While No-One's Looking ...

In the days running up to Christmas, here are a few off-the wall stories have brightened up my day ... and a sad one;

Let's start with the news that Joseph Barbera, one half of the Hannah-Barbera team who brought us cartoon classics as The Flintstones, Yogi Bear and Scooby-Doo died yesterday, aged 95. Most news organisations are running with this one - which only goes to show how popular culture still holds dear childhood memories.

Then there's the frankly odd story of a Devon man who hoped to get into the record books by eating the most Brussel sprouts in a minute. Richard Townsend, 24, of Exeter in the UK, fell seven short of the target of 43 which was set back in December 2003. Mr Townsend, who had eaten a plate of sprouts every day for the last six months, said he just "lost it". Open a window, for heaven's sake ...

A word about next year's French Presidential Elections ... veteran rock-and-roller Johnny Hallyday and staunch high-profile supporter of little Nicky Sarkosy has decided that French taxes are too high and is upping-sticks and running off to Switzerland. To avoid French taxes, Hallyday, who has sold around 100 million albums during his 40-year career, must spend six months and a day each year in Switzerland. Earlier this year, Hallyday made a bid to aquire Belgian nationality - they refused him. Meanwhile, back in the smoke, Francois Hollande, leader of the rival Socialists and husband of political sex-kitten Segolene Royal, joked that it was "a really nice way to support his chosen candidate". Mr Hollande went onto say "If he really thought Nicolas Sarkozy could win, and was so convinced by his policies, he only had to wait four months." He's got a point. Ta ta Johnners ...

However, the man who first started the commercial side to Bungy Jumping, AJ Hackett, did get into the record books. He leapt off the Macau Tower in, err, Macau. He fell 200 meters in 8 seconds. He should have called Richard Townsend - he could have rocketed down ...

In the good 'ole US of States, a portly gent paid a visit to Disney World. James Worley, 60, just hapens to have white hair and a fluffy white beard. Soon children were stopping him and asking if he was Santa Claus. Not wanting to disappoint, Mr Worley played along for the kiddies with a few "ho-ho-hos". Disney officials soon descended and told him telling him to "stop the impersonation or get out of the park". They said they wanted to preserve the magic of Santa.

Now, rug-rats, we wouldn't want that Disney Magic to ruin Christmas for you, would we? ... well not unless they had total control.

Stu