News 1st Look: Mid Day International News

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Mid Day International News

Kate carries Diana's tote bag!
Camping at the Abbey
Spanish gym offers nude exercise sessions to win back business

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For Kate Middleton, the constant comparisons to her fiance's late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, must be a mixed blessing, what with the pressure that goes along with living up to such a legend. But it seems she is taking it all in her stride, maybe even actively encouraging it, for aside from wearing Diana's engagement ring, Middleton has now taken to carrying the iconic Tod's handbag which was named in Diana's honour.

The classic leather tote was such a favourite of Diana's, that after her death in 1997 the Italian accessories label renamed it the 'D-Bag'. The original design has been reworked and updated through the years. The grey leather version (in pic) would have set the royal bride-to-be back �915 (Rs 67,000).

Camping at the Abbey

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Well-wishers set up tents outside Westminster Abbey hoping to bag the best view of the big day

The makeshift campsite outside London's Westminster Abbey has swelled as more and more well-wishers set up their tents hoping to bag the best view of the big day. Surrounded by broadcasters from around the globe, a long line of multi-coloured tents, many adorned with royal memorabilia, grew opposite the abbey. On Tuesday, Terry Hutt (75) set off from his home in Whaddon, near Royston, dressed from head to toe in red, white and blue for London to reserve a prime spot outside the abbey.

Super fan: Terry Hutt sits outside Westminster Abbey, waiting for the
start of the royal wedding. Pic/Getty images

He will camp out until tomorrow morning to ensure a perfect view of the wed ding. Terry said, "I'm there for the royalists, I'm there for the Queen, who has never done anything wrong. I'm there for Diana's children, who have grown up very nicely. "I reckon he will make a good king and she will make a good queen."

Despite warnings from forecasters that heavy rain could blight the big day, he said he would not be deterred, adding, "I have been with eco-warriors in the wet - it's nothing to me." Terry had his first brush with royalty at the age of 4, when he met the Queen Mother travelling around London during the Blitz. He said his passion for the House of Windsor had not diminished over the years.

"Although I see the Queen every so often, it's always just as if I'm looking at her for the first time," he added.
Not the only one Faith Nicholson (49), from east London, flew back from holiday in Spain to join the gathering crowds. "I'm here for the atmosphere, not just for the event," Nicholson said. "I'll stay here if it rains. I don't have an umbrella or anything, I really don't care. I just want a good view of William and Kate." Anne Daley from Cardiff pitched her pink tent yesterday and has been turning heads with her tiara and Wales T-shirt. She is accompanied by her pet spaniel, Camilla, who is also donning a tiara and veil.

kate's forest
Kate Middleton has ordered more than four tonnes of foliage -- including eight, 20 foot high trees -- to recreate a lavish English country garden inside Westminster Abbey. Under the guidance of her 'floral artistic director', Shane Connolly, half a dozen English Field Maples have been installed in the historic church to create a 'Living Avenue' under which guests will walk to their seats. Each of the trees have been placed in a planter personally designed by Mr Connolly and handcrafted by artisans on the Prince of Wales's Highgrove estate. The entire scheme is believed to have cost up to �50,000 (R37 lakh) "-- not quite the 'austerity' wedding St James's Palace originally had in mind.

Spanish gym offers nude exercise sessions to win back business

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A struggling gym in northern Spain has launched nudist workout sessions in a bid to win back customers.

Liberal-minded customers in the northern town of Arrigorriaga are invited to burn calories in the buff at Easy Gym, which provides towels for comfort and to "prevent slippage on the equipment."

"We knew we had to innovate because we were losing clients," the Courier Mail quotes gym owner Merche Laseca as saying.

"Times are hard. There is a crisis. I need the money. I am not a nudist myself, but I don''t mind it at all," she said.

Laseca said she hit on the idea of nude exercise sessions after a survey of 600 members of the Basque Nudist Association (ENE) revealed that 90 percent would be happy to exercise, as well as sunbathe, in the nude.

However, critics claimed the nude gym sessions might be unhygienic and uncomfortable.

"I think the managers are stupid to do this just to get money. They want me to be hygienic, with clean shoes, towels etc ... but when I go there now and sit on the exercise bike what am I going to find?" said Julian Lopez, a member of the gym.

Other local gym owners also suggested it was not beneficial for women who needed to wear sports bras.

To which Maite Vicuna, the president of ENE, said "If a woman doesn't feel comfortable, she can put on a bra."