News Round Up
by Patrick O'Connor
ACT your age for God's sake!
Drunken, irresponsible behaviour is expected from youngsters in their teens and early 20s, especially if alcohol is involved, but not from their elders.
It seems that concert-goers let the side down when pop superstars Take That performed over eight nights at the City of Manchester Stadium. The group traditionally attracts a more mature audience and the Daily Mail reports that official figures just released revealed that paramedics had to deal with 792 cases – most alcohol or heat related.
It was already known that more than 100 women, most in their 30s and 40s, had to be treated in hospital after drinking too much after the concerts in the summer of 2011.
Police had to deal with 75 incidents and made 30 arrests, resulting in a 10 per cent increase on average admissions to Manchester Royal Infirmary. About 160 extra patients had to be treated on the concert dates – or 27 per day.
The comedian Charlie Drake had a hit with the novelty record 'My Boomerang Won't Come Back' in 1961 but it now seems that the item making a big return as a popular plaything.
The Mirror says the scientifically redesigned old favourite, now christened a Boomaring and priced at just under £10, was voted the runaway winner at the annual Toy Fair in London.
Ladies, you have been warned...
According to the Daily Express, Wednesday teatimes (3.30pm) is when you are going to look your oldest.
Research by tanning company St Tropez claims that this is when energy levels plummet, stress caused by juggling work and family life is at its peak and the effects of any weekend late nights kick in.
The study reckons that more than one in 10 women find Wednesday the most stressful day of the week while 20 per cent are so busy they work through their lunch hour.
Nichola Joss, of St Tropez, said: “Combine the highest stress levels of the week on a Wednesday with the mid-afternoon slump and that’s why women can look older than their years. It can take up to 72 hours for the visible effects of alcohol to show, so the effects of drinking on the weekend may not present themselves until Wednesday afternoon.”
So now you know!
Better news for the fairer sex is a report in the online edition of the British Medical Journal, quoted by the Daily Telegraph, which says that four in 10 girls born today are expected to live to 100.
Health economist John Appleby said if trends continue, the majority of girls born in 2060 - some 60 per cent - will live to see 2160.
Bizarre exclusive story in The Sun that a pregnant woman was allowed to take her dog into a labour ward to watch her give birth.
Apparently bosses at St Michael's Hospital, Bristol, agreed that Barney, believed to be a Labrador, could attend because of his 'calming presence'.
Sarah Windfeld, hospital head of midwifery, said: “Barney is a certified Pets As Therapy dog and with his owner regularly attends to patients in hospital.
“His owner made the request to us for Barney to be present when she gave birth as a therapy dog, not as a pet. Having first sought the approval of our infection control experts, we agreed to Barney sitting nearby in the delivery room.”
It doesn't add up!
The Mail tells us that a survey by learning firm Pearson shows that just one in 20 parents are able to do maths intended for children aged eight to 12 because of confusion over 'new-fangled' methods of teaching the subject.
Only five per cent of 2,000 volunteers correctly answered 10 questions which tested maths typically taught to junior school pupils.
Nearly two-thirds of the parents who took part said they were reluctant to get involved with maths homework for fear of confusing their children due to new methods used to teach the subject.
The Mirror has called four month old rescue kitten Harvey a floppy cat.
Harvey was born with bones missing in his front legs but he’s still learnt to walk.
The kitten has a rare condition called Radial Agenesis and is awaiting an op to put metal pins in his legs after charity Cats Protection raised £3,000 in just three days to pay for it.
Nora Sly, who has been a regular worshipper at St Mary's Church in Cowley, Gloucestershire, for 60 years has been immortalised in stone, says The Sun.
Nora's face has been copied for a church gargoyle carved onto a new pillar at the church.
Nice one Nora!
References:
The Express(www.express.co.uk)
Daily Mail (www.dailymail.co.uk)
Daily Mirror ((www.mirror.co.uk)
The Sun (www.thesun.co.uk)
Daily Telegraph (www.telegraph co.uk)