News Round Up
by Patrick O’Connor
THE BBC says Andy Murray’s Wimbledon tennis victory drew the highest TV ratings of the year so far with a peak audience of 17.3 million viewers tuning in to watch him beat Novak Djokovic – the highest audience for a Wimbledon final since at least 1990.
Viewing peaked at 5.30pm as Murray closed in on Djokovic, representing a 79.6% share of the total TV audience during the same period.
According to the Daily Telegraph, injuries are rising amongst competitive parents who battle to be the first across the winning tape in their children’s school sports day.
Supermarket chain The Co-operative Food reports a surge in sales of pain relief products.
The purchase of painkillers, including analgesics, bandages, and plasters rocket by almost 50 per cent during the months of June and July when school sports days are at their peak, says The Co-operative. Torn muscles, sprained ankles, cuts and bruises are some of the common ailments suffered.
Scott Shaw, The Co-operative Food medicine buyer, said: “Seeing just how competitive grown up mums and dads can be is quite an education. But pushing yourself too far can often result in a very painful lesson for parents. Everyone has a natural desire to prove to themselves that they are still strong and fit, despite sitting in front of a computer all day. Unfortunately, in many cases, while the spirit is willing the body is weak.”
Cricketing fans in the UK have been enthralled by the First Test match being played between England and Australia in Nottingham but spare a thought for amateur cricketer Nathan Anthes.
A report on the BBC news website reveals that Nathan, an Australian, flew 10,000 miles to play in a special match marking a friend’s 50th birthday but was bowled out on the very first ball.
The 25 year old played for Hadleigh and Thundersley Cricket Club in Essex in 2007 and 2008. He flew back to the UK with his father Les to see old friends and to watch the Test series and agreed to play in a match marking Jonathan Wagstaff’s birthday whilst over here.
Nathan said: “I went out there and got a tossed up ball and I tried to hit it out of the park and I missed it. It was a long way for nothing. I was hoping to show what I could do.”
Ouch! A man told The Sun that he was attacked by a fox while he sat on the toilet.
Anthony Scholfield from Catford, South London, claimed the animal sank its jaws into his arm after it wandered into his home and then turned on his partner and their pet cat.
“The fox pushed its nose through the door. I jumped off the toilet. It ran into the front room and got the cat round the neck. Its strength was unbelievable. There was blood everywhere.”
John Bryant, of the Humane Wildlife Deterrence Association, said: “An open back door is very inviting. In this case the fox came face to face with a human. Suddenly it is frightened and panicking and is entitled to defend itself.”
More animal menace reported in the Daily Mirror which revealed that ‘posties’ in Eastbourne, East Sussex, are so scared of dive-bombing seagulls that they have stopped deliveries.
Residents in two streets have been told to go to a sub post office nearly a mile away to collect their own mail. A Royal Mail spokeswoman said: “The safety of our people is paramount. We will resume deliveries as soon as it is safe to do so.”
An animal rescue expert said protective gulls would attack if, for example, a chick fell on to the ground.
Political correctness gone mad – 1
According to The Sun, a lollipop man has been banned from high-fiving children at a school crossing because of safety concerns.
Roger Green greets the children at the crossing outside Sandy Lane Primary School, Bracknell, in Berkshire, but council officials have told him to stop because of health and safety concerns.
Roger said: “I have to follow what my boss says, but it is a harmless piece of fun and all the children like it.”
Mum-of-four Leith Kilmartin responded: “It is ridiculous. He is very attentive to the kids and traffic. The high-five makes their day.”
A spokesperson for Bracknell Forest Borough Council commented: “Children stopping as they cross the road for a ‘high-five’ puts them and the patrolman at risk and confuses drivers. “
Political correctness gone made – 2
The Daily Mail tells us that a milkman has been ordered to stop whistling on his early morning round because five residents on his delivery round of 340 houses in Leicester have complained.
Kevin Gifford has been told that he can resume his whistling after 8.0am,when his round his finished.
Finally, the Star reports that the Eurythmics hit Sweet Dreams is the most misquoted song of all time.
In a poll conducted by digital music service Spotify, the chorus, sung by Annie Lennox, is often changed to “sweet dreams are made of cheese” instead of “this”.
Other errors include Rihanna’s We Found Love (in a hopeless place) to “we found dove in a soapless place”.
Reference lists:
Daily Mail (www.dailymail.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)