Bird saviours and dead whale demise

Famed for loving our animals, it is sometimes odd how much attention we pay to those who are or have been in distress.

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But how many fire fighting vehicles does it take to free a 'distressed' gull from a tree? Three, it seems. One to assess the situation and order a table-ladder appliance and a third to 'assist' the staff of the big steps. Well I'm sure that is all very well justified.

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A sad end to the whiffy whale who didn't have the good fortune to be washed back out offshore to swim with Davey Jones. Instead the watery mammal has been dissected with a chain saw and sent to landfill. Police say there is no action to be taken against the youth who misguidedly tried to make a small sum from selling thieved teeth taken from the temporary tourist attraction.

Breakthrough Broccoli

The Institute of Food Research in Norwich has developed broccoli with higher than usual anti-oxidant producing properties.

Beneforté

Beneforté, to be sold by M&S in the UK, has three times as much glucoraphanin which the body turns into sulphoraphane and is believed have anti cancer properties.

Norfolk a bit backward?

Some might say that Norfolk is a little behind other more cosmopolitan parts of the country and many locals might agree saying that is what they love about it.

BBC

More telling, perhaps, is a more laid back attitude to life. It's not big news that a church clock stops or even that, when it starts again, it goes backwards. But when Norwich's St Clement's Church's clock stopped and started sending Norfolk back in time no one noticed. 'Nobody knows when it happened but it is likely to have been within the last month.'

Treacherous Travel Tales

Sleepy sailor starts speedy saviour shout. A man off the coast of Happisburgh, that's 'haze-brrrrr' for you outsiders, fell asleep on board his boat mustering the local RNLI lifeboat to discover that, in fact, he just forgot to turn his external lights on. More dramatically there was a bus fire on the outskirts of Norwich.

Amy Taylor/EDP

No one hurt. There was a much more awfully offal accident near Thetford on the A11 which caused chaos all day as the unspeakable bits of chicken were strewn across the road. 

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Umhhh, Kentucky Fried Chicken anyone?

Bald Bandit Barbers Break-in

Never wanting to condone crime, a crafty convict confiscates cosmetics in a comical custom.

John Steven Gurney

Naughty Norwich nicking in a Normal For Norfolk nature.

X Factor Spots Little Star, City of Culture Charm Conflict and Sea Eagle Saga

Cowell cures child cancer, is there anything this man can't do?

No simon isn't up for sainthood. North Walsham residents noticed early signs of leukaemia from a filmed visit to Great Ormond Street during an X Factor programme.  Bethany's parents had thought the marks on her skin were eczema and not a symptom of something more serious. So he does have a use over forcing derivative cover version dross down cringing connoisseur's throats.

Is a nomination for City of Culture a contaminated chalice? As PP friends World Class Norfolk noted, being chosen could suggest that Norwich is unrefined and populated by philistines. Still, a good excuse that we don't need the help should we miss out! At least they've realised Norwich isn't Norfolk and visa versa.

Having been surprised that a large crow was in fact an unidentifiable bird of prey near to St Mary's at Houghton on the Hill fuelled an interest in the continuing saga of sea eagles on the Norfolk coast. Come on, who wouldn't want to see one of these 2.5m wingspan beauties? Glad I don't have a small dog though!

Finally, big news of the day is that dog whisperer and facial hair master Cesar Millan is following me on Twitter, best wishes to him on his recent family bereavement. I am number 88571 on his roll call but I'm chuffed to bits. Bertie picture for you, to celebrate the love of dogs.

© J Reed

© J Reed

Cancer charity concert, curtailing chuggers and clothing chain closures

Always a sucker for a silver lined cloud story. The death of Norfolk man Gerry Davies aged 66, a former submariner and glass industry worker in Norwich for 25 years, from cancer has led to the fulfilment of his wish to begin a male only cancer awareness charity. Money raised at his funeral and an upcoming concert will launch the Blue Ribbon Foundation. 

Chuggers, or charity muggers, used to only be seen in major metropolises. Now these usually attractive and overly eager charity signeruppers are becoming an unwelcome plague in Norwich. It's your own choice, but most of these clipboard huggers are paid and/or the company they work for takes a cut of anything you donate. Why not listen to the shpeel, think about it and contact the charity direct later?

Two stores run by Ethel Austin, one in Lynn and the other in Yarmouth, look to be in trouble again despite restructuring after administration in 2008. Competition from more high profile brands and slippery street sales are blamed.

Festive Fun

Don't tell the kids, but Santa has cancelled his visit by sleigh to Wymondham because it 's too slippery. You couldn't make it up.

The masters of goodwill warn of parking ticket dole out on Boxing Day in Norwich.

And finally, the man convicted of running over the head of his partner in a Land Rover lost his appeal against a murder sentence of 21 years. He believed the original judge should have barred evidence of his previous violent character, including torture allegations which led to a conviction for assault, as it may sway the verdict. Well, doh.

Happy Christmas to you all!