MATT MONRO, BRITAIN'S GREATEST SINGER
It is now over 20 years since cancer claimed the life of a man regarded overwhelmingly by his peers as the greatest singer of popular songs Britain has produced. Yet this man, whose ability was praised by everyone from Sinatra and Bing Crosby, to The Beatles' producer, Sir George Martin, remains something of an enigma. So what sort of a man was it then whose exquisite talent earned him international respect and admiration from within a profession rife with self aggrandizement, where praise for one's rivals is rare?
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The late, great Matt Monro was born on 1st December 1930 (real name Terence Edward Parsons) in Shoreditch, London, the youngest of five children- four boys and a girl. Young Terence was soon to learn about adversity as, having lost his father when he was 3 years old, the resultant deterioration in his mother, Alice's, health necessitated his being placed in a foster home, along with his brother Harry, the second youngest child. The easy going, grace under pressure, which was to epitomise his character in later years, seems to have somehow served him well in early childhood, as he coped well in these difficult formative years; indeed he would subsequently come to regard them as a valuable lesson in toughening him up for adult life.
Not that young Terry Parsons was a saint. Leaving school at fourteen- an act that seems less damaging when one considers the paltry amount of time he would, through truanting, actually spend there- he took a variety of unskilled jobs in factories and on building sites. He also worked as a baker's roundsman and a milkman; it is easy to envisage the diminutive, cheeky faced young Cockney cheerfully delivering his wares, and chatting to Mums and Dads on the doorsteps of post war north London.
But the restless and adventurous young man knew what he really wanted from life. He wanted to travel and see something of the world for himself. And what better way to do that than to enlist in the forces, where he could also acquire a trade? Aged just 17 (a fact that he was apparently less than frank with the authorities about) he joined the R.E.M.E.(Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers). Stationed initially in the U.K. he passed a mechanics course and an advanced driving exam. After 2 years service he was posted to Hong Kong as a mechanic and tank instructor, and he stayed there for 3 years.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
One might think that to become a celebrity in this day and age you will need a special talent or a learned ability that makes you a more interesting and tantalizing person. Use your God given gift to record a hit record or film a blockbuster film. But as we've all seen in the tabloid magazines and on the reality TV shows, none of those things are necessary.
Here are the actual things that you need to be a celebrity.
First and foremost you need to have a rich daddy. He could be a successful business tycoon or a former singing star, it doesn't matter. As long as Daddy lets you spend his money on whatever you want and then bails you out of jail with expensive lawyers every time you flip a car while drunk driving or get caught doing drugs in a public bathroom. You'll need a few rich friends too. And try to hang out in places where other famous people are hanging out. Be sure to wear a trampy outfit with a skimpy skirt, and conveniently forget to wear your underwear so the paparazzi can get a revealing picture of you getting into your Bentley. Oh and carrying a really tiny dog with you everywhere helps too.
If your Daddy isn't rich and famous, then you'll have to be a bit more creative. Save your money and go see a fertility specialist and have him impregnate you with 5, 6 or even 7 babies. In fact, the more kids you can have in one pregnancy, the more famous you'll be. I think the current record is 8. Eventually you'll find yourself on Oprah, The Today Show, and may even land your own reality television show where you can exploit those kids for profit. You don't even need to have a spouse either, but if you do, have him cheat on you and gain some sympathy from the single mother's watching TV.
If getting pregnant and trying to raise a litter of exploited TV babies isn't your thing, then get out the video camera and make yourself a sex tape. Perform some raunchy acts with someone sketchy and then leave it out in the open for someone to steal. Eventually it will end up on the internet. Then file a lawsuit trying to ban anyone from profiting from the tape and sell it yourself for millions of dollars to a sleazy pornographic website that will plaster it all over the internet for the world to see. Before you know it, you'll be hanging out with D-list celebrities on some reality show in the jungle eating bugs and enjoying how famous you've become. Daddy will be so proud!
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Here are the actual things that you need to be a celebrity.
First and foremost you need to have a rich daddy. He could be a successful business tycoon or a former singing star, it doesn't matter. As long as Daddy lets you spend his money on whatever you want and then bails you out of jail with expensive lawyers every time you flip a car while drunk driving or get caught doing drugs in a public bathroom. You'll need a few rich friends too. And try to hang out in places where other famous people are hanging out. Be sure to wear a trampy outfit with a skimpy skirt, and conveniently forget to wear your underwear so the paparazzi can get a revealing picture of you getting into your Bentley. Oh and carrying a really tiny dog with you everywhere helps too.
If your Daddy isn't rich and famous, then you'll have to be a bit more creative. Save your money and go see a fertility specialist and have him impregnate you with 5, 6 or even 7 babies. In fact, the more kids you can have in one pregnancy, the more famous you'll be. I think the current record is 8. Eventually you'll find yourself on Oprah, The Today Show, and may even land your own reality television show where you can exploit those kids for profit. You don't even need to have a spouse either, but if you do, have him cheat on you and gain some sympathy from the single mother's watching TV.
If getting pregnant and trying to raise a litter of exploited TV babies isn't your thing, then get out the video camera and make yourself a sex tape. Perform some raunchy acts with someone sketchy and then leave it out in the open for someone to steal. Eventually it will end up on the internet. Then file a lawsuit trying to ban anyone from profiting from the tape and sell it yourself for millions of dollars to a sleazy pornographic website that will plaster it all over the internet for the world to see. Before you know it, you'll be hanging out with D-list celebrities on some reality show in the jungle eating bugs and enjoying how famous you've become. Daddy will be so proud!
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THINGS YOU NEED TO BE A CELEBRITY.
One might think that to become a celebrity in this day and age you will need a special talent or a learned ability that makes you a more interesting and tantalizing person. Use your God given gift to record a hit record or film a blockbuster film. But as we've all seen in the tabloid magazines and on the reality TV shows, none of those things are necessary.
Here are the actual things that you need to be a celebrity.
First and foremost you need to have a rich daddy. He could be a successful business tycoon or a former singing star, it doesn't matter. As long as Daddy lets you spend his money on whatever you want and then bails you out of jail with expensive lawyers every time you flip a car while drunk driving or get caught doing drugs in a public bathroom. You'll need a few rich friends too. And try to hang out in places where other famous people are hanging out. Be sure to wear a trampy outfit with a skimpy skirt, and conveniently forget to wear your underwear so the paparazzi can get a revealing picture of you getting into your Bentley. Oh and carrying a really tiny dog with you everywhere helps too.
If your Daddy isn't rich and famous, then you'll have to be a bit more creative. Save your money and go see a fertility specialist and have him impregnate you with 5, 6 or even 7 babies. In fact, the more kids you can have in one pregnancy, the more famous you'll be. I think the current record is 8. Eventually you'll find yourself on Oprah, The Today Show, and may even land your own reality television show where you can exploit those kids for profit. You don't even need to have a spouse either, but if you do, have him cheat on you and gain some sympathy from the single mother's watching TV.
If getting pregnant and trying to raise a litter of exploited TV babies isn't your thing, then get out the video camera and make yourself a sex tape. Perform some raunchy acts with someone sketchy and then leave it out in the open for someone to steal. Eventually it will end up on the internet. Then file a lawsuit trying to ban anyone from profiting from the tape and sell it yourself for millions of dollars to a sleazy pornographic website that will plaster it all over the internet for the world to see. Before you know it, you'll be hanging out with D-list celebrities on some reality show in the jungle eating bugs and enjoying how famous you've become. Daddy will be so proud!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here are the actual things that you need to be a celebrity.
First and foremost you need to have a rich daddy. He could be a successful business tycoon or a former singing star, it doesn't matter. As long as Daddy lets you spend his money on whatever you want and then bails you out of jail with expensive lawyers every time you flip a car while drunk driving or get caught doing drugs in a public bathroom. You'll need a few rich friends too. And try to hang out in places where other famous people are hanging out. Be sure to wear a trampy outfit with a skimpy skirt, and conveniently forget to wear your underwear so the paparazzi can get a revealing picture of you getting into your Bentley. Oh and carrying a really tiny dog with you everywhere helps too.
If your Daddy isn't rich and famous, then you'll have to be a bit more creative. Save your money and go see a fertility specialist and have him impregnate you with 5, 6 or even 7 babies. In fact, the more kids you can have in one pregnancy, the more famous you'll be. I think the current record is 8. Eventually you'll find yourself on Oprah, The Today Show, and may even land your own reality television show where you can exploit those kids for profit. You don't even need to have a spouse either, but if you do, have him cheat on you and gain some sympathy from the single mother's watching TV.
If getting pregnant and trying to raise a litter of exploited TV babies isn't your thing, then get out the video camera and make yourself a sex tape. Perform some raunchy acts with someone sketchy and then leave it out in the open for someone to steal. Eventually it will end up on the internet. Then file a lawsuit trying to ban anyone from profiting from the tape and sell it yourself for millions of dollars to a sleazy pornographic website that will plaster it all over the internet for the world to see. Before you know it, you'll be hanging out with D-list celebrities on some reality show in the jungle eating bugs and enjoying how famous you've become. Daddy will be so proud!
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HOW TO REPEL MOSQUITOES NATURALLY...
Mosquitoes are one of the most annoying insect pests alive. If you live in an area with a lot of mosquitoes, it can completely destroy your summer, and prevent you from enjoying outdoor activities in the cooler and more pleasant morning and evening hours.
With the arrival of West Nile Disease, mosquitoes have also become dangerous to citizens of non-tropical countries for the first time in many years.
Here are some tips for controlling mosquitoes around your home without pesticides or other dangerous chemicals.
Photo by James Jordan
Destroy Mosquito Habitat
The first step you should take is to examine your yard thoroughly a day or two after a heavy rainfall, looking for areas with standing water that might harbor mosquito larvae. Not all of these areas will be natural - in fact, some mosquitoes show a decided preference for breeding in old tires and similar man-made water collectors. Dump out any standing water you find, or better yet, remove the breeding habitat completely.
Be careful to change water in bird baths at least two times per week.
If you own a pond, consider adding a waterfall or fountain to prevent the water from becoming stagnant. Adding koi is another good idea - koi voraciously eat mosquito larvae, pupae, and adults. Other good mosquito-eating fish include: goldfish, mosquito fish (Gambusia affinis), Fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas), and Golden shiners (Notemigonus crysoleucas).
Cut edge plantings back so they don't overhang the water, and keep aquatic plants from going in quiet corners of the pond, to keep them from providing protection for mosquito larvae.
Do provide some underwater and emergent plants such as sedges or rushes, however, because dragonflies - another voracious mosquito eater - will use these plants to climb out of the water when changing from their nymph form to adults. More dragonfly attracting tips.
Plants That Repel Mosquitoes
There are a number of plants that repel mosquites. Planting a mix of these plants around your home and patio can create mosquito free zones for outdoor entertaining and other activities.
One of the most famous mosquito-repelling plants is citronella grass, which is used by manufacturers to make citronella candles.
Another well-known mosquito repelling plant is marigolds. These cheery flowers repel many other insect pests as well, but are popular nectar sources for butterflies.
Catnip is famous for attracting cats, but what is less well known is that it also repels mosquitoes! In fact, studies have found that catnip oil is more than 10 times better at repelling mosquitoes than DEET!
The lovely and aromatic garden herbs rosemary, basil, lavender, lemon balm, and lemongrass are also effective mosquito repellents.
More plants that repel mosquitoes:
cedar
sagebrush
bee balm/bergamot
onion
garlic
tansy
eucalyptus
peppermint
horsemint
There are two different kinds of plants commonly sold as "mosquito plants." One is a type of geranium that has been genetically modified to produce citronella oil. The other is Agastache cana, also known as Giant Hyssop, Bubblegum Mint, or Hummingbird Mint.
With the arrival of West Nile Disease, mosquitoes have also become dangerous to citizens of non-tropical countries for the first time in many years.
Here are some tips for controlling mosquitoes around your home without pesticides or other dangerous chemicals.
Photo by James Jordan
Destroy Mosquito Habitat
The first step you should take is to examine your yard thoroughly a day or two after a heavy rainfall, looking for areas with standing water that might harbor mosquito larvae. Not all of these areas will be natural - in fact, some mosquitoes show a decided preference for breeding in old tires and similar man-made water collectors. Dump out any standing water you find, or better yet, remove the breeding habitat completely.
Be careful to change water in bird baths at least two times per week.
If you own a pond, consider adding a waterfall or fountain to prevent the water from becoming stagnant. Adding koi is another good idea - koi voraciously eat mosquito larvae, pupae, and adults. Other good mosquito-eating fish include: goldfish, mosquito fish (Gambusia affinis), Fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas), and Golden shiners (Notemigonus crysoleucas).
Cut edge plantings back so they don't overhang the water, and keep aquatic plants from going in quiet corners of the pond, to keep them from providing protection for mosquito larvae.
Do provide some underwater and emergent plants such as sedges or rushes, however, because dragonflies - another voracious mosquito eater - will use these plants to climb out of the water when changing from their nymph form to adults. More dragonfly attracting tips.
Plants That Repel Mosquitoes
There are a number of plants that repel mosquites. Planting a mix of these plants around your home and patio can create mosquito free zones for outdoor entertaining and other activities.
One of the most famous mosquito-repelling plants is citronella grass, which is used by manufacturers to make citronella candles.
Another well-known mosquito repelling plant is marigolds. These cheery flowers repel many other insect pests as well, but are popular nectar sources for butterflies.
Catnip is famous for attracting cats, but what is less well known is that it also repels mosquitoes! In fact, studies have found that catnip oil is more than 10 times better at repelling mosquitoes than DEET!
The lovely and aromatic garden herbs rosemary, basil, lavender, lemon balm, and lemongrass are also effective mosquito repellents.
More plants that repel mosquitoes:
cedar
sagebrush
bee balm/bergamot
onion
garlic
tansy
eucalyptus
peppermint
horsemint
There are two different kinds of plants commonly sold as "mosquito plants." One is a type of geranium that has been genetically modified to produce citronella oil. The other is Agastache cana, also known as Giant Hyssop, Bubblegum Mint, or Hummingbird Mint.
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