NICE story with a happy ending in the Daily Telegraph about a dog which was stolen by burglars and has now been reunited with its owners after seven years!
Molly, a 10 year old Jack Russell, was picked up by Warwickshire police 200 miles away from owners Brian and Pauline Berry in Houghton-le-Spring, County Durham.
The police traced the Berrys through Molly's microchip, but were very surprised to hear she had been reported stolen from kennels at the couple's home in 2008.
The officers had been called to reports of dogs running loose on the street in the town of Leamington Spa and Molly was among the pack. She was badly emaciated and her teeth were in very poor condition but she is now back on the road to recovery at the family home.
Mr Berry said: “When my wife had the call from the police, we just couldn't believe it - and neither could they. At first I think the police thought she said Molly had gone missing seven weeks ago, and she had to repeat herself.”
He added: “I am 100 per cent positive she knew immediately who we were. But to start with, she was in such bad shape the people at the animal shelter had to warn us before we saw her. However, after about 10 minutes of stroking though, she was licking my face.”
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Believe it or not, top London store Selfridges has already launched its Christmas shop.
The Guardian reports that it has transformed 3,000 square feet of its fourth floor into a winter wonderland filled with festive decorations and even Father Christmas was there to welcome shoppers.
A spokesperson for the store said: “Despite the summer weather, we’re in full festive mode here at Selfridges. We’ve been working on this year’s Christmas shop since Christmas last year.
“We have so many customers visiting from all over the world and eager to snap up festive souvenirs on their summer holidays, which they can’t buy at home. So, we have to make sure we’re ready to showcase Christmas decorations.”
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When amateur radio enthusiast Adrian Lane, from Coleford, Gloucestershire, realised that the International Space Centre would be passing 200 miles above his home at a speed of 18.500mph he thought he would give them a call - from his garden shed.
And, reports the Daily Express, Adrian got through! An American astronaut responded to 'welcome him aboard' and chatted for nearly a minute before the space station shot out of range.
Adrian said: “The adrenalin was pumping a little bit. It was very enjoyable. I said to them how wonderful Earth must look from up there.”
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Hilda Jackson decided to celebrate her 101st birthday in style – by driving a tank!
The Daily Telegraph said that great-grandmother Hilda, who is blind in one eye, drove the tank at the Tank School in Usk, South Wales - and celebrated by sipping on a glass of sherry in the cockpit.
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If you want to have a happy life you might consider living in the North Yorkshire spa town of Harrogate.
A BBC article says that it has been rated the the happiest place to live in Britain in a survey by the Rightmove property website.
24,000 people were asked how they felt about where they lived and Harrogate came out top. They were asked to rate their area based on 12 factors, including neighbourliness, how safe they felt, recreational facilities, sense of community, living costs, contentment and how proud they felt about their home.
Reference list:
The Express (www.express.co.uk)
The Guardian (www.guardian.co.uk)
Daily Telegraph (www.telegraph co.uk)
BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)