Anti-corruption rules intended to stop people fiddling the books or politicians taking bribes have been applied to a street cleaner after a town had a whip around for him.

Paul Spiers, 63, has been cleaning the streets of Beckenham, south east London, since 2017. And his work ethic has not gone unnoticed by people in the area who raised money help him go on a dream holiday to Portugal. They set up a GoFundMe which collected £3,000.

However, Veolia, contractors for Bromley Council, has told him he can’t accept the gift because staff are not allowed to accept money or incentives outside agreed pay structures.

Paul’s friend Lisa Knight who set up the GoFundMe page wrote: ‘As an integral part of our Beckenham village, Paul is adored by all.

‘Giving him this incredible gift would be a heartfelt way to show our appreciation for everything he does.

Let’s come together to make this dream happen for someone who truly deserves it.’

However, in an update she posted: ‘Unfortunately, we have received news that Paul is unable to accept the donations due to restrictions set by his employer, Veolia, in accordance with their contract with Bromley Council.

‘These rules prohibit staff from accepting any monetary gifts or incentives beyond their regular salary.

‘We’re deeply disappointed that this decision prevents Paul from enjoying this well-deserved holiday as a recognition for all of his hard work for the Beckenham community.

‘We have expressed our disappointment to both the council and Veolia and intend to continue to push on this, but please be rest assured, if we are unsuccessful in doing so you will all be refunded.

‘Once again, thank you for your incredible support and for being part of this fundraiser.’

Lisa confirmed she has taken up the matter with both the council and Veolia.

The news has left some locals furious, including Jessica Skelton who posted on the local Facebook group: ‘How on earth can his employee stop him from receiving a gift from the community? The donated money isn’t a “bonus” or a “tip” it’s a gift totally separate from him work. What the hell am I reading?

‘This also implies you couldn’t even give him a pat on the back at Christmas and give him a fiver for a pint? ‘God I hate these vile corporations.’

Mel Tunmore wrote: ‘If he’s retiring soon can the gift be given to him after he retires? Then he has no obligations to Veolia.’

Meanwhile Diana Bailey-Raho Davidson added: ‘Now they said will match and give to charity of his choice … how dare they … put it in bank and give it to him when he retires.’

He has been keeping the streets of Beckenham clean since 2017.

Veolia said in a statement to Metro.co.uk: ‘We are truly grateful for the support and recognition shown by the community to Paul, who alongside a hardworking street cleansing team, does a fantastic job keeping Bromley’s streets clean.

‘We are always happy to hear from members of the public who want to recognise our teams.

‘Unfortunately on this occasion, we were not made aware of the fundraising and were therefore unable to work together to find the most appropriate way to recognise Paul.

‘Our contract with Bromley Council does not permit our staff to accept any monies or incentives outside of agreed pay structures.

‘We have agreed with Paul that we will match the amount raised as of Friday 9th August to be donated to a charity of his choice.

‘Veolia has a number of recognition schemes across the UK that reward our colleagues for exceptional services to the community and Paul will be the recipient of Bromley’s Employee of the Quarter – an internal financial reward to recognise his hard work and dedication.’

Bromley Council confirmed because Paul is an employee of Veolia it is a matter for them.

source: Metro

1. Why did the town raise £3,000 for Paul Spiers?
2. What reason did Veolia give for not allowing Paul to accept the gift?
3. How did Lisa Knight describe Paul’s role in the Beckenham community?
4. What actions has Lisa taken after learning that Paul cannot accept the donations?
5. How have some locals reacted to the news about Paul being unable to accept the gift?
6. What alternative proposal did Diana Bailey-Raho Davidson suggest regarding the donated money?
7. What will Veolia do with the amount raised for Paul?

Correct Answers:

1. The town raised £3,000 for Paul Spiers to go on a dream holiday to Portugal.
2. Veolia stated that staff are not allowed to accept money or incentives outside agreed pay structures.
3. Lisa Knight described Paul as an integral part of the Beckenham village who is adored by all.
4. Lisa has taken up the matter with both the council and Veolia after learning that Paul cannot accept the donations.
5. Some locals have expressed anger and frustration over Veolia’s decision to prevent Paul from accepting the gift.
6. Diana Bailey-Raho Davidson suggested that the gift could be given to Paul after he retires so there are no obligations to Veolia.
7. Veolia will match the amount raised and donate it to a charity of Paul’s choice, while also recognizing him as Bromley’s Employee of the Quarter for his hard work and dedication.

Your mother always told you to make your bed. Every single morning after you’d rise, groggy and miserable, you’d get the inevitable question: “Did you make your bed?” Well, guess what? It turns out mom was wrong — it’s actually better for you, and for your overall health, not to make your bed at all.

Why? Because of these.

The mighty house dust mite. Actually, it’s not mighty at all. These microscopic little buggers are running rampant in your bed (sorry, but it’s true). In fact, the average bed can be home to 1.5 million of them. House dust mites feed on human skin scales (ew), so they love to take up residence with us under the sheets. The allergens they produce (which are actually the mites’ poop) are easily inhaled during sleep and are a major cause of illnesses like asthma. They don’t exactly help dust allergies, either.

It only makes sense, then, that when we sweat and roll around during the night, our skin is flaking off everywhere, the sheets are dampening, and the mites are having a feast. In the morning, if we pull up the sheets and make our beds immediately, all of the skin scales, sweat and mites will be trapped underneath.

But, friends, if we don’t make our bed, the mites, the scales, the sweat, all of it, will be exposed to fresh air and light.

“We know that mites can only survive by taking in water from the atmosphere using small glands on the outside of their body,” Dr. Stephen Pretlove of Kingston University’s School of Architecture said to the BBC. “Something as simple as leaving a bed unmade during the day can remove moisture from the sheets and mattress so the mites will dehydrate and eventually die.”

Experts recommend leaving your bed unmade for the entire day — yes, the entire day — and making it (if you must) when you get home later on. By that point, many of the mites will have died an unceremonious death. Good riddance, you gross little things.

So print this out or send it to mom for all those years of forced bed-making. Isn’t it nice to know your lazy self was right all along?

Can you translate the following sentences into Hungarian?

1. Your mother always told you to make your bed.

2. It turns out mom was wrong.

3.  House dust mites feed on human skin scales.

4. Experts recommend leaving your bed unmade for the entire day.

5. Good riddance!

Key:

1. Az anyukád mindig azt mondta, hogy ágyazz meg.

2. Úgy tűnik, anyukádnak nem volt igaza.

3. A háziporatkák lehámlott emberi bőrrel táplálkoznak.

4. A szakértők azt javasolják, hogy hagyjuk bevetetlenül az ágyunkat napközben egész napra.

5. Csakhogy vége! Csakhogy végre megszabadultunk tőle!

New York-born Hungarian singer Viktor Király has beaten Cassandra Robertson, one of the most experienced performers of the competition, in a battle aired by the US talent show The Voice.

His victory means that the 31-year-old Hungarian performer has progressed to the next round of the talent show. “I’m out of my mind, I’m very happy”, he told the tabloid newspaper Blikk.

The two singers performed the song “Nobody Knows It But Me”, originally by the Tony Rich Project, to the standing applause of the superstar-studded jury, comprised of Gwen Stefani, Adam Levigne, Pharell Williams and Blake Shelton. Adam Levine, the Hungarian singer’s master, rejected Pharrell’s call to vote for Cassandra Robertson, securing progess for him to the next round of the ninth season of the talent show, aired on NBC since 21 September. Both singers are in Adam Levine’s category and he had to decide which of the two to send to the live shows.

In a tense decision Adam decided to send Viktor through to the live shows.

In 2008, the Hungarian pop singer, who was born in the United States but has been living in Hungary since 1999, won the fourth series of the Hungarian talent show Megasztár, Later, he participated two times in the Hungarian national selection, A Dal, to the Eurovision Song Contest; in 2012 with his twin brother and sister – fellow singer Linda Király – as The Kiralys (Király Testvérek), performing the song “Untried” – he came 4th that year – and in 2014 as a solo artist, with “Running Out Of Time”.

Can he go all the way and win The Voice? Let’s cheer him on.

source: hungarytoday and eurovisionireland

And here is the lyrics of the song of his winning performance:

“Nobody Knows”

[talking:]

Wish I’d told her how I felt,

Then maybe she’d be here right now

But instead…

[singing:]

I pretended that I’m glad you went away

These four walls closing more every day

And I’m dying inside

And nobody knows it but me

Like a clown I put on a show

The pain is real even if nobody knows

And I’m crying inside

And nobody knows it but me

Why didn’t I say the things I needed to say

How could I let my angel get away

Now my world is just a-tumblin’ down

I can say it so clearly but you’re nowhere around

The nights are so lonely the days are so sad and

I just keep thinking about the love that we had

And I’m missing you

And nobody knows it but me

I carry a smile when I’m broken in two

And I’m nobody without someone like you

I’m trembling inside

And nobody knows it but me (yeah)

I lie awake, it’s a quarter past three

I’m screaming at night if I thought you’d hear me

Yeah, my heart is calling you

And nobody knows it but me (well, well)

How blue can I get?

You could ask my heart

But like a jigsaw puzzle it’s been torn all apart

A million words couldn’t say just how I feel

A million years from now you know I’ll be loving you still

The nights are so lonely the days are so sad and

I just keep thinking about the love that we had

And I’m missing you

And nobody knows it but me

Oooo oohhhhh yeah
 

Tomorrow morning, I’m hitting the dusty road

Gonna find you, where ever, ever you might go

And I’m gonna unload my heart

and hope you can come back to me

(Say when the nights are lonely)

The nights are so lonely the days are so sad and

I just keep thinking about the love that we had

And I’m missing you

And nobody knows it but me

An artist creates famous pieces on morning breakfast.

Art and food can easily go hand in hand. Ida Frosk, a 29-year-old talented artist from Oslo, Norway puts a little extra on her breakfast plate every morning.

She turns her morning toast, pancakes or oatmeal into striking works of art. Many of her works replicate famous paintings or signature pieces from highly acclaimed artists like Picasso.

Frosk initiated an Instagram account last year, featuring pictures of her unique works of food art. In that short time span, she has gained over 100,000 followers. She stated “I could never have dreamed of getting this kind of attention. I just started on a whim and suddenly it just took off. … I’m just a regular girl who enjoys playing with food and sharing it as a hobby.” 
 

One of her works depicts Frosk’s own version of Dutch artist, Johannes Vermeer’s ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’ on a single piece of toast. Another toasted piece of bread contains a replicated edible dancer inspired by Edgar Degas’ work titled ‘The Star’. 

How do you like Frosk’s work?

Find the definitions of the following words and expressions.

1.    to make a copy of something

2.    something you can eat

3.    two things that can make a good team

4.    good at something

5.    porridge, soft food made from oats and milk and sugar, it’s usually eaten for breakfast

6.    to be very special

7.    to present or show something

8.    decided very quickly

9.    to get something that is useful

10.very unusual, easily noticed

Key:

1.    replicate

2.    edible

3.    go hand in hand

4.    talented

5.    oatmeal

6.    unique

7.    depict

8.    on a whim

9.    gain

10.striking

Coca-Cola is the most famous brand in the world, and for a century has been one of the most profitable as well. In contrast to the drink’s success its inventor, a certain John Pemberton, died in poverty from cancer – his last years spent as a morphine addict.

Pemberton did not create the drink’s recipe from thin air. He produced what was initially a patent medicine. Even the name comes from the alliteration of its main ingredients – the coca leaf and the kola nut. While the drink has survived far longer than its contemporaries of the 1880s, it comes from a long American tradition which John Pemberton tapped into.

The patent medicine craze reached its heights in the years after the Civil War. Its advertising kept the newspapers in business. The content of such medicines was always questionable. Mercury, opium, and morphine were some of the more potent ingredients that turned up. Many other concoctions were little more than placebos advertised by salesmen to cure arthritis, chronic pain, and cancer. In an age when established medical practice was of questionable quality, these products filled a void and many of them sold quite well.

In the South, a Confederate veteran named John Pemberton concocted and sold a large number of these mixtures in the years after the Civil War. He was known to produce a higher quality product than most. He probably produced no less than ten separate medicines over the course of the 1860s and 70s, constantly refining his craft with a study of chemistry and biology. By the 1880s, a particular elixir had gained tremendous popularity in the patent medicine market. It was a mixture of wine and cocaine called Vin Mariani. Invented in Corsica, this product arrived in America through some well known people such as Thomas Edison, Jules Verne, and Pope Leo XII.

Cocaine was widely praised at the time for its medicinal qualities. It was known to increase the powers of concentration, to relieve headaches, to stimulate the intellect, and to provide a boost of energy for those engaged in physical exertions. Some even believed that the drug could provide a cure for morphine addiction.

The latter effect was what Pemberton hoped to achieve. Throughout the early 1880s he worked on his recipe until he created “Pemberton’s French Wine Coca” and began selling it in the Atlanta area. The initial response from his customers was quite positive, and Pemberton believed he had finally found his ticket to fame and financial security.

No sooner did Pemberton create his new beverage, however, when a campaign for alcohol prohibition began to sweep across Georgia.

Realizing he would be back to where he started without a new recipe, Pemberton removed the wine and began mixing other substances with the coca leaves he had. Most of the drinks were far too bitter, so he added sugar. This made the consistency too thick, and he added citric acid to compensate. Carbonated water, also known for its health properties at the time, was used as a base. Finally, in 1886, Pemberton was satisfied that he had created a palatable substitute for wine coca – a “temperance drink” as he called it. An associate named Frank Robinson created the name Coca-Cola  after two of the main ingredients.

Initial sales and feedback were quite promising. Unfortunately, Pemberton’s business sense failed him when it came to Coca-Cola. After a promising start he sold shares of his concern to several different people. He gradually diluted his own holdings down to almost nothing and began working on a competing product.

Pemberton did not live to see the tremendous success of his product. On August 16, 1888 he passed away from cancer. It would take the efforts of a very different man to turn Coca-Cola into a national soda drink.

 source: americanhistoryusa.com

Constable looks just like new Lego policeman model, Hampshire

A constable was stunned when he saw Lego’s new model policeman because it looks exactly like him – right down to his collar number. Now PC Rob Thomas, 48, is being teased by his colleagues about the remarkable mini me, which even shares his moustache. Father-of-two PC Thomas said the coincidence was so bizarre he even asked Lego about the new figure. But they told him the matching shoulder number – 1337 – and the policeman’s features had been designed purely by chance.

He said: "One of my colleagues collects the Lego figures and found my doppelganger as he opened the latest bag. He texted me about it and then when I clocked in for my next shift, there was the little Lego fellow waiting for me in my work tray. I think the likeness is amazing, especially with the matching moustache. I just think it’s amazing he’s got the same number and bears such a resemblance to me – it really is astonishing. There’s been a lot of banter about my resemblance to this old British bobby. My colleagues have been sending me lots of emails with photos of him attached. I think it’s a great bit of fun and the figure has pride of place in my work tray. My family think the whole thing is hilarious and my wife Sandra thinks it’s highly entertaining having her husband immortalised in plastic too."

PC Thomas, who has a 14-year-old daughter and 16-year-old son, said he was a fan of Lego as a child. The limited edition ‘Constable’ mini figure, complete with hat and truncheon, has just been released as part of Series 11, a collection of 13 toys. PC Thomas’s colleague PCSO Ian Nicholson, a keen Lego collector, spotted the toy’s similarity. He said: "I couldn’t believe it when I saw this little copper even had Rob’s shoulder number. It even looks like him, which is quite funny."

LEGO spokesperson Emma Owen said: "We are completely astounded and thrilled that the Constable from the Series 11 LEGO Minifigures has found its very own life size doppelganger in Hampshire. From Skydivers to Sea Captains, all LEGO Minifigure characters created by our top toy designers from around the world are completely unique. This means the odds of this happening are extremely rare. The fact that PC Thomas and the Constable share the same badge number is just the icing on the cake."

source: Solent News

constable – közrendőr
stunned – döbbent
to tease – ugratni vkit
mini me – kicsinyített mása
moustache – bajusz
coincidence – véletlen egybeesés
feature – jellegzetesség, tulajdonság
by chance – véletlenül
doppelganger – alteregó
to clock in – bejelentkezni műszakba
work tray – munkatálca (pl. abba teszik be az elintézendő feladatokat)
likeness – hasonlóság
resemblance – hasonlóság
astonishing – megdöbbentő
bobby – brit rendőr
hilarious – nagyon vicces
entertaining – szórakoztató
to immortalise –  megörökíti az utókor számára
truncheon – gumibot
copper – zsaru
life size – életnagyságú
unique – egyedi
the odds of – vminek az esélye
rare – ritka
the icing on the cake – a hab a tortán 

True or false?
1.   PC Thomas was offended by his colleagues’ teasing.
2.   The most surprising resemblance is that the shoulder numbers are identical.
3. The minifigure was found by Thomas’s cousin, who collects LEGOS.
4.   The policeman’s family also find the resemblance really funny.
5.    LEGO claim that they never use live models for designing their characters.

Answers: 1.F, 2.T, 3.F, 4.T,5.T

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