The Cheery Digest

Floating smiliness...

Artist Stuart Semple cheered up London's South Bank today by releasing over 2,000 pink smiley faces into the air.

The smiles, which were made from helium, vegetable dye and soap, floated over London after their launch from outside the Tate Modern, to create a 'Happy Cloud' installation.

Semple told Auntie Beeb: "I've had enough of the doom and gloom in the air and I wanted to show something completely positive floating up in the sky.

"I am hoping it might put a smile on a few people's faces as they go through their day."

Stuart, you're our kind of chap.

Smooching encouraged at High Wycombe station

We thought it wasn't quite in the Valentine's spirit when we heard that kissing was banned at the passenger drop-off point at Warrington Bank Quay station, because it 'held commuters up'.

But High Wycombe have started a counter-campaign to encourage kissing, because railway stations are romantic places after all, and if you couldn't kiss your loved one goodbye as they set off on their train journey, well, what kind of a world would this be?

Chiltern Railways are even encouraging couples to send in pictures of themselves kissing, and the most romantic one will win a champagne afternoon tea at London's Landmark hotel in Marylebone.

So there!

Monty's cottage saved!

'Come on lads, let's get home. The sky's beginning to bruise, night must fall and we shall be forced to camp.' Monty

Hooray! The nice chap who has bought Sleddale Hall - Monty's cottage in the cult film Withnail and I - has vowed to restore it to it's former glory.

Cumbrian businessman Sebastian Hindley, who also owns the Mardale Inn in nearby Bampton, snapped up the gem from water firm United Utilities for £265,000 after it lay empty for many years.

He said: "I will be glad to welcome everyone, from local people to fans of the film, to those who would like to spend some quality time in tranquillity.

"I want to see it back like it used to be in the film and, where scenes were filmed elsewhere, try and incorporate those into the whole package.

"I live in this area because I love this area. One of the things that makes it so attractive is the bleak beauty that was highlighted in the film."

A cheery quote...

'There is one thing one has to have: either a soul that is cheerful by nature, or a soul made cheerful by work, love, art, and knowledge.' Nietsche

Blood pressure drug can erase bad memories!?

Hello! Apparently a drug which is commonly used for high blood pressure has the capability to erase bad memories, according to new research.

This is good from the point of view of treating victims of trauma, although experts are concerned about meddling with the mind - we obviously learn from our not so good experiences...

In the new study a team of Dutch researchers created a fearful memory in 60 participants by associating pictures of spiders with a mild electric shock. When the beta-blocker drug propranolol was doled out before again showing the images of spiders, there was a reduction in how frightened the people were, and the effect appeared to be permanent.

Professor Merel Kindt, from the University of Amsterdam, the leader of the study team, wrote: "Millions of people suffer from emotional disorders and the relapse of fear, even after successful treatment. Our findings may have important implications for the understanding and treatment of persistent and self-perpetuating memories in individuals suffering from emotional disorders."

Snowtastic!

No matter how many times 'they' (yes, you know 'those' people) tell us that our the snowtastic weather has cost us squillions after everyone stayed at home to frolic about making snow angels and snowmen this week, nothing will stop us from seeing the cheery side. 

We all needed a nice day off or two anyway.  And it brings out the big kid in us all, even in Soho in the middle of the night, the sort of fellas you wouldn't want to bump into were excitedly fashioning snowmen (albeit with naughty bits and cigarettes).

Would you like to read a poem about London snow? You would? Well, we've got one right here. It's called 'London Snow', by the way...

London Snow by Robert Bridges

When men were all asleep the snow came flying,

In large white flakes falling on the city brown,

Stealthily and perpetually settling and loosely lying,

Hushing the latest traffic of the drowsy town;

Deadening, muffling, stifling its murmurs failing;

Lazily and incessantly floating down and down:

Silently sifting and veiling road, roof and railing;

Hiding difference, making unevenness even,

Into angles and crevices softly drifting and sailing.

All night it fell, and when full inches seven

It lay in the depth of its uncompacted lightness,

The clouds blew off from a high and frosty heaven;

And all woke earlier for the unaccustomed brightness

Of the winter dawning, the strange unheavenly glare:

The eye marvelled - marvelled at the dazzling whiteness;

The ear hearkened to the stillness of the solemn air;

No sound of wheel rumbling nor of foot falling,

And the busy morning cries came thin and spare.

Then boys I heard, as they went to school, calling,

They gathered up the crystal manna to freeze

Their tongues with tasting, their hands with snowballing;

Or rioted in a drift, plunging up to the knees;

Or peering up from under the white-mossed wonder!'

'O look at the trees!' they cried, 'O look at the trees!'

With lessened load a few carts creak and blunder,

Following along the white deserted way,

A country company long dispersed asunder:

When now already the sun, in pale display

Standing by Paul's high dome, spread forth below

His sparkling beams, and awoke the stir of the day.

For now doors open, and war is waged with the snow;

And trains of sombre men, past tale of number,

Tread long brown paths, as toward their toil they go:

But even for them awhile no cares encumber

Their minds diverted; the daily word is unspoken,

The daily thoughts of labour and sorrow slumber

At the sight of the beauty that greets them, for the charm they have broken.

Far be it for us to advertise chocolate...

... but this Dairy Milk advert is our favourite yet, and has brought us much cheer...