The ticket to the Titanic

Welcome to the Titanic. When you come in the special interactive exhibition in the O2 it is seemed that you come on the board of this tragically famous ship.

 

Here you can touch an iceberg and see for each of the hundreds of personal things belonged to passengers united a great tragedy.

Many things have remained under water is no worse than in a museum. For example, plates for first class passengers - it stayed on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean at a depth of 3,750 meters is almost a hundred years.

Our guide Cheryl Moore said at the beginning of the excursion: "People are fascinated with the story of the Titanic, even a hundred years later. The biggest ship, and the most luxurious. At the same time it is a story about people: the elite of the time and usual people. "

All things were taken out by a special deep device. There were eight expeditions , and the last was held this summer. Raise the whole "Titanic" is impossible.

You can feel the atmosphere of the Titanic.

There you can even feel the spirit of death when you touch the artificial iceberg. It is minus two degrees. Approximately the same temperature was in the salt water at that fateful night. Most people died just from hypothermia.

There are about 5 000 artifacts taken from the bottom of the Atlantic. There are only 300 at the exhibition. But even such small items like buttons can tell a lot about time and people. And looking at these things you feel the hopelessness of the whole situation on the 14^th of April in 1912.

I am a passenger

Every visitor receives a ticket as was in "Titanic." There is a story of real passenger nn the reverse side of it.

My ticket was belonged to Baron Alfred von Drashtedu. He was lucky. He was rescued.  He was a passenger of the first class.

Frozen Britain

Snow has already in London. If yesterday all TV channels and radio stations broadcasted terrible snow-covered pictures from the North of the country today there has been no any necessity to switch on the media. 

You wake up in the morning, look through the window and just cannot recognize the country in what you are. What is it? Russia? Siberia? Or the North Pole?

Even for the person who is used to living in the strong winter conditions, as I am, it is really unusual to see snowfall on the British islands at the end of November.  The question is appeared immediately: “Sorry, there is your praised Gulf Stream?”

However, we should not blame the weather. Because this is the most favourite work of the authorities. There is no any difference in that issue in every country. Winter always comes unexpectedly for them. 

What’s happened with Britain? 

Although, the UK has been suffering from early snowfall for the last three years it has become the real collapse for the country every time. 

People are got stuck in the trains for 24 hours because of rimed conductors. Airports are closed because of snow-covered landing strips. Thousands of schools are closed because of the broken heating systems.  

Atypical cold and snow covered almost the entire country, the press writes. Stock of sand and salt sprinkled on the roads has remained only for a couple of weeks. There is also the lack of special equipment for the road cleaning. 

There is something for the top news and front pages. 

Despite of all troubles such weather is the exciting theme for the media. Snowfalls and frost are the main topics of the all national news. Every hour we can follow the changing of surviving conditions of the most suffered place in the UK.

 In such circumstances drivers call to refuse travel as possible. On some roads, where traffic jams have formed, desperate drivers are simply throwing their cars and continue their trip on foot.

It is sounds like The End of the World, isn’t it? 

However, the reasonable question is followed. If snowfalls are more frequent in recent years why people meet winter as a complete surprise?

British women copy of the future princess ring

It is so funny but why not? Every girl dreams to be a princess. If you already have grown up there is a chance to feel yourself like a queen. Just force your beloved to make the order of the ring as of the future princess Kate Middleton. 

 

The British press is not tired to report about the significant jump in orders in the jewelry business. The reason is the engagement of Prince William. New York-based Natural Sapphire Company which daily produces from five to ten wedding rings raised the volume of daily production to 30.

Customers are actively bought copies of the ring of the future princess Kate Middleton. Its components: an oval blue sapphire weighing 18 carats, diamond and white gold. Original ornament costs nearly half a million dollars.

Michael Arnshteyn, president of the Natural Sapphire Company said to the Evening Standard: «Mostly women call to make an order. There are even very original calls, when the ladies asked us to push their husbands to choose a ring with a sapphire is a royal design. "

It is funny. However, as for me, I would like to get such amazing ring!

Russia and NATO have written a new chapter in world history

NATO and Russia will develop a European missile defense system and assess security threats. These are the main results of the summit in Lisbon.

In Lisbon, the partnership between NATO and Russia was founded. Big words, but they all backed up by specific intentions.

Of course, there was a thesis about the common threats - it is terrorism, drug trafficking, piracy, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

To agree on missile defense

The main discussion at the summit was on missile defense. Russia agreed to participate in creating a European missile defense system, but participate on an equal basis. If this does not happen, then there is a real danger of a new arms race, Medvedev said.

According to his words, Russia is interested in predictable defense strategy. So, construction relations with NATO as the largest military-political bloc will be depended from this fact.

The Afghan issue

 The situation in Afghanistan is too unstable and too big terrorist threat emanating from there, agreed the members of the summit. So it is doubted that the international forces can be withdrawn from the country in the near future.

 At the same time, Medvedev said, Russia is ready to extend assistance to the international forces to ensure security in Afghanistan.

Russia and NATO

Russian and NATO officials are going to discuss steps against terrorism and piracy, and Afghanistan ahead of the Russia-NATO summit today.  The main goal is to finish the so called "cold war" between the Alliance and Russia. 

This further political meeting has already been called historical. It’s the first time they have come together to discuss these issues. Both sides are expecting a lot from it.

While two years ago summit talks about placing NATO forces near Russian borders leaded to strain their relations. One of the main topics of this meeting is progress on European security. 

The Russian president Dmitriy Medvedev stated that this is the right moment for real change. As Vesti.ru quoted his words: “We are discussing a lot of different questions including a new collective missile defence system for Europe"

The main unsolved problem

NATO head Anders Fogh Rasmussen said it is time the Alliance and Russia stopped tracking each other through their gunsights and become close partners (Vesti.ru).

Despite the expected agreement on possible missile-defence cooperation, Russia had continuing concerns that the system could be directed against it. 

Russia's ambassador to NATO, Dmitriy Ragozin said the alliance should put restrictions on the missile-defence system's "geography, quality and quantity" (Vesti.ru).

The Birthday of Russian Santa

November 18 Russian Grandfather Frost celebrated his next birthday. It is believed that his age has passed for 2,000 years.

The home of Russian Santa is Veliky Ustyug. There people very carefully prepare for this holiday. A special mailbox is opened in this day. So everybody can send the congratulations to Grandfather Frost.

Usually many magic relatives of Russian Grandfather Frost come to his birthday. They are Santa Claus from Finland, Chishan from Yakutiya, Karelian Pakkayne, winter storyteller Mikulas from the Czech Republic.

The holiday history

The birthday of Santa Claus has been officially celebrated at the 18th of November 18 since 2005. This date was created by children. This is due to the fact that the strong winter with the hard frost usually comes to Great Ustyug at this time.

The special tourism project "Great Ustyug - the birthplace of Grandfather Frost " was started in 1999. There was the grand opening of the Grandfather Frost House in Veliky Ustyug. There are tourist trains and buses from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Vologda to the birthplace of Russian Santa.

Now Grandfather Frost goes to a traditional pre-Christmas tour. Until the end of November he plans to visit Germany. A few days Russian Santa Claus will spend in France. He will meet with the winter fairy fairies of Europe in Strasbourg.

The future Royal Wedding

Britain is preparing for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. It is scheduled for summer of next year. 

The place of the wedding is Westminster Abbey in central London. But until now unknown, in which dress the bride will appear.

Obviously, the designer who creates a dress for Kate Middleton will become very famous immediately. The dress itself will be a role model for many years. So it happened with the dress of Princess Diana. 

It was designed by the British designer Elizabeth Emanuel. The famous wedding took place almost 30 years ago. But brides ask wedding salons to sew them the same dress.

It was the dress of ivory silk with the big skirt and an 8-meter train. The dress was decorated with 10 thousand pearls and lace.

Current fashion

However, the designers doubt that Kate Middleton will be in the similar dress. She always dressed in the most fashionable. 

According to the British experts in the fashion world the bride will choose a narrow dress with a high collar and a short train.As the British press publish, Kate chooses an expensive lace and embroidery for her dress decoration.

As for color, Miss Middleton is hardly shocking guests radical red. It is expected that the bride of Prince appears in a white dress. It has been happened in the royal family over the past centuries.

The Lord Mayor's show

At the first glance it reminded the fairytale. The gold carriage, beautiful horses and king’s suit. However, this was the British reality. Londoners greeted the new Lord Mayor of the City.

 This event was conducted according to the best British traditions. I was lucky to be a witness of this spectacular show.

A crowd of people was around the St. Paul's Cathedral. However, the performance was worth of standing in the crush and waiting for some hours.

Sometimes the show was like a carnival or like a military parade. The Lord Mayor’s show is one of the most expensive and chaotic in style. Michael Bear was greeted by guardsmen, clowns, musical bands, and even locomotives.

The City of London is...

The City is one of the richest areas of London. Without exaggeration, it is one of the world's financial centers.

The City has its own police, budget, schools and traditions. The most surprised thing that the City Mayor even has the right for refusing the Queen to entry this area.

This is, in fact, the kingdom in the kingdom. The Lord Mayor is like the monarch in his magnificence and scale of celebrations. He even comes to a parade in his honor in the luxurious golden carriage.

The history

The Mayor’s right to have so many privileges appeared almost 800 years ago. The King John allowed district residents to choose their own mayor. Each head of the City runs holds his post only for one year.

The mayor took over his hat about 100 times for several hours of the ceremony. He also was surrounded by a lot of Teddy-bears. Although, it was seemed that Mr. Bear was not upset.

The first part of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" started in London

The world premiere of the first part of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” has happened today. 

 The film is made on the seventh and final book about the young wizard.

Critics say that the new part of the movie may earn one billion dollars.

Despite the bad weather hundreds of fans of the most popular fairy stories gathered in Leicester Square to greet their heroes in cinema Odeon. 

On the red carpet was Ms Rowling, the author of the saga. The main actors - Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint also appeared in front of their fans.

Ten years ago, Daniel Reddklif, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint were selected to contest the heroes of one of the most successful adaptations of this century.

Previous adventures of Harry Potter and his friends brought the creators of this movie series more than $ 5 billion. The final part of Potter is planned for  the next year. 

Students on the riot against the tuition fees

The British students went out for the strike once again. Once again it was the violence riot. 

Picture from tntmagazine.com

London police all the evening was trying to calm angry students and university professors. Protesting against rising tuition fees thousands of people gathered at the demonstration.

As it often happens the peace protest turned over into dangerous riots.

The standoff lasted for the several hours. The police tried to push the students from the headquarters of the conservative party. But it was in vain. Angry students surrounded the office of conservatives and then crushed it.

Windows was smashed. The walls were drawn of the rude inscriptions. The first floor was completely broken.

Police regained the control of the building.  Though, they had to put a human shield instead of windows on the first floor, and periodically deterred students attacks.
It can be said for sure that this was not the last riot of students. Another question is whether the British government will listen to their demands?

Listen to the some comments of students from the University of Westminster about this second violence protest.

Royal treatment. What does it mean?

Royal treatment. What does it mean? The best way to find out is to take a tour of Buckingham palace – London home of the royal family since 1837. 

For the first 300 years Londoners were not allowed pass the front gate.  Now for the cost of £25 you can see how the royal family lives.  

Is the price too high?  

Yes, may be if you are a local citizen and have to pay tax for maintenance of this palace and royal family as well. 

But No if you are a tourist in London for the first time. 

Let’s count! 

There are 200 rooms in palace for visiting. 

You can visit Queens’s gallery with 10 halls of natural paintings. You can see royal stables and special coaches used only for wedding ceremonies. So the cost will be only 1p for each royal place. 

And who knows, maybe you will have a chance to make a curtsy to Her Majesty?

The biggest strike of fireworkers in London

Firefighters today walked out on their frontline duties in a row over pay and conditions. More than 5 500 were on London's streets to fight for their rights.

This is the biggest strike ever held by London firefighters. They're campaigning against a forced change to their working hours. They say they're being forced to accept new working conditions or they'll be sacked.

 

They've left the UK capital without their services for 8 hours.

A firefighter Luisa said: “Initially we talked about the shift changes. this is the main change bad. But the problem that we have is that if we allow them to force these changes that we don't agree, we don't know what other changes they will force we agree in the future”.

What’s the matter?

Employers sent letters to more than 5000 London firefighters in August. They warned them about the increase in daily duty hours from 9 to 12 while reducing the night shift from 15 to 12 hours. Fire-fighters worry that these changes will lead to a decline in their salaries, disrupt their families and cuts in fire cover as well. 

This is the first time n London when 5 600 fire-workers don't work at all. About 100 fire stations are closed. Today they don't fight against fire but they fight for their rights. 

If firefighters don't sign up to the new contracts they will be simply dismissed. But the London fire Brigade claims that they are ready to negotiate.

Brian Coleman, London Fire and Emergency Authority Chairman, stated:

“Our message is simple - call off the strike now and we will resolve this dispute”.  

What do they want?

The fire union, for its part, is also open to discuss the issues but under one condition.

Matt Wrack, FBU General Secretary, says:

“Brian Coleman has said he is quite relaxed about sacking 5 600 firefighters. I think this an appalling statement for the leader of fire authority to make. We want to resolve this dispute but t could be resolve obviously don't sack 5600 firefighters and we will not be strike”.

Christmas in London

Christmas in London just wouldn’t be Christmas without the decorative light in the heart of London on Oxford Street.
The history of Cristmas Lights

The tradition of switching on London for the winter nights was started in 1981 when Miss World from Venezuela, was the first to push the button.

Since that every year the Oxford Street Christmas lights have traditionally been switched on by top popular celebrities.

Christmas 2010

But for this year it was different. Children chosen by the Kids Company charity  flicked the switch. They  turned on more than a quarter of million lights.

At 6 o’clock this evening the opening ceremony lighted up the sky around the most popular shopping centre in London and gave the official start for another Christmas.

The next tube strike in London

 

Tube commuters in London were forced to use overfilled buses and trains because many tube station were closed this morning.

A commuter on Northwick park tube station said :
“I don’t know what they want! Why I could not go to my work because of them?!”

The new tube strike has paralyzed the train traffic in the core of the UK capital. The Central and Circle lines are both suspended. There is a "special service" in operation on District, Hammersmith and City, Jubilee, Metropolitan, Northern and Victoria lines.

“It seems to me they do it every month! I couldn’t imagine that my colleges would stop their jobs so often. Actually, I don’t think they will get demanded result” – a commuter on Canton tube station.

Lose jobs

The members of transport unions are protesting about  the loss of 800 jobs, mainly for ticket office staff. More than 100 thousand people took part in the strike this time. But some tube workers do not agree with their colleges. 

“You see, I’m on my work place now. I’m not a member of transport union and don’t intend to join them. I don’t want to explain it. It’s my choice! “ – a tube worker on Canton tube station.

Another tube strike is planned on December.