BBB

An Autumn Bouquet

It’s October and we’re going into autumn now.  The seasons are changing and we have some lovely mellow colours and autumn shades for this October bouquet from M&S that will give a much needed glow to the sett as the chill nights draw in.

We have

• Confetti roses - a bi colour orange and yellow

• Dried Achillea that keeps it colour even i its dried state
• Ribin Hood Germini - a mini gerboa again with two colours running throught he petals
• Orange Asiatic lillies - careful with those stmens!
• Leaucadendron Safari Sunset
• Dark green rhododendron foliage

Putting the bouquet together - start with some strong upright stems and arrange the flowers in a sprial around these.

Wrap your bouquet in tissue paper add a sachet of special formula flower food to help them last that bit longer

Wealthy American bequeaths millions to wombats

American bequeaths millions to wombats in Sydney, Australia
They are hairy, fat, and renowned for being grumpy but a wealthy American man was so taken by a group of sick wombats when he visited a sanctuary in Australia two years ago that he left them millions of dollars in his will.

While eccentric millionaires often against the advice of private banking and wealth management professionals, leave their money to cat homes or their spoilt pet dogs, (what about the badgers?) the unnamed American bequeathed AU$8 million (£4.8 million) to the Wombat Awareness Organisation (WAO) in South Australia, leaving the non-profit environmental group stunned at the act of generosity from the other side of the world.

“We thought it was a joke,” Brigitte Stevens, the organisation’s founding director, told The Badger. “So we asked for it to be sent in writing, and now that we have it confirmed we are still shocked.”

Ms Stevens met the millionaire, who worked in the http://www.coutts.com/private-banking/wealth-institute/family-business/” title=”family business wealth management”>family business horse racing industry, two years ago when he asked for a tour of the WAO, which conducts large-scale rescue and rehabilitation of the southern hairy-nosed wombat.Ms Stevens said she had explained to the American the work the group did in caring for injured wombats – which are native to South Australia and feature as the state’s emblem – and the conservation of the mammals, which are threatened by mange, drought, and landowners filling in their burrows.

“He was quite horrified at what was happening,” Ms Stevens said. “We didn’t know he had any money at all until his solicitor rang and said he had been all over Australia and spoken with a lot of different conservation projects and thought ours was the most genuine.“It’s really good news for the wombats. Finally we can take care of them a lot better and cater for a lot more wombats now.”

Southern hairy-nosed wombats are officially listed as threatened and are becoming endangered from sarcoptic mange, which killed 80 per cent of the population in 2004.The nocturnal animals live in burrows in arid environments and are usually silver or brown and can weigh up to 40kg.

While cute to look at, wombats can become agitated when sick. Last year an Australian man was mauled by a wombat which was suffering from advanced case of mange.Ms Stevens said the organisation – which is supported by Bob Irwin, father of the late environmentalist Steve Irwin – currently has 17 living at the wildlife refuge in Mannum. Approximately 700 are cared for annually.

They can spend anywhere from three days to a lifetime in rehabilitation at a cost of up to AU$40,000 per wombat.The animals are looked after by Ms Stevens – who describes wombats as “the loves of my life” – and two other volunteers, who all live together in a small property.

“I don’t have a bedroom, I don’t have a mirror and I don’t have hot running water,” she said. “We are the only people in the world who share a house with a community of wombats.”Ms Stevens said the group would use the donation, which will be delivered in instalments over eight years, to buy a larger property and develop a proper centre to care for the wombats, as well as other species of wildlife.

Despite the enormous gift, Ms Stevens said the group still needed more money to help the animals. She said that after the donation was made public today other donors had begun withdrawing their regular cash pledges, leaving the organisation short.“There is still so much work that needs to be done,” Ms Stevens said.

Hidden Tigers At bangkok Airport

Thailand Flight Delayed - Tigers Found in luggage

A two-month-old tiger cub was found hidden among stuffed toy tigers in a woman’s luggage at a Bangkok airport.

Found tiger cubs in luggage on flight from Bangkok

The Thai woman, who was about to board a flight from Bangkok to Iran, was stopped at security after an X-ray machine spotted the animal’s beating heart. Wildlife officers took the tiger to a National Parks Department rescue centre where it is now recuperating. The anti-smuggling organisation Traffic warned the incident showed the need for constant monitoring of Thailand flights and tougher sentencing for smugglers.

Big cat smuggling is prevalent in Thailand and the Far East, where black market demand for tiger products for use in Chinese medicine is pushing the species to extinction.

This year is the Chinese Year of the Tiger, and a World Bank fund has been set up to save the estimated 4,000 tigers left in the wild.

Beach Badger Guide to Lingerie & Swimwear

Beach Badger - the tricks of the trade

With the latest ranges of bikinis now costing a small fortune and the ludicrous cost of taking bags on holiday flight yours truly has hit upon the idea of simply not bothering trying to keep up with swimwear fashion - instead turn to high street underwear or lingerie that not only feels great under new holiday dresses but also looks stunning by the pool or on the beach.

1. Tan before you try. Shopping for your suit with a healthy glow will help you tap into your inner Elle Mc and fully visualise your beach wear look.

2. Avoid the midday sun. It acts like spotlighting, says Melissa Odabash, “which would give Gisele cellulite. If you have to walk out in it, wear a big hat to diffuse the light and tie a sarong around to cover your bottom half. Remember you probably spent good money on holiday dresses so wear them during the daytime. Most women look great from the hip up”.

3. Stick to neutral-coloured underwear at the beginning of your holiday, working towards whites and brights as your tan develops. Yes, this does mean you save packing at least four bikinis for a seven-day trip.4. Disguise a large bottom by going one size smaller with your lingerie — seriously. “The temptation is to go up a size, but then all the eye sees is more fabric. Then you get that diaper effect, which drives me crazy.”

5. Don’t think that pulling your knickers up higher makes your legs look longer. “It looks ridiculous. A hipster style, that classic Sophia Loren look, suits every body shape.”6. Look for ruching, pleats and ruffles to disguise a multitude of sins, from a less-than-flat tummy to the dreaded muffin top.

7. Avoid underwiring. Side-boning means even Heidi Klein’s skimpier  bras can work on busty girls. “Just tie the halter nice and tight, and you’ll still get that lift,” says Laura Thirtle. In the world of BW, it’s all about the lift.8. Odabash recommends “regular massages, to get the water retention out of your legs” and a “freezing-cold shower just before the beach to tighten everything up”.

9. Essential products in Odabash’s badger babe armoury include “a glittering oil by Biotherm, which gives you the most incredible sheen, Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser, St Tropez Everyday daily tanner and factor-50 sunblock”.10. Remember, the sophisticated beach badger keeps her pedicure neutral. “Bright coloured claws look tacky.”

11. Take a final tip from boho lingerie model Kate Moss. “She layers body oil by Ligne St Barth [stocked at Heidi Klein] under her sunblock,” says Thirtle. “It leaves your skin feeling super-soft when you shower it off.”