Fancy That!
Facts to make you go“WOW!”
WOW!
THE KILOMETRELONG SAINTECATHERINE STREET IN BORDEAUX IS THE LONGEST PEDESTRIANISED STREET IN EUROPE.
◆ There is a feminist magazine called Bust.
◆ HARRY HOUDINI’S REAL NAME WAS EHRICH WEISS.
◆ Money has been called “dosh” since 1953.
◆ THE FIRST FILMS SCREENED IN THE UK WERE PRESENTED BY MAGICIAN DAVID DEVANT IN 1896.
◆ The world’s largest library is the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., with more than 167 million books.
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THE CUCKOO IS SAID TO SING FROM ST TIBURTIUS’ DAY (APRIL 14) TO ST JOHN’S DAY (JUNE 24).
◆ It’s said that if you hear a cuckoo on St Tiburtius’ Day, you will get good luck if you turn over the money in your pockets, spit and don’t look at the ground.
◆ THE UNION FLAG BECAME THE OFFICIAL FLAG OF THE UNITED KINGDOM THIS MONTH IN 1606.
◆ The last private resident of No 10 Downing Street was called Mr Chicken. He moved out in 1732.
◆ CAROL ANN DUFFY WAS THE FIRST WOMAN, AND FIRST SCOT, APPOINTED POET LAUREATE.
◆ The 1929 General Election was nicknamed the Flapper Election, because it was the first in which women aged 21–29 had the right to vote.
◆ THE NAME SADIE BEGAN AS A SHORT FORM OF SARAH.
◆ The word “mesmerise” is named after 18th century German physician Dr Franz Mesmer.
◆ ACCORDING TO
WEATHER LORE, “THE LOUDER THE FROG, THE MORE THE RAIN.”
◆ Milan is nicknamed the Drinkable City.
◆ THE HIGHWAY CODE WAS FIRST PUBLISHED IN APRIL 1931.
◆ Gorakhpur Junction in Uttar Pradesh, India has the longest railway station in the world at 4,482 feet.
◆ The phrase “the war to end all wars” was derived from a book of articles by HG Wells called TheWar ThatWillEndWar.
WOW!
THE SPICE GIRLS ARE THE BESTSELLING GIRL GROUP OF ALL TIME, WITH RECORD SALES OF 90 MILLION.
◆ THE GERMAN LANGUAGE VERSION OF NENA’S 99RED BALLOONS–99 LUFTBALLONS – TOPPED THE CHART IN AUSTRALIA.
◆ The character of Atlanta in Stingray was voiced by Lois Maxwell who played Miss Moneypenny in the James Bond films.