29 Nov 2010

INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN A BEVERAGE.

Still not feeling too well (and looking a bit like the character on the left), many thanks for all your kind words and best wishes and apologies again that I've been unable to visit you all as I normally would. I've missed you all and hope to get around to visiting real soon so be sure to have the kettle on and a packet of biscuits to hand. Oh, and some tissues might prove useful as well.

Talking of biscuits. There was some discussion a while ago about what constitutes a biscuit and what a cake.* I seem to remember Jaffa Cakes (a biscuit-like cake with a sponge base, a layer of orange flavoured jelly and a chocolate topping) being involved and some argument over V(alue) A(dded) T(ax) being added. Anyway, it seems a similar argument as come to the surface with regard to when fruit is a food AND when it is a smoothie.

What do you get if you take five strawberries, half an apple, half a banana, five grapes and put them in a blender with a squeeze of orange and lime? A big increase in tax, a judge has decided.
The curious ruling came after Innocent, which is partially owned by Coca-Cola, challenged its tax bill by arguing its smoothies were a 'liquefied fruit salad' rather than a 'beverage'.
The company claimed it was unfair that the government charges 17.5% VAT on Innocent's 100% fruit juice smoothies when a bowl of the raw ingredients are not subject to VAT. - Helen Pidd, the Guardian (23/11/10) (FULL STORY)

Even if I don't get that invite to The Wedding at least Husband dearest (Hd) gets an extra day off work which isn't any bad thing.

No sooner had the royal wedding venue (Westminster Abbey) and date (Friday 29 April) been announced  than I was off to buy my hat David Cameron (Prime minister) declared the wedding day would be a public holiday. (Hurrah.) - Stephen Bates, the Guardian (24/11/10)

First a book, then a movie, then a musical, is there anything different we could do to make Wuthering Heights appealing to a whole new generation? Ooohhh I know ....... Wuthering Heights in 3D. No?

Heathcliff is to be portrayed by a black man for the first time in an adaptation of Wuthering Heights after Andrea Arnold, the Bafta-winning director of Fish Tank (?), cast unknown James Howson in her forthcoming remake.
The casting is in line with Emily Bronte's conception of the character as a 'little lascar' - a 19th century term for sailors from India. - Ben Child, the Guardian (24/111/10)

Always having had his grooming needs taken care of at an 'old fashioned barbers shop rather than a unisex salon, it seems that Hd can now consider himself a modern dandy.

Not just about having one's hair cut though ......

(One London barber claimed) they were doing nine moustache trims a day, while demand for a 'high quality' short back and sides, for £38.50 (excuse me while I pick HD up off the floor), was increasingly popular. Maria Tadeo and Joanna Walters. The Observer (28/11/10) (READ FULL ARTICLE)

And finally, how's this for a unique way of making money for charity?

Tattoo-loving Ann French has come up with a novel way to raise cash for charity.
The playboy Playmate plans to raise funds by getting people to sponsor her to have her favourite's charity's (GUILLAIN-BARRE SYNDROME) logo (a rather cute little green tortoise) tattooed on her thigh. - Zoe Burn, the Sunday Sun (28/11/10)


*For those of you even remotely interested, the ruling, in very simplistic terms I know, being ....... a cake goes hard when stale whilst a biscuit goes soggy.

24 comments:

Trac~ said...

Hey there friend - sorry to hear you've been under the weather - hope you feel better soon. My husband has been sick since last Tuesday and I was in the emergency room with him for 4 hours last night. I am exhausted this morning to say the least and so I am borrowing your little green man if you don't mind! HA! Get well. xoxoxo

budh.aaah said...

Wuthering Heights is wonderful as it is. My first romantic novel I remember when i was just 14-15 and oh how I loved it.
Heathcliff - my dark hero/anti-hero :)

Please take lotsa care and get well sooooon.

Carol said...

thank you for clearing up the question on the difference between a biscuit (going soggy) and cake (going hard), wouldn't happen in my house as neither are around long enough! :)

keep warm!

carol

chitra said...

I have missed many of your posts and didn't know you were unwell. Sorry about that. I should have peeped in. My work schedule and travel was so tight I hardly found time.

get well soon dear Tracy.

Patti said...

So the question is, does the smoothie cost as much as a bowl of fruit or more.

Patti said...

Also, hope you feel better soon.

Amrit said...

Enjoyed every word of this post except you being now well...

Monday morning dose...Good

Suko said...

At least your sense of humor is fine, even if you are a bit under the weather. Not to add to the confusion of "food groups", but a biscuit can also be a cookie (although I think that's a bit of a stretch and prefer the soft biscuits you might enjoy with butter, honey, or gravy.:)

Nina said...

I hope you feel better soon! A public holiday, how fun is that. Heathcliff played by a black men, sounds interesting. :)

Gina said...

Egad....um, yes...interesting look for you but wishing you better nonetheless. Wow..the wedding is now a public holiday is it? Well, at least the extra day off will be nice...enjoy! Hmm..not certain on the Wuthering Heights info though... O_o

Melissa (i swim for oceans) said...

I'm so sorry to hear you've been feeling so ill! I'm just getting over my own sickness, finally, thank God! The wedding is a public holiday?! How cool!

Sheila (Bookjourney) said...

You are looking a little green :)

Sorry you are not feeling well... hate that. Love the post though...:)

The Bookworm said...

Feel better soon!

I have always pictured Heathcliff being dark skinned, gypsy like almost.

http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/

Oddyoddyo13 said...

I wish we had a king and queen get married here-I'm lazy enough to want yet another day off school. :)

I hope you feel better soon! Being sick is very suckish. :(

Su said...

I saw the Jaffa Cake debate on FB... made me chuckle. Although I didn't know it went any further than my two friends who were debating it. That's funny.

Kelly said...

I liked the 1970 version of Wuthering Heights... the version that is usually scoffed at. (Timothy Dalton as Heathcliff)

Interesting about the difference between a biscuit and a cake. Makes sense, though.

I'm sorry you still aren't feeling well. I hope you're better soon!!

NRIGirl said...

Ha ha ha... cake vs biscuit... that was funny, but true!

Feel better Petty!

SG said...

Hope you have recovered by now. An extra day off is always welcome.

Revd. Neal Terry said...

£38.50!!!!
I'd want shares in the shop for that....AND WHATS THIS EXTRA DAY OFF WORK THING? Thats just persecution of us workaholics, that is.

Cara Powers said...

Excellent disambiguation on the cake v. biscuit issue. I'm back (reading blogs, not actually blogging). I hope you're feeling better.

Alison Can Read said...

I hope you're feeling better!
I wish Americans got the day of for the wedding. After all, we used to be British. :-)

Dorte H said...

Sorry I hadn´t noticed you were unwell (sometimes I read blogs with my eyes closed, apparently - or just whenever I am too tired to do anything sensible). Get well soon!

I like that cake/biscuit rule - it is so nice when life is as simple as that.

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

so sorry you've been feeling blah.

Felicity Grace Terry said...

Cara, delighted to see you back visiting if not blogging - we've missed you and your wonderful poetry meme.