THIS WEEK - 3-9 AUGUST 2013
SATURDAY
Bringing up baby
Prince William gave a glimpse of his life as a royal dad at a polo match, joking that he had to pick up nappies on the way home. So, just like any other new father, then - apart from the highfalutin hobbies, obviously.
SUNDAY
On the road again
Thousands of Lycra-clad cyclists took to the streets of the UK’s capital city for the inaugural RideLondon event, in which competitors took on 100- and 140-mile routes similar to last year’s Olympic road race.
MONDAY
Happy Birthday, dear rover ...
The Mars Curiosity rover celebrated its first year on the Red Planet. It marked the anniversary by playing the tune of Happy Birthday to You to itself in what must have been the loneliest party in history. Awww.
TUESDAY
Source code
On this day in 1991, Tim Berners-Lee released a collection of files on the first ever website describing his ideas for the World Wide Web. It will never catch on, but we applaud his ingenuity nevertheless.
WEDNESDAY
Catching the waves
Everybody (who’s a professional surfer, at least) was in Newquay today for the start of the Boardmasters surfing competition in Cornwall, south-west England. The event incorporates a music festival.
THURSDAY
Brick by brick
The first Lego Foundation school - or, as it is officially titled, the International School of Billund - was due to open in Denmark today. Sadly, it is not built out of millions of tiny, garishly coloured Lego bricks.
FRIDAY
Rising to the occasion
Balloonists from around the world will descend (slowly) on the UK for the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, which is the largest event of its kind in Europe, attracting more than half a million visitors.
NEXT WEEK - 10-16 AUGUST 2013
SATURDAY
Turf war
The British Lawn Mower Racing Association stages its annual 12-hour lawnmower race on the A29 in West Sussex. It takes place overnight and the winner is awarded a pint of ale and a bacon sandwich.
SUNDAY
It’s all kicking off
Look away now if you can’t stand football, but the new English season effectively begins today as the FA Community Shield takes place at Wembley between Manchester United and Wigan Athletic.
MONDAY
Hearts on sleeves
Vinyl Record Day in the US commemorates the date in 1877 when inventor Thomas Edison is said to have finished building the first phonograph. The day celebrates everything vinyl, from cover art to music.
TUESDAY
Going with a bang
Bonfire Night comes three months early for the lucky people of Plymouth as the British Fireworks Championships is staged over two days. Let’s hope it is scheduled to happen at night.
WEDNESDAY
An Irish Rose
The Rose of Tralee International Festival - parodied as the Lovely Girls competition in sitcom Father Ted - begins in County Kerry, Ireland. The winning woman is awarded the crown based, in part, on her “Irish heritage”.
THURSDAY
Winning smiles
Students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will be tentatively opening envelopes to see how they did in their A level exams. Expect photographers to snap twins with straight A*s and teenagers jumping for joy ...
FRIDAY
Hoping for the all clear
For those who didn’t get the grades they needed the mad scramble for university places known as “clearing” will be under way. Would you rather study sociology in Aberystwyth or psychology in Nottingham?
