Watercooler Stories

Tiny apartment worth up to $273,000

LONDON, March 16 (UPI) -- The owner of Britain's smallest apartment, measuring 11 feet by 5.5 feet, said he has no plans to sell despite its $273,000 value.

Ray Barker, 49, said real estate agents put the value of his tiny apartment, in London's upscale Knightsbridge neighborhood, at up to $273,000, but the small dwelling is perfect for avoiding the commute from his Bath, England, home during the work week, The Daily Mirror reported.

"My cozy flat is fine just for sleeping," he said. "I can do the cleaning while lying in my sofa bed. In fact, I can wash up, answer the door, make a cuppa and go to the loo all at the same time."

Scottish teens get sleeping lessons

GLASGOW, Scotland, March 16 (UPI) -- A Scottish charity says it is holding classes on proper sleep habits for teenagers in a bid to boost the students' energy during the school day.

Jane Ansell, director of charity Sleep Scotland, said the classes are being offered at Glasgow schools and officials hope the trial run will help develop a program to be offered at schools across the country, The Daily Telegraph reported.

Ansell said sleep deprivation has been linked to increased risks of depression and obesity.

"You wouldn't send somebody to school without having the right amount of food, so why would you send them without enough sleep?" she said.

The charity said the teenagers are being taught to avoid TV late at night and keep to a strict schedule allowing for at least nine hours of sleep per night.

Funeral homes personalize services

PITTSFIELD, Mass., March 16 (UPI) -- Funeral directors in Massachusetts said increasing demand for personalized memorial services from the baby boomer generation is causing the business to evolve.

Terry Probst, manager of the Devanny-Condron Funeral Home in Pittsfield, said a recent custom service featured pictures of Frank Zappa, John Lennon, Marilyn Monroe and Jimi Hendrix flanking the urn while a video tribute to the deceased played to the tune of several Beatles songs, The Boston Globe reported.

"My rule is this: I'll do anything as long as it's legal," Probst said. "I want to set us apart from everyone around us."

Marc Gaudreau, an owner of the Beers & Story funeral homes in Massachusetts, said his businesses create custom funerals following "life interviews" with the families of the deceased.

"I like to say there's really no tradition anymore," Gaudreau said. "You've always got to think about how you can get better."

Emilee High, spokeswoman for the National Funeral Directors Association, said personalized services are growing in popularity nationwide.

"Baby boomers have had an impact on every aspect of society -- and funeral service is no exception," High said. "Families are seeking experiences that are different from those they perceive as part of a traditional funeral or memorial service."

Seniors evacuated due to 'bomb' veggies

YUBA CITY, Calif., March 16 (UPI) -- A California woman whose box of veggies labeled "bomb" prompted the evacuation of several seniors from their building apologized for the incident.

Terri Talbott said she and her husband, who asked that his name not be reported, dropped off the box of vegetables for their friend Tina Romero at Town Center Senior Manor in Yuba City and labeled it "Bomb!" with a drawing of an explosive device as part of a joke she shared with Romero days earlier, the Marysville (Calif.) Appeal-Democrat reported.

"She (Romero) wanted to make cabbage stew," Talbott said. "So I told her, 'I've got some bomb stuff to give you.'"

However, Romero said she did not remember the "bomb" reference in their conversation and called 911 when she found the box on her doorstep Thursday.

Talbott said she and her husband made a second stop at the senior center when they passed by and noticed all of the police cars. She said she immediately explained the situation to police and apologized.

"I didn't know it would come out like this," she said. "Not at all. I am so sorry."

"I will never ever do that again," Talbott said.