Posted in July 2010

Robert Pattison's New Pants

Source: hazel eyes
Monday 26th July 2010, 3:47pm

'Twilight' actor heart throb Robert Pattison is the inspiration behind a new range of men's underwear.

The new slim fit range at Marks & Spencer has taken R Patz as its inspiration and feature a low rise waist band, designed to be worn under skinny jeans.

Known as the R-pant, the idea behind it is to appeal to a younger demographic according the Richard Beale, head of merchandising at M&S. Hipsters have been increasingly popular over recent years. Olie Arnold, style director of Men's Health believes a market exists. "I hate seeing the waistbands of men's pants poking out of the top of their jeans".

It seems that buyinh men's underawear is shortly going to become as complicated as buying ladies' lingerie. I spend ages wandering the aisles sometimes trying to figure out which style I want, low rise, short, thong, brazilian - the list goes on. Now it seems that men's underwear is going the same way.

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Strikes Affect Flight To Paris

Source: hazel eyes
Thursday 22nd July 2010, 12:24pm

Air Traffic controllers are staging a walkout that could affect up to 20% of flights to Paris Charles de Gaulle airport and 50% of flights into Orly.

The strike is expected to last until Thursday morning, with the French DGAC civil aviation authority advising to check with their airlines for the availability of flights into Paris. The situation is further hampered by stormy weather being forecast for the region.

The reason for the dispute is the plan to integrate French air traffic control into a European system.

Spanish flights are also being disrupted due to unofficial work to rule action by air traffic controllers over working conditions and pay cuts. They are calling in sick just prior to being due to start work, leaving the control rooms short staffed.

All in all, not a partiularly good time for holidaymakers at the moment, if you are considering flying to France or Spain for a break, then check with the airline before you go.

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Almond Cardamom Cookies

Source: hazel eyes
Monday 19th July 2010, 4:24pm

I've just been reading about something that is making my mouth water...

Over the pond at Cakespy, there's is a tempting array of goodies.

Todays special is not made by Cakespy, but a tai chi, sorry, chai tea place just down the road. The almond cardamom cookie almost sounds healthy (but its not), deliciously tempting, chewy, rich, spicy and lightly sweet. Divine with a spicy chai tea apparently.

Makes me want to go to Seattle, hire a car and drive slowly down the street, smelling all the yummy smells. I bet they couldn't do it any better in France! It used to be that the French were supreme in their culinary skills, but the rest of the world is giving them a run for their money nowadays.

Hmm, I wonder where the nearest cake shop is!

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Cycling Tips

Source: hazel eyes
Friday 16th July 2010, 3:57pm

If you're thinking about cycling in town, maybe commuting, here's a couple of tips...

Ok, a couple things:

1) If you're looking for a lighter weight but still stylish bike look for a 700c (wheel diameter) bike with an Aluminum frame. Something like the Gary Fisher Simple City series, which is actually quite light and fast (and still looks good).

2) It's not the number of gears. Just because one of the bikes has 8 (or 3, or even 1), and the other bike has 21 (or 27, or 30), it doesn't mean that it's going to be harder to pedal. That 8sp bike can be geared as low as any other bike, you just have to have the bicycle shop change the gears for you. In particular, with the 3 and 8sp internal geared hubs, since it's all driven off of one cog in the back, if you increase the size of the cog in the back (from 16 tooth to 18t, 19t or 20t), or decrease the size of the cog in the front (from 42 tooth down to 36t, for instance), you'll have all of the climbing gearing you need. You won't be able to go as fast, but it doesn't sound like that's what you're into anyway.

3) 7 miles (especially on something like that) is nothing to belittle. It helps if you're mostly downhill on the way into work, and uphill on the way home (where you can shower).

4) Depending on how often you do it, and whether you feel like you might want to look into some cycling-specific clothing, or at the very least something like pedalpanties.com. You'd be amazed at how much more comfortable the correct clothing is.

So I'm glad to hear that you're looking to do it, but definitely get the bike shop to adjust the gearing for you (bigger rear cog, smaller front). You'll be set *and* you'll still get to look great. :)

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Royals Cut Spending on Air Travel

Source: hazel eyes
Tuesday 6th July 2010, 3:42pm

Buckingham Palace has said that royal spending has been cut on official duties by 12.2% t0 £38.2million.

The Queen's accountant was keen to point out that the royals are doing their bit in the financial crisis and only cost 62p per head of the population in the UK.

The savings are partly due to the Queen and Prince Philip taking less foreign trips, but they still did 359 engagements, not bad for people their age.

Prince Andrew's travelling expenses in his role as a promoter of British trade made the most interesting reading, clocking up several thousand with charter aircraft. It includes a flight to Moscow (£20,083) in December, Panama and Mexico in February (£62,082) and Bombay, Delhi and Calcutta in March (£43,989).

Prince Charles used the Royal train between Euston and Oxenholme for the launch of the Red Squirrel Survival Trust (£14,756). The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh's official visit to Bermuda by charter flight, followed by the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Trinidad cost £373,470.

The anti-monarchy pressure group Republic thinks cuts should go even further. Campaign manager Graham Smith said "With European elected head of states costing a fraction of this official figure, it's clear the monarchy continues to waste many millions of pounds of taxpayers' money when frontline services are being threatened." He added "There is no reason why the Queen can't be on a salary. It's time to slash the budgets without reservation or sentiment."

Cuts are also going to be made in other areas such as upkeep of official residences and staff over the coming year. However it is unlikely that we shall see the royals travelling the globe economy class in the near future.

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