Commenting on a complaint from a Mr. Arthur Purdey about a large gas bill, a spokesman for NorthWest Gas said "We agree it was rather high for the time of year. It's possible Mr. Purdey has been charged for the gas used up during the explosion that destroyed his house." (The Daily Telegraph)
Police reveal that a woman arrested for shoplifting had a whole salami in her knickers. When asked why, she said it was because she was missing her Italian boyfriend. (The Manchester Evenings News)
Irish police are being handicapped in a search for a stolen van, because they cannot issue a description. It's a special branch vehicle and they don't want the public to know what it looks like. (The Guardian)
After being charged £20 for a £10 overdraft, 30-year-old Michael Howard of Leeds changed his name by deed poll to "Yorkshire Bank PLC Are Fascist Bastards". The bank has now asked him to close his account, and Mr. Bastards has asked them to repay the 69p balance, by cheque, made out in his new name. (The Guardian)
A young girl who was blown out to sea on a set of inflatable teeth was rescued by a man on an inflatable lobster. A coastguard spokesman commented, "This sort of thing is all too common". (The Times)
At the height of the gale, the harbourmaster radioed a coastguard on the spot and asked him to estimate the wind speed. He replied that he was sorry, but he didn't have a gauge. However, if it was any help, the wind had just blown his Land Rover off the cliff. (Aberdeen Evening Express)
Mrs. Irene Graham of Thorpe Avenue, Boscombe, delighted the audience with her reminiscence of the German prisoner of war who was sent each week to do her garden. He was repatriated at the end of 1945, she recalled. "He'd always seemed a nice friendly chap, but when the crocuses came up in the middle of our lawn in February 1946, they spelt out 'Heil Hitler'". (Bournemouth Evening Echo)
The USA often won the famous yacht race, known as the Americas Cup, by hook or by crook. In one year, the US schooner lost to the British, but the US team effected a retroactive change in the rules disqualifying the British. A British newspaper ran the headline: Britannia rules the waves but America waives the rules.
During the early 1980s a heavy fog covered the English Channel hindering ferry crossings to France. A British newspaper ran the headline: Continent cut off by fog. I submit that if a fog bank had covered the Pacific island chain of Hawaii, American newspapers would not have run the healdine: North America cut off by fog.
HEADLINES From 2002:
Crack Found on Governor's Daughter
Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash
Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers
Iraqi Head Seeks Arms
Prostitutes Appeal to Pope
Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over
Teacher Strikes Idle Kids
Miners Refuse to Work after Death
Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant
War Dims Hope for Peace
If Strike Isn't Settled Quickly, It May Last Awhile
Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures
Enfield (London) Couple Slain; Police Suspect Homicide
Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges
Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds Dead
Man Struck By Lightning Faces Battery Charge
New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group
Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft
Kids Make Nutritious Snacks
Chef Throws His Heart into Helping Feed Needy
Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half
Hospitals are Sued by 7 Foot Doctors

I was listening to the radio earlier this morning when it was reported that Melbourne in Australia has experienced its coldest ever Christmas Day  with the maximum temperature only reaching 14.6 degress Centigrade - this would be a disappointing temperatrure for the middle of summer even in England. Only a few miles away, up in the mountains they even had a few flakes of snow.

Maybe freak weather such as this is why the phrase 'global warming' is going out of fashion, and being replaced with 'climate change.' 

1...Dinner plates and trays with built-in spirit levels.

2...A backpack vacuum cleaner.

Maybe I'll see them in the sales later today.