Hello, it's Peter here and welcome to Fridays Levy Letter. I hope your day is going well and I hope you'll be able to join me tonight on BBC One at half past six as usual. I'll have all the day's news and Paul will have the forecast.
On tonight's programme, we'll have a special report on the Humberside Police officer, who's been banned from driving for sixteen months after admitting a drink drive offence. Ill have more on this later. Plus we'll have a report as the news comes in that a fifth of all premature babies must leave the county for their medical care as local hospitals admit a shortage of beds. I'll be speaking to one mum about her concerns for the safety of babies in our area. And as the news comes into us this morning, we'll have the latest on the accident in Hull after a cherry picker toppled over and landed on a motorist. Plus we'll have a special review with all the Springwatch events happening this weekend in Queen Victoria Square. Find out how you can make space for nature tonight on the programme at half past six. Weekend I know theres quite a few events planned this weekend, including the big Springwatch event today and tomorrow in the centre of Hull. Theres also Gardeners Question Time at the Ferens Art Gallery tomorrow lunchtime with Blair Jacobs. And many other events going on for that as well. So lets keep our fingers crossed for good weather for that event. We started off the week with the forecasters saying the weather was going to be good at the weekend and now it doesnt look anywhere near as good. Theres also a huge dog show as well planned for just south of Lincoln. So whatever youre involved with, then I hope it goes well. And just one quick little mention for the production, The Pirates of Penzance, which is being done by the Hull Savoyards at the Middleton Hall in Hull from the 13th 15th June starting at 7.30pm and theres also a performance on 16th June at the Floral Hall in Hornsea. If youre involved with the sentimental pirates, the bumbling policemen and the dewy-ey! ed daughters, then break a leg! Camping Ive made some comments a few weeks back about the fact that camping wasnt for everyone. Well after that Ive had quite a few emails from people telling me that its great fun. Someone even sent me a little advertisement in the post cut out from the paper where they say that you can buy a two man tent for just £35.00 and a sleeping bag for £9.99. At that price, its certainly worth trying. So thank you very much indeed Ruth for sending that to me. Maybe I should have a go! And thanks for the advice. If I go, then Ill let you know how I get on! Evenings Can you believe this? Britain is turning into an even more goggle-eyed nation as nearly half the population now spend as much time online as they do watching TV. The Internet is fast taking over in millions of homes where families are finding much more of interest on their PC than on their TVs. While more than six in ten households claim they could not live without their computer, nearly half now spend more then three hours a day on the Internet and a similar period watching television. So it seems that the computer is certainly well and truly here and being used by us for at least three hours a day. Thats as much time as we spend watching the TV. Joseph If youve been following it, and I know that quite a few of you are, then the search in Any Dream Will Do comes to an end tomorrow night. Well find out who will play the new Joseph. Just for the record, and I did check on this, I predicted Keith after the first week and hes through to the final. Keith is my tip for winning. But well have to see on that one. Its on tomorrow night on BBC One. Cider A glass of cider a day could keep the doctor away according to new research. Scientists have shown that the drink, currently enjoying a resurgence in popularity, is bursting with health-boosting antioxidants. In many cases, levels are as high as those found in red wine, which is recognised for its ability to stave off diseases. Both drinks are rich in phenolics, a type of antioxidant credited with the ability to ward of cancer, heart disease and strokes. So there you are. A glass of cider a day could be good for your health. Its funny that when I was young and when I was at college, I would often drink cider. Probably, partly then because it was cheap and its effects were noticed quite quickly if you see what I mean! But I havent had cider for years. I must give it another try! Homes The subject of house buying has dominated the Levy Letter, as you know, for the last eighteen months as house prices soar. Well now, theres the most depressing story of all. Around four million people in this country have given up on the dream of owning their own home ever as prices rocket. The average home will cost ten times the average earnings by 2026 forcing millions to spend a lifetime in rented accommodation. This is according to the National Housing and Planning Advice Unit. This is really like going back to the old days. I remember my grandparents never ever lived in anything other than a rented flat from their early married life in their early twenties up until their death at the age of about eighty-four. So things havent changed that much. Thats a depressing thought isnt it? Four million people realising that they will never own their own home. Plug At one time you used to have to buy a plug separately and you would have to screw it on separately onto your iron or TV or whatever. But now, of course, generally the plug is already on, which makes everything a lot easier. We didnt really notice the change did we? Suddenly everything had a plug on. Things could be about to change though. Scientists have sounded the death knell for the plug and also the power lead. In a breakthrough that sounds like something from out of Star Trek, theyve discovered a way of beaming power across a room into a light bulb, mobile phone or laptop computer or TV, without wires or cable. In the first successful trial of its kind, the team were able to illuminate a sixty watt light bulb seven feet away. Its a team of scientists from Massachusetts and what it basically means is that in the future well be able to have TVs and any electronic equipment placed anywhere in the room without cables. But just think of the advantage of this! Especially ! for things like the vacuum cleaner. Youll no longer have to trail the lead behind you. So goodbye to the plug? It could be just around the corner. Well, that's it from me for today. Enjoy your Friday afternoon and the weekend. And if you want to drop me a line, then its the usual email address of [EMAIL PROTECTED] And dont forget our Levy Letter competition to win tickets to see OMD at Grimsby Auditorium on Monday 18th June at 7pm. If you want to go, then email me with the name of one of their hits. Nice and easy that one! Email me over the weekend and Ill announce the winner in Mondays Letter! Best of luck to you all. Look out for your Levy Letter again on Monday morning. Take care, Peter And for the latest news and more where you live, go to: http://bbc.co.uk/humber and http://bbc.co.uk/lincolnshire ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the BBC Look North newsletter, go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/england/looknorthhull/newsletter/newsletter_index.shtml, enter your email address in the unsubscribe box. 1.94.4
