Did You Know… The nation’s favourite pranks A study by Jammie Dodgers reveals that a whopping 95% of Brits believe that it’s important to embrace your “inner child”, especially when it comes to fun, mischief and pranks. Nearly two thirds of Brits (63%) confess they love to prank, with men far more likely to prank someone than their (72%) female counterparts (54%). This is especially true for parents, or should we say kidults, as more than a third (36%) reveal they feel they are less mature than their own kids! Of the adults surveyed who have children, over half (56%) have been told that they’re embarrassing parents. Despite legal adulthood starting at 18, new research has found that the average Brit doesn’t consider themselves a grown up until they pass 30. The survey also revealed a definitive list of signs you are a “kidult”, including buying sweets to cheer yourself up (56%), watching cartoons (39%) and eating your favourite biccie in your own special way, like taking it apart and eating the filling first.
The nation’s Top 10 favourite pranks:
lifestyle
Things you never knew about the River Thames
by OLIVIA BRIDGEN
The River Thames is one of London’s oldest and most popular attractions, not only bringing in millions of overseas visitors each year but piquing local interest too. As well as being a tourist hotspot, it is England’s longest river and the second-longest river in the United Kingdom. This got us thinking, how much of the Thames is undiscovered? The team at Barratt London took a deep dive into the 30-million-year-old river to reveal what tropical marine life resides in the river, the wackiest items that have been found as well as which items could be recycled.
Item
Year Sighted
5,000-year-old human bone
2022
16th Century Sword
2021
Plastic Crocodile
2017
Iron Ball and Chain
2009
Giant Michael Jackson Statue
1995
28-metre-long megalodon shark tooth
Year Unknown
Roman Brothel Token
Year Unknown
Skull segment from a 30,000-year-old woolly Rhino
Year Unknown
1. Jumping out at someone and shouting ‘Boo!’ 2. Using an extra or different remote to sneakily change the TV channel 3. Prank calling a mate 4. Scaring someone with fake insects or snakes 5. Whoopee cushions 6. Replacing family photos with famous people 7. Removing batteries from devices 8. Clingfilm over the toilet seat 9. Telling your children the Wi-Fi is down when it isn’t 10. Changing the clocks
What sea life can be spotted in the Thames?
Prescription charges
Wet wipes are reported to be the most littered item in the river and when mixed with mud they form slimy layers. Food wrappers are found to be the top lightweight item, making up to 20% of all litter in the Thames.
NHS prescription charges will be frozen for the first time in 12 years to help with the cost of living. Charges usually increase in line with average inflation. This year - in a move not seen for over a decade - the cost for prescriptions will remain the same to help ease cost of living pressures and ensure prescription medication remains accessible. This means people in England who pay prescription charges are saving £17 million overall. Charges for prescriptions will remain at £9.35 for a single charge or £30.25 for a 3-month prescription prepayment certificate (PPCs). 12 month PPCs will remain at £108.10 and can be paid for in instalments, meaning people can get all the medicines they need for just over £2 a week.
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Data finds that whales are the most common animal residing in the Thames. Dolphins, a harbour porpoise, several sharks, seahorses and eels have also been spotted.
What waste items are found most in the Thames?
Ed McCoy, Sales and Marketing Director at Barratt West London, said: “Discovering that a number of whales have chosen to make Londoners their neighbours has been quite a pleasant and unexpected surprise. Their ‘under the radar’ presence makes them the perfect quiet and considerate neighbours. It's a privilege to share our city with them. The study also brought to light the items that should not be calling the Thames home, that could have very easily been recycled instead. We hope this new knowledge of our underwater neighbours will make a lot of people think twice about dumping rubbish into the Thames."
August 2022 Life in... BROMLEY 37
