Don't Phone A Friend

I never cease to be amazed by statistics, this one was no exception. New research (the report does not say by whom) reveals that the total cost for raising a child is just under £194,000 from birth to the age of 21. Presumably, if they were not given mobile phones this would drop to just below £20,000.................................... I'm only jealous because I never had one when I was a kid!

Today' Smile

Note sent to school by one harassed mother:

Please excuse little Jimmy for not being in school yesterday. His father is gone and I could not get him ready because I was in bed with the doctor.

Cancer Research UK - Race For Life

Every year Cancer Research Uk organise a series of 'Race For Life' events to raise money for the valuable work they carry out. These events are organised for women only and are usually 5k in distance. Competitors undertake to complete the course and raise money by means of sponsorship. Despite the event being called 'Race For Life' the vast majority of those taking part do it for simple enjoyment, it is not about winning the race. You can complete the course by running, jogging or just simply walking. It is all about going with one or more friends and having a fun day out, knowing that at the end of it you will have made a worthwhile contribution towards a very worthwhile cause. Like all events where people get together and raise money for charities the satisfaction from just having taken part is enormous.
By clicking www.raceforlife.org/fundraising and following the link you can get full details of the venues nearest to you, together with the dates the events are being held, usually May through to July.
In 2008 women taking part in the Stamford, Lincolnshire, event raised a massive £220,000 to help save lives. Combined with other 'Race For Life' events throughout the UK, women raised a staggering £44 million for Cancer Research UK. Not bad for a short walk on a summers afternoon. Please consider getting involved.

Looking Back - Buddy Holly Killed In Air Crash

On this day, exactly 50 years ago, rock 'n roll star Buddy Holly was tragically killed in a plane crash. Also killed in the crash were two other young rock stars, Jiles P Richardson, known as the Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens. After taking off from Clear Lake, Iowa, the single engined Beechcraft Bonanza plane crashed shortly afterwards. The pilot was also killed. Reports suggested the plane spun out of control in a light snowstorm. Ironically, Holly only hired the plane after problems developed with his tour bus. The young musicians were on their way to Moorhead, Minnesota, the next venue in their Winter Dance Party Tour. Buddy Holly became a musical legend. Don McLean immortalised the tragedy with his 1972 hit American Pie. His 1957 hit That'll Be The Day went to number one in both the UK and the States. Born Charles Hardin Holley - changed to Holly after the mis-spelling on a contract - he was inspired by Elvis Presley, after seeig him at an early concert in his home town of Lubbock, Texas. Holly was commemorated in the musical Buddy which opened in London in 1986.

Today's Thought

The only time the world beats a path to your door is when you're in the bathroom!

Lincoln Theatre Royal

Last Saturday morning I received the Spring 2009 brochure from Lincoln Theatre Royal. It had more significance this time around as at the end of last year it was thought the theatre would close in March 2009. This was brought about by the new ruling party of the City Council taking the decision to withdraw the grant aid previously given. With the brochure was an open letter from Chris Moreno, Managing Director. I reproduce the letter below as his words will explain the current situation better than mine.

Dear Theatre Goer,

Firstly I would like to thank each and every one of you for all the support you have given the Theatre Royal over the last thirty years. It is actually thirty four years since I took over The Royal and I think over the years we have had some truly great productions and a lot of fun as well.
Late last year the new ruling party of the City Council decided that they would no longer wish to grant aid the theatre. This came as a terrible blow. We had over 7000 residents of Lincoln and the Lincoln catchment area, on their own volition, sign a petition to keep the theatre open. Sadly the Council decided not to alter their position..
Since then I have spent the last three months finding ways to keep this gem of a Theatre open. Having spent thirty four years of my working life doing this I was not about to let it close.
I am still working on ideas and speaking to industry [not a good time] and other organisations in Lincoln to help achieve this. Without doubt the life of the Royal will be [and is] changing, but I think, correction, I know that we will survive and the Royal will stay open.
I hope you will find something to enjoy in our spring season and that we can rely on your continued support and together we can keep this beautiful building open for many years to come.
So to quote a well known showbiz saying "Watch this space, you ain't seen nothing yet."

Chris Moreno
Managing Director

I do hope, along with many other people, that Chris Moreno is successful in his efforts to keep the Theatre Royal open. As he says, it is a beautiful little theatre, and should it close I think Lincoln would lose a very valuable asset.

Brainteaser - Monday's Trivia Answers

Yesterday's brainteaser was a set of 'Trivia' questions. Below are the answers.

01 Jack Ruby
02 A Hare
03 Anne and Charlotte
04 An Altimeter
05 Thigh Bone
06 Value Added Tax
07 Out-Of-Doors
08 Stockholm
09 Thomas Alva Edison
10 On Its Back

9/10 Excellent 7/8 Very Good 5/6 Good - Below 5 Back to school!