Dunedin

Welsh singer Ricky Valance has died at the age of 84, his agent has confirmed.

Valance, who was born David Spencer, became the first Welshman to have a solo UK Number One hit with the song Tell Laura I Love Her in 1960.

The singer was born in Ynysddu, now in Caerphilly county, and joined the RAF aged 17 before going into the music business.

His agent said he had been diagnosed with dementia and had been in hospital since before the start of lockdown.

It was controversial at the time and reportedly banned from airplay by the BBC, but went on to be a number one single, selling more than a million copies.

It spent 16 weeks in the chart, three of those at number one, but was to prove his only big hit in the UK.

Nevertheless, fans have taken to social media to express their sadness at his death.

Hyder Ali Pirwany tweeted: "Ricky Valance, RIP. Great singer from Wales. His "Tell Laura I love her" song was tear jerking."

While another fan wrote: "Another one gone. RIP. Hope Laura is waiting for you."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yp3E4JhFoY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLFWRDsx5AI

"Stark Raving Dad" is the first episode of the third season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on September 19, 1991. In the episode, Homer is mistaken for an anarchist and sent to a mental institution, where he shares a room with a man who claims to be pop star Michael Jackson. Meanwhile, Bart promises his sister Lisa he will get her the best birthday present ever.

The episode was written by Al Jean and Mike Reiss, and directed by Rich Moore. Michael Jackson guest-starred as Leon Kompowsky, but went uncredited for contractual reasons; his role was not confirmed until later. Jackson was a fan of the show and called creator Matt Groening offering to do a guest spot. Jackson pitched several story ideas and wrote the song "Happy Birthday Lisa" for the episode. The character's singing voice was performed by a soundalike, Kipp Lennon, due to contractual obligations Jackson had with his record company. The episode references Jackson's career, with Kompowsky singing portions of the songs "Billie Jean" and "Ben".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEBLhjyUG-k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xmBdPmSJZM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgJEVRvW2fU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZE-GjQy-PLc

Coronavirus: Boris Johnson launches review into 2m social distancing rule

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53038255

Poland has admitted to briefly invading the Czech Republic last month in what the Polish Defence Ministry described as a "misunderstanding".

Polish troops guarding the frontier as part of coronavirus measures took up positions by a chapel on the Czech side of the border. They apparently stayed there for several days.

The soldiers prevented Czech visitors from accessing the site.

Czech authorities eventually intervened by contacting Warsaw.

James Bond bosses are reportedly planning a spin-off based on the spy's recently-discovered daughter, penned by Killing Eve's Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

Sources claimed bosses have approached Phoebe to pen a franchise documenting how the offspring of 007 becomes an agent herself.

It comes following reports that Bond is set to to have daughter in the long-awaited film No Time To Die, which will be released in November after its premiere was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. James Bond bosses are reportedly planning a spin-off based on the spy's recently-discovered daughter, penned by Killing Eve's Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

Sources claimed bosses have approached Phoebe to pen a franchise documenting how the offspring of 007 becomes an agent herself.

It comes following reports that Bond is set to to have daughter in the long-awaited film No Time To Die, which will be released in November after its premiere was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Average life expectancy in a care home is 2 years. That means that every year half the residents will die, covin or not. So sadly covid brought forward a number of deaths that would have happened in the few months to come under normal circumstances. To wreck the economy that is needed to pay for care homes, cancer treatment, schools, health services etc is a ridiculous price to pay and one which is almost certainly going to lead to more younger people having their lives cut short by a lot more than a few months.

Masabumi Hosono survived the Titanic, but not the public's scorn.

Rob Whippy

Masabumi Hosono survived the Titanic, but not the public's scorn.

Hosono's grandson is Haruomi Hosono, leading member of the Japanese band Yellow Magic Orchestra.

Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO) is a Japanese electronic music band formed in Tokyo in 1978 by Haruomi Hosono (bass, keyboards, vocals), Yukihiro Takahashi (drums, lead vocals) and Ryuichi Sakamoto (keyboards, vocals).

Paul Reaney (born 22 October 1944) is an English former footballer who played primarily as a right sided full-back. He spent most of his career at Leeds United, from 1962 to 1978. Internationally, Reaney was a regular squad member for the England national football team, making his debut in 1968, and was capped two more times after that. However, he missed out on two FIFA World Cup squads – for the 1966 edition, he was put on standby, and for the 1970 edition, he suffered a season-ending injury.

Yumeko Aizome (born December 25, 1915) is a former Japanese cinema and stage actress. She was active from 1930 until 1965 and appeared in more than 115 films.

In 1985, Aizome was interviewed along with her Our Neighbor, Miss Yae co-star Sanae Takasugi. Since then it is unknown whether she is still living.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlUKcNNmywk

If you don't need to work to pay existing debts, you could go around the world volunteering in exchange for food and shelter. You would normally work for 4 or 5 hours and have the rest of the day free to go around the place, like a tourist. And you'd probably meet lots of cool people, either your hosts or other volunteers.

I'm thinking of doing this myself.