Soltalk February 2020 | Page 30

Jottings from previous page but British innovator Mahabir Gill says his patented design could save industry many thousands in wasted hours. In the UK alone, he claims, £4 billion (€4.7 billion) could be saved. While toilets are presently built with a horizontal seat, Mr Gill’s design has the seated angled at 13 degrees downwards. He says he has tested prototypes and concluded that seated on a down-facing slope at 11 degrees remains comfortable for 15 minutes, but at 13 degrees, comfort evaporates after a maximum of five to seven minutes. Unsurprisingly, the design has been heavily mocked on social media with someone questioning whether Donald Trump would Tweet less if he had one. Full details at standardtoilet.net if you’re flushed with curiosity. And while we’re at it, congratulations go to Manchester City Council who have just acquired eight new road gritting lorries. In a moment of brilliant insanity, some enlightened soul decided to invite the public to name each of the sparkling new vehicles. So Manchester now boasts a fleet of gritters called Basil Salty, Grit Astley, Gritter Thunberg, Slushay Away, Snowbi-Gone Kenobi, Snowel Gallagher, Spreaddie Flintoff and Spreaddie Mercury. Spare a thought for ... ... Florida police who rushed to a home in Lake Worth Beach just after Christmas to investigate reports of a woman screaming for help. What they found was a 40-year-old parrot called Rambo who had been taught to squawk “Help, help – let me out!” by his owner when he was a child. ... Davíd from León who woke up in the toilet of his local bar hours after the businesses had closed and locked-up for the night. However, he did not panic but poured himself a beer, shared a video of his problem on social media, eventually called the Guardia Civil and offered officers a beer when they arrived to rescue him. Unfortunately, his video went viral and Davíd is now maintaining a low profile. ... Burger King whose new soy-based version of its Whopper burger is not suitable for vegetarians or vegans ... 28 because it’s cooked on the same grill as meat burgers. The chain explained it was aimed at “flexitarians” ... ... Someone at the UK’s Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government who decided to launch the “Town of the Year” contest in Wolverhampton last month, and then published a jolly press release featuring Communities Secretary, Robert Jenrick, touring the “town centre.” Wolverhampton has been a city for 19 years - and it’s where Mr Jenrick was born and educated. And finally ... Last September, Matthew Davies, 47, robbed a Bank of Scotland branch in Dunfermline, armed with a meat cleaver. The High Court in Glasgow was told last month that he pulled the weapon out of a pillowcase before putting the case over his face in an attempt to conceal his identity, but then quickly removing it. Prosecutor Stewart Ronnie said, “This was due to a failure to create eye holes.” He was handed almost £2,000 before making his escape. A witness said,” He was walking very slowly, even stopping to pat a dog.” Davies pleaded guilty.