Drainspotting

We’ve all seen train spotters eagerly jotting down train times and numbers. Now there’s a new phenomenon – the drain spotter. This new breed of obsessive travels hundreds of miles to photograph manhole covers.
Enthusiasts in Japan have sparked the craze, spending weeks hunting the nation’s 6000 uniquely designed covers. The discs were produced in the 1980s as an incentive for outlying areas to receive new sewer systems. Now the hobby has been documented by Briton in a new book called Drainspotting. It features 800 manhole covers.
Writer Remo Camerota researched them for three months before driving from town to town to photograph them. His work was helped by several manhole-dedicated websites.“Sometimes we would be arguing about a wrong turn and then stumble across a beautiful manhole, one which has been previously undocumented. Finding them is the best part, the whole time it feels like a treasure hunt"

Ice skating in Somerset House

Skaters enjoy the launch of the Big Ice Dance Workout at Somerset House in London yesterday. Beginners can take part in coached lunchtime dance warm-up sessions

from tomorrow

A good reputation is not power, but it is...

Does the royal family of Britain have any actual political power?

The British Monarchy has had its moments, there was a time, when the Monarch wielded more power than the Church of England, but in today's world, things are fast changing.

The royal family are symbols of Britain and the commonwealth, they represent our society, culture and history.

The Queen presents herself to open parliament and is the head of state and of the commonwealth.She does however still retain the power to dissolve parliament in theory but it is uncertain what would happen if she tried

Signs you're healthy

Fitness
A 30-year-old man with above average strength and fitness should be able to do over 25 push-ups in a minute and over 35 squats.

Vital signs
A resting pulse of around 70 beats per minute and a respiratory rate of around 16-20 breaths per minute don't make you an athlete, but they do make you a normal, healthy adult.

Stool
A good stool is torpedo shaped, soft and easy to pass. Colour can depend on what you've eaten, but it shouldn't generally be grey, very pale, too dark or bright red. A mid-brown stool, passed easily and regularly without any sudden change in bowel habits is one sign of decent digestive health.

Urine
A good colour is also a sign that your liver is working efficiently. A darker yellow probably just means you've been drinking less - drink more to avoid the symptoms of dehydration. But dark or red-tinged urine - or pee with a sweet or strange odour - can be a symptom of health problems.

Hair
In particular, healthy hair can be a sign of a healthy diet. Dull, dry and brittle hair can be caused by a lack or protein, vitamin E or essential fatty acids.

Tongue
A tongue with a warm, pinkish colour is one clue that you are absorbing sufficient iron, folic acid and vitamin B12. An overly pale and smooth tongue can be a sign of anaemia, while a yellowish tint can suggest fungal infection.



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