My big brother invited me to the zoo this week so I'd have something to put in my column for The Independent. That, and also to help him look after his children. I've got two nieces and a nephew or two nephews and a niece, and I've read enough newspaper articles and Roald Dahl books over the years to know that these people need to be protected when they are near things like hippos and toucans. The last thing I want to do is make up some excuse about having to wallpaper my toilet and then later learn that my niece was pecked by a flamingo because I wasn't there.
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British theme parks are on a roll(ercoaster)
Wednesday 31 October 2012
The Sheriff of Nottingham once (allegedly) outlawed Robin Hood for the forcible redistribution of wealth; now Nottinghamshire County Council intends to spend £13m using his name to enrich the local area. The Council has announced plans to build an amusement park in Sherwood Forest, Discover Robin Hood, which it hopes will attract major investment.
Philip Hensher: Battersea Power Station - The white elephant saved? Pigs might fly
Friday 08 June 2012
I see Battersea Power Station every day, and, even in its dilapidated state, it never fails to raise the spirits.
Neil Warnock: It has been an up-and-down season but it looks over now
Saturday 07 April 2012
What I Learnt This Week
All the fun of the scare
Tuesday 30 August 2011
We can't get enough of frightening films, video games and theatre 'experiences'. But why do we find fear so thrilling? It's all down to our biology, discovers Luke Blackall
Facebook users set to log on and claim discounts with location service
Tuesday 01 February 2011
UK companies are to offer Facebook users everything from free cups of coffee to cut-price theme park rides after the social networking giant launched a service allowing people to log on and claim special rewards.
Harriet Walker: 'I'm heading home for the holidays - household tips at the ready!'
Sunday 19 December 2010
It still feels odd not to have a proper "end of term"' before the Christmas holiday. The way I separate work from the gluttonous hiatus these days is with the journey from London to my parents' house in Sheffield.
The business on...Rob Tincknell, Director, Treasury Holdings
Saturday 13 November 2010
Never heard of it – something to do with the State-owned banks?
Nope. Treasury Holdings is the parent company of Real Estate Opportunities, which does what the name suggests. Mr Tincknell, its point-man, is a property developer of some repute.
Why does everyone hate Comic Sans so much?
Friday 22 October 2010
It's only a font but critics want to write it out of existence
Family celebrate £2.6m National Lottery win
Tuesday 14 September 2010
A couple spoke of their elation today at sharing in a £2.6 million Lotto jackpot in the week they celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary.
The Bargain Hunter: Barbecue clear-out
Saturday 17 July 2010
After all the pleasant weather we've had over the past few months, it's hard to believe there are six weeks of summer remaining. The good people at Robert Dyas appear not to have realised either, because they are currently clearing out their top-selling barbecue sets and garden furniture for a fraction of their recommended retail prices. The pick of the bargains is an AWT kettle grill barbecue, below, which is reduced from £100 to £49.99. Dyas also has 2.7m x 2.7m detachable gazebo reduced from £50 to £29.99.
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Is the Muslim call to prayer really such a menace?
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Channel 4 to 'provoke' viewers who associate Islam with terrorism with live call to prayer during Ramadan
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US army doctor returns arm to Vietnamese soldier fifty years after he took it as a souvenir
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Police seize possessions of rough sleepers in crackdown on homelessness
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Demand for food banks has nothing to do with benefits squeeze, says Work minister Lord Freud
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