- United Kingdom's Highlighted Stories -

There is one household where age can not be concealed nor
can the thought of retirement be the next word on your lips, even though, the years are forever increasing. Duty-bound to the very last drop of blood.

With a Birthday in the Royal  household comes special rewards and tributes, and as Prince Philip marked his 90th Birthday, so did The Queen reward his loyal services to the Crown by making him Lord High Admiral of the Navy. A rather grand tribute indeed, as it is usually a title held by the monarch herself.

While Britain's Prince Philip, known more for his colourful, dry and sometimes controversial quips, than for his 10 years serving his country in the
Second World War.

On reaching the rank of commander before retiring, his unwavering stoic support for his wife and designated charter, has never been in question.

____________
By Adele Simms

Looking for devine attitude

It's now been 4 years since little Maddy McCann was taken from her hotel room in Portugal while on holiday with her parents. Everyone and their dog - including the parents - have at some time been accused, by the media and the Portuguese Police, of everything from kidnapping to murder.

Millions have been donated to help track her down and it's all been spent in the sad and heart-rendering hunt. No child in the world has had more publicity in similar circumstances since a Dingo supposedly snatched Azaria Chamberlain from a tent near Ayers Rock, in Central Australia in 1980.

Although the parents of Maddy McCann have been to hell and back in their attempts to find their missing child, many who have followed the case had almost given up hope of Maddy ever being found, alive or dead. However, this last week Scotland Yard detectives disclosed they, like Clouseau, were still hard on the case and had flown to Spain on several recent occasions to follow up on leads.

While the Portuguese Police who were handling the case from the beginning acted in a very similar manner to Blake Edwards fictitious and bungling sleuth, Inspector Clouseau, Scotland Yard's best 'Investigative Peelers' are known for their thoroughness in such matters, which means,
they were not chasing shadows.

We all know that old saying 'Hope springs eternal' is part of the human psyche and one cannot help wondering how those poor and often accused - and even abused - parents have endured these occasional moments of 'hope,' and I am sure there are millions around the world who, like the McCanns, pray that a miracle may just happen.

There's no doubting for a moment that if the poor child does emerge from the darkness and gloom of this horrible afair and prove to still be alive and well, that the tabloids yet again will have a field day. They thrive on personal tragedy.

Personally, I can only hope that if such a miracle was to occur, that one of those highly sensitive High Court Judges we often see putting gagging orders on rumour, scandal and innuendo has the intestinial fortitude to shut
up those heinous and hyena-like tabloids, just for once,
from causing the traumatized McCann family
any more grief and agony.

Unions are uniting in numbers in the distinct hope of bringing Britain to it's knees in the biggest industrial action since 1926 While the national economy struggles to a putt... putt standstill, and we see unemployment figures hitting the roof, 'bullies in suits' wave their fingers and strut their stuff waging war on the government who are already taking low blows from all quarters.

Everyone in the country has had to take cuts - it is called, 'pulling in the reins on spending' - however, it is obvious that the 'Union Hierarchy' think they are beyond cutting back and guffaw at the mere thought of tightening their ever ballooning fat cat belts - as enormous as their girths are - judging by the outrageously extravagant banquet dinner they gorged into the other evening.

Forget the cucumber sandwiches and mince pies, this was Cordon Bleu at it's finest. £10,000 was shelled out just for the hire of two luxurious rooms at the Trafalgar Square 'Inn' - don't even mention the pocket change it cost for the four course dinner and beverage. Attended by what appeared to be, the entire Shadow Cabinet Brigade keeping up the tradition of supporting their 'Brother's In Arms' and allowing themselves the fine pleasures that many a Labour voter - one would assume - could not even fantasize indulging in....Whether it is keeping up appearances or just 'rubbing people's faces in it' the Union Brotherhood really don't care, their arrogance knows no bounds. The Porky Hierarchy.with the customary reseeding hairline, thick necked, bullish and red faced, who trade on threats - as well as actions - and always with the greatest disruption to the general public as possible. Unite, Unison and GMB, the country's three largest trade unions have teamed up with the Fire Brigades Union in threatening industrial action in protest at proposed changes to their pensions. This could see civil servants across Scotland and the UK putting down their hoses, tools, biro pens in the classroom and even ambulance drivers abandoning their posts come one cold late November day. All tied nicely in a neat little bow for when the Chancellor  George Osborne is expected to give his pre-Budget report.

This August saw the 30 year Anniversary of President Ronald Reagan who in 1981 ordered the firing of 11,359 striking air traffic controllers. During a press conference regarding the PATCO strike, President Reagan stated: "They are in violation of the law and if they do not report for work within 48 hours they have forfeited their jobs and will be terminated."

Reagan was immediately branded a hero by squashing the Unions even though prior to becoming President he was a strong supporter of the unions and although a rather foreign stand for his apparent Conservative leanings, he was once the President of a Labour Union. So maybe this all speaks louder than words to all the Union minded heavy-weights concerned when one highlights the fact that Union  bosses are paid annual salaries, as well as perks, in excess of the obscene sums like £100,000 and £200,000. Scary figures when one summarises the fact that these 'burly blokes'  are supposed to be out there supporting the good old defenseless under-dog.

Take Arthur Scargill for instance who repeatedly drove up to 'his' striking miners in 1984 in his Rolls Royce giving them support and chanting for them to continue their battle. He who has claimed more than £250,000 in expenses for a luxury flat in London despite stepping down as head of the NUM miners’ union eight years ago.