PANE IN THE NECK
Talk about being saddled with a difficult job…Housewife Emma Massingale has found a novel way of window washing without a ladder.
The 29-year-old balances on the back of her two horses to reach the upstairs panes of her farm in Bradworthy, Devon.
Married Emma, an equine behaviourist, said: “In my line of work, even house work is never dull.”
The education system in the UK is failing, despite what the politicians may tell us. Recently a Labour party MP illustrated what a wonderful job they had done in power. It was the usual infuriating Labour spin and refusal to accept any responsibility. She set out an array of meaningless statistics, stating how much grades and standards had improved.
Frankly grade statistics mean absolutely nothing. Grade inflation benefits everyone. It benefits the, politicians the teachers, the parents and the students. Is it any wonder grades keep increasing? Only one statistic really matters, youth unemployment. Youth unemployment will soon hit a million. It is a damning indictment of Labours 10 years in power. For all the great grades people may have it means nothing when it comes to getting a job and ultimately that’s all that matters.
What’s the problem? The problem is teaching culture. It is an obsession with exams and teaching the test. Teachers have become very good at teaching tests and students have become very good at doing them. Everything in the exams can be learnt. There is no opportunity for the students to show their own ideas. All the answers have to fit into a mark scheme (which we studied extensively) even the so called evaluation questions (where a student is supposed to be expressing their own ideas). All this stems from uncreative rigid syllabuses all again designed to fit into a nice and easy marking scheme. This is not how learning should be.
Don’t get me wrong I’m not blaming the teachers it’s certainly not their fault. Most teachers would love to spend more of their time doing real teaching but what choice do they have when their jobs are on the line. The problem is excessive central control and a system which treats everybody as a statistic rather than an individual and is obsessed with targets.
How many practice papers do you think I undertook for each A level module. 5? 10? The true number was closer to 25 per module. By the time I got into the exam I’d already seen and answered all the questions before. Was it any wonder I got great grades? But was it really a test of my intelligence and skill? What did I really learn? I’ve now been doing exams every term since the age of 8. If the education has left me with one thing it’s the ability to pass an exam.
When I came out of the education system I naively thought that with my great grades I would walk into a job. As it was I was completely unprepared.
In my next article I will show what we need to do to fix the system and prevent the country becoming engulfed in crisis in the future, because believe me, if we don’t fix this, it will. In the meantime please add your own ideas and thoughts below.
If there was an award for over-achieving Angelina Jolie would definitely win it, an Oscar winning actor, six children, Brad Pitt on her arm, and an activist.
Layed up with flu for a few days and quarantined from her children, she banged out the script for ‘In the Land of Blood and Honey’, her directorial debut. A women of substance, Jolie’s debut is a political film about the war in Bosnia. It looks amazing, and we can’t wait to see it. Check it out below.
In the Land of Blood and Honey opens on Dec. 23.
UK holidaymakers planning for a warm long weekend should look no further than the western Algarve this winter. With average temperatures of 19-22 degrees Celsius (66-72 Fahrenheit), quieter beaches and coastal walks, visitors can get to grips with the real Algarve away from the summer’s tourist season.
Cycle
Rugged landscape and crystal clear waters define the Algarve away from the golf courses. The head winds often mean challenging cycling but it will reap rewards. Many hotels have on-site bikes for use by guests, although you can also visit Algarve Bike Hire, which rents bikes out for up to 15 days, with the lowest-spec bike available for 10 euro per day, or 90 euro for the full 15. Child seats are available, all equipment, including helmets, can be delivered to your hotel for free if based between Albufeira and Carvoeiro. Cycle the rewarding 10km route west along the coastal road from Carvoeiro to the village of Ferragudo, packed with small restaurants serving fresh fish overlooking its golden beach.
Surf
The Atlantic coast provides consistent waves for surfing, with the best spots found to the west of the Algarve, where plenty of established surfing schools hold expert knowledge of the secluded beaches and perfect waves for beginners. The Algarve Watersport School offers a ‘Surfari’ daytrip which picks up learners from their hotel if in a group of four or more. Prices and dates depend on location, but pickups include Lagos, Carvoeiro and Portimao and prices start at 55 euro.
Ride
The warm Autumnal weather provides good horse riding conditions and spectacular views of the rolling western Algarve terrain. There are a number of riding schools that cater for beginners through to experienced riders. Tiffany’s Riding School, located 7km west of the town of Lagos, provides a three-hour Adventure Tour (140 euro per person) against the backdrop of the Monchique Mountains, well-known for their abundance of pine and eucalyptus trees. Quinta da Bica riding school, located 16km from the medieval town of Silves, provides private, 30 minute riding lessons for 20 euro. The school also has quad biking treks for those more interested in four-wheeled fun.
Kayak
As a low impact but high return exercise, Kayaking is a gentle activity for both children and adults that provides access to little-known inlets and coves teeming with wildlife along the Algarve coast. Algarve Kayak Tours and The Kayak Centre take participants aged seven and upwards on two – three hour kayak tours departing from Lagos beach. Discover the colourful rock formations known as the “Algarves”, the famous grottos and caves of Ponta da Piedade or the Alvor laguna. Places available from 20 euro.
Golf
With access to a myriad of golf courses, visitors to the Algarve can be sure they will never be located too far from somewhere to tee off. Late autumn through to late spring is the peak season for golfers in the Algarve, largely due to the warm weather on offer minus the sweltering sun. Great deals can be found, and often the courses will remain quiet, provided you choose wisely. The western Algarve tends to be quieter, Carvoeiro is home to three golf courses, Vale de Milho is more informal, charging 30 euro green fee and is suited to beginners requiring only knowledge of golfing etiquette. The Gramacho and Pinta, 18 hole courses within 3 kilometres of Carvoeiro, accommodate holidaying golfers for approximately 90 euro per round.
Use Vale d’Oliveiras Quinta Resort & Spa as your base
Stay at the luxury 5* Vale d’Oliveiras Quinta Resort & Spa, five minutes from Carvoeiro and a 40 minute transfer from Faro airport and use it as your base to enjoy an active outdoor break. The resort offers self-catering apartments alongside its hotel, ensuring it can adapt to all holiday requirements.
Set within 20 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, the resort offers all the facilities expected in a 5* environment. Relax in the resort spa with a vast range of beauty and wellbeing treatments and a steam bath, or get active with the two tennis courts, two outdoor swimming pools (one for adults, one for children) and a Health Club featuring a heated indoor pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and gymnasium.
The resort comprises of 80 spacious one and two-bedroom family suites, 2 suites and 22 elegant hotel rooms, equipped with high standard quality, all at your disposal to make sure your holidays in Carvoeiro will be unforgettable.
Activities at Vale d’Oliveiras Quinta Resort & Spa include the Cycling Social Ride, every Saturday at 11:00, groups up to 10, can enjoy a leisurely bike ride to Ferragudo free of charge. Guests can also participate in a Canoeing Expedition at the nearby Adrade river side spot of Fontes de Estombar, every Saturday at high tide, for 20 euros per person.
The Bacanal daytime brunch parties have become a staple in the capital for the elite, young and eligible party crowd. Bacanal would not let such a celebration as Halloween go past without organising a fabulously freaky brunch. On 29th October for one day only, Bacanal are turning the Grand Ill Bottaccio, Belgravia into a terrifying haunted mansion for party revellers. This Halloween will be truly memorable!
The distinguished Bacanal crowd will be brunching and sipping bubbles whilst dressed in their full Halloween attire and celebrating all afternoon. The Belgravia haunted mansion is ready to welcome a glamorous group of vampires, witches and devilish demons from 1pm when the party begins. In true Bacanal style there will be Burlesque and percussionist performances and more than enough surprises to keep the angels away from this wickedly wonderful afternoon.
Bacanal attracts a range of guests from hip hop artist Sway, Made In Chelsea socialites, Britain’s next top models right through to hard working city boys who only have Saturday to party. Boris Becker has also been known to stop down for a Saturday party. Bacanal is for those who like to make the most of their Saturday afternoons!
BandWagon was created by music fans, promoters and music managers who felt that the creation, application and booking of gigs needed better structure.
BandWagon aims to:
– Facilitate and promote emerging artists as they build a fan base through playing to live audiences.
– Co-operate with promoters and venues by simplifying the gig booking and event management process
– Support the UK live music industry which contributes £1bn to the UK economy
BandWagon enables bands and artists to apply and play various gigs opportunities in their local area and further afield. It allows promoters to create multiple events, book bands and manage their events. BandWagon will improve communication between bands and promoters by providing the necessary platform to seek, communicate and satisfy the thriving live music scene.
Some of the features include: a rating system for bands to rate promoters and vice versa. Submission to events for bands, seamless communication between promoters and bands, social marketing for events created and eventually a ticketing platform to sell tickets.
A premium service will be available for bands applying to paid gigs.
A percentage of the subscription fee will be added to BandWagon’s ‘Bel Esprit fund’ where musicians can apply for funding. Money will be made available to successful applicants for touring, rehearsal space, recording.
http://www.bandwagongigs.com
Harper Seven Beckham may have been born into the most famous family in the World, but she now has a new claim to fame after becoming the subject of a list of brand new bingo calls, by Mecca Bingo.
Harper Beckham (number seven), joins Will and Kate (number eight) and Dumbledore (number four) in a brand new list of modern day calls suggested by Meccabingo.com customers, to celebrate Mecca’s 50th Birthday on Wednesday, 19th October.
Since first opening its doors in 1961, the gaming company has evolved to meet the demands of a modern and younger audience. The introduction of online bingo and Mecca’s iPhone and Android apps mean that gaming fanatics can now play their favourite games and win real cash prizes anywhere, at any time.
Whilst bingo calls are not actually used anymore, modernising the traditional calls to reflect today’s culture is a fun way to mark Mecca’s 50th Birthday in a one-off game.
Claire Osborne, head of bingo and games at Meccabingo.com, comments:
“The suggestions we had from our customers were really diverse – from the sublime to the ridiculous – but what we found most interesting was how they reflected modern times and in particular, celebrity culture. For example, it’s no surprise that seven has become ‘Harper Beckham’ given the iconic status the Beckham’s hold on mainstream culture.
“Adele’s popularity is prominent with the title of her début album representing 19. The Harry Potter phenomenon hasn’t escaped either, as the lovable Dumbledore becomes the number four. Of course the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge remain at the height of public consciousness with ‘Will and Kate’ at number eight.”
During the course of the Meccabingo.com Bingo Lingo campaign, a total of 14,835 votes were cast. A selection of the best feature below:
2 Sugars in my brew
4 Dumbledore
7 Harper Beckham
8 Will and Kate
15 Rugby team
17 Driver’s dream
19 Adele
65 Keep on working
69 Sexy time
The brand new calls will make a one-off appearance in selected Mecca Bingo clubs across the UK on Wednesday, 19th October, as part of their 50th Birthday celebrations.
The recent X Factor ChildLine Ball at the Savoy raised more than £600,000.
Presenter and writer Esther Rantzen said: “It was a fantastic evening, a really thrilling way for ChildLine to celebrate this very important year, its 25th. Dermot O’ Leary was his usual charming self. Mary Byrne and Rebecca Ferguson were wonderful as they always are. And we raised a staggering amount of money, thanks to Johnny Gould and Peter Dickson. This means we can answer all the desperate children who ring ChildLine and contact us online, giving them hope, advice, and a lifeline.
“Today is also the publication date of my book Running Out Of Tears; telling the story of young adults who rang ChildLine when they were children, and how those phone calls transformed their lives. SO this is a landmark year in ChildLine’s life and in mine.”