Western Morning News, The

Miss Dale's Diet Diary

I 'm pounds33 poorer and 5lb lighter. The baggy "boyfriend" jeans have been confined to the bottom of the drawer and my gym kit is often left out in preparation for my morning exercise sessions. One was spent running about in the park behind my house at 6.30am being barked at by an ex-army officer, doing sit-ups in wet grass and tricep dips using the park bench. After the hour-long session I could barely lift my arms to shampoo my hair.

Fancy Dress Fits Summer Bill for Frivolous Fashion

W ho says the dressing-up box is out of bounds for adults? We all have an excuse this summer to put on the Ritz. You don't have to dress like a princess to look like one: think oversized corsages, fancy frocks and head-turning fascinators to fulfil your event dress codes. Whether you spend your working days in comfy casuals or stiff suits, it's always a refreshing change to get glammed up for a special occasion.

Pomp, Pageantry and Placemats for Patriotic Feast

T he founding fathers of America left a burden of responsibility on their descendants. Yes, we're supposed to protect our inalienable rights and vote to support the infrastructure of democracy and all that jazz. But the one I'm talking about is that we're supposed to have a party on the Fourth of July. Honestly, it's our sacred duty. In 1776, congressman and patriot John Adams sent a letter to his wife Abigail which lays it all out.

Thousands Expected to See Alien Invasion

Most sci-fi fans will never get closer to their heroes than the distance from their eyes to the television screen. But enthusiasts of all things alien who visit Torquay Museum will be able to come face to face with some of the biggest names in the genre this summer. Some of the most recognisable props and costumes, including full- size replicas and original models from classic films such as Terminator and RoboCop, will be on display.

Lizard No Longer Home to Thrushes ; Edwin Carter, Naturalist, Who Lives On the Lizard, Cornwall, Tells of the Huge Invasion of Painted Ladies, Saying His Records Show That This Occurs Every Four to Five Years. Sadly, Song Thrushes Have All but Disappeared There, Even Though the Habitat Remains Unchanged. Edwin Visits Exmoor Twice a Year and has Heard Song Thrushes There.

Edwin Carter, naturalist, who lives on The Lizard, Cornwall, tells of the huge invasion of painted ladies, saying his records show that this occurs every four to five years. Sadly, song thrushes have all but disappeared there, even though the habitat remains unchanged. Edwin visits Exmoor twice a year and has heard song thrushes there. His local barn owls do well, he says, and he has put up a few nest or roosting boxes for them, with four occupied. During the winter the barn owls took snip...

Take a Leaf Out of Bettye's Book by Working and Playing Hard

T his summer is predicted to see droves of people easing the strain on their wallets and the environment by ditching long-haul holidays in favour of a "staycation" in Britain. Eager forecasters have said this is great news for Devon and Cornwall. For the older generation, family holidays on Westcountry shores are not news: it's going back to basics. Bettye Gray is Cornwall's grande dame of the hotel industry. Many hotels in the county have passed through a branch of her family tree, past or p...

Bring Fresh Air Into Tainted Parliament ; Following Your Suggestion That Readers Make Their Own Inquiries Into the Published Figures of Mps Expenses, I Noticed in the Staffing Allowances Claimed by East Devon Conservative Mp Hugo Swire That He Employs His Wife Sasha As an Assistant, and That in the Latest Year On Record She Was Paid in the Category of Pounds30,000- Pounds40,000 a Year.

Following your suggestion that readers make their own inquiries into the published figures of MPs expenses, I noticed in the staffing allowances claimed by East Devon Conservative MP Hugo Swire that he employs his wife Sasha as an assistant, and that in the latest year on record she was paid in the category of pounds30,000- pounds40,000 a year. My mp, Geoffrey Cox, Conservative, Torridge and West Devon, recently invited the shadow Secretary of State for Defra to Holsworthy to meet farmers. B...

As the Young Fly the Nest It's a Time to Let Go and Let Be

I watched the 10-year-old appraise his primary school through new eyes this week. We had just completed a tour of the secondary school he'll be joining in just over a year and the whole experience left him astonished, excited and just a little bit sad in equal measure. "It looks so small," he said on our return, staring in slightly dazed disbelief at the village school which has been a happy and wonderful home since he was four.

Classy Cosmetics Turn Beauty Into Art Form

T he Victoria and Albert Museum in London was founded to showcase the best of British craftsmanship. This year, it has produced a range of cosmetic products that is a combination of fashion photography, fragrance, and a product base that would stand up to the most exacting test of today's beauty standards. And now, this elegant range is available to buy in the Westcountry and online.

Written Word Lasts Forever

S o FAR this year this column has been looking at the basics of country walking - and one thing we so far have failed to cover is the remarkable literature that is on hand. There are more and more easy-to-follow websites on the Internet - www.westcountrywalks.com is mine - but for me one of the most pleasant sources of walks literature is to be found in the region's fabulous, but increasingly rare, second-hand bookshops. Today I'm going to recommend a series of three books by the late Donald...

Showground Steels Up for Thumping, Pumping Weekend ; American Hip-Hop Group N.E.R.D. Are Set to Headline a Weekend of Pumping Sounds, Breakthrough Artists and Blasting Djs for Nass 2009 at Bath and West Showground Next Weekend.

American hip-hop group N.E.R.D. are set to headline a weekend of pumping sounds, breakthrough artists and blasting DJs for NASS 2009 at Bath and West Showground next weekend. After appearing as special guests at Glastonbury, where they were cut off mid-song, the funk trio headed up by Pharrell Williams (pictured) are coming back to the Westcountry to get Shepton Mallet rocking with their unique brand of rock, jazz and funk tunes.

Nice Chap - but No Leader ; I See That Ben Bradshaw Says Gordon Brown Is Warm, Engaging and Personable. That May Be so, but They Are Hardly the Qualities Needed to Make a Prime Minister - or, If It Comes to That, a Chancellor of the Exchequer.

I see that Ben Bradshaw says Gordon Brown is warm, engaging and personable. That may be so, but they are hardly the qualities needed to make a Prime Minister - or, if it comes to that, a Chancellor of the Exchequer. It wouldn't be a bad idea if Mr Brown had a little common sense. We hear that he proposes to continue with his "spend, spend, spend" policy while refusing to say where the money is coming from, and that it is to be a secret until after the next election.

Magical Musical Is Revving Up for Run

T he blockbuster musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang opens at the Theatre Royal tonight for a phantasmagorical three-week summer run. And the term blockbuster is well-deserved. The show, which opens in Plymouth before a national tour, has a cast and crew of over 100 (including 10 dogs), sensational sets, a full orchestra and stunning special effects, including the magical flying car. A hugely popular film with Dick Van Dyke and Sally Ann Howes, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is the story of eccentric in...

Grappling with Revolutionary Hot Potato ; When Director Kevin Johnson Decided to Tackle Marat/Sade - a Play Made Famous by a Royal Shakespeare Company Production Directed by Peter Brook in 1964 - He Realised It Would Be a Tall Order.

When director Kevin Johnson decided to tackle Marat/Sade - a play made famous by a Royal Shakespeare Company production directed by Peter Brook in 1964 - he realised it would be a tall order. "One of the first bits of research I did on the Internet said that it was a 'really big challenge' - and that was from someone else who had directed it. It is one of the hardest plays to approach and direct... and I completely agree! It's by far the hardest thing I have ever done. But we've come a really...

Inspiration Flows by River

E ric Ward was born in St Ives and his art is intricately bound up with his birthplace. He can claim a direct link with fisherman artist Alfred Wallis, who was married to his great- grandmother, and he himself earned his living as a fisherman, harbourmaster and lifeboat coxswain, while establishing his reputation as a painter. His eclectic output includes harbour and river views of Cornwall, still lifes, life studies of women, and portraits of musicians performing at the St Ives Jazz Club, a...

Gallery Serves As Tribute and Eclectic Talent Showcase ; the Opening of a New Gallery in the Heart of Penzance Is a Real Labour of Love for Linda Stoneman and a Tribute to the Work of Her Late Husband, Master Printer Hugh Stoneman, Who Died in 2005 at the Age of 58.

The opening of a new gallery in the heart of Penzance is a real labour of love for Linda Stoneman and a tribute to the work of her late husband, master printer Hugh Stoneman, who died in 2005 at the age of 58. Stoneman Gallery's, in Chapel Street in what was formerly the Goldfish Gallery, is hosting a mixed summer show featuring an eclectic array of artists of national and international renown.

Passion Is Shared Currency

T he five artists sharing space in Badcocks Gallery's July exhibition come from very diverse backgrounds and work in very different mediums, but are all united by a glorious sense of colour, form and pattern. Badcocks, which opened nine years ago, is the only independent gallery in Newlyn, an area directly associated with 200 years of art.

Win Vip Tickets and Hotel Stay ; to Celebrate Green Britain Day On Friday, July 10 2009, Edf Energy Is Giving Away a Vip Package to the Special Eden Session Headlined by Paul Weller, in Support of the Prince's Rainforests Project.

To celebrate Green Britain Day on Friday, July 10 2009, EDF Energy is giving away a VIP package to the special Eden Session headlined by Paul Weller, in support of the Prince's Rainforests Project. This fantastic prize includes a pair of tickets, overnight accommodation for two people, plus a limited edition Green Britain Day Epiphone Casino electric guitar.

Waterside Setting Promises Summer Ska and Folk Mix ; the Full Line-Up for the Main Stage at Falmouth Sound - the Town's Waterside Bank Holiday Weekend Music Event - has Been Announced, with Groovy Folkster Foy Vance and Ska King Neville Staple (Pictured) Adding to an Already Impressive Bill. Belfast Singer Songwriter Foy Will Join the Wombats, the Boxer Rebellion, Fink and Melo Park, Featuring Sian Evans of Kosheen, On Saturday, August 29.

The full line-up for the main stage at Falmouth Sound - the town's waterside bank holiday weekend music event - has been announced, with groovy folkster Foy Vance and ska king Neville Staple (pictured) adding to an already impressive bill. Belfast singer songwriter Foy will join The Wombats, The Boxer Rebellion, Fink and Melo Park, featuring Sian Evans of Kosheen, on Saturday, August 29. Neville - who just appeared with a reunited The Specials at Glastonbury - will be accompanied by ska song...

Riding Through the Recession ; Lucinda Mcalpine's Riding Through the Recession Countrywide Tour Starts in Cornwall at the Tall Trees Equestrian Arena in Davidstow, North Cornwall, Tonight.

Lucinda McAlpine's Riding through the Recession countrywide tour starts in Cornwall at the Tall Trees Equestrian Arena in Davidstow, North Cornwall, tonight. The roadshow comprises demonstrations by Lucinda with a group of her naturally managed competition horses. The horses work free in a group or individually, to some fantastic music. Lucinda will show just how easy it can be for horse owners to cut the cost of keeping - and competing - their horses in these difficult times without compro...