Watercooler Stories

Queen hits the lottery! Wins soaps, oils

LONDON, Sept. 17 (UPI) -- Queen Elizabeth II stunned a British elementary school by snapping up a ticket for the school's raffle then winning about $20 worth of toiletries.

The prize for the queen? Two bars of soap and bath oil.

School staff at first thought someone was pulling their leg when they heard the queen had a winning ticket, the Daily Mail reported Monday. Then school officials at Fox Primary School in the Notting Hill area of London learned that children of a courier at Buckingham Palace attended the school and the queen bought some tickets.

"This is not the first time the queen has taken part in raffles," a source at Buckingham Palace told The Sun. "Like most people she thinks they are a bit of fun and a great way to raise money."

Knitting deemed dangerous at hospital

CONGLETON, England, Sept. 17 (UPI) -- The rhythmic click-click of knitting needles at one British hospital has become a little less noticeable because officials said the needles may be too sharp.

Relatives and patients at Congleton War Memorial Hospital, a National Health Services Trust facility, used to be asked to knit squares that could be sewn into blankets and donated to local charities. Now, any knitter looking to purl away some time must ask permission at the hospital's reception desk before being handed the supposedly hazardous equipment, the Daily Mail reported Monday.

Michael Lambert, chairman of the hospital's league of friends, said a box was available to anyone who wanted to knit a blanket square while visiting.

Mom allegedly drives getaway car

BEECH GROVE, Ind., Sept. 17 (UPI) -- An 18-year-old woman was arrested in Beech Grove, Ind., after allegedly acting as the getaway driver for an armed robber with her 16-month daughter in the car.

Abby G. Brown of Indianapolis was being held Monday morning in the Marion County Jail with bond set at $25,000, the Indianapolis Star reported.

Brown was charged with resisting law enforcement after police say she led officers on a brief chase after Zachary D. Willis, 22, allegedly robbed a Murphy Oil station for $215.

Brown’s daughter, Khlen Jones, was reportedly in the 1997 Buick Skylark during the pursuit.

Police arrested Brown and found her daughter Khlen in the vehicle. Police placed Khlen in the custody of her grandfather, Duane Brown.

Willis faces initial charges of robbery, resisting law enforcement and disorderly conduct.

New Yorker on top of world before arrest

NEW YORK, Sept. 17 (UPI) -- A New Yorker took James Cagney's "top of the world" remarks to heart by scaling a giant globe outside the Trump Trump International Hotel and Tower.

Police said the man, Richard Fredette, 57, rolled up to the stainless-steel sphere on his inline skates Sunday then climbed up the orb has one would climb a ladder, the New York Post reported.

Looking down upon the masses, Fredette spread the word -- about a rock concert. He then took time to enjoy a snack before descending after police arrived and coaxed him down.

Police arrested Fredette, charging him with disorderly conduct and criminal trespassing.

"The idea was they would then be sent off to charities and be turned into blankets and clothes for the needy," Lambert said. "Then one day a health and safety guy came along and didn't like the look of the box of wool and needles."

Bernie Salisbury, director of nursing and operations at another NHS Trust hospital, said the measure was a "sensible and proactive measure will avoid preventable accidents."