OMG, it's February in 10 minutes time!

Have you had a successful January?

Israel and the Winograd Commision Report

London, UK

There have been calls for the resignation of the Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert following the publication of the Winograd Commission Report. Read Mel's piece at Yourish here.

I don't suppose a similar report will be published about the actions of Hezbollah by their backers!

Labour and the NHS

Steve at Daily Referendum highlights the alleged manipulation of figures concerning MRSA and C. difficile in hospitals.

What comedian used to say that hospitals were dangerous places as people die in them! Russ Abbott, Spike Milligan?

Iain Dale on War Films

Iain Dale in conversation on Leicester Square Television with presenter Jeremy Jacobs

Jeremy has passed away

London, UK

Jeremy Beadle, TV's top prankster presenter has succumbed to pneumonia at only 59 years of age.

Ebbsfleet doesn't exist

London, UK

The lady in this BBC report is right. Being a football fan, I really feel for the supporters of Gravesend & Northfleet who've had the soul of their football club destroyed by it's being re-named Ebbsfleet United. Madness.

There's a mention of the real place called Ebbsfleet which in near Ramsgate, some 70 miles from Gravesend, sorry Ebbsfleet!

There is no Ebbsfleet'

Looking for life in Ebbsfleet... Enlarge Image

A £2m, 50-metre sculpture has been commissioned to represent the huge regeneration scheme in north Kent. The BBC's David Sillito visits the site and asks whether it will live up to its grand ambition.

"There is no Ebbsfleet, it's a train station and that's it. That's all Ebbsfleet is. There is no Ebbsfleet".

So says Danielle, who works in a pub opposite Ebbsfleet United's football ground, a fact that might suggest there is a place called Ebbsfleet.

But she is adamant this place is Northfleet, nearby is Gravesend and Swanscombe. Ebbsfleet does not exist.

Well, it will do soon, and it will begin with a huge monument to mark it out as the gateway to the South.

EBBSFLEET PAST & FUTURE When finished (above) Ebbsfleet Valley will house the same population as Chichester The new town will cover an area of three Hyde Parks Ebbsfleet River is of historical importance, sacred to the Celts Anglo-Saxon mill and Roman villa found in excavations Station has seven services to Paris a day, five to Brussels Not to be confused with the other Ebbsfleet, in Thanet, where St Augustine landed on his mission to convert Anglo-Saxon Kent to Christianity

Five artists have been asked to design a sculpture measuring 50 metres (165 ft) that will be visible from road, rail and air.

An estimated 40 million people a year will ride past it on trains and in cars, and the landmark must create a sense of pride and belonging for the planned new town of Ebbsfleet. Ten thousand homes are being built in the next 20 years as part of a huge regeneration project.

But at the moment, when you step out of Ebbsfleet International station all there is is a digger on some green hills, some old industrial land where a cement works used to be, a methane burner on the site of an old landfill site and in the far distance, in a forest of pylons, a little promontory where the artwork will be.

And that's why it has to be so high, to be seen in amongst those pylons.

Unloved

Developer Stephen Jordan says the landmark will be a gamble.

"It's a bit like getting a tattoo, it's a major statement for the future, you could live to regret it but you could be delighted with it."

On one display at the new Ebbsfleet railway station, it is compared to the Sphinx and the Statue of Liberty - this gateway to Britain will be Kent's answer to the Angel of the North.

The Angel of the North proved critics wrong

So no pressure for the shortlisted artists, one of whom is Turner Prize winner, Rachel Whiteread.

"Well I don't think you have to create something they're going to love because I think of the example of the Angel of the North, which wasn't loved when it was first built," she says.

"People were up in arms about it but then it's become loved and it's become an icon of north east England."

This is art with a social purpose and the people will be consulted - at least, the nearby people will be - but in neighbouring Northfleet, art didn't appear to be on the top of the agenda.

Jim is the caretaker at the Hive. It's a block of flats and a parade of shops that will have the best view of the new artwork. He is not impressed.

We believe the football club is one thing that the local people can shout about Roly Edwards Ebbsfleet Utd

"Just a waste of money. Why can't they do something over here for these people around here?"

And on the topic of fostering local pride and community spirit there was little enthusiasm for any new sculpture.

Outside the newsagents, when asked if there was any community spirit, the answer was: "Plenty of drugs, if that's what you want to know. Too many yobs around here vandalising and that."

But the football team is excited. It's been paid by the developers to abandon its old name, Gravesend and Northfleet, and the club's director, Roly Edwards is looking forward to 40,000 new residents cheering on Ebbsfleet United.

"There isn't a great deal in the area to shout about. We believe the football club is one thing that the local people can shout about."

Making a community

A lot of people weren't too happy about the name change, he concedes, but he hopes some of the more "forward-thinking people" are beginning to come on board and realise why it's been done.

Is this a glimmer of Ebbsfleet pride? Ben Ruse, from the development team, hopes so. He says they are trying to avoid creating another soulless dormitory for London.

In the past they might have just built some houses and left it at that, nowadays the buzz phrase is "placemaking" and that involves trying to create the intangible things that turn a place you live into a place you care about.

HAVE YOUR SAY

The sculpture should be a symbol for the people

Kutz, UK

Send us your comments and visual ideas

"You can't make a community. Community comes from the heart. All we can do is give it the best start possible."

And a 50-metre piece of art will help?

"Oh, I think all sorts of things have a very important role to play in that but certainly yes, helping put Ebbsfleet on the map, giving it a sense of pride, giving it a totem."

So icon first, town second.

Building houses, you see, is easy. Building a place that people care about is rather harder.

Iain Dale on West Ham United

London, UK

Iain Dale chats to me about his other great passion - West Ham. Here he is discussing his West Ham blog.

Click here to view

Hamburger University

London, UK

I see that McDonalds will soon have the authority to issue academic qualifications. But will they be kosher? And if not will Bloom's be offering something similar?

Taxing Times

London, UK

Joining me in the JCom Radio studio tomorrow night is accountant Howard Gross.

Howard is the Chief Executive of Gross Klein who have a sister practice called Gross Klein Wood in Peterborough. Gross Klein is a city based practice. Howard is also a former President of the London Society of Chartered Accountants (30,000 + members) and specialise in dealing with small and medium sized businesses. Gross Klein celebrates its 40^th anniversary this year.

Tune in to the Internet at http://www.jcomradio.net at 8pm (GMT) tomorrow (Tuesday) night.

Just how crazy is Al Gore?

London, UK

This article is by Alan Caruba.

Just how crazy is Al Gore? That was the question that popped, once again, into my brain as I read a January 24 Agence France Press news story out of the Davos meeting of business and political elite. Gore asserted that, “the North Pole ice caps may disappear entirely during summer months within five years…”

I was instantly reminded of the story that ran in The New York Times in August 2000 claiming that the Pole was free of ice for the first time in 50 million years. It wasn’t, of course, because people who have actually been to the Arctic quickly noted that, in the summer, some ice actually does melt there. The Times retracted it three weeks later.

This kind of apocalyptic nonsense has been ratcheting upward ever since the new century began and my theory is that lunatics like Al Gore know that they are running out of time when it comes to imposing draconian restrictions on the use of every form of energy known to mankind. This is the purpose of the global warming hoax.

The Times later published another story about Arctic ice loss, adding the equally bogus issue of polar bears dying as the result. Currently, Greens are trying to get polar bears declared an “endangered species” in order to close off all of Alaska to any exploration or the extraction of the billions of barrels of oil known to exist there.

The problem with this latest ploy is that the polar bear population has risen from approximately 5,000 in 1950 to around 25,000 today as documented by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It is the same agency being asked to declare the bears endangered and, for good measure, a species of loon as well.

Speaking of loons, Gore has been spewing forth his insane forecasts since the early 1990s during which time he published “Earth in the Balance: Ecology and the Human Spirit.” In fact, Gore blames everything that happens on Earth or in its atmosphere on humans. “Human civilization is now the dominant cause of change in the global environment.”

This must surely come as news to people who pursue volcanic, oceanic, solar, and atmospheric sciences. Then there are all those large and small earthquakes going on as tectonic plates shift. What have I left out? Oh, yes. There’s the tsunami in the Indian Ocean that devastated islands and parts of the mainland.

How about Hurricanes like Andrew and Katrina that rearranged the landscape enough to destroy big chunks of the human communities on it? Forest fires, anyone? Ask any Californian about them and, while you’re at it, ask about the mudslides, and…well, you get the picture. These are not man-made phenomenon.

Back in 2000 when the global warming folks were getting into high gear to further their theory, Dr. S. Fred Singer, an atmospheric physicist and Professor Emeritus of Environmental Sciences at the University of Virginia, paused to pen a commentary for The Wall Street Journal.

Responding to The New York Times fantasy of a melting North Pole, Dr. Singer asked, “Do we believe theoretical models of the atmosphere or the atmosphere itself?”

He might as well have asked, do we believe the bloviations of Al Gore or do we take note of his lifestyle that includes a house large enough to burn through more energy than twenty average homes, the use of private jets and limousines, or any other aspect of his life that suggests he is not into bicycles or walking.

Dr. Singer stated that “It is warmer now than it was 100 years ago” at the end of the last mini-Ice Age and that “This has had an influence on polar ice, which has been slowly thinning, as it melts from beneath. And the ice will continue to thin for some time to come even though the climate is no longer warming. Moral: It takes a lot of time to melt ice.”

No longer warming? Yes, that’s another inconvenient truth that Al Gore ignores. When you add in the fact that the earth is at the end of a well-known interglacial cycle of 11,500 years, large portions of the planet are likely to get a lot cooler with the advent of a new Ice Age.

Then Al Gore will not have to worry about a barren, rocky, ice-free North Pole. He will have to worry about a huge new glacier headed for Tennessee.

Iain Dale and Jeremy Jacobs

London, UK

More from Iain Dale. This time Iain chats to me about getting those career breaks.

This sort of thing pisses me off

London, UK

Saw this nonsense in an African-based blog:

Dangerous travel destinations 2007

Based on expert analysis’s from agencies specialized in calculating these kinds of risks – like iJet - Forbes has made a list of the most dangerous travel destinations in 2007. 13 countries get the highest risk ratings:

• Somalia
• Iraq
• Afghanistan
• Haiti
• Pakistan
• Sudan
• Democratic Republic of Congo
• Lebanon
• Zimbabwe
• Israel, The West bank and Gaza
• Côte d'Ivoire
• Sri Lanka
• Chad

It ought to create some reflections among leaders and decision makers around the globe, that almost half the countries are in Africa (it definitely created a spark of reflection in me, when I looked down the list and realized that I’ve been traveling to or through close to half of these countries).

Considering the current situation in Kenya nothing indicates that the picture should change in 2008.

Presumably the authors of iJet - Forbes haven't visited London in recent years. 27 teenagers knifed to death in 2007. You don't get that in Tel-Aviv. Russia's not mentioned, neither is China, Laos or Mauritania. The other glaring mistake is calling the West Bank and Gaza countries! They ought to be part of THE Palestinian state - Jordan.

Iain Dale and Jeremy Jacobs on Blogging

London, UK

It was a real pleasure to interview Iain Dale for Leicester Square Television a few days ago.

We spoke about a number of issues, including this on successful blogging:

Jeremy Jacobs on "PressPlay" this Tuesday evening

London, UK

As some of you will have seen at my presenter site, I've two excellent guests this Tuesday evening on JCom Radio. Howard and Beverley Gross will be discussing a range of topics from presentation skills to personal allowances and from breathing to budgeting!

Tune in to JCOM RADIO at http://www.jcomradio.net

Tuesday, January 29th at 8pm (GMT)


Remember, JCom Radio is only available on the internet

Jack Nicholson on the passing of Heath Ledger

London, UK

Morgan Freeman talked about this in Leicester Square last Wednesday. Jack Nicholson commented on Heath. Read about here.








Jack Nicholson on the passing of Heath Ledger

Comedy Live with Russell Brand

London, UK

Did you see Russell Brand on Comedy Live last night on Channel 4?

Outrageous but very, very funny. A brilliant array of guests including Roseanne Barr and Paul Kaye.

Link to increase your Site Traffic

London, UK

Earlier this week, I interviewed Deanne Gold of BRX, the networking organisation.
BRX Eastern have kindly linked details of last Tuesday's radio show to my main site, and from it, I've received an enquiry about chairing a conference later in the year.

Regular blog posting and linking your site(s) to others and getting them to link increases your exposure in the Blogosphere and Internet. You'll also see a growth in traffic and business opportunities.

Example Link

Jack Nicholson at The Bucket List Premiere

London, UK

Superb footage of Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman from Leicester Square Television

A Very Naughty Blog

I'm sure you'll all agree!

Try Ms Naughty

Morgan Freeman on the death of Heath Ledger

Leicester Square, London

It was the UK Premiere of The Bucket List starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. Here's a clip from Leicester Square Television with Morgan Freeman talking about the death of Heath Ledger.



For more clips from the red carpet at Leicester Square,go to LSQ TV

Prophecies 2008 - Update

Remember this?

Sunday, December 30, 2007

Top 10 Prophecies for 2008

London, UK

As promised here:

1. Arsenal to win the Premiership in England.

2. Political unrest in China ahead of Olympic Games in Peking.

3. A Hollywood film star will die unexpectedly. HEATH LEDGER DEAD

4. Some type of natural disaster in Central or South America...........................

About time Tottenham

London, UK


For the first time in years Spurs finally beat Arsenal. Mind you, I didn't expect them to hit 5 against the Gunners. Read this.

From the rabble that gave Irving a platform................

The Oxford Union now debates about whether Israel has a right to exist.

F**k 'em

Sweeney Todd: Tim Burton in the press

London, UK


Tim Burton, director of Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street had this to say in yesterday's "London News" (that's the freebie one)

EU - The Fourth Reich?

London, UK

"The Devil" is a political blogger I admire on matters concerning the EU. Read his latest article

The Bucket List starring Jack Nicholson

London, UK

Details of the premiere of The Bucket List are on my other site. The movie is about two ill patients who escape from hospital and do their "last wishes" - or "bucket list".

Now people of the Blogosphere what would be on your Bucket List, or to put it another way, what 50 things do you want to do before you peg out?

Let's ask:

Iain Dale, Ellee Seymour, Shades, Cranmer, Cityunslicker, Jennifer Jones, Kris, Welshcakes, Stefanie, Colin, Simon Moores, Raincoaster, Norman Roberts, Steve

8 ways to be succesful

I posted this last year on my other site. Originally. it was taken from Will Kintish's site.

On being successful - 8 great traits!

Posted in Personal Development at 10:31 pm by Jeremy Jacobs

Will Kintish posted this article on his Blog recently…………

In the 6 years I have been in business I believe these are the traits you need
1 Self-belief. Believe you’re a good person who has something valuable to offer
2 Having an abundant, giving mentality. Give without remembering, receive without forgetting.
3 Be proactive. Don’t wait, take charge, make the first move.
4 Build a reputation for being a reliable person. Do what you say you’re going to do. Do it when you say you’re going to do it.
5 Be visible. Market yourself and your business every day. People forget quickly. If you have something you believe others need and want, ensure they know you’re still around and in business.
6 Be enthusiastic and show enthusiasm in whatever you do. If you’re not, why should others want to buy you or from you?
7 Become a life-long learner. Attend conferences, read books,listen to CD’s. Our world is changing rapidly…keep up or you’ll be left behind offering out-of-date services , products and views.
8 Last but I think the most important. Be persistent and resilient. ‘No’ generally means ‘not yet’. Things change which means today’s ‘no’ can be tomorrow’s ‘yes’.If you don’t follow up and keep in touch you will be forgetten. Cope with and manage rejection.It’s not you who is being rejected ( if it’s business!), it’s only the offer of your services.

I can’t disagree with any of the above. I would, however, add a few more.

A. Get busy on the Internet and Blogosphere.

B. Rest plenty

C. See my tips here

Business Networking Clubs - are they worth it?

London, UK

Are you one of those doubting Thomas's who think that business networking clubs are full of life-coaches or massage therapists? Then you may like to listen in to my show tomorrow night. My guest is Deanne Gold of BRX . Deanne is an Area Partner for this well-known networking organisation and she'll be with me on "PressPlay" tomorrow (Tuesday) night at 8pm(GMT).

JCom Radio is only available on the Internet. Tune into http://www.jcomradio.net

Domestic Violence - do men suffer?

London, UK



This morning on BBC London 94.9 Erin Pizzey, (whose work was the forerunner of Womens Aid) was discussing the latest issues concerning domestic violence. Erin is a remarkable woman and was so right when she mentioned that officialdom had nearly prevented her from expanding her network of refuges. She said that this is typical of the Anglo-Saxon "stiff upper-lip" attitude of not discussing or failing to recognise issues surrounding domestic violence. I wonder how many of you would agree with her?

Also mentioned in the media in the past few days was domestic violence purportrated against men which is far worse than previously reported. When I gave a talk on this subject at my Toastmasters Club three years ago, my research at the time indicated that 1 man in 15 (whose in a long-term relationship) suffered abuse - much of it violent. Figures now suggest it's 1 man in 6.
I find that hard to believe but late last night on Radio 5 Live I heard that a recent survey suggested that 40% of women in long-term relationships would like to leave their partners if they had the wherewithall to do so. This, on the other hand doesn't surprise me. I've always been of the view that only a third of all marriages or long-term relationships are successful. i.e. where both parties are kind and supportive of each other and give each other space.

Goal Celebration

Margate , UK

Margate FC forward, Rob Haworth celebrates his goal against his former club Carshalton Athletic. Margate went on to win 4-2 and to stake their claim as play-off contenders in the Ryman Premier League.

I've posted this as it's one of the best photos taken by "Margate Don" whose work can be see here.

Russell Brand in St Trinians

London, UK

Footage of the premiere of St Trinians starring Russell Brand still gets a reasonable number of hits on the Leicester Square Television site (LSQ TV) nearly six weeks after the event. The associated "Elizabethtoni" account on YouTube is fast approaching the 30000 hit mark. Here's a reminder:

Sunbeds are bad for you

London UK

Watch this until then end



H/T Kristee Weldon

Hilary Clinton Perfume

London, UK

Hilary Clinton Perfume





H/T Theo Spark

12 Sporting Bloopers

In the heat of the moment a tv presenter can say all the wrong things:

12 of the finest double-entendres that have been aired on British TV &
Radio

1. Pat Glenn, weightlifting commentator - 'And this is Gregoriava from
Bulgaria. I saw her snatch this morning and it was amazing!'

2. New Zealand Rugby Commentator - 'Andrew Mehrtens loves it when Daryl
Gibson comes inside of him.'

3. Ted Walsh - Horse Racing Commentator - 'This is really a lovely horse. I
once rode her mother.'

4. Harry Carpenter at the Oxford-Cambridge boat race 1977 - 'Ah, isn't that
nice The wife of the Cambridge President is kissing the Cox of the
Oxford crew.'

5. US PGA Commentator - 'One of the reasons Arnie ( Arnold Palmer) is
playing so well is that, before each tee shot, his wife takes out his
balls and kisses them ..... Oh my god!! What have I just said??'

6. Carenza Lewis about finding food in the Middle Ages on 'Time Team Live'
said: 'You'd eat beaver if you could get it.'

7. A female news anchor who, the day after it was supposed to have snowed
and didn't, turned to the weatherman and asked, 'So Bob, where's
that eight inches you promised me last night?' Not only did HE have to
leave the set, but half the crew did too, because they were laughing so
hard!

8. Steve Ryder covering the US Masters: 'Ballesteros felt much better today
after a 69 yesterday.'

9. Clair Frisby talking about a jumbo hot dog on Look North said: 'There's
nothing like a big hot sausage inside you on a cold night
like this.'

10. Mike Hallett discussing missed snooker shots on Sky Sports: 'Stephen
Hendry jumps on Steve Davis's misses every chance he
gets.'

11 Michael Buerk on watching Phillipa Forrester cuddle up to a male
astronomer for warmth during BBC1's UK eclipse coverage remarked:
'They seem cold out there, they're rubbing each other and he's only come in
his shorts.'

12. Ken Brown commentating on golfer Nick Faldo and his caddie Fanny
Sunneson lining-up shots at the Scottish Open: 'Some weeks Nick likes to
use Fanny, other weeks he prefers to do it by himself.'

My favourite is that classic cricket one " The bowler's Holding the batsman's Willey" (try explaining that to an American)

Your New Year Resolutions....................

How are they going?

h/t Enhance Life

My guest on JCom Radio tonight..........................

.......is well known Family Lawyer, Denise Lester.

Tune in on the internet at 8pm (GMT) - http://www.jcomradio.net

Margate v Spurs - 35 years on

London, UK

It seems like only yesterday that my father took me to watch Margate play Spurs in front of over 14,000 spectators at Hartsdown Park. The occasion on January 13th, 1973 was Margate's second only venture into the 3rd round proper of the FA Cup.

Dennis Signy's Sunday Express report shows two errors. One was the crowd figure, in the other Margate manager Les Riggs has an extra "B" at the front of his surname! There are more photos and reports of this match at Jeff Trice's excellent Margate FC history site here

Later in 1973, yours truly escaped to north-west London and eventually met up with author, journalist and broadcaster Dennis Signy. At that time, Dennis was editor at the Hendon Times. Nowadays, he's the PR spokesman for Barnet FC and has held a similar position at the Football League

About 6 years ago, I took Dennis to see Margate take on Barnet in the Conference at Hartsdown Park. It was his first time back there since that day in early 1973.










10p for a programme!!

Johnny Depp wanted to be a musician

London, UK

According to this report Johnny Depp wanted to be a musician. The star of Sweeney Todd reveals in the article that his first love was to play an instrument.

Johnny Depp in Leicester Square

London, UK

Last night Johnny Depp was in Leicester Square for the Premiere of Sweeney Todd. He was joined by co-star Helena Bonham-Carter and Tim Burton. Claire and I had a great night amongst the fans:

Margate Storm - 30 years on

London, UK On January 11th, 1978 storms reeked havoc along the Kent Coast and Margate bore the brunt with it's famous jetty smashed to smithereens. The photos are from a special booklet produced at the time by the now defunct East Kent Times. (A few years earlier our family's beach hut was washed away from Foreness Bay)

The famous sun-decks at Walpole Bay and Palm Bay were swept into history by the storm which was the worst since the famous 1953 flood.
This event was one of many nails in the Margate coffin. The fortunes of this once proud seaside resort has continued to decline with few facilities for holiday-makers and day-trippers alike.

Pensionbook is more fun than Facebook

London, UK

Now this is funny

Tom Hanks in Leicester Square last night

London, UK




The only man other than Humphrey Bogart to win back to back Oscars - Tom Hanks proved that premieres are much like a box of chocolates - you don't quite know what you're gonna get - as Forest Gump might say. It was a chill and rain-free evening as the fans felt the buzz of anticipation about Tom's appearance tonight; would he sign and pose? - he's notably frugal with the autographs. He did sign some, yet only a few - my friend in the fanline missed out because a professional hunter got his picture in front lightning quick. Director Mike Nichols signed with the fans and remarked the cancelled Golden Globes meant he was a double winner because not only would he be spared the pain of attending, any award would be delivered in the mail! Also there was Tara Palmer-Tomkinson who's always happy to spend time with the folks who travelled from as far as New York and Berlin to be here.

Stars and celebs spotted:
Tom Hanks - Actor, Producer
Mike Nichols - Director, Producer
Ken Stott
Tara Palmer-Tomkinson
Tamara Beckwith with Giorgio Veroni
Vicky Binns
Emma Forbes

Media in attendance:
Star TV (Switzerland)
Press Association Multimedia
Canal + Le Grand Journal (France)
Coming Soon (Italy)
VRT De Rode Loper (Belgium)
TV3: Xpose (Ireland)
Skymovies.net
Movie Beat
Daily Mail Online
TG5 - Iris (Italy)
Leicester Square Television
Big Brother Big Mouth Hijack
ITN On
RTL (Germany)
MTV News
CNN International
APTN
BBC Radio 5 Live
BBC News 24
Reuters
Capital FM

As usual please let me know of errors, omissions and comments. Thanks - E.
Original footage in HDV.
Copyright elizabethtoni 2008 (less)
Added: January 09, 2008

Does television make you sick?

London, UK

Have you seen this?

Top Blogs of 2008

London, UK

This one could be a contender. Altogether Digital looks good and has some interesting content - and if you like Space Invaders...........







Top Blogs of 2008

Johnny Depp in Sweeney Todd

London, UK

Leicester Square Television is gearing up for not one but two Premieres in Leicester Square this week. Tom Hanks will be in town for "Charlie Wilson's War" and Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham-Carter will be on the red carpet for Sweeney Todd: Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Still a Burma Star - Neville Jacobs

London, UK
A while ago, I posted two articles (see below) about my father. On Monday, he hits another milestone. He'll be 92 years young. (he was already old when I came along - of course!)
Whilst in conversation today with some members of the family, Dad recounted something which was attributed to the late, great American comedian, George Burns who once said "If I'd have known I was going to live this long, I would have taken more care of myself". A lesson for us all!

Dad looking the biz in the 1930's

Thursday, May 04, 2006

A Burma Star

Last month I mentioned that my father attended the annual lunch of his Burma Star Association in Margate. I highlighted one of great battles of that particular theatre of war - Kohima. That battle raged between April and June 1944. Some time ago, Charlie Hunt ( dad's war pal, now no longer with us) gave my father a picture taken soon after he end of hostilities at Kohima. I don't know about you but the "Aussie" style hat looks pretty cool. And as for those army boots - well what can I say!

My father has been staying with me for the past few days. It's been his first time in London since he contracted a very nasty leg ulcer in October 2004. Most people of his age may not have recovered from a hospital stay of nearly 13 months. It turned out he had contracted osteomyelitis and unfortunately, this has resulted in his right ankle joint becoming a bit unusable, to say the least. Despite this, he has battled on with his daily life in Westgate-on-Sea and I've been fortunate to have taken him to football on a few occasions and organised a brilliant birthday bash for him in January (see earlier post).

This week has been superb for him. Visits to various family members, a trip on the London Eye, spending some quality time with his grandchildren and, today, basking in 75 degrees of heat at Uncle Willies place in Walton-on-Thames on this, the warmest day so far this year. But, we are in England. This means that when excessive and unexpected heat occurs, London Underground doesn't work terribly well. One of these days we'll have a world class transport system. Of course, it won't happen in time for the 2012 Olympics which is being held on some industrial wasteland in East London.


Tomorrow (Friday) morning, I'll be driving him back home after a visit to the local surgery on Lyttleton Road. Every 3 days he needs a new dressing on his lower leg. People knock the NHS but I'm grateful that arrangements can be made for him quite easily when he's away from home.

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

Forgotten Battle, Forgotten War?

Yesterday my father attended a luncheon in Margate, organised by his local Burma Star Association. About 100 people turned up, some with partners and as every year now passes, fewer and fewer attend these types of functions. "Burma?", I hear you say. Most WW2 recollections are to do with the Battle of Britain, El-Alamein or how the Americans dominated proceedings at Normandy in 1944. The "forgotten" Far East conflict rarely gets a mention. Everthing seems to centre around Hiroshima and the privations of the Japanese people.......... and apart from that bridge over the River Kwai, I can't think of a film or recent documentary about the events at Kohima between April and June, 1944. This terrible battle (some of it played out over tennis courts) was remembered once again yesterday. Those who witnessed the carnage, like my father, were asked to remain seated. Dad told me that this bought a tear to his eye, as most around him, stood. Our generation, and those who are to follow, really ought to reflect on how some of our relatives fought so bravely to give us our "tomorrow's"

The photo above shows my father at his recent 80th, or was it 90th Birthday celebrations. My neice Emma is sitting next to my father. On the other side are my friends Sharon (Shaz) and Paul who came for the trip to Sandwich on January 7th.

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

For more information about the Burma Star Association and Kohima click here

Paris Hilton coming to Leicester Square

London, UK

Will we see Paris Hilton on Leicester Square Television?

No confirmed London Premiere for "The Hottie and the Nottie".

Paris Hilton Movie Trailer Hottie and the Nottie
Uploaded by penthouse90024

Monty Python - Best Ever Sketch?

London, UK

Emigrate in 2008

London, UK

Wonderful story here about a 102-year old emigrating with his wife to New Zealand. There's hope for all of us!

Sweeney Todd

London, UK

The premiere is next week. Leicester Square Television will be there and you'll be able to see the red carpet highlights as they happen.

In the meantime, here's some Sweeney stuff to whet your appetite:

Disappearing London

London, UK

After 80 years, Franks is closing down. This world-famous ladies lingerie shop in Golders Green will be no more. Revered for their personal service and attention to detail, Franks has assisted countless thousands of women to choose the right bra and other intimate garments.

So another institution will disappear from the London scene. No doubt a victim of commercial pressure from the chain stores at nearby Brent Cross, it's a pity that another independent retailer has to close its doors.

Girls Aloud to split?

London, UK

If the rumours turn out to be true Girls Aloud may break up this year. Pity they seemed quite together at the recent premiere of St Trinians. See here.

Blog of the Month - January 2008

London, UK

Inspired by my right-hand man at "I Can't Talk I'm on the Blog", I'll be posting each and every month a Blog that has caught my eye - and boy January's Blog, will be big. It's the one and only blog from MC REBBE

Once described as Edgware's answer to Woody Allen, MC Rebbe has taken the media world by storm, well heavy rain.

Blogroll MC REBBE, you wont regret it. And even if you do, don't come running after me.

Carry on!

TV Presenter Bloopers

I tend to highlight presenters and tv presenting at my other site. Occasionally, you come across some really great stuff like this below. I thought I'd share it with you here!

Will Smith

London, UK

Just a few days ago, I managed to shake his hand at Leicester Square. Will Smith was in town before Christmas for the UK Premiere of "I am Legend" as those of you who follow Leicester Square Television will know. Now it seems that poor Will has queered his pitch with these remarks about Hitler

Everybody is entitled to their opinion but really, film stars ought to keep quiet on sensitive political matters. The US-based online news site, NowPublic reported the story here

Kosher Kock-Up

London, UK

Loved this article from the latest edition of the JC:

Kosher restaurants fail food-safety test

28/12/2007
Barry Toberman

Many kosher restaurants, delis and bakeries visited by local-authority inspectors are receiving “very poor” and “poor” ratings for food safety.

A JC investigation of 59 establishments assessed over the last two years found that 30 received either zero- or one-star ratings. Just two were graded five-star and another two four-star.

The ratings are based on a national Food Standards Agency system. A no-star grading suggests “little or no appreciation of food-safety legislation”. One star equates to “a poor level of compliance”.

Kashrut representatives variously expressed surprise and disappointment at the findings, but maintained that hygiene standards were high within the kosher market. However, licensees were not required to inform them of the results of council food safety inspections.

A United Synagogue spokesperson told the JC on Monday: “We take the matter of health and safety very seriously. All of our [London Beth Din] licensees are inspected by a qualified environmental-health and hygiene consultant and meet appropriate standards. We request written confirmation of this at the annual licensing session and the licence will not be renewed without it.” In addition, its shomrim had to pass a food hygiene course.

Although premises are asked to display the ratings certificate following a local-authority inspection, there is no legal obligation. Councils and consumer groups suggest that where none is on show, concerned customers should ask to view the certificate.

Only 50 % with zero or "one" rating, come on Jewish Chronicle, name and shame!

New Year Quiz

London, UK

In what year did the United States become the world's largest economy?

and, in which year is China expected to become the world's largest economy?

2014

2019

2023

Never

New Year Celebrations

London, UK

New Year Celebrations culminated a short while ago with a spectacular pyrotechnic display at Hampstead Garden Suburb. Far more civilised than mixing with the millions in Central London.

Earlier I attended small gathering where there was some lovely classical music and singing.