Sorry Folks there has been an upload problem over the last few days so here is catch up.
8th February 2010
Last Sunday would have been the 189th birthday of Charles Dickens, notably one of the most read British writers of all times He was born in Portsmouth in 1812, his Father worked in the pay master's office for the Navy in Portsmouth docks.
Charles Dickens
His good fortune of being sent to school at the age of nine was short-lived because his father, inspiration for the character of Mr Micawber in 'David Copperfield', was imprisoned for bad debt. The entire family, apart from Charles, were sent to Marshalsea ( a prison on the south bank of the Thames ). Charles was sent to work in Warren's blacking factory and endured appalling conditions as well as loneliness and despair. After three years he was returned to school, but the experience was never forgotten and became fictionalised in two of his better-known novels 'David Copperfield' and 'Great Expectations'.
Like many other writers he started his career in journalism. In April 1836, he married Catherine Hogarth. Within the same month came the publication of the highly successful 'Pickwick Papers', and from that point on there was no looking back for Dickens.
On Sunday l heard his Great Great Great Grandaughter Lucinda Hawksley being interviewed on the BBC. It got me thinking about the oldest relative that l could remember, this being my Great Grandmother who lived to almost 90 and died when l was a small boy. I do remember going to stay with her. Her house had no electricity, she had gas lighting and we would carry candles upstairs to bed at night. She cooked on an open kitchen range and also has a paraffin fuelled oven. Hot water was provided by the range. She also had an outside wash house where my Mother told me that after she was widowed in the First World War she would take in laundry to pay the bills.
Looking back she must have been born around the time that Dickens died, this puts into prospective the hard life that she had and relates to some of the scenes in Dickens's stories.
Charles Dickens wrote a book that was not published during his lifetime. The Life of Our Lord, this was written for His Children During the Years 1846 to 1849. It was eventually published in 1934, sixty-four years after Dickens's death.
Just before he died Charles Dickens wrote in his will that he wanted to be remembered for his work alone. No plaques, no statues, "no monument memorial or testimonial whatever" were to be allowed to commemorate the life of one of Britain's greatest authors. To this day there is no statue to Dickens in England.
The only full-sized statue of Dickens in the world is located in Clark Park, West Philadelphia.
Unfortunately, Frank Elwell, the sculptor who designed and cast the beautiful grouping of Dickens and Little Nell was not aware of this restrictive clause in Dickens's will, thus the statue came into being without the blessing of the Dickens estate and heirs.
The Statue was commissioned for the Chicago World Fair in 1894, after the fair was over it was decided that the Statue be shipped to England as a gift from the American people. However when the head of the Dickens family discovered that this statue had been made he became incensed that his Father's wishes had been broken, he returned it to America. On its return to America, the statue found its way to Philadelphia.
Now, almost 140 years after his death, Dickens' final request has sparked an impassioned debate among his most ardent fans – and his family are suggesting his dying wish be laid to rest. Seeking an appropriate means of marking the 200th anniversary of his birth, several of Dickens' descendants have come out in support of a commemorative statue at Eastgate House, Rochester, Kent, a building that appears in many of his novels, including The Pickwick Papers.
6th February 2010
I though that bizarre things only happened in Key West. Apparently not so, New Zealand is high on the agenda these days. A student from New Zealand has auctioned her virginity to a stranger for almost £20,000 to help fund her university tuition fees.
The 19-year-old New Zealand woman offered her virginity to the highest bidder in an online auction on the www.ineed.co.nz website after she found herself desperate for money. The student, who called herself "Unigirl", said that she was delighted with the outcome and thanked auction participants who had bid more than she expected. Perhaps there is nothing left to sell in Key West.
Seaford Head
Look closely and you will see a Martello Tower
Seaford, a sleepy seaside resort here in Sussex had a rude awakening this week when blood dripped into an architect's office from a flat (apartment) above. The body of a local man was later discovered, the forensic experts were still there four days later. Detectives have now named the prime suspect and have issued an all ports warning to prevent him from leaving the country and warned people not to approach him.
An unpleasant pheasant is terrorising a sleepy Yorkshire village. For more than a month the fearless bird has harassed residents and local dogs, and chased prams and cars. It lies in wait for children to get off the school bus, before chasing them screaming to the village green.
Sonia Hall was terrorised by the bird while walking with her two-and-a-half-year-old grandson Jacob, the pheasant flew at her legs and pecked until it drew blood. Luckily, the 60-year-old retired hotelier was rescued by a passing postman.
Now some news for my animal loving friend in Flickerdale. Currently, animal sex is not itself illegal in the Netherlands as long, as it could be proven the animals were not injured - a situation rectified by the legislation approved on Tuesday by the upper house of the Dutch parliament. The new law bans human sex with animals, including in private situations where the animals are not injured, and prohibits the production or distribution of animal pornography.
4th February 2010
London has reclaimed the crown for selling the world's most expensive art work from New York. A staggering new record for a Giacometti sculpture Bidding for Giacometti's L'homme qui marche I began at £12 million and soared in eight minutes of frantic bidding between around 10 would-be owners to £65 million ($104 million).
A farmer who secretly built a castle and lived in it for four years while it was concealed behind bales of straw has lost a High Court bid to save it from being demolished.
A judge ruled Robert Fidler, 61, who took two years to build his dream home with ramparts and cannon, was not entitled to benefit from his deception of the local planning authority.
He and his wife Linda, 40, and son Harry, nine, moved into the castle when it was complete in 2002. For four years they kept it hidden from the town council behind walls made of straw bales and tarpaulin. Mr Fidler eventually took away the bales in May 2006, thinking by then his new home had become immune from planning enforcement controls as it was four years since the building works had been completed.
But the council issued an enforcement notice in March 2007 requiring that it be demolished on the grounds that the building had been erected without planning permission.
A young woman was asked to show proof of her age when she was shopping at Tesco's this week because she looked under the age of 21. Can you believe that she was not even buying alcohol, but a piece of cheese and onion quiche off the deli counter.
Tesco have apologised and said there was no reason why she was asked to prove her age when buying quiche, either over the deli counter or the pre-boxed variety. A spokesman said: ''We're at a loss to say what happened here. We couldn't find the staff member who asked for the ID.
Where did he get that hat
His eminence The Pope is at it again, this time he is attacking the UK's Equality Bill, He is facing a backlash after urging Catholic bishops in England and Wales to fight the UK's Equality Bill with "missionary zeal".
Pope Benedict XVI said the bill - which could end the right of the Church to ban gay people from senior positions - "violates natural law". The Pope will this year make the first papal visit to the UK since 1982.
Japanese boffins, always hungry for a new invention, have invented a smoke alarm for deaf people that smells of sushi. The device sprays out a synthesised version of the wasabi and in tests the odour woke volunteers up in two-and-a-half minutes..
This definitely could be a life saver – unless you've got blocked nose.
1st February 2010
Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans History Month takes place every year in February. It celebrates the lives and achievements of the LGBT community. This year for the first time the pre-launch day took place in the British Museum. LGBT History Month is an opportunity for everyone to learn more about the histories of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Britain and Northern Ireland. In the past, the silencing of LGBT people was often reinforced by legislation. The most recent example was Section 28, passed in 1988 and repealed in 2003, which was intended to restrict debate on homosexuality, particularly in schools.
Harry picks himself up from the fall that nearly lost his children's charity £30,000
Prince Harry treated spectators to what could only be described as a right royal strop. Prince Harry demanded that his mount make a fast turn, but the animal's legs gave way and it dumped his highness onto the Barbados dirt.
Unhurt he jumped up, only to fling his mallet to the floor and gesticulate wildly at the fund-raising match for his children's charity. The fall, he thought, had cost his charity a £30,000 cheque. A mystery businessman offered the royal the five figure donation if he stayed in the saddle. But the wager was honoured by the individual, described as a "star" by the Prince, who said that the horse and not the rider was at fault.
Last month The United States lifted a 23-year ban on visitors infected with the HIV visiting the country. The ban was imposed in 1987 amid fears that HIV/Aids could be spread by sharing lavatories or even coughing. Waivers were offered to some of those infected, including would-be immigrants who were in heterosexual marriages, but not gay couples. Many HIV-positive travellers simply opted not to declare their HIV status to US Customs.
The United States — home to an estimated 1.1 million HIV-positive people — was one of only a dozen countries that barred entry to HIV-positive visitors.
If you are visiting London this month, then pop along to Kings Road Gallery in Chelsea, to see the cheese sculptures, the work of cheese-lover Prudence Staite, who has a huge appetite for turning everyday food into stunning works of art.
For her latest mouth-watering artwork Ms Staite turned to LowLow mature cheese, which is apparently ideal for sculpting. Here we have "Low-bama" himself - How cheesy is that.
30th January 2010
A Tesco store this week banned shoppers from wearing pyjamas, night-gowns and slippers.
And mum-of-two Elaine Carmody, 24, became one of the first casualties of the ban. She said: "I walked in with my trolley and the security guard came over and told me to leave.
"I've got lovely pairs of pyjamas, with bears and penguins on them. I've worn my best ones today, just so I look tidy. A notice at the store entrance in St Mellons, Cardiff, said: "To avoid causing offence or embarrassment to others we ask that our customers are appropriately dressed when visiting our store and no nightwear is permitted)."
Somehow they seem to have forgot that in a 2007 ad campaign its own advertisement features Martin Clunes buying milk in a pair of jim jams. Mr Clunes, who stars in Men Behaving Badly, is seen rushing into a Tesco in striped pyjamas to do a quick bit of shopping before heading off on a camping trip.
January is the time to stock up with sugar and Seville oranges and get to work making marmalade for the coming year, although manmade can be made with any citrus fruit it is the Seville orange that produces the best results, thus called because it was originally imported from Seville in Spain; it is higher in pectin than sweet oranges, and therefore gives a good set. Marmalade.
Marmalade made then why not enter it into "The World's Original Marmalade Festival", which is held on 14th February up in Cumbria in the north of England, where top producers and home cooks from around the world compete for The World's Best Marmalade title and help to raise money for Hospice at Home.
The judging is carefully monitored by The Cumbria-Cumberland Federation of Women's Institutes, my Mother the "Dowager Duchess" is a member of this industrious Federation as was my Grand Mother.
There are lots of categories to choose from to suit your style of marmalade making. For home cooks the categories are: Seville Orange Marmalade; Romantic Marmalade); Citrus Marmalade; Military Marmalade, for home cooks with family in the Armed Forces in aid of Help for Heroes; Children's Marmalade, made by anyone under the age of 16); Dark Chunky Marmalade; Merry Marmalade, marmalade with alcohol; Man-Made Marmalade, for guys who make their own; and Clergy Marmalade, for ministers, rabbis, monks and anyone working with a religious group. So there is a category for everyone.
Gay rugby player Gareth Thomas hosted a coming out party last night in central London to thank friends for their support. The player and a number of high-profile gay figures partied at Movida, best known as a celebrity hang-out. He was accompanied by team-mates and other rugby players. Gareth had invited another high-profile gay sportsman – who is still in the closet – to the event but the star declined.
28th January 2010
Yesterday was the 100th anniversary of Thomas Crapper's death. Although it was long thought that Crapper invented the flushing toilet he did contribute to its use and popularity. He in fact invent the ballcock which is a mechanism used to fill water tanks. The toilet was actually invented by John Harrington in 1596
Interestingly enough, the word crap derived from Dutch(krappe) and was used well before the existence of Thomas Crapper. In the 1880's Prince Edward purchased plumbing from Crapper's company thus giving Crapper a Royal Warrant – which gave him the right to advertise as a supplier to royalty. Could this be the original Royal Flush.
How would you feel if you fell against a $80 million Picasso painting giving it a six inch tear. That is what happened when an adult education student fell against Picasso's painting The Actor at the Met. The museum said the tear did not occur "in a focal point of the composition" and could be repaired in time for an April display of 250 works of art by the painter at the Met.
Five disabled Florida sea turtles now have a new home here in the UK. They are to receive intensive long-term care at the purpose built turtle sanctuary in Weymouth Sea Life Park Aquarium. All 5 turtles, whose injuries range from paraplegia to shell damage, have been long-term residents of The Turtle Hospital in Florida, but due to an over whelming amount of new patients over the past few weeks, the 5 turtles were in need of a new home.
It would seem that the British Public attitude to homosexuality is becoming more liberal, according to a government-backed survey. Some 36% thought homosexual acts were "always" or "mostly" wrong, down from 62% when the British Social Attitudes survey was first carried out, in 1983.
The survey - which asks people about their attitudes to politics and social matters - suggests views on cannabis have hardened over the past decade, with 58% of people saying it should be illegal, compared with 46% in 2001.
On cohabitation, 45% said it made "no difference" whether a child's parents were married or just living together - up from 38% in 1998.
Tesco, one of the UK's largest retailers is asking it's staff about their sexual orientation, to the objection by some of it's staff. The retailer has added the question to its annual Viewpoint survey, which quizzes staff on everything from whether they have the right equipment for their job, to how good they think their prospects for promotion are.
While it is common to ask for personal information such as age and ethnic origin, asking staff their sexuality is unusual. However, Tesco said that in five years time it may well be common practice.
News from our capital. London's first lesbian, gay bisexual and trans tourist information office has moved to Soho, the heart of the capital's gay scene. It has a new team of volunteers, along with laptops for tourists to browse the Internet for free.
Back here in Sussex Brighton and Hove council are aiming to attract American Gay visitors to the south coast. The city is thought of as the top LGBT tourist destination in the UK and local tourism bosses are keen to hold onto this position and attract more overseas visitors.
St James Street Brighton During Pride
The council will team up with Visit Britain to see the city featured in US advertising and a special website. According to the council, research on the gay travel market in America shows gays and lesbians are keen to visit the UK, with many hoping for a two-part break in Brighton and nearby London.
We hear that Barack Obama was called for jury duty recently, however dealing with issues surrounding Afghanistan, the economic crisis, Haiti and the day-to-day running of the country were deemed enough to prevent the U.S. president from reporting for service.
The longest place name in the USA is Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg in Massachusetts, with 45 letters (49 if you include 'Lake'). Earlier this year, local officials were forced to change some road signs, after they discovered they'd spelled it as Lake Chargoggagoggmanchaoggagoggchaubunaguhgamaugg instead of the correct Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg. How embarrassing.
It means "Fishing Place at the Boundaries -- Neutral Meeting Grounds".
Home Again - Home Again - Jiggerty Jog.
After almost three weeks of Sh---y weather the drive down the Keys back to Miami Airport was just stunning, beautiful weather, wall to wall sunshine. In over twenty years of January's in Key West this year was just the worst. However as always we had a great time. Thank you all that always make us so welcome on your Island Paradise.
Just a quick word about airport security, the trip out from London was delayed by over two hours as every bag boarding the plane was opened and hand searched. The return journey from Miami was over in about five minutes, almost no queues and no boarding checks were made. It does seem like the threats are planes flying into the US and not departing flights. Just my pennies worth.!
Arrival back home, the weather was sleety with snow expected, but since then it has been around 8 degrees (46 f). Well infact warmer than some of the nights in Key West.
You might be interested in the comparison of gas/petrol prices between Florida and Sussex.
We hired a car in Key West to drive back to Miami, in all we did somewhere in the region of 180 miles, topping up the car in Miami cost is a fraction over $ 22 (£13.75). Our return trip from home to Heathrow airport was also in the region of 180 miles and the cost of refuelling was $66 (£ 41.59) The cars were of a similar size, so guess the cost of motoring in the UK is about 3 times higher.
This prompted me to look at the cost of buying a car in both countries. The conclusion is a dollar for GB pound equivalent. A basic Ford Focus in the States starts at $16,290 (£10,181) in the UK $ 28,590 (£ 17,870).
Although l guess the insurance costs are higher, someone please let me know how much it cost for a pretty standard car insurance policy in Florida. duchess@gaykeywest.co.uk. Thanks.
It was sad to leave the boys behind at KWEST, they were a nice bunch of guys this trip and pretty too, on top of that there were intelligence and had people skills. It was also great to see Tom Luna behind the bar, sorry Tom about the slip up on the last night. Good also to see Billy back in KWEST. Enough bar talk.
How sad this week that the woman convicted of murdering her brain-damaged son by injecting him with a lethal dose of heroin has been sent to prison. Also this week another Mother here in Sussex was cleared of murder after she helped her disabled daughter end her life. The daughter tried to take an overdose and her Mother after realising what had happened administered some more drugs. A year before her death, the daughter had tried unsuccessfully to kill herself, the jury was told. She also said she wanted to attend the Dignitas euthanasia clinic in Switzerland and in April 2008 signed a 'living will' stating she must not be resuscitated.
The Jury found that the Mother could not be found guilty of her murder as it was unsure if the drugs the daughter took herself of those administer by the Mum had caused her death.
What would you do in the circumstance when you love someone so dearly.
How does an Essex girl turn on the light after sex.
Opens the car door.
18th January 2010
Just when we thought that we were settling into a few nice days before we head back "Across The Pond" Whoosh the rains came down and another sunless day. In over twenty years of coming to Key West we have never, ever had weather quite like this, not forgetting that we were even here for Hurricane Wilma.
Back Home we hear that the snow is now thawing, so hopefully by the time we land back in the UK it will be gone.
I was shocked today to discover that in most of the States in the US you can be fired for being gay. Hopefully this may change soon. Last week, a Senate panel passed a bill to ensure that all Americans receive equal treatment in the workplace. The bill has yet to go before the full Senate, but Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle has told gay-rights advocates that he is committed to bringing it before his colleagues before this session ends. We are so lucky in the UK, the world of the gay man and woman has changed so much in the last few years.
Things are no better for gay in China it would seem, China's first gay pageant has been shut down by police for apparently not following the correct procedures.
The event was scheduled to begin today in Beijing, with eight contestants fighting for the chance to represent their country at the Mr Gay World competition later this year.
Especially for the Royal Watchers amongst you. Prince William is currently representing the Queen on his first official royal tour. The 27-year-old prince's receding hairline surprised members of the local media covering the visit. One local journalist was heard to say Oh my God, he looks really bald", "but he is still handsome as hell,' added a colleague. To add injury to insult, the Prince then got caught in the goolies by a rugby ball. while playing with a group of boys from Pakuranga Rugby Club.
16th January 2010
After days of huddling in the cold waiting for the sunshine and action everything seemed to happen together yesterday. Bingo the sun came out at last, almost two and half weeks we have waited for that to happen. We maxed in the sun for as long as possible before heading back for a quick shower then out again for the Old Island Restoration Foundation's House tours. If you have never done this then add it to your list of ToDo's.
Normally about five or six Key West residents agree to open their homes to the public. Sometime they are of particular historical interest as was The Seafoam Building on Fleming Street last year. At other times it is old houses that have been lovingly restored and very often it is houses that are on the market for sale.
Last night two very interesting houses were on the tour. 720 Eisenhower Dr. The home of Dr, Claude a local dentist. This old house was build for a local doctor and has actually been moved a number of times in it's existence. The final time we witnessed about five years ago. The house has been wonderfully restored. But in the words of one visitor that we followed around yesterday afternoon, it is very much a man's house.
1100 Flagler Ave. Was another hidden surprise, a concrete block house build by the Toppino family in 1956, it has been wonderfully restored, the original terrazzo floors are an amazing feat of workmanship, not a crack in sight after all those years.
Back from the house tours to Island House catching the birthday party of Dr Scott Hall. The management of Island house had laid on a little surprise for Scott's birthday.
13th January 2010
One of the most distressing things that this cold weather has brought is the effects that it is having on wild and marine life. Walking around Key West Bight this afternoon it was sad to see the amount of colourful fish either dead or dying in the water.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute has received calls from the Lower Keys through Key Largo, affecting all manner of fish. "Warm-water fish like snook are more susceptible to the cold," said institute spokeswoman Carli Segelson. "Some are killed outright when the temperature drops; others die after extended exposure."
Meanwhile back home in Sussex the snow fell once again last night on what is considered to be the chilliest day of the year. January 13 is St Hilary's Day and, according to folklore, is reputed to be the coldest day of the year.
Jairo Miguel Sánchez Alonso at only sixteen plans to take on six bulls in one afternoon in the bull ring. The prospect of a teenager facing six muscle-bound beasts has once more revived the debate on child matadors, even within the bullfighting world. What chance would he stand of escaping unscathed from KWEST dressed like that.
Gareth Thomas, the Welsh rugby star who came out at the end of last year, has said he hopes to find a boyfriend. Thomas shocked the sports world when he came out in December in an interview with the Daily Mail. In his first gay interview, with Attitude magazine, he revealed that despite looking like "a tough f**ker", he had a lot of love to give.
Thomas said: "I know a lot of gay men are looking for love. I've done this as well in the hope that I can find somebody
11th January 2010
I always say this, but anytime you work around Key West you always see something that you have not seen before.
Only this morning we were talking to a local who was telling us that last night he had an iguana sitting on the side of his pool with it's tail in the water, while quite immobile it was obviously drawing heat from the warm water of his pool
In over twenty years we have never seen an iguana at close quarters. Once we saw one crossing the road from a distance. Then law and behold we were walking the streets this evening and came across this beauty again quite immobile.
Knowing little about these creatures on investigation l discovered that Iguanas become immobilised when the temperature drops into the 40s, as it did last night.. While they usually revive when the temperature rises, they could die if it remains below 40 degrees for three days or more.
I did not realise that they were not natives of Florida but mostly imported as pets. I also did not realise that they were classed as pests. And that it is legal to kill iguanas, but it must be done humanely. Among the options is decapitation. You live and learn every day.
We also spotted this rather large palm flower forming at the library on Fleming Street.
It is always nice to catch up with old friends and gossip the night away. However we were quite surprised to discover that Our Royalist friend from Maine had a secret desire to become a
"Key West Wrecker"
Who Knew what a Dark Duck you really are !
10th January 2010
Almost 500 hundred riders braved the elements to cycle 165 miles from Miami to Key West this weekend to raise awareness for AIDS and HIV. The ride took place over two days arriving in Key West Saturday afternoon. The riders must be applauded for riding in what must surely be the worst weather conditions in the six years since the ride started.
In the first year 200 riders took part, raising to almost 500 this year, in total more than $1.8 million has been given to Charity since the ride started. Last year almost $600,000 was raised and it is hoped that another $500,000 will go to charity.
Bodium Castle in Sussex last Week
Back home parts of Sussex and Kent are bracing themselves for more snow, with a further 8 inches expected in some parts. It is reported that some Supermarkets have experienced panic buying of essential food supplies. Salt supplies for the roads is running very short, in some areas it is only the main roads that are open to traffic as minor roads stay covered in snow and ice.
Making the most of it: Thousands do battle in a giant snowball fight in Hyde Park, Leeds, organised by members of a Facebook group called The World's Biggest Snowball Fight
Sometimes Rules and Regulations, and health and safety go a little bit too far in the UK.
The city council in Glasgow has ordered that children under the age of 16 must be in sight of their parents anywhere on licensed premises — even if that means being accompanied to the lavatory.
The regulations have the potential for family embarrassment when, for example, a 15-year-old boy eating at a cafe with his mother has to use the ladies' loos. Restaurateurs say it is absurd to extend to lavatories the requirement for children to be in sight of an adult at all times, but believe they have no alternative if they are to avoid the risk of punishment. After all it is more that
"YourJobsWorth"
7th January 2010
OK this is now getting beyond a joke, over a week in the Sunshine State and we have still not plucked up courage to strip off and sunbathe. There is of course one consolation, it is ten times worst back in Sunny Sussex. Snow has caused chaos across Sussex.
Brighton Seafront this Morning
Buses have ground to a halt, schools across the region have been closed and major problems at Gatwick airport yesterday. Thank goodness for small mercies after all we are in Tropical Key West.
A gay organisation in Canada has secured government grant money to help fund a sculpture of a nude hockey player that will greet visitors next month at the 2010 Winter Olympics in and around Vancouver. "Slapshotolus," a piece by Canadian artist Edmund Haakonson, will grace the entrance of PRIDE House, a gay meeting place at the Olympic games. PRIDE House is actually located in Whistler, 76 miles north west of Vancouver. Whilstler will host some key events, including downhill skiing, the sled sports and cross-country skiing.
Talking of art, you cannot walk around Key West without coming face to face with art, we came across this piece on Southard Street this week, some greenery had been stripped back and this piece revealed itself.
Another location worth a detour is this sand pit on White street, where a local artist creates some wonderful sand structures.
No strangers to sand structures we have had a couple of magnificent exhibitions in Brighton over the last few years.
Elvis Presley may have left the building nearly 33 years ago, but a raft of new events and books released this week to mark what would have been his 75th birthday ensure The King lives on.
His Birthday tomorrow, January 8, will be marked with a cake-cutting ceremony at his Graceland home, a new exhibit of his costumes, movie marathons, a Facebook application, a cruise later in the year, and a new Jailhouse Rock doll in the Barbie collection.
Whilst we moan about the cold the Chinese make the most of it. The annual International Ice and Snow Festival is takingplace in Harbin, northern China, featuring giant luminous ice sculptures and a fireworks display.
Visitors are free to walk around and inside enormous replicas of classical palaces, fairytale castles and Asian temples, all made entirely out of ice and illuminated by lights encased within their structures.
Even the Cows are Wrapped up in Key West
4th January 2010
What can we say about the weather, l don't think that in all our visits to Key West we can remember such a prolonged cold spell. We did manage to cycle around the island today but waited until after midday when the sun was at its best. Not the usual early morning ride that we are used too.
"Unconditional Surrender" - "The Kiss"
On our recent trip to Sarasota we were please to see a link to Key West. The artist Seward Johnson has one of his gigantic sculptures bang in the middle of the Waterfront.
Unconditional Surrender or more commonly know as "The Kiss" is Seaward Johnson's interpretation of one of the most famous photographs ever published by Life Magazine, "V"J day in Times Square" was shot in Times Square on August 14, 1945 by Alfred Eisenstaedt who was in the square taking candid's when he spotted a sailor "running along the street grabbing any and every girl in sight. Then suddenly he saw something white being grabbed. Eisenstaedt turned around and clicked the moment the sailor kissed the nurse.
This is the second time that the 25foot high statue has visited the city. It was first on show in 2005 before it headed to San Diego, California. It has now returned to Bay front Park in Sarasota, but not with some controversy. Members of the public art committee say the "Unconditional Surrender" sculpture is "ornamental and decorative," which disqualifies it from being public art.
More Public Art - Bayfront Sarasota
Committee members also cited rules against accepting reproductions as public art (there are at least three versions of the sculpture, including one on public display in San Diego); and suggested that a hurricane might topple it because of corrosion and a flimsy base.
Judging by the number of people viewing the statue during our visit, we would say it very much public art.
Visitor to Key West can experience Seward Johnson's art as they arrive at the airport and also around "The Custom House Museum"
I did not realise when l shot this photo that l had captured a "Blue Moon".
A blue moon occurs when we see a second Full Moon happening in a calendar month. This happened on New Year's Eve for the first time in two decades the last time this happened was in 1990. The double full moon phenomenon happens on average every 2.7 years, with the most recent in May 2007, and the next set for August 2012. Hence the saying "Once in a Blue Moon".
Can you believe that Barrack Obama has been in office for eleven months, it really seems like yesterday that we watched the Inauguration on TV here in KW. During his term it appears that he has installed a basketball court on the south lawn at the White House, however his passion for basketball seems to be fading in a preference for golf, Since taking office at the start of the year he has sneaked out of the White House at least once a fortnight for a round of golf with junior aides and long-time friends, with no press allowed. Secret agents check the balls for explosives and aides play ahead to clear the fairway so no one impedes a presidential swing.
In contrast to his 25 games of golf he has only hit the basketball court seven times.
According to The Wall Street Journal, which sniffed out his sporting secret, Obama is a mediocre player and has a cramped swing that goes to the left. He may be admired for his intellect, eloquence and athleticism but his golf handicap hovers in the mid-twenties — weak to average.
Not really much of a secret as compared to little secrets of former Presidents. from George Washington, who wore dentures made from hippopotamus teeth, to John F Kennedy, who had dilute cocaine injected into his back five times a day during the Bay of Pigs debacle.
We were not in Key West for the New Year celebrations, but were disappoint to see that Sushi had been banished from the front page of the Citizen in favour of some Wench from Schooner Wharf. Not only that but even Conch Colour had also given pride of place to the same Impostor.
1st January 2010
Happy New Year
Sure as hell this Island must be cursed. We had not been on the rock for an hour before we get accosted on Duval by Goddess, this is the second trip in a row that she has been the first local we have met on arrival. Not only that but she was the last local we saw as we departed from our October trip as we pulled our baggage along the street to make our exit.
Getting here has not been with out it's trials and tribulations. We flew two days after that nutter tried to blow up the Northwest Transatlantic flight. You can imagine the turmoil at Gatwick with all the extra security. Everybody boarding the plane had their had baggage thoroughly searched and had a body search. It was a good 2 ½ hours late that we finally took to the skies.
Our destination was not Key West but Sarasota, a favourite haunt of ours from years back before we got so hooked on Key West. The people were very welcoming, but alas the weather was not, in fact we really needed our UK winter wear for some of the time.
New Year's eve in Sarasota is growing in popularity, the crowd in the town centre last night was estimated at 30,000, l know about half that of Key West, but Sarasota does not have Sushi to decent on 2010. Instead they have a rather lifeless lit up Pineapple dangling amidst a fun fair that descended on the town. Some of the rides looked pretty hairy and not the sort of thing that two delicate English Belles would partake of. In favour of Sarasota l have got to say that the street food looked much more appetising and hygienic than other street fairs that we have seen.
The security leaving Tampa airport this morning was no where as tough as that experienced in London. We left grey skies and pouring rain to arrive in the barmy tropical world that is Key West - We are home. At least for a while.
It does seem that the weather has followed us down as no sooner had we arrived than the heavens opened.
25th December 2009
Despite the ice and snow to start our Christmas Celebrations we headed for London to see some of the Christmas lights and take in a show.
From Victoria Station you skirt around the outer walls of Buckingham Palace on your way to Hyde Park. On entering the park at this time of year you are welcomed by a German market and fairground. The ice rink this year needed no further refrigeration as Mother Nature was helping to keep it in tip top shape. You are surrounded by stalls barbecuing Bratwurst (German sausage) on open charcoal grills, mulled wine and hot chocolate, all this to keep the Mum's and Dad warm whilst the kids take to the sky on some gravity drop ride. Take your choice, modern Ferris wheel of gigantic proportions, visit Santa, rides of all descriptions and more Bratwurst.
Oxford Street is the shopping mecca of the West End.
Selfridge's Entrance
A visit to Selfridges celebrating their centenary this year has to be done. Their Christmas windows are a must and this years theme is pantomime, something that Americans don't really understand. The principle boy is always a girl, good and bad fairies flit around the stage casting their spells and then you get some old drag queen dressed as the dame. Get the picture, well you may not, but it is camp and always full of innuendo that the parents love and the children adore for other reasons.
Images from Selfridges Windows
As evening falls we head down to Covent Garden to enjoy the street entertainers before heading off to the Lyceum Theatre to the Musical adaptation of Disney's "The Lion King".
It has now been playing in London for ten years but seems to have lost non of the magic.
Set against the majesty of the Serengeti Plains and to the evocative rhythms of Africa, the scene is set as a magnificent elephant and other spectacular animals progress through the auditorium, this is the start of a spectacular visual experience that transports audiences to a dazzling world that explodes with glorious colours, stunning effects and enchanting music. At its heart is the powerful and moving story of Simba – the epic adventure of his journey from wide-eyed cub to his destined role as King of the Pridelands.
Happy Christmas to you All
24th December 2009
In one of the coldest weeks of the year, our future King took to the streets, not to wave to the crowds, but to sleep rough on the streets of London with some of the homeless.
When William was a small boy he was taken by Diana to meet the homeless at the Centrepoint shelter. An experience that led to his becoming the charity's patron a decade later. He asked the charity's chief executive, Seyi Obakin, whether there was anything he could do to help understand what our young people go through.
Mr Obaken said "'I thought on my feet and came up with the thing that I thought he was least likely to do. To my surprise, he said yes. We took as much precaution as possible - finding a relatively secluded spot in an alleyway, shielded partly by a collection of wheelie bins.
'But there was no shielding from the bitter cold, or the hard concrete floor, or the fear of being accosted by drug dealers, pimps or those out to give homeless people a kicking. I have never been happier to welcome the break of dawn!'
Mr Obaken accompanied William along with his personal protection officer. former SAS officer Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, one of the Scotland Yard police protection officers who accompany him everywhere.
Dressed in jeans, trainers, a hooded sweatshirt and beanie hat, he went unrecognised as he laid a piece of cardboard down on the floor and climbed into his sleeping bag.
After sleeping fitfully, William rolled up his sleeping bag at 6am and walked through the streets for 45 minutes, stopping to talk to several homeless people on the way.
He went to Centrepoint's hostel in Greek Street, Soho, where he showered before cooking breakfast for some of the residents and cutting a cake to celebrate the charity's 40th anniversary.
You have got to admire William who not only sleep rough once, which thankfully most of us would never dream of, but he has also managed to raise the profile of the homeless in our country.
Former Mr Gay UK has been arrested over an alleged 'Serious sex offence'. Police officer Mark Carter, the 2006 Mr Gay UK winner, who is a serving officer with Huddersfield Police, has been suspended from duty. The alleged incident took place in a Leeds city centre hotel room last weekend. Carter was understood to be out clubbing with colleagues.
Some of the biggest sports news of the week was when Gareth Thomas, the former Wales Rugby captain, revealed that he is gay. The 35-year-old star, is the most-capped Welsh rugby player.
In an interview on TV, he said coming out was "liberating".
"Every gay man will tell you that 'coming out' is like a weight lifted from your shoulders and being able to walk down the street knowing that there is nothing for me to hide has been a liberating experience." He said: "I knew I was gay at 18, but to come out then would have meant I would not have achieved what I did in rugby. I loved rugby so much and it was so important to me that I made the decision to keep my sexuality secret.
"Since my announcement I have had an amazing response and have not had one negative comment or any abuse. I think it proves there is a place for gay men in every walk of life."
Thomas added he hoped his decision would encourage more gay sportsmen to come out.
THE DEATH OF TIME...
"As the solstice comes, time slows down and stops. This is the ebb time, the limbo between years and worlds. In this slack tide of the hourglass the impossible happens. The pendulum stops and we need all our energy to start it moving again.
A stately cavalcade leads us and our lanterns to the beach. A mourning party plays deep dark drums as they beat out the ending of time. The lanterns are loaded and taken to the great pyre.
Once we burn our hopes and fears the heat of the fire brings up the new sun, the pendulum starts, the clocks tick and all is saved. The silence is broken by the cheers and music of the new solar year."
Burning the clocks is a popular pre-Christmas event that takes place near the Winter Solstice in Brighton, the Burning of the Clocks is a free family event that attracts over 20,000 people.
We set off for Brighton wrapped up for the cold weather anticipating some of the great creations by Same Sky. Same Sky were responsible for the Duchess and Lulu's Pink Elephant creations that featured in Key West a number of years back.
Alas on arriving in Brighton despite the fact that heavy rain had cleared away most of the snow we discovered that the event had been cancelled for health and safety reason.
Brighton Pavilion
New Road Brighton
Theatre Royal Brighton
All was not lost however, as a evening walk around the city vealed some wonderful seasonal sights.
19th December 2009
Yesterday all the weather predictions came to fruition. We woke up to a snow covered landscape. It is always so beautiful to see the snow for the first time with out a footprint to sully the beautiful blanket that covers the ground.
Our Garden Yesterday Morning
The salt trucks were busy and got the main roads running smoothly, but once you left these thoroughfare you were on your own on the side roads often reduced to nothing more than ice skating rinks.
Today we have clear skies and beautiful sunshine and views to die for.
Even the sight of Snowy Sheep - Thrill Some People
It is traditional and general knowledge that the Queen spends Christmas at Sandringham with her family. It is however a relatively little known fact that when the Queen travels to Norfolk for her Christmas break, she travels by scheduled train. It is an unashamedly royal one, however: not only does it start at King's Cross, but it takes the Queen all the way to King's Lynn . The point remains, however, that it is a regular service used by regular passengers. No helicopters for her, or chartered flights. Although this has been her chosen mode of Christmas travel for a few years now, this was the first year that Buckingham Palace has allowed the press to take a photographic record of the event: perhaps the Queen is planning to send a copy of the picture to the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York. Who regularly use a chopper.
•Queen Victoria was the first reigning sovereign to make a train journey — from Slough to Paddington, on June 13, 1842
Earlier this month, after attending the play War Horse, Prince William and his girlfriend Kate Middleton jumped into a cab. After a five-minute walk through Central London accompanied by two protection officers, they gave a taxi driver in High Holborn a great story to tell future passengers
A billboard outside a church depicting Mary and Joseph in bed with each other, apparently after having sex, has caused outrage in New Zealand. The billboard, which was put up outside St Matthew-in-the-City Church in Auckland, shows Mary and Joseph naked under the sheets with Joseph looking rather dejected. "Poor Joseph. God was a hard act to follow," the slogan reads.
The vicar of the progressive Anglican church, Archdeacon Glynn Cardy, said that the billboard was meant to challenge literal interpretations of the Bible and engage non-believers before Christmas.
17th December 2009
Brace yourselves for snow folks, that is if you are on this side of the pond. Snowfalls of up to 8 in deep are expected over Suffolk, Essex, Kent and Sussex this evening and tomorrow, the Met Office said as it issued a severe weather warning.
Not good news for those of us working in the hospitality business and expecting guests for their pre Christmas parties. Already people are cancelling just at the thought of a little snow.
So as bad weather hangs over us the threat of being unable to head off to Sunny Key West to enjoy the winter sunshine also remains unresolved as British Airways and the Unions get together to try and ward off the threatened 12 days of Christmas Strike that is planned.
Meanwhile the largest airline in Scotland went into liquidation last night Flyglobespan, leaving about 5,000 travellers stranded abroad and 800 staff out of a job. More than 100,000 people have booked Christmas breaks with the company,
. Tens of thousands will receive no compensation for the loss.
And still BA cabin staff plan to strike, maybe l am missing something here, but surely they can't be totally mad in choosing to strike in these very difficult economic times.
George Michael did the naughty boy thing again last night. During Chris Evan's Drive time show he came out with f*cker, totally unaware that the show had do no time delay. He apologised as soon as Chris Evans pointed out that the show was broadcast as it was recorded.
Only last week in an interview in "The Guardian" he admitted that he smokes seven joints a day and twice a week indulges in sex with men other than his live-in boyfriend
Michael lives with boyfriend Kenny Goss (the two have been together since 1996), but he says he likes to have variety in his sex life. "I like a bit of everything," he tells the Guardian, going on to say that at the end of an average day, he will "probably go off and have a shag or have someone come here and have a shag. It's not typical – that's probably a couple times a week."
Well lets face it he is trying to sell his new Christmas Single.
With fame comes speculation and gossip. Joe McElderry, who triumphed in the X Factor on Sunday, has brushed off rumours about his sexual orientation. An ex-girlfriend said last week he had been subjected to homophobic bullying at school because he preferred singing to sports. But the 18-year-old said he was straight, although he was still a virgin. Not for long l suspect.
14th December 2009
The London Gay Men's Chorus will be singing at London mayor Boris Johnson's Christmas carol service at Southwark Cathedral next week.
It will be the first time the chorus, which is the largest gay men's singing group in Europe, has sung at this event.
British Airways cabin crew voted overwhelmingly in favour of 12 days of Christmas strikes today, spelling holiday chaos for a million travellers booked with the airline. This is bad news for "The Duchess and Lulu" as our next trip to Key West is indeed already booked for this period.
Parts of England are bracing themselves for snow tomorrow, with heavier falls later in the week, Tuesday and Wednesday were predicted to see some of the coldest weather this winter
And of course the AA (Automobile Association) are predicting that some authorities only have enough salt to keep the roads clear for 5-6 days, nothing changes much does it.
Up and down the UK we have some pretty silly village names, here are a couple.
12th December 2009
It takes a lot of balls to fight in Afghanistan,it takes even more balls to tell your fellow soldiers that you are gay, but that is exactly what Trooper Ben Rakestrow did before his tour of duty in Helmand province.
Trooper Ben came out to his colleagues while on a training exercise on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire. He arrived late for exercises one morning after going out to a nightclub with a friend who knew he was gay. When he arrived for training, he said: "The lads all asked if we'd had any luck, then at least our late arrival would have been worth it. I just said, 'His name was Ryan'. Some of their faces dropped, and asked if I was serious. They couldn't believe it."
Zac Efron
Ben who adorns his sleeping area with pictures of Hollywood actor Zac Efron said:"I get banter from them [fellow soldiers] all the time, but it's good banter. They all want to know about my life, they ask a lot of questions, you can imagine. I don't find it hard to talk about it."
Until 1999, it was illegal to be gay within the British armed forces. The Government was forced to change the law as a result the European Convention on Human Rights. Is it not time for the US to follow suit.
Brighton has become a living Advent calendar. The famous beach huts are opening their doors from now until Christmas in traditional advent fashion.
British alternative church group "BEYOND" invited 24 owners of Brighton's famous beach huts to get into the Christmas spirit by decorating one hut on every day of Advent. The owners each choose their own theme based on a Christmas carol and decorate their hut accordingly. Each evening the next hut opens it doors, as visitors pass by they are treated to mulled wine and mince pies. The chosen carol dictating the theme is played in the background as passers by take a look at the decor selected by each hut owner.
Oh dear all is not well at a US Nursing home. A 98-year-old woman has been charged with the murder of her 100-year-old roommate. It would appear that the 100 year old lady had too many visitors and would not give up her bed near to the window.
10th December 2009
A most bizarre robbery happened in the gentile Sussex seaside resort of Eastbourne. A Goth robber held up a bank but then gave away all the money he had stolen. Frater Osiris Xnoubis was dressed from head to foot in black leather when he carried out the bizarre robbery.
Xnoubis, a Pagan worshipper, stuffed £6,570 ($10,650) into a bag and told her to "have a nice day" before calmly walking out of the HSBC branch in Terminus Road, Eastbourne.
He walked a few yards to a sandwich bar. He handed the bag of cash to astonished owner Clive Benneys, who was also his landlord, saying: "You are good people, help yourselves."
Xnoubis left the shop and promptly went to the police station in Grove Road where he confessed to the robbery.
I think this is what you call getting down and dirty. US Marines play American football following a rain storm at their base in Khan Neshin, in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan. Could this be akin to
Gay and lesbian couples are being "banned" from studio recordings of Top Gear, a British tabloid paper has claimed. Top Gear is the best known motoring programme on British TV.
The BBC are preventing gay couples from joining the audience of the popular show because of a self-imposed rule that stipulates bookings must be "50 per cent male and 50 per cent female".
Simon and his partner were turned down for tickets says : "It sounds like something Jeremy Clarkson came up with to ensure he didn't have to put up with any gays."
A 'ginger beer?' - The Daihatsu Copen
Presenter Jeremy
Clarkson was rapped by Ofcom in 2007 for making a homophobic remark on the programme. He described a car as "a bit gay.... very ginger beer".
The Bull Dog Tavern in the heart of Brighton's Kemp Town
Meanwhile back in Sunny Sussex, Brighton's Gay Village may become a little Gayer. Kemp town often referred to as "Camp Town" Could be heading for official recognition if a new proposal gets the go-ahead. Councillors in the seaside city are calling for St James Street and surrounding streets to be listed as the 'gay village' in the city council's planning guidelines, claiming this would bring economic and social benefits such as those seen in Manchester and San Francisco.
5th December 2009
Gay singer Adam Lambert, who provoked controversy at the American Music Awards by kissing a man, has had more TV shows cancelled. More than 1,500 US viewers complained over a gay kiss and simulated oral sex in his performance last month.
Following the storm, his appearance on Good Morning America was cancelled. The singer has now been told he will not be appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live and ABC's New Years Rockin' Eve show.
The very naughty diaries of a woman called Gentleman Jack are being turned into a TV drama. Written in code, her confessions of bodice-ripping affairs with other women were so scandalous her family hid them for over a century. She called her sexuality 'her oddity', but Anne Lister was never ashamed of it. 'I love and only love the fairer sex and thus am beloved by them in return. My heart revolts from any other love than theirs,' she declared.
Anne is often called 'the first modern lesbian' - although the term wasn't coined until nearly 50 years after her death in 1840. She set out blatantly to seduce her targets, noting her successes and her disappointments in a diary in the most salacious detail, even down to the number of sexual climaxes she experienced. Indeed, she marked the pages with an 'X' whenever she had one.
The remarkable Anne Lister filled 27 volumes with such experiences, yet few people have ever heard of her. Well aware of the shocking content of her diaries, she deliberately disguised many of the more provocative entries in an almost impenetrable code, which looked similar to ancient hieroglyphs.
After her death, a relative feared that their family would be engulfed by scandal if any of these books ever came to light and decided to board them up behind a panel at the family home.
Anne Lister c. 1830 in a portrait by Joshua Horner.
Pop star George Michael has admitted smoking crack cocaine and said cruising for sex with strangers is 'nicer' than picking up men in bars.. Michael, who came out in 1998 after being arrested in Los Angeles for "engaging in a lewd act" in a public toilet, said he enjoyed "cottaging" on the Heath, which is close to his north London home. "It's a much nicer place to get some quick and honest sex than standing in a bar.
3rd December 2009
Alfriston Road this week - Same road in the spring
The flooding got a little closed to home this week, when the banks of the river Cuckmere burst and flooded parts of the Cuckmere valley. The main road into the village soon became unpassable and the village was shut to traffic.
Although the flooding had subsided yesterday the same road was once again closed as a school mini bus hit black ice and overturned, the eight children on board were taken to the local hospital for checks, another girl who was a pedestrian was hit and suffered more serious injuries and is in IC.
For those of you who have not paid attention to my mad ramblings in the past, Alfriston is a picture postcard village that nestles in the Cuckmere valley under the Southdown's. The village is always popular with American visitors as it really represents what visitors to England regard as a typical English Village.
Alfriston has a quirky book shop that is run by a friendly American couple who relocated from Marblehead, Massachusetts a lovely seaside town just a little ways North of Boston.
They up sticks and moved lock stock and barrel to Alfriston even keeping the name of their shop "Much Ado Books"
Alfriston Market Cross with Christmas Tree
This weekend in Alfriston is "Christmas Comfort and Joy" The weekend itself will include a variety of free events put on by local merchants and community groups. In addition, the road in front of the village store will be closed on each afternoon, allowing for a variety of events ranging from bagpipe playing to an appearance by the popular Salvation Army Band.
You will be able to enjoy the delicious Pudding Paradise, with hundreds of desserts created by local eateries on offer Sunday afternoon; making wishes with the Snow Queen, who will hang them on the village tree; horse and wagon rides; and a wonderful school fair with Santa's Grotto.
Hopefully the flooding will have subsided so that visitors from far and wide can enjoy the delights of this traditional village Christmas fair.
Apparently, the only person who can beat Tiger Woods with a golf club is his wife
What's the difference between a car and a golf ball? Tiger can drive a ball 400 yards
30th November 2009
The rain continues to fall, today it is the turn of Kent and Essex who are bracing themselves for more flooding. Yesterday I braved the winds to get the ladder out to hang the Christmas lights. This was achieved mostly in the dry but for the last ½ hour the rain came down once again, but l was determined to deck the eves, come rain, hail or snow. Now it seems that snow may be on its way.
Worcester Horse Race Course found an alternative use this week
From temperatures unseasonably warm at 12-14 oC last week, it would appear that this week we can expect them to drop to - 6 oC
Is this terrible weather being blamed on Global warming. If so then Australia is doing it's best to counter the effects. Scientists are working to breed a sheep that belches less, as they look for ways to reduce harmful methane emissions from the country's woolly flocks.
Twelve percent of Australia's total greenhouse gas emissions originate with agriculture, and some 70 percent of that amount is blamed on ruminant livestock, with most of it coming from burps. With sheep, almost all of the methane produced comes from burping and not from farting. Methane has about 17 times the environmental warming capacity of carbon dioxide.
Tomorrow we celebrate World Aids Day, communities across England and the World gather together to remember our friends no longer with us and hopefully to raise awareness of AIDS and people living with HIV. Two of the events that caught my attention were Red Ribbon Tea Parties to raise awareness and challenge stereotypes about HIV/AIDS through games, quizzes and discussion. The idea is to decorate a mug with a red ribbon design and sign it. These will then be collected in and used at the parties. The symbolism being that just as you can't tell who is HIV positive just by looking at them, you can't tell who decorated your mug.
The Students at Southport college are holding a Quilt and Cake Sale the students are making a giant quilt to celebrate life and how to live positively with HIV. The quilt will be displayed in the main atrium of the college and students will be selling cakes and red ribbons to raise money for charity.
Key West a candlelight march and reading of over 1,000 names of individuals with Key West ties whose lives were cut short by AIDS will precede a dedication ceremony at the AIDS Memorial at Higgs Beach. The march will leaveGlynn Archer School at 5.00pm and the dedication service should commence around 5.30 pm.
Among the names dedicated at this year's ceremony will be Charlena D. Sugarbaker.
28th November 2009
The Queen this week
The Queen is touring some of the commonwealth at the moment, namely Bermuda, where on Tuesday she joined in three days of celebrations marking the 400th anniversary of the island's settlement by the British. She then travelled onto Trinidad and Tobago for the biennial conference of Commonwealth leaders.
The Queen on her first visit to Bermuda in 1953
The Queen is now 83 and yet she still manages to trot around the globe on behalf of her British people. She did announce earlier this year that she will be handing over some of the official long haul official visits to Prince William. Her visit to Bermuda comes 56 years to the day since she first travelled to the island on November 24, 1953 - just five months after her coronation.
Have you ever walked into lamp post after indulging in one too many sherbets. Well it seems that students in Edinburgh have the answer. Knit the lam post a woolly cover . This sign post cosy appeared in Edinburgh's Bristo Square this week and no one has yet taken responsibility.
26th November 2009
Happy Thanksgiving to all our friends "Across the Pond". Today is just another normal work day on this side of the Atlantic. Just imagine how many turkeys have adorned the tables of feasting families since that first Thanksgiving back in 1621.
The weather continues to be rough and stormy. After another bad night l discovered a small flood in the kitchen this morning, nothing serious and was soon cleared up, but it did get me thinking about those poor families in the north of England that have had their homes completely flooded out. It also brought back memories of hurricane Wilma and the effects it had on many families in Key West.
Three hundred years ago, just before midnight on 26th October the worst storm ever to hit England, stormed in from the Atlantic. Weather of hurricane force came in from the west and cut a devastating swathe three hundred miles wide across England. It came completely without warning and left behind it some 8000 dead and 1000's more injured. According to commentators at the time "Britain looked and felt as if it had been transformed overnight into a war-torn country with a battlefield in every village and town".
The next time we had weather approaching such severity was in Oct 1987, which we remember well.
Two Beefeaters have been sacked from the "Tower of London" for bullying the first women Beefeater. Moira Cameron became the first female Beefeater back in 2007. She qualified to be a Yeoman Warder in July 2007 after completing the required minimum 22 years in the armed forces. It is believed to be the first time any Beefeater has been sacked rather than resigning. But Mark Sanders-Crook and Bob Brown got the bullet for a vicious hate campaign against Moira Cameron. It's a wonder they weren't beheaded.
In Florida it might be a stray alligator that invades your swimming pool and occasionally eats a stray mutt along the way, or maybe the sighting of a panther. Occasionally here in t he UK a wild boar might make an unwanted appearance. But pity the poor folks of Docker River in the Northern Territories of Australia which is underseige from 1000's of feral camelsthat have invaded the area in search of water. Up to 6,000 of the animals have caused chaos, trampling through homes, breaking water tanks and disrupting the emergency airstrip.
23rd November 2009
Maggie Thatcher returned to Downing Street today for a reception to mark the unveiling her portrait that is to be put on display in Downing Street and declared: "I like it." The painting, which is not yet finished, depicts the Iron Lady at the height of her powers just after the Falklands War in 1982.. Although photographs of all modern prime ministers line the main staircase in No 10, only two 20th century premiers have paintings on display: David Lloyd George and Winston Churchill.
Lady Thatcher is believed to be the first living politician to have her portrait hung in the official residence of the prime minister.
As more rain fell on Cumbria yesterday 16 bridges and 25 roads are out of action due to the adverse weather conditions. Travel in the region is very difficult with many miles detours in some areas. The Army could be asked to build Second World War-style Bailey bridges over the River Derwent in Cumbria as a temporary replacement for the bridges.
Don't you find it sad when one individual ruins the fun, The US Postal Service is stopping its system that any letters addressed to Santa Claus, North Pole, get sent to the Alaskan town of North Pole where volunteer 'elves' write a personal reply on behalf of Father Christmas.
The move comes after it emerged that a volunteer in the postal service's wider Operation Santa programme was a registered sex offender. The scare was serious enough for it to impose tighter restrictions. It is these which now make the North Pole service unfeasible, local officials said.
Until today l had never heard of Adam Lambert, apparently he was an almost winner of American Idol. Last night he gave a very gay performance at the American Music Awards, He performed his new single For Your Entertainment, taken from the album of the same name and it was very, very camp. Featuring oral sex simulations, gay snogs and a lot of man makeup.
21st November 2009
What has been described as the heaviest rainfall ever hit the North West corner of England this week. The downpour was the heaviest since records began, with 314mm, more than one foot, of rain falling in Cumbria in the space of 24 hours.
This is where l was born and lived until my early 20's, my family still live in the Lake District, so all thoughts turned to them when the downpour happened. My Brother said that he had never seen anything quite like it. The ground was already waterlogged when the downpour happened, the water flowing from the fells (hills) filled the streams, then the rivers and eventually the lakes until there was simply no place left for the water to go, other than to start filling the valleys where the towns and villages were situated.
An eighty one year old lady lifted to safety
The torrential downpour has destroyed homes, businesses and claimed the life of a policeman, swept away as he helped motorists off a bridge. PC Bill Barker was helping motorists on a bridge over the River Derwent, when the crossing caved-in, The father-of-four's body was later found on a beach in Allonby, ten miles away.
River Derwent breaching retaining wall
Forecasters predict there will be a further 20mm to 40mm of rain fall in the region today. There are currently 22 flood warnings in place.
Tomorrow is "Stir Up Sunday". This is always last Sunday before Advent, traditionally a family having returned home from church on Sunday morning would all take part in the making of the traditional Christmas pudding, each taking a stir, the pudding mixture was always stirred from East to West in honour of the three Wise Men who visited the baby Jesus. Whilst stirring the pudding mixture, each family member would make a secret wish.
A Christmas pudding is traditionally made with 13 ingredients to represent Christ and His Disciples. A coin was traditionally added to the ingredients and cooked in the pudding. It was supposedly to bring wealth to whoever found it on their plate on Christmas Day. The traditional coin was an old
silver sixpence or threepenny bit.
19th November 2009
No where in the World does "Pomp and Circumstance" quite like the United Kingdom. And this week we had two such events in London. Saturday saw the 682nd Lord Mayor, Nick Anstee, travel in a 252-year-old gold coach on a procession through the Square Mile up to the Royal Courts of Justice.
The Lord Mayor of London should not be confused with the Mayor of London which is a new post that was only established 10 years ago and is the head of the Greater London Authority (Council).
The Lord Mayor's Show is one of the longest established and best known annual events in London which dates back to 1535. The Lord Mayor in question is that of the City of London, the historic centre of London that is now the metropolis's financial district, informally known as the Square Mile. A new Lord Mayor is appointed every year and the public parade that is made of his inauguration reflects the fact that this was once one of the most prominent offices in England. The ancient position of Lord Mayor of the City of London has a role in the Square Mile. In this years Parade over 6,100 people took part, including 2000 service men and women, 220 vehicles, 13 marching bands and 71 floats.
Yesterday was the State Opening of Parliament. This marks the beginning of the parliamentary session.
The Queen travels from Buckingham Palace to Westminster by horse drawn carriage she is escorted by the Household Cavalry. The Queen arrives at the Sovereign's Entrance and proceeds to the Robing Room, where she puts on the Imperial State Crown and parliamentary robe. A procession then leads through the Royal Gallery to the Chamber of the House of Lords, where the Queen takes the Throne.
The official known as 'Black Rod' is sent to summon the House of Commons. In a symbol of the Commons' independence, the door to their chamber is slammed in his face and not opened until he has knocked on the door with his staff of office. The Members of the House of Commons follow Black Rod and the Commons Speaker to the Lords Chamber.
The Queen wearing The Imperial State Crown
This crown weighs 32oz . just like wearing a bag of sugar on your head
The Queen then delivers her speech which is an outline of the Government's proposed policies, legislation for the coming session and a review of the last session.
The current ceremony dates from the opening of the current Palace of Westminster in 1852.
Before the Queen travels to Parliament from Buckingham Palace, certain traditional precautions are taken.
A detachment of the Queen's Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard searches the cellars of the Houses of Parliament. This dates back to the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, when Guy Fawkes was arrested while preparing to blow up Parliament. Today, the Yeomen of the Guard continue this historic search, in addition to the security checks by police.
Another tradition is the 'hostage' Member of Parliament. Before the Queen leaves Buckingham Palace, a member of the government is held there to guarantee the safe return of the monarch. The hostage is released upon the safe return of the Queen.
16th November 2009
Christmas preparations are in full swing here in the UK, today your truly went out to purchase icicle lights for the front of the house. For many years these were not available in the UK like they were in the US, so despite the weight in the luggage l humped lights back from our trips to Key West to enable us to bedeck the house. In those early days it was such a novelty that they drew admiration from far afield. This was despite the fact that we had to run them on transformers to reduce the voltage from 240 to meet the American standard of 110.
Two years ago our lights finally gave up the ghost and were dumped. So we decided on a change of tactics and installed rope lighting around the house, this was not very successful, so last year we covered the rather beautiful Georgian windows with net lighting, while this was better than the rope light it still did not achieve the desired effect.
So on that note this year we are going back to icicle lights, however they will be LED bright lights, so the need to replace dud bulbs should not be a problem. I still cannot understand why Christmas lights are about three times the price of the same goods in America, after all they all seem to come from China.
The same fate happened to the Christmas tree, for years we always had a fresh Christmas tree but you know what the problems are of trying to keep a tree in central heating, they have to have the roots on so that they can be watered, but this still does not stop the wretched thing from shedding pine needles as Christmas approaches. We moved over to an artificial tree that eventually looked like a tired trig, this too was ditched.
Today we went tree hunting. Lots of lovely trees are available but most stop at the 6 feet mark, when what we were really looking for was something in the region of 7 feet plus.
We are no the only ones having trouble with Christmas preparations. In recent years it has become the practice to import reindeer into the UK to use at Santa's Grotto's and in Christmas Parades. Life is not all baubles and balls for these sweet creatures. An official investigation has revealed a sharp increase in deaths in young reindeer, linked to disease caught from farm animals, bad diet, poor welfare and the stress of being uprooted from their natural habitat.
Dr Aiden Foster, who carried out the research at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency, said the deer, which normally live to 12 years, were badly suited to life in Britain. He said: "Reindeer are highly specialised Arctic deer. The recent fashion of keeping them in captive situations many degrees south of their normal range is fraught with health and welfare issues."
The Birmingham's Christmas lights switch-on did not go according to plan around 60 people were injured in a crowd surge during a performance by the group JLS . More than 20,000 people turned out for the event at Millennium Point which had been due to feature pop acts including Alexandra Burke and the Sugababes.
JLS - Now you know why there was a stampede
The city council said problems arose when people tried to force their way through barriers to get into the event. An emergency meeting was held between the council, emergency services and the joint organisers, radio station BRMB, and a decision was made to cancel the event.
