“Merry Christmas” is it still Christmas Day?
A woman dialled 999 to wish the operator a Merry Christmas and when she asked if it was still Christmas Day she replied “perfect” when told it was boxing day.
She continued to waste the police call handlers time for several more minutes. She made the call during a particularly busy time but would not hang up when asked to do so.
Wasting police time in this manor is a criminal offence that carries a maximum sentence of six months imprisonment and £5000 fine.
In other incidents on Christmas Day include the reported case of the missing bag of rice from a cupboard, a request for help with a snoring dog, a black cat entering a house, a call to a broken freezer and a request to help a dead pigeon in a garden.
All of these calls and many more, waste several minutes per call and can stop genuine callers who are in need of emergency assistance getting through.
Christmas Lotto magic
A couple from Washington near Sunderland scooped a £3.5 Million lottery jackpot on Christmas day.
This is in addition to the 25 one million pound prizes won on Christmas eve.
All Things to do with Christmas. From Christmas celebarations through to Christmas Presents.
Thursday, 30 December 2010
Saturday, 25 December 2010
Merry Christmas full of joy and peace.
Wishing All my readers a very Merry Christmas full of joy and peace.
Christmas made happier by walking
The traditional Christmas Day walk could be the ideal way to make the festive period a happier one say researchers. Apparently 80% of the UK happiest people are happiest when outdoors and in Green places. According to them even 5 minutes outside in green places can relieve depression.
The Queen Recommends Sport in her Christmas message
The Queen in her annual Christmas day message to the commonwealth the benefits of sports in relieving the tensions of everyday life. All of the Royal Family enjoy some form of sport. Her Majesty gives praise to those who give up their time to help children to get into sports.
Widespread Travel Chaos across Europe this Christmas Day
Thousands of people have had their Christmas travel arrangements ruined by the unusual weather that Europe has experienced over the last couple of weeks and today Christmas day there are thousands waking up in airport terminals instead of their destinations
Christmas made happier by walking
The traditional Christmas Day walk could be the ideal way to make the festive period a happier one say researchers. Apparently 80% of the UK happiest people are happiest when outdoors and in Green places. According to them even 5 minutes outside in green places can relieve depression.
The Queen Recommends Sport in her Christmas message
The Queen in her annual Christmas day message to the commonwealth the benefits of sports in relieving the tensions of everyday life. All of the Royal Family enjoy some form of sport. Her Majesty gives praise to those who give up their time to help children to get into sports.
Widespread Travel Chaos across Europe this Christmas Day
Thousands of people have had their Christmas travel arrangements ruined by the unusual weather that Europe has experienced over the last couple of weeks and today Christmas day there are thousands waking up in airport terminals instead of their destinations
Wednesday, 22 December 2010
Christmas in the news today (Wednesday 22nd Dec)
Which family to Spend Christmas day with?
That old issue of who to spend Christmas day with which bedevils many young couples in the months before and years after a marriage has for this year at least been taken out of Prince William’s hands. This year he will be on duty as a helicopter rescue pilot, so the second in line to the throne has an airtight excuse for not spending Christmas day with either family.
Christmas day Nets for the Australians
The Australians cricketers will have a mandatory net session on Christmas day, in a move by the Australian management to get the team ready for the Boxing day test. Normally the net session is voluntary, but the top order batsmen have failed to deliver the runs expected of them in the previous three tests.
Christmas Dinner without sprouts?
What is the Christmas dinner coming to when that humble vegetable the sprout is left of the menu? The reason last year the Children in Leicestershire’s schools refused to eat them so this year they were left off the menu.
Christmas travel plans in tatters
Hundreds of thousands of people have had they Christmas travel plans disrupted by the bad weather. Airports are not coping with the snow and even when they can get the runways open the airlines do not have the planes and crews in the right place adding to the misery.
That old issue of who to spend Christmas day with which bedevils many young couples in the months before and years after a marriage has for this year at least been taken out of Prince William’s hands. This year he will be on duty as a helicopter rescue pilot, so the second in line to the throne has an airtight excuse for not spending Christmas day with either family.
Christmas day Nets for the Australians
The Australians cricketers will have a mandatory net session on Christmas day, in a move by the Australian management to get the team ready for the Boxing day test. Normally the net session is voluntary, but the top order batsmen have failed to deliver the runs expected of them in the previous three tests.
Christmas Dinner without sprouts?
What is the Christmas dinner coming to when that humble vegetable the sprout is left of the menu? The reason last year the Children in Leicestershire’s schools refused to eat them so this year they were left off the menu.
Christmas travel plans in tatters
Hundreds of thousands of people have had they Christmas travel plans disrupted by the bad weather. Airports are not coping with the snow and even when they can get the runways open the airlines do not have the planes and crews in the right place adding to the misery.
Tuesday, 21 December 2010
Alter The Way You Celebrate Christmas By Making Christmas Crafts
Don’t feel that you are talented enough to perform fabulous Christmas crafts? Have you never tried to make a Christmas craft as a gift for someone who you love and admire? Just think how lovely it is to receive a homemade Christmas gift from someone you care about and love. You know you will cherish it always. Wouldn't someone you love feel the same way if you gave him or her a Christmas Craft gift?
Now you can simply carry out your Christmas craft, even if you didn’t order crafts kits, and experience a new way of celebrating Christmas.
I know that it is very easy to purchase ready-made decorations and Christmas crafts, but it is far more festive and fun to make your own special Christmas crafts. Making homemade Christmas cards and Christmas crafts is a great way to spend quality family time together. There are so many fun ideas for homemade Christmas ornaments to give to relatives, teachers or friends. They can be varied to make a number of different sparkling ornaments for your Christmas tree.
Christmas crafts can be made from a variety of materials. If you like working with wood, you can cut out typical holiday designs, like snowmen, Christmas trees, or Santa figures and then spend some time painting to bring life to your Christmas crafts. If it's your first time working with wood as a Christmas craft, start out simply- cut out any shape and make a sign for your holiday guests. You can paint little trees or stars, and print out with a cute Christmas greetings sentences like “Hope all your wishes come True”.
The easiest Christmas craft by all odds is the Christmas card. No one will ever get bored with making his or her own hand-made cards, especially if they are provided with rhyming Christmas greetings and poems. Ideas can be many and easy-to-craft too.
You could always make candleholders. Take a small baby food jar. Wash and allow it to completely dry. Then you could cover it with such things as: buttons, squares of tissue paper in different colors, etc. Add a new, great smelling votive candle to the holder and you have an instant, thoughtful and creative gift.
A wonderful idea is to present family members and friends with creatively framed photographs. You can simply go to a craft store and purchase a number of plain wooden frames. These can then be painted and you can involve your children in making the craft by letting them add a number of stickers for the year, glitter, buttons, or other embellishments. What’s wonderful about the framed picture is that the frame will have been decorated by the child whose picture is inside.
Another Christmas craft idea is the Santa hat. You'll just need red cloth, some fluffy cotton and glue to get this Christmas craft real! Fold the red cloth into a conical shape and stick the edges. Then have a ball of cotton glued at the top and some to border the circular base.
The holiday season is a festive time, and making your own Christmas crafts can really add to the special feeling of that time of year. You don't have to be a pro to enjoy them, all you need is a bit of the Christmas spirit flowing through your body.
Now you can simply carry out your Christmas craft, even if you didn’t order crafts kits, and experience a new way of celebrating Christmas.
I know that it is very easy to purchase ready-made decorations and Christmas crafts, but it is far more festive and fun to make your own special Christmas crafts. Making homemade Christmas cards and Christmas crafts is a great way to spend quality family time together. There are so many fun ideas for homemade Christmas ornaments to give to relatives, teachers or friends. They can be varied to make a number of different sparkling ornaments for your Christmas tree.
Christmas crafts can be made from a variety of materials. If you like working with wood, you can cut out typical holiday designs, like snowmen, Christmas trees, or Santa figures and then spend some time painting to bring life to your Christmas crafts. If it's your first time working with wood as a Christmas craft, start out simply- cut out any shape and make a sign for your holiday guests. You can paint little trees or stars, and print out with a cute Christmas greetings sentences like “Hope all your wishes come True”.
The easiest Christmas craft by all odds is the Christmas card. No one will ever get bored with making his or her own hand-made cards, especially if they are provided with rhyming Christmas greetings and poems. Ideas can be many and easy-to-craft too.
You could always make candleholders. Take a small baby food jar. Wash and allow it to completely dry. Then you could cover it with such things as: buttons, squares of tissue paper in different colors, etc. Add a new, great smelling votive candle to the holder and you have an instant, thoughtful and creative gift.
A wonderful idea is to present family members and friends with creatively framed photographs. You can simply go to a craft store and purchase a number of plain wooden frames. These can then be painted and you can involve your children in making the craft by letting them add a number of stickers for the year, glitter, buttons, or other embellishments. What’s wonderful about the framed picture is that the frame will have been decorated by the child whose picture is inside.
Another Christmas craft idea is the Santa hat. You'll just need red cloth, some fluffy cotton and glue to get this Christmas craft real! Fold the red cloth into a conical shape and stick the edges. Then have a ball of cotton glued at the top and some to border the circular base.
The holiday season is a festive time, and making your own Christmas crafts can really add to the special feeling of that time of year. You don't have to be a pro to enjoy them, all you need is a bit of the Christmas spirit flowing through your body.
Monday, 20 December 2010
Christmas in the news todaty(Monday 20th Dec)
Cost of Christmas dinner gone through the roof
Since 2007 the cost of the items on your plate for Christmas dinner has spiralled upwards well above the rate of inflation and in some instances by over 150%, especially the vegetables. One way to reduce your costs for next year is to grow your own vegetables.
Northern Ireland Parliament Building Transformed for Christmas Concert
The Great Hall in the Parliament building in Stormont has been decked out with boughs of holly for a cheery Christmas concert hosted by Northern Ireland's popular singing trio, the Priests. The concert will be broadcast on BBC One Northern Ireland on Tuesday 21 December at 2100 GMT. The concert will be repeated on Thursday, 23 December, on BBC Two NI at 2030 GMT. Transmission details are still subject to change at this time.
Will the UK have a white Christmas?
Well it certainly looks as though there will be snow on the ground for most of the UK on Christmas Day. However if you are betting on a white Christmas with the bookies then you will need it to snow on Christmas day itself. The Chances of that happening look to be good for some parts of the UK.
However all this snow is causing major problems for people travelling with many airports closed, trains services cancelled and major roads blocked.
Royal Wedding China for Christmas presents?
Ahead of next year’s Royal wedding on April 29th, the official china merchandise has gone on sale, just in time for Christmas. From today, the fine bone china featuring a delicate design of the Prince and his future wife’s initials intertwined is available to buy from all Royal residencies including Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace and Sandringham amongst others.
Since 2007 the cost of the items on your plate for Christmas dinner has spiralled upwards well above the rate of inflation and in some instances by over 150%, especially the vegetables. One way to reduce your costs for next year is to grow your own vegetables.
Northern Ireland Parliament Building Transformed for Christmas Concert
The Great Hall in the Parliament building in Stormont has been decked out with boughs of holly for a cheery Christmas concert hosted by Northern Ireland's popular singing trio, the Priests. The concert will be broadcast on BBC One Northern Ireland on Tuesday 21 December at 2100 GMT. The concert will be repeated on Thursday, 23 December, on BBC Two NI at 2030 GMT. Transmission details are still subject to change at this time.
Will the UK have a white Christmas?
Well it certainly looks as though there will be snow on the ground for most of the UK on Christmas Day. However if you are betting on a white Christmas with the bookies then you will need it to snow on Christmas day itself. The Chances of that happening look to be good for some parts of the UK.
However all this snow is causing major problems for people travelling with many airports closed, trains services cancelled and major roads blocked.
Royal Wedding China for Christmas presents?
Ahead of next year’s Royal wedding on April 29th, the official china merchandise has gone on sale, just in time for Christmas. From today, the fine bone china featuring a delicate design of the Prince and his future wife’s initials intertwined is available to buy from all Royal residencies including Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace and Sandringham amongst others.
Sunday, 19 December 2010
Today (Sunday 19 Dec) Christmas news
Has Christmas lost it meaning?
With the Christmas festivities upon us and many people are getting into the spirit of the season, many others view it purely as a commercial activity. So has Christmas lost it’s meaning? I will leave you the reader to decide on what Christmas means to you and weather it has lost it’s true meaning.
Canary Islands’ biggest (and maybe only) Icelandic Christmas celebration lives on
Despite the change of ownership into local hands of the Klorubar (an Icelandic bar), the traditional Icelandic Christmas Celebrations will still go ahead as usual.
Is a Fake Christmas Tree Greener than a Real one?
While in theory a fake tree can be used for many years, the NY Times claims that a real tree is better for the environment. The argument is that the fake tree is made from metal and plastic with have a high cost of manufacture in terms of the environment. Along with the high carbon footprint of transporting them from China where they are made. In Turn a real tree is biodegradable and can be used for composting etc. after the festivities are
With the Christmas festivities upon us and many people are getting into the spirit of the season, many others view it purely as a commercial activity. So has Christmas lost it’s meaning? I will leave you the reader to decide on what Christmas means to you and weather it has lost it’s true meaning.
Canary Islands’ biggest (and maybe only) Icelandic Christmas celebration lives on
Despite the change of ownership into local hands of the Klorubar (an Icelandic bar), the traditional Icelandic Christmas Celebrations will still go ahead as usual.
Is a Fake Christmas Tree Greener than a Real one?
While in theory a fake tree can be used for many years, the NY Times claims that a real tree is better for the environment. The argument is that the fake tree is made from metal and plastic with have a high cost of manufacture in terms of the environment. Along with the high carbon footprint of transporting them from China where they are made. In Turn a real tree is biodegradable and can be used for composting etc. after the festivities are
Saturday, 18 December 2010
Today (Saturday 18 Dec) Christmas news
Colombian Army gives rebels a giant "Christmas Tree"
The Colombian army has installed a giant Christmas tree in rebel-held territory to encourage militants to disarm. Banners reading: "Demobilise, at Christmas everything is possible" and "If Christmas can come to the jungle, you can come home" decorate the branches.
Gary Barlow and Sir Patrick Stewart read bedtime stories
Gary Barlow and Sir Patrick Stewart have both taken time out of their busy schedules to record Christmas bedtime stories for the children’s channel cbeebies. The stories are to be broadcast on Christmas eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Kate Joins Queen for Lunch
Yesterday Kate Middleton joined the Queen and other members of the extended Royal family for the traditional pre-Christmas lunch, at Buckingham Palace.
Christmas Island Crash search is off
The search for survivors of Wednesday boat crash on Christmas Island has been called off after doctors told police that it is unlikely that any one still in the sea would be alive. The search will continue to recover bodies. At least 30 people died in the crash, police have found 42 survivors but there were al least 100 refugees on board the boat when it crashed.
Unusually cold weather brings blizzards to much of Britain causing travel chaos.
What is promising to be the coldest December on record (average temperatures are 5 degrees centigrade below the norm) along with heavy stow falls has brought much of Britain to a standstill. London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports had all planes grounded, the rail network had many cancellations and 100’s of motorists were stranded on the motorways around Manchester.
The Colombian army has installed a giant Christmas tree in rebel-held territory to encourage militants to disarm. Banners reading: "Demobilise, at Christmas everything is possible" and "If Christmas can come to the jungle, you can come home" decorate the branches.
Gary Barlow and Sir Patrick Stewart read bedtime stories
Gary Barlow and Sir Patrick Stewart have both taken time out of their busy schedules to record Christmas bedtime stories for the children’s channel cbeebies. The stories are to be broadcast on Christmas eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Kate Joins Queen for Lunch
Yesterday Kate Middleton joined the Queen and other members of the extended Royal family for the traditional pre-Christmas lunch, at Buckingham Palace.
Christmas Island Crash search is off
The search for survivors of Wednesday boat crash on Christmas Island has been called off after doctors told police that it is unlikely that any one still in the sea would be alive. The search will continue to recover bodies. At least 30 people died in the crash, police have found 42 survivors but there were al least 100 refugees on board the boat when it crashed.
Unusually cold weather brings blizzards to much of Britain causing travel chaos.
What is promising to be the coldest December on record (average temperatures are 5 degrees centigrade below the norm) along with heavy stow falls has brought much of Britain to a standstill. London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports had all planes grounded, the rail network had many cancellations and 100’s of motorists were stranded on the motorways around Manchester.
Friday, 17 December 2010
Today (Friday 17 Dec) Christmas news
The British Traditional Pantomime
Come Christmas time the British flock to their local theatres to watch that spectacle that is pantomime. Many famous actors and famous non actors love to get cross dress for the purpose of getting a laugh.
Here are the 8 most common pantomimes you will see at Christmas time.
Alladin, Cinderella, Dick Whittington, Jack and the Beanstalk, Peter Pan, Puss In Boots, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White.
Then of course there is a myriad of amateur groups that put on pantomime written with the local area in mind.
Christmas Travel Chaos in Ireland.
As the salt stocks dwindle and more wintery weather is forecast for today and over the weekend, the roads in Ireland will become blocked as only the highest of priority roads will be gritted. This will throw the travel plans for thousands of people into chaos. Things are better in the UK for the moment, but should these weather continue for any length of time then it will also be affected by blocked roads.
Will Santa get through this Christmas
In Britain there is already a backlog of over 4 million parcels waiting to be delivered and with the freeze set to continue there is little prospect of that improving. And many online stores have already stopped taking orders for Christmas delivery. In some parts people are having to wait up to four weeks for delivery of heating oil and there have been allegations of price fixing and profiteering as the price has risen from 40p per litre to 70 per litre in the last month.
Assange for Christmas dinner?
Julian Assange is too be a guest at the Suffolk estate of Vaughan Smith a former British soldier and club owner. This is one of the bail conditions placed on the founder of wikileaks, he will also be under curfew, electronically tagged and have to report to police every evening.
Come Christmas time the British flock to their local theatres to watch that spectacle that is pantomime. Many famous actors and famous non actors love to get cross dress for the purpose of getting a laugh.
Here are the 8 most common pantomimes you will see at Christmas time.
Alladin, Cinderella, Dick Whittington, Jack and the Beanstalk, Peter Pan, Puss In Boots, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White.
Then of course there is a myriad of amateur groups that put on pantomime written with the local area in mind.
Christmas Travel Chaos in Ireland.
As the salt stocks dwindle and more wintery weather is forecast for today and over the weekend, the roads in Ireland will become blocked as only the highest of priority roads will be gritted. This will throw the travel plans for thousands of people into chaos. Things are better in the UK for the moment, but should these weather continue for any length of time then it will also be affected by blocked roads.
Will Santa get through this Christmas
In Britain there is already a backlog of over 4 million parcels waiting to be delivered and with the freeze set to continue there is little prospect of that improving. And many online stores have already stopped taking orders for Christmas delivery. In some parts people are having to wait up to four weeks for delivery of heating oil and there have been allegations of price fixing and profiteering as the price has risen from 40p per litre to 70 per litre in the last month.
Assange for Christmas dinner?
Julian Assange is too be a guest at the Suffolk estate of Vaughan Smith a former British soldier and club owner. This is one of the bail conditions placed on the founder of wikileaks, he will also be under curfew, electronically tagged and have to report to police every evening.
Thursday, 16 December 2010
Today’s Christmas news
Smuggling doesn't pay
Smugglers attempting to sell cheap booze in the lead up to Christmas have had their plans thwarted by officers from the UK Border Agency.
In the last week of November alone, over 300,000 litres of beer, cider, wine and spirits worth more than £1million, were seized at ports across the south of England.
The alcohol was detained because it is believed the traders involved were attempting to avoid paying excise duty and VAT.
Had the alcohol not been confiscated, it is likely it would have been sold on the black market, resulting in buyers also avoiding taxes.
And the UK Border Agency estimate that more than £900,000 in revenue would have been lost to HM Treasury.
Free Parking for Christmas
CHRISTMAS shoppers have been treated to some council goodwill by the introduction of free parking slots.
Until Thursday, December 28, people will be able to park free for two hours in all Caerphilly county borough council pay and display car parks.
Birmingham Cancel Christmas
This year Birmingham City football club have cancelled their annual trip to Dublin for their Christmas dinner. Instead they want to focus on improving their performances on the pitch.
Asylum seekers killed of Christmas Island
At least 27 people were killed in the horror smash after the wooden boat packed with asylum seekers hit jagged rocks and overturned near the Australian island. The stricken vessel broke up off the coast of Christmas Island, forcing the estimated 70 people on board into the water – many were unable to swim.
Islanders could only look on helplessly as the boat sank. They threw life jackets and ropes, but many just drifted away.
Smugglers attempting to sell cheap booze in the lead up to Christmas have had their plans thwarted by officers from the UK Border Agency.
In the last week of November alone, over 300,000 litres of beer, cider, wine and spirits worth more than £1million, were seized at ports across the south of England.
The alcohol was detained because it is believed the traders involved were attempting to avoid paying excise duty and VAT.
Had the alcohol not been confiscated, it is likely it would have been sold on the black market, resulting in buyers also avoiding taxes.
And the UK Border Agency estimate that more than £900,000 in revenue would have been lost to HM Treasury.
Free Parking for Christmas
CHRISTMAS shoppers have been treated to some council goodwill by the introduction of free parking slots.
Until Thursday, December 28, people will be able to park free for two hours in all Caerphilly county borough council pay and display car parks.
Birmingham Cancel Christmas
This year Birmingham City football club have cancelled their annual trip to Dublin for their Christmas dinner. Instead they want to focus on improving their performances on the pitch.
Asylum seekers killed of Christmas Island
At least 27 people were killed in the horror smash after the wooden boat packed with asylum seekers hit jagged rocks and overturned near the Australian island. The stricken vessel broke up off the coast of Christmas Island, forcing the estimated 70 people on board into the water – many were unable to swim.
Islanders could only look on helplessly as the boat sank. They threw life jackets and ropes, but many just drifted away.
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