The 2010 Quality of Life Index: The 10 best countries to live

The 10 best countries to live (and the 10 worst) International Living magazine's 30th annual survey of the best countries to live: 1. France 2. Australia 3. Switzerland 4. Germany 5. New Zealand 6. Luxembourg 7. United States 8. Belgium 9. Canada 10. Italy And Britain? 25th place for best country to live The worst 1. Somalia 2. Yemen 3. Sudan 4.Chad 5. Afghanistan 6. Sierra Leone 7. Djibouti 8. Eritrea 9. Guinea 10. Angola (link via Times Online) What do you think about the survey results? If you live in France, do you agree that it's the best country for living in?

Top 10 RomComs (romantic comedies)

After reading this article titled Top 10 romcoms of all time (via The First Post), I just had to share my own list of top ten romcoms: Bringing Up Baby (1938) - Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant This old-fashioned screwball comedy is also on my list of top ten favourite movies. It's a very funny movie about an eccentric woman and her pet leopard called "Baby" and a harried paleontologist (Cary Grant). If you ever feel depressed, you should watch this movie. It is guaranteed to lift your mood and make you smile. The Philadelphia Story (1940) - Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, James Stewart This movie is another one that is also on my list of top ten favourite movies. The storyline is about a wealthy divorced woman about to get married again and how she ends up torn between her fiancé, her ex-husband, and a reporter. The sterling performances by the three lead actors make this delightful movie one of the best ever romantic comedies. French Kiss (1995) - Meg Ryan, Kevin Kline This movie is a perfect romantic comedy in my opinion. The movie has the perfect balance - it is very romantic but also very very funny. And it's another movie that is on my list of top ten favourite movies. The chemistry between Meg and Kevin in this movie is incredible. The biggest surprise is that Kevin Kline (an American actor) plays the part of a Frenchman and he is very, very convincing. Plus it's filmed in France - definitely a bonus for any romantic movie! And there is a lovely, evocative soundtrack with the best song saved for last as the credits roll - Charles Trenet's "La Mer", performed by Kevin Kline in French. The perfect finishing touch to a perfect movie! Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994) - Hugh Grant, Andie MacDowell, Simon Callow, John Hannah This British movie is popular with everyone and for good reason. It's romantic but also laugh-out-loud funny and also quite poignant. The famous scene where Gareth (Simon Callow) is having his heart attack and Charles (Hugh Grant) is desperately looking for Matthew (John Hannah) always gets to me. And then the funeral...when Matthew makes his speech and recites "Funeral Blues" by W.H. Auden. Notting Hill (1999) - Hugh Grant, Julia Roberts This British movie is a sweet and funny story about a very rich and very famous American movie star and a British bookshop owner who works and lives in Notting Hill and how they meet and fall in love despite their hugely different lifestyles. The characters are played to perfection against the backdrop of London. Sleepless in Seattle (1993) - Meg Ryan, Tom Hanks This charming movie has the perfect stars and a sweet and totally believable romance, which is engineered by the young son of a widower played by Tom Hanks. The movie has all the right ingredients for a genuine romantic comedy plus one of the best movie soundtracks with songs such as "As Time Goes By" and "Make Someone Happy" by Jimmy Durante and "Stand By Your Man" by Tammy Wynette. While You Were Sleeping (1995) - Sandra Bullock, Bill Pullman I love this movie because all the characters are so darn loveable - not just the main characters. It's about a young woman who saves the life of a man and while she visits him in the hospital, his family mistakenly assume she is his fiancée. I adore the interaction between the characters of the man's family. It's very believable and also very funny. Bridget Jones's Diary (2001) - Renee Zellweger, Hugh Grant, Colin Firth This British movie is based on the novel of the same name written by Helen Fielding. The author admitted that her novel was based upon Jane Austen's book, Pride and Prejudice and also the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. So it's a nice little "joke" and a bonus that the actor, Colin Firth was cast as Mark Darcy since Colin Firth played Mr Darcy in the BBC production. Bridget Jones is a loveable character and her being romanced by two handsome men who are also very opposite characters makes for a very funny and very sweet romantic story. And the American actress, Renee Zellweger is impressive in her role as the very English Bridget Jones. Her accent is perfect. Overboard (1987) - Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell Goldie Hawn plays the part of a rich, spoiled woman who ends up developing amnesia after a fall (as you do in movies!) and being tricked into believing she is married to a widower (Kurt Russell) and mother to his four very badly behaved children. It's a predictable romantic comedy but it's still very funny and good family entertainment. And the chemistry between the lead actors is very real since Goldie and Kurt are a couple in real-life. Something's Gotta Give (2003) - Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton, Keanu Reeves Who would have thought that Jack Nicholson could play a romantic lead and be believable? Well he did and he is. I was also surprised by the chemistry between Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton. It really works. I love this movie because it shows an older couple in a romantic movie and it's not insulting or demeaning in any way. In fact, the characters are lovable and quite believable. I also love the way the movie portrays a younger man (Keanu Reeves) falling in love with an older woman. Again, it's quite believable. And why not? This is just a delightful romantic comedy. What do you think of my list? Which romcoms would be on your top 10 list?

Scarborough: the most English town in England

By St George, resort clear winner for its Englishness LOOKING for somewhere traditionally English to spend St George's Day? Try the East Coast around Scarborough. The borough council, whose district includes Whitby and Filey, has more businesses and organisations with English characteristics per head of population than anywhere else in the country, according to a survey intended to promote St George's Day. Scarborough district has a cricket club, tea rooms, fish and chip shop, holiday camp or morris dancing troop for every 618 residents, claims the local information website, locallife.co.uk. (link via yorkshirepost.co.uk) I've seen a lot of England and we have visited the Yorkshire area many times (particularly York) but we haven't actually visited Scarborough. Now I think that we should plan a visit - it does indeed sound like a quintessentially English town. Do you live in Scarborough? Or have you visited the town? Do you agree that it is probably the most quintessentially English town in England? About Scarborough (via EnjoyEngland) Scarborough-Online Bradford most 'English' city, says St George's Day study The famously multicultural city of Bradford has emerged as one of the three most "English" places in England for patriots to spend St George's Day. The Yorkshire manufacturing, tourism and university centre comes second only to the coastal town of Scarborough and the Cornish district of Penwith for traditional English activities per head of population. Curries may win it more headlines, but Bradford has one of the country's highest ratios of fish and chip shops to people, and an astonishing number of cricket clubs and leagues. (link via guardian.co.uk) The top 10 in the survey, commissioned by the website locallife.co.uk, are: Scarborough Penwith Bradford York Blackpool Brighton and Hove Hastings Westminster Harrogate Tower Hamlets What do you think of the results of the survey? Do you agree with the list or are there other places in England that you think are more "English" and should be on the list?

Top 10 English foods

Simon Majumdar ( the co-founder of a food blog called Dos HERMANOS ) has an interesting article in The Times, Top 10 quintessential English foods.

Simon's top ten English foods are:

1) Melton Mowbray Pork Pie
2) Fish and Chips
3) Black Pudding
4) Kippers
5) Parkin
6) Cornish Pasty
7) Potted Shrimps
8) Grouse
9) Treacle Sponge Pudding
10) Cheddar Cheese

I think Simon's choices are interesting but my list of the best foods England has to offer is quite different.

My top ten English foods are:

1. Fish and Chips
2. Shepherd's Pie
3. Cheddar Cheese
4. Cornish Pasty
5. Yorkshire Pudding
6. Cumberland and Lincolnshire sausages
7. Lancashire Hotpot
8. Bakewell Tart
9. West Country Clotted Cream Tea
10. Full English Breakfast

What about you? Do you agree with Simon's choices? What English foods would be on your list?

My Top Ten Favourite YouTube Videos

My top ten favourite (so far!) YouTube Videos on the net: Randy Pausch Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams R.I.P. Randy (October 23, 1960 – July 25, 2008) Jill Bolte Taylor: My stroke of insight Free Hugs Campaign (official home of the Free Hugs Campaign) Where the Hell is Matt? Do the happy dance with Matt Harding on his global journey Somewhere Over the Rainbow sung by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole aka "The Gentle Giant" (May 20, 1959 – June 26, 1997) Dirty Dancing UK - Julia and James First Dance Mister Rogers defending PBS to the US Senate About six minutes of passionate testimony.He even recited the lyrics to one of his songs. R.I.P. Fred Rogers (March 20, 1928 – February 27, 2003) High Power Job I love his parting thoughts: "There's only three things I've ever been afraid of - electricity, heights and women - and I'm married too!" Clay Dyer - The Most Inspirational Fisherman Ever Inspirational Video - The Don't Quit Poem I'd love it if you'd share your links to your own favourite videos by leaving a comment or if you prefer, post a list of your favourites on your own blog and leave a link to your post in my comments.

Top ten loved and hated countryside noises

Country Life unveils our most loved and hated countryside noises. Listen to them all online.

Top ten health and fitness magazines on the web

I love to read books but I'm also a big fan of magazines. They are pricey though and even if I could afford to buy or subscribe to every magazine I liked, they would soon clutter up the house! One of the great benefits of the internet is that I can access all sorts of magazines on the web - and I'm not limited to just British magazines either. I'm very interested in health issues, particularly exercise and nutrition so I really appreciate finding health and fitness magazine websites that offer lots of informative articles on their site, not just in their magazines. This is my list of top ten magazines on the web with useful websites about health and fitness: Best Health Fitness Magazine Fitness Online Health Muscle & Fitness Hers Natural Health Prevention Self Shape Women'sHealth Are there other magazine websites about health and fitness that you would recommend?