a “Save our Seaside study by Travelodge, one in ten British kids have never taken a British seaside holiday or been on a British beach. More children than ever it seems hold passports nowadays, preferring to pack their buckets and spades and head for beaches abroad rather than at home. Many five to twelve year olds were unable to even point out some famous British seaside resorts on a map. It’s a shame, when the weather’s good, a British seaside holiday can be a lot of fun and in these cash-strapped times is a lot cheaper than going abroad on holiday. In years gone by, people didn’t take foreign holidays like they do now, preferring instead to take their holidays in this country. As a child, I remember my grandparents telling me how much they looked forward to spending their Summer holidays by the seaside in Blackpool as they lived in Manchester, a big city. How times have changed!

LORD AUCTIONS TITLE ON EBAY

Have you ever wished you had a title? Ever wondered what it would be like to be Lord of the Manor and master of all you survey? Well now’s your chance to find out! David Piper, an entrepreneur and eccentric British Lord who describes himself as “Lord of the Manor of Warleigh”, is selling off his title and property on internet auction site Ebay. A bidding war has already started to gain the coveted title of “Lord”. However don’t bother bidding unless you have a lot of spare cash to hand. Bids have already been received in the region of £3million and upwards! Wow! Some people must be really desperate for a title!

So what can one expect to receive for that amount of money? Well included in the price is an art collection, two Bentley cars and a nine bedroom house in Plymouth. David Piper is selling up as he is moving down to London to receive treatment for advanced prostate cancer. This isn’t the first time the eccentric Lord has hit the headlines. He was in the news in 2002 after placing a lonely hearts ad in an international newspaper to find the girl of his dreams and receiving over 2,000 replies. The lonely hearts Lord is offering to introduce the successful bidder to some of his potential suitors as part of the package.

GORDON BROWN LAUNCHING HIS OWN TV CHANNEL

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is planning on setting up his own tv channel in a bid to boost his flagging popularity with the voting public. The special tv channel, “No. 10 TV” will be accessed through the 10 Downing Street Website, which is currently undergoing a revamp. Online viewers will be able to see tv footage of Gordon Brown going about his day to day activities. Mr Brown is following in the footsteps of Conservative leader David Cameron whose WebCameron site has proved immensely successful, giving viewers a glimpse into both his private and public life.

Gordon Brown recently set up his own modern version of Prime Minister’s Question Time on video sharing website You Tube, after being accused of being out of touch with the digital age and also the youth culture of today. David Cameron once accused him of being, “an analogue Prime Minister in a digital age!” But not any more! Gordon Brown is now fighting back with his own tv channel. Wonder if we’ll be able to watch any soaps on there! To view the official No. 10 Downing Street website, click on the link shown below:-

Official No. 10 Downing Street Website

FAKE TAN SALES SOAR AS CREDIT CRUNCH BITES

As the credit crunch bites, many British families have been forced to cancel their sunshine holidays abroad and spend the Summer in Britain instead. This is probably one of the main reasons why sales of fake tan have been soaring recently. Many companies, particularly St Tropez, the fake tan brand used by Victoria Beckham are reporting increased sales of at least 20% as many cash-strapped Britons are opting to get a sunshine glow from a bottle rather than going abroad. According to St Tropez, many Britons prefer to treat themselves without breaking the bank. As some of my readers know, having very fair skin, I never tan and just burn if I stay in the sun too long. I try to stay out of the sun as much as possible and remain pale and interesting rather than brown and bronzed! The only time I get a tan is usually when it comes out of a bottle. I have used St Tropez in the past but my current favourite is Johnson’s Holiday Skin body lotion. It gives a nice natural looking tan and is much cheaper than St Tropez. I recommend it.

PRINCE CHARLES PLANNING 60TH BIRTHDAY CONCERT

It is rumoured that Prince Charles is planning to organise a big concert to celebrate his landmark 60th birthday on 14th November. The concert will be broadcast on ITV1 with many big name stars appearing. It is believed the concert will also feature some classical music artists to reflect the Prince’s love of classical music. The Prince may even coax Sheila Ferguson and The Three Degrees, his all-time favourite pop group out of retirement to appear at the special bash. ITV bosses are said to be busy finalising details of the concert which will be studio based rather than outdoors. Master of the Queen’s music, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies is said to be preparing a special piece especially for the occasion. However it’s extremely unlikely that Prince Charles will be involved in its performance, even he did once play the cello. The Prince joked to Sir Peter that he gave up the cello when he joined the navy. ITV1 have worked with Prince Charles in the past, broadcasting the Prince’s Trust 30th Birthday concert in 2006.

CREDIT-CARD-ANALYZER.COM FOR THE BEST CARD DEALS YOU CAN TRUST

According to the results of a recent insurance company survey, many Brits are not at all worried about the ongoing global credit crunch with the majority saying that it was unlikely to affect either them or their lifestyles. Nearly 50% of people said they would not be cutting back on their spending. Not surprising really as Britain is known as the credit capital of Europe. Brits have twice as many credit cards as their European neighbours, with the average Brit carrying 1.4 credit cards. With the rising cost of living and the current economic climate, people enjoy the flexibility of being able to pay over a long period of time for goods and services.

However there are so many different credit card deals on offer out there, it’s always important to compare the various different cards and deals available. Credit Card Analyzer features some of the best online credit applications on the internet, including Visa Credit Cards. Accepted in over 150 countries of the world, Visa is one of the largest payment systems in the world and always a trustworthy form of credit. Credit Card Analyzer has many different types of Visa Cards available to suit your individual requirements, spending style and credit score and allows you to compare credit card suppliers quickly and easily online, to find the best deals available.

So what are you waiting for check out the top Visa credit card applications at Credit Card Analyzer today and choose the right card to match your requirements

BRITISH CHILDREN DON'T LIKE THE COUNTRYSIDE

It seems very few British kids are nature lovers, with the majority preferring to spend their time slumped in front of a computer screen playing computer games rather than going for a walk out into the countryside. It’s no wonder childhood obesity is so common these days. It’s such a shame. They don’t know what they are missing. I spent my childhood growing up in the country and loved every minute.

According to the results of a recent BBC Wildlife Magazine poll of 9 to 11 year olds, half of children are unable to spot and identify oak trees, bluebells or bluetits, whilst two thirds of them have no idea what a frog looks like! Unbelievable! It sounds like something needs to be done urgently to spark children’s interest in nature and the environment they live in. Maybe school projects or more emphasis on teaching children about nature and wildlife in the classroom is needed. If these youngsters have no interest in the world they live in now, it’s unlikely they will be interested in nature or preserving wildlife and the environment when they grow up.

PRINCESS ANNE RECYCLES 27 YEAR OLD DRESS

It was interesting to see Princess Anne wearing the same dress to Lady Rose Windsor’s wedding that she had worn some 27 years ago to Charles and Diana’s wedding. Lady Rose is the youngest daughter of The Duke of Gloucester, a cousin of the Queen. The Princess Royal has always been quite frugal, often wearing the same outfit on more than one occasion. She once remarked that economy was bred into her and her parents believed that things were not to be wasted. I’m sure the Princess is very pleased with herself that she can still fit into the same size 10 dress she wore 27 years ago! Not many women are so lucky. Her love of horse riding has obviously paid off and helped her to keep slim and toned. We can only hope that newly wed Lady Rose and her husband have better luck in their marriage than the ill fated union of Charles and Diana. Let’s hope that dress wasn’t a bad omen for them!