News Round Up
by Patrick O'Connor
STRUGGLING to get a good night's kip?
Then, according to a survey reported in the Daily Express, you should make blue the dominant colour in your bedroom.
The survey of 2,000 households by Travelodge claims that the colour of your bedroom can determine whether you have a good night's sleep and that blue seems to guarantee a 'blissful' 7hrs and 52mins shut-eye.
The survey reveals that nearly six out of 10 Britons with a blue bedroom say they wake up happy.
Colour expert Suzy Chiazzari, said: "Psychologically we relate blue to calm waters and the blue sky."
Doggone it!
Fifty year old Tim Blackburn, from Stockton-on-Tees, whose arm was broken for six years, finally had it mended – then tripped over his dog and broke it again the next day, says The Sun.
Tim smashed his right arm falling off a ladder in 2007. It was so badly broken that doctors were unable to fix it and had to remove four inches of bone before attaching a protective metal scaffold around the limb.
But thanks to a new technique which uses ultrasound to fuse bone fractures, the arm was finally fixed.
Tim then tripped over Jackson, his two-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier, and fell down the stairs.
He said:“It snapped like a twig and the pain was excruciating. I couldn’t believe I had done it again. If I didn’t laugh about all of it, I’d cry.”
What's this? A cat doing bird!
The Daily Mirror reports that a cat nipped inside a prison to give birth to six kittens. The new mum was found inside a truck normally used to transport inmates to Parc Prison, Bridgend, South Wales.
Cats Protection manager Sue Dobbs said: “It’s the first time we’ve rescued a cat from inside the walls of a well-guarded prison.”
I have a particular weakness for Jaffa Cakes and it seems I'm not the only one.
A story in the Daily Telegraph says that burglar Reece O'Callaghan was betrayed by his own sweet tooth when he broke into a house in Birmingham.
O'Callaghan was arrested by police nearby but claimed he was innocent. However forensic experts found his middle finger imprint on the Jaffa Cake box.
The burglar has now been sentenced to a seven and half year jail term – wonder if Jaffa Cakes are on the menu?
You have to hand it to Irwin Eaton who has become a 2nd dan black belt in judo at the age of 78.
The Mirror says Irwin took up the sport after watching his cousin take part nearly 20 years ago and was awarded his first black belt as he celebrated his 70th birthday.
He said: “I love the fitness and it gives me real confidence. I just want to give people a bit of inspiration. You’re only as old as you feel.”
His teacher, 6th dan black belt Gary Donoughue, from the Yorkshire Judo club in Oakwood, Leeds, said: “All the kids get up and cheer him on, he’s a joy to have in the judo club. Every week, Irwin has someone down on the mat. He is fit. Hopefully he’ll still be doing it when he’s 100.”
In complete contrast, the BBC reports that half of parents driving their children to UK primary schools live under a mile away.
A YouGov survey of 1,000 parents found that one in four parents said they did not consider walking their child to school.
UK schools have been marking walk-to-school week. The National Travel Survey for 2011, showed that 49% of children aged between five and 10 walked to school. That was down from 53% in 1995-97. At secondary level, 39% of children were walking, down from 42%.
Football crazy!
The Daily Star tells us that Manchester United supporters are battling it out on eBay for Sir Alex Ferguson’s last piece of gum.
The seller says the gum was taken from West Bromwich Albion’s Hawthorns ground when manager Sir Alex discarded it following United’s 5-5 draw – his last game after 27 years in charge – and now comes complete with perspex and wood case.
Bizarre story in The Sun about 50 year old Claire Bartlett, from Newport, South Wales, who cleans and tidies the house in her sleep!
Claire told the paper: “I think it’s every housewife’s dream — and every husband’s. I don’t feel tired afterwards. If anything, I’m relieved when I wake up and everything is done.
“This happens about three times a week. My family think it’s quite funny. I’ve even started leaving out the dishes hoping my sub-conscious self will clean up after me.”
Finally, aren't our politicians wonderful!
The Sun reports that MPs spent over a quarter of million pounds on drink in the House of Commons last year – including 34,000 pints of beer.
The paper claims £266,110 was spent on alcohol, giving each of the 650 MPs an average bar bill of £409.
Reference lists:
The Express(www.express.co.uk)
Daily Mirror ((www.mirror.co.uk)
Daily Star (www.daily star.co.uk
The Sun (www.thesun.co.uk)
Daily Telegraph (www.telegraph co.uk)
BBC (www.bbc.co.uk/news/)