News from 07-January-1999 (UK)

Here's more from the archive of material I used to write years ago. I had a business writing for radio station (lord knows how when I read some of it) and I'm posting it on my blog because I don't want it to disappear with me. Labour has warned it's ministers that it will loose the next election of it doesn't solve the problem of the rifts. When I get those I just try to eat less gassy foods. A new TV campaign featuring the voice of Sean Bean has started to encourage more people to give blood. He said he always wanted to play the part of Dracula and this is as close as he is going to get. GMTV star Fiona Phillips is to take a break from the show because she's going to be a mum... ...No more early mornings for her, just earlier mornings and more sick. ...All those early mornings, nappies and crying. She'll be glad to see the back of Eamonn Holmes. Prime Minister Tony Blair has said that there is not a rift between him and Gordon Brown. But Gordon Brown hasn't agreed. Sex is used by broadcasters to boost TV ratings, a survey of viewers suggests. The BBC's new Vanessa Feltz show is now on our screens. You find a correlation. Prince Edward apparently "totally surprised" Sophie Rhys-Jones with his proposal. It surprised him too, he only got down on one knew to tie his shoelace. Dog owners are being urged to belt up their pets in the backs of cars. I can't see a pet talking too much. Royal Navy pilot Lt Martin "Jack" London has been awarded a bravery commendation for flying his plane as a "convertible", after the canopy disintegrated, for 20 minutes. I thought they give out bravery medals for not loosing your top. Britain is being plagued by strong winds that are wreaking havoc. I've known some very strong wind that reeked but I think we're talking about different things. Stuart Brennan proposed by scattering 1,000 red roses on his girlfriend's four-poster bed. There is a chance that when she gets in bed with him she might feel a little prick...if all the thorns haven't been removed. This year will mark the start of a dangerous "new era" for hurricane activity, weather scientists predict. I didn't think he was still playing snooker. Hard-up students have had to pawn belongings to make ends meet because of delays in processing loans, according to the National Union of Students. They're not the first people to turn to porn to make ends meet. The comeback of ABC, Culture Club and the Human League for a concert has sparked of fears of a health scare. The room will be so full of quiffs that the amount of hair spray in the room will be considered a fire risk. The comeback of ABC will be celebrated by three special episode of Sesame Street. The Chancellor's brother has denied that he leaked a copy of the letter from Peter Mandelson to Gordon Brown on the 1994 Labour leadership challenge. If you're after Government leaks look at the Welsh Secretary. Archaeologists have unearthed foundations of a massive arch that dates back to Roman times in central London. The last ancient relic that turned up in London was Barbara Cartland on tour. Scientists from Birmingham University are carrying out a £300,000 three-year study to discover how to produce the perfect pint of beer. At last, the lecturers and student have the same goal. Earl Spencer has won a battle to convert a local beauty spot into a car park. The woman who's face the beauty spot is on isn't pleased. The entire route of the Greenwich meridian through Britain, from East Sussex to East Yorkshire, is to be marked for the millennium on a new series of Ordnance Survey maps. It will be the first time the prime meridian of longitude has been specially shown. What actually happen was one of the drawers dropped his pen on the map but they're making the best of it. Essex police dog handlers Sgt Andrew White and Pc Kenneth Boorman, convicted of cruelty to their animals, have been dismissed from the service. The police tried an internal inquiry but they didn't have any leads.