Author Archive

Posted on March 10, 2010 - by Andrew

Middlemist’s Red rescued by Chiswick House restoration

There are only two surviving blooms of the rare camellia; one is in Waitangi, New Zealand, and the other one is in Chiswick House in London.

It is thought that Middlemist’s Red has been present in Chiswick conservatory since the early 19th century. The plant is believed to have come from China, brought to Britain by John Middlemist of Shepherd’s Bush.

The camellia is thought to have arrived in the UK just after 1823 – only a decade after the conservatory first opened in 1813. The conservatory has stood, but slowly run down, over the centuries. At one point the home actually served as a lunatic asylum. The conservatory was hit by an unexploded bomb during World War II; it survived but all the glass was broken.

The current restoration of the conservatory was cost more than £12 million and was co-managed between Chiswick House and Gardens Trust and the English Heritage.

In Pure Spirit

Are you pleased to see such a rare planet safe and sound in a newly restored, historic conservatory? Or is £12m too much for projects such as this?

Posted on March 8, 2010 - by Andrew

Australian man burns witches house after “sex curse”

In the Northern Territory, Australia, David Laurin has been sentenced to three years for burning a woman’s house down.

Laurin, 31, pleaded guilty to the charges as the court heard he believed the woman was a witch who had cursed his sex life.

In the NT Supreme Court, Chief Justice Dean Mildren heard how David Laurin met his girlfriend Kelly on the internet.

His relationship with Kelly went down hill and they split up in January 2009. Kelly’s since given birth to their child.

A psychiatrist told the NT court that Laurin had a “borderline personality disorder“. The psychiatrist also blamed the role of “internet wars games” played in Laurin’s life; suggesting they helped form his identity.

In Pure Spirit

Do you think Laurin got what he deserved? Is the psychiatrist did the right thing by pointing a finger at the internet?

Posted on March 1, 2010 - by Andrew

Boots do digital recycling – club card points for your old mobile

It seems that you can’t make it through a TV program these days without encountering an advert from a company trying to buy your mobile phone.

I’m sure all of these companies are trustworthy. However, when I stumbles across Books Recycling my ears perked up.

Boots don’t pay you cash. Instead you get given club card points – this is significant as Boots already has one of the most generous club cards out there on the high street.

• A Nokia N73 is worth 5,166 points
• A 4th gen Apple iPod is worth 583 points
• A BlackBerry Pearl 8100 is worth 1,995 points
• A Canon PowerShot A1000 IS gets you 1,666 points

In Pure Spirit

What do you think? Is this a better deal than the cash converters?

Do you feel more comfortable Boots offering this service than the other newer companies?

Posted on February 25, 2010 - by Andrew

Catch: Slow motion jumping dogs

Ever seen an advert that’s just so good you had to share it? No? Ads of that level of quality are out there.

Here’s an ad for Pedigree called “Catch”. The premise is simple; slow-mo video footage of cute dogs jumping to catch a chunk of tasty Pedigree.

In Pure Spirit

What do you think? Is the advert any good? What the name “Pedigree”? Given that some TV channels are now refusing to show dog shows on the premise that it’s cruel to breed pedigrees could the very name of the product be in danger?

Posted on February 14, 2010 - by Andrew

Banned: Valentine’s Day leads to hand holding and free sex

In Indonesia some Muslim leaders have commanded the faithful not to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

The Western / Christian day has become increasingly popular among the young and liberal population of the nation’s larger cities.

Abdullah Cholil, leader of Nahdlatul Ulama, the largest Islamic organisation in Indonesia said;

“We forbid Muslims to celebrate Valentine’s Day. The day is often celebrated by young, unmarried people. They celebrate Valentine’s Day by holding hands or having free sex, which they are not supposed to be doing,”

Lalilurrahman, the East Java branch chief of the country’s highest Islamic body, the Indonesian Ulema Council, noted that the day had nothing to do with Islamic tradition and should not interest Muslims. He said;

“Valentine’s Day originated from Western culture. It’s not in accordance with Islamic and Eastern culture.”

In Indonesia’s largest cities many shops are selling both Valentine’s Day gifts and Chinese New Year memorabilia.

In Pure Spirit

What do you think? Are these religious leaders worried that Valentine’s Day is corrupting their traditional beliefs or do they simply dislike what it is supposed to stand for?

If you’re Muslim and have done something romantic on Valentine’s Day for your partner then it would great to have your thoughts in the comments below.

Posted on February 13, 2010 - by Andrew

Did the events of Pendle cast a ghostly curse on Gawthorpe Hall?

Gawthorpe Hall is believed, by some, to be one of the most haunted buildings in Lancaster.

The building is owned by the National Trust today but has been in the possession of the Shuttleworth family for much of history. It began life as a pele tower, build in the 14th century to ward off the Scots, and a Jacobean mansion was added in around the year 1600.  It was Sir Charles Barry who extended the hall significantly in 1850.

The initials “KS” appear often around the house which stand for Kay-Shuttleworth.

Some sources claim that Colonel Richard Shuttleworth played a vital part in the Pendle Witches case of 1612 and others believed to be witches in 1633. Others deny this.

Ghosts of Gawthrope Hall

There are many tales and accounts of hauntings at Gawthorpe Hall. Rachel K Shuttleworth is believed to be one of the entities in the hall – she was the last member of the family to actually live in Gawthorpe and was known as extremely skilled at embroider and lacemaking.

Other people speak of the murder of a young woman at the hall. This murder isn’t just associated with a possible ghost but of a sudden pain in the chest that can strike some visitors.

Some people have suggested that Richard Shuttleworth’s involvement with the Pendle witch trial has had an effect on the hall. Richard Shuttleworth was the son of  Hugh Shuttleworth  and Anne Grimsha and so owned West Close where accused witches Chattox and Anne Redfearn lived.

It is believed that it was Richard Shuttleworth’s servant who accused the women of witchcraft in the first place.

In Pure Spirit

Have you been to Gawthorpe Hall and seen its ghosts? What did you make of the historic building?

If you feel like visiting Gawthorpe Hall you can do so by booking via the National Trust*.

Disclaimer: Links marked with a star(*) are affilaite links.

Posted on February 13, 2010 - by Andrew

Alignment: Valentine’s Day is also the Chinese New Year

When is the Chinese New Year this year? It’s February the 14th. That’s right; the Chinese New Year will happen on the same date as Valentine’s Day.

This alignment is pretty rare; it will happen again in 38 years time.

This year is the year of the Tiger.

Here’s wishing you all a happy tiger style Valentine’s Day

In Pure Spirit

Do you think this alignment has any special meaning at all? Or is it just two different calendars overlapping as they’re bound to do now and then.

Posted on February 6, 2010 - by Andrew

Love sweets for Valentine’s Day

The best way to anyone’s heart is through their stomach… or perhaps their mouth; especially if there’s a sweet tooth involved. Why not treat yourself or your loved one to some of these sexy heart sweets?

Yum!

In Pure Spirit

What do you think of sweets like these as a gift idea? Would you like to share any suggestions of your own? Please let us know.

Disclaimer: In Pure Spirit earns commission off A Quarter Of… purchases.

Posted on February 6, 2010 - by Andrew

Ghostly body parts at Capesthorne Hall?

Near Macclesfield stands the grand estate of Capesthorne Hall.

The Hall was built between 1719 and 1732 and has been subject to architectual changes over the years – especially after a fire destroyed much of the building.

The history of the grounds go back further than the Capesthrone Hall itself; everything from the passing of Roman Legions (and Roman road may run the building) to myths of Merlin and Arthur. Capesthrone, itself, can trace its history to the Domesday Book.

Hauntings

Capesthrone Hall has a record of ghostly body parts being sighted. A ghostly and disembodied arm, floating outside a window, was sighted by one of the Bromely-Davenport family who own the hall but vanished when the young man reached the window.

On another occassion there are reports of a disembodied head appearing in the grand hall only to vanish when people went to inspect it.

There’s also a common theme of smells being associated with ghosts and spirits in the hall too (some suggesting that the smells are disembodied senses). Some visitors link the distinct smell of a particular hair tonic to the ghost of the late Lord Bromely-Davenport.

The gray lady is another popular haunting story. Tales make mention of a phantom female that makes her way from the grand staircase to the chapel vault.

In Pure Spirit

Have you been to Capesthorne Hall? Where you able to sense anything? Do you have any stories of suicide, death or murder at Capesthorne that might be linked to the many ghostly tales?

Posted on February 3, 2010 - by Andrew

Helping Haiti and “Everybody Hurts” as premiered on BBC Radio 1

The celebs have come out in force for the Simon Cowell arranged cover of R.E.M’s “Everybody Hurts” single.

You can still donate to the Disasters Emergency Committee here. The single will be out on the 7th of Feb in a digital format and you can buy it on a disc come the 8th.

LYRICS
Leona Lewis
When the day is long and the night, the night is yours alone,

Rod Stewart
When youre sure youve had enough of this life, well hang on

Mariah Carey
Dont let yourself go, cause everybody cries and everybody hurts

Cheryl Cole
Sometimes…. sometimes everything is wrong.

Mika
Now its time to sing along

Michael Buble
When your day is night alone,

Joe McElderry
(hold on, hold on)

Miley Cyrus
If you feel like letting go

James Blunt
If you think youve had too much of this life, well hang on..

Gary Barlow
Cause everybody hurts..

Mark Owen
Take Comfort in your friends

Jon Bon Jovi
Dont throw your hand, oh no

James Morrison
Dont throw your hand.
If you feel like youre alone, no, no, no, you are not alone

Susan Boyle
If youre on your own in this life, the days and nights are long,

Aston Merrygold
When you think youve had too much of this life to…

Marvin Humes
…hang on

Shane Filan
Everybody hurts, sometimes,

Mark Feehily
Everybody cries

Kylie Minogue
And everybody hurts… sometimes

Robbie Williams
And everybody hurts… sometimes, so hold on, hold on

Everyone
Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, repeat to fade

In Pure Spirit

Do you like it? Does it matter… it’s for a very good cause!