Surprise wedding for Xmas gift

Some people get surprise birthday parties, Iida Ruth Southey gets surprise weddings. Twice in her life Southey was surprised with a wedding ceremony on Christmas eve, both times to francis Southey, reports AP from Wisconsin town of Wateford.

Her future husband planned their original wedding for Christmas eve 1942 while he was stationed in sherman, Texas, awaiting orders to shipoff to Europe during World War II.

“I didn’t know I was getting married, I just went to spend Christmas with him and I got down there, he had the wedding all arranged,” said Ruth  Southey, 85, who lives at the Waterford Senior living facility. 

On Monday, staff at the senior facility arranged the same surprise for the 65th anniversary of Ruth and Francis Southey, 90 in a teary eyed wedding.

Duchess holed up in icy Arctic

It must be serious. The Duchess of York is holed up in icy Arctic for a Christmas date. Fergie is braving rainstorms, icy temperatures and only four hours of light a day.

According to a PTI report from London, Sarah Ferguson has been holed up with Geir Frantzen at his luxury retreat in Norway’s remote Vesteralen Islands  100 miles north of the Arctic Circle- stepping out occasionally to enjoy a romantic shopping trip in the nearby town of Sortland.

Appearing every inch a couple in love, they spent the weekend buying each other Christmas presents. Those close to the couple say that Fergie, 48, has fallen ‘head over heels’ with the frozen food tycoon, whom she met a year ago when discussing a business venture to sell health supplements.

Text-messager’s thumb disorder

For a generation that swears by mobile phone comes a disease which arises from its favourite pastime — SMSes, reports UNI from Sydney.

A student in New Zealand was diagnosed with texting tenosynovitis, an inflammation of tendons along the thumb and side  of the wrist, due to constantly sending messages. The disease is  also known as text-messager’s thumb.

Fleur de Vere Beavis, 20, who sends up to 100 text messages a day on her mobile phone, has been diagnosed with the country’s first known case of texting tenosynovitis, Sydney Morning Herald reported quoting the Sunday Star-Times. According to the report only two other cases of the ailment had been reported till date.

Terror marks chidren deep

Children exposed to terrorist attacks show elevated symptoms of mental health problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder, a study has said.

The new research published in journal ‘Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice’ reveals that children exposed to terrorist attacks show elevated symptoms of mental health problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder, separation anxiety disorder, and general anxiety disorder, reports PTI from London. Within the present climate of heightened awareness about terrorism, many children are exposed to what the study termed “second-hand terrorism,” in which media disproportionately focus on the possibility of being a direct victim of future terrorism.

This sets the stage for insecurity, countless false alarms, and persistent anxiety.

Deposed Thai PM plans return

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra said on Tuesday he is willing to return to Thailand and act as an adviser to allies leading the political party that won the country’s first elections since his ouster in a 2006 military coup, reports AP from Bangkok.

But Thaksin, who is legally barred from office, insisted that he will not otherwise resume his political career.

Speaking in Hong Kong, Thaksin said he will “explore options” for a return sometime between mid-February and April.