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

Trees

"I was walking in the park, admiring the old trees. Some of them were crooked. Some of them had scars, and lots and lots of wrinkles." 
"Why do we think that trees are so beautiful showing their age and what they went through & not the same with people? I just wondered." Yoko Ono Tweets 2009.

Like all the most interesting faces, trees are beautiful because they have a lived in, asymmetrical, natural appeal that any fake plastic tree can't satisfy. I am lucky enough to peruse this lovely example from my kitchen window on a daily basis.

© J Reed

Radiohead wrote a very beautiful anti surgery/natural beauty song called 'Fake Plastic Trees'. Three years previous, the anti establishment Rage Against The Machine released 'Killing in the Name' protesting, in a forceful and profane way, 'I Won't Do What You Tell Me'. With the power of instantaneous people power programs an independent social uprising overcame the marketing phenomena that is Simon Cowell, whose company is called SyCo, to beat X Factor Joe McElderry's rehash of Miley Cyrus's 'The Climb' to the Christmas No.1. The band has donated their profits to homeless charity Shelter. Usually I wouldn't care about the chart topper at Christmas but, like trees, I don't like my music squeaky clean, uniform and just a little bit fake.