At last! It's official!
Reports in today's press confirm that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have today announced they are engaged and will marry early next year, the couple have finally revealed.
The couple, who revealed they were an item a year ago after a six-month secret relationship, got engaged earlier this month in London and will marry in spring 2018, Kensington Palace said.
They will appear on national TV in the UK this evening to discuss their engagement and wedding just 16 months after they got together after being introduced by a mutual friend in May 2016.
Royal protocol dictated that the Queen had to give her grandson permission to marry the star just a week after she celebrated her own 70th wedding anniversary and in a statement she and Prince Philip said: 'delighted for the couple and wish them every happiness'.
His brother William and sister-in-law Kate said in a joint statement: 'The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge said of the engagement: 'We are very excited for Harry and Meghan. It has been wonderful getting to know Meghan and to see how happy she and Harry are together'.
Harry also asked Meghan's parents Thomas Markle and Doria Ragland, who divorced when their daughter was six, for her hand in marriage before popping the question a few weeks ago, it emerged today.
They said: 'Our daughter has always been a kind and loving person. To see her union with Harry, who shares the same qualities, is a source of great joy for us as parents'.
Harry, 33, and his American fiancee, 36, have not said where they will hold the ceremony but if they choose the UK most senior royals marry at Westminster Abbey, St Paul's Cathedral or the chapel at Windsor Castle.
Meghan, who is divorced, could become a princess or alternatively be given the title Duchess of Sussex when she marries the fifth in line to the throne and joins the royal family.
But they are likely to wait until Prince William and Kate have their third child, which is due in April.
Monday 27 November 2017
Monday 6 November 2017
German parents in court over baby name
Many of us will remember the horror movie "The Omen" Those of us who do, will also remember the "devil child" in the film, was called Damien. It was surprising therefore , when Del Boy from the TV series "Only Fools and Horses" decided to call his firstborn Damien.
A German couple has decided to change the name of their baby after a closed door court hearing.
The couple, from Kassel in central Germany, tried to register their newborn son as ‘Lucifer’ but were prevented from doing so by an official in the local registry office. Under German law, a baby’s name can be rejected if officials believe it will endanger the child’s wellbeing. Therefore, names that could lead to the child being ridiculed or names which are deemed offensive can be blocked by the courts.
Although Lucifer means ‘bearer of light’, it has much more obvious associations with the devil. As a result it is actually banned as a name for children in several countries such as New Zealand.
During the closed door hearing, the parents decided not to fight for this name so the court did not have to make a ruling one way or the other. They instead agreed on the much less Satanic Lucian.
In contrast to the German system, the UK is one of the most liberal countries in the world when it comes to what parents can name their children. There are virtually no restrictions on what babies can be called. Over the years, British babies have been given names like Superman, Gandalf and Gazza.
Despite this freedom, one in five British parents grows to regret the name they chose for their child. However this is usually not because the name is odd, as a quarter of remorseful parents say the reason for their dissatisfaction is that it is too common.
A German couple has decided to change the name of their baby after a closed door court hearing.
The couple, from Kassel in central Germany, tried to register their newborn son as ‘Lucifer’ but were prevented from doing so by an official in the local registry office. Under German law, a baby’s name can be rejected if officials believe it will endanger the child’s wellbeing. Therefore, names that could lead to the child being ridiculed or names which are deemed offensive can be blocked by the courts.
Although Lucifer means ‘bearer of light’, it has much more obvious associations with the devil. As a result it is actually banned as a name for children in several countries such as New Zealand.
During the closed door hearing, the parents decided not to fight for this name so the court did not have to make a ruling one way or the other. They instead agreed on the much less Satanic Lucian.
In contrast to the German system, the UK is one of the most liberal countries in the world when it comes to what parents can name their children. There are virtually no restrictions on what babies can be called. Over the years, British babies have been given names like Superman, Gandalf and Gazza.
Despite this freedom, one in five British parents grows to regret the name they chose for their child. However this is usually not because the name is odd, as a quarter of remorseful parents say the reason for their dissatisfaction is that it is too common.
Monday 30 October 2017
A bit too Deucey! Facebook BANS tennis club's charity calendar because it claims the pictures are 'sexually suggestive'
An amateur tennis club had its naked charity calendar banned by Facebook after the social media site said their pictures were 'sexually suggestive'.
Members of the Belper Tennis Club in Derbyshire stripped off and posed with yellow and green balls protecting their modesty for the tongue-in-cheek photoshoot.
One female player was pictured laying in a bathtub full of tennis balls while another member held up a giant ball after taking his clothes off.
They made the 'Anyone for Tennis?' 2018 calendar to raise money for the Alzheimer's Society but were told to remove the black-and-white images from Facebook.
acebook got in touch with the group because the photographs breached their strict rules on nudity.
Photographer Ashley Franklin, 62, took the snaps and has blasted Facebook, saying the ruling 'beggars belief'.
He said: 'I was approached to take some pictures of a tennis club for a charity calendar and jumped at it.
'We did a great shoot, cheeky shots of the members covering their modesty with yellow tennis balls.
'To get some interest going and promote it, I posted some pictures on Facebook but soon received a snotty message from Facebook saying it broke their rules on nudity.
For more information click here
Monday 2 October 2017
'Women are equal to everything': Lady Hale lives up to her motto
The first female president of the supreme court and the youngest lord chief justice in 50 years have been sworn in.
Brenda Hale’s appointment to the leading role at the UK’s highest court was announced by
Downing Street in July.
A longstanding champion of diversity in the judiciary, she became the first female justice of the court in October 2009 and was appointed deputy president in June 2013.
Onlookers applauded at the ceremony on Monday, which marks the start of the legal year.
The supreme court also welcomed Jonathan Mance as deputy president, as well as three new judges, including a second female justice, Jill Black.
Lady Hale, 72, who was born in Yorkshire and succeeds Lord Neuberger in the role, has had a varied career as an academic lawyer, law reformer and judge. During her time as deputy president, she ruled on cases including the article 50 appeal.
In a separate ceremony at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, Sir Ian Burnett was sworn in as lord chief justice. The court of appeal judge, 59, takes over as head of the judiciary of England and Wales from Lord Thomas, who held the position from 2013 and retired on 1 October.
Burnett, who lives in Essex with his wife and children, has been involved in many high-profile cases and inquiries during his career, including acting as counsel to the inquests into the deaths of Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed.
His new responsibilities include representing the views of the judiciary to parliament and the government.
Speaking at the ceremony, he said: “At times of great change, the central role of the judiciary upholding the rule of law remains a constant, as do our impartiality and independence.
For more information click here
Monday 25 September 2017
Older men’s health suffers with wealthier wives
The study was published in the academic Journal of Aging and Health.
Researchers from Rutgers University in New Jersey found this was especially the case for men born between 1931 and 1941 who would now be in their 70s and 80s. They appeared to have poor overall health and this was worse if their wives began earning more than they did early on in their marriages.
This pattern was identified following an analysis of health and income data for 1,095 couples over 30 years. The figures were taken from the National Institute on Aging’s Health and Retirement study.
Study author Kristen Springer suggested that social expectations could be to blame for such a finding. Men of that era could feel additional stress if they lived in a household with a female breadwinner because they were expected to be the provider.
Many Americans still retain this attitude. In 1977, two thirds thought it was “generally better for a marriage if a husband earns more than his wife” and 40 per cent of people over 65 still thought this was true in 2013, according to Springer’s research.
Researchers from Rutgers University in New Jersey found this was especially the case for men born between 1931 and 1941 who would now be in their 70s and 80s. They appeared to have poor overall health and this was worse if their wives began earning more than they did early on in their marriages.
This pattern was identified following an analysis of health and income data for 1,095 couples over 30 years. The figures were taken from the National Institute on Aging’s Health and Retirement study.
Study author Kristen Springer suggested that social expectations could be to blame for such a finding. Men of that era could feel additional stress if they lived in a household with a female breadwinner because they were expected to be the provider.
Many Americans still retain this attitude. In 1977, two thirds thought it was “generally better for a marriage if a husband earns more than his wife” and 40 per cent of people over 65 still thought this was true in 2013, according to Springer’s research.
Tuesday 12 September 2017
The rules parents don’t expect to make
I noticed an amusing article on the Marilyn Stowe recent blog.
Raising a child can be one of the most rewarding experiences of a person’s life, but it never comes without challenges. Parents must act as protectors, advocates and guides for the children while they are young – and many continue to do so even after their kids have become adults in their own right.
Rules are important in childhood. They help shape a child’s perspective and how they will interact with the wider world. Some are pretty universal, such as “be polite”.
However life is unpredictable. Sometimes parents end up creating household rules that they never could have imagined when their child first arrived. Parents on social media site Reddit discussed the quirky and unexpected rules they have found themselves enforcing.
These included “No dark arts in the house”. This particularly odd rule was drawn up after the parent’s children were playing Harry Potter, or “running around waving wands at each other”, and a loud argument ensued after one child put a curse on the other. While this response may sound sensible, one commenter jokingly added that “kids need to explore the dark arts as a means of coming to terms with the existence of evil”.
Another user had to institute a “No haunting the neighbours” rule after their daughter was caught whispering things like “You have dishonored your ancestors” into the vents of their apartment building. Apparently one of their elderly neighbours actually thought he could hear a ghost.
However most were a little less supernatural in nature. One parent has had to implement a “No headbutting at the dinner table” rule for one of their children. The siblings were seven and three years old and while the oldest was described as “so gentle and timid” the youngest was “an absolute psycho with zero fear”. You can probably guess which one the rule was created for.
Another rule came from a parent whose family all support different teams: “If your sports team loses and you are upset, go to your room until you calm down”. Others offered in the conversation included “Don’t write on your siblings”, “No cats in the laundry shoot” (even if “they like it”), “No banana fights” and “No crayons in the butter”.
One of the more bizarre ones, however, was “No machetes on the trampoline”. It would be quite easy to dismiss this one as a joke but, considering some of the others, there’s a chance a household somewhere in the world has this rule in place.
Raising a child can be one of the most rewarding experiences of a person’s life, but it never comes without challenges. Parents must act as protectors, advocates and guides for the children while they are young – and many continue to do so even after their kids have become adults in their own right.
Rules are important in childhood. They help shape a child’s perspective and how they will interact with the wider world. Some are pretty universal, such as “be polite”.
However life is unpredictable. Sometimes parents end up creating household rules that they never could have imagined when their child first arrived. Parents on social media site Reddit discussed the quirky and unexpected rules they have found themselves enforcing.
These included “No dark arts in the house”. This particularly odd rule was drawn up after the parent’s children were playing Harry Potter, or “running around waving wands at each other”, and a loud argument ensued after one child put a curse on the other. While this response may sound sensible, one commenter jokingly added that “kids need to explore the dark arts as a means of coming to terms with the existence of evil”.
Another user had to institute a “No haunting the neighbours” rule after their daughter was caught whispering things like “You have dishonored your ancestors” into the vents of their apartment building. Apparently one of their elderly neighbours actually thought he could hear a ghost.
However most were a little less supernatural in nature. One parent has had to implement a “No headbutting at the dinner table” rule for one of their children. The siblings were seven and three years old and while the oldest was described as “so gentle and timid” the youngest was “an absolute psycho with zero fear”. You can probably guess which one the rule was created for.
Another rule came from a parent whose family all support different teams: “If your sports team loses and you are upset, go to your room until you calm down”. Others offered in the conversation included “Don’t write on your siblings”, “No cats in the laundry shoot” (even if “they like it”), “No banana fights” and “No crayons in the butter”.
One of the more bizarre ones, however, was “No machetes on the trampoline”. It would be quite easy to dismiss this one as a joke but, considering some of the others, there’s a chance a household somewhere in the world has this rule in place.
Lack of sleep ‘harms relationships’
Couples are more likely to argue in a hostile manner if they get less sleep, according to a new study.
Researchers from Ohio State University examined the sleeping patterns and relationships of 43 couples. They found that if both members of a couple get less than seven hours of sleep per night, their arguments tend to get worse. However, if just one of them does get enough sleep they will still argue but the negativity and aggression in these conflicts is significantly lower than their lest rested peers.
Participants in the study had all been married between three and 27 years. They were each asked about how much sleep they got and the answers ranged from three and half hours to nine hours per night. They were then asked to discuss the issues that caused the most conflict in their relationships. These conversations were recorded and analysed to determine how positive or negative the interactions were based on established scoring techniques.
Co-author and relationship scientist Janice Kiecolt-Glaser explained that a lack of sleep was “a little like looking at the world through dark glasses”. People in that situation have poorer moods, are generally “grumpier” which leads to a more bitter, confrontational style of argument.
The researchers also tested the blood of each participant after their arguments. They discovered that those who had less sleep had higher levels of inflammatory proteins in their blood than those who slept well. So a lack of sleep can not only be harmful to a marriage, it also “makes relationship conflict harder on the body” Kiecolt-Glaser said.
The study was published in the academic journal Psychoneuroendocrinology.
For more information click here
Researchers from Ohio State University examined the sleeping patterns and relationships of 43 couples. They found that if both members of a couple get less than seven hours of sleep per night, their arguments tend to get worse. However, if just one of them does get enough sleep they will still argue but the negativity and aggression in these conflicts is significantly lower than their lest rested peers.
Participants in the study had all been married between three and 27 years. They were each asked about how much sleep they got and the answers ranged from three and half hours to nine hours per night. They were then asked to discuss the issues that caused the most conflict in their relationships. These conversations were recorded and analysed to determine how positive or negative the interactions were based on established scoring techniques.
Co-author and relationship scientist Janice Kiecolt-Glaser explained that a lack of sleep was “a little like looking at the world through dark glasses”. People in that situation have poorer moods, are generally “grumpier” which leads to a more bitter, confrontational style of argument.
The researchers also tested the blood of each participant after their arguments. They discovered that those who had less sleep had higher levels of inflammatory proteins in their blood than those who slept well. So a lack of sleep can not only be harmful to a marriage, it also “makes relationship conflict harder on the body” Kiecolt-Glaser said.
The study was published in the academic journal Psychoneuroendocrinology.
For more information click here
Monday 4 September 2017
Wayne Rooney could face losing half of his £80million fortune - because of a £4 brake light bulb
Shamed Wayne Rooney could end up parting with half of his £80million fortune - because of a brake light bulb costing less than £5.
The Everton striker was pulled over by police while allegedly driving party girl Laura Simpson home because officers spotted the car had a broken bulb.
The 31-year-old footballer was charged with drink-driving after police found him to be over the prescribed limit when he was breathalysed at 2am on Friday.
But had it not been for the minor traffic violation, officers in Cheshire may not have stopped Laura's convertible VW Beetle near to the Symposium bar in Wilmslow.
Humiliated wife Coleen flew home from her holiday in Majorca following her husband's arrest.
The pregnant 31-year-old confronted Rooney and Laura before fleeing to her mum and dad's.
Coleen’s decision to stay with parents Colette and Tony has sparked fears she may want a divorce – a move that could cost the £200,000-a-week star up to £100million in settlements, based on his past and future earnings.
.Should Coleen, who is expecting the couple's fourth child, decide to end their marriage, lawyers would look to split Wayne's wealth 50/50 as a starting point.
A set of two replacement brake light bulbs to fit Laura's 10-year-old motor are sold at Halford's for just £4.
Coleen is said to be in turmoil over conflicting reports of husband Wayne’s boozy car trip with 29-year-old Laura.
Roo apologised to his wife of nine years as he fought to save their marriage during crisis talks on Friday night at their £6million home in Prestbury, Cheshire.
But she left grim-faced on Saturday, with mum Colette by her side, and has since been staying at her parents’ house on Merseyside.
Wayne is said to fear his marriage is over following his latest betrayal .
Coleen is said to have phoned estate agent Laura to hear her version of events in the lead-up to Roo being arrested for drink driving in her car after a night out.
A friend of Coleen’s claimed Rooney's mates are ribbing him about the alleged ogling in Laura’s VW Beetle
The pal added: “Wayne’s mates are now calling him Herbie the Love.
“It’s hilarious. He’s now being likened to something out of a Walt Disney film because of the girl’s Beetle he was driving. At the moment Wayne thinks it’s funny but he might not do when the crowd at Everton start chanting ‘Herbie’ instead of ‘Rooney’.”
For the full story, click here
The Everton striker was pulled over by police while allegedly driving party girl Laura Simpson home because officers spotted the car had a broken bulb.
The 31-year-old footballer was charged with drink-driving after police found him to be over the prescribed limit when he was breathalysed at 2am on Friday.
But had it not been for the minor traffic violation, officers in Cheshire may not have stopped Laura's convertible VW Beetle near to the Symposium bar in Wilmslow.
Humiliated wife Coleen flew home from her holiday in Majorca following her husband's arrest.
The pregnant 31-year-old confronted Rooney and Laura before fleeing to her mum and dad's.
Coleen’s decision to stay with parents Colette and Tony has sparked fears she may want a divorce – a move that could cost the £200,000-a-week star up to £100million in settlements, based on his past and future earnings.
.Should Coleen, who is expecting the couple's fourth child, decide to end their marriage, lawyers would look to split Wayne's wealth 50/50 as a starting point.
A set of two replacement brake light bulbs to fit Laura's 10-year-old motor are sold at Halford's for just £4.
Coleen is said to be in turmoil over conflicting reports of husband Wayne’s boozy car trip with 29-year-old Laura.
Roo apologised to his wife of nine years as he fought to save their marriage during crisis talks on Friday night at their £6million home in Prestbury, Cheshire.
But she left grim-faced on Saturday, with mum Colette by her side, and has since been staying at her parents’ house on Merseyside.
Wayne is said to fear his marriage is over following his latest betrayal .
Coleen is said to have phoned estate agent Laura to hear her version of events in the lead-up to Roo being arrested for drink driving in her car after a night out.
A friend of Coleen’s claimed Rooney's mates are ribbing him about the alleged ogling in Laura’s VW Beetle
The pal added: “Wayne’s mates are now calling him Herbie the Love.
“It’s hilarious. He’s now being likened to something out of a Walt Disney film because of the girl’s Beetle he was driving. At the moment Wayne thinks it’s funny but he might not do when the crowd at Everton start chanting ‘Herbie’ instead of ‘Rooney’.”
For the full story, click here
Tuesday 18 July 2017
When my boyfriend proposed, I said 'oh no!'
A recent article by Rosie Nixon in The Telegraph caught my eye, as I'm sure, many of us can relate to. It reads
It was a moment I had never dared to imagine - my boyfriend getting down on one knee. It happened in a stunningly picturesque spot in China , seven years ago, and I can still see it vividly. I had no idea it was coming - I didn't even twig when he upgraded us to a beautiful boutique hotel the night before. Without realising I was talking out loud, I muttered the words, "Oh no." Why wasn't I gripped by the kind of elation this moment is meant to inspire, like it does in the films?
Undeterred, he pressed on, uttering those four words - words so little yet enormous "Will you marry me?" They hung in the air. "Can I think about it?" I said finally; it was probably only seconds later, but it felt as though half of my life had whizzed before my eyes. My words sounded pathetic, but I didn't know what else to say.
Callum and I first met outside a London pub on Valentine's Day the year before. He made me laugh and had a mischievous twinkle in his eye. I left the pub, but halfway down the street, goaded by my best friend, I dashed back, my phone number scribbled on a scrap of paper, which I thrust into his hand.
At 33, I had no dreams of getting married, I was too busy having fun and hanging out with my circle of single girlfriends. Dates were plentiful and life was one big party followed by a hangover. Callum had other ideas. On our first date we met at the Royal Festival Hall and it felt as though I had known him forever. We moved in together after six months and then, almost a year after we met, he proposed.
Looking back, Callum's reaction to my rebuff won him his bride. "Of course you can think about it," he said, confident as anything. "I just want you to know I'm in it for the long haul." And then the clincher:"But we never have to get married, if you don't want to." Immediately the pressure was off. And that, as any contrary woman knows, tends to make you want something. Badly.
We spent the next few days in Hong Kong. Never again did we mention the Asian elephant in the room.
But I couldn't help watching him with a renewed love: my boyfriend, this man who wants to marry me. But doesn't mind if we don't.
Gradually, the idea began to sink in. I asked myself a multitude of questions: what are you scared of? I was head-over-heals with this guy. He was perfect husband and father material. And I'd picked him out to begin with! Then the most alarming question hit me like a breeze block: what if he doesn't want to marry you now? A fire was beginning to burn. On the third morning post-proposal, I woke up knowing that today was the day I would ask Callum to marry me. The setting had to be perfect. It turned out that it was the anniversary of his mother's death, so we had planned to treat ourselves to a posh lunch at a beach restaurant on the island of Lantau. We got the perfect table, our feet in the sand. we ordered champagne and once our glasses were charged, we toasted his mother and then I asked if we could toast something else. "You asked me a question a few days ago," I said," and I haven't stopped thinking about it since - and, well, if you'd still like to marry me, then I'd love to marry you." We both burst into tears. It felt absolutely right - just like in the films.
It was a moment I had never dared to imagine - my boyfriend getting down on one knee. It happened in a stunningly picturesque spot in China , seven years ago, and I can still see it vividly. I had no idea it was coming - I didn't even twig when he upgraded us to a beautiful boutique hotel the night before. Without realising I was talking out loud, I muttered the words, "Oh no." Why wasn't I gripped by the kind of elation this moment is meant to inspire, like it does in the films?
Undeterred, he pressed on, uttering those four words - words so little yet enormous "Will you marry me?" They hung in the air. "Can I think about it?" I said finally; it was probably only seconds later, but it felt as though half of my life had whizzed before my eyes. My words sounded pathetic, but I didn't know what else to say.
Callum and I first met outside a London pub on Valentine's Day the year before. He made me laugh and had a mischievous twinkle in his eye. I left the pub, but halfway down the street, goaded by my best friend, I dashed back, my phone number scribbled on a scrap of paper, which I thrust into his hand.
At 33, I had no dreams of getting married, I was too busy having fun and hanging out with my circle of single girlfriends. Dates were plentiful and life was one big party followed by a hangover. Callum had other ideas. On our first date we met at the Royal Festival Hall and it felt as though I had known him forever. We moved in together after six months and then, almost a year after we met, he proposed.
Looking back, Callum's reaction to my rebuff won him his bride. "Of course you can think about it," he said, confident as anything. "I just want you to know I'm in it for the long haul." And then the clincher:"But we never have to get married, if you don't want to." Immediately the pressure was off. And that, as any contrary woman knows, tends to make you want something. Badly.
We spent the next few days in Hong Kong. Never again did we mention the Asian elephant in the room.
But I couldn't help watching him with a renewed love: my boyfriend, this man who wants to marry me. But doesn't mind if we don't.
Gradually, the idea began to sink in. I asked myself a multitude of questions: what are you scared of? I was head-over-heals with this guy. He was perfect husband and father material. And I'd picked him out to begin with! Then the most alarming question hit me like a breeze block: what if he doesn't want to marry you now? A fire was beginning to burn. On the third morning post-proposal, I woke up knowing that today was the day I would ask Callum to marry me. The setting had to be perfect. It turned out that it was the anniversary of his mother's death, so we had planned to treat ourselves to a posh lunch at a beach restaurant on the island of Lantau. We got the perfect table, our feet in the sand. we ordered champagne and once our glasses were charged, we toasted his mother and then I asked if we could toast something else. "You asked me a question a few days ago," I said," and I haven't stopped thinking about it since - and, well, if you'd still like to marry me, then I'd love to marry you." We both burst into tears. It felt absolutely right - just like in the films.
cinto tears. It felt absolutely right – just like in films.
Tuesday 27 June 2017
Is marriage making men gain weight?
A recent article by Alicia Hrustic in Men's Health magazine comments on research by The
University of Bath, They examined data from 8,729 heterosexual couples who were asked to supply such information as their marital status, body mass index (BMI) and if they had had children. Information was gathered every two years between 1999 and 2013.
On average, married men had higher BMIs than those who were unmarried. They also weighed around 1.4 kilograms, or three pounds, more. Additionally, men were more likely to gain weight after they had become fathers.
The researchers also identified BMI dips for men just before and shortly after they divorced.
Study co-author Dr Joanna Syrda said that if people wanted to make informed choices about their health it was “useful … to understand which social factors may influence weight gain, especially common ones such as marriage and parenthood”.
Married men who want to avoid weight gain will have to be “mindful of their own changing motivation, behavior, and eating habits” she added.
Earlier this year, academics at the University of Arizona found that married women were also more likely to gain weight than single women. This claim was based on an analysis of data collected from over 79,000 women between 50 and 79 years old.
For more information click here
University of Bath, They examined data from 8,729 heterosexual couples who were asked to supply such information as their marital status, body mass index (BMI) and if they had had children. Information was gathered every two years between 1999 and 2013.
On average, married men had higher BMIs than those who were unmarried. They also weighed around 1.4 kilograms, or three pounds, more. Additionally, men were more likely to gain weight after they had become fathers.
The researchers also identified BMI dips for men just before and shortly after they divorced.
Study co-author Dr Joanna Syrda said that if people wanted to make informed choices about their health it was “useful … to understand which social factors may influence weight gain, especially common ones such as marriage and parenthood”.
Married men who want to avoid weight gain will have to be “mindful of their own changing motivation, behavior, and eating habits” she added.
Earlier this year, academics at the University of Arizona found that married women were also more likely to gain weight than single women. This claim was based on an analysis of data collected from over 79,000 women between 50 and 79 years old.
For more information click here
Monday 19 June 2017
Californian couple celebrate 75th wedding anniversary
In these sad days of horrific news stories, I was delighted to hear of an elderly couple in California celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary this week.
Anne and John Whitman married on June 13 1942 at the height of World War Two. They are now 95 and 102 years old respectively.
The couple first met at a Halloween party in Manhattan the previous year, just five weeks before the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbour propelled the United States into war. Anne recalls that she was not impressed and left the party early, saying John and his female friend were “so arrogant” and she was bored. But John was undeterred, claiming he knew the moment he met her that he wanted to marry Ann.
He wrote her letter asking her on a date and she reluctantly agreed. They enjoyed trips to the theater and local restaurants during their courtship.
Anne told The Signal:
“We found that we were compatible. We used to go out a lot.”
A lifetime later the couple have five children, seven grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Anne enjoys her role as the matriarch of her growing clan. She told the site:
“It’s great to have family. The secret of a good life is family.”
Neither are New York natives. Instead they come from neighboring states of New Jersey (Anne) and Pennsylvania (John). Later in their marriage the steadfast couple decided to leave the Big Apple and move to Las Vegas in pursuit of a drier climate, before continuing west and settling in California. They have lived in Santa Clarita near Los Angeles since 1965.
Their oldest child, Gerald, believes his parents’ marriage has lasted so long because they have a relaxed approach to life and a willingness to forgive.
“They have had a really successful marriage and I attribute that to the fact that they don’t take each other really seriously. The thing is, they never go to bed angry. They always made up and they were always happy the next day.”
The elderly couple are also noted amongst their family for a lively sense of humour and a willingness to joke with each other even in their twilight years.
Both have remained as physically active as they can. John continued to enjoy bowling until the age of 98 and did not stop driving until he turned 101!
Congratulations both!
Anne and John Whitman married on June 13 1942 at the height of World War Two. They are now 95 and 102 years old respectively.
The couple first met at a Halloween party in Manhattan the previous year, just five weeks before the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbour propelled the United States into war. Anne recalls that she was not impressed and left the party early, saying John and his female friend were “so arrogant” and she was bored. But John was undeterred, claiming he knew the moment he met her that he wanted to marry Ann.
He wrote her letter asking her on a date and she reluctantly agreed. They enjoyed trips to the theater and local restaurants during their courtship.
Anne told The Signal:
“We found that we were compatible. We used to go out a lot.”
A lifetime later the couple have five children, seven grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Anne enjoys her role as the matriarch of her growing clan. She told the site:
“It’s great to have family. The secret of a good life is family.”
Neither are New York natives. Instead they come from neighboring states of New Jersey (Anne) and Pennsylvania (John). Later in their marriage the steadfast couple decided to leave the Big Apple and move to Las Vegas in pursuit of a drier climate, before continuing west and settling in California. They have lived in Santa Clarita near Los Angeles since 1965.
Their oldest child, Gerald, believes his parents’ marriage has lasted so long because they have a relaxed approach to life and a willingness to forgive.
“They have had a really successful marriage and I attribute that to the fact that they don’t take each other really seriously. The thing is, they never go to bed angry. They always made up and they were always happy the next day.”
The elderly couple are also noted amongst their family for a lively sense of humour and a willingness to joke with each other even in their twilight years.
Both have remained as physically active as they can. John continued to enjoy bowling until the age of 98 and did not stop driving until he turned 101!
Congratulations both!
Friday 19 May 2017
Peak fertility increases satisfaction with ‘manly’ husbands....
Women feel more satisfied with masculine husbands when they are at their most fertile.
Psychologist Andrea L. Meltzer made this claim following her study of 70 newly married couples.
Each relationship represented the first marriage for both spouses involved. She asked the
participants to fill out a questionnaire every evening for 14 days. Wives were asked how happy
they were with their marriage as well as their “conception risk”. This risk was highest when they were ovulating. Meanwhile, the husbands were given questions about what extent they behaved in typically “masculine” ways. They were asked how powerful, assertive or dominant they had been during the course of each day.
The purpose of this research was to test a hypothesis Meltzer held about relationships. She
explained that previous research has shown that “women demonstrate ovulatory shifts in their
mate preferences in the context of short-term relationships”. Basically, this means that when a
woman is at her most fertile, she is most likely to find men who display manly qualities more
attractive. Meltzer wondered if this would carry over to long-term committed relationships –
specifically marriage – as well.
She found that women whose husbands displayed “behavioral masculinity” reported higher
levels of overall happiness with their marriage at peak fertility. Meanwhile, wives whose spouse
did not exhibit such traits did not see any significant change in their satisfaction.
Meltzer explained there was one caveat to her finding. As her study involved newlyweds it was
“unclear whether the results generalize to other populations of long-term couples such as dating
couples or couples who have been married for longer periods of time”. She suggested another
potential issue was that the men reported on their own levels of masculinity. As these claims
“may be subject to self-report bias, future research should consider using more objective
measures of men’s masculinity.
Now you know!
to read more click here
Psychologist Andrea L. Meltzer made this claim following her study of 70 newly married couples.
Each relationship represented the first marriage for both spouses involved. She asked the
participants to fill out a questionnaire every evening for 14 days. Wives were asked how happy
they were with their marriage as well as their “conception risk”. This risk was highest when they were ovulating. Meanwhile, the husbands were given questions about what extent they behaved in typically “masculine” ways. They were asked how powerful, assertive or dominant they had been during the course of each day.
The purpose of this research was to test a hypothesis Meltzer held about relationships. She
explained that previous research has shown that “women demonstrate ovulatory shifts in their
mate preferences in the context of short-term relationships”. Basically, this means that when a
woman is at her most fertile, she is most likely to find men who display manly qualities more
attractive. Meltzer wondered if this would carry over to long-term committed relationships –
specifically marriage – as well.
She found that women whose husbands displayed “behavioral masculinity” reported higher
levels of overall happiness with their marriage at peak fertility. Meanwhile, wives whose spouse
did not exhibit such traits did not see any significant change in their satisfaction.
Meltzer explained there was one caveat to her finding. As her study involved newlyweds it was
“unclear whether the results generalize to other populations of long-term couples such as dating
couples or couples who have been married for longer periods of time”. She suggested another
potential issue was that the men reported on their own levels of masculinity. As these claims
“may be subject to self-report bias, future research should consider using more objective
measures of men’s masculinity.
Now you know!
to read more click here
Friday 21 April 2017
On the 20th April in 1534: Elizabeth Barton, traditionalist prophet, is executed for attacking Henry VIII's divorce
An article in yesterday's Telegraph caught my eye, Elizabeth Barton’s childhood is unknown. She was uneducated, and aged 19 was working in the household of Thomas Cobb, farm manager to the Archbishop of Canterbury, William Warham.
Barton’s fame increased when she prophesied her cure at a nearby chapel, then professed as a nun at St Sepulchre, Canterbury. Warham was closely involved, and even gave King Henry VIII a copy of her divine revelations.
At the convent, she became familiar with the visions of Saints Catherine of Siena and Bridget of Sweden, and perhaps started to see herself as similarly chosen. As news of her visions and prophecies spread, she received a constant stream of visitors eager for her guidance and intercession.
The stakes increased when Warham introduced her to Cardinal Wolsey, who was impressed by her, and met her several more times, before eventually arranging for her to meet the king. The two got on well, and Henry saw her on a number of further occasions.
When Henry began his programme of religious reforms, Barton came down strongly on the side of tradition, speaking out in favour of protecting the Church. Leading Protestants took against her.
Barton crossed a fateful line when she prophesied that disaster, war, plagues, and other calamities would afflict England if Henry abandoned Catherine of Aragon and married Anne Boleyn.
Her most serious statement predicted that if the annulment went ahead, “hys Majestie shulde not be kynge of this Realme by the space of one moneth after, And in the reputacion of God shuld not be kynge one day nor one houre.” Thomas More intervened, meeting her, and advising her not to stray into “thinges as perteyne to princes' affeirs, or the state of the realme”. However, Barton remained firm in her convictions, and even wrote to the Pope.
Thomas Cromwell and Thomas Cranmer, by now Archbishop of Canterbury, moved in to silence her. A number of Barton’s supporters were arrested, and by November 1533 she was in the Tower. Following numerous examinations, it was announced that she had confessed to heresy and treason. She was made to do public penance at St Paul’s Cross, and she then confessed publicly. The Spanish ambassador noted that the event was a pitiful comedy designed to lower her standing in public opinion. The spectacle was repeated soon after at Canterbury.
Taking care to avoid a trial, in March 1534 Cromwell arranged for Barton and six of her supporters to be convicted of treason by act of attainder. On 20 April, they were all executed. Barton was hanged and beheaded.
Possession of any of Barton’s writings was made an imprisonable offence, and most materials relating to her life and proclamations were destroyed, so it is difficult to reconstruct the real person. Writers of the period enjoyed extremes. Protestant authors portrayed her as a cunning, manipulative, and dishonest charlatan. Catholic writers saw her as a sincere mystic and a martyr. All that is certain is that she was an English mystic who profoundly impressed many, including Henry VIII, Cardinal Wolsey, Thomas More, and Archbishop Warham.
In other circumstances, she may have ended up remembered alongside other medieval and early-modern women visionaries and mystics like Julian of Norwich, Margery Kempe, St Catherine, St Bridget and St Joan of Arc.
As it is, she is remembered as the only English woman ever to have had her head skewered on a spike on London Bridge.
How things have changed...
For more information click here
Wednesday 5 April 2017
Former Spice Girl Mel B claims estranged husband Stephen Belafonte brutally abused her, got the nanny pregnant
Clearly all that glitters is not gold, as reports in the press today reveal that the latest marriage of spice girl, Melanie Brown was abusive and controlling.
Yet on Sunday on Instagram she claimed "My hubby never would lay a hand on me."
The former girl band member who was known as Scary Spice, detailed the alleged abuse in a bombshell court filing that won her a temporary restraining order Monday against Stephen Belafonte.
She said Belafonte's brutal attacks often coincided with her career success, such as her finale
on "Dancing with the Stars" and her judging work on the UK and Australian versions of "X Factor."
Brown, 41, said it was shortly after she placed runner-up on the fifth season of "DWTS" in
November 2007 that Belafonte — her husband of only five months at that point — pounced on her
minutes before a live television interview.
He was in a rage and I had no idea why," she wrote in her statement. "He placed both of his hands
around my neck and began choking me. He then slammed me down onto the hardwood floor."
She said Belafonte punched her with a closed fist in July 2012, causing her lip to split and
swell, after she and recording artist Usher taped a promotional segment in New York for the
Australian version of "X Factor."
She said Belafonte accused her of triggering his furor by flirting with Usher and threatened to
release sex tapes if she reported him.
"He told me that no one would believe me because everyone thinks I'm crazy. He called me a
'f---ing monkey,' told me I was dumb and said that I was a 'derelict,'"
she wrote.
For more information click here
Friday 3 March 2017
PC brigade declare the end of mankind: University bans lecturers from using series of phrases that could be deemed sexist
A step too far perhaps?
An article in The Mail this morning informs us that Lecturers have been banned from using the
phrases ‘mankind’ and ‘man-made’ as part of a university’s clampdown on ‘gendered language’.
Cardiff Metropolitan University says the ‘politically correct’ words should be used to ‘promote
an atmosphere in which all students and staff feel valued’.
The rules are laid out in the institution’s Equal Opportunities Policy, which warns
contraventions could result in disciplinary action.
It says ‘inclusive language’ must be used throughout all academic programmes to comply with the
Equality Act as gendered words could be considered discriminatory.
Other rules include using ‘forename’ instead of ‘Christian name’ to avoid offending people of a
diverse range of faiths.
And staff should avoid using the phrase ‘wheelchair bound’ because it is ‘patronising and
pitying’, while ‘wheelchair user’ is ‘empowering’.
The document states: ‘Should individuals consider that in the course of interaction with
students or staff that this code has not been adhered to and that further action is required,
there are two courses of action.
‘For students please refer to the Bullying and Harassment Policy. For staff members the
Disciplinary procedure applies, as it does in the event of students talking inappropriately to
staff.’
It says that ‘politically correct terminology can change’ but lists a range of examples of words
and phrases which staff should avoid.
These also include ‘best man for the job’, ‘forefathers’, ‘housewife’, ‘man in the street’,
‘manpower’ and ‘right-hand man’.
Even terms such as ‘headmistress’ and ‘headmaster’ as well as Mrs and Miss are considered
offensive, according to the guide.
It also says staff should avoid ‘falling into the trap of making assumptions based on your own
cultural background.’
And it advises alternating the order of the genders when talking about women and men, he or she,
mother and father so that neither are given undue importance.
It adds: ‘If the gender of the person is unknown, don’t make an assumption, but use “he or she”
or, where appropriate, use the plural “they”.
‘Sexuality can be a minefield too, according to the policy, which advises against the terms
‘homosexual’ and ‘heterosexual’ because they are ‘laden with the values of a previous time’.
The new words to use are ‘same-sex’ and ‘other-sex’ relationships, the documents advises.
For disability, ‘the disabled’ is advised against and instead staff should refer to ‘people with
disability’.
I think I may be lost for words!
To read the full article click here
An article in The Mail this morning informs us that Lecturers have been banned from using the
phrases ‘mankind’ and ‘man-made’ as part of a university’s clampdown on ‘gendered language’.
Cardiff Metropolitan University says the ‘politically correct’ words should be used to ‘promote
an atmosphere in which all students and staff feel valued’.
The rules are laid out in the institution’s Equal Opportunities Policy, which warns
contraventions could result in disciplinary action.
It says ‘inclusive language’ must be used throughout all academic programmes to comply with the
Equality Act as gendered words could be considered discriminatory.
Other rules include using ‘forename’ instead of ‘Christian name’ to avoid offending people of a
diverse range of faiths.
And staff should avoid using the phrase ‘wheelchair bound’ because it is ‘patronising and
pitying’, while ‘wheelchair user’ is ‘empowering’.
The document states: ‘Should individuals consider that in the course of interaction with
students or staff that this code has not been adhered to and that further action is required,
there are two courses of action.
‘For students please refer to the Bullying and Harassment Policy. For staff members the
Disciplinary procedure applies, as it does in the event of students talking inappropriately to
staff.’
It says that ‘politically correct terminology can change’ but lists a range of examples of words
and phrases which staff should avoid.
These also include ‘best man for the job’, ‘forefathers’, ‘housewife’, ‘man in the street’,
‘manpower’ and ‘right-hand man’.
Even terms such as ‘headmistress’ and ‘headmaster’ as well as Mrs and Miss are considered
offensive, according to the guide.
It also says staff should avoid ‘falling into the trap of making assumptions based on your own
cultural background.’
And it advises alternating the order of the genders when talking about women and men, he or she,
mother and father so that neither are given undue importance.
It adds: ‘If the gender of the person is unknown, don’t make an assumption, but use “he or she”
or, where appropriate, use the plural “they”.
‘Sexuality can be a minefield too, according to the policy, which advises against the terms
‘homosexual’ and ‘heterosexual’ because they are ‘laden with the values of a previous time’.
The new words to use are ‘same-sex’ and ‘other-sex’ relationships, the documents advises.
For disability, ‘the disabled’ is advised against and instead staff should refer to ‘people with
disability’.
I think I may be lost for words!
To read the full article click here
Tuesday 21 February 2017
Be careful what you wish for......
A recent article by Patrick Foster of The Telegraph informs us that the Wife of a millionaire
farmer may have to live next door to him for three years and pay a six-figure legal bill before
they can split.
A woman whose attempts to divorce her multi-millionaire mushroom farmer husband were blocked by a judge has been left with a £100,000 legal bill.
Tini Owens, 66, who is living in a farmhouse only yards from her estranged husband’s Cotswold
home, must wait another three years before she is able to divorce Hugh Owens, 78, after a judge
turned down her petition to end their “intensely unhappy” marriage last year.
It is understood that she was told to pay £20,000 towards her husband’s costs, and faced legal
fees of her own of around £80,000.
Mrs Owens, who has been married for 39 years, this week asked the Court of Appeal to overturn
the “extraordinarily unusual” ruling, claiming that it constituted an “unreasonable and
disproportionate restriction” of her human rights.
Three appeal judges - led by Sir James Munby, the most senior family court judge in England
and Wales - analysed the case at a hearing in London on Tuesday.
They are expected to publish a ruling soon.
Click here for more information
farmer may have to live next door to him for three years and pay a six-figure legal bill before
they can split.
A woman whose attempts to divorce her multi-millionaire mushroom farmer husband were blocked by a judge has been left with a £100,000 legal bill.
Tini Owens, 66, who is living in a farmhouse only yards from her estranged husband’s Cotswold
home, must wait another three years before she is able to divorce Hugh Owens, 78, after a judge
turned down her petition to end their “intensely unhappy” marriage last year.
It is understood that she was told to pay £20,000 towards her husband’s costs, and faced legal
fees of her own of around £80,000.
Mrs Owens, who has been married for 39 years, this week asked the Court of Appeal to overturn
the “extraordinarily unusual” ruling, claiming that it constituted an “unreasonable and
disproportionate restriction” of her human rights.
Three appeal judges - led by Sir James Munby, the most senior family court judge in England
and Wales - analysed the case at a hearing in London on Tuesday.
They are expected to publish a ruling soon.
Click here for more information
Sunday 29 January 2017
Women share the shocking reasons why they're addicted to cheating on their husbands as it emerges only HALF regret having an affair
An article by STEPHANIE LINNING FOR MAILONLINE today, informs us
- Wives and girlfriends shared the reasons why they are addicted to cheating
- One said she was afraid of being alone while others loved male attention
- Comes as a poll reveals that only half of women regret having an affair
Women have shared the reasons why they are addicted to cheating on their partners.
Writing on anonymous confessions website Whisper, wives and girlfriends said the fear of being
alone, the need for attention and wanting more sex drove them to being unfaithful.
Others could not let go of previous relationships. One woman said: 'I can't stop cheating on my
boyfriends with my ex because I am still in love with him.
It comes as a new survey by Mirror Survation revealed that nearly half of women who have had an
affair did not regret their decision.
But the poll of 1,000 people did reveal their were repercussions to cheating, with more than 30
per cent of women saying it led to the end of their marriage or relationship.
A further 10 per cent said they were socially excluded by friends.
Relationship expert Dr Pam Spurr told the newspaper middle-aged women might consider cheating
because 'the daily grind wears things away'.
Read More
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