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Showing posts from 2012

A little amusement

I was sent this last week and have watched it a good few times since then. Actually it's pretty much a fact that if you want to laugh, you should watch this: Hope it makes your Monday a little more amusing! Lucky

Sunday Craic

Fact: first BBQ of the year took place today! Lucky

Where's the wine glass

Fact: drinking wine in the UK makes housework more fun! And while unloading the dishwasher I like to play a little game called: "where's the wine-glass!" Lucky

London bus drivers

Are having a laugh - fact! For the third time this week I missed my early bus, and today, despite leaving a few minutes earlier and running to the bus stop, the early bus ignored my frantically flailing arms, indicated himself back into the traffic, and headed to the next stop. Well I thought two could play this game - I ran after the bus, to the next bus stop, where it proceeded to drive off again! I drew the line at two bus stops, and decided to cut my losses. I'm in two minds about going for the early bus tomorrow - I guess it will depend on how many times I hit snooze... But if you see a half-awake body trailing behind a bus, it could be me! Lucky

Lakes & loch's

The largest Lake  in England is Lake Windermere in the English Lake District and the largest lake in Great Britain is Loch Lomond in Scotland. Lucky

Musical or a show?

Did you know: The longest running musical in the West End, and the World, is Les Miserables , which in 2010 celebrated it's 25th anniversary!  While the longest running show in the West End, and again the World, is Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap , which is now in it's 60th year! Lucky

Honest Bob

On this day in 1980 Honest Bob won 57 of the 80 black seats to become Zimbabwe's first black president. He said this: "I wish to assure you that there can never be any return to the state of armed conflict which existed before our commitment to peace and the democratic process of election under the Lancaster House agreement." - Robert Mugabe Wonder if he still feels the same way? Lucky

Spring along the Thames

On a lovely spring day, such as this afternoon - not so much this morning, when it rained during my tennis game - a little wander along the Thames Towpath from Putney to Wandsworth Town just made sense!  According to: www.thames-path.org.uk "The path [from the London Eye] continues past County Hall, with views of the Houses of Parliment over the river, past modern offices at Vauxhall. The path then heads "inland" past the remains of Battersea Power Station then on through the attractive Battersea Park. The path continues from the park past modern apartments towards Wandsworth. There is some more "inland" walking round Wandsworth, then into Wandsworth Park and into Putney, the end of the walk." The path doesn't always run right next to the river, but if you have to deviate onto the road, the rule of thumb is that you are walking pretty much parallel to it!  Enjoy the walk :) Lucky

Curry Friday

Fact: I had no idea how great curries were before I came to the UK! Now I even try something a little different (and add it to my list of 'like' curries! Lucky

Spring has sprung!

Fact: Spring is officially here! How do I know? This is the first daf. in my garden: Lucky

And the award for the highest mountain goes to...

Ben Nevis! Ben Nevis is situated  at the western end of the Grampian Mountains in the Lochaber area of the Scottish Highlands, close to the town of Fort William. The summit is 1,344 metres (4,409 ft) above sea level, and at the tops are the ruins of an observatory, which was continuously staffed between 1883 and 1904.  Ben Nevis comprises mainly igneous rock from the Devonian period - around 400 million years ago. According to the observations carried out at the summit observatory (while it was in use, from 1883–1904) fog was present on the summit for almost 80% of the time between November and January, and 55% of the time in May and June. While the average winter temperature was around −5 °C and the mean monthly temperature for the year was −0.5 °C. Lucky

New presenter for next year's Oscars already announced!

After such a thrilling performance on last night's red carpet, it has been decided that Sacha Baron Cohen will be presenting next year's Oscars! Here he is, in character, giving some insight into what may take place at next year! Lucky Today's fact: I'm fairly certain that Sacha B-C will NOT be presenting next year's awards!

The strength of a baby

When a little cousin of mine was born I was told that babies - when born - are able to hang on to a pole if 'attached' to one. In fact they are rather resilient and cunning little creatures. An abandoned baby soon learns to conserve energy and stop crying, while those with over-doting parents quickly recognise an easy target! So with that in mind, I thought I'd have a look into some of the other baby-facts that you may or may-not have known: According to The Nurse Nut : Your teeth are growing before birth : Even though it takes months after you are born to see teeth , they start growing about six months before you are born. Babies are stronger than oxen : On a pound for pound basis, that is. For their size, babies are quite powerful and strong . Babies always have blue eyes when they are born :  Melanin  and exposure to ultraviolet light are needed to bring out the true colour of babies’ eyes. Until then they all have blue eyes. Just in case you were wonderi

Let there be light!

Today, for the first time this year, Ameba and I played tennis. And it was fantastic - we were outside, on the courts, in T-shirts, the sky was blue and the sun was out - and even warm  (our tennis is coming along too!) Which brings me to today's fact: the sun makes people happier. Fact.  Working it's magic According to howstuffworks.com the following is what happens when the sun shines: One area where humans may not be able to escape the sun's biological effects is on their moods. It all comes down to a complex relationship among sunlight, melatonin and serotonin that we're only just starting to understand. Melatonin is a hormone that controls sleep, and serotonin in a neurotransmitter that is tied to states of wakefulness and being in a "good mood." Serotonin is the chemical targeted by a class of anti-depressants called SSRIs, which keep higher levels of serotonin in the bloodstream to help elevate mood. The web connecting sunlight, melatonin an

Engagements & weddings

Two very good friends of mine are getting married in a month from today. I'll be there for the wedding, but wasn't for the engagement announcement. Actually I wasn't around for the announcement of today's fact either: It was on this day in February 1981 that Prince Charles announced his engagement to Lady Diana Spencer. Badge & Boytjie is this how you guys looked? Hope you kids both have a fantastic hens / bachelors - I cannot wait for the photo's :) Lucky

First published weather report

In keeping with yesterday's first facts, and given how very much the British love to talk about it, I thought today could also be about... the weather! The first ever published weather report was printed in The Times in 1861. Compiled by Robert FitzRoy, a Captain in the Royal Navy and a pioneer meteorologist, who headed up the department that later became the Met Office. The Times, 1 August 1861 Lucky

40 Days, 40 Facts... Beginning with the weather!

Last Lent I attempted, and succeeded at writing 40 posts in 40 days - this sometimes involved leaving a night out early so that I could rush home before midnight, when I would have been lumped with defeat and a pumpkin! This year it will be a bit more taxing, because for some of those days I'll be in the air and others in that remote African country of South Africa, lounging about on a beach. But I shall do my utmost to bring you 40 facts over the 40 days.  Considering that I live in the UK, I thought I'd look for the facts in and around Britain... So what better a way, than to start with the weather! The warmest day in England was in August 2003 in Faversham, Kent: 38.5 ° C The coldest day was in January 1982 in Newport, Shropshire: -26.1 °C The sunniest English month was in July 1911, in Eastbourne, Sussex, with 383.9 hours of sunshine The highest wind speed was recorded at Gwennap Head, Cornwall in December 1979: 118mph The wettest day in England was in July 1955 in Ma