Don’t think the two are related. It’s just that today, July 1st, there is some good news and some bad news concerning these two.

Firstly the good news.

To remind you, Ryanair have placed a £5 surcharge on hold luggage starting today and running till the end of August. Under the dubious guise of encouraging us to pack less, the surcharge is supposed to disuade us from carrying unwanted clothing and knick-knacks on holiday with us. As I wrote on 20th June, after Ryanair announced it’s concern for our inability to understand how much luggage we should pack, our grateful thanks should go to them for their helpfulness.

Everyone’s heard of the Loch Ness Monster. Photographs tv programmes and films have been shot. Novels, factual books and countless articles have all been written about her or him. Millions of fluffy toys, fridge magnets, mugs and other souvenirs have been manufactured over the years. Does it really matter whether Nessie exists or not?
Not really.
As a device to draw tourists, it does need the odd “sighting” now and then to keep the interest going. And the interest must be lucrative since there are two exhibition centres on the edges of the loch.

[ June 19, 2010 to July 10, 2010. ]
Lydney, Gloucestershire
prices vary so visit the website

[ July 1, 2010 to July 4, 2010. ]
Conwy, North Wales

[ June 18, 2010 to July 2, 2010. ]
Penzance, Cornwall

[ June 25, 2010 to July 4, 2010. ] Beaminster Festival of Music and The Arts www.beamfest.org.uk

[ June 30, 2010 to July 3, 2010. ] NGS Gardens Open for Charity. Stone House Cottage Gardens. Stone. DY10 4BG. 10am-5pm. £3. Tel: 01562 69902

[ June 28, 2010 to July 4, 2010. ] Trentham Gardens, Stafford

[ June 28, 2010 to July 9, 2010. ] Music, Speech & Drama Festival ,Bournemouth Natural Science Society, Bournemouth

[ June 24, 2010 to July 10, 2010. ] Stafford Castle, Stafford