Das Kilt

‘YOU wouldn’t think anyone would want to admit to inventing tartan kilts, far less wear the things, but they have become quite the thing in Austria after archaeologists claimed that it was their country that invented them.

The Austrian claim is based on the discovery of what they claim is the oldest piece of tartan in the world – at a place called Molzbichl in Carinthia.

Thomas Rettl, owner of a clothing company, said: “The Celts who conquered Scotland originally came from Europe, which would back our claim to have had the kilt first.

‘The tartan sample found in Austria was dated to at least 320 years BC – over 1,600 years earlier than the oldest Scottish tartan which was made in 1,300 AD.’

But the Scots are unfazed, even helping the Austrians with the manufacture of the man-skirt.

Brian Wilton, of the Scottish Tartans Authority, said the oldest tartan authenticated was actually found in China 500 years before the time of Tutankhamun.’

Posted: 28th, January 2004 | In: Strange But True | Comment

Young Gun

‘A TEENAGER who tried to rob a 7-11 store in Florida came unstuck when he realised to he had bought the wrong ammunition for his gun.

The 16-year-old youth pointed his .22 calibre rifle at the shop assistant and demanded money, but when he tried to load the weapon he realised that he had got .40 calibre bullets by mistake.

A customer at the shop in Broward County saw what was happening and tackled the would-be robber, while two other men helped, one of whom reportedly kicked and stood on the would-be robber until police arrived.

The youth was arrested and charged with armed robbery. He was not charged with being criminally stupid.’

Posted: 27th, January 2004 | In: Strange But True | Comment

No Point Crying Over Spilt Milk

‘IT is embarrassing enough to be run over by a milk float, but try to explain to police that the driver responsible was a dog. That’s what happened to a 75-year-old man, who was taken to hospital with a grazed knee following the incident in the Meols area of the Wirral peninsular.

Merseyside Police said the accident happened after Monty, a black Labrador, jumped onto the accelerator of the vehicle in which he was travelling as a passenger. He was also injured in the incident and was taken to a local vet for treatment.

However, Norman Harrison, managing director of Morton’s Dairies, which runs the milk round, denied that Monty had caused the accident. ‘The milkman was at a door when a local man got into the cab of the milk float and tried to feed him,” he said. “As he was doing this he accidentally hit the accelerator and was hit by the float.”

Posted: 26th, January 2004 | In: Strange But True | Comment

The Dye Is Cast

‘AMERICA’S Robert Whitney is the chief suspect in a sting of bank robberies in Gainesville and Volusia County, Florida.

Local police claims that Whitney’s lack of spelling ability means that he was the author of bank notes in which the bank teller’s were told to pay up or dye.

Gainesville police spokesman, Keith Kameg, says the note read: ‘If a die pack blows, so do you.’

Sgt Kameg adds: ‘If anything says education is important to your future, this case says that.

‘As simple a thing as spelling one word wrong was instrumental in solving three bank robberies.”

Posted: 23rd, January 2004 | In: Strange But True | Comment

Naked Lunch

‘THREE youths of Spokane, Washington, were caught out when a prank misfired.

The trio had earlier decided that in temperatures of minus 7C, it would be a great idea to streak naked through a crowded restaurant.

So they disrobed and dashed from their car into the eatery.

But the joke was on them because in their haste they had left their car’s engine running and an opportunist thief had sneaked in and driven it off – leaving the three amigos starkers and cold in full public view.

‘We always tell people to not leave their car running,’ said a local police chief.’

Posted: 22nd, January 2004 | In: Strange But True | Comment

Fizz Buzz

‘IT’S not often a woman has two men literally fighting over her – even less often when that woman’s Fizz – but as amazing as it sounds, that’s just what’s happening.

‘I brought a paper bag with me’

Admittedly the two ‘men’ in question are Kirk and Tyrone, so she shouldn’t get too excited; it’s rather like discovering that both the Chuckle Brothers fancy you.

Tyrone has been comforting Fizz over her break up with Kirk. His version of ‘comforting’, however, would have him struck off any sort of medical register. “I really fancy you,” he told her and seconds later the pair ended up under the covers (which were kept mercifully high).

Even by soap standards, it had to be the quickest relationship in history as, within the space of one episode, Fizz had dumped him.

Kirk had decided that he wanted to get back together with her, so fuelled by Les Battersby’s advice (will the boy never learn?) he went to try and woo her by singing ‘their song’ outside her bedroom window.

“I’m Slim Shady, the real Slim Shady…. Fizz will yer marry me?” he warbled. “No, she won’t, she’s mine now,” shouted down Tyrone. “Oi! You!” replied Fizz, “I’m no-one’s, now get going!”

Hostilities between the two boys escalated to open warfare the next day when Tommy had to physically separate them – because he’s known for his strong anti-violence stance isn’t he?

Tyrone later got one up on his love rival when he talked a local farmer (of which there are many in Manchester) to lend him his horse so he could ride down Coronation Street and propose to Fizz.

This is Tyrone, however, so of course the horse had to canter off in a ‘comedy’ manner, leaving him with an injured arm and Norris, who was standing nearby, in a pile of manure.

“This is war!” snarled Kirk to Tyrone later in The Rovers. “She’s mine pal,” hissed Tyrone. “I was there first.” Which is a charming way of describing your betrothed.

Elsewhere in Weatherfield, Rita is being terrorised by the monster that is Cilla. Cilla fancies a holiday to Florida, so she’s coached her son Chesney into pretending that he’s lost his memory after his fall in Rita’s shop.

“Five grand to drop all charges lady,” she snarled to Rita, “Otherwise, I’m taking you down.” Rita is standing firm. “I’ll see you in court, lady, then everyone will see you for the lying waste of space that you are.”

“People like you are scum,” said Norris, adding his two pennyworth. “Say that again and I’ll smack yer,” growled Cilla. “And if you did, I’d sue you for everything you’ve got, although how much six pairs of leggings are worth is anyone’s guess,” he sniffed.

Norris – we salute you.’

Posted: 22nd, January 2004 | In: Strange But True | Comment

Un Gilipollas Integral

‘JOSE Bono, one of the three most powerful figures in Spain’s Socialist Party, should be an ally of Tony Blair, champion of British socialism.

So when the name of Blair arose during a televised conversation with Joaquin Almunia, a former Socialist leader, many expected to hear the usual flattering prise about our beloved leader.

But they were wrong, and eyebrows were raised when Bono called Blair a “complete dickhead”.

Mr Bono said: ‘Hey, and our colleague Blair? He’s a complete dickhead (Un Gilipollas Integral). He’s an imbecile.’

Which is clearly far from being the truth…’

Posted: 21st, January 2004 | In: Strange But True | Comment

Robbers, Take Note

‘EUGENE D Golden, from Parkersburg, West Virginia, should have gotten clean way with his crime.

But not the sharpest tool in the box, Golden returned to the scene to remove a demand note he had taped to the drive-through Community Bank’s bank’s window.

The note stated he’d bomb the place unless staff gave him money. It appeared to work, and staff handed over $21,000.

And, since it worked so well, he wanted it back – so he retuned to get it.

Sadly, he was spotted by a cop and promptly arrested.’

Posted: 20th, January 2004 | In: Strange But True | Comment

An Offer To Good To Refuse

”’WE don’t know how this could have happened,” said Werner Schwenzer, spokesman for German prisons. ”A mistake was obviously made when he was first convicted and his gun placed with the rest of his possessions in safekeeping, instead of being completely confiscated”.

To compound the glaring error, suspicions are that the prisoner, known as Manfred D, then used the gun to hold up a bank in Krefeld, western Germany.

Legal expert Dr Edmund Haferbeck said: ”We cannot afford to make grave mistakes like this. Handing a weapon back to a bank robber is like handing him an invitation to carry out another offence.” And one, it seems, he was powerless to refuse.’

Posted: 19th, January 2004 | In: Strange But True | Comment

Heavy Petter

‘NORWEGIAN photographer Petter Hegre has launched a competition on his website to find a husband for one of his models.

And here’s one from the the artist’s blue period

Vilita Monkute, a 20-year-old Lithuanian who is heavily pregnant and due to give birth on January 22, says she is looking for an intelligent man who likes children and who can speak English.

‘The father of my baby did not want the commitment and is out of my life. I am looking for stable surroundings for myself and my daughter,’ she said.

‘He does not have to be rich, I can earn my own money. But he needs a good education and an understanding of art, which I think people who like Hegre’s pictures do.’

The competition is open only to subscribers to the site, who are asked to send in details about their income, jobs, education and political views – and get to see several pictures of Vilita naked and in bed with other women in return.

So far, Vilita has received 10 applications. The deadline is April 1 and the winner will be announced in May if a suitable candidate is found.’

Posted: 16th, January 2004 | In: Strange But True | Comment

Plumb Pudding

‘NEW character Charlie Stubbs is quickly becoming a hit with the ladies. Well, specifically ladies of a ‘certain age’.

‘I’m an expert at servicing old boilers’

Like the character Jason in ‘Little Briton’ who fancies his mate’s grandmother, Charlie seems to have an unhealthy interest in old women – first he was flirting with Deirdre and now he’s moved onto Bev.

Charlie took Bev out for lunch at the Weatherfield Arms, but it was a different sort of filling Bev was after. Perhaps it’s her age (knowing she’s not got much longer to go) that makes our Bev not exactly backward at coming forward.

“So, are you going to take me back to yours now?” she breathed in his ear. And Charlie, being a builder by nature, simply can’t resist an opportunity to delve into an old property, however saggy the foundations.

Bev’s set for a fall, however, as Charlie later makes it clear that it was strictly a ‘one off’ and not to be repeated. There’s only so much charity work that a busy man can fit in.

Another disastrous coupling that’s about to come apart at the seams is poor Sarah Lou and Todd’s. Sarah Lou is completely oblivious to the fact that she’s engaged to a homosexual and is happily planning her wedding and pregnancy.

Todd’s mother Eileen is vehemently opposed to the marriage (well, they say a mother always ‘knows’ don’t they?).

“I won’t stand by and let you throw yer life away,” she screamed at him. It’ll be interesting to see if shacking up with a gay nurse falls under the ‘throwing your life away’ category too.

Weatherfield’s worst mum has hit upon a new money-making scheme. Having lost her job at the Weatherfield Arms and preferring to sit on her not inconsiderable bottom than work, she’s decided a life of crime is the way forward.

Chesney, her scarily ginger son was caught by Rita stealing sweets from The Cabin. Rita, being one the Daily Mail old guard, decided to mete out her own form of justice and clipped him round the ear.

Probably owing to the fact that Chesney has nothing in his empty little head, a slight shove sent him tumbling to the floor, resulting in a slight bump on the head.

Cilla, who clearly spends a lot of time watching daytime TV and therefore knows the number of Claims Direct, has suddenly seen pound signs in front of her eyes.

She marched Chesney to Weatherfield police station and made a formal complaint against Rita, a complaint Cilla goes on to tell her she’ll happily drop in return for some money.

Hopefully Cilla has met her match in Rita, however: the law of the jungle states that you never take on anyone more ginger than yourself.’

Posted: 16th, January 2004 | In: Strange But True | Comment

A Kiss Is Just A Kiss

‘TWO 12-year-old girls in Canada have been ”encouraged” to leave their school by the headteacher after they were caught charging boys money for a public kissing session in the school cafeteria.

The schoolgirls, who have not been identified, apparently got the idea for the kiss after watching Britney Spears and Madonna kiss during last year’s MTV awards.

They charged boys £2.10 to watch the lunch-hour lesbian-style show, although it is not known how much they made before a teacher stepped in to call a halt to proceedings.

The father of one of the girls said his daughter was basically expelled for her actions.

”She was thrown out of school,” he said. ”She wasn’t allowed back to school. She was told she had to go to a different school.”’

Posted: 15th, January 2004 | In: Strange But True | Comment

My Little China Girl

‘A FARMER in China who paid £1,300 for a bride was naturally disappointed to discover that his spouse wasn’t too keen on consummating their union.

She complained of feeling unwell for the first six nights after the ceremony before running away to a neighbouring town. But her lonely husband was not going to give up so easily and tracked his bride down, whereupon a domestic dispute ensued.

However, as the happy couple grappled, a pair of false breasts fell to the ground and the farmer realised he had been tricked.

Police have now arrested the bride on suspicion of obtaining money by deception.’

Posted: 14th, January 2004 | In: Strange But True | Comment

Monkey Business

‘CANADIAN multimillionaire Phil Sprung is suing the Alberta government for the return of his poker-playing monkey, Tarzan, and three other pets seized during a 2001 raid on his Calgary ranch.

He has filed a £250,000 lawsuit for the return of macaques Tarzan and Jane, both of whom are in an Ontario wildlife park, and a female moose called Murray, who now lives in Calgary zoo.

A racoon called Rascal has sadly died since the raid.

The suit follows a decision by prosecutors to drop four charges against Mr Sprung of unlawfully possessing wildlife after a judge ruled investigators used an illegally obtained warrant.

Mr Sprung’s lawyer, Paul Brunnen, said the pets were popular with the family, and Tarzan used to play cards with people at the ranch.

‘I have seen pictures that he would play poker,” he said. “I don’t know if he’s any good at the game.’

If he wasn’t, all the more reason to get him back.’

Posted: 13th, January 2004 | In: Strange But True | Comment

Pole Position

‘TWENTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD Erica Meredith has been arrested in Indianapolis for driving a car with a picture of a pole dancer painted on it.

Police also impounded the car, a 1976 Buick that belongs to Meredith’s boyfriend Keyon Johnson, charging the mother-of-two with disseminating matter harmful to minors, driving with a suspended licence and exhibition of obscene material.

Patrol officer Kevin Kerns said the painting of the dancer ”displays a theme which appeals to the prurient interest of sex”.

Meredith claims she the car is normally only used at custom car events, but she was forced to use it to drive one child to hospital because her other car wasn’t working.’

Posted: 12th, January 2004 | In: Strange But True | Comment

Jesus Barmy

‘A NEW Year and there’s a new psycho in Weatherfield. After the much lamented demise of Tricky Dicky the Street hasn’t been the same, so it’s nice to see that Granny Brenda “the Baby Jesus made me do it” Fearns has nobly pulled on the black leatherette gloves.

Emily is never far from the scene of a crime

Brenda had been getting more and more demented as Christmas wore on. She and baby Bethany had practically moved into Weatherfield Cemetary, visiting son Neil’s grave every day. “When your mummy has a new baby, she won’t have time for you any more. You’d like to join your daddy in heaven, wouldn’t you?” the loon asked Bethany, while dangling her off a church roof.

Luckily for Bethany, Emily was on her trail. The Miss Marple of Weatherfield had quickly deduced that the first place Brenda would have taken Bethany was the church yard and set off in hot pursuit – well, once she’d put on her head scarf and buttoned up her duffle coat.

Emily managed to talk Brenda out of killing Bethany, “Thou shalt not kill!” she bellowed a la Charlton Heston in ‘The Ten Commandments’. A rather startled Brenda came to her senses and allowed Emily to lead them down the stairs of the church into the waiting arms of the Weatherfield constabulary.

“I never meant no harm,” she whined to Sarah Lou and Todd. “From now on, it’s just me and you,” Todd told Sarah, without adding, “until I run off with my gay lover.” For Todd is due to go the gay way shortly when he falls for a hospital nurse, leaving Sarah Lou alone and pregnant.

In the meantime, he’s doing his best to convince everyone – including himself – that he’s straight, even proposing marriage to Sarah Lou – because that worked so well for Elton John and Michael Barrymore, didn’t it?

Elsewhere on The Street, the path of true love isn’t running smoothly for Fizz and Kirk either. Fizz spent the Christmas night with Tyrone and although nothing happened, Fizz’s mum, Cilla, was quick to tell Kirk that it had. “You just can’t trust some women,” the ginger troll told him – somehow keeping a straight face.

Cilla was determined to get her own back on her daughter after Fizz had told Shelly the truth about her light-fingered mother and lost her a job at The Rovers. “No one makes a fool out of me and gets away with it,” Cilla hissed to Fizz. No, because she does a good enough job on her own.

Sunita and Cairan have also called it a day, but in slightly more dramatic a fashion, with Sunita running out of the registry office seconds before they were due to get married. Cairan hadn’t been the most willing of grooms in the run up to the wedding – he even managed to get himself arrested the night before the big day by punching Dev.

Unfortunately for him, Dev decided not to press charges; Cairan had no choice but to go through with it. “Oi’m the happiest man alive,” he told her in a completely unconvincing manner as they walked into the registry office. Sunita looked at Cairan and thankfully realised before it was too late that they were both making a terrible mistake.

“I’m sorry, I just can’t go through with it,” she sobbed before running off. Sunita has realised too late that she’s still in love with the fat shopkeeper. “I’m sorry,” growled Dev when she told him how she felt. “It’s too late for us, I’m with Maya now.”

Fear not though fans of happy endings, for Maya turns out to be a light fingered shoplifter and compulsive liar, so Sunita won’t have too long to wait for wedding number three – she might even go through with that one.

Steve and Karen’s upcoming wedding is also looking distinctly shaky. Tracy Luv chose Christmas Day to tell Steve that he was actually the father of her baby and not Roy Cropper. “We only did it the once!” spluttered Steve, showing as much knowledge of conception as Sarah Lou.

Tracy revealed to Cairan (of all people) that she was in love with Steve and was making it her mission to “get him”. Nothing’s going to stop me,” she vowed. And this from a woman who drugged someone to win a bet and slept with a pensioner she thought was a millionaire. Be afraid Steve, be very afraid.’

Posted: 9th, January 2004 | In: Strange But True | Comment

Going Backwards

‘HARPREET Devi, from Bhatinda, India, has developed a reputation as the taxi driver who goes everywhere in reverse gear.

His legend began when his car got stuck in reverse gear and he had to drive 35 miles home.

‘After dropping off some students, I backed out the car a little and found the gear lever stuck on reverse. There was no way I could release it so I drove in reverse, all the way back home. It gave me the confidence that I could really do it. That incident became an inspiration for more.’

Harpreet has been driving his taxi in reverse for the last two years and says he has covered around 7,500 miles, traveling through heavy traffic at speeds of up to 25mph.’

Posted: 9th, January 2004 | In: Strange But True | Comment (1)

A (Criminal) Record Deal

‘SINCE, it seems, everyone is entitled to an audition to be a singing star, James Reid, 20, decided that he’d have a go.

He decided to launch his pop career when he appeared before Circuit Judge Annette A. Eckert in Belleville, Louisiana, and sang a gospel-oriented hymn.

In the spirit of Fame Academy, he’d even written the tune himself.

”God has changed that man. I’m doing the best I can,” sang Reid.

Although Judge Eckert gave Reid credit for the song and his decent attitude, he rewarded his crime with a 12-year custodial sentence.

A captive audience awaits.’

Posted: 8th, January 2004 | In: Strange But True | Comment

Book Worm

‘NEW Yorker Patrick Moore, 42, loves books very much – his flat is full of them.

But he might like them a little less since a pile of them collapsed on top of him.

‘I was hollering for two days, ‘Let me out, let me out’, and nobody wanted to answer,’ says Moore.

He had been stacking magazines and books when the pile became unstable and collapsed one top of him.

Landlord Bernie Jones says he heard Mr Moore’s shouts on the first day of his ordeal but ‘didn’t pay any attention because he’s always talking to himself’.’

Posted: 7th, January 2004 | In: Strange But True | Comment

The Midfield General

‘FANS of football clubs often sing about running round such-and-such a place with their willies hangin’ out.

The cock of the north

But one fan of Dutch club ADO Den Haag preferred to behave in such a way at home and posed for a photograph with the local mayor with his penis hanging out of his trousers.

Mayor Wim Deetman says he did not realise the fan was exposing himself when he agreed to have his picture taken with him and after seeing the photograph was shocked.

Now he’s taking legal action against the supporter who has been banned from the club’s stadium.

‘To us, the incident is now closed,’ said club chairman Ronald Langenbach.

However, the fly remains somewhat agape.’

Posted: 6th, January 2004 | In: Strange But True | Comment

A Dirty Job

‘MANY are the victims of burglary who return home to find that in the adrenalin rush of crime the villain has left a large pristine turd behind.

But police in Sweden are fighting back. After more than £25,000 worth of computers were stolen in the raid on a paper plant in Dalsland, investigators found a few large faeces in one of the toilets.

Officers delivered the calling cards to forensic scientists in a bid to discover the non-flushing perpetrators’ DNA.’

Posted: 5th, January 2004 | In: Strange But True | Comment

Vanity Case

‘HUNDREDS of nomadic West African tribesman are competing in a ”Mr Sahara” beauty pageant to celebrate the end of the rainy season.

The Wodabe men in Niger have performed a dance and showed off the whiteness of their teeth and eyes to compete for the honour of being selected as the most beautiful man by women.

The festival, near Agadez, is held because the Wodabe value male beauty and are taught from an early age to look into mirrors to consider their appearance.

Nomadic they certainly are, as several members of the tribe seem to have wandered as far as the UK where they mostly can be found presenting children’s TV.’

Posted: 22nd, December 2003 | In: Strange But True | Comment

Cell-By Date

‘CARST Kijlstra, 32, from Assen, Holland, was hungry.

So he went shopping to his local Eddah in order to to buy some veal for dinner, but the assistant would not serve him because he wasn’t carrying a basket.

Mr Kijlstra explains: ”I told her I didn’t want one because it was nearly closing time. She wouldn’t listen but came back with the shop owner who told me it was the rules.

”I said: ‘Don’t be ridiculous’, left the money on the counter and went home. I was preparing dinner when a police car came to take me to the police station. They put me in jail like a criminal, for half an hour.”

Mr Kijlstra was only released when he agreed to pay a £95 fine and not visit the shop for 12 months.’

Posted: 19th, December 2003 | In: Strange But True | Comment

Boyfriend In A Coma

‘THERE’S not much Christmas cheer going around in Weatherfield at the moment as an attempted murder plot finds Martin lying in a coma while his family squabble over his still warm body.

A nation mourns…

Martin almost paid the ultimate price for love this week as Katy’s younger brother Craig employed schoolboy logic to get rid of the aging Romeo.

“If Martin weren’t around, things could be like they were before, couldn’t they, Dad?” Craig asked his father.

Unfortunately, an alcoholic sacked mechanic who scrapes his knuckles on the floor as he walks really isn’t the best person to ask advice from.

“Have I told you how proud I am of you?” Tommy told Craig, “No? Well me dad never told me neither and it done me no harm.”

Craig has moved in with his dad, ostensibly as a protest against his mother, but in reality it’s to make sure his father doesn’t choke to death on his own vomit in the night.

Since getting fired from the garage, Tommy’s new job seems to be to try and out-drink George Best into an early grave. Craig thought that if Martin were to “disappear” then all his family problems would be over.

He’s clearly been watching too many episodes of The Sopranos, however, as he’s taken the term rather too literally by cutting Martin’s brake cables (which of course all well brought up Northern boys know how to do).

Craig panicked when he saw his sister get into the car and told his father what he’d done. Tommy jumped into his car and chased after them.

But Martin, seeing an irate alcoholic closing in on him in his rear view mirror, especially one who’d threatened to kill him just hours earlier, declined to stop.

Martin dropped Katy off to do some Christmas shopping and carried on his way to work, complete with ginger maniac on his tail at 80 miles an hour. Martin’s car plunged into a wall and Tommy only just managed to drag him to safety before the car exploded in a fireball.

By the time the ambulance arrived, Martin was in a coma (although to be fair it took people some time to realise as there’s actually very little difference). He was taken to Weatherfield General – the world’s smallest hospital, consisting of only one bed – and soon his bedside was surrounded by a Jerry Springer style collection of ex wives, girlfriends, step-children and in-laws.

David and Sarah Louise tried to get Katy removed from the ward on the grounds that she was “nothing to me dad,” but for once Gail acted almost like a reasonable human being and insisted that Katy stay.

Tommy and Craig meanwhile were taken to the police station to give a statement about what happened.

Tommy had persuaded his son to lie and say that they’d just happened to spot Martin’s brakes leaking fluid. Tommy may live to regret that decision, however, as later this week Katy goes to the police with her suspicions that her father deliberately tried to kill Martin.

And with a whole pub full of witnesses who heard Tommy telling Martin he was going to “get him,” it’s not looking too good.

Elsewhere on the Street, Dev is trying to persuade Maya to move in with him, having gone out for about three weeks – which in Soap Land is quite a long time.

Maya isn’t the cool, collected solicitor that Dev thinks she is though: she’s lost her job for sleeping with a client, is tens of thousands of pounds in debt and he later discovers that she’s also a shoplifter.

Sunita for one will be pleased when Dev discovers the truth, as she’s been getting more and more jealous of Maya. Which is not really the behaviour you’d expect from a woman due to get married in two weeks.

Ciaran too is showing less than enthusiasm for his trip down the aisle. Betty walked into the back room of the Rovers recently to discover Ciaran and Bev locked in a passionate embrace.

Well, I suppose Christmas is traditionally the time to help out the lonely elderly people.’

Posted: 19th, December 2003 | In: Strange But True | Comment

Jingle Smells

‘WHAT is the essence of Christmas?

Researchers investigating the issue have found the three ingredients for a perfect Christmas are candles, carols and mulled wine with cinnamon.

Professor Brammer, who led the research, says that combinations of experiences had a much bigger impact than any smell on its own.

”It’s called the cocktail effect, and its well known in multisensory studies,” he said. ”None of the sensations were thought of as very Christmassy on their own, but in combination it was a different story.”

Now add the smell of a damp church…’

Posted: 18th, December 2003 | In: Strange But True | Comment