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.

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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!

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!

NAOMI'S AWAY

As some of you know already, I'm heading off to Spain early next week so this will be my last post before I go away. You may have noticed some changes in the appearance of this blog in the past few days. I've been having major template problems with Blogger and the only way I could solve them was to upgrade my template. Unfortunately I've lost my blogroll and quite a lot of other things in the process and am desperately trying to get these back, so if your link isn't there, please bear with me and hopefully things will be back to normal soon.

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

I'll be back posting again in a couple of weeks. See you when I get back!

MEL HAS XFACTOR AS SHARON QUITS

Former Spice Girl Mel B may have the XFactor. It is believed that Simon Cowell is in talks with Mel and is considering her as a possible replacement for Sharon Osbourne who quit her role as an XFactor judge earlier this week. It is rumoured that Sharon left after a row over pay and also disagreements with fellow judge Danni Minogue. However friends revealed that Sharon had simply had enough after four years on the show and wanted to concentrate on her U.S. tv work. Sharon will remain a judge on Simon Cowell’s “America’s Got Talent” show. The new X Factor series is due to return to our screens in September. Fellow judge Louis Walsh described Sharon as his “best friend on the series” and said it wouldn’t be the same without her.

ZARA TOP CELEBRITY HAT WEARER

The Queen's granddaughter Zara Phillips has been named top female celebrity hat wearer of 2008 by Luton's hatmaking and millinery consortium. Style-conscious Zara who is Princess Anne's daughter, beat supermodel Naomi Campbell and her cousin Princess Beatrice to win the coveted title.

One milliner said that although Zara tends to favour fashionable trilby and fedora style hats, she also wears some "fairly extravagant" styles which are fun and fashionable at the same time. Zara shares the top spot with Brad Pitt who was named top male celebrity hat wearer.

LONDON EYE MORE POPULAR THAN TAJ MAHAL

One of London’s most popular tourist attractions, the London Eye welcomed its 30 millionth visitor this week. The London Eye is definitely one of the jewels in London’s crown and has proved immensely popular with tourists since it was first opened in March 2000. With over 3 million visitors going on the Eye every year, the famous landmark now attracts more visitors than either The Taj Mahal or the pyramids at Giza. Visitors can enjoy breathtaking views of the city from the world’s largest ferris wheel, which is situated on the south bank of the Thames. The Eye is popular with many famous and public figures too. The Duke of Edinburgh, U.S. presidential candidate John McCain, Prince Harry and Kate Moss have all visited the famous ferris wheel. Maybe it’s time you paid a visit too. To find out more about this popular tourist attraction, click on the link shown below:-

The London Eye

BRITAIN'S OLDEST MAN CELEBRATES 112TH BIRTHDAY

Britain’s oldest man Henry Allingham celebrated his 112th birthday this week. One of only three U.K. survivors from the 1st World War, Mr Allingham has been awarded several military honours including the British War Medal and France’s highest military honour, the Legion d'honneur. He is also one of the founding members of the RAF and celebrated his birthday by watching a specially organised fly-past of vintage aircraft including a Spitfire and a Hurricane. A VIP lunch was also organised in his honour by the RAF. Mr Allingham remains in good health and lives in a home for blind veterans in Brighton. He puts the secret of his longevity down to cigarettes, whisky and wild women! Good luck to him!

Photo:- Courtesy of Yahoo News

DICKENS DESK AND CHAIR SOLD AT AUCTION

A 19th Century desk and chair used by one of England’s greatest novelists, Charles Dickens has sold for over £400,000 at Christies auction house in London. Charles Dickens is believed to have written his famous novel Great Expectations, whilst seated at the mahogany desk and chair. The famous desk and chair is now on its way to Ireland, after being snapped up by an Irish collector.

SMARTIES CELEBRATE 70TH BIRTHDAY

I couldn’t believe it when I heard that Smarties were celebrating their 70th birthday this week. Like many little Britons, I grew up eating Smarties, the popular brightly coloured sweets with chocolate in the middle. To this day, I still eat them occasionally, a welcome reminder of the happy, carefree days of childhood. The sweets are as good today as they have always been.

Smarties are one of Britain’s most popular sweets, with nearly 17,000 being eaten every minute. Wow! The sweets are very versatile too and make good, brightly coloured cake decorations. Perfect for any occasion! First introduced in the 1930’s, Smarties are as popular now as they’ve always been. They even have their own website. Click on the link below to find out more!

www.smarties.co.uk

CREDITCARDSPECIALIST.COM – FOR THE BEST CARD DEALS YOU CAN TRUST

The current credit crunch has done nothing to diminish the British love affair with credit cards. Britain is still known as the credit capital of Europe. Many Britons including myself can’t imagine life without a credit card. With the current economic climate, it is more important than ever to find the best balance transfer offers and the best credit card deals. 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.

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.

However there are so many different credit card deals and balance transfer offers out there, it’s always important to compare the various different cards and deals available. CreditCardSpecialist.com is the ideal site to do this and offers some of the best credit card and balance transfer deals on the internet, allowing you to compare credit card suppliers quickly and easily online, to find the best deals to suit your requirements.

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

BREAKDANCER WINS BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT

Congratulations to George Sampson, this year’s winner of Britain’s Got Talent. 14 year old George danced his way to victory in Britain’s Got Talent last night, beating nine other acts to take home the coveted £100,000 prize and a chance to perform in front of Prince Charles at the Royal Variety Performance. As George’s mother Lesley is unable to afford professional lessons for him, the young dancer travels to Manchester every week, performing on the streets to earn money to pay for his dance tuition. He had earlier pledged to pay off his Mum’s mortgage if he won the talent show.

It was George’s second crack at winning Britain’s Got Talent. The teenage dancer who failed to make the semi finals of last year’s show, was undeterred and came back to the show again this year more determined than ever to win. Young George wowed the judges and the public with his sensational high energy breakdancing routine, performed to a funky, upbeat version of Singing in the Rain. Judge Simon Cowell described him as, “the dance version of Rocky” and said he deserved everything as he had battled his way to the top. Amanda described him as, “inspirational”, whilst Piers said he loved his confidence. It was certainly a refreshing change to see a dance act winning Britain’s Got Talent, instead of the usual singing acts. A tearful George couldn’t believe that the public had voted him the winner and was speechless after hearing the result. To see George in action, click on the player shown below:-

WILLIAM HOTTEST YOUNG ROYAL

Prince William has been voted the world’s “hottest young Royal” in a list compiled by Forbes.com. As heir to the throne, William is certainly one of the world’s hottest Royals and also one of the most eligible too. Forbes magazine described him as a man of “international intrigue”. That’s certainly an interesting description! It makes William sound more like a spy than a member of the British Royal family!

Prince William’s brother Prince Harry came in at No. 2, with Princess Anne’s daughter Zara Philips at No. 3 and Fergie’s daughter Princess Beatrice at No. 4. Princess Caroline of Monaco’s daughter Charlotte Casiraghi was the only foreign Royal to make the top five, coming in at No. 5. The poll only considered unmarried members of British and foreign royal families under the age of 35, taking into account their wealth and media popularity.

JK ROWLING WRITES POTTER PREQUEL

Good news for Harry Potter fans everywhere! It seems it’s not the end for the boy wizard’s adventures after all. JK Rowling has written an 800 word prequel to the Harry Potter series as part of a charity initiative, “What’s Your Story”, by Waterstones booksellers. The handwritten story written on A5 card and signed by the author is one of 13 story cards by various authors including Doris Lessing, Nick Hornby and Margaret Atwood, which will be auctioned at Sotheby’s on 10th June to raise money for Dyslexia Action and English Pen, a charity which promotes understanding through literature. A Waterstone’s executive described each story as a “small masterpiece”.

The Harry Potter story card which tells the story of the young boy wizard’s father James and his friend Sirius Black as youngsters is expected to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity when it is auctioned. A spokesman for Sotheby’s stated that due to the immense popularity of JK Rowling’s books, there was no telling how high the bidding would go. Apparently Harry himself does not feature in the story, although the actual plot is a closely guarded secret. JK Rowling has said her latest Potter offering, which comes almost a year after the last Harry Potter book in the series, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” hit our shelves, will not be developed further. JK Rowling who has earned a £560million fortune from the Potter books hinted that she may write another Potter story one day but not for at least a decade. Good news for all Harry Potter fans out there including myself!

ENGLAND'S LONGEST MARRIED COUPLE CELEBRATE 80TH ANNIVERSARY

A couple believed to be the longest married in England have just celebrated their 80th wedding anniversary, gaining themselves a place in the Guinness world record books. Wow! Frank and Anita Milford celebrated their oak anniversary at a party with family at friends, which was held at their care home in Devon. They also received a letter from Her Majesty the Queen congratulating them on reaching their special milestone anniversary. In today’s “throwaway” society with its high divorce rates where so many marriages don’t stay the course, it makes a refreshing change to see a devoted couple like this who have been happily married for such a long time and stuck together through thick and thin!

Devoted couple Frank 100 and Anita 99 married in 1928, the year Alexander Fleming discovered Penicillin. The couple have two children, both in their seventies, five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. They are justly proud of what they have achieved in their lifetime and have seen many changes during the many years of their marriage. The couple survived the tough war years and even a Luftwaffe bomb dropping on their house didn’t deter them. Like a lot of other people of their generation, they worked hard on low wages to support their family. Retired dockworker Frank believes that the problem with today’s young couples is that “they want it all too fast”. You can say that again! Anita believes that the reason why so many of today’s couples don’t last is that they don’t make time for one another. She believes it’s important to make time for a little romance every day. Sound advice and it’s obviously worked very well for Frank and Anita! The devoted couple are living proof that romance never dies. Married the year that pound notes were invented, their happiness is priceless. They are an inspiration to all of us. The couple say the secret of their success is they always have a kiss and cuddle at night, enjoy trips to the bingo and good plain English food! Congratulations to them both!