Sunday, September 30, 2012
Active dead leaf
I imagine this is some kind of insect, though I've failed to identify exactly what.
YouTube link. Also.
YouTube link. Also.
Petkeeping with Marc Morrone
US animal dealer and breeder, Marc Morrone, hosted Petkeeping with Marc Morrone, a television programme produced by Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, which ended its run in 2006, although several stations throughout the country continue to air old episodes.
Morrone has been criticized by animal welfare advocates.
YouTube link.
Morrone has been criticized by animal welfare advocates.
YouTube link.
Man accused of stalking woman stole her mail and paid bill
An Indiana man has been accused of terrorizing a complete stranger by following her everywhere. The suspect, 65-year-old James Horlander, has a lengthy history of stalking other women. Prosecutors said the past two months have been terrifying for the victim. Horlander has a criminal history of stalking women, and is now accused of striking again.
Prosecutors said the most recent case began a few months ago, when Horlander first encountered the female victim, a stranger, at a Thornton's gas station in Jeffersonville, where she worked. "This guy just finds her, latches onto her and stalks her," said Clark County prosecutor Jeremy Mull. The woman claimed Horlander started following her nearly everywhere she went. "It's always a terrifying experience for a victim to never know whether someone's following them, watching them, sitting outside their house, lurking in their workplace," said Mull.
In the past two months, Horlander is accused of showing up at the victim's workplace, sometimes multiple times a day, watching her while she ate at a restaurant, sitting outside her house in his car, putting a toothpick in the lock to her apartment door, breaking into her car and leaving items inside and leaving sexually explicit DVDs and a sex toy in her mailbox. He's even accused of stealing her cable bill and paying for it himself.
"It very well could have escalated, and we're simply not willing to wait until it gets to that point. We're going to cut it off before anything happens," said Mull. Police also said they found binoculars in Horlander's car. Horlander denied stalking that victim during his police interview. He has been charged with two felony counts of stalking and entered a not guilty plea in court on Thursday. He's currently in jail on a $100,000 full cash bond.
There's a news video here.
Prosecutors said the most recent case began a few months ago, when Horlander first encountered the female victim, a stranger, at a Thornton's gas station in Jeffersonville, where she worked. "This guy just finds her, latches onto her and stalks her," said Clark County prosecutor Jeremy Mull. The woman claimed Horlander started following her nearly everywhere she went. "It's always a terrifying experience for a victim to never know whether someone's following them, watching them, sitting outside their house, lurking in their workplace," said Mull.
In the past two months, Horlander is accused of showing up at the victim's workplace, sometimes multiple times a day, watching her while she ate at a restaurant, sitting outside her house in his car, putting a toothpick in the lock to her apartment door, breaking into her car and leaving items inside and leaving sexually explicit DVDs and a sex toy in her mailbox. He's even accused of stealing her cable bill and paying for it himself.
"It very well could have escalated, and we're simply not willing to wait until it gets to that point. We're going to cut it off before anything happens," said Mull. Police also said they found binoculars in Horlander's car. Horlander denied stalking that victim during his police interview. He has been charged with two felony counts of stalking and entered a not guilty plea in court on Thursday. He's currently in jail on a $100,000 full cash bond.
There's a news video here.
Restaurant shut down after dead deer found in kitchen
A Chinese restaurant in Williamsburg, Kentucky, has been forced to shut its doors after getting caught with a dead deer in the kitchen. It happened on Thursday afternoon at the Red Flower Chinese Restaurant. "We were actually joking about the, you know, the whole Chinese restaurant. You know some rumours that you hear," said customer, Katie Hopkins. But, Hopkins and her friends never imaged what would happen after finishing their buffet lunches.
"Two of the workers came in wheeling a garbage can and they had a box sitting on top of it. And hanging out of the garbage can, they were trying to be real quick with it. So that nobody could see it. But there was like a tail, and a foot and leg. Sticking out of the garbage can and they wheeled it straight back into the kitchen," adds Hopkins. Hopkins immediately called the health department to describe what she saw.
"Many people eat there. A lot of locals eat there on lunch breaks and stuff. It was very disturbing. There was actually a blood trail that they were mopping up behind the garbage can," she said. Paul Lawson, the environmental health inspector in Whitley County says this is the craziest thing he's ever seen. After he arrived at the Chinese restaurant on south highway 25 West, he says the complaints proved to be true after finding roadkill in the restaurant's kitchen. Lawson said that the owner's son admitted to picking up a dead deer off the side of I-75 north in Williamsburg.
YouTube link.
This prompted the health department to immediately shut down the business. "They said they didn't know that they weren't allowed to. So that makes me concerned. But maybe thy could have before. They didn't admit to doing it before," says Lawson. Lawson says that the restaurant can reopen if they pass a secondary health inspection, proving that they have washed, rinsed, and sanitized the restaurant after having roadkill inside. The restaurant owner told the health department that he wasn't going to serve the road kill to customers, but instead to his family. The Red Flower Chinese Restaurant will not face any fines.
"Two of the workers came in wheeling a garbage can and they had a box sitting on top of it. And hanging out of the garbage can, they were trying to be real quick with it. So that nobody could see it. But there was like a tail, and a foot and leg. Sticking out of the garbage can and they wheeled it straight back into the kitchen," adds Hopkins. Hopkins immediately called the health department to describe what she saw.
"Many people eat there. A lot of locals eat there on lunch breaks and stuff. It was very disturbing. There was actually a blood trail that they were mopping up behind the garbage can," she said. Paul Lawson, the environmental health inspector in Whitley County says this is the craziest thing he's ever seen. After he arrived at the Chinese restaurant on south highway 25 West, he says the complaints proved to be true after finding roadkill in the restaurant's kitchen. Lawson said that the owner's son admitted to picking up a dead deer off the side of I-75 north in Williamsburg.
YouTube link.
This prompted the health department to immediately shut down the business. "They said they didn't know that they weren't allowed to. So that makes me concerned. But maybe thy could have before. They didn't admit to doing it before," says Lawson. Lawson says that the restaurant can reopen if they pass a secondary health inspection, proving that they have washed, rinsed, and sanitized the restaurant after having roadkill inside. The restaurant owner told the health department that he wasn't going to serve the road kill to customers, but instead to his family. The Red Flower Chinese Restaurant will not face any fines.
Fawn rescued after becoming trapped in manhole
When sheriff's deputies in Davis County, Utah, discovered a one-year-old fawn stuck in a manhole, they knew he had no way out on his own.
"It was very much alive and in distress," said Sgt. Todd Taylor. "We knew the deer wasn't going to last long in the hole, he had no food, no water." The fawn was stuck 10 feet down a narrow concrete pipe.
"When animals are under stress sometimes they're killed and we didn't want to do that to a healthy animal, so the only thing we could think of was to lasso him and try to lift him out without hurting him," said Sgt. Taylor. The deputies managed to lasso the fawn around the neck and pull him to safety.
Despite the deer's audible cries, his rescuers say he was not injured and that it was worth getting him to safety. As soon as he was lifted out of the manhole, the deer scampered off to some nearby woods.
There's a news video here.
"It was very much alive and in distress," said Sgt. Todd Taylor. "We knew the deer wasn't going to last long in the hole, he had no food, no water." The fawn was stuck 10 feet down a narrow concrete pipe.
"When animals are under stress sometimes they're killed and we didn't want to do that to a healthy animal, so the only thing we could think of was to lasso him and try to lift him out without hurting him," said Sgt. Taylor. The deputies managed to lasso the fawn around the neck and pull him to safety.
Despite the deer's audible cries, his rescuers say he was not injured and that it was worth getting him to safety. As soon as he was lifted out of the manhole, the deer scampered off to some nearby woods.
There's a news video here.
Smoking Indonesian orangutan gives birth
An orangutan famous for puffing on cigarettes gave birth this week at an Indonesian zoo in a rare event giving a boon to the critically endangered species. Tori, 15, gave birth on Wednesday in the central Javanese city of Solo, Taru Jurug Zoo director Lilik Kristanto said. "The delivery took place naturally without human intervention," he said.
Visitors had for 10 years tossed cigarettes to the famous smoking orangutan, who was moved in July to a 200-metre island at the zoo to force her to quit cold turkey. Kristanto said Tori gave birth on the island, where she is being kept with her mate and baby.
"We're very happy. The baby is healthy and Tori is a good mother," he said, adding that the orangutan smoked through most of her pregnancy. Tori mated with a 20-year-old orangutan in November 2011 and the birth is the first at the zoo since Tori was born.
"Orangutans are critically endangered, so this is good news for conservation. We have another young orangutan pair here, so I hope there will be more orangutan babies here in the future," he said. Experts believe that between 50,000 and 60,000 of the two orangutan species are left in the wild, 80 percent of them in Indonesia and the rest in Malaysia. Orangutans are faced with extinction from poaching and the rapid destruction of their forest habitat, driven largely by palm oil and paper plantations.
Visitors had for 10 years tossed cigarettes to the famous smoking orangutan, who was moved in July to a 200-metre island at the zoo to force her to quit cold turkey. Kristanto said Tori gave birth on the island, where she is being kept with her mate and baby.
"We're very happy. The baby is healthy and Tori is a good mother," he said, adding that the orangutan smoked through most of her pregnancy. Tori mated with a 20-year-old orangutan in November 2011 and the birth is the first at the zoo since Tori was born.
"Orangutans are critically endangered, so this is good news for conservation. We have another young orangutan pair here, so I hope there will be more orangutan babies here in the future," he said. Experts believe that between 50,000 and 60,000 of the two orangutan species are left in the wild, 80 percent of them in Indonesia and the rest in Malaysia. Orangutans are faced with extinction from poaching and the rapid destruction of their forest habitat, driven largely by palm oil and paper plantations.
Gorilla kisses her newborn at Jersey zoo
Mother Hlala Kahilli has given birth to a healthy baby westland lowland gorilla at the Durrell Wildlife Park park on Jersey.
Visitors were able to watch the gorilla holding her newborn to her chest and even appearing to kiss its forehead. The baby was born in the early hours of Thursday morning and so far the park not been able to ascertain its gender.
Mark Brayshaw Head of Animal Collection at Durrell said: “We are delighted with the great news and so far the mother is doing well, but as with all births we need to be extra cautious during the first few days. "
YouTube link.
At the moment the group including the new parents are all very relaxed and our keepers are remaining as hands off as possible as the group appears quite settled.” Western lowland gorillas are critically endangered and are listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
Visitors were able to watch the gorilla holding her newborn to her chest and even appearing to kiss its forehead. The baby was born in the early hours of Thursday morning and so far the park not been able to ascertain its gender.
Mark Brayshaw Head of Animal Collection at Durrell said: “We are delighted with the great news and so far the mother is doing well, but as with all births we need to be extra cautious during the first few days. "
YouTube link.
At the moment the group including the new parents are all very relaxed and our keepers are remaining as hands off as possible as the group appears quite settled.” Western lowland gorillas are critically endangered and are listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
Dozens of residents have homes glued shut by vandals
Dozens of residents on an Irish housing estate had the doors to their houses glued tight in an act of vandalism. Over 25 homes in Letterkenny, County Donegal, were targeted as well as some cars. One of the residents, John McGeever from Ballymacool Terrace in the town, said he believed industrial strength glue must have been used by the culprits.
"Some people went out of their homes and couldn't get back in again. Then some people realised when they were in they couldn't get out. Whoever did this must have a lorry load of glue because it was running down the doors. When we got down to the local locksmiths he had to replace most of the locks because he said whatever way this glue was inserted it actually went into the springs in the doors."
Mr McGeever said it was a shock to him and his neighbours to find what had happened. Most of the houses here are over 100 years old and most of the families were born and raised there. "One pensioner was locked in her house and she couldn't get out so we have to break the glass door at the back to get her out."
Mr McGeever said there are no major problems with anti-social behaviour in the area, but Ballymacool Terrace was not the only street targeted. "There was another area where I was told there was about 90 houses done. The people responsible probably thought it was funny but the Gardai have carried out forensics examinations."
There's a news video here.
"Some people went out of their homes and couldn't get back in again. Then some people realised when they were in they couldn't get out. Whoever did this must have a lorry load of glue because it was running down the doors. When we got down to the local locksmiths he had to replace most of the locks because he said whatever way this glue was inserted it actually went into the springs in the doors."
Mr McGeever said it was a shock to him and his neighbours to find what had happened. Most of the houses here are over 100 years old and most of the families were born and raised there. "One pensioner was locked in her house and she couldn't get out so we have to break the glass door at the back to get her out."
Mr McGeever said there are no major problems with anti-social behaviour in the area, but Ballymacool Terrace was not the only street targeted. "There was another area where I was told there was about 90 houses done. The people responsible probably thought it was funny but the Gardai have carried out forensics examinations."
There's a news video here.
Midge Ure attacked by custard pie lady during Ultravox gig
"Just looking for contact," sang Midge Ure at the climax of Ultravox's Hammersmith Apollo's concert on Thursday. But the 80s pop star was surely not expecting a woman to rush on to the stage and assault him with a custard pie.
The Vienna singer was left looking more like Viennetta, covered in dripping, yellow gunk after the woman evaded security and poured the contents of a cardboard plate over his bald pate.
The interloper was wrestled from the stage but the veteran rocker, 58, was left shaking the dripping custard from his smart shirt and tie.
YouTube link.
Ever the trooper, Ure wiped his head with a towel and completed the song, repeating its final line “just looking for contact, my friend.”
The Vienna singer was left looking more like Viennetta, covered in dripping, yellow gunk after the woman evaded security and poured the contents of a cardboard plate over his bald pate.
The interloper was wrestled from the stage but the veteran rocker, 58, was left shaking the dripping custard from his smart shirt and tie.
YouTube link.
Ever the trooper, Ure wiped his head with a towel and completed the song, repeating its final line “just looking for contact, my friend.”
Saturday, September 29, 2012
New cat
YouTube link.
Incidentally, the gentleman in this video had just returned home still wearing make-up after appearing in a movie in which he had been 'killed'.
Pair arrested for camping on roof of shoe shop
A couple of suspected thieves were caught camping out on the roof of an Ocala, Florida, shoe store. Police said Travis Rose and John Vaughn, both aged 20, pitched a tent on the roof of the Shoe Carnival. One of the suspects said he was up there because his mother wouldn't let him have friends over. "We both still have homes with our parents and everything. It was just a home away from home. A spot to chill and hang out with friends," Rose said.
Rose said he and Vaughn pitched a tent and lived on the roof of the store for three weeks. "Family tent. Bright red tent. Really large tent," said Detective James Deas of the Ocala Police Department. The detective couldn't believe it, until he realized how they got away with it. "It was butted up to the back of the Shoe Carnival sign, which is basically a wall. And no one could see it," said Deas. Rose said it had "all the comforts of home."
"It just kept progressing. Let's go get beds so we're more comfortable. And then we decided, let's go get chairs so we can sit out outside," Rose said. Rose had plans for fake grass, a gazebo, television and an Xbox. "We just had a bunch of ideas. Hot tub idea. Putt-putt golf on the fake grass. We had a bunch of ideas," Rose said. Rose and Vaughn found an outlet on the roof connected to the shoe store and plugged in an extension cord for a couple of fans to keep them cool on the hot roof.
Police said they first got on the trail of Rose and Vaughn while investigating the theft of a truck full of furniture from a Leisure Living store. They pulled the truck out of a local lake, found the furniture in a local home and followed up a tip that led them to the roof of the shoe store. Rose said his mother told him he was too old for slumber parties. "So I made my own spot for them to come over and hang out with me," he said.
There are news videos here and here.
Rose said he and Vaughn pitched a tent and lived on the roof of the store for three weeks. "Family tent. Bright red tent. Really large tent," said Detective James Deas of the Ocala Police Department. The detective couldn't believe it, until he realized how they got away with it. "It was butted up to the back of the Shoe Carnival sign, which is basically a wall. And no one could see it," said Deas. Rose said it had "all the comforts of home."
"It just kept progressing. Let's go get beds so we're more comfortable. And then we decided, let's go get chairs so we can sit out outside," Rose said. Rose had plans for fake grass, a gazebo, television and an Xbox. "We just had a bunch of ideas. Hot tub idea. Putt-putt golf on the fake grass. We had a bunch of ideas," Rose said. Rose and Vaughn found an outlet on the roof connected to the shoe store and plugged in an extension cord for a couple of fans to keep them cool on the hot roof.
Police said they first got on the trail of Rose and Vaughn while investigating the theft of a truck full of furniture from a Leisure Living store. They pulled the truck out of a local lake, found the furniture in a local home and followed up a tip that led them to the roof of the shoe store. Rose said his mother told him he was too old for slumber parties. "So I made my own spot for them to come over and hang out with me," he said.
There are news videos here and here.
Man charged with shooting neighbour over telepathic rapes found competent to stand trial - Update
Michael Selleneit reportedly believes rock guitarist Eddie Van Halen comes into his mind and helps him occasionally, and that his wife was telepathically raped by his neighbour. But a judge ruled Thursday that despite questions about Selleneit’s mental state, he is competent to stand trial on charges of attempted murder and illegally possessing a firearm. Two out of the three doctors who evaluated the 54-year-old Centerville man said he was competent during a Sept. 19 hearing. On Thursday, 2nd District Judge Thomas Kay agreed with the two doctors, saying that state statute requires a defendant be able to understand the charges against him and assist in his defence. Kay said he felt Selleneit was capable of doing both.
In October 2011, Selleneit allegedly shot and wounded 41-year-old Tony Pierce, who was working in the yard outside his home. Selleneit believed he was acting in self-defence when he shot his neighbour, claiming Pierce had threatened him "telepathically" and had "telepathically raped" his wife many times, according to police. Selleneit’s claim of self-defence is why one evaluator, Eric Nielsen, said he believed the man is unable to stand trial. "He seems to be intent on defending himself based on psychotic symptoms," Nielsen said at the earlier hearing.
However, Kay said on Thursday that he found John Malouf, a psychologist who evaluated Selleneit last year and found him to be competent, more credible than Nielsen. "[Selleneit] doesn’t have a great deal of sophistication, but he understands pleading guilty or not guilty," Malouf had said at the previous hearing. "He understands he needs to work with his attorney. Defence attorney Julie George had said Selleneit has had delusions about being threatened with violence and about his wife being raped since at least the late 1990s. Selleneit believes his neighbour has "sex parties" with his wife while he is in the next room, and has said that "Eddie Van Halen comes into his mind and helps him occasionally," according to his attorney.
"Those are about as bizarre as I think a delusion can get," George said in court as she argued for Selleneit to be sent to the Utah State Hospital. "It’s locking him into a belief system that makes it impossible for him to work with me." Selleneit has been diagnosed with an "organic brain disorder with a labile affect, periodic delusional thought process, poor judgment [and] poor impulse control," according to court documents. As a teenager, Selleneit suffered a brain injury in a car crash, and doctors have said he is "mentally ill and very likely will be the rest of his life," court documents state.
Previously.
In October 2011, Selleneit allegedly shot and wounded 41-year-old Tony Pierce, who was working in the yard outside his home. Selleneit believed he was acting in self-defence when he shot his neighbour, claiming Pierce had threatened him "telepathically" and had "telepathically raped" his wife many times, according to police. Selleneit’s claim of self-defence is why one evaluator, Eric Nielsen, said he believed the man is unable to stand trial. "He seems to be intent on defending himself based on psychotic symptoms," Nielsen said at the earlier hearing.
However, Kay said on Thursday that he found John Malouf, a psychologist who evaluated Selleneit last year and found him to be competent, more credible than Nielsen. "[Selleneit] doesn’t have a great deal of sophistication, but he understands pleading guilty or not guilty," Malouf had said at the previous hearing. "He understands he needs to work with his attorney. Defence attorney Julie George had said Selleneit has had delusions about being threatened with violence and about his wife being raped since at least the late 1990s. Selleneit believes his neighbour has "sex parties" with his wife while he is in the next room, and has said that "Eddie Van Halen comes into his mind and helps him occasionally," according to his attorney.
"Those are about as bizarre as I think a delusion can get," George said in court as she argued for Selleneit to be sent to the Utah State Hospital. "It’s locking him into a belief system that makes it impossible for him to work with me." Selleneit has been diagnosed with an "organic brain disorder with a labile affect, periodic delusional thought process, poor judgment [and] poor impulse control," according to court documents. As a teenager, Selleneit suffered a brain injury in a car crash, and doctors have said he is "mentally ill and very likely will be the rest of his life," court documents state.
Previously.
Woman dies after being accidentally knocked over by pet llama
A woman died from her injuries after being struck by her pet llama. Florence Lenahan, 74, was hospitalised on Tuesday evening after dispatchers received a call from her friend saying that she was run over by her pet llama, Baby Doll.
Lenahan suffered arm and head injuries in the incident outside her Ohio home, which occurred shortly after 5 p.m. According to a family friend, the woman went out to see Baby Doll, who ran toward her and slipped, knocking Lenahan's head into the ground.
Lenahen had nursed Baby Doll since she was born after the llama's mother rejected her. Officials from Riverside Methodist Hospital said that Lenahen died on Tuesday evening.
Lenahan was the former Delaware County Coroner.She served from 1986 until 1992. A family friend said that Baby Doll, as well as Lenahan's other animals, would find new homes. They currently are in the care of the Delaware County Humane Society.
With news video.
Lenahan suffered arm and head injuries in the incident outside her Ohio home, which occurred shortly after 5 p.m. According to a family friend, the woman went out to see Baby Doll, who ran toward her and slipped, knocking Lenahan's head into the ground.
Lenahen had nursed Baby Doll since she was born after the llama's mother rejected her. Officials from Riverside Methodist Hospital said that Lenahen died on Tuesday evening.
Lenahan was the former Delaware County Coroner.She served from 1986 until 1992. A family friend said that Baby Doll, as well as Lenahan's other animals, would find new homes. They currently are in the care of the Delaware County Humane Society.
With news video.
Irish bus driver pleads guilty in Alsatian buggery death case - Update
A Limerick city bus driver has pleaded guilty to buggery with an animal following the death of a woman in Patrickswell almost four years ago. Sean McDonnell, aged 58, of Churchill Meadows, Raheen appeared before Limerick Circuit Court charged with an offence contrary to section 61 of the Offences Against The Person Act 1861.
It is the prosecution case that McDonnell committed the offence using a German Shepherd (Alsatian) dog to commit the act on a 43-year-old woman at a house in Patrickswell on October 7, 2008. The case against McDonnell – believed to be the first of its kind in this country – is related to the sudden death of the women who was from East Limerick on the same date.
Following a garda investigation into her death, McDonnell was charged and first appeared in court in July of last year. As part of the garda investigation, an Alsatian dog was seized and remains under quarantine. A book of evidence was served on the defendant in July of last year and the case was listed for trial this Wednesday.
However, when he was formally arraigned by the court registrar, the defendant said he was “guilty” of the charge. Isobel Kennedy SC requested an adjournment of the case and Judge Carroll Moran remanded the accused on continuing bail until November 2. The defendant faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Previously.
It is the prosecution case that McDonnell committed the offence using a German Shepherd (Alsatian) dog to commit the act on a 43-year-old woman at a house in Patrickswell on October 7, 2008. The case against McDonnell – believed to be the first of its kind in this country – is related to the sudden death of the women who was from East Limerick on the same date.
Following a garda investigation into her death, McDonnell was charged and first appeared in court in July of last year. As part of the garda investigation, an Alsatian dog was seized and remains under quarantine. A book of evidence was served on the defendant in July of last year and the case was listed for trial this Wednesday.
However, when he was formally arraigned by the court registrar, the defendant said he was “guilty” of the charge. Isobel Kennedy SC requested an adjournment of the case and Judge Carroll Moran remanded the accused on continuing bail until November 2. The defendant faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Previously.
Poultry lover opens 'Fowlty Towers' chicken hotel
A chicken hotel has opened in south-east England amid growing demand for fowl accommodation in the chicken-loving county of Kent. The hotel, named 'Fowlty Towers', provides top notch accommodation for England's growing domestic chicken population while their owners are on holiday.
Its owner, hen hotellier Julie Smith, is on hand to give the birds a home away from home. 'I started looking after them as a favour and then I thought well it might be a bit of a business and we'll try and get them sorted so we ended up with lots of people ringing up and asking if I could look after their hens when they went on holiday,' she said.
Guests at the boutique-style establishment enjoy pampering and fresh vegetables every day in the luxury hen house. Ms Smith also occasionally treats the chickens to a joy ride in her hen stroller, giving the hens an opportunity for sightseeing in her quaint village of Cowden.
YouTube link.
'I think that they bring them to me because I give them individual attention, as I say they are pets so I care a lot about them, rather than - no disrespect to any big concern - but obviously the small number just get that little bit extra,' Julie said. Most of Ms Smith's clients come from the local area, although some guests have come from neighbouring counties.
Its owner, hen hotellier Julie Smith, is on hand to give the birds a home away from home. 'I started looking after them as a favour and then I thought well it might be a bit of a business and we'll try and get them sorted so we ended up with lots of people ringing up and asking if I could look after their hens when they went on holiday,' she said.
Guests at the boutique-style establishment enjoy pampering and fresh vegetables every day in the luxury hen house. Ms Smith also occasionally treats the chickens to a joy ride in her hen stroller, giving the hens an opportunity for sightseeing in her quaint village of Cowden.
YouTube link.
'I think that they bring them to me because I give them individual attention, as I say they are pets so I care a lot about them, rather than - no disrespect to any big concern - but obviously the small number just get that little bit extra,' Julie said. Most of Ms Smith's clients come from the local area, although some guests have come from neighbouring counties.
Horror after toenail found in Aldi mince or pasta sauce
A woman from Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, is calling for Aldi to recall all its minced beef and pasta sauce after she claims her daughter found a toenail in her food. Tracy Arnold spent £127 on her shop at Wisbech’s Aldi store on Wednesday and purchased some beef and two jars of pasta sauce to make spaghetti bolognese.
Photo from SWNS.
When she dished up the meal the following evening, her 22-year-old daughter was horrified to discover the large toenail in her food. “It was the most disgusting thing I have ever found in food in my life,” Mrs Arnold said. “She thought at first that it was a bit of gristle but it was clearly a man’s toenail. It was huge. It looked like it had been cut.”
She was mystified at how it made its way into the food, saying it wasn’t something you would expect to accidentally drop into it. Mrs Arnold took the offending toenail back to the store and said the staff there were just as disgusted as she was. But she was left less than happy with the response from Aldi head office and gave the impression she did not care. An Aldi spokesperson said: “We work hard to provide high quality products for our shoppers and take customer complaints very seriously.
Photo from SWNS.
“We have requested that Mrs Arnold returns the product to store so that we can investigate the matter further with our suppliers.” This is not enough for Mrs Arnold, who wants to return all her shopping for a full refund. She also feels that the products should be recalled prior to an investigation, not the other way around.
Photo from SWNS.
When she dished up the meal the following evening, her 22-year-old daughter was horrified to discover the large toenail in her food. “It was the most disgusting thing I have ever found in food in my life,” Mrs Arnold said. “She thought at first that it was a bit of gristle but it was clearly a man’s toenail. It was huge. It looked like it had been cut.”
She was mystified at how it made its way into the food, saying it wasn’t something you would expect to accidentally drop into it. Mrs Arnold took the offending toenail back to the store and said the staff there were just as disgusted as she was. But she was left less than happy with the response from Aldi head office and gave the impression she did not care. An Aldi spokesperson said: “We work hard to provide high quality products for our shoppers and take customer complaints very seriously.
Photo from SWNS.
“We have requested that Mrs Arnold returns the product to store so that we can investigate the matter further with our suppliers.” This is not enough for Mrs Arnold, who wants to return all her shopping for a full refund. She also feels that the products should be recalled prior to an investigation, not the other way around.
Mankini ban reduces bad behaviour in Newquay
Police in Newquay have said a decision to ban mankinis, fake penises and other "inappropriate clothing" from the Cornish resort has helped to significantly reduce anti-social behaviour and recorded crime.
Officers said the town was shedding its reputation as a haven for drunken revellers and stag parties as a result of the zero-tolerance approach to risque fancy dress. Some visitors to Newquay, including children as young as 15, have been sent home as a result of anti-social behaviour, while older fun-seekers have had skimpy costumes seized by police – including mankinis.
YouTube link.
In an interview marking the end of the summer season, Devon and Cornwall police superintendent, Julie Whitmarsh, said the town had come a long way in the last three years thanks to concerted efforts to help clean up its reputation. "We have had this consistency of seizing inappropriate items of clothing, sending people home to get changed, and that has worked, it has made a real difference, this 'no-nonsense attitude'," Whitmarsh said.
"Mankini is what we term 'offensive clothing', so we won't accept people wearing them. They are just hideous. Is it just me, but if you were living in Bath, for example, or Bournemouth, is that something you would wear to walk into town on a Saturday afternoon? No. They are just revolting, there is nothing pleasant about seeing anybody in a mankini. We have had a real crackdown on the fake penises. And people are getting that message. You look at the images you see of Newquay now, 2009 is three years ago and we are in a very different place."
Officers said the town was shedding its reputation as a haven for drunken revellers and stag parties as a result of the zero-tolerance approach to risque fancy dress. Some visitors to Newquay, including children as young as 15, have been sent home as a result of anti-social behaviour, while older fun-seekers have had skimpy costumes seized by police – including mankinis.
YouTube link.
In an interview marking the end of the summer season, Devon and Cornwall police superintendent, Julie Whitmarsh, said the town had come a long way in the last three years thanks to concerted efforts to help clean up its reputation. "We have had this consistency of seizing inappropriate items of clothing, sending people home to get changed, and that has worked, it has made a real difference, this 'no-nonsense attitude'," Whitmarsh said.
"Mankini is what we term 'offensive clothing', so we won't accept people wearing them. They are just hideous. Is it just me, but if you were living in Bath, for example, or Bournemouth, is that something you would wear to walk into town on a Saturday afternoon? No. They are just revolting, there is nothing pleasant about seeing anybody in a mankini. We have had a real crackdown on the fake penises. And people are getting that message. You look at the images you see of Newquay now, 2009 is three years ago and we are in a very different place."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)