Oh Lordy, what a shake up in the opera world, traditionally a little on the elitist side of life. Tickets for the opening night of the new Royal Opera House season will only be available to readers of the Sun newspaper. Not that there is anything wrong with the "Sun", but somehow you just cannot visage the average Sun reader sitting down to an evening of Wagner or Harrison Birtwistle.
Details on how to book tickets for Mozart masterpiece Don Giovanni will be published in the paper next week, then a ballot will then take place for tickets - priced from £7.50 to £30 a substantial discount the normal heady hights of the ROH. Is it a move to open up the delights of opera to the masses, or a very cleaver plot to sell the "Sun" to the once bowler hatted broadsheet readers.
Those that get a little too inebriated during the interval champagne, have no need to worry. Scientists have decided that redesigning streets to make them more user-friendly for drunks could help reduce conflict and violence. The scientists believe their findings have a direct association with the all too common phenomenon of fights breaking out at "chucking out time". "Drunks become irritants because they slow people's progress towards their goal," said study leader Simon Moore, from the University of Cardiff, who presented the findings last week at the International Crime Science Conference in London. "They may then become targets of violence." . If experiments here in the UK prove successful, then the model could be introduced on Duval Street and the World can live in harmony.
Lesbians in Lesbos this week got a little light relief. Three residents of the Greek island of Lesbos have lost an attempt to ban the use of the word "lesbian" to describe gay women. The residents argued that using the term in reference to gay women insulted their identity
The island's name was applied to gay women in acknowledgement of the female poet Sappho, of Lesbos, who wrote love poems about both women and men in about 600 BC.
The world's first ever sand hotel has been made in Dorset and is accepting its first guests for £10 a night. It took 1,000 tonnes of sand and a team of four sculptors working 14 hours a day for seven days to build the structure on Weymouth beach. The sculpture was created by Weymouth sand artist Mark Anderson and was sponsored by Lateroom.com to celebrate a resurgence of holidaymakers flocking to the seaside for their holidays this year.
According to Mark, "The beds are made of sand so it can get into every nook and crevice, especially between the toes.
It is expected the sand hotel will last to the end of week when the next high tide is expected, If the rain or the sea does not destroy it, then it will be demolished by digger next week.
One Church in Ireland has been upsetting the locals, by dictating that only religious hymns and prayers be part of the funeral service. According it's leaflet, called "Celebrating a Catholic Funeral" It's instruction on conducting funeral services states, "Practices such as personal poems about the deceased, favourite songs and the shaking of hands in the church before going to the graveside are breaking the continuous prayer that the funeral liturgy is".
Britain's favourite comedy duo, David Walliams and Matt Lucas, have revealed the new characters who will take on America with an all new Little Britain USA.
22nd July 2008
Yesterday was one of those days to escape the confines of the South Downs and Sunny Sussex and go up to town, the town being our Capital city, London. In a little over 1 ¼ a fast train takes us from our local station to London Victoria, a short step from here is the back gates of Buckingham Palace and a little further into Hyde Park. For those that have never visited London, Hyde Park and Kensington gardens mingle into one and form a massive green space in the centre of London of some 625 acres, larger than the Principality of Monaco.
Princess Diana Memorial
In the centre of the gardens is a a 28 acre recreational lake built in 1730, overlooking the lake is the memorial to Princess Diana.
Further into the park you come to the Serpentine Gallery, a free gallery open to the public, however the high light of this gallery for the last nine years has been the erection of the Serpentine Summer Pavilion.
It is the world's first and most ambitious architectural programme of its kind, and is one of the most anticipated events in the international design calendar. Top architects vie for the honour of designing the structure which is erected in July and demolished in October.
This years pavilion opened to the public on Sunday. It was designed by legendary architect Frank Gehry, who said this about his structure, 'The Pavilion is designed as a wooden timber structure that acts as an urban street running from the park to the existing Gallery. Inside the Pavilion, glass canopies are hung from the wooden structure to protect the interior from wind and rain and provide for shade during sunny days. The Pavilion is much like an amphitheatre, designed to serve as a place for live events, music, performance, discussion and debate. As the visitor walks through the Pavilion they have access to terraced seating on both sides of the urban street. In addition to the terraced seating there are two elevated seating pods, which are accessed around the perimeter of the Pavilion. These pods serve as visual markers enclosing the street and can be used as stages, private viewing platforms and dining areas.'
19th July 2008
Crop growing is in full force around Sussex at the moment. With wheat prices at a premium, more wheat crops are in evidence. However one local farm has a unique way of boosting their farming income. Every year they plant a Maize Maze and open the eight acre site tot he public to explore.
This year's maize maze has a Wild West theme and parents can lose a whole posse of youngsters in its 3.5 miles of pathways. A massive Native American chief's head and shoulders stretching 500 ft in diameter has been cut out of the eight acre field.
In previous years the maize has been planted using a grid system to transfer the design from paper to field, but this year GPS was used to make out the design, reducing the process from seven days down to one. The maize is rapidly growing at about a foot to 18 ins a week and expected to reach to an average of seven or eight feet and a maximum of about 10 ft."
Native American Chuquai Billy performed a traditional cleansing ceremony this week to drive out evil spirits and bless the launch of the new venture.
Lap dancing clubs are painting the sky red here in the UK. They are springing up all over the major towns and cities. One club got a little too hot to handle this week, fire wrecked the new Redd club in Hill this week and sparked a major incident. More than 100 fire fighters and 18 appliances from East and West Sussex were used to fight the blaze and stop it spreading to the adjoining shops.
The pope is in Australia at the moment, spreading the word of the catholic church. However not all is rosy in the papal garden. About 1,000 protesters took up positions alongside the catholic pilgrim walk for a rally against the Pope's opposition to homosexuality and birth control.
Chanting "Pope go homo, gay is great" and singing "Pope is wrong, put a condom on", the protesters threw condoms at the pilgrims, who were making their way to Randwick racecourse for an overnight prayer vigil.
A drag queen dressed in pink going under the moniker "Pope Alice" also paraded before the pilgrims, while other protesters wore T-shirts with slogans such as "Thank God I'm an atheist" and "Bless me father for I am a homo".
16th July 2008
Loved this cartoon celebrating the start of the Lambeth Conference
Those Mormon boys know how to get the blood pumping. The 2008 Men on a Mission calendar featured twelve handsome returned Mormon missionaries from across the United States who, for the first time ever, dared to pose bare-chested in a steamy national calendar.
Despite having been excommunicated from the Mormon church for putting together the first edition of the "Men on a Mission" calendar, Chad Hardy is moving full steam ahead with the release of a brand new 2009 calendar.
Usually seen riding their bicycles and preaching door-to-door, these hunky young men of faith explode with sexuality on each calendar page.
To celebrate its 150th edition, Diva, a lesbian magazine wants 150 of its readers to get naked. Around 150 gay and bisexual women will grace the cover of the special souvenir issue, wearing nothing but their birthday suits.
It was great seeing two friends visiting from Key West last night, thanks for popping in and
fitting us in to your busy schedule.
John Barrowman is urging parents of gay teenagers to watch his new show, The Making of Me, John reckons that he knew he was gay from the age of eight. In his show, he undertakes a series of tests including a DNA examination that is compared with his straight brother's, and he takes to the streets of LA to try out a theory that the origin of homosexuality is linked to events in the womb that may affect the foetus.
Not sure if this is Daniel Radcliffe in Equus or Angie Babe having a nightmare.
Sorry to hear that Pistol is not on form. We wish the " Old Girl" a speedy recovery.
14th July 2008
It has been quite a week on the religious.
The world's first openly gay bishop, Gene Robinson, the Bishop of New Hampshire, has been excluded from the Lambeth conference of church leaders here in the UK. However he is here and intends to attend fringe events to the conference and spread his message to all those wishing to express their opinions. Yesterday he was forced to halt his sermon to a London church after being heckled.
The Church of England's ruling body, the General Synod, has voted in favour of measures to allow the ordination of women bishops. Some 1,300 clergy had threatened to leave the Church if safeguards were not agreed to reassure traditionalists.
A local vicar has also been causing a bit of a stir, by posed as a tramp and gatecrashed his own service to teach churchgoers about "acceptance". The Reverend Derek Rigby donned a wig and some torn clothes and surrounded himself with lager cans and syringes in the church doorway on Sunday morning. Most of the congregation at the Trinity Methodist Church in Prestatyn, Denbighshire, ignored the intruder. Mr Rigby said most were "embarrassed" by their behaviour when he finally revealed himself during the service.
Here endeth the lesson for the day.
Valerie Bennett-Levy died last week. She had one of those rare jobs in which the work was confined to a single night's frenzied activity once a year. On the Wednesday evening of every Holy Week between 1960 and 2004 she arrived, ready for duty, in whatever town or city was hosting the next morning's Royal Maundy Service. Her task was to produce before dawn her own version of the traditional Royal Maundy nosegays of herbs and sweet-smelling flowers with which generations of monarchs in more noisome and infectious times warded off the smells and diseases of the poor.
It is traditional on Maundy Thursday for the monarch to wash the feet and distribute Maundy money to the poor. The Queen always attends a chosen church or cathedral and although she distributes the Maundy purses, she no longer washes feet. The washing of feet ended after the 1736 ceremony, until it was re-instated in the 2003 ceremony, when it was performed by the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams.
Lego celebrates its 50th birthday with world's tallest lego tower. Lego hasn't changed in half a century, and - the makers of Lego would argue - why should it? The little bricks are the most popular toy ever. Nearly 500,000 bricks were used to build the 100ft tower at Windsor Legoland - the tallest in the world.
12th July 2008
Earlier this year Lillian Ladele a registrar at Islington Council in London refused to perform civil ceremonies because she believed homosexuals were "sinners". She took the council to the employment tribunal after being threatened with the sack for refusing to officiate at gay marriages. In a landmark legal ruling at the tribunal last night Lillian Ladele, won her employment case. Astonished Labour councillors slammed the council leader for stalling over whether to appeal against the "unfair decision".
Lillian Ladele
She told the tribunal in May that as an orthodox Christian that performing civil partnership ceremonies was like "force-feeding a Muslim unclean food".
This lady is a public employee and has refused to perform the law of the land - This one will surely run and run.
While on the subject of Civil Ceremonies, down in deepest Devon, The Earl of Devon claims to have been inundated with support after refusing to allow two gay men to marry at his home, Powderham Castle.
Earl of Devon
In May, Hugh Courtenay - 18th Earl of Devon - refused to let a gay couple hold their civil partnership there, a move which resulted in the earl having his licence to hold civil ceremonies revoked. He said that the withdrawal of the castle's civil wedding licence would not be as great as some newspapers have estimated.
"We are still in business for wedding receptions and are already noticing an increase in demand for next year." Of course this is a completely different "Kettle of Fish", he is not a public servant and what he decides to use his home for is his own business.
The Cinnamon Club in London has created a dish designed to be the world's hottest curry - and it comes with a health warning. Chef Vivek Singh used some of the fieriest ingredients globally for the lamb-based Bollywood Burner. Diners are required to sign a disclaimer saying they are aware of the nature and risks involved in tasting the curry before eating it.
For those with a taste for the hot stuff. This dish was inspired by cuisine from Hyderabad, the state capital of Andhra Pradesh in India, the dish includes the Naga pepper and its seeds which, on the Scoville scale that measures the piquancy of peppers, has a figure of 855,000 - more than 100 times hotter than the jalapeno pepper that measures 8,000 on the scale.
You might think this a little potty. Husband and wife Francisco and Cassilda Figueiredo are among the last exponents of a traditional Portuguese handicraft, making ornamental ceramic penises.
10th July 2008
What is the world coming to. Our local Sainsbury's supermarket in Eastbourne here in Sussex are putting electronic tags on chickens to stop them being stolen. The device, which is put on high value goods such as alcohol, has been placed on birds after a rise in the shoplifting of chickens. Anyone who tries to steal a Grade A frozen bird, which costs between £2 and £8, ($3.85 - $ 15.25) will now set off an alarm. It's enough to make you chuckle.
Yes we are getting almost at litigious as our friends "Across the Pond". A British woman who broke her ankle and needed surgery because her stiletto heel snapped off has received a £7,200 (US$14,400) cash award from a British court because of her pain and suffering. Now a few years back when the famous Equatorettes hit the streets at Fantasy Fest, l remember a number of heels not even making Duval Street. Now that would be interesting a man claiming for damages after falling off ladies high heels. OMG.
Wild life has been in the news this week,, here in the UK. A hotel receptionist found a bat nestling in the padding of the bra that she had been wearing for 4½ hours. The young lady had no idea that the bat, the size of her hand, was there from the moment that she got dressed at 7.30am until her lunch break. The bra had been on the washing line the previous day. "I did not notice anything as I put my bra on," she said. "When I was driving to work I felt a slight vibration but I though it was just my mobile (CellPhone)." At midday she still felt something moving. "I plucked up the courage to investigate and I pulled out a little baby bat."
Meanwhile down the road in Herne Bay Police who were called to investigate reports of a man wolf-whistling at girls were astonished to find that a parrot was to blame. After hours of visiting houses in the area, Police Community Support Officers found the culprit when it whistled at one of the female officers. Charlie an African Grey, could bark like a dog and sing nursery rhymes as well.
We are not the only mad fools in this world.
Kent Couch smiles as he prepares to take off Saturday in his latest attempt to fly from Bend, Oregon, more than 200 miles to Idaho in a lawn chair rigged with more than 150 giant party balloons. Mad or What !
I was out walking last week when l came across a menagerie and immediately thought of our mad Flickerdale Correspondent, who has a penchant for small farm animals.
8th July 2008
The secret is out. Pistol, Enema and Gator are off the rock for a few days, they are travelling to Paris to join up with Duchess and Lulu to perform at the famous Folly Bergere, this will be a one night only happening.
Thanks to our Flickerdale Correspondent
for spilling the beans.
Talking of beans, please gentlemen not beans
before the Can Can.
7th July 2008
A new branch of Madame Tussauds (wax works) opened in Berlin on Saturday, including in its display of famous figures in Germany history the most notorious one of all, Adolf Hitler.
But in order not to give the impression that Hitler was in any way a figure to be revered, the Nazi leader appears as a broken man in a mock-up of his bunker just before the end of World War II.
Within hours Hitler had been beheaded. A 41-year-old man was held after attacking the waxwork, only hours after the attraction opened on Saturday. The Fuhrer was positioned behind a table, which was supposed to prevent visitors posing with the statue - or damaging it. The attacker was only the second visitor to enter the exhibition, according to one report.
The decision to include a figure of Hitler has been controversial from the start. Are we surprised.
In the near-darkness of Centre Court at Wimbledon yesterday , nearly seven hours after he first stepped onto its hallowed lawns to try to make tennis history, Rafael Nadal of Spain won his first Wimbledon title.
Darkness fell, and the new champion fell to the court, completely overcome. At four hours, 48 minutes, it was the longest-ever Wimbledon men's singles final.
It was a great sporting day yesterday here in Rainy and Windswept Britain. Lewis Hamilton hailed victory in a rain-swept British Grand Prix as the best moment of his career. The win propelled Hamilton back into the joint-championship lead and into the hearts of a nation.
Billy Talon, was a favourite royal page to the Queen Mother, who saw everything and told nothing. Following the death of the man fondly known as Backstairs Billy last year at the age of 72, memento's of life with the royal matriarch were auctioned last week. Among them a hand written note by the Queen Mum drew applause from the crowd when it sold for £16,000 ($30,000) – far above the estimate of £200 to £300.
"I think that I will take two small bottles of Dubonnet and gin with me this morning, in case it is needed."
The streets of London were awash with colour as thousands in fancy dress and banners took part in the parade themed "fairy tales, myths and legends".
The new London Mayor Boris Johnson donned a pink cowboy hat as he led the annual Gay Pride parade through London on Saturday. In a bid to show support for the capital's gay community, Boris joined tens of thousands of marchers for a noisy and colourful procession.
Sir Ian McKellen with Brighton's very own Maisy Trollett
The Mayor received some boos as he led floats and performers to Trafalgar Square as he has been accused of homophobia in the past. Ahead of the parade Prime Minister Gordon Brown discussed tackling homophobic bullying with actor Sir Ian McKellen and members of Stonewall in Downing Street.
A bride is suing a designer after her £2,000 wedding dress came apart on her big day, leaving her semi naked at the altar. Her lawyer said "She was left extremely embarrassed because the stitching of her dress came apart at the altar, slid down and revealed her bottom to the whole congregation.
New Zealand rugby fans watching a regular sports programme found themselves viewing hardcore pornography instead on Sunday afternoon.
Four minutes of pornography interrupted sports coverage on the Prime Television channel, after what a spokesman described as a distribution mix up.
5th June 2008
I have already told you that the summer months bring out the craziest people in the UK. This weekend will be no exception. Every year, The Birdman of Bognor competition takes place with would-be flyers battling for a £25,000 ( $50000) jackpot. The annual event attracts thousands of spectators to watch contestants, many in fancy dress, attempt to defy gravity and fly (without power) the furthest distance off Bognor pier.
Every year a collection of brave daring men and women dress up in bizarre outfits and become Bognor Birdmen. These Birdmen of Bognor Regis compete against one another by trying to fly through the air the furthest. However some people would say that Bognor Birdmen are just a bunch of nutters jumping off the end of a pier and getting cold and wet when they land in the sea.
At the time of writing this London Pride is in full swing. More than half a million revellers are expected at this year's Pride parade in London.
Summer madness is not limited to the main land either. Today on Sark in the channel islands the locals are racing small farm animals. Yes it is the annual sheep racing competition. Not content just with Sark's frolicking sheep it is also the coronation of Miss Sark Princess (or Miss Sark Bo-Peep).
It does not stop there. The Scandinavians are even madder, the Fins are staging Wife carrying which is a sport in which male competitors race while each carrying a female teammate. The objective is for the male to carry the female through a special obstacle track in the fastest time. Several types of carry may be practised: piggyback, fireman's carry (over the shoulder), or Estonian-style (the wife hangs upside-down with her legs around the husband's shoulders, holding onto his waist).
How do you fancy getting hitched in a supermarket, well everyone to their own bag of groceries. A Dundee couple are getting married today in what is believed to be Scotland's first supermarket wedding. Sainsbury's employees Jane Clark and Kenneth Sutherland will tie the knot in aisle 25 in the Dundee store. Checkout operator Jill met Kenneth three years ago while he was stacking shelves.
The bride with arrive down the seasonal goods isle and hold their ceremony infront of the Flower stand - How Romantic.
4th July 2008
Have a great 4th July, contrary to public thinking it is not something we celebrate here in the UK - Why would we ?
The Rouge Flickerdale Correspondent will of course be flat on his back celebrating in his own inimitable style. However that is not before he has stirred up a little mud on this side of the pond.
Once again the world according to Not Bob
The fourth of July has little to do with the separation from the Kingdom of Great Britain. It is a celebration of the birth of a new nation. A child declares his independence when he moves out of the families home to start a new life of his own just as America declared independence from it's "relatives". America's birthday could have turned out to be a little different. On July 2 in 1776, Congress first read the "Declaration of Independence" however; it was not adopted until days later..July 4.
The Continental Congress used the two days to edit the document...one early edit...comparing the King's rule to slavery due to the soon-to-be states still holding the Institution of Slavery. Imagine the change of history if they had revoked the institution of slavery before the declaration. Would we have survived without the monetary benefit of the slave labour? If we did survive, would there still have been a Civil War in the United States? Maybe if we were founded on true equality (no slavery) our Nation would be rid of most (probably not all) racism...Hmmm?
In 2008 many countries and allies send their best wishes to America as we celebrates our 232 birthday with the customary barbecues, picnics and fireworks. I was very surprised recently when some friends from across the pond snuck into the corporate offices of the Grand Resort (where I work) where they orchestrated a very elaborate "Happy Birthday America" greeting. I was more then impressed with the perfectly executed choreography and the singing of happy birthday which was thunderous and in key …it brought a tear to my eye. I'm not sure if I was so moved by the happy birthday song to America itself or the realisation that some may have read one of my previous stories.
Our friends at AMRO WORLDWIDE have launched their " So Gay" advertising campaign in London in time for PRIDE this weekend. The campaign will run from for two weeks neatly sandwiching the two weeks either side of London Pride. There will be 56 posters in Leicester Square and 5 in Covent Garden.
It will be the largest Gay Travel Advertising Campaign on London Underground.
It is estimated that nearly 2 million people will pass the posters during the campaign.
According to Andrew at Amro, Costs for the campaign were calculated and it was decided to seek destination partners, ideally those attractive to the G&L market but not stereotype destinations. Within two weeks, Atlanta, Boston, Las Vegas, New Orleans and Washington DC had confirmed participation and two weeks later South Carolina joined to become a sixth partner.
Andrew & his team have worked closely over the years with Key West, promoting the Island, currently Amro Worldwide offers exclusive deals with Equator Resort and also has close links with Pearls for the Girls.
Good Luck Guys
Following the tales of woe experienced by Gator when he recently had his jaw injured and the health care or lack of the same by the American medical system it got me thanking our lucky stars once again for the NHS (National Health Service) here in the UK.
This week the NHS celebrates it's 60th birthday. In 1948, The NHS was born out of a long-held ideal that good healthcare should be available to all, regardless of wealth. And set out to look after UK citizens from cradle to grave and despite what some might think it still fulfils this goal. Yes it is the best free health service in the world. No matter who you are, if you are in need of medical help you get it. OK if the treatment is not urgent you have to wait for it and sometimes the wait is extended. But if you are in dire need you get treatment, you get it quick and it's free.
Nothing of course is free in life. After Labour's election in 1945 health minister, Anuerin Bevan, brought forward the idea of a national health service, funded by general taxation whereby the rich would pay more than the poor for an equal service. It would be available to all. Each week we pay directly from our wage packet a contribution, know as National Insurance Contribution ( N.I.). This is based on how much you earn and is made up of two parts. Part is collected directly from your wages by your employer and the second party is paid by the employer on your behalf. Basically an employee would pay approx. 11% of their earnings after the first £90 ($180) of their weekly wage. Not only does this fund free healthcare, but also a basic old age pension.
Yes we also have private healthcare if you wish, of course this is not cheap, but treatment by this means is still much cheaper than similar treatment in the US.
Part of the Key West Flag at London Pride
This weekend is Gay Pride in London. Soldiers marching in uniform at this Saturday's parade will have their travel expenses paid for by the MoD (Ministry of Defence).
This year's Pride marks the first year the Ministry of Defence has given its backing to all three of the armed forces marching in uniform in the parade. Last year only the Navy allowed its staff to do so. However, members of the armed forces have been asked to change out of their uniforms when they attend any post-pride events or parties. Oh boy it would be just too confusing.
30th June 2008
Gay people across India gathered in major cities to celebrate Pride this weekend and demand an end to discrimination in a society where homosexuality is still illegal. Various groups are lobbying the government and the courts for a change in the law, which has been in place for more than 145 years. Brought in under British rule, the legal system recognises gay and lesbian relationships "as an unnatural offence". In some Indian states people have taken their own lives because they have found the law unbearable.
Men wore sparkling saris, women wore rainbow boas and hundreds of people chanted for gay rights. Gay rights supporters took to the streets of Calcutta, Bangalore and New Delhi to call for an end to discrimination and push for acceptance in a society where intolerance is widespread.
At the other end of the scale, Members of Parliament in Norway today approved a bill that will allow same-sex couples to marry. The Scandinavian country already allows gay and lesbian couples to enter into civil partnerships, but LGBT rights groups had long complained the law does not go far enough. The new legislation will replace a 1993 law that gives gays the right to enter civil unions similar to marriage, but refuses them the right to church weddings or to be considered as adoptive parents.
The Heinz Mayo Kiss continues to cause controversy her in Sunny Sussex (Yes it is Sunny again this week). Brighton based One80news features the headline 'Is This Really Offensive, Kids?' to provoke debate and urge its readers to complain to Heinz.
"We were disgusted at Heinz for pulling its 'gay kiss' ad and for apologising so readily for their own 'offensive' imagery," said Torsten Højer from One80news.
"We just couldn't believe that in 2008 the sight of two men affectionately kissing really offends that many people - so we thought we'd put an image of a gay kiss out there.
"It's well documented that familiarity can combat prejudice and One80news is available throughout Brighton and Hove, in bars, cafes, shops, libraries and even leisure centres – and online. The more people that see positive images of same-sex affection, the better."
Sex in the over 45's is alive and well over here in the UK. However not without it's drawbacks. Sexually transmitted infections have doubled in under a decade in people over 45 and are now rising faster than in the young. It would appear that increased international travel, Internet dating, new drugs to counter erectile dysfunction are to blame.
Viagra-fuelled over-45s having risky sex with people they meet through the Internet are being blamed for a surge in sexually transmitted diseases among the middle-aged. Married men in their fifties are the biggest risk-takers but women who are past worrying about pregnancy are also having unprotected sex without checking their partners' histories. When they catch something they are reluctant to confess to their spouses — or even to admit that anything is wrong — and so infections spread.
Fifteen camels, two zebras and several llamas and pot-bellied pigs escaped from a circus visiting Amsterdam early today, 'We suspect that a giraffe kicked open a pen,' Dutch police said in a statement, adding that the animals did not get far before they were rounded up and returned to the circus.
28th June 2008
Unfortunately we cannot be in two places at the same time, so while we are chilling to the bone in "Not So Sunny Sussex", our intrepid Flickerdale Correspondent is running around the streets of Wilton Manors "sans pantalon" or for those not familiar with the lingo "without his pants.
Last weekend we celebrated Gay Pride with the "Stonewall Street Festival" held in Wilton Manors with an expected 30,000 participants. Over a miles of the 4 lane main street, named Wilton Drive (which continues to grow with new construction and plans for many more building), was closed Saturday morning thru Sunday night for the celebration.
Saturday night was the first time that the parade was held at night which proved to be very successful. I planned to take many wonderful pictures to share with everyone so I arrived on "the drive" in the early evening. Wilton Drive is home to numerous gay bars, clubs, restaurants and businesses so I felt compelled to sample adult beverages as I walked to and visited each establishment. Continued............
We heard this week that the State of Florida would buy 187,000 acres of land from U.S. Sugar Corp. for $1.75 billion in one of the largest environmental land acquisitions in the nation's history. The purchase of the land is part of an effort to restore and preserve the Everglades. The Everglades is the third-largest national park in the lower 48 U.S. states, after Death Valley and Yellowstone. For decades, water from areas north of the massive wetlands has been diverted to fast-growing cities and for farming. Pollution has also taken a growing toll.
Nelson Mandela is in London this week to celebrate his 90th birthday. Yesterday Mr Mandela was granted an audience with the Queen. Despite looking frail, and walking with the aid of a stick, the world's favourite statesman was on typically mischievous form, telling the monarch: "you look younger every time I see you."
Last night he hosted a party in Hyde Park it was attended by many of the celebrities who act as ambassadors for Mr Mandela's charities. As well as being attended by the Queen, the Queen of American Chat shows was also present.
On leaving the party she just had to kick off her shoes to relieve her bunion.
Work on legal street here in the UK is that Madonna has hired Fiona Shackleton to advise on divorce proceedings from Guy Richie. Ms. Shackleon is the divorce lawyer who ensured that Sir Paul McCartney retained all but £24.3 million of his £825 million fortune.
George Michael is up to his old tricks once again. George stunned his fans, who attended his first U.S. concert in 17 years - by going commando onstage. Fans who made it to the San Diego, show on June 17, revealed that they could make out that the singer was not wearing any underwear.
"You could tell he wasn't wearing underwear. It (his penis) was flopping all over the place," quoted a concert-goer . Besides the added thrill to his fans, the concert is said to have gone on very well. "Everything from his voice, to the lighting, to the stage was beyond anything I have ever experienced," the concert-goer added. I Bet.
A mayonnaise ad by Heinz that shows two men kissing has been withdrawn from television after 200 viewers complained that they found it offensive.
In response to viewer criticism, less than a week into it's five week run, Heinz pulled the advertisement which features the
New York Deli Mayo.
23rd June 2008
Trouble is brewing in the nearby Sussex village of Tarring Neville. Sheep being used in the local church to tend the grass in its graveyard have led some relatives to accuse the authorities of disrespect. St Mary's Church, in Tarring Neville, has brought in the two ewes and two lambs to keep the grass short during the summer months. But families of the deceased claim the sheep are not under control, are eating floral tributes and walking on graves. The church said it had consulted on the use of the sheep, and many welcomed it. It explained that as well as proving to be popular with visitors, it was a return to more ancient ways and cheaper than using a gardener to cut the grass.
Tarring Neville Church
Higher up the Church Spire, Anglican leaders have criticised the Archbishop of Canterbury at the start of talks in Jerusalem on the future of the Church. The Archbishops of Nigeria and Uganda attacked Rowan Williams' failure to discipline the US Episcopal Church for consecrating an openly gay bishop in 2003, claiming that liberals are rewriting the Bible to fit modern trends. And that's before they start to discuss the ordination of female bishops.
In a recent survey of about 3500 gay men here in the UK, A third who know they are HIV positive are still having unprotected sex. The survey also found 40% of the 300 who tested positive for HIV did not know they were infected. According to the survey, those who knew they were HIV positive were statistically more likely to have unprotected sex than those who did not.
About 2,700 gay men in the UK were diagnosed with HIV in 2006 - double the number a decade earlier. A third of all those diagnosed with HIV in 2006 were Gay Men.
When Brighton Pride takes to the streets on August 2nd The vicar from the Brightwaves Metropolitan Community Church will give the parade her holy best wishes before it goes on its way through the streets of Brighton.
Further news for Pride Marches this year, The Army has lifted its ban on soldiers wearing their uniforms with pride at Pride. After strictly banning any soldier from showing off their colours last year, the British Army has relented, bringing it in line with the RAF and the Royal Navy, which gave approval for gay personnel to march in uniform last June.
21st June 2008
Summer Solstice - the longest day
The English have always been known as eccentric or even a little mad. Today is the summer solstice The druids are out in force at Stonehenge and closer to home on "The Longman of Wilmington". However this is nothing compared to the good folks of Dorset who are out in force this weekend for the Annual Nettle Eating competition, this is always held on the Saturday before the Summer Solstice (except when the solstice falls on a Saturday).
The event is held at The Bottle Inn, near Bridport in Dorset. Nettles first came to the fore at the Bottle Inn around 1986 when two farmers were having an argument as to who had the longest nettles on their land. The Landlady then was Francis Vincent who commented "What makes you to think you have the longest nettles, we'll have a competition open to every one in the area and we'll see who has the longest nettles"!! The Longest Stinging Nettle Competition was born.
The competition had been running for three years when local hospital porter and Ex Guardsman, Alex Williams entered a stinging nettles 15'6" long, he said at the time "If anybody beats that I'll eat it. An American couple on holiday staying in the area came up with a nettle 16' long and Alex true to his word, promptly ate the nettle!! (though to this day, he disputes the measurement) After that traditionally if Alex didn't win the competition, he ate the winners Nettle.
While the yokels are swigging beer and cider down in Dorset, at the other end of the social scene, race goers will get through 170,000 bottles of champagne and four tonnes of smoked salmon over the five days of racing at Royal Ascot.
Poor old Martha Steward who at the grand age of 66 has been denied entry to Britain this weekend. She was due to attend The Royal Academy of Art and was even rumoured to be visiting Buckingham Palace (although not to meet the queen), This was a business trip. She was coming here with her crew to film a series of segments for her much-watched American TV show, including a visit to the Wedgwood potteries in Stoke-on-Trent. Wedgwood is the sole manufacturer of her fine china collection, which she promotes in her shows.
It would appear that the Home Office has refused her application for a visa, presumably because of the time she spent in the slammer in America for a cover up over insider dealing.
How strange that only last weekend another American bloke had tea and crumpets with the Queen. They might want to keep their eye on him, too. Word has it he started a couple of wars, engages in extraordinary rendition, endorses torture, strummed a guitar while New Orleans drowned, hates gays, isn't a fan of women's autonomy, wiped his ass on America's constitution, and pissed on habeas corpus.
Surely pictures of Martha trolling around London would be good for British Tourism from the America's, who are conspicuous by their absence this year.
duchess & Lulu,Brighton naked bike ride,nakedbi
19th June 2008
It is that time of year once again to don your chapeaux and head off to Ascot for the Royal Ascot race meeting. Royal Ascot is the world's most famous race meeting, steeped in history dating back to 1711. The royal family attend the meeting, arriving each day in a horse-drawn carriage. It is a major event in the British social calendar, and press coverage of the attendees and what they are wearing often exceeds coverage of the actual racing.
Yesterday the girls were a little challenged by the wind trying to rip off their topknots. Even HM had to hold her creation in place during her carriage ride onto the course.
Will these two spectacular head pieces be seen in the Royal box this week - I wonder.
A Wig - What Wig ?
Little Britain star Matt Lucas and his partner have split up, just 18 months after getting "married" in a civil partnership ceremony. Matt and his long-term boyfriend Kevin McGee have begun proceedings to "dissolve" their civil partnership, which they celebrated in December 2006 with a flamboyant pantomime-themed reception. They will be one of the first high profile couples to end their civil partnership, since
same-sex unions came into force in December 2005.
The world's most expensive burger - flame grilled Wagyu Beef, topped with white truffles in an Iranian saffron and truffle bun - went on sale at Burger King this week in London. Burger King's £95 ($185) sandwich, named simply The Burger, will make Guinness World Record history. The world's most succulent Japanese beef is complemented with white truffles, onion tempura prepared in Cristal champagne and Italy's finest Pata Negra prosciutto.
Mathematicians are perplexed after a highly complex crop circle appeared in a Wiltshire field - depicting a fundamental mathematical symbol. The circle is, apparently, a coded image representing a complex mathematical number — the first ten digits of pi — and even astrophysicists admit they find it "mind-boggling". The pattern was created in a barley field near Barbury Castle, an Iron Age hill fort.
President & Mrs Bush have just spent a weekend in England, on Sunday they had afternoon tea with The Queen at Windsor Castle followed by dinner with Prime Minister Gordon Brown at Downing Street. They are on their farewell tour of Europe.
His visit with the queen at Windsor Castle provided a more personal setting than at Buckingham Palace and is a rare honour. Only one other U.S. president has been invited to Windsor Castle: Ronald Reagan, in 1982.
When he had dinner with Gordon Brown in Downing Street, the whole of Whitehall was closed to the public, supposedly as a security measure. For those of you not familiar with London, Downing street which houses the Prime Ministers official residence and that of the chancellor of the exchequer along with various government offices has been closed to the public for a number of decades, however Downing Street opens onto Whitehall with is a public thoroughfare. It would seem that British security was trying to keep around 2500 war protesters, demonstrating against President Bush's "War on Terror." away from the Bushes , at Parliament Square some distance from Downing Street.
Lordy, Lordy the Anglican Church is getting it's knickers in a twist again after, the rector of one of London's oldest churches has defied his bishop to "marry" two gay priests in a traditional ceremony. The Rev Martin Dudley officiated last month before a congregation of 300 as a favour to friends. However, he did not inform the Bishop of London, Richard Chartres. A Church of England spokesman said last night that it was a "fairly serious" breach of the House of Bishops' strict guidance on same-sex ceremonies.
If that is not bad enough more than 500 clergy could leave the Church of England in response to proposals to consecrate women bishops that will be debated at the General Synod next month.
Prince William has been installed as a Knight of the Garter, the world's oldest surviving Order of Chivalry and the absolute top echelon in Britain's arcane system of honours.
William looked fetching, if mildly embarrassed, as he walked in procession with other members of the royal family and Knights Companion's, all dressed in blue velvet mantle, garter on left leg and over-the-top hat of ostrich and heron feathers. At least it made a change from all those pictures of William in assorted military uniforms we have seen recently.
The Garter is usually offered to past prime ministers; Sir John Major walked in procession today while Baroness Thatcher, who is increasingly frail, was delivered to the chapel door by car. Disraeli, the ultimate flatterer, was a KG but Gladstone wasn't; Victoria detested the way he addressed her as though she were at a public meeting.
Sainsbury's has begun selling milk in bags in a move to cut the millions of plastic cartons discarded every year. This is not the first time it has been tried in Britain, The Co-operative first tried to introduce milk bags in the seventies and Sainsbury's made its first attempt seven years ago, but both met consumer resistance. But supermarket executives feel that the time might now be right with green issues being on the boil once again.
Congratulations to Brothers and Sisters in California, who from this morning at 5.00am may get married in same sex relationships - One Step Nearer.
14th June 2008
At 8.00am this morning on the BBC, Her Majesty the Queen's Official birthday is announced and our National Anthem "God Save the Queen" is played, this is all very patriotic for the Royalist amongst us. A number of years ago this tradition was dropped from the BBC at the direction of the powers to be. But l am glad to say we are now back on track.
During the morning, The Queen celebrated her official birthday with the Trooping the Colour parade in central London. More than 1,100 soldiers took part in the display of military pomp and pageantry on Horse Guards Parade. The Queen's actual birthday was on 21 April, when she turned 82. The tradition of two birthdays dates back to the time when, if monarchs were born in winter, the weather was deemed unsuitable for outdoor events.
After the Queen took the salute on Horse Guards Parade, the royals headed back to Buckingham Palace to gather on the balcony. There they watched the annual flypast. Involving 55 aircraft of 14 different types, this year's was longer than usual to mark the 90th anniversary of the RAF. The planes taking part ranged from a 68-year-old Spitfire to the RAF's very latest aircraft, the Typhoon.
Paul O'Grady is among a number of high profile celebrities to have been bestowed an award in the Queen's Birthday Honours List. Mr O'Grady, who first shot to fame as drag queen Lily Savage. He said: "It is a very nice birthday present. I'm really pleased, really surprised. It's something I'd never even thought about." "I'm the last person, I'd have thought, who would be given an MBE.
Lily was dumped in the drag bag a few years back when Paul took up his current post of afternoon chat show host.
It ain't over 'til the gay cowboy sings - Brokeback Mountain is to be made into an opera. New York City Opera has commissioned the distinguished composer Charles Wuorinen, 70, to pen the operatic version of Annie Proulx's novel. Gerard Mortier, acting general manager of the New York City Opera, said the production was set to hit the stage for the 2013 spring season.
Daniel Craig sliced off the tip of one of his fingers, last week during the filming Quantum of Solace the latest James Bond film. The production is beginning to look like a cursed one, as there have been several accidents, injuries and crazy moments that have disrupted shooting.
An exterior set was heavily damaged after a fire broke out at the studio; a stuntman drove an Aston Martin into a lake; another stuntman suffered head injuries after slamming head first into another vehicle; and Craig had to get eight stitches to the face a few weeks ago. Who said acting was for Nancy's.
An Indonesian city is offering more than 1,000 boys a free circumcision as part of celebrations for the 58th anniversary of its foundation, a report said Tuesday. Health officials in Kotabaru, South Kalimantan province, said the circumcisions were a gift of better health to hundreds of boys whose families may not be able to afford the procedure. Free cataract and harelip operations are also being offered to more than 100 people as part of next week's festivities.
Royal Ascot is the highlight of the British horse racing season and it is not only the horses that get dressed up for the occasion. However Women face being banned from the Royal Enclosure at Ascot this year if their skirts are more than two inches above the knee or their tops have straps less than an inch wide.
A dress code for race goers, dubbed "anti-chav" by insiders, has been posted to each attendee with their ticket. No exceptions will be made this year and race course stewards will enforce the ban strictly.
No midriffs on show, bare legs are frowned upon and No knickers must be on show, poorly applied fake tans are frowned upon. Girls this is clearly not "Fantasy Fest".
Bob or Not Bob, the only thing that l know is that he is just "Not Right", if he is not making a stink about small farm animals he is trumping up yet another turbulent rumble.
It's always fun to hear the difference between English and American terms or words. But no matter what country you are from, what your cultural background may be or your sexual preference we all share a universal function, flatulence.
I don't want to digress to a childish discussion. Instead, I prefer a mature, adult dialogue on this subject. There are many other words and terms for flatulence that one may use such as boff, blurt, bark, botty burp, air biscuit, trump, fart, chunder, puffer, beaner, stinker, arse blast, morning thunder, colon calamity, rare arse, cut the cheese, drop one's gut, shoot bunnies, step on a duck, voice of the toothless wonder, let Freddie out of jail and my favorite….get expelled from stool.
It is not my intent to list all the names and facts about flatulence. These can be found on a website that I visit often as I endeavour to continue my higher education. It's an informative website that answers all the questions that you always wanted to know about flatulence like "How much gas does a person pass in one day?",
"Do goldfish fart?" or "Is it harmful to hold gas in?" It tells about the great early 20th Century French flatulist, Le Petomane, who was able to make a living by performing on stage. He could control and release gas to imitate musical instruments, farm animals (dare we go there?), bird songs, whistle melodies, and play the ocarina (wind instrument related to the flute). This site is called Fart Facts and can be found at www.heptune.com/farts check it out and become an expert.
Well it has to happen, the next President of the United States had to be a woman, a black man or the oldest geezer. With one down it will be a very interesting few months.
Church's are struggling to survive here in the UK . Dwindling numbers and high maintenance costs. One local church in our area has sent out letters to all the parishioners asking for help with the Vicar's stipend. Mean while another vicar has proposed opening a post office on his church grounds in south-west London following the planned closure of two branches in the area.
Many churches are looking for uses that will compliment the religious services. Some churches are even finding alternate uses all together. The historic church, St Benedict's in Ardwick has been saved from demolition by a new congregation... of climbers! , a grade two listed building, is about to re-open its doors as a climbing centre, complete with the region's highest artificial rock face.
The church has stood empty for four years after the dwindling number of worshippers forced it to close its doors. Its condition was deteriorating fast, but now, thanks to an emergency repair grant from English Heritage, it's ready to start its new life as Manchester's first dedicated climbing centre.
A church in Wales is having problems of a different kind. Police were initially baffled when they were called to Llandilo Chapel, to investigate what was suspected to be an act of vandalism. It turns out that a belligerent flock of rams caused havoc in the remote graveyard after picking a fight with their mirror images reflected on polished granite headstones.
Yes it is that time of year once again, when you throw your cloths to the ground and mount your bike for a gentle cycle through the streets of Brighton. Saturday saw over 400 cyclists whizzing naked through Brighton in protest at cycle safety on British roads and oil dependency. The ride was the fourth in as many years and is part of the larger World Naked Bike Ride, which takes place in 70 cities worldwide.
Once again the intrepid Lulu took to the streets with her "Box Brownie" to snap some of the highlights and lowlights of the day's events. The following picture show is dedicated to Ferman in Key West, who just loves English boys on bikes. !!
7th June 2008
It's all happening here in Sunny Sussex, just along the coast at Bexhill- on -Sea, an emu egg caught its owner by surprise by hatching into a chick.. Gillian Stone paid £30 for three large blue-green emu eggs while on holiday on the Isle of Wight. Once back at home, instead of making them into an omelette, the chicken breeder put them in an incubator and Hey Presto managed to hatch a baby emu.
Further north in the seaside resort of Blackpool ( my home for three years during my college years) Giant horse nappies will become a feature of the Promenade in a bid to clean up the streets. About fifty horse drawn landau's carry tourists up and down the promenade during the summer months. It is a hoped use of the muck catchers will make the Promenade dung free. The devices will stop the majority of dung from landing on the Promenade. I image it will be similar to the device worn on Key West Streets by Officer Newby's nag.
Opps. Florida is to ban Truck Nutz. It is currently very trendy to display your balls on the back of you truck, but due to obscenity laws in Florida, vehicle owners will have to remove their golden orbs or face a $60 fine.
Florida may be getting more puritanical, but it seems that Cuba is moving on. Cuban state television has aired Brokeback Mountain as part of a new campaign against homophobia, which is being backed by the government. Prejudice against homosexuals remains deeply rooted in Cuban society, but the government has steadily moved away from the Puritanism of the 1960s and 1970s, when homosexuals hid their sexuality for fear of being ridiculed, fired from work or even imprisoned. Now Cuba's parliament is studying proposals to legalise same-sex unions and give gay couples the benefits that people in traditional marriages enjoy.
While on the subject of Caribbean islands, a man arrested for kissing his boyfriend while on holiday in the Cayman islands has received an apology. He was arrested when he refused to stop kissing his boyfriend. Homosexuality was decriminalised in the country which is a British Territory in 2000. I really think that the police in the Cayman's have more important work to do as residents of the Caymans described the public antics of participants at a street dance in George Town, as beyond disgraceful. Goto YouTube (cayman dancehall 2008) for a lengthy display of heterosexual street behaviour.
TV's Big Brother started this week in the UK, I have not watched one minute of the broadcast and very likely will not!.
Britain's oldest man, Henry Allingham, celebrated his 112th birthday at Royal Air Force College Cranwell. He said he felt "on the crest of a wave" and was looking forward to a wonderful day.
5th June 2008
Charles Dickens as we all know was a great British writer, what is less well known is that he was an early benefactor of Great Ormond Street children's hospital. Initially the hospital was regarded as a suspicious innovation by many people, and few patients came, but soon its reputation began to spread across the city. Charles West the founder, was fortunate in having as a friend Britain's leading novelist Charles Dickens, who wrote a powerful article in his popular magazine Household Words to publicise the hospital when it opened.
In the early years, the patients were all treated in shared wards for a wide variety of conditions, from serious illnesses such as bronchitis and syphilis to relatively minor ailments like catarrh and diahorrea that today would be dealt with by a General Practitioner. Being a Voluntary Hospital exclusively for the children of the poor, the hospital was funded by subscriptions, donations and fund-raising events such as its Annual Festival Dinner, which often attracted eminent speakers, including Charles Dickens, Oscar Wilde, senior clergymen and members of the Royal Family as speakers.
Yesterday Charles Dickens did his thing once again for GOSH. The battered desk where Charles Dickens penned classics such as Great Expectations and Pickwick Papers was sold at auction for £433,250 ($865,000). The desk had recently been gifted to Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital by Jeanne-Marie Dickens in order to raise funds. The hospital will profit from the total funds raised.
In this photo released by Christie's Images shows Sir Luke Fildes's (1843-1927) haunting engraving The Empty Chair, Gad's Hill ? Ninth of June 1870, which was published in the Christmas edition of The Graphic in 1870, and which shows Charles Dickens? desk and chair abandoned in his study, lamenting the death of the great author. (AP Photo/Christie's Images)
All right it is a years since Paul Potts won Britain's Got Talent with his fabulous voice, this year it was the turn of a much younger boy who wowed the British public with his incredible break dancing. George Sampson does his take on "Singing in the Rain".
The guy that designed the Pringles potato snack packaging tube died on May 4 this year aged 89, and his family honoured his request to be buried one of the Pringle tubes he was so proud of designing. A small quantity of his ashes were placed inside one of the tubes, and some in a regular urn and then buried in a grave in a Springfield cemetery. Frederick J. Bur worked for Procter & Gamble as a food storage technician who specialised in research and development and quality control. He designed the iconic tubes in 1966 and was granted the patent for it in 1977.
Police in Bucharest are hunting for an attractive young lady who is performing an ad hoc pole dance on the cities underground railway system. Passengers described the dancer as a "well-dressed, attractive, student-like young woman".
The young lady performs her routine between stops, to the tune of Tom Jones' You Can Leave Your Hat On. She starts the track up on a portable CD player then removes her clothes and gyrates around one of the trains handrails.
Once the track finishes she puts her clothes back on and passes around a collection tin for people's "donations".
2nd June 2008
The Queen waves goodbye to an old queen today. The old queen being the QEII. On the 55th anniversary of the Queen's coronation, Queen Elizabeth lunched onboard the QEII today along with 300 invited guests paying her farewell visit to the ship before she heads off to Dubai to become a floating hotel in the autumn.
Captains, officers, and crew past and present were introduced to the Queen, on the 55th anniversary of her Coronation, as she toured the 70,000 tonne ship which she launched on the Clyde in Scotland in September 1969. She had been the first to sign the ship's visitors' book ahead of the maiden passenger voyage, and became the last to do so on her farewell visit today.
In an eventful life the QEII became the largest ship to navigate the Panama Canal, is still the fastest passenger ship afloat with a top speed of 32.5 knots, She carried troops to the Falklands war when she was commandeered by then Prime Minister Maggie Thatcher, who was also at the lunch today. Then in 1972 paratroopers were dropped on board in the Atlantic to investigate a bomb threat that turned out to be a hoax.
Another member of Royalty in the news today was Yves Saint Laurent who died yesterday in Paris after a year-long battle with brain cancer.
The price of bread has risen dramatically over the last few months, but don't worry one of the Sunday newspapers were offering all readers the chance to pick up a free loaf of bread this weekend. Once it was CD's and sachets of shampoo. Give us this day our daily bread.
The first live television ad in modern times was screened on Channel Four this weekend. The ad, which lasted 3 minutes and 20 seconds, went smoothly and without a single hitch, as the 19 stuntmen plummeted to the Earth from 14,000 feet above sea level. During the fall they spelled out the word HONDA The ad ended with one of the skydivers revealing the message "hello mum" on his gloves, which was then followed by the campaign strapline "difficult is worth doing".
You may remember a previous ad from HONDA from a few years back called "The Cog", the amazing thing was that this ad was filmed in one take.
