Brentwood: currently 2°C, light rain
high today 4°C, low tonight 1°C
sunrise 07:10, sunset 17:15
Now playing:
Toni Braxton - Unbreak My Heart
Listen Live Webcam


Creating a stink

To start a new month in style, we looked today at a couple of stories relating to smells, however admittedly the link to the second story is less direct.

So let’s start with a question, would you queue for hours just to get a whiff of sweaty socks?

Well it seems that 20,000 people have been lining up at a greenhouse at the Royal Sydney Botanic Garden to do just that.

In fact just to try to ameliorate the crowds queuing up for the sensation, staff considered placing vomit bags in the waiting area to perhaps give them a taster for what they were about to experience.

So what’s all the ballyhoo about?

Well it seems that following a 7-year wait since the gardens got their hands on a specimen of the so-called CORPSE FLOWER – officially known as amorphophallus titanium – it suddenly burst into life by blooming for the first time.

The flower – nicknamed Putricia by fans – a combination of “putrid” and “Patricia”, has become something of a social media star, with a 24/7 live stream established by the botanic garden, drawing close to a million views in the days approaching its bloom. For a week, the flower fronted a  stately and gothic display in front of a purple curtain, wreathed in mist from a humidifier, thereby attracting 20,000 admirers who filed past, hoping to experience the smell for themselves.

The rare specimen, of which there are thought to be just 1000 worldwide, is native to the Indonesian island of Sumatra. With so few specimen known to exist, it is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

When blooms were first spotted it was a mere just 25cm (10 inches) high, but within a couple of days, as its flower spike slowly opened, it had expanded to a height of 1.6m (5ft 3), but don’t worry it shouldn’t get too much bigger as so far as is known, they only bloom for between one and three days.

Since they can’t self pollinate, the plant is thus at a distinct disadvantage in the wild unless another flower is open nearby, which at the Botanic Garden, seems unlikely.

In the second hour we moved from Australia to Wales – Wales in the UK, that is, not NEW SOUTH WALES.

Now I have to be honest I would never have expected a case like this to come before the courts, and certainly not in the UK.

But it’s all true, a woman has been hauled up in front of magistrates for sending videos of herself breaking wind.

So here’s a blow by blow account of the proceedings. 25-year old Rhiannon Evans apparently sent the videos to her boyfriend’s ex partner, which magistrates were told had caused distress and anxiety to the recipient, Deborah Prytherch who told the court, she wanted to feel safe in her own house but that the videos had put the wind up her.

In the first video Rhiannon placed a camera on her bottom before letting rip.

This was followed by 3 similar videos on December 22nd, and over the course of the next few days four more videos of a similar nature were despatched, with Miss Evans cheekily smiling at the camera.

In spite of police getting wind of what was occurring further blasts were despatched on Boxing Day and New Years Day.

Prosecuting Council, Diane Williams, told magistrates at Caernarfon court that shop worker, Miss Evans, had sent the videos because she thought her boyfriend was being unfairly treated by his ex-partner.

Defence council, Harriet Gorst stated that at the time the videos were sent, the defendant had imbibed a few drinks, but now understood the distress that her actions had caused.

A probation officer said she had been in a relationship for two years but that there was “bad blood” with her boyfriend’s ex-partner.

It never occurred to the defendant that sending the videos would be a criminal offence and was surprised that the recipient hadn’t just blocked her.

Originally charged with malicious communications, Rhiannon Evans, was ultimately convicted of harassment, handed 15 rehabilitation sessions, 60 days alcohol abstinence monitoring, a two-year restraining order and was also ordered to pay £100 compensation and £199 costs.

Following her conviction she told reporters she thought the sentence was excessive and overly dramatic and that the whole episode was petty.

She also added that, she considered that “We are living in a very ‘snowflake’ generation.”

I’m not going to argue with that statement!

Anyway I really hope you’ll be able to join me once again tomorrow,
Scott

 
 
Subscribe to our newsletter!
One a month, no spam, honest

Now on air
Coming up
More from One 2 Three
More from
More from Phoenix FM


Creating a stink

To start a new month in style, we looked today at a couple of stories relating to smells, however admittedly the link to the second story is less direct.

So let’s start with a question, would you queue for hours just to get a whiff of sweaty socks?

Well it seems that 20,000 people have been lining up at a greenhouse at the Royal Sydney Botanic Garden to do just that.

In fact just to try to ameliorate the crowds queuing up for the sensation, staff considered placing vomit bags in the waiting area to perhaps give them a taster for what they were about to experience.

So what’s all the ballyhoo about?

Well it seems that following a 7-year wait since the gardens got their hands on a specimen of the so-called CORPSE FLOWER – officially known as amorphophallus titanium – it suddenly burst into life by blooming for the first time.

The flower – nicknamed Putricia by fans – a combination of “putrid” and “Patricia”, has become something of a social media star, with a 24/7 live stream established by the botanic garden, drawing close to a million views in the days approaching its bloom. For a week, the flower fronted a  stately and gothic display in front of a purple curtain, wreathed in mist from a humidifier, thereby attracting 20,000 admirers who filed past, hoping to experience the smell for themselves.

The rare specimen, of which there are thought to be just 1000 worldwide, is native to the Indonesian island of Sumatra. With so few specimen known to exist, it is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

When blooms were first spotted it was a mere just 25cm (10 inches) high, but within a couple of days, as its flower spike slowly opened, it had expanded to a height of 1.6m (5ft 3), but don’t worry it shouldn’t get too much bigger as so far as is known, they only bloom for between one and three days.

Since they can’t self pollinate, the plant is thus at a distinct disadvantage in the wild unless another flower is open nearby, which at the Botanic Garden, seems unlikely.

In the second hour we moved from Australia to Wales – Wales in the UK, that is, not NEW SOUTH WALES.

Now I have to be honest I would never have expected a case like this to come before the courts, and certainly not in the UK.

But it’s all true, a woman has been hauled up in front of magistrates for sending videos of herself breaking wind.

So here’s a blow by blow account of the proceedings. 25-year old Rhiannon Evans apparently sent the videos to her boyfriend’s ex partner, which magistrates were told had caused distress and anxiety to the recipient, Deborah Prytherch who told the court, she wanted to feel safe in her own house but that the videos had put the wind up her.

In the first video Rhiannon placed a camera on her bottom before letting rip.

This was followed by 3 similar videos on December 22nd, and over the course of the next few days four more videos of a similar nature were despatched, with Miss Evans cheekily smiling at the camera.

In spite of police getting wind of what was occurring further blasts were despatched on Boxing Day and New Years Day.

Prosecuting Council, Diane Williams, told magistrates at Caernarfon court that shop worker, Miss Evans, had sent the videos because she thought her boyfriend was being unfairly treated by his ex-partner.

Defence council, Harriet Gorst stated that at the time the videos were sent, the defendant had imbibed a few drinks, but now understood the distress that her actions had caused.

A probation officer said she had been in a relationship for two years but that there was “bad blood” with her boyfriend’s ex-partner.

It never occurred to the defendant that sending the videos would be a criminal offence and was surprised that the recipient hadn’t just blocked her.

Originally charged with malicious communications, Rhiannon Evans, was ultimately convicted of harassment, handed 15 rehabilitation sessions, 60 days alcohol abstinence monitoring, a two-year restraining order and was also ordered to pay £100 compensation and £199 costs.

Following her conviction she told reporters she thought the sentence was excessive and overly dramatic and that the whole episode was petty.

She also added that, she considered that “We are living in a very ‘snowflake’ generation.”

I’m not going to argue with that statement!

Anyway I really hope you’ll be able to join me once again tomorrow,
Scott

 
 
Subscribe to our newsletter!
One a month, no spam, honest

Now on air
Coming up
More from One 2 Three
More from
More from Phoenix FM


Creating a stink

To start a new month in style, we looked today at a couple of stories relating to smells, however admittedly the link to the second story is less direct.

So let’s start with a question, would you queue for hours just to get a whiff of sweaty socks?

Well it seems that 20,000 people have been lining up at a greenhouse at the Royal Sydney Botanic Garden to do just that.

In fact just to try to ameliorate the crowds queuing up for the sensation, staff considered placing vomit bags in the waiting area to perhaps give them a taster for what they were about to experience.

So what’s all the ballyhoo about?

Well it seems that following a 7-year wait since the gardens got their hands on a specimen of the so-called CORPSE FLOWER – officially known as amorphophallus titanium – it suddenly burst into life by blooming for the first time.

The flower – nicknamed Putricia by fans – a combination of “putrid” and “Patricia”, has become something of a social media star, with a 24/7 live stream established by the botanic garden, drawing close to a million views in the days approaching its bloom. For a week, the flower fronted a  stately and gothic display in front of a purple curtain, wreathed in mist from a humidifier, thereby attracting 20,000 admirers who filed past, hoping to experience the smell for themselves.

The rare specimen, of which there are thought to be just 1000 worldwide, is native to the Indonesian island of Sumatra. With so few specimen known to exist, it is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

When blooms were first spotted it was a mere just 25cm (10 inches) high, but within a couple of days, as its flower spike slowly opened, it had expanded to a height of 1.6m (5ft 3), but don’t worry it shouldn’t get too much bigger as so far as is known, they only bloom for between one and three days.

Since they can’t self pollinate, the plant is thus at a distinct disadvantage in the wild unless another flower is open nearby, which at the Botanic Garden, seems unlikely.

In the second hour we moved from Australia to Wales – Wales in the UK, that is, not NEW SOUTH WALES.

Now I have to be honest I would never have expected a case like this to come before the courts, and certainly not in the UK.

But it’s all true, a woman has been hauled up in front of magistrates for sending videos of herself breaking wind.

So here’s a blow by blow account of the proceedings. 25-year old Rhiannon Evans apparently sent the videos to her boyfriend’s ex partner, which magistrates were told had caused distress and anxiety to the recipient, Deborah Prytherch who told the court, she wanted to feel safe in her own house but that the videos had put the wind up her.

In the first video Rhiannon placed a camera on her bottom before letting rip.

This was followed by 3 similar videos on December 22nd, and over the course of the next few days four more videos of a similar nature were despatched, with Miss Evans cheekily smiling at the camera.

In spite of police getting wind of what was occurring further blasts were despatched on Boxing Day and New Years Day.

Prosecuting Council, Diane Williams, told magistrates at Caernarfon court that shop worker, Miss Evans, had sent the videos because she thought her boyfriend was being unfairly treated by his ex-partner.

Defence council, Harriet Gorst stated that at the time the videos were sent, the defendant had imbibed a few drinks, but now understood the distress that her actions had caused.

A probation officer said she had been in a relationship for two years but that there was “bad blood” with her boyfriend’s ex-partner.

It never occurred to the defendant that sending the videos would be a criminal offence and was surprised that the recipient hadn’t just blocked her.

Originally charged with malicious communications, Rhiannon Evans, was ultimately convicted of harassment, handed 15 rehabilitation sessions, 60 days alcohol abstinence monitoring, a two-year restraining order and was also ordered to pay £100 compensation and £199 costs.

Following her conviction she told reporters she thought the sentence was excessive and overly dramatic and that the whole episode was petty.

She also added that, she considered that “We are living in a very ‘snowflake’ generation.”

I’m not going to argue with that statement!

Anyway I really hope you’ll be able to join me once again tomorrow,
Scott

 
 
Subscribe to our newsletter!
One a month, no spam, honest

Now on air
Coming up
More from One 2 Three
More from
More from Phoenix FM


Creating a stink

To start a new month in style, we looked today at a couple of stories relating to smells, however admittedly the link to the second story is less direct.

So let’s start with a question, would you queue for hours just to get a whiff of sweaty socks?

Well it seems that 20,000 people have been lining up at a greenhouse at the Royal Sydney Botanic Garden to do just that.

In fact just to try to ameliorate the crowds queuing up for the sensation, staff considered placing vomit bags in the waiting area to perhaps give them a taster for what they were about to experience.

So what’s all the ballyhoo about?

Well it seems that following a 7-year wait since the gardens got their hands on a specimen of the so-called CORPSE FLOWER – officially known as amorphophallus titanium – it suddenly burst into life by blooming for the first time.

The flower – nicknamed Putricia by fans – a combination of “putrid” and “Patricia”, has become something of a social media star, with a 24/7 live stream established by the botanic garden, drawing close to a million views in the days approaching its bloom. For a week, the flower fronted a  stately and gothic display in front of a purple curtain, wreathed in mist from a humidifier, thereby attracting 20,000 admirers who filed past, hoping to experience the smell for themselves.

The rare specimen, of which there are thought to be just 1000 worldwide, is native to the Indonesian island of Sumatra. With so few specimen known to exist, it is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

When blooms were first spotted it was a mere just 25cm (10 inches) high, but within a couple of days, as its flower spike slowly opened, it had expanded to a height of 1.6m (5ft 3), but don’t worry it shouldn’t get too much bigger as so far as is known, they only bloom for between one and three days.

Since they can’t self pollinate, the plant is thus at a distinct disadvantage in the wild unless another flower is open nearby, which at the Botanic Garden, seems unlikely.

In the second hour we moved from Australia to Wales – Wales in the UK, that is, not NEW SOUTH WALES.

Now I have to be honest I would never have expected a case like this to come before the courts, and certainly not in the UK.

But it’s all true, a woman has been hauled up in front of magistrates for sending videos of herself breaking wind.

So here’s a blow by blow account of the proceedings. 25-year old Rhiannon Evans apparently sent the videos to her boyfriend’s ex partner, which magistrates were told had caused distress and anxiety to the recipient, Deborah Prytherch who told the court, she wanted to feel safe in her own house but that the videos had put the wind up her.

In the first video Rhiannon placed a camera on her bottom before letting rip.

This was followed by 3 similar videos on December 22nd, and over the course of the next few days four more videos of a similar nature were despatched, with Miss Evans cheekily smiling at the camera.

In spite of police getting wind of what was occurring further blasts were despatched on Boxing Day and New Years Day.

Prosecuting Council, Diane Williams, told magistrates at Caernarfon court that shop worker, Miss Evans, had sent the videos because she thought her boyfriend was being unfairly treated by his ex-partner.

Defence council, Harriet Gorst stated that at the time the videos were sent, the defendant had imbibed a few drinks, but now understood the distress that her actions had caused.

A probation officer said she had been in a relationship for two years but that there was “bad blood” with her boyfriend’s ex-partner.

It never occurred to the defendant that sending the videos would be a criminal offence and was surprised that the recipient hadn’t just blocked her.

Originally charged with malicious communications, Rhiannon Evans, was ultimately convicted of harassment, handed 15 rehabilitation sessions, 60 days alcohol abstinence monitoring, a two-year restraining order and was also ordered to pay £100 compensation and £199 costs.

Following her conviction she told reporters she thought the sentence was excessive and overly dramatic and that the whole episode was petty.

She also added that, she considered that “We are living in a very ‘snowflake’ generation.”

I’m not going to argue with that statement!

Anyway I really hope you’ll be able to join me once again tomorrow,
Scott

 
 
Subscribe to our newsletter!
One a month, no spam, honest

Now on air
Coming up
More from One 2 Three
More from
More from Phoenix FM