Minimalist poet, minimalist lifestyle

A surge in naked sleepwalking among guests has led one of Britain's largest budget hotel groups to re-train staff to handle late-night nudity.

Travelodge, which runs more than 300 business hotels in Britain, says sleepwalking rose seven-fold in the past year, and 95 percent of the somnambulants are scantily clad men.

"We have seen an increased number of cases over the years so it is important that our staff know how to help sleepwalking when it arises," Leigh McCarron, the chain's sleep director, said in a statement.

One tip in the company's newly released "sleepwalkers guide" tells staff to keep towels handy at the front desk in case a customer's dignity needs preserving.
The company said naked wanderers often ask receptionists such questions as "Where's the bathroom?," "Do you have a newspaper?" or "Can I check out, I'm late for work?"

Studies have found that sleepwalking can be brought on by stress, alcohol, eating cheese or consuming too much caffeine. It generally takes effect an hour or two after going to bed, when people are first slipping into a deep sleep.

Asked Thursday why she thought 95 percent of its sleepwalkers were naked men, a Travelodge spokeswoman said: "We have more men staying with us than women, so that could be a factor."

The final credits have rolled at a 23-seat cinema housed in an old railway carriage that has been entertaining film lovers for more than 50 years.
La Charrette, which stands in the back garden of a house in Gorseinon, near Swansea, was once officially recognised as the smallest cinema in Wales.

But wear and tear means it has become too costly to maintain.

The last screening - Ocean's 13 - was followed by a compilation of clips from films shown over the last 54 years.

The cinema was founded by electrician Gwyn Phillips, who fell in love with the silver screen while working in local cinemas as a teenager.

He built La Charrette in his back garden and invited family and friends to screenings.

Although he died in 1996, his family continued to allow the 70-strong members to screen films there, and seven years ago Lottery funding helped pay for a new video projection system and Dolby surround sound.

The chairman of the club, Ron Williams, has been visiting the cinema for the last 47 years.

He said he was "extremely sad" to watch his final film there as many members had also become close friends.

"The cinema has outlasted many of its commercial rivals," he added.

"Now sadly, because of structural problems with the building and an ageing membership, the committee and manager of the club have decided to call it a day.

"A survey has revealed that it is no longer economically viable to maintain the building - which will be demolished in the near future."

Shortly after Mr Phillips died, the British Film Institute recognised La Charrette as the smallest cinema in Wales.

Over the years it has shown classics such as Gone with the Wind and The Sound of Music to recent releases such as The Queen and Wild Hogs.

Yesterday I had some sausages for my tea. Apparently one of the ingredients was 'beef connective tissue.'

I'm now too scared to check Google to see what it is.