Children swap

A bit like Wife Swap, maybe following Auntie JoJo's steps, the kids decided today they wanted to play downstairs, at our neighbours'. Nothing unusual except that the girls from downstairs decided to come up with me, and play here. What a difference, to have 2 quiet little girls...

Enchanted Easter Garden

An Eyeful of Sweets
The London Eye landscape transforms into an Enchanted Easter Garden

Easter is just around the corner and between 3 – 19 April the capital’s most iconic landmark, the London Eye, is celebrating by bringing an Enchanted Easter Garden to life. This will be no ordinary garden of course; its plants and flowers will be laden with delicious sweets and chocolates, with rhymes and riddles that lead you along a mini treat trail through the garden.

Step into a world where London was once made completely from chocolate, sweets and scrumptious treats. The roads were paved with liquorice, the Thames flowed pure milk chocolate and Buckingham Palace was made of bricks of golden butterscotch. Now though, the Enchanted Easter Garden, surrounding the London Eye, is the only bit of the city left.

Each year in the Enchanted Easter Garden the city’s Chief Sweetie Grower, Jemima Jellybean carefully grows a wonderful crop of sweets, with enough to keep all of London content. Once all the sweets and chocolates are ready they are packed into the largest cantilevered sweetie dispenser ever invented – the London Eye - and distributed across the capital.

This year, however, Jemima Jellybean is struggling to come up with some exciting sweetie concoctions and is appealing to Londoners to help her to think up some new recipes. Over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend (9 – 13 April), Jemima Jellybean will be down at the Enchanted Easter Garden to meet budding sweetie makers and take their flavouring and design suggestions. For some inspiration, visitors can even take a special themed Easter Delight Flight and discover the secret sweet history of London’s famous landmarks, while tasting some of the delicious sweets and chocolates for themselves along the way!

The Easter excitement doesn’t need to end there though. The London Eye is encouraging visitors to recreate the magic of London in its former sweetie splendour by building models of London landmarks out of sweets. Entrants can then submit a photograph of their model on the London Eye website at www.londoneye.com/eastercompetition for the chance to win a Merlin Entertainment Family Annual Pass which will entitle the lucky winner and family free entry for a year to Merlin’s top attractions such as Thorpe Park, London Dungeon, the London Aquarium and Madame Tussauds.

So, be sure to bring the whole family down to discover all the treats the Enchanted Easter Garden has to offer including an onsite competition, colourful characters and, of course, candies galore.

Pegadas na língua

Luke has some marks in his tongue (made by candle wax, from yesterday's Earth Hour??? I dread to think...). They have decided they are footprints, footprints in the tongue...

Earth Hour

In pictures: Earth Hour, BBC

From Sydney's Opera House to Big Ben, the world goes dark for an hour, Times Online, March 29, 2009

From the Sydney Harbour Bridge to Egypt's pyramids, the Empire State Building in New York to Beijing's Birds Nest Stadium, the landmarks of the world were plunged into darkness on Saturday night as an exercise in energy saving symbolism unfolded across the globe.

As 8.30pm struck in each timezone, 4000 cities and towns in 88 countries switched off the lights to mark Earth Hour, a World Wildlife Fund sponsored campaign to highlight the threat of climate change.

Starting with the Sky tower in Auckland, New Zealand, crowds gathered around the world's most famous landmarks to see the lights dim. Two hours after NZ marked Earth Hour, Sydney's Harbour Bridge and Opera House went dark, followed shortly afterwards by Hong Kong's dazzling water front.

In all, around 371 landmarks worldwide were due to switch their lights off , including the Eiffel Tower, Niagara Falls, the Las Vegas casino strip and the Houses of Parliament in the UK. Honololu was due to be the last country to flip the switch.

The global event began in Australia in 2007, when 2.2 million people switched off their lights. Last year grew the movement grew to 400 cities and this year it has spread to 3,929 cities and villages around the world.

The research station in the Antarctic turned the lights off and even McDonald's took part, dimming the lights on the Golden Arches around America's mid-west.

China took part for the first time, cutting the lights at Beijing's Bird's Nest Stadium and Water Cube, the most prominent 2008 Olympic venues. In Bangkok, the prime minister switched off the lights on Khao San Road, a haven for budget travelers packed with bars and outdoor cafes.

In Rio de Janeiro, the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue that watches over the city of 6 million was darkened, along with the Copacobana beachfront.

"It is a very positive, hopeful campaign," Andy Ridley, the Earth Hour executive director, told reporters in Sydney as the city took its turn in the dark.

"We want people to think, even if it is for an hour, what they can do to lower their carbon footprint and take that beyond the hour."

Mr Ridley said initial fears that the global economic crisis would dim enthusiasm for Earth Hour had dissipated as organisers realised it had the opposite effect.

"Earth Hour has always been a positive campaign; it's always around street parties, not street protests, it's the idea of hope, not despair. And I think that's something that's been incredibly important this year because there is so much despair around," he said.

He said he was aiming for one billion participants, hoping the event would send a resounding message to world leaders about significant emissions cuts.

United Nations Secretary Ban Ki-moon endorsed Earth Hour in a video message placed on YouTube, in which he described the event as "a way for the citizens of the world to send a clear message: they want action on climate change," he said.

But while environmentalists praised the countries that took part in Earth Hour, sceptics criticized the event as little more than empty symbolism. One critic, Danish professor Bjorn Lomborg claimed the use of candles during the dark hour could produce more emissions than electric lights.

The event comes on the eve of a UN climate change meeting, the first in a series of talks aimed at finding a replacement for the Kyoto Protocol.

Spring forward, fall back!

It's time to spring forward!

And wait 6 months to fall back again, on the 25th of October 2009.

PS Blogger doesn't let me post this at 1 am and the earliest I can post it is 2 am. Clearly, that hour is missing!

Quinta da Regaleira

Quinta da Regaleira is an estate located near the historic center of Sintra, Portugal. It is classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO within the "Cultural Landscape of Sintra". Along with other palaces in this area (such as the Pena, Monserrate and Seteais palaces), it is one of the principal tourist attractions of Sintra. It consists of a romantic palace and chapel, and a luxurious park featuring lakes, grottoes, wells, benches, fountains, and a vast array of exquisite constructions. The palace is also known as "Palace of Monteiro the Millionaire", from the nickname of its first owner, António Augusto Carvalho Monteiro.

History

Luxuriant vegetation next to the lower gate. The land that is now Quinta da Regaleira had many owners through time. But in 1892 it belonged to the Barons of Regaleira, a family of rich merchants from Porto, when it was purchased that year by Carvalho Monteiro for 25,000 réis. Monteiro wished to build a bewildering place where he could gather symbols that would reflect his interests and ideologies. With the assistance of the Italian architect Luigi Manini, he designed the 4-hectare estate with its enigmatic buildings, believed to hide symbols related to alchemy, Masonry, the Knights Templar, and the Rosicrucians. The architecture of the estate evokes Roman, Gothic, Renaissance and Manueline architectural styles. The construction of the current estate commenced in 1904 and most of it was concluded by 1910.

The estate was sold in 1942 to Waldemar d'Orey, who used it as private residence for his extensive family and ordered repairs and restoration works for the property. In 1987 the estate was sold once again, to the Japanese Aoki Corporation and ceased to serve as a residence. The Aoki Corporation kept the estate closed to the public for ten years, until it was acquired by the Sintra Town Hall in 1997. Extensive restoration was promptly initiated throughout the estate, which opened to the public in June 1998. Cultural events also start to be organized in Quinta da Regaleira. In August that year, the Portuguese Ministry of Culture classified the estate as "public interest property".

More at wiki.

Olha um menino no caixote do lixo

Vote Earth for Earth Hour 2009

This week's personality

Hence no posts!

Gran Torino

Gran Torino - Great film!!

Chips, anyone?

Luke: Lions eat meat. Sharks eat fish. So, who eats the chips?

Borboleteando no Jardim Botânico

Hoje: Borboletas de volta a Lisboa!! Não vamos estar lá porque os miúdos têm uma festa de anos, mas recomendo.

Reabertura Lagartagis (da Tagis), no Jardim Botânico da UL:

21 de Março 2009
Dia Aberto no Lagartagis

Programa

Encontro na Escadaria Principal do Jardim Botânico, 15h

A PARTIR DAS 15H ATÉ ÀS 17H
Inauguração do Stand "Como fazer um Jardim de Borboletas"

ANIMAÇÔES PARA CRIANÇAS E BORBOLETAS
a) Pinturas Faciais
b) Pinturas com Aguarelas e Sal

VISITAS GUIADAS À ESTUFA (a partir das 15h30, de 15' em 15')

LANCHE "Comida de Borboletas"
a) Espetadas de Fruta
b) Chá frio adocicado com Mel

Pedido no site do Museu Nacional de História Natural: 1, 2, 3... EUROS PARA AS BORBOLETAS

Spring is here!!!

Happy Spring!! Funnily enough, it seems the weather is going to get worse - see the forecast.

Happy Father's Day!

Just in case somebody really needs some Father's Day Activities, from HowStuffWorks.

ABBA songs

Chooompa chooompa nanee nanee finey

***

Bonnez bous, ah-ha!

***

Any guesses? Can you recognise the songs? Only Mamma Mia seems to survive the kids singing...

Cute, sexy, sweet and funny

Dan Dennett: Cute, sexy, sweet and funny -- an evolutionary riddle

Birdsong

Birdsong is Back
article date: 11 January 2008

DAB digital radio listeners are again being treated to a relaxing rural soundtrack. Following the closure of Oneword, listeners tuning in will find the Birdsong channel has been reinstated for a limited period.

The audio was originally recorded for the test transmission of Classic FM prior to its launch in 1992. It was last used three years ago for the imaginatively named station "D1_temp" and won plaudits from listeners who complained when it was taken off air in June 2005.

Listeners and Birdsong enthusiasts should note the transmission could cease at any time and that the recording is not commercially available.

Since the beginning of April 2008, the Birdsong channel has been upgraded to stereo and currently broadcasts 24 hours a day.

For sponsorship opportunities please contact info@digitalone.co.uk and include the word "Twitcher" in the subject line.

Please note that the line up of birds featured in the cast may change without warning due to illness, weather and migration.

Birdsong Radio

Listen to Bird Song Radio Online

Following the popular success of Birdsong Radio on DAB. We have launched Birdsong as an online service! Listen to the peaceful sounds of Dawn Chorus via your computer at home or whilst at work. Using the player below.

We are not directly connected with the Birdsong DAB station, simply an online alternative. You can also listen to Birdsong on DAB radio in the UK.

BRETT WESTWOOD'S GUIDE TO BIRDSONG, BBC Radio 4

An audio guide to the songs of some of the most common British birds.

Download these recordings to your mp3 player and match the songs you hear in your garden or on a country walk.

16.3.39.

Yesterday not quite so hot, overcast & clouds of dust. Ditto today, probably presaging rain.
Other wildflowers here: a small kind of scabius, several vetches, one of them very pretty, with a flower about the size of that of a garden pea, in two colours, pink & magenta. Several new ones in the last few days which I cannot identify. In many places the ground is now actually covered with them, predominantly the wild marigold, a pale yellow flower which is evidently mustard, & a smallish daisy not unlike the English one.
Yesterday three greenfinches, a cock & two hens, sitting on the telephone wires:
1st. greenfinch: “little bit of bread.”
2nd. “ : “little bit of bread.”
1st. “ : “little bit of bread.”
2nd “ : “little bit of bread.”
3rd (the cock): “Che-e-e-e-e-e-se!”

Men still ploughing in places. Yesterday a man sowing, broadcast out of a bag. Flocks of domestic pigeons swooping down to try & steal the seed, & the men chasing them off.
Yesterday saw a very young camel cub, evidently only a few days born as it had a bit of navel-string. Nevertheless its legs were almost as long as its mother’s.
Cavalry passing yesterday. Note that all the horses seem to be stallions.

From The Orwell Diaries

Since 9th August 2008, we have been blogging George Orwell’s diaries from 1938 in real time, 70 years to the day since each entry was originally written. The diaries start as Orwell heads to Morocco (with his wife Eileen) to recuperate from injury and illness, and end in 1942 (or 2012) as the Second World War rages.

In addition to the diary entries, there are images and documents complementing the diaries available here, and a Google Map of Orwell’s travels here. For more on Orwell, visit the Works and Life and Work sections of the main Orwell Prize website.

Science in London

Babbage's Analytical Engine, 1834-1871, from Museum Objects
(see also Making the Modern World)

Besides going to the Wallace & Gromit exhibition and the IMAX cinema, we will also see the permanent exhibition at the Science Museum. Here's what it looks like, minus kids (from The Science Museum at youtube). We will obviously take the kids!

Congratulations, champions!

The Royal Parks

We won't see all the The Royal Parks (virtual tours, maps) but will at least try to see the following:

St James's Park:

With its royal, political and literary associations, St James's Park is at the very heart of London and covers 23 hectares (58 acres). With a lake harbouring ducks, geese and pelicans. St James's is also home to the Mall, the setting for many ceremonial parades and events of national celebration.

Three royal palaces skirt St James's Park. The most ancient palace is Westminster, now known as the Houses of Parliament. St James's Palace with its Tudor style still holds the title of the Court of St James despite the fact that the Monarch has lived in the third palace, Buckingham Palace since 1837.

Feeding the pelicans: 2:30pm
Changing of the Guard: 11:30am

The Green Park:

Although situated so close to St James's Park, The Green Park is quite different in character. It is more peaceful with mature trees and grassland and is surrounded by Constitution Hill, Piccadilly and the Broad Walk.

The Green Park was first recorded in 1554 as the place where a rebellion took place against the marriage of Mary I to Philip II of Spain. It was also a famous duelling site until 1667 when Charles II bought an extra 40 acres and it became known as upper St James's Park.

The Park's primary role is as a peaceful refuge for people living, working or visiting Central London, and is particularly popular for sunbathing and picnics in fine weather. It is also popular as a healthy walking route to work for commuters. The paths are used extensively by joggers and runners.

Hyde Park:

One of London's finest historic landscapes covering 142 hectares (350 acres). There is something for everyone in Hyde Park. With over 4,000 trees, a lake, a meadow, horse rides and more it is easy to forget you're in the middle of London.

When King Henry VIII and his court were thundering across Hyde Park in 1536 in pursuit of deer and wild boar, it would have been difficult to visualise that years later the noble art of tai chi would be peacefully performed among the trees in the early morning, and the Italianate tenor of Pavarotti would echo across the park, applauded by vast audiences.

Kensington Gardens:

Covering 111 hectares (275 acres), Kensington Gardens is planted with formal avenues of magnificent trees and ornamental flower beds. It is a perfect setting for Kensington Palace, peaceful Italian Gardens, the Albert Memorial, Peter Pan statue and the Serpentine Gallery.

William III bought what was originally part of Hyde Park in 1689. An asthma sufferer, the king found the location quiet and the air salubrious and so he commissioned Sir Christopher Wren to design the redbrick building that is Kensington Palace. Queen Anne enlarged the Palace Gardens by 'transferring' 30 acres from Hyde Park and was responsible for the creation of the Orangery in 1704.

The Gardens are particularly popular for sunbathing and picnics in fine weather. It is also popular as a healthy walking route to work for commuters. The paths are used extensively by joggers and runners. Cycling is allowed on the designated path linking the Queen's Gate to West Carriage Drive, Mount Gate to the Broadwalk and the broadwalk itself from Black Lion Gate to Palace Gate.

Informal games do take place in the Gardens but are discouraged in view of the importance of the historic landscape and the desire to maintain their primary role as a peaceful refuge for people living, working or visiting Central London.

The Diana, Princess of Wales' Memorial Playground is a fantastic adventure for kids up to the age of 12. Over 70,000 youngsters enjoy the playground each year.

What's on March-May 2009

Shamrock

Yes, we know it is only on the 17th, but we're going to a St Patrick's dinner tonight, with our Irish neighbours. I'm still to find something green to wear. Neil will take his kilt...

St Patrick - wiki
St Patrick's Day - wiki
Official St. Patrick's Festival in Dublin, Ireland
http://www.st-patricks-day.com/

Chocolate!!!

Both kids sick, so maybe next year...

VII Festival Internacional de Chocolate, 5-15 Março 2009, Óbidos

VII Festival Internacional de Chocolate abre ao público com muitas novidades
De 5 a 15 de Março

Inaugurou quinta-feira, dia 5, a VII edição do Festival Internacional de Chocolate de Óbidos, que decorre até 15 de Março. A inauguração, marcada para as 17 horas, contou com a presença do secretário de Estado do Turismo, Bernardo Trindade. Seguiu-se um desfile de 550 crianças do concelho, vestidas de coelhinhos, pelas ruas da vila de Óbidos.

A exposição de Esculturas em Chocolate este ano é subordinada ao tema “Histórias de Amor”. A mostra está patente numa estrutura esférica, climatizada e com jogos de luzes que permite dar várias tonalidades a esculturas como a Bela e o Monstro, Romeu e Julieta, o Corcunda de Notre Dame, Don Quixote de La Mancha, D. Pedro e Inês e Titanic.

Pensada para a participação dos mais pequenos no Festival, a Casa de Chocolate das Crianças, proporciona aos mais pequenos diversas actividades como jogos, pinturas, face painting, um ateliê sobre a história do chocolate e, com ajuda de um chef profissional, a oportunidade de confeccionar algumas receitas de chocolate. Os miúdos deixam este espaço com algumas guloseimas e, acima de tudo, com um sorriso na cara.

Novidades em 2009

Chocolate Molecular, Chocolaterapia, um Torneio de Golfe e Cerveja de Chocolate são algumas novidades da edição de 2009.

Chocolate e cerveja? Será ilusão? Talvez paixão! Junte-se o refrescante sabor de uma complexa cerveja de malte de cevada com um travo de chocolate negro e obtêm-se uma experiência surpreendente. Saborear uma Cerveja de Chocolate é como beber mousse de chocolate, mas mousse feito de chocolate amargo e rico. Uma cerveja chocoólica que proporciona uma agradável sensação de conforto, com uma textura sedosa, para aqueles momentos em que só o chocolate não chega.

A par destas novidades, o Festival conta ainda com uma série de outras deliciosas iniciativas, desde cursos de Chocolateria, três concursos (Concurso Internacional de Receitas de Chocolate, Concurso Chocolatier Português do Ano e Concurso de Montras de Chocolate) e uma passagem de Modelos em Chocolate.

Mais:
Histórias de Amor no Festival Internacional de Chocolate de Óbidos, Jornal Oeste Online

L'Heure d'été

L'Heure d'été - comme ci comme ça!

Dr Tatiana's Sex Advice to All Creation

Today: Gulbenkian, 18h, Olivia Judson (watch it here).

DR. TATIANA'S SEX ADVICE TO ALL CREATION
The Definitive Guide to the Evolutionary Biology of Sex

Do your genitals explode? Are you 200,000 times smaller than your mate? Do you drug your lover with a potion that keeps her faithful? You may not get up to such tricks, but some creatures do: sex is one of the most powerful forces in nature, and generates an astounding diversity of forms and behaviors. But why?

Dr Tatiana's Sex Advice to All Creation explores the science of sex, considering everything from why females of so many species are so promiscuous to why sex exists at all. It is a blend of wit and rigor, a fusion of science and natural history, that will entertain, amaze, and inform.

Dr Tatiana's Sex Advice to All Creation, the book, has been translated into more than 15 languages. World-famous evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins has described it as a "winningly sophisticated zoological comedy." The book was shortlisted for the UK's most prestigious award for nonfiction, the Samuel Johnson prize, and has won the BIOSIS award for communicating zoology from the Zoological Society of London.

Dr Tatiana has been adapted to a TV show, and is quite possibly the most original science documentary ever made. Get ready for sex like you've never seen it before!

More:
Dr Tatiana's Sex Advice to All Creation - wiki
Dr Tatiana's Sex Advice to All Creation - channel 4
The Wild Side, New York Times, by Olivia Judson

Pastéis de Belém

Pastéis de Belém - The Taste of Tradition:

At the beginning of the Nineteenth Century, in Belém, next to the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (the Heironymite Monastery) there was a sugar cane refinery linked to a small general store. As a result of the liberal revolution of 1820, all convents and monasteries in Portugal were shut down in 1834, the clergy and labourers expelled.

In an attempt at survival, someone from the monastery offered sweet pastries for sale in the shop; pastries that rapidly became known as 'Pasteis de Belém'.

At that period the area of Belém was still far from the city of Lisbon and could be reached by steam-boats. At the same time, the grandeur of the monastery and the Torre de Belém (the Belém Tower) attracted visitors who soon grew used to savouring the delicious pastries originated in the monastery.

In 1837, the baking of the 'Pasteis de Belém' was begun in buildings joined to the refinery, following the ancient 'secret recipe' from the monastery. Passed on and known exclusively to the master confectioners who hand-crafted the pastries in the 'secrets room', this recipe remained unchanged to the present day. In fact, the only true 'Pasteis de Belém' contrive, by means of a scrupulous selection of ingredients, to offer even today the flavour of the ancient portuguese confectionary industry.

PS Post dedicado ao PJF, o maior pastelão de Belém que conheço...

Army of Morphs

Army of Morphs remember Tony Hart, BBC, March 2009

Forget flashmob - this was more Morphmob.

Outside London's Tate Modern, about 200 devotees gathered to pay tribute to their doyen of DIY art - Tony Hart.
The children's television presenter and art enthusiast passed away earlier this year aged 83.
On Sunday some of his legions of fans decided to build a terracotta army of little orange men in his memory.
Scores of Morphs and his minions thronged a corner of the capital's South Bank. Their creators had fashioned them as a way of saying "thank you".
Speak to any of them and they would tell you Hart inspired them to get out there and create.
Adelaide Lane helped organise the event over social networking sites and she was delighted by the response.
Asked about Hart's legacy, she said: "You don't have to have expensive felt tips or paper.
"Just find whatever you can and make a piece of art. Just don't be scared. Just do it."
It was a sentiment echoed in the many weird and wonderful versions of Morph on display.
Some wore top hats, others bikinis. One shed a single blue tear as the little orange effigy waved goodbye to his on-screen friend and partner.
His owner told me that as a child she would not have missed Hart's programme for the world.

Best in Show

Over the course of his 50-year television career, Hart won two Baftas and a lifetime achievement award.
His infectious enthusiasm and avuncular style won him generation after generation of fans.
On Sunday, surrounded by a plethora of plasticine, his daughter, Carolyn Williams, joined in the fun.
She was invited to judge Best Morph in Show and was touched by the effort so many had gone to.
"It's absolutely fantastic, so many colours, so many styles," she said. "Morph as you've never seen him before."
And what of the use of the internet to create the flashmob?
She thought her father would approve: "This is exactly what he was all about.
"Getting people together to join in and make a picture, to make something. It's so great."
And with that she announced the winner - a six-inch high Morph clasping a bunch of pink carnations.
His creator Laura Kerry, an arts manager from Walthamstow, London, said: "I only spent four hours making him. I heard about it and I was just really moved and felt we had to be part of it."
Just one person among so many touched by Tony Hart's love of art - let alone little orange people.

Morph 'flashmob' tribute to Tony Hart, ITN:

More:
Previous post
Morph - wiki
Tony Hart - wiki
Aardman
Aardman's Channel
Morph flashmob honours Tony Hart, BBC
Tony Hart fans take Morphs on the march in his honour, Time Online
Plasticine 'flash mob' tribute: Fans create hundreds of Morphs in memory of Tony Hart, Mail Online
Morph flash mob tribute to Hart, ITN

Esquire

The latest subscriber-only cover of the UK edition of Esquire features Morph, by Aardman (the newsstand version features Sean Penn).

Morph appears in clothes for Esquire magazine photo shoot, The Telegraph, January 2009

The 30th birthday of plasticine character Morph has been celebrated with a "high fashion" photo shoot in Esquire magazine.

Morph appeared over the years with artist Tony Hart, whose funeral took place today.
Those behind the magazine said model makers had spent three months working on the project and Hart never got to see the final pictures, which were always intended to be included in Esquire's March issue.
A spokesman for Esquire said the photographs would be a "timely salute" to Hart.
Morph has been naked since first appearing on an episode of Take Hart in 1977.
Now, thanks to Esquire's fashion department and the team at Aardman Animations, he appears clothed "in this season's key pieces".
Peter Lord, Aardman's co-founder, sketched out the scenes for Morph and his mischievous sidekick Chaz.
Morph appeared with Hart on several of his television programmes and was produced for the BBC by Aardman, who were later famous for Wallace and Gromit.
He lived in an artist's wooden pencil box, and he and Chaz both love to eat strawberry shortcakes, as seen in many of the shorts.
Morph and Chaz appear in five photographs in Esquire, on sale on February 5.
Morph is seen dressed in the style of designer labels such as Hermes, Gucci and Prada, with each outfit a tiny recreation of the original.

How to chat up a girl in the park

How to chat up a girl in the park, following Luke's example and not forgetting the deep rasping voice:

- Quando eu era pequenino, uma águia fez um cocó enorme na janela do carro do meu pai.
- Quando o Mark era pequenino, ele vomitou no prato, em cima da comida, e depois já não podia comer mais.
- Querem que dê um pum? Vou dar um pum para a tua cara.
- Sabes o que eu gosto de comer? Terra. E bichos.
- Adeus bebé chorona.

A Life With Bells On

Morris dancing film becomes cult hit, The Telegraph, February 2009:

A film about Morris dancing, described as "The Full Monty with bells on", has become a cult hit after struggling to secure a release in cinemas.

Morris: A Life With Bells On, a documentary-style comedy following the fortunes of a group of dancers, has generated intense excitement on the internet and on a regional tour of town and village halls in the south west, where it is set.

It stars high-profile British actors including Derek Jacobi, Naomie Harris, Greg Wise and Harriet Walter. Its makers believe it could become a British 'sleeper hit' in the tradition of The Full Monty or Billy Elliot.

Yet with big studios more reluctant to take financial risks during the recession, it has failed to obtain a widespread distribution deal.

However, its website is attracting 100,000 visits every week and the producers are having to employ assistants to deal with a "deluge" of emails from Morris fans demanding to know where they can watch it. A petition drawn up demanding a mainstream release has attracted 3,000 signatures.

The film, which was directed by Lucy Akhurst, centres on Derecq Twist, the leader of Millsham Morris, who attempts to pioneer a new form of Morris dancing called Extreme Morris. His modernising ambitions ruffle feathers among more traditional Morris men.

Akhurst said: "The film's England is an idyllic one, with rolling green hills and thatched cottages cast in the warm glow of perpetual summer. There is no violence, no sex, no nudity. The characters are good, decent people."

Chaz Oldham, who wrote, produced and appeared in the picture, admitted that its quirky subject matter may have deterred nervous studio executives from taking a gamble.

He said: "The problem we face is that when we've shown the film to the 'big boys', they've said 'we love it but there's no audience for it. It's just too niche.'

"We disagree. It's The Full Monty with bells on – a nice film about good people that celebrates the best things about England. It gets huge smiles out of every audience.

"We're proving the studios wrong. It's just gone nuts – we haven't spent a penny on advertising yet we have thousands of people demanding it be shown."

Phil Walkley, of Movieola Village Filmshows, which organised the regional tour, said he was confident the film would break through. "Every year we have a film that gets the public imagination," Mr Walkley said. "Two years ago it was The Queen, last year it was Atonement ... And it looks as though this little movie, that doesn't even have a distributor yet, is going to do it."

After watching the film Dick Williams, of Bourne Valley Morris Men in Wiltshire, said: "If there's any young lads out there watching it, they'll see the way to become a superstar – go and join a Morris. It was wonderful, a thoroughly good evening's entertainment."

Morris: A Life With Bells On, a film about Morris dancing:

More:
I thought Morris dancing was weird ... Now I know it's the most fun you can have with bells on, Mail Online, January 2009
Cole Moreton: Dare to dance the Morris, the laugh of the century, The Independent, February 2009

Here today, goo tomorrow

See the countdown to Easter, which is also the Cadbury's creme egg end of season.

More on CremeEggGooTube, including the Mousetrap:

And, from this playlist, the Mousetrap - special edition:

There's also this game:

Are you ready to help us Egg-scape?
Help us!!
The egg-centric collector of rare eggs, Sir Eggbert Shellby has kidnapped some of our friends to preserve them for eternity. Please go to his museum and free them so they can get our goo out.
Goo’d Luck.
Play The Great Eggscape.

Polar Bear in London!

A life-like 16ft high sculpture of an iceberg featuring a stranded polar bear and its cub was launched on the Thames today to mark the launch of the new Natural History TV channel Eden. Edens programming starts at 9am, Monday 26th January 2009, with Attenborough Explores... Our Fragile World at 10pm. Further information about the programmes can be found at: www.exploreeden.co.uk.

Happy second monthiversary to me!

2 months since I fell! 23 days with plaster (far too many!) and 17 physiotherapy sessions and still no supination. Remember I said I wanted to have more patience in the new year? Well... arrrgh!!!

Dias da Semana

Luke: primeira-feira, segunda-feira, terça-feira, quarta-feira, última-feira

Diana Playground Refurbishment

Diana, Princess of Wales' Memorial Playground Refurbishment:

Great news for children!

A major refurbishment of The Diana Princess of Wales Playground will soon be under way. This will involve the creation of new and exciting play features such as: timber fort, play tunnel, wobble platforms, timber pergola, sound wall, sand sieves, see-saw, mushroom pump.

We also plan to enhance existing play equipment and revitalise: Mermaid's Rock, Pirate Ship.

The refurbishment will be carried out from 2 March to 3 April 2009 and will necessitate the closure of the entire playground.

Diana, Princess of Wales' Memorial Playground:

A huge wooden Pirate ship is the amazing centrepiece of the Diana, Princess of Wales' Memorial Playground. This children's wonderland opened on the 30th June 2000, in memory of the late Princess. Located next to her Kensington Palace home, the playground is a fitting tribute for a Princess who loved the innocence of childhood.

Over 750,000 children enjoy this free playground each year. Kids love to play, explore, dash about, and let their imaginations soar in this magical space. There is a sensory trail, teepees, a beach around the pirate ship and various toys and play sculptures; all set against a lush backdrop of trees and plants. There's plenty of seating so the grownups can relax too.

The design has created an area where less able and able-bodied children can play together and seeks to provide for the physical, creative, social and educational development of your children. Inspired by the stories of Peter Pan, the playground encourages children to explore and follow their imaginations, learning whilst they play.

Previous posts (UK 2008):
Peter Pan
Day 3

University Challenge

We watched the amazing final of University Challenge (BBC, wiki, UK Game Shows) totally unaware of the storm around it, first about the popularity/unpopularity of Gail Trimble and now about the winners being disqualified. What a pity!

The BBC has disqualified the winners of University Challenge for breaking the rules by using a contestant who was no longer a student.

The title has been transferred to the University of Manchester, who were beaten by Corpus Christi College, Oxford on the TV quiz last week.

By the time the final was filmed Sam Kay, from Surrey, was working as an accountant at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Mr Kay has apologised and said "it was never my intention to mislead anyone."

University Challenge quizmaster Jeremy Paxman said: "I suppose it is mildly embarrassing but I do feel sorry for the Corpus Christi team - I mean they were all legitimate students when it started.

"But rules are rules, and they had to be stuck to."

Manchester captain Matthew Yeo said he was "saddened" to win in this way.

A joint statement from the BBC and Granada said: "The University Challenge rules on student eligibility are that students taking part must be registered at their university or college for the duration of the recording of the series.

"Whilst obviously not intending to, Corpus Christi broke this important rule when other universities and colleges taking part adhered to it.

"We therefore find ourselves in the regrettable position of having no choice but to disqualify Corpus Christi from the final. This means they forfeit their hard-fought title which now goes to the Manchester University team."

More in University quiz team disqualified, BBC, March 2, 2009

See also:
Gail Trimble must demand a rematch, The Telegraph, March 3, 2009
Bamber Gascoigne attacks 'pathetic' BBC over University Challenge fiasco, The Guardian, March 3, 2009
The Big Question: Is it fair that Corpus Christi College have been stripped of their University Challenge title?, Times Online, March 3, 2009
University quiz win 'tarnished', BBC, March 3, 2009
Paxman: 'Rules are rules', BBC, March 2, 2009
BBC in University Challenge probe, BBC, March 1, 2009
Trimble on University Challenge, BBC, February 24, 2009