Tuesday 25 November 2008

Switch-on time

IT’S that time of year again – the run up to December 25.

With only a matter of weeks till Christmas, people’s thoughts are already turning to the festive period, and what they will be doing over the holiday break.

Many shops have already got Christmas trees in their windows and Christmas lights are being switched on, or are about to be turned on in towns across the country.

And soon the panto season will start with Cinderella on at both The Southport Theatre and Liverpool Empire. Pantos are as much a part of Christmas as Turkey or crackers.

The run-up to Christmas is one of my favourite times of the year.

Meanwhile, council chiefs have said they want roadside cafes to replace their greasy spoon image with healthier alternatives.

This seems to be another example of the nanny state trying to organise our lives.

Surely it is up to us to choose what we want to eat. If we want a bacon butty and a cup of tea, then it is our choice.

The roadside café is supplying a demand, and if they were to only sell salads they would surely lose trade.

Now roadside cafes who continue to serve unhealthy options could face seeing their licence cancelled.

Council bosses want to see “healthy food”, which includes low-fat grilled sausage with wholemeal bread, muesli and fruit yoghurt. I know what I would rather have. Give me a bacon sandwich and a cup of tea in the morning any day.

Wednesday 12 November 2008

"Fairly unique" blog

Oxford researchers have compiled a list of the most irritating clichés.

At the top of this is “at the end of the day” - most people have said it, and the phrase is often used by footballers when they are interviewed after a game.

Next to follow is “at this moment in time,” which uses six words to say “now.”

Other clichés on the list are: “fairly unique”, “at this moment in time”, “with all due respect”, “absolutely”, “it's a nightmare”, “24/7”, “it's not rocket science”, and “shouldn't of.”

One phrase is out of favour with employees at a local council though.

Staff at Salisbury District Council are not allowed to say the phrase “singing from the same hymn sheet,” because it might offend atheists.

Meanwhile The X-Factor is providing a few surprises and one of these is that Daniel has not yet been voted off.

I think Daniel is the weakest link out of the people still in the show, but the British public are voting for him as they are for John Sergeant in Strictly Come Dancing.

Cheryl Cole seemed shocked to see Laura White leave on Saturday night.

Laura sang Somewhere Over The Rainbow in the sing-off and was joined by Ruth Lorenzo, but lost out.

So far I think Alexandra is the best performer.

Wednesday 5 November 2008

Custard is back

Many people will be going to firework parties this week to mark Bonfire Night.

Each year we brace the cold and stand around bonfire to remember Guy Fawkes and The Gunpowder Plot.

Here is the story of The Gunpowder Plot.
Over 400 years ago in April 1604 a group of conspirators met to think of what they could do to stop the persecution of fellow Catholics in England.

They included Robert Catesby, Thomas Percy, John Wright, Thomas Winter and Guy Fawkes.
Catesby's plan was to blow up the Lords' Chamber on November 5, which was the day Parliament opened. On that day King James I and all of Parliament would be in the room.

But Guy Fawkes was caught on November 4, with gunpowder in a vault under the Lords' Chamber.

On January 27, 1606, Guy Fawkes and seven conspirators were sentenced to death.

That same month Parliament passed a law saying November 5 should be a day of public thanksgiving.

Meanwhile did you know that custard is making a comeback. I never knew that it had gone out of fashion.

Annual sales of custard – which the French call crème anglaise – is now more than £80 million.
Custard made well can spice up many puddings. Lumpy custard, which many people have suffered at school, is to be avoided though.