"The Yorkshire dialect refers to the Northern English language varieties spoken in England's historic county of Yorkshire. Those varieties are often referred to as Broad Yorkshire or Tyke. The dialect has roots in older languages such as Old English and Old Norse; it should not be confused with modern slang."
This blogger lives in what was once termed the East Riding of Yorkshire, in England. For a time it became North Humberside. In general this title was poorly received and ultimately we returned to being known as Yorkshire. The changes of course cost fortune upon fortune. Letter headed note-paper, street signs and maps were just a few of the items which needed changing a more than once. Still it would seem that we are now securely back as Yorkshire, at least for the time being. Most of the locals in my city will agree that our accents are dreadful. You can always tell a person is from our city, for example when they appear on TV, by the flat tone of their voice. We seem to be taught from a young age to use slang words and seem incapable of pronouncing vowels. The Yorkshire dialect seems to have passed us by but it is still alive and well in the more rural parts of Yorkshire and some smaller towns and cities but only just. Having said that Leeds is a larger city and yet they have a distinct dialect. For example, a Leeds person may say reet grand instead of rather nice. As children we would visit a distant relative who lived near to Skipton in the Yorkshire Dales. She lived in a small village which had a small population. This population though had strange names, such as Moses Thackery, knew each others business and in general spoke in Yorkshire dialect. My female relative originated in my home town and so she did not speak in dialect. However her husband born and bred in the countryside may as well have come from the planet Mars. We could not understand a word he said. Compiling the list below, though, which is a taster of Yorkshire dialect, has made me realise that I do use at least a few words that are strictly speaking Yorkshire Dialect. Researching online I came across one site which is dedicated to maintaining Yorkshire dialect. It has a wealth of poetry and song, and samples can be downloaded to listen to. Even the names of the authors were intriguing. So here are a few words of Yorkshire Dialect with translations;
http://www.yorkshiredialectsociety.org.uk/ http://www.yorkshire-dialect.org/dictionary.htm
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On the 8th anniversary of the dreadful events that happened in New York, America, and are often referred to as 9/11, we watched "102 Minutes That Changed America."
It is scheduled to be aired again in the UK and in many ways is essential viewing. There can be few, if any readers, who know little of what I am writing about. However for that tiny minority:- On September 11, 2001, a plane hit one of the Trade Centre Towers in New York. At first it was thought to be an accident but, within a short space of time, a second plane hit the other tower and people's worst fears were confirmed. America and its people were under attack from an unknown source. Since that time there have been many theories about the possible involvement of certain American agencies, foreknowledge of the American Government and conspiracy. I for one do not believe any of these and hope to God that I am right. So, on that fateful day, as the drama unfolded before the eyes of the World, the twin towers fell to the ground and people were deeply moved, shocked and saddened. It is now 2017 The following was written September 10, 2009. "Today is September 10, 2009 and, this year in the UK, there have been many programmes aired regarding the twin towers and 9/11. All have been interesting but of course upsetting. One of the documentaries that I have watched this week was "102 Minutes That Changed America". This film is available through sources such as Amazon. For those interested I would recommend watching this film but expect a bumpy ride. 102 Minutes is made up of actual footage that New York's citizens, workforce and visitors collected on that day. 102 minutes is such a brief time when you consider the implications of what took place during this period of time. It was 102 minutes from when the first plane hit the first Trade Centre Tower until the collapse of the second tower and the carnage that was left behind. 9/11 It was a beautiful late Summer, early Autumn day and America looked glorious. The bright blue sky was the type that I find so heartwarming. I doubt that those who witnessed this event close at hand could ever look at such a sky in the same way again. With footage from around 100 different onlookers, this film shows many aspects of this atrocity which I had not seen before. From close by, a couple of blocks away, five blocks away or even way across New York City on Staton Island this event was witnessed. In the UK it was early afternoon before the news broke of the first plane hitting one of the Twin Towers. Just as when President Kennedy was assassinated, when I was a child, I remember so well what we were doing on 9/11. Hubby had been ill and a Doctor's appointment was booked for later in the afternoon. I was going with him as he had been very unwell. By the time the appointment arrived the towers had fallen, the world had changed and the day felt totally unreal. The receptionists were listening to the news on radios at the surgery and everywhere felt eerie. Unlike such disasters in the past the news coverage was intense and all too explicit. The difference with 102 Minutes That Changed America is that it is real and, in a raw sense, created by the man on the street. There is some news footage but on the whole it is Joe Public who is the camerman,ad woman. The devastating effect 9/11 had on people who lived close by is there to see as plain as day. The film has the same effect of Cloverfield in that people at times are running for their lives whilst still filming. Only this time it is for real. This makes for a very unstable image at times but we must never forget that this is not a drama but real life. I cannot say that I enjoyed 102 minutes as that is the wrong word to use. I was glad that I watched it although much of the two hours when this film was aired was upsetting. By the time each commercial break came around I felt drained and I was only watching a film. Thank god I was not there. As a record of a dreadful piece of history 102 minutes is very accurate. I will not re hash the events of that day, as we all are only too well aware of what happened and what has happened since. I did wonder though how those who were so close by coped after the event. People such as:-
And so many more. It goes without saying that those directly involved and their families must struggle on a daily basis. So this film is recommended viewing but not for everyone. At the start the film makers state that there is plenty of distressing footage and personal caution should be exercised. Despite the emotional roller coaster this film evoked in me I am glad that I decided to watch 102 minutes. It is gripping stuff and a painful reminder why terrorists must never be allowed to succeed. RUPERTS were unknown to me until I saw something on the TV about their use in the Second World War. Fascinated I thought I would delve a little deeper.
Ruperts were an English "weapon" of this war. They were not a weapon as such but rather represented "pretend" numbers of armed personnel dropping from the sky. Used to aid the British war effort they worked well. However they were not a British invention. In 1940 the German used Paradummies to try and out fox their opponents. During the Battle of the Netherlands and Belgium they used Paradummies which were almost like puppets. They were filled with straw and often dozens would be thrown out of the German planes. This was done at a time when it would instill fear in those on the ground. The Germans used these dummies later on in the war. It has been reported that they appeared so realistic that troops below would abandon their posts pretty sharpish. The British form of these dummies may have the very British name of Rupert given to them but they were actually made in the USA. Great Britain used Ruperts in 1940 during some offensive actions. In 1942 they were employed again,. This time to cause a distraction during the British invasion of Madagascar, Africa. On D-Day, in Normandey, France, Ruperts dropped at night helped those on the ground win through. This Normandy drop was called Operation Titanic. At this time June 6, 1944 a force of 40 planes, Hudsons, Halifaxes and Stirlings, dropped a total of 500 dummies in four separate locations. 500 helped swell the number of actual troops invading. During an invasion by the parachute regiment Ruperts made the force appear much larger. Ruperts may not have been able to fight or do anything in reality but they could scare the enemy. In order to make the Ruperts more realistic rifle fire simulators and two teams of Special Air Service soldiers, six men in total, were also dropped. These teams carried recordings of loud battle noises which added to the realism of the dummies. The Ruperts were only small, around 2 foot 9 inches in length. When they hit the ground they exploded and burst into flames, supposedly leaving the enemy baffled and worried. This is why only a few Ruperts remain today. Examples can be found in some UK museums. In 2009 one that failed to detonate in WWII was sold at an auction in Germany. Later in the 20th Century paradummies were used by other countries, such as the US in the Vietnam War. However. only in the UK could a paradummy be called a RUPERT. https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/blog/2013/10/04/old-wwii-d-day-paradummy-found-residing-in-garden-shed Most of us think of our homes as our sanctuaries; however surprisingly more accidents occur in the home than anywhere else.
When you actually think about it your home can be a dangerous death trap or somewhere which will keep you safe and sound but which it is could be down to you. With that in mind you need to assess your home environment carefully. Bacteria and germs Some germs and bacteria are a necessary part of life but in order to keep you and your family healthy you will need to minimise them in your home. Regularly using anti-bacterial sprays can help keep germs at bay. It is no good things looking pristine if they are not really clean. Pets With two dogs, that I adore, resident in our home we try to be careful about hygiene. We have to accept that animals can cause germs and infections at times. Hygiene around pets is very important. Dust mites Dust mites that may live in the carpet, bed, pillows and bedding can cause or aggravate allergies and breathing problems. Investing in the latest vacuum cleaners, and allergy free materials for bedding and the like, can improve health. Fumes Carbon Monoxide is a poisonous emission which can be emitted from gas appliances. It is called the silent killer, as it is hard to detect. Appliances need to be regularly serviced and maintained to prevent such problems. Also investing in a Carbon Monoxide detector is sensible and these days much cheaper than before. Similarly using certain paints and cleaning products around the home may expose you to harmful fumes. Be sensible and buy products that are user friendly. Health and Safety Imagine your home is your workplace and do a health and safety assessment. You may be surprised at what you find that is unsafe. It could be broken ladders, insecure handrails, poor water supply or unsafe electrics, old and faulty equipment, lack of fire alarms, poor sanitation, good looking furniture that hurts your back, old and worn out mattresses or one of many things. In our homes we all use unsafe practices at times, for example using potentially lethal equipment such as lawn mowers whilst wearing sandals and a flowing dress. At home, as at work, you need to make sure you have the right tools for the job and the right clothing. Air quality In order to be healthy we all need a good healthy supply of oxygen. We also need to keep our bodies at a good temperature. It is important to have sufficient heat in your home, but not too much, and to have fresh air, not stale air. Cigarette smoke Obviously a home filled with cigarette smoke will not be healthy. If possible make your home no smoking. If you cannot quit smoking take it outside and make visitors do the same. Your groceries and drinks Shop for healthy foods and only buy alcohol on an occasional basis. A healthy home may have occasional treats in its store cupboard but will usually have more fruit and vegetables than anything else. Conclusion Safety and health are really one and the same or at least they can be. Be safe and protect your health at home as you would in your workplace. It can be a pain getting holidays and annual leave booked at work but what if you are an MP? In the UK, as things stand, we need good, decent and honest politicians but we are sometimes left wanting. The people who stand to represent us however are only human beings when all is said and done. They have their own skills and life pressures. They will never be able to please all of their constituents all of the time. Doing the best they can however should be a given. The salary of a politician is something many people can only dream about. But there are pros and cons and the system is used and abused by some. Members of Parliament at times work long hours and are often working in their constituencies when parliament is in recess. But that is not true of all. Recess, House rises, House returns The set dates of recess mean any emergency that warrants a parliamentary recall will cost taxpayers dearly. When the house is sitting MPs enjoy perks such as a subsided bar and restaurant. Who oays for this? Why taxpayers of course. A politicians working life is not always easy but Operks include a decent salary although at least one MP has complained it is not a living wage for him. In 2014 "An income of almost £120,000 a year is not enough to live on in London according to Government minister Mark Simmonds, Tory, who says he is quitting politics because this does not “stretch” far enough. As a Foreign Office minister and MP, Mr Simmonds receives a salary of £89,435 and is also entitled to an annual housing allowance of £27,875 for him and his family." A Toy minister? A member of a government slashing budgets and inflicting financial pain. Pay and expenses for MPs. Some MPs such as Jess Philips employ a relative to run the show. Mrs Philips husband took on the role of her office manager a month after she was elected in 2015.
Is that two on board the gravy train or a necessary expense funded by taxpayers? But check out this report in the Birmingham Mail "New MP Jess Phillips employs her husband as assistant in taxpayer-funded job." That report highlights mainly Labour MPs as it is concentrating on one area of the country but it is a cross-party problem. The electorate in the UK is being turned of politics for many reasons. One is certainly the them and us culture reinforced by politicians who set the bar low for the population but raise it for themselves. Is it a hard life being a politician? Possibly. Is it a hard life being a refuse collector, road sweeper, nurse, carer, supermarket shelf filler, office worker and more earning the minimum wage and coping with in work benefit cuts handed down by politicians? You tell me! Valuable resource https://www.theyworkforyou.com/ More: http://parliamentarystandards.org.uk/payandpensions/Pages/default.aspx http://www.newtekjournalismukworld.com/latest/remembering-maria-miller-expense-scandal http://www.newtekjournalismukworld.com/latest/allegations-of-sleaze-and-corruption-still-dog-westminster A personal viewpoint
Queen Elizabeth II has ruled the UK and its sovereign lands since 1952. This blogger was born in Yorkshire in the UK in 1952, a little before the Queen came to the throne. The Queen's father had died about a month earlier so in truth she was the Queen in all but the ceremony and pomp. The weekend of June 2, 3, 4 and 5, 2012 the Queen's Diamond Jubilee was celebrated. Since then we have had the Queen's 90th birthday celebration keeping the British Royal Family nicely in the spotlight when it suits. The Queen has had a long and reasonably successful reign. Whilst this blogger is no Royalist she has to admit that if we have to continue with a Royal Family this edition is not too bad. Sounds disrespectful? Well my Mum and Dad would turn over in their graves, as they say. Both were firm Royalists. Dad was a veteran of World War Two and literally fought for King and Country. Both parents thought the British Royals were all the cliches such as worth their weight in gold, worked hard, had a divine right to rule and so on. As children we listened to the Queen's speech at Christmas firstly on the radio and inevitably on our fifties television. Standing for the National Anthem was just the done thing. Some younger parents were starting to let these standards slip though, even in the fifties. Our parents were classed as old to have kids back then. Aged early thirties they were way past their sell by date as far as breeding went at thta time. The War however meant that my parents were not alone. Others who had lost partners in the War were starting out again. Somewhere along the line, in the sixties or early seventies, standing for the National Anthem became something of a a joke. As movies ended in the cinema there was a rush for the exit before the Anthem was played. When Dad was still alive we would be the last ones standing, so to speak. In the end playing the National Anthem at the end of a cinema showing was scrapped. This was true of TV scheduling also. At one time each day's viewing ended with the National Anthem and those so inclined would stand up even in their own homes.Some would even sing along but times changes. I can still remember Mum, my brother and I excitedly waiting at the side of a road in our town, with hundreds of others, for the Queen's chauffeur driven car to pass by. It was a fleeting glimpse but well worth the effort. I resplendent with red, white and blue ribbons in my hair believed Mum when she said the Queen smiled straight at me. But my brother and I were very young children. Those rebellious days of the sixties and seventies had no place for the Royals. Well they did not for us. They were part of the establishment. In 1977 the Queen's Silver Jubilee was celebrated while jobs were being lost left, right and centre. It was rather like today. Hubby proudly wore his "fight the cuts, stuff the jubilee badge" much to the disgust of many. He would be tutted at but when you are young sometimes that is the desired effect, isn't it? Though my sentiments have mellowed with time I still favour a Republic. Those who loved the Diamond Jubilee celebrations good luck to you. The Queen will presumably work in the same post until she drops. Many ordinary people however will be lucky to gain any employment during their lives. My Royalist parents died in their fifties well before their time. Hard work and more had taken its toll. No soft option or bevvy of servants for them. The Jubilee eventually brought back some memories even though we did not watch any of the events. It was hard to avoid all of it though as UK TV aired 24/7 coverage. Brainwashing of citizens? Could be but that did not work on me and many others. 64 years is a long time and much has happened during that time in the UK and the World. Positives and negatives have changed our lives. The current recession and possible BRexit woes will not touch the likes of Queen Elizabeth and her entourage though. The lead image is a Coronation Party in 1953. Although the Queen had ruled for 60 years in 2012 she was not officially crowned until June 1953. I was 15 months old and my brother was 3-years-old. Our street's Coronation Party was held in a part of our town that no longer exists; until the mid seventies, when it was finally demolished, our street had numerous bomb sites. Bombies where we would play. Just about everyone was dressed in fancy dress for this "do". Brother and I were last minute party-goers due to a family bereavement and our young age. The blob in the front is me. 15-months-old with those red, white and blue ribbons again. Brother is in the far left corner. Street parties back then were friendly affairs and all joined in. The food and drink was tame compared to now. Cheap and cheerful you could say. It was at a time when sweets were still on ration following the war and not a time of plenty. The 2012 Diamond Jubilee, royal marriages and births, have all helped breed a new generation of Royalists. Now the Queen and Philip are ageing they are viewed as sweet almost grand parent figures. For many people the prospect of Wills and Kate taking over appeals. That is not liable to happen though. The Diamond Jubilee was carefully stage managed to lift the people during a time of austerity. The cost was kept secret. There is much worse to come in the near future than the current austerity and that could include another war. During such times the Monarchy want to know their people are behind them. It would seem that the vast majority are, at least for now. Please note: The main image is around two foot long and a foot deep. This means that a fair section has been omitted. That part has suffered some water damage. For many years it hung in a huge frame until this was broken. 2018:- Another Day, Another Royal Wedding, Eugenie and Jack Harry and Meghan - Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex Announce She Is Pregnant The last forty years or so has seen credit become more and more a part of our lives in England. Back then only the more affluent people of UK society had mortgages and credit. But hire purchase had been around for 15 to 20 years and folks were getting used to purchasing goods this way. Somewhere between then and now everyone started to accept credit as part of their way of life. The culture of saving up and waiting to afford something gradually disappeared to be replaced with a ‘See it, want it, buy it’ mentality. And somewhere along the line debt was rebranded as credit but it is still money owed. Credit has become socially acceptable and in some ways this has compounded economic problems. In the past being the owner of a well managed credit card could lead to a regularly increased credit limit, like it or lump it. Consumers do not have to take up the offer of increased credit but it can be tempting if say you are struggling with a reduction in income. It may be all too easy to grab it fast and think of the consequences later. A constant stream of junk mail envelopes on UK doormats which offered loans and credit offered more temptation but these have dried up since the economic downturn of 2008. If you are "old school" you may feel that overall any credit is too much. The problem is that any credit reduces the income you have to survive on. Allow yourself to take on more credit than you can afford and your income will be reduced so that in a worst case scenario you may have to borrow just to make ends meet. A treadmill or downward spiral of debt follows. It is much better to consider credit wisely before agreeing any:
It's no good having credit which leaves you nothing to live on or which you can only afford if you work every hour god sends. Thinking ahead means working out if you could afford your credit even if you become ill for a short or long time. What about if you or your partner lost their job or had to take a reduction in hours? In the heady days leading up to the economic downturn some institutions lent mortgage seekers up to four times the main wage earner's income and 3 times their partners; totally unrealistic amounts of money which ultimately led to impossible payments. If you are a young couple who may be hoping to start a family in the near future these changes and extra demands on your income must be considered. Credit, like everything else in life, is personal and some people can cope on less money than others. However, you must sit down and work out exactly what you have going out on basics such as gas, electricity, water, council tax, food, insurances, clothes, transport, rent or mortgage and any other essentials. Many people do not actually realise until they see these figures written down just how much money goes out each week; and that is money that has to go out for essentials. You must bear in find extras such as dental treatment, prescriptions and spectacles. You will also need to take into account the usual increases which occur in your essential household bills each year. One of the ways you can calculate your debt, is by working out your ‘debt-to-income ratio’. This is the amount of debt you have set against your income. There is good debt and bad debt. When working out your debt to income ratio you can leave the good debt out or include it to see a full picture. If you want to work out just how much trouble you are in then it is often better to calculate the ratio using only bad debt. Check out Do you have too much debt for more details. Below is a calculation for working out your debt percentage: Let’s say you want to gauge your debt overload (bad debt only) Add the amount you spend each month on bad debt and divide it by your total monthly income. Multiply that number by 100 to come up with a percentage. The result is your debt-to-income ratio. Conclusion:
The debt to income ratio is rather difficult to understand at first. However once you have read it through a couple of times it is really very simple. The advice is basically as above but it gives you a range of figures to work on which will plainly show you whether you have too much debt or not. On the whole if you just use your common sense, always bearing in mind your other outgoings, it should be easy to work out what you can afford. Remember the old Mr Micawber saying from Charles Dickens “Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen pounds nineteen and six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery.” The amounts and legal tender may have changed but the sentiment remains the same. Heard of the Ealing Comedies? No? That could mean you are still young! The Ealing comedies are classics of their day but may be a step too far back in time for some younger viewers, but you are missing a treat as they are still funny. Still aired on UK TV, especially during a wet afternoon in winter, they are a step back to a gentler time. In truth the time of filming was not that much gentler, as it was the post-war years following Hitler's demise, but at least on screen the niceties were still recognised. Ealing Studios - home of classic comedy The Ealing Studios, in West London, produced many classic British comedy films, at one time. Film Studios were on the site from as early as 1896 but they only became The Ealing Studios in 1931. Ealing released some classic films in the 1930's and 1940's, mostly thrillers, but the best, their comedy films, were released a little later. In fact the period between 1948 and 1955 was Ealing Studios most successful period of time. It seems such a long time ago now. Even this aged blogger was only born in 1952. However, we grew up with these films as my father, in particular, adored them. That is something he has passed on to me. I have seen these films many times down the years but have never tired of them. Most are in black and white and some, such as The Titfield Thunderbolt, appear to be tinted as the colours are so peculiar. In recent years we have seen a remake of The Ladykillers featuring Tom Hanks but for me the original wins out every time. So, especially if you have never watched an Ealing Comedy, have a look at some or all of the film reviews shown below and why not give one or two movies a whirl. These films are set in a gentler world, long since gone but, to my mind, as long as you accept the time difference, they are charming and funny in their own sweet way and of course, now, they are classics. With the austere period just after World War Two they must have been a breath of fresh air to movie-goers in the UK. Ealing Studios was bought by the BBC in 1955 and used a little. However in 1995 Ealing Studios was bought by the National Film and Television School. That is not the end of the tale though. In 2000 the studios were sold again and films have begun to be released from here once more. Personal favourites remain,
Passport to Pimlico Pimlico as a name certainly has an unusual twang to it and does sound almost foreign, yet it is a part of London. Passport to Pimlico is one of the now classic comedies which came out of the Ealing Studios, UK, during their prime in the 1940's and 1950's. This gentle comedy is set in the era, just after the Second World War, when rationing is still very much in operation. During a long hot summer, the discovery of an unexploded bomb eventually leads to an exciting discovery, which may lead the citizens of Pimlico to an apparent means of solving their shortages. A lot of this film was made on a set which was erected on a cleared bomb site in London. During the 50s and 60s there were many bomb sites dotted around the UK especially in cities. This film has delightful characters and a wealth of those actors and actresses, who were favourites during my childhood. It is filmed in black and white which certainly fits the time. The post war years were quite austere and houses and the environment of cities and towns tended to be rather grey. For younger viewers, the setting may seem a little strange. However for myself, and others of my generation, they were the norm. I was brought up in a city which had suffered heavy bombing during the war and we had many waste areas or 'bombies' as we called them close by. They were great for playing on and were just an accepted part of that time. Nowadays these areas, which had previously housed homes which had been bombed to smithereens, would seem odd to say the least. However whether you are young or old this film should entertain. It shows the determination of British people and the idiocy of bureaucracy. The dogged stubbornness of the citizens of Pimlico, or Burgundy, as it becomes known has all the British bulldog 'Spirit of the War'. There are some great characters such as: Stanley Holloway as Arthur Pemberton who is a feisty character and one of the mainstays of the plot. The wonderful Margaret Rutherford as eccentric Professor Hatton-Jones is only a minor player in this film but as always brings her own slightly mad style to the performance. A young Charles Hawtry plays a minor role. Another young actor of the day, John Slater, who went on to Z Cars fame, plays the love smitten Frank Huggins. Sydney Taffler, a well known actor of the day, plays Fred Cowan. Barbara Murray as Shirley Pemberton. Paul Dupuis as the charming Duke of Burgundy provides the love interest. Hermione Baddely as Edie Randall. Sam Kydd as Sapper. Michael Hordern as Inspector Bashford. Betty Warren as Connie Pemberton. There are many more players, with both large and small roles, but the above may be familiar to readers. Most of the players in this film are sadly no longer alive, let alone acting. The majority of the players in this film were either famous names at the time or were to become famous in the years that followed. The plot of this film evolved, somewhat, from actual war-time events. Apparently when the Dutch Royal family were in exile in Canada, the small area that they occupied was declared Dutch territory. This was done to satisfy Dutch law that demanded members of the royal family be born on Dutch soil. The comedy of Passport to Pimlico is gentle. There are comical observations of English citizens and their behaviour. The red tape of Whitehall was the same then as now. The camaraderie in the face of adversity, which the cockneys of Pimlico all experience is amusing and heart-warming. These characters go from strict restrictions to a time of anything goes, which leads to a feeling of being ostracised, before they are welcomed back into the fold of Great Britain. Eventually they realise that the restrictions are a small price to pay and that the benefits of being English outweigh the bad. However as one character states in the film 'It is their right as English citizens to not be English citizens'. If you watch the film, this will not seem as nonsensical a statement as it sounds. I have not really given any of the plot away and so if you have never seen this film but enjoy the nostalgic type of comedy which is Ealing Studios give this film a try. There is nothing offensive in the movie and it is suitable for any age of viewer. However I doubt that it will appeal to the very young. The Cast Stanley Holloway - Arthur Pemberton Betty Warren - Connie Pemberton Barbara Murray - Shirley Pemberton Paul Dupois - Duke of Burgandy Margaret Rutherford - Proffessor Hatton-Jones John Slater - Frank Huggins Jane Hylton - Molly Raymond Huntley - Wix Phillip Stainton - P.C. Spiller Sydney Tafler - Fred Cowen Frederick Piper - Garland Naunton Wayne - Straker Basil Radford - Gregg Michael Hordern - Insp Bashford Charles Hawtrey - Bert Fitch Director: Henry Cornelius. Assistant Director: Gordon Scott. Producer: Michael Balcon. Associate Producer: E.V.H. Emmett. Script: T.E.B. Clarke. Cinematography: Lionel Banes. Art Direction: Roy Oxley. Costume Design: Anthony Mendleson. Make-Up Artist: Ernest Taylor. Editing: Michael Truman. Sound: Stephen Dalby. Music: Georges Auric. Conductor: Ernest Irving. The Lavender Hill Mob
The Lavender Hill mob is yet another charming black and white comedy movie from the British, Ealing Studios. This film happens to be a firm favourite from this period of time, the 50s, and this studio. For me, although it is not my favourite, the Lavender Hill Mob certainly has much appeal. Alec Guinness plays a typical, gentlemanly, bank clerk of the 1950's, called Henry Holland. He appears to be shy, retiring and very much a job's worth. However behind his fastidious character lies a potential master thief, just biding his time. With a plan in mind, which has been hatching over many years, he just needs to find a means of moving the gold bullion, which he would have from such a robbery, without arising suspicion. When a new lodger moves into Henry's digs all the pieces of the plan begin to fall into place. With Mr Pendlebury the lodger and a couple of accomplices the Lavender Hill Mob is formed; Lavender Hill being a street in London. The affable Pendelbury is played perfectly by the late Stanley Holloway and the gang includes British comedy actors Alfie Bass and Sid James. All of these actors are now late greats but that is inevitable with the passing of time. When the robbery is committed there are all the necessary errors and problems needed to develop a good plot. This film is funny in a gentle way and very much depicts the era and London in the early 1950's. The players are all cast well and fit their roles nicely. The good over bad twist is unexpected but typical of films from this period. When the film was released in 1951 it was quite special. It won various awards such as:
Most of these films can be picked up cheaply on DVD and make a perfect gift. From time to time this film, along with the other Ealing comedies does the television rounds. As a film that is more than 60 years old that cannot be bad going. Watch this film if you like or fancy a period comedy with great actors, some funny scenes, no violence as such, nothing offensive and a film that is easy to watch. My favourite funny scenes include Henry Holland attacking himself, the race down the Eiffel Tower and the silly schoolgirls. This review gives little away and so the plot is not spoiled. Do not let the black and white aspect of viewing deter you from watching this film, as it adds to the period and full glorious colour would not be right somehow. A film worthy of the description, a classic. Loved it! Running Time 81 minutes Cast : Alec Guinness Stanley Holloway Sid James Alfie Bass Marjorie Fielding Edie Martin John Salew Ronald Adam Arthur Hambling Gibb McLaughlin Robert Shaw Audrey Hepburn A BBC news report relating to the drug Thalidomide and leprosy in Brazil was both interesting and enlightening
Leprosy is still very active in the country of Brazil. One so-called wonder drug helping stem its spread is thalidomide. That drug is remembered by people in the west over the age of 50 or so as one that caused severe deformities to unborn babies in the womb. Given to mothers-to-be in the 50s as a cure for morning sickness the drug caused a range of disabilities in unborn kids. Missing arms, leg, feet and or hands the children and their families face huge lifelong challenges in life. The drug was banned in the UK and other western countries but it was too late for some. 400 "thalidomide" babies were born in the UK alone. The drug was demonised and vanished from view. However, in Brazil it is being given widely to fight leprosy. The problem is that this has led to some birth defects again. Warnings are handed out with the drugs but that has not prevented "thalidomide babies" being born. The three-year-old who featured in the report had no arms nor legs, just deformed hands and feet. He was a happy little soul who was full of life and joy, with aspirations to be a footballer in due course. Little chance of that, however strong a character he is. The report said a "proportion of the population Brazil is the worst country in the world for the disease [leprosy] and each year more than 35,000 people are diagnosed with the condition". A doctor shared his thoughts that as the older generation die out thalidomide will once more be seen as the wonder drug that it is or should thta sya "can be." Those with memories of deformed babies will vanish leaving thalidomide to be seen in a new light. However, with new births in Brazil showing some deformities that is hardly likely for a long time. Medications are costly in Brazil. It is a rich country but it has a wide wealth divide with many people living in poverty. This resulted in one thalidomide baby when the Mum took one of her husband's tablets to relieve pain not realising that she was pregnant and not realising the damage she was doing to the foetus in her womb. What is leprosy? One definition online says: Leprosy (Hansen’s Disease), is a chronic infectious disease that primarily affects the peripheral nerves, skin, upper respiratory tract, eyes, and nasal mucosa. The disease is caused by a bacillus (rod-shaped) bacterium known as Mycobacterium leprae. According to Wikipedia:"Left untreated, leprosy can be progressive, causing permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs and eyes. Contrary to folklore, leprosy does not cause body parts to fall off, although they can become numb or diseased as a result of secondary infections; these occur as a result of the body's defenses being compromised by the primary disease.Secondary infections, in turn, can result in tissue loss causing fingers and toes to become shortened and deformed, as cartilage is absorbed into the body. At highest risk are those living in endemic areas with poor conditions such as inadequate bedding, contaminated water, and insufficient diet, or other diseases that compromise immune function. Although the mode of transmission of leprosy remains uncertain, many think that M. leprae is usually spread from person to person in nasal droplets. Studies have shown that leprosy can be transmitted to humans by armadillos. Leprosy is not known to be either sexually transmitted or highly infectious after treatment. Approximately 95% of people are naturally immune and sufferers are no longer infectious after as little as two weeks of treatment." Leprosy is unheard of in many countries in the 21st Century and it is a sad sign of the times that a country with as many millionaires as Brazil still has a problem with this poverty-based disease. Note: If you visit the Greek island of Crete and the resort of Agios Nikolaos you can visit the old leper colony, which is situated a short trip across the water on the Creatan island of Spinalonga. Sunbathing on the man-made beach at Elounda Spinalonga looks magnificent until you are told that it was a leper colony where affected locals were taken, away from their families, to live out their days. Sources and footage at the BBC https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21929284-000-was-thalidomide-cause-of-brazil-baby-birth-defects/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23931282 http://www.thalidomidesociety.org/what-is-thalidomide/
It is December 28. That period between Christmas and New Year when many of us continue to overeat. Just today UK news channels have been reporting that many people consume too many calories and not just at Christmas. A more sedentary lifestyle, car use and less physical work included, means that calorie advice should apparently be reduced.
So bear that in mind. The following is a general guide to how many calories a person should consume before today's news. Although there are general guidelines about how many calories a male or female should consume there are some variations. A lot depends on how much you already weigh and if you are overweight, if you are simply aiming to maintain your present weight, or if you want to put on or lose weight. Trying to lose weight The more extra weight that you carry, the higher the amount of calories you can consume initially, and still lose weight. If you are more than a couple of stone overweight you will probably start your diet at around 1500 to 1800 calories a day. This is for women and will give you a healthy, regular weight loss of a couple of pounds a week. A man would be more likely to be allowed 2000 to 2200 a day in the same situation. It is best to allow yourself more calories at the start of a diet as, because you have more weight to carry around, you will burn off more calories daily. However, as your weight decreases, so will your calorie intake. If you have a stone or less to lose from day one of a diet then your daily intake should be around 1,000 to 1,500 a day, if you are a female, and 1,500 to 2,000 a day if you are a male. These amounts are flexible as a lot will also depend on how old you are, how tall you are and whether your life is sedentary or active. Women should never go below 1,000 calories a day, or men below 1,500. If you lose weight with a weight loss of regular small amounts you are more likely to keep the weight off long term and also stick to your diet. A more stringent diet will be hard to maintain. Also very low calorie diets can be harmful to your health long term and you run the risk of causing yourself many health problems. Low calorie diets can also be lacking in some of the vital vitamins and nutrients that a healthy body needs to work well. Once you have reached your target weight you should be able to follow a maintenance diet. This will mean that you keep an eye on your weight and calorie intake without being too strict. Having had the struggle to lose weight you don't want to put the weight straight back on, do you? Usually a maintenance diet will be about 250 calories more than when you were dieting.
Over the following weeks and months you will be able to monitor your weight and adjust your daily calorie intake increasing the amount of calories, if and when necessary.
Trying to put weight on For all of us who struggle with keeping our weight down this one is hard to understand. However, there are people who desperately want to gain weight and just cannot seem to. A skinny friend, whose body I envied when young, used to try and put on weight eating extra rich foods. Obviously her metabolism could cope and she never gained any weight despite her best efforts. Of course, sometimes it is that, overall, a person's calorie intake may be less than their body uses each day. However, the principle is the same. Work out what would be the ideal amount of calories you should consume in a day by looking at your height, weight, levels of activity and age. There are many books which may help you work this out and there are Internet sites where you can put in your details and a calorie calculator will do the calculation for you. Whatever is your ideal amount of calories a day then needs to be increased a little. It takes about an extra 3,500 calories just to gain one pound. As you can see you will need to be patient and monitor your weight making any calorie adjustments necessary. Normal amount of calories daily The amount of calories a day which are right for you is very personal. Every person's metabolism is different. However you can increase your activity to burn off extra calories. What is usually classed as the average amount of calories just to maintain your weight is often 1,800 to 2,000 for a woman and 2,000 to 2,500 for a man. You can find an Internet calculation which is supposed to enable you to determine the correct amount of daily calories for you. It is:
These calculations, when the energy expanded during physical activity and the thermic effect of food is included, will give you your Base Metabolic Rate. Clear as mud I know. As one website says for most people these calculations are too confusing. They then give an easier formula:-
Conclusion If you follow the general guidelines, for the amount of calories which you need to consume daily, and you find that you put weight on, for example, then cut down your calories intake a little. As individuals we are all so different that there are really no hard and fast correct amounts for calorie intake a day, just what's right for you. Please remember that any unexplained weight loss or weight gain should always be investigated by a doctor just to rule out health problems, such as a Thyroid disorder. Calorie calculator http://www.nhs.uk/livewell/goodfood/pages/eat-less.aspx |
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