A Dickens Of a Time

TODAY MARKS THE 200TH year since writer Charles Dickens was born and celebrations are being held around the world including in Sydney.

The Centenniel Park Dickens statue

The NSW Dickens Society will be gathering at the base of the recently restored statue of Charles on the corner of Dickens Drive and Loch Avenue South, Centennial Park.

According to the society there will be speeches, readings from Dicken's books and 'entertainment pieces'.

Charles Dickens, born in Portsea in 1812 became a popular writer during his lifetime and sold many of his stories via instalments and serials, a sales method that he was basically the first to develop successfully.

Dickens early life was relatively peaceful in the country but when his family moved to Camden Town in 1822 his father's finances dramatically changerd their lives.  John Dickens lived beyond his means and was eventually imprisoned in the Marshalea Debtor's Prison in Southwick. Soon his entire family joined him there except for Charles who was sent to stay with a family friend. A series of strenuous jobs with long hours to pay for board gave Dickens plenty of inspiration for his books, most of which are a commentary on the harshness of British life at the time, but with kind hearted heroines and heroes to save the day. Dickens' books are a far more accurate account of life in England during the 19th century than many history book

Miriam Margoyles

At the Glen Street Theatre in Belrose Harry Potter star Miriam Margoyles is presenting  Dickens Women until Feb 13th.

Jeremy Hunt

Dickens two sons Alfred and Edward were encouraged by their father to emigrate to Austraia at the advent of free settlers and both prospered.

Edward married the daugher of a stock and station agent and managed the business and was elected to a seat in the State Legislative Council for 5 years. Alfred, successful businessman died during a trip to the USA.

When Dickens wrote his books they were so popular he was responibe for bringing to the notice of the great public some of the more shocking conditions others lived in and thus was the inspiration for change,

British Parliamentarian Jeremy Hunt, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport is planning to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Dickens by giving every one of his Cabinet colleagues a copy of one of the great author's works. Each book - carefully chosen to encapsulate something about the recipient - will be presented at Cabinet today.

Let's hope they don't mistake them for government  policy discussion papers. Plenty of  Hunt's Tory partners on the right would gladly return to Dickensian times,
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  Australia's X-Factor winner 18 year old Reece Mastin has been touring non-stop since his win and has released a best selling album and a top i-tunes seller.


 Now he has become a gay pin-up after this picture of a topless Reece appeared on a gay music website.
It's spread all over the net.

It's Raining Men!

The social bible of Sydney's swish Eastern Suburbs, Latte Life has launched a very special contest-they're giving away free men. Not to keep permanently mind you (although anything is possible) but as a date for Valentine's Day.  There is someone for everyone in this quest and every age group is catered for.

For the older sophisticated lady we have Latte Life's society spy (and sometime Shuttle contributor)  bachelor Bill Ranken  ( below ) who gives his age as 'vintage'!.

A few tips here girls : do not be fooled-Bill may drive a small battered car he calls 'Snoopy' and live in a fairly small pad in Elizabeth Bay weekdays,  but he does own two of NSW's most desirable grazing properties in the Southern Highlands, Nerida and Lockesly,both with very grand houses on them and some friendly neighbours like Miriam Margoyles, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban

And his contacts are impeccable. Bill is on a first name basis with the Packers, Murdochs, Fairfax's, Waltons, Hordens , Graces..just about every family that comes with a brand name, a media empire or a few department stores. He lunches with Frank Lowy who owns the worldwide Westfield Shopping Malls chain, and he often escorted the late Princess Margaret to society events in London. Bored, is one thing you will never be with Bill

For the sporty girl Porsche Racing Car Driver/Entrepreneur, Aaron Zeferos, 28 is up for grabs and the girls may have a bit of a fight on their hands for male model, Mark Whittington,  who is just 22 and has that all important six pack and a top sponsor  The Star Casino in Pyrmont

Mark Whittington

Maurie Brancato

Another athlete is available, David Bell 43 who is Business Owner of OZUP Paddleboards .

 Next up is one for ladies who lunch and have their hair done  ( a Bay daily ritual) /  Celebrity Hair Stylist, Maurie Brancato, 23 of La Boutique. 

 Win him and you could become the fodder for gossip under the dryers for weeks to come. It could do wonders for the image.

And here is a real bloke for you gels with healthy bodies (or a healthy appetite) from Premium Fitness Studio in Double Bay- Michael James. 

As Latte Life's editor Jane King explains :                                                                                            

‘I was tired of all the desperate man shortage reports about the Eastern Suburbs so decided to find 6 of the best to run as dates in a Valentines Date competition ,pretty much as soon as we put the word out we were on the prowl for some dishy dates we had a  long list of applicants to chose from, we decided on the following for Ladies of the East to enter to win a Valentine date with; There is no shortage of available men in Double Bay..

To read the rules on how to win your male for a day you will need to pick up the latest copy of Latte Life now on the streets. Do hurry as although over 37000 are distributed they are snapped up fast. Or go to their website : www.lattelife.com.au