BIPOLAR DISORDER 'A ROLLER-COASTER-RIDE'

Bipolar – A ROLLERCOASTER RIDE.

Biopar disorder is often referred to as the ‘roller-coaster-ride ‘illness,other well known terms used are Manic depression and bipolar affective disorder.

Bipolar is a lifelong condition that can affect both how you feel and how you act. It is a mood disorder thought to be caused by chemical imbalances in the brain that can result in extreme swings in mood—from manic highs to depressive lows.

To be diagnosed with bipolar disorder, you must have experienced a high period (mania). Bipolar mania is described as an "extreme high," or feeling unusually great. Most people with bipolar disorder, when ill or when symptomatic, experience more lows than highs.

Bipolar has quite a colourful history, it is classed as one of the oldest known illnesses. It was recognised as far back as ancient Turkey where symptoms of mania and depression were thought to be linked.

w  These findings went largely unnoticed until 1650 when a scientist named ‘Richard Barton’ who focused specifically on depression and wrote a book ‘The Anatomy of Melancholia’ his findings are still used by many today in the field of mental health, Barton is known as the father of depression.

w  In 1854 Jules Fairet coined the term ‘folie circulive’ (circular insanity) Faret established a link between depression and suicide. He also found a distinction between depression and periods of heightened mood. In 1875 the term ‘Manic depressive psychosis’ was recognised as a mental health disorder. Another find he made was in some families that there was a genetic connection. Around this time Frances Ballarger founded the term bipolar and it received its own classification from other mental health disorders.

w  In 1913 Emil Krapelin established the term Manic depressive studying effects of depression and the manic state. Over fifteen years this ideology was fully accepted into mental health study.

w  Throughout the 1960s many with the disorder were institutionalised and were given little help as the disorder was officially not recognised . It was only in the early 1970s that this changed. During the 1980s research finally made a link between child and adult bipolar disorder.

Even today studies are needed to find the probable causes and the possible methods to treat the illness.

Bipolar is thought to be caused in several ways for example through life changes such as childbirth, medicines such as antidepressants or steroids, poor sleep pattern and overuse of recreational drugs

Bipolar disorder affects men and women equally. It usually starts between ages 15 - 25. The exact cause is unknown, but it occurs more often in relatives of people with bipolar disorder.

In most people with bipolar disorder, there is no clear cause for the manic or depressive episode.

The treatments for people suffering from bipolar are varied according to the individual’s needs. They stretch from medication such as mood stabilisers ie. Lithium, Carbamazepine, also anti-depressants, there are anti-psychotic drugs and anti-anxiety drugs typically known as benzodiazepines .Running in conjunction with these are psychotherapies.

There are also support programs put in place.

Family treatments that combine support and education about bipolar disorder (psychoeducation) may help families cope and reduce the odds of symptoms returning. Programs that offer outreach and community support services can help people who do not have family and social support.

Teaching in how to administer and manage medication correctly,education on correct sleep patterns and helping sufferers recognise the signs and symptoms when there disorder starts to present itself.

There are also treatments for children but these are not that well studied. There are several self-funded support agencies available such as AWARE, Samaritans etc.

Sadly through studies periods of depression or mania return in most patients, even with treatment.

David Hayes is a senior psychiatric nurse who is based in the busy environment of mental health services at Mayo general hospital.

According to David, patients are often referred by their GPs or by other health professionals when they are at crisis point with their illness. David said ‘many patients were treated with medication which are very effective alongside counselling’, He continued ‘trigger points can bring on this manic behaviour such as stress, misuse of drink and drugs, though the illness can appear at any time and in some cases is believed to be genetic

.He added ‘in more serious cases a patient would require hospitalisation sometimes sectioned under the law’

.

It is estimated that one in four of us will experience some mental health problems in our lifetime, from a low period, to a more serious depression, to a small number who will experience severe mental health problems.

Most people use their GP as a first point of contact and are treated by their GP alone. If the GP thinks the person needs more intensive treatment they will refer them to day and hospital services for mental health sufferers where they will receive therapy and more intensive treatments. Some will also access support groups available to them within their area or nationally.

It appears to be that many people still do not seek help with bipolar (depression). They tend to suffer in silence.

 This could be down to several factors, perhaps they feel they do not have an issue and the feeling is natural, that they are unaware of the resources available to them or that they think that there is a stigma attached to mental health problems.

It also appears through sources that the illness is far more common than people think.

It should not be under estimated the burden this illness has on families and in some cases they require as much support as the sufferer.

As mentioned earlier this illness in many cases is recurring and obviously places a drain on family members.

Famous Bipolar sufferers : Vincent Van Gogh, Spike Milligan, Kurt Cobain, Winston Churchill, Jimi Hendrix, Robin Williams, Sting, Robbie Williams, Jim Carey, Richard Dreyfuss, Ozzy Osbourne, Frank Bruno, Adam Ant, Carrie Fisher

References

Wikipedia – History and definitions of bipolar

AWARE website – support available for people with bipolar

Citizen Advice Bureau – Publication on people with Disabilities

HSE – list of services , Interview with Mental health services

Stephen Fry – The secret life of the Manic depressive parts 1&2 (video)

DBSA – Depression and bipolar support alliance

Aware support group

Citizen Advice Bureau

Mayo General Hospital – Mental health services

Interview with Senior psychiatric nurse dealing with Depression

Newspapers – The Independent, Guardian, Irish Times, Daily Telegraph

AWARE, Samaritans, National institute of Mental Health

Youtube : Bipolar overview (6.29), Bipolar: A manic depressive, people discuss their illness(46.40), Stephen Fry : The secret life of the manic depressive(58.48)part1,2(58.53)

Famous Bipolar sufferers : Vincent Van Gogh, Spike Milligan, Kurt Cobain, Winston Churchill, Jimi Hendrix, Robin Williams, Sting, Robbie Williams, Jim Carey, Richard Dreyfuss, Ozzy  Osbourne, Frank Bruno, Adam Ant, Carrie Fisher

Books : I love you, I hate you ‘A Bipolar marriage’- Alison Madison Young , The Bipolar Spectrum ‘Diagnosis or fad’- Joel Paris, I’m not crazy, just Bipolar- Wendy K.Williamson, Bipolar ‘The ultimate guide’- Sarah Owen & Amanda Sanders

Internet : caregivers.com , www.bphope.com , www.leanonme.com , DBSA – Depression and bipolar support alliance – Facebook, www.the balancedmind.org (non-profitable organisation), internationalbipolarfoundation.org, bipolarscotland.org

CYBERBULLYING & Young People

    CYBERBULLYING & Young People.

           By Joe Diamond, The Emerald Isle.

Young people need to be aware of the legal consequences of cyberbullying, also over coming a culture of not reporting such incidents to the legal authorities.

Research shows that one in four girls and one in six boys are involved in cyberbullying, either as bullies, victims or both.
Text messaging is the most common form of cyberbullying used by girls, while boys are most likely to use camera and video clips.

It is becoming apparent that young users of digital and social media should have more awareness, social competence, and strategies, as well as increased responsibility when using these forms of communication.

There needs to be more done to promote a culture of disclosure and to empower young people to report these incidents of bullying.
Young people should feel able to take action when they witness their peers being bullied, comfortable in the knowledge that they are safe doing so.

The recent deaths of Erin Gallagher, 13, in Co Donegal and Ciara Pugsley, 15 in Co Leeitrim, as well as the death of Cork schoolgirl Leanne Wolfe, 18, in 2007, shows just how damaging cyberbullying can be.

Young people need further education so they can understand the causes and effects of such bullying.
Established links are needed between Teachers and parents, youth workers etc. Parents also need a more in-depth knowledge of this matter, to recognise signs of bullying within the young person.

Cyberbullying can differ from traditional bullying in that it is indirect, often anonymous, and has the potential to reach large audiences for an indefinite period, despite the fact that the perpetrator may only have carried out a single act.

GIRL LOSES STOMACH AFTER 'LIQUID-NITROGEN' COCKTAIL

Girl loses Stomach after consuming Cocktail

           Containing ‘Liquid – Nitrogen’.

By Joseph Diamond.

A TEENAGE GIRL has undergone emergency surgery after drinking a cocktail containing ‘Liquid-Nitrogen’.

Gaby Scanlon was celebrating her 18^th Birthday with friends in Lancaster,England, when she consumed the cocktail at Oscar’s wine bar in the town centre on Thursday night. (4/10/12)

Police said she had her stomach removed in an urgent operation, thought to have saved her life.

After drinking the cocktail Miss Scanlon had reported feeling breathless and then developed severe stomach pains.

She was taken to Lancaster Royal Infirmary and diagnosed with a ‘Perforated’ stomach and underwent emergency surgery to remove her stomach, the Police said.

Afterwards she was described as being in a serious but stable condition.

A Police spokesman said “ The investigation is still in its early stages and we are trying to establish the full facts. The premises involved have fully co-operated with all agencies concerned and have suspended the sale of drinks containing ‘Liquid-Nitrogen’.

He Police added that it’s the first incident of its kind that they have dealt with.

The Wine bar management said they were ‘Tremendously concerned’ and passed its best wishes onto the girl and her family.

‘Liquid-Nitrogen’ has become popular for the making of some cocktails due to the visual effect it gives off.

So, what do we know about ‘Liquid-Nitrogen’ ?

Liquid-Nitrogen is scientifically known as ‘LN2’, which is odourless, colourless and Non-Flammable, it’s known as a very cold chemical and it’s boiling point is -196 degrees centigrade.

Liquid-Nitrogen is also used in medicine for the removal of warts by freezing them first. Surgeons use Liquid-Nitrogen to dry out unwanted tissue and in some cases to eliminate cancerous cells.

Chefs are also known to use it in the kitchen for making Ice-Cream and flash-freezing herbs.

Bartenders chill glasses using Liquid-Nitrogen so that super-cooled glasses emanate a dramatic looking vapour, usually a fog when exposed to room temperature. Three years ago a German bartender lost his hand after a canister of Liquid-Nitrogen exploded.

Peter Bonham a professor based at the University of Bristol school of Physics said ‘ The main point being that Liquid-Nitrogen’ must be fully evaporated before serving and should not be ingested until this occurs.’

There are various recipes that can be found on the Internet for Liquid-Nitrogen cocktails but the substance can cause cold burns.

Since this incident bars in Sydney, Australia are now banned from serving Liquid-Nitrogen in cocktails, this came into force on 11/10/12.

NEWS IN BRIEF'S

                       NEWS IN BRIEF'S

   "Cheeky Monkey"

  A man who had a monkey hidden in his 

    underpants was arrested at India's Indira

  Gandhi International Airport in Delhi yesterday. The smuggler and two accomplices were changing planes on a flight from Bangkok to Dubai when arrested. The rare Lorris monkey-seven inches long and weighing just over five ounces-was recovered unharmed .                

            MEAT PLANT CLEANED WITH

                           UNDERPANTS!

 The owner of an unlicensed meat processing plant could be jailed after inspectors found machinery was being cleaned with underpants.

Kamran Ajaib,27, supplied 20 tons of chicken per week to fast-food outlets from Hamza Poultry Ltd in Bristol.

Officials raided the premises after a piece of metal was found in a takeaway meal.

They found a series of health and safety breaches.

Ajaib, of Bristol, pleaded guilty to failing to comply with food hygiene regulations. He will be sentenced in crown court next month.

                            100% TRUE !!!

He , He, He.....HELIUM:THE PARTY'S OVER !

                    " THE PARTY'S OVER ! "
THEY are feature of many a children's party, but helium balloons are using up valuable reserves of the gas which could be used in life-saving equipment, an academic has claimed.
  The gas which is lighter than air used to fill foil balloons is             "hugely frustrating" and "absolutely the wrong use of helium gas. Tom Welton said when appearing on BBC radio 4's- Today Show, who is a professor of sustainable chemistry at Imperial College.

 Helium gas possesses a unique combination of properties which gives it a range of applications, but it is particularly useful as a coolant.
 MRI scanners, which allow doctors to visualise the inner workings of the body with life saving potential, are reliant upon the element to function.

 Each MRI scanner needs up to 10,000 litres of liquid helium to work.
 However , there is currently a global shortage of helium, which is in finite supply, cannot be synthesised, and must be extracted from the Earth's crust.
 Wholesale prices have soared by 20 per cent in recent months, this is due to extraction levels being at 70 per cent of the volume of helium distributed in 2010.
 Professor Welton said in his interview "On the whole we're using more and more and we're supplying less and less." He added "The major use is for cooling things, particularly large magnets. The impact that this has on us is MRI scans. The reason we can do MRI is we have very large cold magnets and the reason we can have those is there is helium cooling them down."
 He concluded " We're not going to run out of helium tomorrow, but on the 30 to 50-year timescale we will have serious problems of having to shut things down if we don't manage to do something in the meantime."
 Helium is the second most abundant element in the universe but most of the gas in the Earth's atmosphere escapes into space.This is the reason that supplies trapped beneath the Earth's crust have to be extracted.
 It is usually removed as a by-product in natural gas extraction,and as a result the gas fields of Texas and Kansas have become the world's helium capital.

 The US produces 75 per cent of the world's helium and the largest store is held in an underground reservoir called the Bush Dome run by the American government near Amarillo,Texas.
 The gas itself is only refined in a handful of industrial plants throughout the world, several of which are suffering shortages.
 Did you know that NASA uses helium in space shuttles and space stations- usually to pressurise Thrust engines.

                      "What goes up , must come down ! "

MUSHROOMS THRIVING !

           MUSHROOM'S

    " are MAGIC this Season! "

      THE wet summer may have meant a shortfall in many

      crops , but one foodstuff is in abundance.."MUSHROOMS."

      After the poor weather over most of May to August, 

      followed by the recent hot spell, wild fungi are flourishing.

      Foragers spurred on by celebrity chefs are already 

      searching for field mushrooms and other delicacies.

      Pete Brash, of the National Trust,said " This is just the

      start of the traditional mushroom hunting season, I imagine

      if the warm weather continues it could be a bumper year."

      The Health Protection Agency has warned however,that

      some species can make people sick and advised foragers

      to seek expert advice. Some varieties are so toxic that they 

      can prove fatal and toxins are generally NOT destroyed by

      cooking.

      Nicholas Evans, author of ' The Horse Whisperer', had to

      have a kidney transplant after consuming an inedible 

      variety in Scotland.

      Ray Tantram who leads foraging expeditions in Mole Valley,

      Surrey, warned people against picking anything they are

      not completely sure of.

                "STICK TO WHAT YOU KNOW !"

    I personally find this variety, pictured above very tasty.
    " Psilocybe Cyanescens " They make a beautiful pot of tea,
    and afterwards the stresses of the day just flow away.They
    make a stroll in the country very relaxing, you tend to 
    notice things you may not have spotted before. The simple 
    act of listening to music takes on a world of it's own, the 
    permanent grin on your face gives you  a 'magical'
    feeling...................

     But seriously, be careful what you forage and make

     sure you have a good Friend with you ! Be Safe !

    
              

DECISIONS IN LAW AND UNPROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOUR !

             'Paedophiles's Paradise'

A JUDGE has given a paedophile permission to go to Center     Parcs while on bail. ( I kid you not, no pun intended. )

EX-Scoutmaster Stephen Daniell,48, admitted encouraging boys to strip and perform forfeits on camping trips, but a judge at Maidstone Crown Court, Kent, said he could visit Elveden Forest, Suffolk, (pictured above a playroom on site) with his wife as long as he didn't "misbehave".(Unbelievable !) The window cleaner, of Tunbridge Wells, pleaded guilty on Monday to "six" offences of indecency with a child. The Judge adjourned sentencing.

Center Parcs said it had cancelled Daniell's booking, as it was "not appropriate" for him to visit. ( Thank God somebody was on the ball !)

This so-called Judge (Judge Dread), should be severely reprimanded for this decision, and perhaps a visit to Center Parcs to view the family orientated nature of these holidays.

What is his wife is thinking ? It beggars belief ! 

And whoever uncovered this at Center Parcs should receive a promotion. 

Judge Dread is probably so out of touch that he does not know what Center Parcs actually is.

Does this give you faith in the legal system ???  

               Stop your "CROWING"

The owners of a cockerel that starts crowing at 3.43am have been served with a noise abatement notice.

Matt and Kerry Summers who live in a residential area in Weston, Bath, have been warned by Bath and North East Somerset council that they face a fine of up to £5,000 if 'Rodney' breaches the order. On one occasion , the cockerel was recorded as crowing 26 times between 4.35am and 4.51am by environmental health officers. (Surely they have more important issue's to be dealing with ? )
Mr Summers, 39, a self-employed electrician and father of four said: " There is no black and white figure for what is above the acceptable noise level."

                    Broadmoor Worker

               'sent note to patient'

A Broadmoor counsellor wrote a note to one of Britain's most dangerous men telling him he was 'very special', while a colleague she was mentoring had an affair with a patient, a tribunal has heard.

Tracy Morton, a clinical team leader, is alledged to have tolerated inappropriate conduct at the top security Broadmoor psychiatric hospital which culminated in a therapy assistant resigning amid allegations of a sexual relationship with two patients.

Ms Morton was sacked after asking a junior colleague to give a packet of sweets to the unnamed patient in the top security wing,along with a card- which asked him to dispose of it by eating it,the tribunal was told.

She is also said to have entered rooms alone on a ward for the most high-risk and dangerous patients.( Who is supervising these members of staff ? Surely there is a system in place that tracks staff movements, i.e electronically or a paper trail )

Ms Morton is suing the trust for unfair dismissal over the allegations of security breaches.

Michael Humphrey, the director of security at Broadmoor, said the wording of the 'card' was ' akin to terms of endearment' which was ' completely at odds with a professional relationship.'

                                    And Finally :

                      ' BAILING OUT '

Jemima Khan ( pictured left ), once noted that George Galloway  is " one of the finest orators in British politics" and added that, had he chosen to make law his profession, he would have made " a brilliant QC, with his forensic, retentive mind and his ability to win an argument."
One wonders if it was the Respect MP's silver tongue which persuaded the socialite to part with £20,000 in bail money for Julian Assange ( pictured bottom ), Kahn has since tried to distance herself from Assange. She declines to outline her present position on him. She is silent too, on whether she concurs with Galloway's (right) assertion that Assange shouldn't be facing charges of rape in Sweden, but merely the accusation of " bad sexual etiquette."

It appears to me that if your a criminal, terrorist, non-English or American you can rely on Galloway's backing..                             

                         'Assange'

BIZARRE NEWS IN BRIEF W/ENDING 25/08/2012

           Chilli Pepper is hungry 

             Shoplifter's downfall !

A man stole chilli-peppers, only to collapse  with stomach cramps after eating one.

Marcus Banwell,39, stole Scotch Bonnet chillies in Bristol on Aug 4. They have a heat rating of 100,000-350,000 Scolville units, while a jalapeno is 2,500-8,500.

Banwell admitted possessing two class A drugs,three shop thefts, receiving stolen goods and breaching his licence from a previous prison sentence. Banwell a.k.a.' Lucky' was jailed for 14 weeks at Bristol magistrates' court.

 Cricketer attacks 'dive' home town !

A county cricketer has offended his home town, calling it a "dive" and saying it was filled with rude "scum". ( Not the brightest idea to say about Northamptonian's, especially when playing for the county)

The Northamptonshire all-rounder David Willey, the son of the former England player and current umpire Peter Willey, tweeted: "What is it with the majority of Northampton being incredibly rude!#mannerscostnothing#scum".( Get back in your box Willey !)

Niall O'Brien, a team-mate, responded:"Town centre ?" to which 22-year-old Willey, who is from Northampton, tweeted: Yes, terrible isn't it! Absolute dive!". ( What's that other word for 'Willey' ? Begins with 'P' and rhymes with ' dick' )

The player later apologised for his comments.( Horse and barn door spring to mind !)

                 Man jailed for selling

          Gnome-grown Cannabis !

A man who turned to growing cannabis after his garden-gnome business started to struggle has been jailed for two years.
Jason Lee, 42, aroused suspicion after a £70,000 electricity bill went to his landlords, Flintshire council.
Lee, of Rhyl, Denbigshire, admitted producing cannabis worth nearly £100,000, at Mold Crown court. The judge accepted that Lee regretted his actions, but said his operation was ' sophisticated'. The court heard council officials were suspicious about Lee's garden ornament business due to the locks, security lighting and CCTV installed.
Police had searched the premises and discovered 84 cannabis plants in a growing area with artificial lights, reflective walls, feed and ventilation. ( It' Gnome-joke !)

Women stay best friends longer than   

                         Men !

Women are twice as good as men at making lifelong friends, a survey has indicated.

One in three women said their best friend was someone they had met at school, while the same was true of only one in six men, who were more likely to find friends later in life, at university or work.

Both men and women have, on average, just five friends whom they would describe as 'close'. Although the 'friendship groups' are of similar size, women's tended to be of more long-standing.

Despite only five close friends, both men and women tended to have up to 50 names in their mobile phone contacts, as well as 

between 50 to 100 "friends" linked to their Facebook accounts.

The survey of 2,000 British adults by Orangina found that a quarter of men and a third of women have used social network sites to re-establish friendships.

However, the research revealed that friends are not always forever. In a majority of cases, best friends only last half a lifetime and the number of good friends slowly decreases, leaving an average of just three friends by the age of 60.

Thirteen per cent of men and 16 per cent of women admitted there is at least one person in their friendship group who they do not really like.

       Thief traced by Footprints !

A Thief who tried to escape by swimming across a canal was caught after police traced wet footprints to the front door of his home.

Benjamin Queen, 22, tried to lose officers who were chasing him over a haul of stolen goods.

But he chose a rare dry spell during July's bad weather and left a watery trail to his flat.

Queen, from Rishton, Lancs, admitted handling stolen goods and was given a 12- month conditional discharge by Blackburn magistrates.

Police went to Leeds and Liverpool Canal in Rishton after a report of suspicious behaviour. Queen saw the police, dropped his bag, and jumped into the canal.

£18,000 for cashier after coins injury!

A bank cashier has been awarded £18,500 in compensation from former employer Natwest after she injured her back lifting bags of coins.

Ms.Deller, 26, from Folkstone , was asked to lift two sacks , each containing 500 £1 coins and weighing about 21lb, on to a trolley.

She heard a pop in her back and felt a shooting pain, which aggravated a previously undiagnosed spinal condition.She was left in constant pain and can no longer enjoy her active lifestyle,leading to depression.

She has secured an £18,500 out-of-court settlement with Natwest to cover loss of earnings.

    Carp fishermen come to blows !

Anglers have been involved in scuffles with eastern European fishermen who have ignored British traditions by killing carp.British anglers traditionally return coarse fish such as carp, tench and perch to the water after catching them, but in countries such as Romania it is the custom to kill them for the table. The simmering tension has led to violence, with a scuffle breaking out on a lake in Kent.

Graham East, of Gravesend's Dolphin Angling Centre, said an immigrant was thrown into the water at Gordon lake by a furious local angler after illegally trying to make off with a large carp. "Several anglers tried to explain that what this gentleman was attempting to do, to take one carp home, was illegal.....but to no avail due to the language barrier," he said.

"One of the local fishermen protesting at what was happening then stepped forward and pushed the captor holding the fish into the water."

he immigrant was helped from the lake while the carp swam off. Mr East warned that British waterways could end up empty of fish unless more was done to educate eastern Europeans.

                                    And Finally :

Stray Tortoise found

                        70 miles from Home !

 A Tortoise has been found crossing a main road after travelling more than 70 miles from home.
  The male Hermann's tortoise was found in Stirling, central Scotland, last Saturday. A dog identity tag glued to its shell had a phone number suggesting it had travelled from the east coast town of Arbroath.
   But, the number was no longer in use and the tortoise was taken to the Edingburgh and Lothians Animal rescue and Re- homing Centre, where staff have since named it 'Noddy'.
( perhaps he could get a slot at the festival , relaying his adventures, though it would probably be a slow set and a little drawn out.......boom, boom !)

                 ALL THESE STORIES ARE 100% TRUE !

   My favourite headline of all time was reported in the Northampton Chronicle&Echo many years ago , it read .......:

"SHOPLIFTER GETS SIX MONTHS 

                    IN VIOLIN CASE"

                                     CLASSIC ! 

                      

 

         

THE LAUGHING POLICEMAN !

   Judge scraps trial after policeman

                    'pulled faces'

     A judge has scrapped a trial at a cost to the taxpayer of thousands of pounds after a policeman was accused of pulling faces at the defendant.
   The officer was reported to Judge Graham Knowles QC after jurors claimed he was making " facial expressions " and shaking his head from the public gallery while the 22 year-old suspect was testifying at Preston Crown Court on a charge of aggravated burglary. A retrial will now take place on Sept 17th.
   The unnamed detective has denied the claims but Lancashire Police said it accepted the judge's decision.(Do Lancashire Police know more than their letting on ? ) Prosecution costs have exceeded £1,600 and defence costs could be several thousand pounds more as the suspect is believed to be on legal aid.
   Perhaps some form of financial contribution should be given by the police officer for prolonging the trial and acting in a unprofessional manner ? I'm sure there would be some form of financial penalty if roles were reversed.......

          

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE OLYMPIC STADIUM

  Olympic Stadium Future, the Facts !

There are now only four organisations in the race to takeover the Olympic Stadium, who have all submitted bids before the deadline expired.

The final decision on who is successful should be announced in October 2012.

The four are :

West Ham United Football Club.

 Leyton Orient Football Club.

University College of Football Business.

     No Logo ? !                Intelligent Services in 

                                       Association with Formula 1.

The London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) is due to assess the four remaining bids before negotiations commence, a final decision is expected in October 2012.

The previous applicants to own the Olympic stadium had to be shelved due to legal wrangles.

Several parties were unhappy with the bid by West Ham United,Tottenham Hotspur, Leyton Orient and a anonymous party lodged a complaint indicating that West Ham did not have permission from the Football League to move stadiums, this even went to the European Court where the case was thrown-out.

To say there was a dirty tricks campaign by Tottenham Hotspur is a understatement . In January Scotland Yard arrested a Private Investigator who had been retained by Tottenham on 

suspicion of fraud after allegedly obtaining the

telephone records of West Ham United's vice-

chairman Karren Brady (pictured). The Private

Investigator is currently on Police Bail while further investigations are carried out.

With the new bidding process in place the stadium will now be on a 99 year-long Lease with no out-right ownership. The £486m stadium will be reduced in capacity from 80,000 to 60,000 seats and will retain the running track, with the 2017 World Athletics Championship being held there.

                                West Ham United

If West Ham were successful

in their bid, they would move

around 4 miles from their

current stadium Upton Park,

(pictured) which has been home to the Hammers since

1904.

Karren Brady Vice-Chairman

has said that the decision has not been taken lightly and will only relocate if the new stadium meets West Ham's needs and also meets the demands of Premier League and European Football, now that the stadium is a lease option there will be no compromise.

She has also said  that West Ham have been in close talks with fans and supporters, welcoming their opinons and concerns around the proposed move.

One main concern of the fans and supporters is the running track meaning that fans would be 50 - 60 yards from the pitch, which they feel would impact on the atmosphere of the game. West Ham are looking at installing re-tractable seating which would stretch across the running track. The fans point is justified , at Upton Park you are up close to the action on the pitch, which in turn creates an intimidating atmosphere for visiting teams , which they feel is important.

The new stadium would also offer more room for executive boxes and he corperate use of the stadium in the closed season,Concerts etc..

West Ham are also strongly opposed to sharing the stadium with any other organisations.

Asked on Twitter if the Hammers are looking at a ground share with any other club in th future, Co-Chairman David Gold replied " Absolutely Not ".

             leyton Orient and Chairman Barry Hearne

Leyton Orient another contender are open to stadium sharing with their Chairman Barry Hearne (Promoter) indicating that a stadium share with West Ham would be the ideal scenario.

In 2010 - 2011 Leyton Orient had league attendances of just under 4,300 at Brisbane Road.

Hearne also said that if West Ham were successful in their bid and were sole lease holders it would be disastrous for the area,how he has reached this conclusion is beyond me.

A survey carried out by Leyton Orient with their fans and supporters found that a majority were strictly against any move.

Perhaps Mr Hearne is thinking it would be an ideal location for promoting his other interests and using Leyton Orient as a smokescreen , who knows.....

     Intelligent Services in Association with Formula 1

Another bid is to transform the Olympic stadium into part of a Formula 1 track.
Plans for a Grand Prix circuit were tabled by Intelligent Services in conjunction with Formula 1.
Formula 1 Chairman Bernie Ecclestone told Reuters ' If they (ITS) were to get permission then we (Formula 1) would be more than happy to do something with them'. ' But we (Formula 1) have nothing to do with putting in a bid'. ( Not exactly committing himself.)

              University College of Football Business 

UCFB offers Degrees and Diploma's to students who are or wish to become involved in the Football Business, marketing , finance etc.
They are currently based at Burnley Football club's Turf Moor ground and are seeking getting a higher profile and feel the Olympic stadium would offer this.
They are a affiliate of Bucks New University.

       So that's the four candidates bidding in this
        competitive race for the Olympic Stadium.

Latest Update:

     West Ham step up PR on Olympic stadium 14.8.12

West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce (pictured) has added his view on the Olympic stadium. He said on Tuesday ' That if you look at past Olympic stadiums, they are White Elephants, standing unused with weeds growing there, look at Beijing and Athens. He continued ' The Olympic park is a fantastic place, but it can't be left to rack and ruin. If a club with the history, fanbase and potential of West Ham don't go there, the concern would be the park is left empty the majority of the time'.

The big question here is how suitable will it be for Premier League football and who will pay to make it so ?
There is around £50m set aside in the OPLC budget plus £40m from Newham council to turn the stadium into what  the Local Authority describes as a suitable facility for the community. That almost covers the £100m costs. Come October it would be a surprise if West Ham weren't given the go-ahead.

I am a lifelong West Ham fan and can appreciate both sides of the arguments.
In my view there are three options open to West Ham :

Remain at Upton Park.

Move to the Olympic Stadium and make the necessary changes.

Build a purpose built Stadium.

        At the end of the day it comes down to one thing...

                            MONEY !!!