Take a break today with these real life stories.
Couple honeymoon for two years on a tandem bike
Can you imagine spending two years on honeymoon with your partner? It might sound ideal. After all, you’ll have your loved one, a long holiday and the chance to see the whole world. But what if that meant you had to spend nearly all of those two years on a tandem bike? Are you still so keen?
Well, that is exactly what Kat and Steve Turner decided to do after they got hitched. They quit their jobs (she was a teacher and he was a parliamentary caseworker), left their home in Forest Hill and kicked off their international cycling adventure in New Zealand in April 2012. Since then, they have cycled all over the world, clocking up more than 20,000 miles during the trip.
They had to contend with heat exhaustion, a fractured knee cap, earthquakes, floods and more, but they did it. They finally returned to British soil on 16th March, being greeted at Plymouth by a crowd of cheering friends and family. Of course, the young marriage survived such an arduous holiday, but they have even more reason to feel proud: they also raised money for the international development charity Practical Action.
Well done, Kat and Steve.
Historical penny found in Nottingham
How much do you think a penny could be worth? £100? £1000? An anonymous Sheffield joiner and metal detecting enthusiast has found what may well be the most valuable penny in the world: it is expected to fetch £10,000 at auction, when it goes on the block next month.
But how could a penny be worth that much? Well, it was issued in the early 1140s, during the reign of King Stephen. The central government wasn’t able to produce enough currency because of a bloody civil war, so the Earl of Derby issued his own coin. This little beauty is made of silver, and it really is getting collectors excited because of its age and rarity.
We’ll have to wait and see how much it actually gets at auction, but it’s sure to be a great return just for an afternoon’s stroll!
Pen pals for 72 years still corresponding by handwritten letter every two weeks
Just when you thought the art of letter writing was dying out, it turns out these two friends have nearly single-handedly propped up the Royal Mail!
Well, that might be an exaggeration, but every two weeks for 72 years, these friends have been writing each other. Sheffield’s Nona Avery (on the left in the image above) began corresponding with American Alice in 1942. When she was 12, she answered an ad calling for pen pals at the back of the Girl’s Crystal Annual, a romantic fiction magazine, and she was given the details of another 12 year old girl who was living in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The two became fast friends, sharing interests in books, films and magazines. They shared everything, detailing crushes, loves, births, deaths, happiness, sadness and everything in between, building up a lasting, deep friendship that transcended the distance and cultural differences between them.
Still, the pair didn’t meet until 1987, when Alice finally saved up enough money to fly to England. Nona then returned the favour, flying over to America in 1991. Throughout the visits, life changes and years, they never stopped essay writing, sending two letters a month each. And now that they are both in their mid-80s, it seems it’s too late to change what truly is the habit of a lifetime.
Four people and dog rescued from British beach after sinking into dangerous “quicksand”
Have you ever stepped in a puddle or a bit of sand that ended up being deeper than you expected? That sort of thing happened to four people and a dog in Kent over the weekend.
On Sunday, Coastguard officers had to pull two people out of a thick, sandy mud at Herne Bay, after they got stuck in up to their thighs. Then, just over an hour later, they had to rescue two more people and their dog, who had found themselves stuck in mud up to their waists!
The incidents were unrelated and everyone, including the dog, survived the ordeal without injury, but it’s safe to say the weekend became instantly memorable for all involved!
Incidentally, rescuers advise that anyone who finds themselves in a similar situation do the following. Try to spread out your weight as much as possible to avoid sinking further, and simply wait for help to arrive. If you find someone in just such a position, do not try to rescue them without the proper training and equipment, as you will probably get stuck yourself. Instead, tell them to spread out their weight and go get them some help.
These real life stories range from the funny to the outrageous (imagine getting £10,000 for a penny!). But what do you think? Would you sell such a valuable item? How would you feel getting stuck in quicksand, or stuck to your spouse’s side for two years?
Let us know in the comments.
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