My Practical "Lazy Cook" Recipes For Building Muscle!

So Easy Even a Caveman Can Make Them...

If you're like me, you sometimes find yourself short on time to cook yourself a good meal. And if you're also like me, meaning a lazy cook, sometimes the motivation to really make a grand meal is short, too!

So what do you when this happens but you still want to reach your muscle-building goals?

I've got three great "recipes" (and I use the word "recipes" in the loosest sense possible!) to share with you that will help you stay on track towards massing up.

Muscle Building Meal PlansKeep in mind, even though I'm going to inject a little humor into this list, these are examples of actual things you can prepare for yourself to help make your life easier! I just want to show you that decent nutrition doesn't have be dull as dirt or taste like it either.

**** Also it's important to note, I'm NOT a nutritionist And I don't claim to be! So PLEASE don't make a gigantic vat of mashed potatoes then complain because you're diabetic and your blood sugar is so high that you're sweating maple syrup. These recipes are for "entertainment purposes only," so if you DO follow them, personal responsibility is the keyword here! :) **** These recipes are simple to make, don't take long to cook and are geared to my own personal skill level of cooking, which is boiling, microwaving, toasting (in a toaster, not one of them fancy toaster oven things), some basic frypan work and ripping open packages like a starving raccoon...

With these recipes, I'm not going to include salads. You're on your own with those. Personally, I eat them as often as I can (and you should too!), taking advantage of the convenient prepackaged salad bags from the store, throwing in some grape tomatoes, almonds, broccoli, carrots and whatever else is in the fridge that looks like it might go well in a salad and isn't TOO far past the date. Add some healthy dressing (on a side note, salsa is actually surprisingly good on salad) and voila! You're good to go.

Getting plenty of vegetables is also important - rather than force my personal vegetable preferences onto you (which are broccoli, snap peas, carrots, and chocolate covered almonds) just make the effort to eat vegetables as much as you can every day. Fresher and less processed is better, as is organic, but just do the best you can with that. You would have to REALLY go to town to eat TOO many vegetables so don't be shy with them.

I'm also a big fan of taking vitamin and mineral supplements because no matter how "balanced" your diet appears to be, food is so depleted of nutrients right from the start these days that you're probably not getting nearly as many nutrients as you think you are from your food.

Let me put it this way, I'd rather have "expensive urine" (many doctors seem to think this is all you'll get from taking vitamins) than a debilitating illness caused by simple vitamin and mineral deficiencies that I then have to take expensive drugs to basically just mask the symptoms of.

But I digress...

To make best use of these recipes for those short on time, Tupperware will be your best friend. Make a LOT when you DO make something and save the rest for later. It's great to make things fresh but it's also great to just sling something you made yesterday into the microwave and eat it again (and again after that, if you made a WHOLE LOT!). It'll save you from eating cereal three meals a day (not that I've ever done THAT, of course...).

Serving sizes are totally up to you. I usually eat the majority of what I make then save some for the next day, especially if it's a post-workout meal.

So let's get into those muscle building recipes...

1. Spaghetti with Cajun Meat Sauce

This is a great, protein-rich post-workout meal. Tastes great and serves 1 to 4 people, depending completely on how hungry you are and your willingness to share with others.

*1 pound of whole wheat spaghetti (a healthier way to go)
*1 jar of sauce that's thick enough to cover up the taste of whole wheat spaghetti (that's my own opinion, at least!)
*1 pound of lean ground beef (I like ground sirloin for this because it's leaner)
*Some pre-packaged Cajun spices - I get big containers of these at Sam's Club but most grocery stores should have some version. This really spices up the meat sauce nicely.

Muscle Building Meals First, put some water in a big pot and set the stove on high to bring it to a boil. Fill a sauce pan/fry pan about halfway up with water. I like to put the ground beef in the pan BEFORE I add the water so it doesn't splash all over the place when I dump the meat in (found THAT out the hard way, of course - the dog was happy about the meat water all over the floor but the shirt I was wearing will never be the same).

Bring the water in that pan to a boil and throw a bunch of Cajun spice in the pan with the meat. Don't be cheap with it! Stir it in and smash the meat up so it's not all clumped together.

When the spaghetti water is boiling, dump the spaghetti in. Let it boil for 9-10 minutes then drain. The meat will be boiling while the spaghetti is boiling - if the meat gets done first, drain it then cover it up. It'll keep its heat as long as it's covered.

Empty the sauce jar into the spaghetti pot and stir it up. If you're not sharing the pasta with someone who doesn't like meat, feel free to throw the meat in the spaghetti pot, too. If you ARE sharing, serve out some spaghetti into a separate big bowl THEN toss the meat in there. It'll just work out better for all concerned that way.

Serve sitting on the couch with an oven mitt under the bowl because it'll be dang hot on the bottom! And it's better NOT to wear a white shirt while you're eating it. 'Nuff said.

2. Scrambled Eggs and Oatmeal With Yogurt And Fruit

This is a great breakfast meal that will keep you from getting hungry for HOURS. The fat in the egg yolks keeps you satisfied while the thick oatmeal will keep your digestive system busy for a long time. Lots of fiber to work on!

*6 whole eggs - not egg whites, WHOLE eggs! They're not bad for you like many people seem to think. The yolk is where most of the nutrients are. Tastes a whole lot better with yolks, too. Adjust the number of eggs to your preference.
*1 gob of Smart Balance margarine to coat the bottom of the pan. Cooking spray will work for this as will olive oil.
*1 dry cup of Quaker Oats - either the Old Fashioned or 1 Minute oats are fine here. Adjust the quantity of oats to your preference.
*2 cups of water (basically, double the amount of oats you put in).
*A bunch of fruit - whatever your favorite fruit is. I find berries or grapes work best because you don't need to cut them up. Wash them before eating them.
*1 Thing of yogurt - this is the technical term for however much yogurt you want to put in the oatmeal. If I have individually packaged yogurts, I'll just dump one of those in. If I have a bigger container, I'll scoop a pile of yogurt in until it looks like enough. You'll figure out how much you want to put in.

Muscle Building Meals First, get the fruit ready. Wash it up and put it in a small bowl. Crack the eggs into a bowl/cup and scramble them. If you're talented, you can crack them with one hand and not slop them down the sides. After cracking about 30,000 eggs in my lifetime, I'm still not talented. I managed to do it once then the next time I ended up with a dripping fistful of egg and shell.

** On a side note, it IS possible to squeeze an egg with one hand and break it. A friend of mine once told me that you can't put an egg in the palm of your hand, squeeze it and break it. He said it wasn't possible (he was a physics major). So I grabbed an egg and squeezed it REALLY tight. Three seconds later, it exploded so hard the yolk popped out and flew 6 feet across the room and actually landed right in his shirt pocket!

So anyway, THAT being said, measure out a cup of oats, dump it in a good-sized bowl, then add double the amount of oats in water, e.g. 1 cup of oats, add 2 cups of water. You can adjust the water later, depending on if you like your oatmeal a little soupy (like I do) or masonry thick (like my wife does).

Nuke it for about 3 1/2 to 4 minutes. While that's going, turn on the stove and get the pan for the eggs heated up. Throw a gob of Smart Balance margarine in the pan (that's a great brand - it's actually a reasonably healthy margarine and tastes good). Olive oil works really well here, too, as does non-stick spray. With the olive oil, it's a good idea to have a spray bottle for it so it doesn't all pool up in the corner that your stove burner leans to (you know what I'm talking about).

Make sure the whole bottom surface of the egg pan gets covered with something slippery or you'll regret it later when you try to keep eggs from getting all crusted up and nasty along the sides.

Pour the beaten eggs into the pan and watch them cook. Stir them around once the bottom starts to get solid. Keep stirring and scraping the sides off to avoid the crust I mentioned above.

Your oatmeal should be done about the same time the eggs are. So put the eggs on a plate and set it aside for now.

Take your bowl of oatmeal out of the microwave then dump the yogurt in, then the fruit. Stir it all up (not the eggs, just the fruit and yogurt) and you're good to go.

This meal will keep you going for hours!

3. Meat and Taters

"Meat and potatoes" might be a cliche but for me, there's not much that works better for supporting muscle growth than a nice piece of meat (or chicken or fish) and a big bucket of potatoes. And if that sounds corny, it should, because sometimes I'll throw some corn in with the potatoes.

Let's talk about potatoes first, then I'll give the inside scoop on how to cook meat (I think I can hear my wife laughing in the background as I write about my cooking skills...).

Muscle Building Meal First, grab 3 or 4 good-sized potatoes. I try to get red potatoes since they can't be stored as long as other potatoes therefore they're fresher when you get them rather than having been sitting in storage for a year.

I prefer to microwave potatoes since it's faster than boiling and they turn out really well. Wash any crud off them then slice off any questionable areas. Stick a fork or knife in them a few times to "aerate" so they don't explode in the microwave (unless you enjoy scraping your dinner off the sides).

For each potato, figure on about 3 to 5 minutes of cooking time, depending on the size of your potato and power of your microwave. You'll know they're done when you can easily stick a fork right through - just don't leave the fork in the microwave or you'll be in for a surprise.

Dump in a big bowl, mix in some margarine (or if you're on a low-fat kick, pour some ketchup in it), add some sea salt and you're set. You can also throw in can of corn (nuke it first - not the can but the corn) to spice things up.

As for the meat, if you're good with a gas or charcoal grill, more power to you. You're a better cook than I am and I don't know why you're even reading this part. If you have one of those George Foreman countertop grills, those work really well for meat (especially the ones that you can pull the grill things off and put them in the dishwasher - the ones that you can't remove are a pain in the butt to clean, so if you're going to get one, get the removeable grill version). Follow the instructions that came with the grill for the meat or chicken or fish you're cooking.

If you've got some chicken breasts that you just want to "fire and forget" rather than tend to on a grill, throw them in pan, pre-heat the oven to about 400 degrees, dump some spices on them (whatever you like), cover with tinfoil to keep the juices in, and cook for about 30 minutes or so (SET THE TIMER!). If you want to get REALLY fancy, slice up a lemon and toss a few slices on top with some black pepper.

There you have it. Meat and potatoes. Perfect for a big post-workout meal that will help you pack the pounds on.

I also like to use potatoes, corn and ground beef (or sirloin) to make "Lazy Cook" Shepherd's Pie. Microwave the potatoes and corn as above. Boil the meat as in recipe #1, then dump it all into a big bowl and stir. You'll be 5 pounds heavier by the end of the meal!

Conclusion:

As you can see, cooking tasy food for building muscle doesn't have to be hard and recipes don't have to be these complex things that take hours to make and require more than very basic cooking skills. With my recipes, if you can do a few simple things without burning yourself, that's about all the skill you need.

And if you're interested in learning some recipes for fat loss, I've got 3 excellent ones that I can share with you as well! Go back up to the top of the article and reread it. It's the same stuff...now just eat less of it...

Cheryl Cole to remove 'Mrs C' tattoo

Cheryl Cole is reportedly removing her ‘Mrs C’ tattoo dedicated to estranged husband Ashley.

According to the Daily Mail, the ‘Girls Aloud’ singer has asked her management to clear her schedule so she can get the tattoo on her neck lasered off.

Cheryl filed for a divorce last week citing 'unreasonable behaviour' as the reason. She is now determined to remove the tattoo before she goes to crack America.

A friend of Cheryl told the Mirror: "She wants it done discreetly and with class. She's not one for big, crass statements."

The 'Parachute' singer is also rumoured to be changing her last name back to Tweedy in order to make a fresh start.

Meanwhile, a “furious” Ashley told his England team mates: “I thought Cheryl would never leave me.”

Good University Guide 2011: The step-by-step guide to applying for university Laura Pitel

Applying to university can be daunting — there is a dizzying range of courses and universities from which to choose and the competition can be tough. You will be spending three or four years studying a single subject but it is also a time to have fun, meet new people and broaden your mind. The Times guides you through the process of embarking on this exciting journey, advises on points to consider and offers you help tomake sense of it all.

What is Ucas?

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, known as Ucas, is responsible for organising and regulating the university process. It acts as the middle man between you, your school and your chosen universities. Filling in the long Ucas form may seem like a slog but it is your passport to success, so it really is worth making it sparkle. Before you even think about tackling it, though, you need to work out what you are applying for and where.

The cost

A degree is an expensive undertaking but do not be deterred by the cost. Graduates benefit from higher salaries and broader job prospects. Help is available for those from lower-income families (bursarymap.direct.gov.uk) and most students work during term or in the holidays, or both.

New students can borrow up to £3,290 from the Student Loan Company for the next academic year. They can also apply for a maintenance loan — the most that can be claimed by those living away from home, within London, is £6,928 a year. For students living away from home, outside London, it is £4,950 and for those living at home, £3,838. Grants and bursaries are also available from universities or charities.

Choosing a course

The first thing to consider is which options are open to you. For some subjects, especially in the sciences, you will need the relevant A levels but many degrees require no previous formal experience of a subject. After all, how many people have studied architecture, physiotherapy or Mandarin at school?

If you have a career in mind, speak to someone in your chosen field about good subject choices. Media studies, for example, may seem like a no-brainer for a would-be journalist but newspaper bosses often prefer the knowledge and skills that come with a broader degree. If you have no idea what career to pursue, pick a subject you will enjoy, so you have a better chance of sticking it out and doing well.

Choosing a university

nce you have chosen your course, you need to work out which universities suit you best. First, look at your grades and find out which universities match your predicted A levels. You can apply to up to five universities (apart from medicine, dentistry or veterinary science, where you can choose four), so you can afford to have an ambitious option and a safer bet.

The approach of different universities to a single subject can vary vastly, from the teaching style to the course content to the examination structure, so it really is worth going through the course syllabuses with a fine toothcomb. You should also consider the performance of a university in your subject. Look at the Times Good University Guide subject tables, which rank departments according to the quality of their student intake, teaching and results. Prospectuses will give a flavour of an institution as a whole, and individual departments will provide more in-depth information on each course.

Apart from academic suitability, location is a factor. Do you want to be near (or far from) home? Would you prefer a campus-based university, where everything is concentrated in one site, or a city-based one? Consider the atmosphere of the university and its surroundings — are you a hardcore clubber or a quiet pub-goer? Do you crave a thriving music scene, or top-notch sports facilities? Many universities also have an alternative prospectus written by students for students.

The best way to get a feel for a university, however, is to attend an open day when you can meet potential tutors and check out the university’s buildings and facilities.

Applying to Oxbridge

Do not let the prestigious image of these two academic powerhouses put you off. Yes, you will have to have good predicted grades — usually three As — and the competition is stiff but, if you are academically strong , it is worth a shot.

When applying, you have the option of selecting a college, which acts as a base for accommodation and teaching. Although different in architecture and sporting strengths, the colleges do not vary wildly. However, some colleges are much wealthier than others and this offers benefits in terms of grants for books and travel as well as accommodation costs.

If this is your first degree, you can apply to only Oxford or Cambridge, not both, and must get your application in by October 15. Be sure to check the individual subject requirements. You might be asked to submit essays or other work as part of your application or you might have to sit an aptitude test. You are then likely to be called for interview.

How to apply

Ucas has an online application system that allows you to save your work and come back to it as and when you please. You fill in information about your education and qualifications and write a personal statement. This last bit is the most important part of the form and you should get help from your teachers to make it as good as possible. You should explain why you like your chosen course, why the university should like you and a bit about what makes you stand out from the crowd. Admissions tutors will be impressed by genuine enthusiasm for the subject so do your best to convey this, be it through an interesting story, a book that inspired you or your particular passion for a certain aspect of the course.

You will also need a reference from someone who knows you well enough to describe you and your suitability for your chosen course. If you apply while still at school, this will be one of your teachers.

Receiving an offer

Once you have hit “send”, the waiting game begins. You can track the process on the Ucas website, which will tell you when universities are considering your application and inform you of their decisions. Some universities will invite you for interviews at this stage, others will move straight to a refusal or an offer.

There are two types of offer. A conditional offer is based on a certain number of Ucas points or a set of required grades. An unconditional offer means that the university is happy to accept you based on the grades you have already achieved.

When you have received replies from all the universities you are interested in, you can respond to the offers. You can pick a maximum of two — one firm choice and one insurance choice. Your insurance choice should have lower entry requirements than your firm choice so that you still have a university place if your exams go less well than expected. Once you have chosen you are committed to your decision. If you do not receive an offer from any of your five choices, do not panic. You may be able to go through Ucas Extra, which lets you apply for a course with vacancies between the end of February and end of June.

Results

A-level results day is a nerve-racking time, especially for those whose first-choice universities have set high offers. You need to be available on the day in case things do not go to plan. If you achieve the required results, you will be accepted on your online Ucas application .

If you do not make the grade, several things can happen. Your first-choice university may decide to accept you, especially if you narrowly missed the mark you needed. It could make an alternative offer for a different course or start date. Alternatively, you may be turned down but accepted by your insurance choice.

Clearing

If you do not meet the conditions of either your first or second-choice offers, you will be entered into clearing — a Ucas system for applying to courses that are not full. There are no clearing places on many of the most competitive courses but it is still possible to find a place that suits you. If the options do not appeal, consider taking a gap year and applying again next time round, possibly with re-sits under your belt and some good travel tales to boot.

Contact us

We are located in the Sherfield Building on the South Kensington campus. See campus maps and information for more details.




Translation

Department of Humanities
Imperial College London
Sherfield Building, Level 3, Room S312C
South Kensington Campus
London SW7 2AZ
UK

Imperial College London



University ranking

* 2010 3
* 2009 =3
* 2008 3

History

* Imperial College London was established in 1907.
* In 2007 the college celebrated its 100th year of academic excellence and became independent from the University of London.
* Many great names are associated with the college. Among them are Sir Alexander Fleming and Sir Ernst Chain, discoverers of penicillin.

Location and Transport

* Nine campuses in and around London. The main campus is in South Kensington, in central London.
* South Kensington is an area long established as a cultural centre for the arts, sciences and music.
* There are excellent transport links with the underground, buses and Paddington (Heathrow Express) and Victoria (Gatwick Express) mainline train stations nearby.

Accommodation

* Undergraduate students who meet specified criteria are guaranteed a place in Imperial College London accommodation for their first year of study.
* All student rooms have internet access. Internet-use is free for students on campus.
* Self-catering halls/houses range from around £54 to £216 per person per week depending on the type of accommodation e.g. triple rooms to single rooms with private bathrooms.

Entry standards
League Table

* Entry requirements for undergraduate courses range from AAA to ABB at A level, or equivalent qualification, depending on the course.
* Specific A-level (or equivalent) subjects may be required to apply for some subjects.
* Visit Courses for more details.

Bursaries and Scholarships

In receipt of full Maintenance Grant (2009): £3,000
In receipt of partial Maintenance Grant on a sliding scale up to £2,000
Academic Achievement Scholarship
Sport Scholarship
A growing number of scholarships is available to candidates at entry

* Tuition fees (2010–11): £3,290.
* Placement year and year abroad tuition fee approximately 50% of full-time fee.
* Home students only eligible for awards.
* Additional £300 for students who qualify for the maximum Study Support Bursary and attain three A levels at grade A.
* Eligibility for bursaries to be assessed using UUK/SLC model bursary scheme (HEBSS).
* 29% of additional fee income to be earmarked for bursaries.
* More information on bursaries and scholarships at Imperial College London is available here.

Student mix

* In 2008–9 there were approximately 13,020 undergraduate and postgraduate students of which 36% were women.
* 29% of students are from outside the European Union.
* Students come from more than 125 countries.
* On average, undergraduate applications to admissions are approximately 6.5:1.

Teaching standards
League Table

* Acknowledged worldwide as a centre of excellence for teaching.
* Departments assessed by external agencies for teaching have scored 21 to 24 points out of 24.

Research standards
League Table

* Consistently recognised as one of the top UK university institutions for research quality.
* Research income is one of the largest in the UK – £286.8 million for 2008–9.
* In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, 72.9% of Imperial's research activity was judged as world-leading or internationally excellent, the highest proportion of any UK university.

Academic strengths

* Amongst the top tier of scientific, engineering and medical research and teaching institutions in the world.
* Pays particular regard to the practical application of science, engineering and medicine in industry, commerce and healthcare.
* Fosters interdisciplinary working internally and collaborates widely externally.

Student facilities, including Library and Computing
League Table

* The central library at the South Kensington campus houses a large proportion of the taught course materials and offers extensive study space.
* Competitive opening hours and offers 24-hour access during the summer examination period.

* More than 2,500 PCs are available for student use in libraries and departmental areas.

Disability Services

* For information about the disability services at Imperial College London contact the Disabilities Officer Mary Brown, or see the Disabilities Statement for more information.

Students’ Union

* Imperial College Union has over 300 clubs and societies, amongst the highest number in the UK.
* Union venues play host to club nights, comedy nights, and other entertainments regularly throughout term. Union facilities at the South Kensington campus include three bars and two catering outlets, all at student value prices.
* Imperial College Union voted to disaffiliate from the National Union of Students in June 2008.
* More information about Imperial College Union is available here.

Sport

* Sport Imperial's facilities offer free gym and swimming to all students, both at the state-of-the-art Ethos Centre in South Kensington, and at facilities across the college's other campuses.
* Other facilities include: boathouse at Putney and sports grounds at Harlington and Teddington (soccer, rugby, lacrosse, cricket, tennis and netball).
* There is no timetabled teaching on Wednesday afternoons, giving everyone the chance to take part in a wide range of activity.
* Imperial College Union has a wide range of sports clubs for students of varying abilities. Many compete at a high level.

Recent/prospective new builds

* In 2009 the College acquired a seven-acre site from the BBC in Wood Lane, west London, close to its Hammersmith Campus. It is planned to use the new site to expand teaching and research facilities and student accommodation.
* New postgraduate accommodation at Winstanley Road, Wandsworth, will be completed in 2012 and provide 587 beds. In addition to the 600 beds for postgraduate students to be developed at the Wood Lane campus, this will provide accommodation for almost 1,200 additional postgraduates at Imperial.
* The Wolfson Education Centre at the Hammersmith Campus has been redeveloped to provide a home for Imperial's new graduate entry Medicine course launched in 2008.
* The Central Library ground floor was refurbished in 2008 to provide state-of-the-art computer workstations and group study zones, as well as a café.
* The 410-bed Southside halls of residence at the South Kensington Campus opened in October 2007, and the new Eastside halls of residence opened in October 2009, providing an additional 453 beds as well as two common rooms and a cafe bar.
* The Ethos sports centre at South Kensington Campus opened in 2006 offering excellent sporting facilities.

86f today as Britain bakes - Make the most of it a Bank Holiday's coming

After a sweltering weekend, temperatures could go even higher today to a sizzling 86f (30c).

Forecasters say parts of South-East England will have their hottest day of the year so far as the mini heatwave continues.

Yesterday beaches were packed, ice cream sales soared and the aroma of burnt sausages filled the air with the UK hotter than many Mediterranean resorts.
good weather

The water's fine: A young girl dangles her fingers in the River Cam in Cambridge as she is taken punting

Enlarge hot weather continues

Licking lemers: Ring-tailed lemurs cool off by sharing an ice cream in Drayton Manor Park in the West Midlands

The only cloud on the horizon was the odd rumble of thunder in the North-East in between the blazing blue May skies.

The mercury soared to nearly 82f (28c) at Heathrow, while the rest of the UK enjoyed 75f to 79f (24c to 26c). That made yesterday warmer than Saturday, which had been the hottest day of the year.

While the North will become wetter and cooler from today, the South will get another couple of days of hot weather.
Scorcher: There was barely room to move in Brighton as beachgoers made the most of the sunshine, above and below

Scorcher: There was barely room to move in Brighton as beachgoers made the most of the sunshine

Brighton

Summer's already here: Today's brilliant sunshine provided a perfect opportunity to get a summer tan early

'It could reach 30c on Monday somewhere in the South-East,' a Met Office spokesman said. But by the Bank Holiday weekend temperatures could be down to average for late May, around 61f (16c).

At Bournemouth, bathers swam yards from a harmless basking shark - a 14ft long occasional visitor to the South Coast resort.

On Saturday, temperatures in Manchester came close to 82f (28c), edging ahead of Majorca. Many parts of England and Wales beat some of the Greek islands and resorts in Turkey
Busy: Business was booming for this icecream van at the Green Festival in Nottingham's Arboretum Park

Busy: Business was booming for this icecream van at the Green Festival in Nottingham's Arboretum Park

Cricket fans enjoy the weather during the Clydesdale Bank 40 league match between Somerset and in Bath

Cricket fans enjoy the weather during the Clydesdale Bank 40 league match between Somerset and in Bath

In the Highlands, despite temperatures of 68f (20c), there was still plenty of snow at Cairngorm mountain where enthusiasts took to the slopes in shorts, T-shirts and kilts.

But there was tragedy elsewhere. A 14-year-old boy died after plunging into the Thames from a bridge at Surrey Quays, South-East London, on Saturday. A 52-yearold man collapsed and died while running in the Edinburgh Marathon yesterday.
Enlarge tortoise cools off in heat

The owner of this 80-year-old tortoise called 'Herbert' has rigged up a mini-shower in his Cheshire garden to keep him cool this weekend

The sunshine together with the weak holiday pound, ash disruption and the threat of cabin crew strikes, has prompted a second summer of 'staycations'.

Hotels in Southport, Blackpool and Scarborough say bookings are up by more than half on last year.

* Worldwide, 2010 is on course to be the hottest year since records began 130 years ago, according to climate scientists at Nasa and the Met Office.

27C over here is a cool summers day! Get over it, it will be back to your "warm" 16C next week! haha!
- Gan Eden, Australia,

I am glad your over there with your heat and i'm here with our more reasonable weather.
- Pat, UK not EU, 24/5/2010 5:28


Gan Eden, don't know why you are laughing, I would quite enjoy 16 degrees here in Sydney at the moment. It hasn't stopped raining for the last week and we are cold! It's the UK's time to enjoy some sunshine so don't be so rude.

- Soo, Brit in Sydney, Australia, 23/5/2010 23:56
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Sunny weather makes you feel happier, It's a fact. Also it gives you plenty of vitamin D ( I had a lack of VD). But too much of anything is not good for you. I can't understand people spending the whole day frying under the sun.
One other thing, Beach and Sun is for fit and sexy people. If you are not, don't mock who is. Just get off your bum, and get fit and sexy too

- Roge, Bristol UK, 23/5/2010 23:45
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I just adore the naff comments from our overseas visitors to the forum..

get this....two weeks ago it was bloomin freezing here in the UK... kinda like feb...and now its hotter than chuffin greece...yes we may complain about it...and its because we never have a chance to get used to it!!

Its either cold or hot with very little in between.. no gradual build up...no milder temps leading in to things..nope..bang...bang...28 deg c...then 5 deg c...be snowing tomorrow you wait

Oh and did i mention the humidity..thats the killer.

- Rick, corby, 23/5/2010 23:30
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We get this (almost) every year, hotter than Greece, Spain etc., it lasts for 2 or 3 days then the temp's take a nosedive, while Greece & Spain continue to get hotter, it has always been thus. Times have changed, Helen Grieve, Wakefield, a woman walking down the street in a bikini is just being practical, we all know what men & women look like so it's no big deal.

- Euxton stroller, Euxton, England, 23/5/2010 23:24
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It was 33 C here in the states. That's 90 F.

- Curious, USA, 23/5/2010 23:18
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Can someone explain to me why young British men think that it is in anyway acceptable to walk through a crowded town centre with their top off, exposing their horrible white and pasty bodies, just because it is sunny? It doesn't happen in any other country.

- jake, leic, 23/5/2010 23:04

Even if the bodies are tanned and toned a town centre is no place to go shirtless in any weather, and you're right, it doesn't happen anywhere else I've ever been - it's a chav thing, like women parading round the streets in bikinis, shows no self-respect or respect for other people and is not pleasant for the rest of us to see (and in really hot countries people wear more, not less).

- Lizzie, London, 23/5/2010 23:14
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it hit 29 today but no body even mentioned the temperature, in the UK it seems you are obsessed every time it gets above 20 degrees with a HEAT WAVE,l get over it, it's not that hot.

- john w, hamilton canada, 23/5/2010 23:12
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Can someone explain to me why young British men think that it is in anyway acceptable to walk through a crowded town centre with their top off, exposing their horrible white and pasty bodies, just because it is sunny? It doesn't happen in any other country.

- jake, leic, 23/5/2010 23:04
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Just what is the fascination with hot weather?, 'Oh isn't it lovely, just pass me the sunblock & sunglasses to block the affects of it. Doh!', it's a bit like buying a CD you claim to like but muting your stereo so you can't hear it!.
call me picky but i don't particulary enjoy passing out, getting my skin burned or not being able to sleep. if it is so "lovely" why do we go round snapping everyone's heads off?, could it be it's because it's unpleasant & makes you feel unwell?. we are all brainwashed into believing it's "glorious" & "lovely" & told to "enjoy" it & yet as soon as we go out in it we do our best to avoid the affects of it, Doh!, some enjoyment!. Anyway, I'm off to roast my face & arms in an oven, hmmmm lovely!., here come the red arrows, "THE EMPEROR IS NAKED!" I say!.

- Phil, Norfolk UK, 23/5/2010 22:51
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" parts of Britain enjoyed the hottest day of the year so far "...Who actually 'enjoy's' weather like this? I absolutely hate it. I could never sit out in the sun because it makes me so drowsy that all i want to do is sleep, it makes me feel sick, and i cant get motivated to do anything at all, it really takes it out of me. But i'd sooner be this white thing with good skin than be a wrinkled up sunburned raisin - no offence to sun worshippers out there, but if your white, stay white, afterall, that is the colour your meant to be.
- Just Jules, Uk, 24/5/2010 7:17


Really???
And some of you wonder why you have the nick name 'whinging poms'
Nothing is ever right for some people!

- reading this too, New Zealand, 23/5/2010 22:48
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Kate, London, 23/5/2010 22:13: "It has never been "right" - any more than men walking up and down the street in Speedos would be right or people of either sex going out in their underwear would be right, for goodness sake let's have some sort of standard of acceptable dress in this country, beachwear is for the beach, underwear goes under clothes - the clue is in the name!"

Kate, clothing 'standards' have changed and it is down to the individual to decide what they wish to wear in public within the limits of current laws. From an aesthetic point of view I would prefer to see a shapely woman in a bikini walking down the street rather than an overweight woman wearing the 'fashionable' leggings(?) with the outline of her knickers clearly visible. But I would defend the right of both women to dress as they please.

On a far more serious note, I do think that parents have a duty to ensure that their young children are not dressed as if they were adults.

- Martin, Lutterworth, 23/5/2010 22:40
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What a lovely day today, nice to see people out enjoying themselves.

- Jennie, Hampshire, 23/5/2010 22:31
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Hi, up in Bamburgh, Northumberland today and it's every bit as hot as "south and midlands"....27c according to the Mini Cooper's temp gage. Hope it lasts! :-)

- Marie, London, 23/5/2010 22:19
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Helen, has sharia law been implemented in your part of the world?. Since when has it not been 'right' for a woman to wear a bikini in a street on a hot day?.

- Martin, Lutterworth, 23/5/2010 21:53

It has never been "right" - any more than men walking up and down the street in Speedos would be right or people of either sex going out in their underwear would be right, for goodness sake let's have some sort of standard of acceptable dress in this country, beachwear is for the beach, underwear goes under clothes - the clue is in the name!

- Kate, London, 23/5/2010 22:13
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The photo of the lemurs with the ice cream is just adorable!!

- Gracie, Isle of Wight, 23/5/2010 22:10
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'Pat' UK not EU,

It's 'you're' not 'your' dopey.

- SB, GUILDFORD, 23/5/2010 21:58
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lilly, dundee, 23/5/2010 21:16; "Can,t wait intill it is gone, i don,t mind heat on holiday but not when you have to grt on with everday stuff.
The best day of the year is a sunny winters day that you can see your breath nice and fresh."

lilly, I've been mixing cement and creating steps at the bottom of my garden for the last two days. Its the best way of losing weight that I know.

Helen Grieve, Wakefield, England, 23/5/2010 19:25 : "Saw a woman walking up the street in a bikini on the way. It may be hot enough - that doesn't mean it's right!"

Helen, has sharia law been implemented in your part of the world?. Since when has it not been 'right' for a woman to wear a bikini in a street on a hot day?.

- Martin, Lutterworth, 23/5/2010 21:53
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I see the long range weather forecasters you mentioned the other day have updated their site. They seem to be sticking by their previous favourable summer forecast, although have also tipped another 'brutal' winter to come. Still, let's get on with the favourable summer first - it must be due after a few dismal ones in a row recently.

- Doug, Edinburgh, 23/5/2010 21:33
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Hi there in the Sunny UK, (ex-pats from Leeds, West Yorkshire) WoW nice that you're having some sun at last, just to let you know that over here in South Western Ontario we have 31c all next week + humidity levels, so it will feel like 37c !!!!!
love to you all, don't forget the sunblock and umbrellas for later !

- Mark & Jane Bell, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, 23/5/2010 21:33
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Can,t wait intill it is gone, i don,t mind heat on holiday but not when you have to grt on with everday stuff.
The best day of the year is a sunny winters day that you can see your breath nice and fresh.

- lilly, dundee, 23/5/2010 21:16
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Enjoy it while you have it. 80ish F is comfortable. Not so much when we get the 95-105 non stop here in the Washington high desert for the summer. Then, the cold comes and you miss all that warmth. I wouldn't be able to do the heat back there at home when you get a major heatwave without air conditioning. America's made me soft in that manner. Remember it wasn't that long ago when you were covered in snow and were getting cabin fever. Like I said, ENJOY and put sunblock on.

- Terry, Proud Brit Expat of Wisbech, Cambs., Washington State, USA, 23/5/2010 20:52
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After coming out of this harsh cold winter, it is nice to enjoy this nice warm spell.

- Geoff Wall-Davis., Longbridge,Birmingham,England., 23/5/2010 20:43
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Lots of nice beaches in Isle Of Thanet Kent though not as trendy as Brighton and Bournemouth

- Challyon, BROADSTAIRS, 23/5/2010 20:36
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just came back from sandbanks beach, i do not know why i bothered. It was full of overweight, pasty skinned women.
- STEVE, POOLE UK,


Confused! Why does your enjoyment of the weather depend on what the people around you look like? Are they as disappointed to see white, flabby you there? Did they cheer when you left?

- Carol, Norfolk, 23/5/2010 20:28
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27C over here is a cool summers day! Get over it, it will be back to your "warm" 16C next week! haha!
- Gan Eden, Australia,

I am glad your over there with your heat and i'm here with our more reasonable weather.

- Pat, UK not EU, 23/5/2010 20:28
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" parts of Britain enjoyed the hottest day of the year so far "...Who actually 'enjoy's' weather like this? I absolutely hate it. I could never sit out in the sun because it makes me so drowsy that all i want to do is sleep, it makes me feel sick, and i cant get motivated to do anything at all, it really takes it out of me. But i'd sooner be this white thing with good skin than be a wrinkled up sunburned raisin - no offence to sun worshippers out there, but if your white, stay white, afterall, that is the colour your meant to be.

- Just Jules, Uk, 23/5/2010 20:17
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just came back from sandbanks beach, i do not know why i bothered. It was full of overweight, pasty skinned women.

- STEVE, POOLE UK, 23/5/2010 17:36

Sandbanks ha! Full of chavs and russians.

- Lulu, UK, 23/5/2010 19:58
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Gan Eden, Australia, 23/5/2010 15:08

Another Aus with an attitude problem get over it or vote for a republic.

- Bas, NOTTINHAM UK, 23/5/2010 19:30
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Went to Cannon Hall near Barnsley with the beagle.

Too hot - car temperature read a minimum of 27 degrees. Dog, who normally runs around like a mad idiot, had to rest in the shade. Unknown before today!

Now the temperature has dropped, he's back to his usual inquisitive self - unfortunately this means he's also reverted to the kleptomania - get OFF that remote, Seth!

Saw a woman walking up the street in a bikini on the way. It may be hot enough - that doesn't mean it's right!

- Helen Grieve, Wakefield, England, 23/5/2010 19:25
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been on the beach, got a pink nose and pink knees! am happy :)

- barbara g, Britain in chains, 23/5/2010 19:24
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just came back from sandbanks beach, i do not know why i bothered. It was full of overweight, pasty skinned women.
- STEVE, POOLE UK,
----------
Why all the red arrows here?
The truth hurts.

- Steve, Manchester, 23/5/2010 19:12
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Will be cooling off next week - if the MO is to be believed...

- roger, brighton, 23/5/2010 19:02
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As usual DM doesnt say much about Kent, just the south east, north and scotland gets mentioned in detail, well its still very hot down here,probably hotter than anywhere else.

- jack, ashford.england, 23/5/2010 18:03
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Do peeps only eat when the sun shines?

Morecambe's 4 miles of beautiful sandy beach has been packed since 0800 today with wall-to-wall sunshine.

There is definitely life North of Watford (and Brighton (ugh!) and Bournemouth.

- Zakara Camara, Plot 1, Morecambe Compound, EUSSR, 23/5/2010 17:58
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just came back from sandbanks beach, i do not know why i bothered. It was full of overweight, pasty skinned women.

- STEVE, POOLE UK, 23/5/2010 17:36

And they speak so highly of you ........

- Kate, London, 23/5/2010 17:58
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I have been for a lovely walk along the the beach came back sat in my garden what more do you want
glorious!

- Glorious!, Wallasey UK, 23/5/2010 17:47
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just came back from sandbanks beach, i do not know why i bothered. It was full of overweight, pasty skinned women.

- STEVE, POOLE UK, 23/5/2010 17:36
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Scrolling down through the photos in this article I have been nearly blinded...by the sun? No, by the brilliant white bodies (which will be bright red) by tonight.

Every year here in Greece I see people who are practically hospitalized by sunburn. When will the nation learn to take it easy?

- L Giddings, Greece, 23/5/2010 17:35
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What is it with newspapers and the t.v................it's called "weather". We have it all the time. sometimes it's hot, sometimes it's not........... Hot weather suits some people and not others. Cool weather is preferred by some not others. Does it matter a jot? No.

- Miss M, Sussex (not by the sea), 23/5/2010 17:16
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27°C in the Med today? I don't think so! Today is 40°C IN THE SHADE, so, dream on - and enjoy what sun you have got. Better keep your fingers crossed for global warming there this year, eh?

- BestBeer, Europe somewhere, 23/5/2010 13:35

27C over here is a cool summers day! Get over it, it will be back to your "warm" 16C next week! haha!

- Gan Eden, Australia, 23/5/2010 15:08

Sorry to burst your complacent little bubbles - but that sounds like hell on earth to me!

- Soldier's Mother, London, 23/5/2010 17:14
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Keep an eye on your mole's and freckles, and baldies please wear a hat, my Dad got skin cancer by getting sun burn on the top of his head.

- Theresa Marshall, Ware, GB, 23/5/2010 17:11
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" Tesco expects to move 250,000 tonnes of chicken breast this weekend "
250,000 tonnes ? No way !
That's 25 tonnes of chicken each for 1000 stores plus the rest of the shopping. The roads would be gridlocked with chicken !

- Dirtpoor, Hardscratch farm, 23/5/2010 16:39
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Gorgeous day - I've just harvested rhubarb from the garden and am stewing it up to go with ice-cream.

- Jules, London, UK, 23/5/2010 15:55
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Some newspaper hack stating the obvious, we can work out outselves how hot it is !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- minnie, midlands, 23/5/2010 15:45
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27C over here is a cool summers day! Get over it, it will be back to your "warm" 16C next week! haha!

- Gan Eden, Australia, 23/5/2010 15:08
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Have to buy some sun tan lotion, haven't needed any for three years................

- lincoln lad, lincoln, 23/5/2010 14:29
Click to rate Rating 48

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I'm currently on holiday in Cornwall, overlooking the sea. No crowds - Heaven!
Enjoy it folks, but slap on the cream!

- Gratefull, Bristol UK, 23/5/2010 13:54
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Only in England is sunshine "Breaking News"!

- Christopher, Singapore, 23/5/2010 13:54
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27°C in the Med today? I don't think so! Today is 40°C IN THE SHADE, so, dream on - and enjoy what sun you have got. Better keep your fingers crossed for global warming there this year, eh?

- BestBeer, Europe somewhere, 23/5/2010 13:35
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The temperature in my conservatory has exceeded the max on the Thermometer which is 60C roughly 122F, again today, all metal fittings are too hot to touch! Reminds me of the Middle East where I was raised, our summer temp was a regular 120 F, we used to fry eggs on the wings of Landrovers, and chrome car door handles used to burn the unwary!!

- Ptolemy Dwyer, Lancs, 23/5/2010 13:34
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Sorry, folks, I am keeping out of it, especially as my good friend died of skin cancer, because he couldn't keep his shirt on when working outdoors. So I have learned a valuable lesson. Besides, the tablets I am taking make me more sucseptible to sunburn.

Please enjoy our weather, we deserve it, but think like the Australians. Slip, slap, slop. Slip into clothing, slap on a hat and slop on the sun cream.

- stuart, Birmingham, 23/5/2010 12:56
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I'm beginning to think there may be something in this climate change thing after all.
Four months ago it was very cold and now it's quite warm..!

- Andy, Frodsham, 23/5/2010 12:46
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Very nice photographs and yes the weather is very nice too.

- Dylan, London, 23/5/2010 12:37
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Typical DM. Yesterday you were reporting that the Bank Holiday would be a complete wash-out and today its all changed to "risk" of a few showers.

- paul c, Twickenham, 23/5/2010 12:11
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Love the picture of the lemurs - you can tell they are a bit unsure about this but it looks tempting. Please, please, provide us with more pictures of happiness rather than the never ending dosage of break-ups, high heels, fake tan, etc.

- Naive, Lancashire, 23/5/2010 12:06
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Afternoon temperatures in Manchester reached 26.7C and a late high of 27.7C, at one point edging ahead of Majorca on 26.5C and well above the May average of 16C.
The mercury in many areas of England and Wales climbed into the mid-20s, comfortably exceeding some of the Greek islands and Turkey's beach resorts.
Devon recorded a high of 25.9C, Blackpool 24C, central London 24.1C and Cardiff 24C. In contrast, Bodrum in Turkey, Athens and Crete only managed temperatures of 21C.
Temperatures today were predicted to be even hotter across the central and southern half of England, with inland areas reaching 24 to 26C, London 27C

I'm on holiday in Perth, Scotland and if you bothered to look at the whole of the UK and NOT just England! I think you'll find that the temperature reached 28 degrees up here yesterday!! However due to a downpour over night it is a bit cooler today!

- stuart, sussex, 23/5/2010 12:01
Click to rate Rating 25

Alien-like Olympic mascots unveiled

The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic mascots - Wenlock (left) and Mandeville (right) respectively - with schoolchildren from London
The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic mascots - Wenlock (left) and Mandeville (right) respectively - with schoolchildren from London

Two alien-like creatures called Mandeville and Wenlock have been unveiled as mascots for London 2012 Games.

Going all-out for child appeal, London 2012 organisers created a cartoon and signed up best-selling children's writer Michael Morpurgo to build a background story for the abstract characters.

Children from St Paul's Whitechapel Primary School in the east London Olympic borough were the first members of the public to see the duo in action.


London 2012 chair Lord Coe led a special assembly in the school hall and told the youngsters think of them as "good friends". But the dynamic duo, created for the digital age, is also a key money-spinner for London 2012 which must raise £2 billion from the private sector to stage the Games.

London 2012 said it cost "a few thousand pounds" to create the designs but would not release a figure.

Wenlock and Mandeville will appear on everything from toys to mugs when the mascots go on sale from this year's two-year countdown to the start of the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics. A limited edition run of t-shirts and pin badges is already available on the London 2012's online shop.

London 2012, who continue to stress its aim is to engage youngsters in sport, plumped for the abstract shapes when children who made up various focus groups said they were not interested in a human or animal mascot.

Wenlock and Mandeville come complete with their own Twitter and Facebook sites plus their own website at www.london2012.com/mascots.

Organisers will also be hoping the mascots avoids the controversy sparked by London 2012's £400,000 logo - which was widely panned when it was launched.

Brits set for soaring temperatures

Brits set for heatwave as'glorious summer' arrives

Temperatures in the week ahead are likely to soar to up to 10 degrees above the average for this time of year, a forecaster has said.

Londoners will enjoy warm weather this weekend, with the mercury rising to up to 25C on Saturday, MeteoGroup UK, the weather division of the Press Association, predicted.

Temperatures are then likely to return to the May average of 15C next week, but other forecasters have suggested the warm weather this week could be the start of a glorious summer.

Aisling Creevey, forecaster with MeteoGroup, said: "For the rest of the week it's looking warm with temperatures well into the 20s. At the moment the winds have changed direction, moving south-westerly, and the origin of the air is warmer."
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She added: "But next week is likely to move back to the average for May which is about 15C to 16C in southern parts."

Ms Creevey said the whole of the UK and Ireland will experience a steady increase in temperatures this week, with Scotland and Ireland likely to hit up to 19C, but the country will not escape a little rainfall, with mist and fog also predicted in western and northern parts.

Predicting the weather months ahead is notoriously unreliable. The Met Office predicted a "barbecue summer" for 2009, which was ultimately a washout and the Met Office has dropped long-term seasonal forecasts in favour of monthly prediction for Britain, updated weekly.

But independent forecaster Positive Weather Solutions (PWS), which accurately predicted last year's wet summer, have forecast great weather for the months ahead.

PWS's senior weather forecaster Jonathan Powell said: "The pattern through June is unlikely to be all that stable, so expect some rain as we pass through mid-month, although again, there will be some pleasant sunshine from time to time, keeping temperatures on the warm to possibly very warm side."

He went on: "July too starts on an unsettled note, with some rain around, but summer will emerge, and we can expect some decent drier spells and some warm to very warm temperatures." Of August, he said: "Towards mid-month, there will still be some pleasant weather around with long spells of sunshine."

Oh dear, is Cheryl starting to crumble?

by Russell Bland May 17th 2010 6:15AM
If there's one thing we can all agree on in this life, it's that Cheryl Cole should have nothing more to do with cheating hubby Ashley.

So it's with dismay that we read a report that everybody's favourite X Factor judge (apart from Dannii and Simon) sent her estranged husband a text congratulating him when his football team Chelsea won the Premier League recently.

We're not sure exactly how the text is supposed to have become public property, but she is reported to have told him: "Well done Babez, I'm sooo happy for you."

Ashley is reported to have been delighted to get the text, because it is claimed he is still hoping for a reconciliation.

And in other Cheryl news, dancer Derek Hough is reported to have been green with envy after recent reports that Cheryl has been cosying up to Black Eyed Peas star Will.I.Am.

We've been sceptical about the authenticity of both these claimed suitors, but we think the text to Ashley is a lot more likely to have actually happened.

On the other hand, perhaps he has a team mate called Carlos Babez, and Chezza thought she was texting him? We can only guess.

What do you reckon? Is Cheryl heading down a dangerous path? Leave your comments below...

'Ice cream weather' is on its way

After a chilly start to the month Britain can look forward to "ice cream weather" in the week ahead, a forecaster has said.

Many motorists awoke to find their car windows frosted over as overnight temperatures dropped below zero across the country this week.

Now warmer winds are bringing weather more typical of May, with the mercury predicted to pass 20C in some places by the middle of next week.

Southern and eastern England are expected to see the best conditions, but temperatures will improve throughout the UK and over the weekend there will be highs of around 16-17C and the weather will continue to get warmer after that.
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Rachel Vince, a forecaster with MeteoGroup UK, the weather division of the Press Association, said: "By Wednesday to Thursday, daytime temperatures could be into the low 20s.

"It will be fine and settled with some nice long sunny days. It's almost ice cream weather, like we had in April.

"There's a general pattern of temperatures picking up across the UK. It will be noticeably milder for everyone."

After an all-too-brief sunny spell in April, Britain has shivered in unseasonably cold conditions so far this month.

North-westerly winds have brought cold air from the Arctic - as well as the volcanic ash clouds from Iceland that grounded many flights and temperatures have been 2C to 4C below the average for this time of year, plunging as low as minus 6C in Altnaharra in the Scotland Highlands on Tuesday night.

The wind is now coming from the west and south-west, bringing milder air from across the Atlantic, as well as improving temperatures, this should mean less disruption to air schedules as the volcanic ash cloud will be blown in the opposite direction.

10 things about men

Man hugs
There's a very good reason why we girls hassle our men for a hug. Even our mums can't match the embrace of those big strong arms – nuzzling between chin and chest is just an added bonus.

They're big softies really
While we are well aware that they join in the boy talk down the pub, we can rest easy in the knowledge that they'll happily cuddle up on the sofa, get soppy over the kids and even sometimes shed a manly tear when they're safely behind closed doors.

Sex
We might not always match your libidos, boys, but no amount of battery-powered devices can replace the real thing.

They're practical
We're not talking sensible answers to emotional questions here, but when we're struggling to understand the finer points of glossing a door frame, our fellas are always on hand to show us how it's done. Plus there's something about tool belts…

Their sporting prowess
Even the least competitive among us would admit to a certain pride when our men take to the sporting field. The mud, the muscles, the growly teammate banter… but take note, boys – yabbering about the disgraceful refereeing or Wayne Rooney curling one in at the far post does not have the same effect.

They worry about us
Though they will happily while away evenings in the pub without so much as a phone call, the men folk just can't help but worry when the roles are reversed. From insisting that we get a taxi home to waiting up for us to walk through the door, it's times like these that remind us they don't have to say those three little words to show they care.

They get jealous
They might act like they're not bothered but it only takes an admiring eye or an overly friendly advance for our chaps to see green. And while we definitely don't want to see fisticuffs, a protective display of jealousy lets us know the flames of desire still burn brightly.

Unexpected romance
Even if you're man isn't the type to say 'I love you' at every turn, he might surprise you once every so often. And it's not the grand gestures or the Valentines cards but the odd fridge magnet message or buying your favourite choccy bar on his way home from work that puts a smile on your face.

They secretly like reality TV
He might spend weeks moaning about the upcoming series of the X Factor or Strictly but three weeks in and he'll give the game away by nonchalantly discussing the finer points of Ali Bastian's foxtrot or wondering who will sing what in big band week.

They love us whatever we look like
When the wobbly bits are hanging out, we've got puffy eyes and no make-up on (and hopefully when we're old and grey) our men still think we're sexy – and we love them for it.

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10 things we hate about men

Not listening
There you are chatting about your day and relaying the exact words of your bitchy manager when it suddenly dawns on you that, even though he is looking directly at you and nodding in agreement, he is in fact listening to The Simpsons on TV. It's the occasional smile at inappropriate moments that gives it away guys.

Endless mess
Even if you are not the house-proud type, the mess that your man leaves behind can be nothing short of extraordinary. Wrappers, socks, newspapers, used tissues – it's as if bins had never been invented.

The doing things badly trick
We ladies are all too familiar with the doing things badly trick. Whether it's bathing the kids, filling up the dishwasher or doing the weekly shop, the chances are your man will do his best to get it wrong, hoping for the inevitable 'I'll do it' - you've been rumbled chaps.

Just one last pint
While you're struggling with the kids, the washing and preparing the evening meal, your man will often take time for a little post-work relaxation at the pub. Which is fair enough – but believe him when he calls to say "I'm just having one more pint" and you're likely to be disappointed.

Farting
If you've been together for a while the days of holding in farts are probably long gone. But the male of the species doesn't just blow off indiscriminately, he laughs at his farts and worse still he laughs at farting on TV and in movies – it's only a matter of time before the fart machine comes out.

Looking for things
It seems quite amazing that man discovered anything. They huff and puff around the house searching for who knows what before eventually declaring that the item in question is nowhere to be found. Nowhere, that is, in plain sight – it seems the art of looking under or behind has completely passed them by.

One cup is never enough
Washing up is a chore that few women enjoy and it can seem like a never-ending task. But it is not helped by our man's insistence on using a new cup for every drink he makes. Take note chaps – using the same mug for your next cuppa won't kill you.

Practical solutions
Okay, so we know we're more emotional than our fellas, but must they always find a practical solution? Whether it's an argument with your best pal or a run-in with the boss, sympathy and agreement are all that's required.

Soaking the washing up
If you've finally managed to bribe your chap into washing up then you will no doubt be aware of the aftermath. While the crockery and cutlery will be spotlessly clean, those tough, dried-on shepherd's pie remains will be 'left to soak'. And by soak, he means left to lie in a pile of greasy, cold water until you can stand it no longer.

Back seat driving
Even if we're not the best drivers in the world, back seat driving only serves to make matters worse. From sharp intakes of breath to slamming on an invisible break pedal, it's no wonder we end up on the cautious side.

Squeeze from a minute and premature baby's finger that said 'I will survive'

When Erin John was born weighing just a pound, her parents steeled themselves for the worst.

The baby and her identical twin were delivered prematurely to save the life of their mother, Kylee, who had developed a potentially fatal condition.

Doctors feared neither girl would survive, but then Erin sent out a message of hope - by curling her tiny hand around her mother's finger and giving it a squeeze.

Mrs John, 26, said: 'It was a remarkable moment. My husband Steven captured it on camera. It was as though she was holding on to me, telling me she wasn't going to let go.'
erin

Vital sign: Erin grabs her mother's finger

Mrs John discovered she was pregnant in July 2008. But at 23 weeks shewas diagnosed with pre-eclampsia.

She was taken to hospital where the condition developed into the more serious Hellp Syndrome, where the body's organs start shutting down.


More...

* Premature babies 'feel more pain in later life'

Mrs John, of Bristol, said: 'It was touch and go whether I would survive, so even though I was only 24 weeks pregnant, the doctors decided they had to deliver the twins to save me.'

Erin was delivered first, weighing just 1Ib, followed by her smaller sister Sian at just 10 ounces.

Mrs John said: ‘When I had recovered, I was wheeled down to see the twins and I just couldn’t believe how tiny they both were.

‘Their skin was completely translucent - they just didn’t look like babies at all. The doctors told us right from the start that Sian wasn’t going to survive as she was just too tiny.
erin john

Little fighter: Kylee John with Erin at home

‘They had to resuscitate her straight away, but they didn’t know if Erin would survive either as she only weighed just 1Ib.’

When the twins were six days old they were both christened as the doctors didn’t think they were going to make it as they had taken a turn for the worse.

‘But they both hung on, and just two days later, Erin grabbed her mother’s finger and gave it a squeeze.

Mrs John said: ‘it really gave us hope. We didn’t think that Sian was going to survive, but when Erin touched my finger it was as though she was telling us she was going to be alright.’

Erin had to have an operation when she was six weeks old to close a duct in her heart.
Mrs John said: ‘She was still so tiny and to watch her going down for an operation was just heartbreaking.

‘But we knew it was her only chance of survival. It was nervewracking wait for her to come back up from the operation theatre, but luckily the operation was a success and she pulled through.’

When the twins two months old, tragedy struck. Whilst Erin was gaining strength, her sister started to fade away.

Mrs John said: ‘It was heartbreaking. The doctors told her that it was only machines keeping her alive and there was nothing more they could do for her. Sian slipped away whilst we were by her side.’

Erin carried on gaining strength and she had laser eye surgery in April last year to stop her from going blind as she had been born so early the blood vessels in her eyes hadn’t developed properly.

Then in November last year, 11 months after she was born, she was finally allowed to come home.

Mrs John said: ‘It was wonderful to finally be able to bring her home after all those months in hospital.

‘She is still tiny for her age. She wears clothes for six to nine month old babies and she has to have physiotherapy to help her muscles develop but she is now sitting up, and starting to stand.

‘She has a good appetite and she is catching up now with other babies of her age. We are so proud of her.

‘She is one of the smallest babies ever to survive in Britain and she had a massive battle for survival. But she has come through it all - she may be tiny but she is a real fighter.’

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Comments (48)

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My son was born prematurely, and I took a similar photo when he was grabbing my little finger. Nearly 7 years later, although he has a couple of phycisal problems, he's all but caught up and we wouldn't have him any other way.

- Mike, Southern UK, 10/5/2010 16:41
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Well Peter the NHS saved mine and Erin's life and they allowed me to spend two special months with my little angel Sian so I am VERY gratful to the NHS for all that they did for me

- Kylee John, Bristol, 10/5/2010 16:32
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MORE Britain's DIE in the care of the NHS than in the Iraq and Afghanistan war!!! MORE people die under NHS care than are killed on roads every year!!! This baby was VERY VERY lucky to survive the Russian Roulette NHS!!!
- Peter, Bromley, 10/5/2010 16:13


Peter, if you use just a spot of common sense you will realise that, yes, while more people die under NHS care it is probably because there are hundreds of thousands more people using the NHS than fighting in Iraq or Afghanistan. With NHS numbers so much higher it makes sense and is not the sensationalist issue you make it out to be.
By the way, when you're ill who do you use? Seeing as I presume you're too good for the likes of the NHS.

- Ariana, London, 10/5/2010 16:27
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peter,bromley. get real!
ive work as nurse midwife and health visitor for past 25yrs. 14 of those yrs as a midwife.
the nhs.....is people like me!!!! who work tirelessly to look after mums like erins and help them survive potentially life threatening conditions like hellp syndrome.ive looked after many women with this condition, and their extremely premature babies would not have had any chance of life without the expertise of the staff....who ARE THE NHS!!!!!.
good luck kylee and erin

- margaret, merseyside, 10/5/2010 16:27
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MORE Britain's DIE in the care of the NHS than in the Iraq and Afghanistan war!!! MORE people die under NHS care than are killed on roads every year!!! This baby was VERY VERY lucky to survive the Russian Roulette NHS!!!

- Peter, Bromley, 10/5/2010 16:13
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Pipster, it may be a relex action but when you are sitting there next to your babies incubator, unable to hold them or comfort them, when you hold there hand and they squeeze it, it gives you a tiny glimmer of hope that if they have the strength to do that they CAN fight to stay alive!! My girls went through so much and even Sian in here short live had to battle through operations! I am so proud of both of them and if I didn't stay strong and concetrate on the good things then i would have never of got through 11 months of Hell!!
Thank you everyone for your coments and if anyone else is going through this at the moment stay strong!! xx

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1275907/Squeeze-babys-finger-said-I-survive.html#ixzz0nYwbyp7Q

How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation

Asking for a reference letter may seem intimidating, but it shouldn't be. In the professional world such acts are common place and expected as you move forward in your career. From a letter writers perspective, it is often seen as a responsibility (and sometimes an honor) to provide you with one. From your perspective, knowing how and who to ask for a reference letter can be an important part of advancing your career.

This small guide is designed to help you secure positive recommendation letters by outlining who to ask, when to ask, and what specifically to ask for.

How to Ask for a Recommendation Letter

Don't just go asking anyone. If the person you ask does not feel comfortable writing you a recommendation letter, it can create a really awkward situation. When you ask for the letter, make sure it is someone you feel would write you a positive one. Give them an easy out if you can. Instead of asking, "Can you write me a letter of recommendation?", rephrase the question as "Do you feel we have worked closely enough for you to write me a good recommendation?" If you are asking someone you know and trust, this should be a comfortable question while still giving the person an easy way out. Remember, a strong letter is better than an okay letter or a bad letter. Qualifying the letter writer in this way is a good bet.

Who to Ask for a Recommendation Letter

The ideal letter writer should have a decent amount of knowledge about who you are. They should have working knowledge of what goes into writing a recommendation letter as well. If you have been asked to turn in multiple recommendation letters, try and secure a letter from different aspects of your life. A professional letter of recommendation, an academic letter of recommendation (when appropriate/attainable), and a character letter of recommendation provide a solid, well rounded view of your accomplishments. Including people with different backgrounds help give the letter reader a view of you in different lights.

Make sure to include at least one obvious letter writer choice (your boss, an old supervisor or a team lead). Neglecting to include someone from this category may make the letter reader wonder if something went wrong in your previous position.

What to Include in a Letter of Recommendation

Your letter of reference should include specifics and be as relevant as possible. It helps to remind your letter writer of a few of your accomplishments. You should also let them know where the letter is being sent. The letter reader will be looking for evidence of things like accomplishment, punctuality and ability to get along with coworkers.

When to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation

When leaving a job, always ask your manager or someone you feel would write you a strong recommendation for a letter. As time goes by, it becomes hard to track down people and memories fade. The same can be said for graduating college. If you have a professor that you really hit it off with, ask them for a recommendation letter before you enter the real world. Keep copies in a filing cabinet. Throughout your career, you will be able to grow a strong collection of references. Generally, people will ask that you send the letter directly to their attention, but having this file will help give you a starting point.

It would be helpful to the letter writer to include a list of specific accomplishments that they are familiar with. This will help jog their memory and make your letter that much stronger. You should also send them a copy of your CV or Resume (better yet, your complete Emurse profile link) so they can keep your career in context. Include an addressed, stamped envelope so they can cheaply/easily send the letter off to its destination.


http://blog.emurse.com/2007/06/13/how-to-ask-for-a-letter-of-recommendation/

The infertility timebomb: Are men facing rapid extinction?

One in five men could suffer from fertility problems. And scientists have warned that it's just going to get worse

There's a crisis brewing, but it has nothing to do with the economic deficit or the current political uncertainty. Scientists are warning that rising levels of male infertility have become so perilous that it is a serious 'public health issue'. And some go even further.

Professor Niels Skakkebaek, of the University of Copenhagen, describes the issue 'as important as global warming'. Last week, one science writer even suggested, in starkly terrifying terms, that if scientists from Mars were to study the male reproductive system, they would possibly conclude that man was destined for rapid extinction.

And if it continues, this trend could indicate men are on a path to becoming completely infertile within a few generations.
L'enfant by Spencer Rowell

Scientists are warning that rising levels of male infertility have become so perilous that it is a serious 'public health issue'

Reports claim that as many as one in five healthy young men between the ages of 18 and 25 produce abnormal sperm counts. Only 5 to 15 per cent of their sperm is good enough to be classed as 'normal' under World Health organisation rules - proving that infertility is not just a female problem. Indeed, among those experiencing difficulty with conception, a male fertility problem is considered important in about 40 per cent of couples.

But women trying to get pregnant are facing another astonishing claim: that the core problems of male fertility - while they may be exacerbated by environmental issues - start in the womb.

'Sperm counts are declining and there is mounting evidence that the problem starts even before birth,' says Dr Gillian Lockwood, medical director of Midland Fertility Services.

She cites growing evidence that although the process of sperm production - known as spermatogenesis - starts in adolescence, the crucial preparations are made in the few months before and after birth.

Factors such as women eating a lot of beef during pregnancy - which means they have consumed a diet rich in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that are potentially damaging chemicals - to the issue of obesity during pregnancy and a woman's exposure to smoke, pesticides, traffic fumes, plastics and even soya beans are all thought to have a bearing on a male foetus's future fertility.

Experts talk of a 'window' of testicular development that begins in the growing foetus and ends in the first six months of life. Problems in this period mean that the baby boy may never be able to produce babies of his own.

It's a theory that Karl Tonks, a clinical skills trainer, is particularly interested in. Karl, 47, and his teaching assistant wife Lorraine, 41, consider themselves among the lucky ones: they have two healthy children, despite Karl's low sperm count. Their twins Ben and Kira, now 12, were born as a result of arduous and expensive IVF.
New father with nurse feeding baby

Reports claim that as many as one in five healthy young men between the ages of 18 and 25 produce abnormal sperm counts

Like many men, Karl was given no particular reason for his low sperm count. The news that it would be impossible for him to have a child came as a shock.

'We'd been trying for a baby since we got married. I had no idea there was a problem, and there was never a reason given. It was just one of those things.'

Was it, though? Karl admits that he always wondered if the fact that his mother took Thalidomide while pregnant with him could have had any influence on his infertility.

'My mother took Thalidomide for morning sickness. When the scandal broke in 1962, GPs offered free abortions, but my mother was too far gone by two weeks.'

Unlike the majority of Thalidomide babies, Karl was born seemingly healthy. But he has suffered from asthma since birth.

'Since the infertility was diagnosed, I started questioning whether there were underlying problems caused by the drug. My younger brother doesn't have any fertility problems. Nobody has done research into "normal" Thalidomide babies.'

Lorraine and Karl illustrate perfectly the toll that difficulties in conceiving can take on a marriage. Karl confesses that, so distraught were they - 'eight years of thinking of nothing else' is how he puts it - that at one stage he suggested they should divorce. But Lorraine says: 'I just couldn't even think of it.'

After a series of failed intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) attempts, where Karl's sperm was placed in Lorraine's uterus, the couple moved on to IVF.

The treatment involved intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), a procedure where a single sperm is injected into the egg. Even though a single healthy sperm could not be found, Karl was able to have testicular sperm extraction (TESE), which involves passing a needle into the testis to remove a piece of tissue, from which developing sperm were taken.

Incredibly, that resulted in eight fertilised embryos. In April 1998 their twins, Ben and Kira, were born. Their father drove down the street shouting: 'I'm a dad!'

Like Lorraine and Karl, Ed Farmer, 41, an IT specialist, and his wife, Rebecca, also 41, are still left guessing as to the causes of Ed's infertility.

'We were told that Ed had practically zero per cent sperm,' says Rebecca.

But after seven years of tests and treatment, they are no closer to knowing why.

'It was a terrible shock and desperately disappointing to be facing the possibility of IVF,' explains Ed.

Their fertility consultant recommended ICSI. Both Ed and Rebecca were 33, and their hopes were high, especially after several healthy sperm were retrieved using TESE.

'We believed our consultant when he said: "Let's make you a baby",' says Ed.

But treatment failed and they were told to consider using donor sperm. However, they went through two more cycles of treatment.

'We wanted to give it everything we could,' explains Ed. By this time, they were both 35.

'We had to make some major decisions', says Rebecca. It was putting a huge strain on their relationship, and they had withdrawn from their friends and family.

'We felt it was us against the world,' says Rebecca. 'We were so fed up of everyone around us having babies and not understanding what we were going through. Comments such as "At least you have a lovely husband and a nice house" weren't helpful. We even considered moving abroad.'

Rebecca threw herself into researching multiple IVF and ICSI failure on the internet, and concluded that not all clinics are the same.

Ed says: 'It was important for me to see an andrologist, somebody who specialises in male infertility. But they are not readily available in the UK.'

'We looked at it very rationally and were prepared to spend £15,000,' says Rebecca.

Research had been carried out in the U.S. in hormonal therapy for men with fertility problems. After remortgaging their home, Ed and Rebecca went to New York.

'I had the first proper examination throughout all our treatment,' says Ed.

He was put on Clomid, the hormone that women are given when they don't ovulate regularly, followed by ICSI. Although this created only one embryo, it resulted in the birth of their beautiful daughter, Ruby, now three.

Ed and Rebecca wanted a sibling for Ruby. After another cycle of treatment in New York, their twins, Tom and Rose, were born two days before Rebecca's 40th birthday.

Ed and Rebecca are very proud parents and thrilled that they defied the odds. But they are also angry.

' So many men are denied the opportunity to become biological fathers through an apparent lack of investigation into male infertility,' says Rebecca.

'We have met couples who have gone through many failed cycles of treatment at great financial and emotional cost, who have gone on to have "miracle babies" abroad, after being dismissed by UK clinics. It is so sad that the country that invented IVF should have failed to progress much beyond the expensive and impersonal production line of treatment that is currently on offer.'

Meanwhile, Lorraine and Karl Tonks are following the latest research with interest. It suggests that if their son Ben is to have fertility problems of his own, it may be too late to do anything about it. This concerns Karl.

'I worry that I may have passed my infertility on to my son. He has asthma, but as there are no adult ICSI children yet, we probably won't know for another few years.

'I will encourage him to get his fertility checked when he is old enough.'

Lorraine, however, points out that there are drawbacks to knowing too much, too soon.

'On the one hand, if we'd known earlier that there was no chance of us getting pregnant naturally, then we'd have saved a lot of time and heartache, seeking help sooner. On the other hand, can I honestly say that we would have ended up married had I known Karl couldn't have children? Who knows? It's very tricky.'

It will get even trickier as more efforts are made to unravel the mystery of male sperm production, a mystery to which 'Mother', whether she likes it or not, seems to hold the key.

IELTS RE-MARK

First may I commiserate with you. You clearly have a very good level of English yet, somehow, only managed a 5 for Writing. Based on your other scores, it seems unlikely that a band 5 accurately reflects your true writing ability. This is just one example of what is wrong with IELTS and the inflexible way Receiving Organisations use the results.

To help you decide whether to ask for a re-mark there are a number of things to consider.

First, the cost. The fee for a re-mark will be approximately 2/3 the cost of the test but, if your score is increased, the fee will be refunded. Remember to factor in the cost of travel and accommodation should you decide to re-sit the test rather than ask for a re-mark.

Note that you must request a re-mark, officially referred to as an "Enquiry on Results", within 6 weeks of receiving your result.

When asking for an Enquiry on Results you say which modules you want re-marked - you don't have to have everything re-marked. In your case, you should only have your Writing re-marked; there is always a danger that your score for other modules is marked down.

You should also take into consideration the fact that an Enquiry on Results can take several weeks. You might be able to re-sit IELTS very quickly - depending on your Test Centre. Remember that if you re-sit, your other scores could go down - I note that if your Speaking score was reduced you would be in the same position as you are now.

Now let's consider factors that will influence whether your Writing score will be increased by re-marking. It is very unusual to have such a wide range of scores over the 4 modules. IELTS has a procedure for remarking these 'jagged' profiles. As long as the Test Centre has been following the procedures correctly your Writing scripts will already have been re-marked so it is unlikely that a further re-mark will increase your score by the 2 bands you require. Indeed, an increase of 2 bands in your Writing score would indicate serious problems with the marking of Writing scripts at your Test Centre. Having said that, I have examined at a British Council Test Centre where this procedure was NOT followed correctly.

There are some ways you can easily lose marks in the Writing module, quite apart from poor grammar, limited vocabulary etc., etc. If your scripts are under length you will lose marks. Also, if you fail to respond correctly to the rubric, i.e. if your answer is incomplete, tangential or off topic, you can lose a lot of marks. Think carefully about this, did you write enough? Remember that examiners may count words differently to you. Also, it is easy to think you responded to the topic correctly but, in fact, did not.

If money is a problem you need to carefully consider whether a re-mark is likely to increase your Writing band score. If it increases by just 1 band your fee will be refunded. If money is no problem I would suggest asking for an Enquiry on Results anyway.

I am reliably informed that about 25% of re-marks result in an increased band score.

There is more information about what to do if you don't get the score you need at http://www.your-ielts-guide.com/What-to-do.shtml - and check with your Test Centre in case anything has changed recently.

Could I ask you at which Test Centre you took your IELTS test? Was it the British Council?

As an IELTS examiner and invigilator I have experience of a number of IELTS Test Centres. Although IELTS has very specific procedures for administering the test I have many issues concerning the way British Council Test Centres fail to follows these procedures. I have come across serious problems and have discovered that the British Council monitors its own Test Centres (no independent auditing) - and audits them infrequently.

There is more about this here:
http://dblackie.blogs.com/the_language_business/2007/06/the_british_cou_1.html and http://dblackie.blogs.com/the_language_business/2006/12/ielts_quis_cust.html

Please let us know whether or not you decide to ask for an Enquiry on Results and, if you do, please tell us the result.

Best of luck!

微凉季节:"毒"白

还是在一种复杂的心情下走进了那所宅子,我的步履不缓慢,但是矜持了许多.辞别了全昼多个小时的工作,心情杂乱,一本旧书翻来覆去地,在风扇下页页来回.

车站十多分钟的等待,车子给了我机会,上车,只有我.靠窗坐下,冰冷和孤傲袭满了车子.其实,一天累了,步子很沉,浑身上下的个体在工作中鞭打得体无完肤, 只能孤独.于是,走进了那座高深的院子.眉宇间忧愁甚多,一步一摇间我被定义了.与华丽的楼阁相比,我不和谐;不和谐中,深藏着无奈的宿命.

白天发生的事情,算了吧.记忆里没有人,只有自己渴求的堕落欲望,没有的地点,没有的时间,只发生了本无注定的悲哀故事.无所预料的无所适从,因为自己最清楚自己的悲哀注定迷茫,渴求着突如其来的关爱,渴求着游离千里之外,我眼里没有冰冷的浮华,奢求繁华,奢求珠光宝气,渴望着锦衣玉食.怜悯感动的泪水背后不过是一张虚伪阴险的脸,正襟危坐却忐忑不安.礼仪孝廉却败絮其中,面如慈佛却心似蛇蝎,望去热情如火却冷若冰霜.注定的指示孤独落寞恐惧和独自一人-- 左手握着右手,言语着听不懂的话.

这些与他的相貌极不相称——其实该是美丽的,脱俗骨子里的不羁且不放荡,眉宇间有的是英气.呵,造化的手段,残酷的太过真实让自己措手不及--只能开始感觉不真实的个体.也许,自己什么都不知道,来到这个世界偿还的或许是泪还是那个欲望.呵,泪尽人无,算了.

现有的,酸楚和痛定思痛,进了屋子,胡子让我照单全收,看着水漩涡着,疼了好多下.眼里闪着一种东西.顿时间,世界开始孤寂,死寂了空气.这个直影的身躯, 重新把自己冷冰冰得摔在地上,最后弄得什么,跟着什么.孑然一身,苦楚的病态,努力逼自己完美,也因此,变得开始瑕疵满布,这些,都成了人性中的伤泪.

心里触动的,摇晃,浅吟低语.戏台上一个红妆年华,一个年轻儒雅,凄婉却唯美,但还是没有合欢.
手心开始纠缠不息,绞得心痛,纠得悲怆,缠的凄艳.

经年累月,思线长了,一个人成了阴郁,开始潮湿,活生生般地.

So THAT'S how Cheryl Cole stays slim: Singer's blood type diet 'has made such a difference'

Since her split from husband Ashley, Cheryl Cole's slender figure has led to much debate.

But it seems her tiny frame isn't simply down to a broken heart.

The 26-year-old has revealed she sticks to Eat Right 4 Your Type diet, in which she eats and avoids specific foods based entirely on her blood type.
Cheryl Cole

Busy girl: Cheryl Cole looks skinnier than ever as she arrives at Heathrow from Dublin today after performing with the Black Eyes Peas

The effects could be seen today, as Cheryl flew into Heathrow from Dublin, where she performed a 30-minute gig as a support act for the Black Eyed Peas.

Her skinny legs were highlighted by her tight leggings and strappy high heels, while even her clumpy leather biker jacket couldn't hide her frame.

Many have suggested that Cheryl could benefit from putting on some weight.

But in an interview with Hello! today she admitted to watching what she eats.

'I watch what I eat, not to stay slim but to feel good,' she said.

CHERYL COLE
Cheryl Cole

Strict: Cheryl has admitted to following the blood type diet, Eat Right 4 Your Type, but says she doesn't deny herself anything she craves, especially cupcakes
THE BLOOD TYPE DIET

In Eat Right For Your Type Dr D'Admao matches the blood type to dietary recommendations, summarised here.

•The O diet Eat meat (high protein, low carbohydrate). Cut out wheat and most other grains. Engage in vigorous aerobic exercise. Your risk factors for ulcers and inflammatory diseases such as arthritis increase if you eat incorrectly for your type.

•The A diet You should be largely vegetarian (eating a high carbohydrate, low fat diet). Engage in gentle exercise such as yoga or golf and meditate to deal with stress. Your risk factors for cancer and heart disease increase if you eat incorrectly, according to Dr D'Admao.

•The B diet You should have the most varied diet of all the blood types, one including meat; yours is the only blood type that does well with dairy products. Engage in exercise such as moderate swimming or walking. Your risk for slow-growing viruses that attack the nervous system increases if you eat incorrectly for your type.

•The AB diet You have most of the benefits and intolerances of types A and B, so most foods which are recommended for either type A or B will also work for you. Engage in calming exercises and relaxation techniques. You have the friendliest immune system.

In the UK 46 per cent of people have O type blood, 42 per cent A, nine per cent B and three per cent A/B.

'Recently my mother told me about Eat Right 4 Your Type, in which you're told what to eat and what to avoid depending on your blood type.

'It has made such a difference - not so much to my shape, but to how I feel and my energy levels. Before I was like 'energy schmenergy' and didn't believe it. But now I believe it 100 per cent.'

Stars including Australian supermodel Miranda Kerr, Martine McCutcheon and Sir Cliff Richard have previously admitted to following the plan.

More...

* Cheryl Cole wears her trademark slashed trousers... and outshines Black Eyed Peas star Fergie
* Coronation Street's Sally Whittaker: 'I researched cancer plot and found a lump in my own breast'

And while her fans may be hitting the gym to try and emulate Cheryl's figure, it seems she doesn't have to.

'I have a really hectic schedule but it does have some health benefits - I get to work out without working out,' she said.

'It's literally full-on performances back to back, and all the choreography, training and rehearsals that go into them, that's a real workout.'

And Cheryl, currently taking a break from her band Girls Aloud, says she doesn't deny herself her favourite treats - especially cupcakes.

'My only trouble is that I can't do without sugar,' she said. 'I think I might have some sort of sugar imbalance. Sometimes I feel like I just need a chocolate bar.

'To be honest you can't put yourself under that much pressure, so I don't deny myself anything.'
Cheryl

On stage: Cheryl supporting the Black Eyed Peas in Dublin at the weekend; she says performing is all the workout she needs







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Apparently I should be eating meat, but as a vegan for ethical reasons I'm not going to start doing that. Maybe that's why I'm also overweight (despite the fact that vegans are supposed to be slim!)

- Carolyn, Isle of Man, 03/5/2010 17:05
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Sugar imbalance? This self-diagnosis culture has got to stop.

That last pic is so unflattering. I'm so tempted to think she's in need of the toilet!

- Jonno, Croydon, UK, 03/5/2010 17:05
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won´t work for me then! I´m B and intolerant to dairy food! What baloney!

- Gill, Bristol, 03/5/2010 16:53
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oh my god, get a stylist!

- susan cos, exeter, 03/5/2010 16:47
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Well, she doesn't use any of her energy for singing!!

- Gillian, London, 03/5/2010 16:33
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she has a very funny shaped legs.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1271138/Cheryl-Coles-blood-type-diet.html#ixzz0mtsK4cZN