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Orwell Bridge latest: Highways Agency reveals days it will OPEN

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Orwell Bridge latest: Highways Agency reveals days it will OPEN
The Orwell Bridge

The Highways Agency has decided it is easier to say which days the Orwell Bridge will be OPEN rather than fielding questions about when it is shut.

As Ipswich ground to a halt again today following an A14 accident that closed the Orwell Bridge, the Highways Agency announced the limited days it will be open.

Spokesperson Lorraine Fisher, 34, said: “Today’s Orwell Bridge closure comes just a week after it was shut for two days because it got a bit windy.

“Every time this happens, Ipswich becomes gridlocked with motorists are stranded in the town and on the A14 for hours on end.

“Rather than having to update everyone all the time, it will be much easier if you all assume the Orwell Bridge is shut permanently unless we specify otherwise.”

It is estimated that local businesses lose £1 million a day when the bridge is closed because nobody can move on the roads.

Motorist Rachael Drouet said: “This is good news. Now I will be able to plan the days when can actually use my car.”

Dylan Magic Roundabout star homeless and broke after years of drug abuse

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Dylan Magic Roundabout star homeless and broke after years of drug abuse

By Richard Adams

Magic Roundabout star Dylan the rabbit is penniless and homeless after 30 years of drug abuse finally took its toll.

A Suffolk Gazette investigation reveals today how the bunny who had it all spent most of his fortune on drugs, booze and women – and wasted the rest.

Once a television favourite adored by millions of children and their parents in the 1970s and 80s, Dylan was unable to cope with the pressures of fame.

Dylan Magic Roundabout

Now aged 40, he is sleeping rough in Woodbridge, Suffolk, where he lives on handouts from concerned locals.

His wife, the film star beauty Jessica Rabbit, divorced him five years ago taking their country mansion and cars, and he has not been in contact with his 476 children since.

Dylan the Rabbit on Magic Roundabout

A concerned pal contacted the Suffolk Gazette in the hope fans might be able to rally round and help their former screen idol.

“It’s terribly sad, but years of cannabis and other drug abuse has addled Dylan’s brain. He went downhill fast, gave the last of his money to his dealer, and now he is destitute without a penny to his name.

“He has hit rock bottom – but his family and so-called friends have deserted him. They were happy to sponge off him for years, but since the money ran out they have been nowhere to be seen.

“Dylan is paranoid about his former Magic Roundabout co-stars. He feels he was underpaid during the height of his fame despite being one of the main characters. Florence and Dougal got way more than they deserved – and they have not so much as sent him a card during his hour of need.”

 

 

Dylan Magic RoundaboutOverdose: Dylan slumped on set after one spliff too many

The Suffolk Gazette contacted Jessica who spoke only through the intercom of her sprawling estate near Framlingham, where she sells funny mugs to fans. She said: “For years I tried to get Dylan off the drugs, but he just kept smoking weed, sniffing cocaine and popping pills; uppers and downers.

 

“I forgave him his indiscretions with other women and overlooked the drinking. But I could not abide by his drug abuse. He has brought it all upon himself – it’s a lesson to all kids not to go down that road.”

A spokesman for Dougal, now aged 44 and living as a tax exile on the Isle of Man, said: “Mr. Dougal has not seen Dylan since 1996 at a reunion put on by OK! magazine. Dylan got drunk and high – and picked a fight with Ermintrude, which did not end well.

Magic Roundabout drugs

“Mr. Dougal and several of the Magic Roundabout cast members got together some cash for Dylan to get some medical help, perhaps go to rehab. But he blew it all on drugs. Mr. Dougal advises me he has not seen Dylan since and has no desire to.”

Suffolk Gazette readers who would like to help Dylan can make a donation to our Buy Me a Beer page, and we’ll ensure he receives every penny.

Hey, man, buy a mug

Dylan sadly can no longer afford to buy a mug, but you most certainly can. Take a look at some of the Suffolk Gazette’s topical mugs below, or browse the full collection at Dirty Old Goat.

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra moves to Canada, becomes punk band

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Royal Philharmonic Orchestra moves to Canada, becomes punk band
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Right Royal rumpus: no way to conduct affairs

By Jane Seymour, Royal Editor

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra has shocked Britain by announcing it no longer wishes to play classical music and is moving to Canada.

In a further snub to hundreds of years of musical harmony, the orchestra has announced on its new website, SussexRoyalPhilharmonic.com, that it is pursuing its desire to be a punk band.

Following crisis talks at the Royal Albert Hall, the orchestra has been told it must repay the taxpayers’ money it got for new instruments and sheet music.

And it has been told any punk music it makes may not be released for a year.

Cover versions such as The Sex Pistols’ God Save The Queen are also strictly off-limits.

Royal Harmonic watcher Lorraine Fisher, 34, said: “The British public won’t be happy about this. Having supported the Royal Philharmonic since 1946, it’s a bit rich to see it sod off to Canada.”

Great British seaside traditions we still love today

The Editor
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Great British seaside traditions we still love today

Post-war Britain saw a resurgence in the popularity of the British seaside holiday. Short breaks became more affordable, and there were plenty of destinations to choose from wherever you lived, from Blackpool and Morecambe in the northwest to Brighton and Margate in the southeast. Suffolk, too, has long had its fair share of coastal getaways.

Dedicated holiday parks began to open, offering static accommodation as well as parking spaces for those lucky enough to own their own caravan. And every holiday resort offered a range of entertainment to keep visitors amused. Many activities became traditions, and here we list just a few of the best-loved seaside traditions you can still enjoy today.

Fish and Chips

Walking along the seafront eating fish and chips under the watchful eye of hungry seagulls is a British seaside tradition that is still alive and well today. There is something deeply satisfying about tucking into succulent cod or haddock in crispy batter accompanied by chips seasoned with lashings of salt and vinegar. You can eat fish and chips in any British town any day of the week, but they taste so much better in the salty air of a seaside holiday destination. Suffolk’s own offerings range from the traditional pub fare served up at Lord Nelson Southwold to a classic beachside takeaway from Aldeburgh Fish and Chips.

Bingo and evening entertainment

British holidaymakers love traditional evening entertainment, whether it is on the pier, in the theatre or on stage at a holiday camp. Years ago, they may have been entertained by big-name comedians or musical acts. Another popular activity was bingo, and there were dedicated nights at all the popular resorts. Today, players are more likely to play bingo online, and not just when they are on holiday. But there are still plenty of bingo halls in existence and the activity is enjoying something of a revival.

Arcades

Amusement arcades have been a traditional feature of British seaside resorts for decades, and you can still visit them today. Originally featuring fruit machines, the arcades enjoyed a boost in popularity in the 70s and 80s when video games such as Space Invaders and Pac-Man appeared on the scene. At the time, arcades were the only place youngsters could enjoy this new technology. Some arcades also doubled up as bingo halls. They became places to hang out, and many teenagers spent the bulk of their family holidays in and around the arcades.

Helter Skelter

Seaside resorts often featured fairgrounds that included Helter Skelters. These wooden towers with an exterior slide may seem tame compared to the roller-coasters we see today, but they were one of the most popular features on the British seaside. Fortunately, many have been preserved, and children today can still enjoy as a ride on the Helter Skelter (there’s one particularly notable one just down the road in Clacton) before tucking into a toffee apple or a stick of rock.

These are just a few of the great British seaside traditions that you can still enjoy today. Whether you a parent looking to give your kids a taste of days gone by or just looking for a nostalgia trip for yourself, there are still plenty of good reasons to holiday at home.

How to set up a realistic fitness regime for 2020

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How to set up a realistic fitness regime for 2020

A highly common new year’s resolution that you are sure to hear everywhere, is the desire to get fit and back into shape for the upcoming warmer months.

However, most of us tend to give up on our gym workouts and salad lunches tragically early in the new year. Typically, this is because we place unrealistic goals and expectations on ourselves.

If you want to become fitter and generally healthier in the long term, then moderation is going to be key. Whilst going to fitness classes every night of the week sounds super active and healthy, it probably isn’t realistic for the majority of us.

Some nights, you are just going to need to kick off your shoes and watch a good film, television series or play some no deposit slots. In fact, having an over the top fitness regime can actually do you more harm than good, so being sensible and realistic about your fitness goals is really important, though there is no doubt that regular exercise is good for us.

Not only does it benefit your body physically, but it has also been shown to improve your mood and decrease feelings of depression, anxiety and stress, which of course is super important. If you are wanting to set up a realistic, manageable fitness routine for 2020, then here are a small handful of tips to help you out:

Figure out What Sort of Exercise You Enjoy

First of all, you need to work out which types of exercise you really like, and which you just wouldn’t bother with again after trying once or twice. Most people instantaneously think of the gym when it comes to exercise regimes, but there are loads of other great options out there if the gym isn’t for you. Some people love fitness classes, such as Zumba, pilates, yoga and HIT (High-Intensity Training) classes. Other people simply love getting out for long walks, doing at home work-outs, jogging, swimming or playing a competitive sport as part of a team.

If you haven’t tried out many sports and classes before, then look out for taster sessions that you can sign up for or ask friends and family for their recommendations. Finding a type of exercise that you enjoy is completely crucial to staying motivated beyond mid-January.

Figure Out When You Are Going to Exercise

(And write it down!) If you don’t schedule regular time slots into your week for exercise, then the most likely outcome is that it just won’t happen, especially so if, like most people, you have a pretty hectic weekly timetable. Getting up even just twenty minutes sooner each, or just some, mornings would be a pretty easy way to free up some extra time for workouts.

Exercise with a Friend

If you can, finding a friend to work out with is ideal, as it helps to keep you motivated, and makes exercising generally much more fun and enjoyable. It is best if you are both starting out at a similar fitness level though, so that you can complete the same workouts and progress together.

Build Your Regime Up Gradually

Don’t throw yourself in at the deep end. You’ll only end up feeling tired, overwhelmed and perhaps even put off entirely. If your fitness goal is to run 10k, for example, but you have never really run before, then start off by half walking, half running one kilometer, and building yourself up gradually from there in small, manageable steps. Couch To 5K is a great programme set up by the NHS which can be really useful if you’re only just starting out on your fitness journey. 

Think Carefully about Nutrition

Eating a healthy, balanced diet is just as important for our health as exercise is, and without good nutrition, you may end up struggling to complete more strenuous exercise routines. A healthy diet for sport and exercise should contain plenty of starchy foods, plenty of fruit and vegetables, some protein foods and some dairy foods. Of course, drinking plenty of water is also very important, especially when working out intensely. Healthy meals can be a lot more exciting than just salads though. You can find lots of great recipes online, so finding nutritious meal ideas that you’ll love shouldn’t prove too difficult.

Setting up a good fitness regime for the new year isn’t always the easiest, especially in January when the weather is cold, and the days are short. However, if you are realistic with your fitness goals, and come up with a good plan of action, you shouldn’t have too much trouble staying on track this new year.

Harry and Meghan trademark Suffolk Royal goods

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Harry and Meghan trademark Suffolk Royal goods
prince Harry and Meghan
Harry and Meghan planning Suffolk Royal goodies (Photo: Northern Ireland Office CC 2.0)

Prince Harry has now seized upon the Suffolk Royal title and trademarked a collection of items that one day he and Meghan hope to sell.

After the controversy over their launch of the Sussex Royal website and plans to trademark all sorts of paraphernalia, Harry and Meghan will no doubt raise more eyebrows with this move.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have close links to Suffolk after The Queen gifted Framlingham Castle to them as a posh wedding present.

Documents lodged with the Trademarks Office UK now show they plan to use the Suffolk crown logo and trademark items including:

  • Tractors
  • Lawnmowers
  • Sheds
  • Fence posts
  • Compost bins

And perhaps with a nod to poor people, they have added other items that will not be so expensive to buy, including:

  • Clothes pegs
  • Potato sacks
  • Bin bags
  • Dibbers

Royal watcher Lorraine Fisher, 34, said: “If you thought their actions over Sussex Royal were bad, wait until you see what they’re doing with Suffolk Royal.

“The people, especially those in Suffolk, will be furious that there could be the commercialisation of key local products like sheds and tractors.”

A royal insider close to the couple said: “Look, Harry and Meghan need to stand on their own two feet and make some money.

“Surely no-one can begrudge them cashing in on a few Royal clothes pegs?”

One wag said: “Perhaps the couple will where the pegs on their noses if ever they come to visit?”

8 free (or almost free) educational resources to broaden your research horizons

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8 free (or almost free) educational resources to broaden your research horizons
A student using learning resources

We live in the digital age abundant with endless information. For the first time in history, anyone can access any knowledge they want to acquire.

The key to these new learning opportunities is Open Educational Resources (OER). This term refers to all materials in the public domain that can be downloaded, modified, and distributed legally for the purpose of enlightenment.

It has been almost 25 years since the various educational resources first appeared in digital format. Today, there are textbooks, videos, courses, degree programs to teach us many skills and develop critical thinking.

Due to the vast network, affordable memory storages on hard drives, and computer science itself, we can accumulate, multiply, and distribute educational resources in many cases for free.

How to understand whether the platform is OER?

The main question lies at the intersection of social benefits and the intellectual property rights of every author. How to distribute content for educational purposes without violating the legal norms?

Let’s take a look at a distinctive feature of OER. It is the open license and legal permission to use, transform, and distribute learning materials that are granted to everyone. Any educational resource that does not clearly indicate its belonging to the public domain and does not have a free license is not an OER.

The most common way to provide a copyrighted educational resource with a free license, thereby turning it into an OER, is to assign it one of the Creative Commons licenses.

According to the 2015 Creative Commons report, open and free standard licenses are already applied to more than 1.2 billion protected works on 9 million websites. When the author places one’s work under the CC license, the copyright remains. This way, one shares the work for free with all visitors, in line with the terms of the type of license chosen.

Here we have gathered an extended list of OERs, which will definitely ease the learning process for every student. All of the materials published on those platforms could be freely used while writing academic essays of different complexity levels, term papers, conducting research or working on other types of academic assignments.

Coursera

This is one of the world’s biggest educational platforms. There are free and paid courses on a variety of topics. The vast majority of courses are available in English with subtitles in several other languages.

Coursera works in partnership with several universities to deliver online courses on physics, engineering, medicine, biology, mathematics, business, computer science, etc. Nowadays, almost anyone with no knowledge or a little experience in any field can take courses developed by prominent world’s universities.

EdX

This is an educational platform created by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University. It was launched in May 2012.

Today, the courses are mainly available in English, Chinese, Turkish, French, Hindi, and Spanish. The site offers both paid and free options.

After passing them, you can get an official certificate signed by a qualified teacher. Obtained documents can also be mentioned in the CV and LinkedIn profile.

Open Learning Initiative

This open library is a response of Carnegie Mellon University to the global challenges of the 21st century. The goal of OLI is to empower students to improve the quality of learning.

Here you can look up information and recent publications for any topic. There is also the possibility to browse each course syllabus to choose the most fitting option.

Open Yale Courses

In 2007, Yale launched the Open Yale Courses (OYC) project. Scholars designed videos and other lecture materials for undergraduate programs.

On the OYC website, there are several dozens of selected university courses in the humanities, social, biological sciences and many other disciplines.

All materials are in the public domain, and they can be used without registering on the site. OYC does not provide certificates or diplomas.

Anyone can gain new knowledge from video, audio, and transcripts of lectures available on the site.

Udacity

This platform presents a variety of computer science programs. They are supported by Google, NVIDIA, AT&T, Cloudera, MongoDB, etc.

Specialists from Udacity create study groups and appoint instructors to coordinate learning. The platform has an affordable payment policy. You do not pay for the full course – you buy monthly access to it. The faster you learn, the less you pay.

Open CourseWare

This is one of the most popular educational resources from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It has opened the materials of almost all university courses to millions of users who are ready to engage in self-education.

Today, 2,400 courses are available on OCW, and the audience exceeds 300 million visitors. The course catalogue covers all disciplines available at MIT.

Courses in technical specialities gained the most significant popularity. Among the most famous, for example, is a course in linear algebra by Gilbert Streng and courses in physics by Walter Lewin.

Stanford Online

At Stanford University, the Office of the Vice Vice-Rector for Education (VPTL) is developing the Stanford Online platform. It expands educational and career opportunities for both campus and non-university students.

The platform contains free online courses. It is possible to obtain certificates and even a bachelor’s or master’s degree.

Stanford Online offers over 100 unique courses in various fields of study.

Khan Academy

The creator of the platform, Salman Khan, helped his cousin sort out school mathematics. For convenience, he uploaded videos with explanations on YouTube.

These educational videos went viral and gained a lot of views. In 2006, Khan decided to launch a site that will collect educational materials in various fields.

The Academy website has a large selection of courses in mathematics, from simple school arithmetic to differential equations and linear algebra. The section of natural sciences contains courses in physics, chemistry, biology, and medicine. Separate chapters are devoted to computer and economic sciences as well as humanities.

Final Words

These were the best and most trustworthy educational platforms on the web.

Each of them was established to cut down illegal dissemination of intellectual property. The development of OER remains the primary goal of the prominent educational establishments along with non-profit organizations.

It requires not only a general awareness of its importance and systematic support. There is also a question of the widespread use of open educational licenses.

Both students and teachers can benefit from free access to educational resources.

Bio

Donald Jefferson works as a quality assurance specialist at https://essaypro.com/. Years of working in the field of essay writing brought an extensive understanding of intellectual property rights.

Donald has gathered a list of the best educational platforms. Students can use them for conducting in-depth research and engaging in self-education.

Plans to relocate the Grand National to Yarmouth Racecourse finally get green light

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Plans to relocate the Grand National to Yarmouth Racecourse finally get green light

The biggest betting event on the sporting calendar is finally coming to East Anglia, it has been revealed.

The Randox Health Grand National will relocate to Yarmouth Racecourse from 2021 ending it’s 180-year association with Aintree. It is a notable victory for campaigners who have spent the last seven years tirelessly promoting the region’s sporting heritage.

The BHA will formally announce the switch following the conclusion of this year’s renewal on April 4th. Tiger Roll will go into the contest as the favourite once again and will be searching for an unprecendented third success in the iconic steeplechase. He is likely to be amongst many people’s 2020 Grand National betting tips, although whether he can continue his remarkable run on the east coast remains to be seen. 

Many trainers are reportedly in favour of the move as it enables them to holiday in the region prior to the event. Handlers such as Willie Mullins, Phillips Hobbs and Donald McCain have already spoken of their plans to visit ‘irresistible’ Norwich and sample some of the cities most notorious watering holes.

Yarmouth racecourse exclusively stages flat racing during the summer months, however volunteers will now spend the first few weeks of the year building a series of challenging fences using a variety of local foliage. Competitors will be required to complete four laps of the track and must clear a number of bespoke obstacles such as ‘The Delia’ and ‘Mustard Mount’.

Although the capacity at the historic racecourse is significantly lower than its Merseyside counterpart, track officials have recently struck a deal to screen the contest at the nearby Caravan Club and are also planning to erect a big screen on the North Dene Dunes. This will allow locals and tourists to enjoy all of the action whilst simultaneously boosting the local economy. 

The venue attracted a variety of high-profile names in 2019 including former Spandeau Ballet man Martin Kemp and more high-profile bookings are expected to follow this year. Zig and Zag, Homes Under the Hammer’s Martin Roberts and Henry Hoover will all play DJ sets on Grand National day with further names to be announced in due course. 

Extra trains and buses will be running throughout the weekend in order to help ferry the legions of racegoers around the region. The A47 will also be widened in order to accommodate additional traffic ahead of the event.

The move has been widely praised by horse racing fans who are looking forward to seeing their favourite chasers tackle the undulations of Yarmouth Racecourse. The track beat off stiff competition from Fakenham and Market Rasen to sign the lucrative contract which will enable them to host the world-famous steeplechase until at least 2026. Aintree’s loss is Yarmouth’s gain and the local area is likely to benefit significantly from the BHA’s decision to move the greatest steeplechase in the world to East Anglia. 

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