BRITAIN SET TO BECOME ELECTRIC CAR CAPITAL OF EUROPE

Electric cars could be given away for free as part of a new government initiative. Gordon Brown unveiled his plans for the future of Britain’s motor industry at last week’s Motor Show. The idea is that electric cars will be given away free or at a heavily subsidised rate. At the same time drivers will be offered contracts similar to current mobile phone contracts by companies who will supply the electricity to run them. Mr Brown has since met with representatives from General Motors to discuss the mass production of electric vehicles on a large scale, at their Ellesmere Port plant. If plans go ahead, General Motors are hoping to strike a deal with Mr Brown where they would manufacture enough vehicles in Briain to supply the whole of Europe, creating 500 jobs, in return for Mr Brown creating thousands of new recharging points up and down the country. The new initiative would make Britain the electric car capital of Europe.

Gordon Brown would like to see more electric cars on the road to cut pollution and reduce our impact on the environment. He is expecting the majority of vehicles on Britain's roads to be either hybrid or electric by 2020. However there is still a lot more work to be done before Mr Brown’s plans can come to fruition. The majority of electric vehicles currently available don’t go very fast. To reduce our impact on the environment the electricity used to power the cars would need to come from a nuclear or renewable energy source and not from fossil fuels. Also electric cars can only be used for short journeys as their batteries generally need to be recharged after a couple of hours. One of the main problems is finding recharging points to do this. Ideally in the future Gordon Brown hopes to see these up and down the country and it may be just as simple as popping into a local garage and exchanging a used electric battery pack for a new one. However currently recharging points are few and far between, with the majority being found in and around London. Mr Brown hopes to correct this by creating thousands of new recharging points up and down the country. In addition vacuum cleaner inventor James Dyson’s current project is creating a new faster electric car powered by solar panels. Sounds exciting! Meanwhile Sussex police are currently trialling an electric police car in Brighton and Hove. With a top speed of 30 miles per hour, the vehicle bears a close resemblance to a golf buggy and looks like it would be more at home on a golf course than on Britain’s roads. However Sussex police are confident that the vehicle will play an important role in community policing, helping officers to navigate their way through built up areas of the towns. With petrol prices rising at an alarming rate, I’m sure we’ll be seeing more and more electric cars on our roads in the future, I might even be driving one myself one day.

80% OF BRITISH WOMEN UNFIT

It’s official, the majority of British women are unfit. According to the Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation over 80 per cent of us are not getting enough exercise. Many women view sport as being masculine and something that mostly men participate in. It’s not surprising they have that perception really with the amount of male dominated sports like football, cricket and rugby that are shown on television. Less than one in ten of younger women participate in competitive sport.

Sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe is keen to raise the profile of women’s sports, encouraging more media coverage and believes that all women should give sport a try. I must admit I don’t do much sport myself these days, although I used to play hockey and netball during my schooldays. I still dance though and attend a couple of dance classes every week which keep me fit and active. Exercise should be fun and I think if you enjoy what you’re doing that helps a lot. I’m single and don’t have a family and still find it difficult to find the time to exercise sometimes. However for some women who work full-time and have family and home responsibilities, it can be almost impossible to find the time to exercise. Maybe simple lifestyle changes like walking your children to school or walking to the supermarket rather than taking the car or cycling to work might help. Anything that keeps your heart and body healthy is well worth a try.

WORLD'S MOST EXPENSIVE CHOCS GO ON SALE AT HARRODS

As many of my readers know, I love chocolate and am in serious danger of becoming a chocoholic! The world’s most expensive box of chocolates went on sale in exclusive London department store Harrods this week. With a £5,000 price tag, these are no ordinary boxes of chocolates but handcrafted works of art wrapped in handmade silk and leather, with each one lovingly crafted and individually personalised for the customer. The chocolates are made of organic cocoa and each one is decorated with gold and a Swarowski crystal flower or silk rose. Very posh! In fact so much work has gone into the delicate and stunning presentation of these exclusive chocolates, it seems a shame to spoil it all by breaking into the box and eating them! A Harrods spokesman said that many of their customers had asked for something special like this with the, “Wow!” factor. These exclusive chocolates made by Lebanese chocolatier Patchi certainly have that!

BUY YOUR CHILD A DOG FOR BETTER EXAM RESULTS

We Brits have always been a nation of animal lovers with almost half of all U.K. households owning a pet. Dogs and cats are amongst the most popular. Pets play an important role in our lives and are usually affectionately referred to as, “part of the family”. Cats are probably the easiest pets to care for as they can more or less fend for themselves and don’t need to be taken out for walks. Although I do like cats, having spent most of my childhood growing up with dogs, I tend to be more of a dog person myself. Dogs certainly do make good, faithful companions, even if they do need to be taken out for walks. From a health point of view, walking a dog is very good exercise and a good way to keep fit and healthy. I was interested to hear that according to the results of a survey of teenagers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, children who own a pet dog tend to do better in exams. Oh well, maybe it’s time to give in and buy your child that longed for puppy after all! Better still why not adopt a rescue dog. There are loads of abandoned dogs and cats out there all looking for good homes and loving owners.

MAMMA MIA THE MOVIE - A RUNAWAY SUCCESS

I had the pleasure of going to see the new Mamma Mia film the other night. Billed as the story of a daughter, a mother and three possible dads, the stage version of Mamma Mia has been a smash hit and phenomenally successful all over the world. The movie looks like being just as popular. It was only released last week and already Universal Pictures are laughing all the way to the bank, as it has already grossed over a staggering £7million at the U.K. box office. Wow! The movie certainly had a spectacular opening with its lavish Greek themed premiere complete with lemon grove in Leicester Square. There was certainly no missing Meryl Streep in her red dress or Colin Firth’s Italian wife in her yellow smiley face dress, as eager fans lined the pavements hoping for a glimpse of the film’s stars.

I saw the stage version of Mamma Mia myself last year and enjoyed every minute of it. The story centres around a girl on a Greek Island who is about to get married and invites three men to her wedding, in the hope of discovering which one of the three is her real dad! The story is told through the use of Abba songs. Abba were Sweden’s best export and had a string of chart hits with the likes of Mamma Mia, SOS and Dancing Queen. They are one of the most enduring pop groups of all time and are as popular today as they’ve always been. Like the stage show, the movie is really good with superb performances by all the cast. This is a very different type of role for Meryl Streep as viewers see her singing and dancing and doing the splits. By taking a role like this Meryl has proved just what a versatile actress she is and is great in the role of Donna. Julie Walters is hilarious and ideally cast as one of Donna’s closest friends. Seeing Pierce Brosnan singing was also a big departure from his usual James Bond role but I thought he carried it off really well. Like the stage show, Mamma Mia the Movie is a great feel-good film. Very enjoyable. Go and see it if you get a chance. You won't be disappointed. To find out more, click on the link shown below:-

Mamma Mia the Movie - Official U.K. Site

DANCERS GENERATE ELECTRICITY AT LONDON'S FIRST ECO NIGHTCLUB

I was interested to hear about London’s first eco nightclub, which opened its doors last week. Apparently it’s powered by dancing feet or rather people dancing on the floor generate electricity. What a great idea! Surya (which means Sun God in Sanskrit) has its own wind turbine and solar energy system. In addition the interior furnishings of the club are all derived from waste products, drinks are served in polycarbon cups and revellers can relieve themselves using the latest air flush toilets!

The nightclub is the brainchild of a property developer who has already invested £1million of his own money into the project. He hopes that opening this eco club will inspire and encourage young people to become more involved in saving the planet. Eager to attract the right kind of clientele, the club will be admitting walkers and cyclists for free. Quite right too! In addition, anyone entering the club is expected to sign a petition pledging to do their bit towards saving the planet. Sounds like a great idea to me!

7TH JULY - THE NATION REMEMBERS

Monday 7th July marked the third anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the London Underground. Survivors and families of victims visited the underground stations where the attacks took place and laid flowers as a poignant reminder of the events of that terrible day. Let us not forget those poor people who were injured and killed in these deadly acts of terrorism, which left 52 people dead and many hundreds badly injured. The memories of that terrible day will stay with us all forever. Our hearts go out to all those poor people who were injured and to those who sadly lost their lives that day and to the families they left behind. May they never be forgotten.

LIVERPOOL CELEBRATES BEATLES DAY

The Beatles are still as popular as ever in the U.K. and indeed throughout the world. Liverpool paid tribute to the “fab four” by celebrating its first ever Beatles Day this week. The special day generated funds for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and also Liverpool Unites, a charity which is raising funds to build a community centre in memory of murdered schoolboy Rhys Jones. Visitors to the city were encouraged to buy mop top wigs and inflatable guitars to help with fundraising, whilst Beatles tribute bands performed all over the city. The special celebrations were held on 10th July to mark the 44th anniversary of The Beatles’ triumphant return to Liverpool after conquering the U.S. back in 1964.

If you are a Beatles fan and ever get the chance to visit England, The Cavern Club in Liverpool where the Beatles were discovered is well worth a visit. Apart from being home of the Beatles, Liverpool is also home to some of the friendliest people in England. It’s a great city with lots to see and do. Apart from the Beatles connection, there are also museums and art galleries to explore on a rainy day or why not take a ferry ride across the Mersey or head to The Maritime Museum. This is apart from the wealth of shops and stores. A day really isn’t long enough to see everything! For more information on Liverpool, please follow the links below:-

Visit Beatles Liverpool

Visit Liverpool

KYLIE RECEIVES OBE

Australian pop princess Kylie Minogue was delighted after she received an OBE from Prince Charles this week. Dressed in a cream dress, decorated with large coloured stars, Kylie was presented with the OBE at Buckingham Palace for her services to music. Her parents and sister Danni also attended the ceremony. Kyle was an inspiration to millions of women after fighting her way back to health from breast cancer.

The British public took Kylie into their hearts after she starred in the Australian soap, “Neighbours” in the mid 1980’s. She then went on to launch a successful singing career, selling millions of albums and producing many hit songs along the way. After the ceremony, Kylie said that she was “deeply touched” to be acknowledged by the U.K. her “adopted homeland” in this way and that it was “an incredible honour” to receive the award. Kyle said she would admire her OBE medal for a while and then put it away safely in its box. After recently celebrating her 40th birthday, Kylie revealed she planned to continue singing on stage until she was at least 60! Good luck to her!

PHOTO:- Courtesy of Yahoo News

BROCCOLI FIGHTS PROSTATE CANCER

Broccoli is being hailed as an important weapon in the battle against Prostate Cancer. Scientists have found that eating the vegetable once or twice a week can significantly reduce the risk of developing the disease by as much as 40 per cent. Studies from the Institute of Food Research in Norwich showed that eating broccoli can produce changes in gene activity which in turn can slow or prevent tumour growth. This is due to a special cancer fighting compound which Broccoli contains. Broccoli is part of the family of cruciferous vegetables which includes cabbage, kale, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. All cruciferous vegetables contain a special compound which helps prevent cancer. However broccoli contains a stronger version of the compound which gives it extra cancer fighting properties. 35,000 men are diagnosed with Prostate Cancer every year in the U.K., with the disease claiming the lives of one man every hour. Anything that can slow or prevent this terrible disease has to be good news for men everywhere.

For a delicious broccoli recipe that’s quick and easy to prepare, follow the link shown below:-

Broccoli and Chilli Penne

Bon Appetit!

PRINCE CHARLES RUNNING HIS CAR ON WINE

At a time when petrol prices are soaring in Britain, we are all looking for alternative and cheaper ways to fuel our vehicles and reduce our carbon footprint. It seems Prince Charles has found a novel way to run his car and help the environment at the same time. The Prince has converted his beloved Aston Martin to run on wine! The 38 year old classic car which was Prince Charles’ 21st birthday present from the Queen, has been converted to run on 100% bioethanol fuel which is distilled from surplus British wine. The fuel is made from surplus supplies from local vineyards.

Prince Charles has always been a big supporter of green issues and in the past described climate change as, “the biggest threat to mankind”. He has already converted his Range Rover, Audi and Jaguar to run on biodiesel fuel produced from used cooking oil. Meanwhile his father Prince Philip uses an LPG powered taxi cab to travel around London to attend engagements. I’ve always admired Prince Charles' great commitment to environmental issues. He is a shining example to all of us.

THE FONZ LAUNCHES NATIONAL YEAR OF READING

Former Happy Days actor Henry Winkler joined Schools Secretary Ed Balls to launch the First News Reading Tour, a new initiative as part of The National Year of Reading, to encourage children to read. Henry, better known as The Fonz, visited a London school, where he read excerpts from his series of Hank Zipzer books. Apart from being an actor, Henry Winkler is also a talented and accomplished children’s author. During the visit, Henry revealed his struggle with dyslexia, saying it was particularly difficult for him as a child, as teachers didn’t know what dyslexia was at that time and dismissed him as being stupid and lazy. Obviously this is devastating for a child’s confidence and self-image. Henry stressed the importance of every child understanding that just because they learn differently, doesn’t mean they aren’t “incredibly smart”. He drew upon his experiences to write the Hank Zipzer books which feature a 10 year old boy who has dyslexia. Henry said that at least nowadays there are teachers who understand that some children learn differently and can give them the help and support they need.

Henry also revealed the “big problem” he had experienced reading scripts and revealed he had discovered ways of working around it and just had to work that little bit harder. Happy Days was one of my favourite shows and I loved the character of The Fonz. I always thought Henry Winkler played the role really well and was a really good comedy actor. Schools Secretary Ed Balls said he was delighted that Henry Winkler was supporting the National Year of Reading. He said that the sooner we can get children into reading, the more they would benefit.

FOUR WEDDINGS BEST BRITISH FILM OF ALL TIME

“Four Weddings and a Funeral,” has been voted the best British film of all time. The popular comedy overtook Monty Python’s “Life of Brian”, to gain the coveted No. 1 spot in a Virgin Media survey. “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” is one of my all time favourite films. A classic British comedy which made Hugh Grant famous, “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” followed the lives of a group of singletons on their quest to find true love. Hugh Grant was with his then girlfriend Elizabeth Hurley at the time of the film’s release and who can forget the premiere, when Elizabeth accompanied Hugh, dressed in a daring black Versace dress, held together with gold safety pins! The dress caused a sensation, bringing them both to the attention of the world’s media as a hot couple of the moment. I’m sure it did a lot to boost the film’s popularity too! If you’ve never seen “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” I would highly recommend it. With brilliant characters and a funny script, this film does not disappoint. Make sure you have a box of tissues handy as it will make you laugh and cry in equal measure. The funeral in the film reminds all of us just how precious life is and how you can’t take anything for granted, you have to live for the moment. It really is a wonderful film and well worth watching.

British actress Dame Judi Dench, better known as “M” in the Bond movies, was voted Best British Actress of all time, whilst former James Bond star Sir Sean Connery and Hannibal actor Sir Anthony Hopkins shared the title of Best British Actor of all time.

FISH & CHIPS BEST OF BRITISH

You may remember a recent post I did on how the government were considering plans for a special Bank holiday to celebrate Britishness. But how do we define Britishness? Obviously it means different things to some people than it does to others. But it seems that the majority of us are agreed on the things we love most about Britain, with fish and chips coming top of the list. The popular British takeaway food came in at No. 1 according to the results of a poll conducted by the popular Holiday Inn chain. The poll questioned 7,000 Brits to find out the things we most love about Britain. The Queen came in at No 2; with old fashioned pubs third; Sunday roasts fourth and red phone boxes fifth. Big Ben; cream teas; The Beatles; the pound and the Royal Family took the next five places on the list. A Holiday Inn representative said the poll results gave a “fascinating insight into what it means to be British”.

Britain has a special place in a lot of people’s hearts including mine. As soon as you hear Big Ben’s chimes and see the red buses and black cabs, you know you’ve arrived! Singer Tom Jones missed the “green green grass of home” so much that he had a red telephone box shipped over to his American home which now takes pride of place in his back garden, a nostalgic reminder of his British roots. Sadly the famous red telephone boxes have now been replaced by newer more modern looking boxes. With the invention of mobiles, phone boxes are now a rare site in Britain. Thankfully some red postboxes still remain. For most Brits there's no place like home or Blighty as it’s affectionately known!

Contrary to popular opinion there is a lot more to Britain than fish and chips and Sunday roast dinners! Modern Britain has many sides to it. Today’s Britain is a multi-cultural society with people of many different cultures and religions living here. Britons love their soaps like EastEnders and Coronation Street and it’s interesting to note that some people regard soap characters as like members of their family! Oh dear! Britain is famous for its Pantomine and theatre traditions. I personally believe that British sporting heroes like Kelly Holmes, writers like JK Rowling and musicians like Coldplay make good role models and are motivating and inspirational for youngsters growing up in Britain today.

The Monarchy plays a big part in Britain’s history and is an important part of British heritage and tradition. Also we must never forget those brave men who fought for us in the First and Second World Wars, a big part of Britain’s history. I personally would never want to live in a republic with a president. Britain is a country steeped in history and tradition. I like the fact that Britain is one of the few countries of the world that still has a Monarch on the throne. I’ve always been a Royalist. I know some members of the Royal family have let the Queen down badly by their behaviour. But the Queen has always served the country well and even in her eighties is one of the hardest working members of the Royal family. Long may she reign over us!

DANCING QUEEN

As some of you know I’ve always been a big fan of Swedish pop group Abba. I still have all my vinyl Abba records, every one in pristine condition and love to watch Abba tribute bands perform some of their greatest hits. It seems Her Majesty the Queen is a big Abba fan too and a secret disco dance floor diva! I was interested to hear DJ Chris Evans telling listeners of his Radio 2 show how the Queen loved Abba’s disco classic, “Dancing Queen”. Apparently one of Chris’s friends had attended a dinner dance function at Windsor Castle. After the meal, the disco began with the DJ putting on Abba’s, “Dancing Queen”. The Queen, 82, stunned guests by going up to strut her stuff on the dancefloor to Abba’s disco classic! Apparently many of the guests remarked that it was a good choice of song as Her Majesty was indeed the “dancing Queen”. Showing her great sense of humour, the Queen told her guests that she always liked to go up and dance when Abba’s “Dancing Queen” was played as she herself was the Queen and loved to dance! After recounting this true story on his radio show, Chris Evans played the famous Abba track, saying, “This is for all you dancing Queens out there, especially you your Majesty!”

SINGIN' IN THE RAIN STORMS CHARTS

Gene Kelly’s, “Singin’ in the Rain” is enjoying a mini revival here in England, after breakdancer George Sampson danced his way to victory using a funky version of the song as his backing track on Britain’s Got Talent. Manchester band Mint Royale who remixed the song to a funky beat, stormed to the top of the charts with their version of “Singin’ in the Rain”, knocking Rihanna off the top spot. The hit song has been No. 1 in the U.K. Singles Charts for the past two weeks. I love it and always think of George Sampson dancing whenever I hear it being played! To hear the hit song and see George in action, click on the player shown below:-

BUSH SAYS FAREWELL TO BRITAIN

President Bush arrived in Britain this week for what is expected to be his last official visit before he is due to leave office in January. Mr Bush held a joint press conference with Gordon Brown, where Mr Brown announced plans to send more troops into Afghanistan, whilst also announcing plans to start the withdrawal of troops from Iraq in the foreseeable future. 10 Downing Street played down suggestions of a rift between the two men as Bush urged Mr Brown to delay the withdrawal of troops from Iraq. Meanwhile Mr Bush spoke of how appreciative he was of the relationship he had with Mr Brown, particularly on the issue of Iraq.

Bush’s controversial visit was marred by violent clashes between police and anti-war protesters who caused havoc in Whitehall and across the capital. Anti-war protesters waved banners depicting Bush as the world’s no. 1 terrorist. President Bush must surely be the worst president the U.S. has ever had. I’m sure the American people will be glad when he leaves office next year. President Bush rounded off his visit with his wife Laura, by taking tea at Windsor Castle with The Queen and Prince Philip who no doubt bid him a fond farewell. Goodbye and good riddance would probably be more appropriate to a president who leaves behind the shameful legacy of Iraq. Not once has he shown any regrets for his actions which have left hundreds of thousands of innocent people dead, even when no evidence of weapons of mass destruction were found. I am quite surprised that the Queen and Prince Philip would want to entertain such a man. He has committed mass murder on an unprecedented scale. Most Britons, like the majority of people in the U.S. can’t wait to see the back of him.

Photo:- Courtesy of Yahoo News

TEABAGS CELEBRATE 100TH BIRTHDAY

One of the first things I did when I got back from Spain was to put the kettle on and sit down for a nice cup of tea. There’s definitely something special about sitting back with a cup of English tea. It just never tastes the same when you go abroad. It’s hard to believe but the humble teabag has just celebrated its 100th birthday. 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!) Indeed a cup of tea has become almost like a national icon to many people in this country. Tea is often referred to as “the best drink of the day”. People often reach for a cup of tea as a pick me up or to cheer them up in times of crisis.

However contrary to popular opinion, it was actually an American and not a Brit who actually invented the first teabag. New York Tea Merchant Thomas Sullivan sent samples of tea leaves to some of his potential customers back in 1908, wrapping them in silk pouches to save money. However most customers were unsure what to do with them and dunked them in boiling water just as they arrived and so the teabag was born! British tea company Tetley saw the possible marketing potential of the teabags a few years later and launched them as an alternative to leaf tea. There’s no doubt that teabags are a much cleaner and quicker way to make tea than using leaves, especially with today’s busy lifestyles. Teabags can now be found in virtually every home in Britain. It’s hard to imagine what life would be like without them.

VODKA BRITAIN'S FAVOURITE SPIRIT

Whilst in Spain I have been enjoying Sangria, a lovely refreshing drink to enjoy on warm, sunny days. Sangria is basically a punch made of red wine and lemonade with fruit added. Some people then add a shot of Grand Marnier or Cointreau for extra zing. Every region and bar in Spain has its own Sangria recipe. I’ll definitely be having a go at making some now that I’m back at home. I’m not a big drinker but I do enjoy the occasional glass of wine with a meal. Vodka however is something I would never touch. It seems that I’m in the minority as the popular drink has now overtaken Scotch as Britain’s favourite spirit and is fast outselling traditional blended whiskeys. I’m not a Vodka drinker myself but from what I hear Russian Vodka is the best in the world. Apparently the number of Polish people now living in Britain has also helped to boost Vodka sales. Maybe the James Bond influence has helped too, as he utters those immortal words in the movies, “Vodka Martini please. Shaken not stirred!”

NAOMI'S BACK

I’m back blogging again after my Spanish holiday. Spain was great. It was quite strange being away from home on my birthday this year but very nice to celebrate the day in Spain. It was lovely to wake up to sunshine and blue skies every day, birds singing and no rain! It was quite a change when I flew back into rainy Manchester and grey skies. Back to reality! My Mum and I stayed at a small resort called Mijas. It’s in Malaga, just above Fuengirola, a popular seaside resort which we visited. Mijas is a lovely Andalucian town, full of white washed houses, with great views of the coast below. Despite the influx of tourists, Mijas has managed to retain many of its traditional customs including the traditional donkey-taxis which line the central plaza. It’s a really good base for touring the surrounding area.

We did an excursion to Gibraltar, a British owned island well worth visiting. Gibraltar is famous for its dramatic rock which overlooks the straits of Gibraltar, the narrow neck of water which separates Europe from Africa. The island is also famous for its colony of Barbary apes, which run free in a semi-wild state in a nature reserve on the rock. My Mum and I did a rock tour by minibus which was very interesting. Some of my favourite parts were seeing the famous lighthouse, St Michael’s Cave and the Apes’ Den. The lighthouse is situated on the southern most tip of the island and is well worth seeing. St Michael’s Cave is one of the most dramatic natural grottoes with lots of interesting subterranean rock formations. One of my favourite parts of the tour was seeing the Barbary apes. The apes have lived on the rock for two centuries and it was interesting to see them roaming freely around the nature reserve. The baby monkeys (we saw some that had just been born the previous week) were particularly cute. Everyone was warned not to carry any plastic bags as the monkeys associate them with food and will immediately snatch them. We were especially warned not to carry our passports in a plastic bag or otherwise there would be monkeys going home in our name! Our guide told us the story of one lady who had gone to the Apes Den carrying her passport in a plastic bag. A cheeky monkey had immediately snatched the bag and the guide had to entice it away with some peanuts so it would drop the bag and she could retrieve it! The monkeys were on their best behaviour when we visited but still very inquisitive and quite entertaining too. They have obviously grown used to the tourists visiting. They love chocolate and ice-cream. Everyone was warned to eat any chocolate or ice-cream inside the gift shop and not to bring them outside. But some people never listen and there were still some tourists who were eating ice-creams outside, only to have them snatched by hungry monkeys! It was quite a funny sight as we watched a little monkey knocking back an ice cream! The Upper Rock nature reserve also gives great views over North Africa. Back in Spain, we also visited Granada and the world famous Alhambra Palace, an impressive reminder of Granada’s history and well worth seeing. The clifftop town of Ronda with its fabulous views from the amazing Puente Nuevo Bridge is also worth a visit. A favourite haunt of writer Ernest Hemingway, actor Orson Welles also spent a year there in his youth. I really enjoyed my Spanish holiday. It was nice and relaxing, so now I’m back, batteries re-charged and ready to get back to work and reality again!