Jottings police who were given a bizarre geography test during the recruitment process . Questions did not centre on the back streets of Blackpool or the quickest route from Preston to Accrington but asked them to supply the correct spellings of US place names including Sioux Falls , Cincinnati , and Chattanooga .
… the driver of an AA van which had been called out to rescue a car which had become stuck in the sand on a beach in Newquay , Cornwall , in June . His van got stuck in the sand .
… 101 Bingo players in Brazil who erupted with excitement early last month when the number they were all waiting for was called . It turned out that number 49 had been printed on 500 Bingo cards , all the holders of which simultaneously claimed House ! The jackpot of 1,000 Brazilian reales (€ 188 ) was split between them .
… West Parley Parish Council in Dorset whose workers brightened up the village with planters full of colourful flowers . Unfortunately , the displays also included at least six cannabis plants , thriving and standing tall amongst the bedding plants . A spokesman said it was believed “ a prankster ” had added the illegal herb to the planter outside St Mark ’ s Church .
… Leon Gleed of south Wales who mistook a package of Tesco ’ s flushable toilet cleaner wipes for regular loo rolls , and developed a nasty rash …
Quotes
“ Ladies and gentlemen … if I ’ m allowed to call you that …” – Camilla , Duchess of Cornwall , talking at a celebration for her 75th birthday last month .
“ Don ’ t get mad , get everything .” – Advice to women considering divorce from Ivana Trump , married to Donald between 1977 and 1982 , who died last month aged 73 .
“ I do what I want .” – Current bad boy of tennis , Nick Kyrgios , speaking during Wimbledon last month .
“ Gingerbread person : 85p .” – Spotted at the woke bakery counter in a branch of Sainsbury ’ s supermarket .
“ We cannot be living in a society where people are terrified of pointing out the basic facts of biology for fear of losing their job .” – Suella Braverman , the UK ’ s Attorney General and failed candidate for Conservative Party leader .
“ We really do have a government of barbarians .” – Award-winning author Philip Pullman on the decision by Sheffield Hallam University to stop teaching English Literature as a standalone subject following a crackdown on , what Ministers regard as , “ low-value ” courses .
“ Find a life worth enjoying , take risks , love deeply , have no regrets , and always , always have rebellious hope . And finally , check your poo – it could just save your life .” – Final message from Dame Deborah James before her death at the end of June aged 40 . Dame Deborah spent her last five years raising awareness of bowel cancer and helped raise over £ 6.5 million for research into the disease which took her life .
Grateful acknowledgement to the following papers from which some of this material is extracted : Daily Mail , Daily Mirror , Daily Express , Independent on Sunday , Mail on Sunday , The Sun , The Sunday Times , The Times and The Telegraph . Seen something funny , bizarre or just plain weird ? Contributions for Jottings are welcome by email to : sarah @ soltalk . com .
Scotsman is new head of Age in Spain
A Scot living in Santiago de Compostela has been elected President of Age in Spain , the organisation dedicated to supporting older English language speakers living in Spain or thinking of moving there .
John Rafferty ( pictured ) joined the organisation as a volunteer on its Residency Helpline which supported people concerned about their residency status during the Brexit negotiations . Becoming a trustee of Age in Spain , John convened a campaign group which has delivered awareness raising campaigns on dementia and on what is involved in moving to or living in Spain .
Alongside a career at chief executive level in the voluntary and public sectors , John chaired NHS trusts in Scotland and England before moving to Spain .
Commenting on his election as President , John said “ I am delighted to accept this role and I very much look forward to contributing to the magnificent work carried out by the many volunteers who are at the heart of Age in Spain .
“ The organisation has been serving English speakers in Spain for 30 years and has provided many vital services to those needing support and information , particularly the most vulnerable .
“ The task before us is to maintain and expand those services to meet increasing need in the future . I relish the opportunity to work without many volunteers , staff and supporters to achieve that end .”
John has long been a champion of volunteering and the development of infrastructure to support volunteering . He takes up his new post alongside three new Trustees of Age in Spain who have also had practical experience as volunteers with the organisation . Marijke Cazemier , David Dransfield and Margaret McKay strengthen the practical skills on the Board of Trustees , with expertise in project management , quality standards and leadership .
The founder of Age in Spain , Judy Arnold-Boakes , MBE , becomes the organisation ’ s first Honorary Vice President .
27