Romantic knight falls off his horse

It was love at first sight for 49-year old Mark Crayford when he met Tracey Badenski the tall and healthy-looking teacher. Mark of Swindon, UK, a manager of a van firm had a romantic plan to show his feelings.

To activate his plan he took riding lessons for six months after which donned the armour of a shining knight and went to meet his beloved. But after trotting into a field at the school where Tracey,also 49, works he fell at the first hurdle - off the massive gray horse called Dove. He was thrown to the ground as he tried to dismount and had to be pulled to his feet by Tracey . Despite the tight fitting armour he straightened himself with great difficulty and went down on one knee.

It was sheer luck which saved him from injury.

After going down on one knee he popped the question "I love you . Will you marry me' - and Tracey just said "Yes". The couple is now planning to get married later in this year.

Tracey said: "I am still in shock. I knew nothing about it. The other teachers said a pupil had an accident and I had to go outside. "I saw him over the top of the fence coming down the road. He had said years ago that he might do it but I thought nothing about it. "You have to say it was a very romantic gesture."

Dove was hired from local trainer Cass Winter, who said: "This is our strangest ever request. I am glad we could help."

Turtle's tears

Shedding crocodile tears is normally done by humans. But can you imagine turtles crying?

Yes they do! But nothing to worry there are the butterflies to wipe them out. It may look kind, but it's the salt in the tears they are after. It is thought it encourages them to breed.

The butterflies frequently flutter around the yellow spotted river turtles in the Peruvian Amazon.

Jeff Cremer, 34, who runs wildlife photography tours at Tambopata, said: "Being so far from the Atlantic, this side of the Amazon lacks the availability of salt. So odd behaviour pops up - including drinking the tears of turtles basking in the sun.

"If one butterfly is feeding, its bright colours invite other butterflies as well.

"Bees also feed on turtle eyes, which seems to really bother the turtles, but they don't appear to mind the butterflies as much. "Butterflies in this area will do anything for salt, including drinking from your sweaty skin or backpack."

Nannies taught Tae Kwon-Do, stunt driving

If you are rich and want to protect your child you should hire a nanny trained at Norland college, England.

Trainees at Norland College, founded in 1892, are now being taught self-defence and stunt driving to protect the children of today's rich and famous. They undergo Tae Kwon-Do martial arts training at the college in Bath, Somerset, while high-speed driving skills to evade potential kidnappers are honed at a racing circuit.

Trainee Abby Harris, 19, said: "It's crucial. If we have high-profile charges in our care then we need to know how to protect them." Lucy Draper, 24, a trainee said: "It teaches you things like how to get away from the paparazzi."

Driving instructor John Yeo, who normally trains bodyguards said: "We put them under as much pressure as we can." Norland nannies, famed for their brown uniforms and felt hats, have been used by celebrities including Mick Jagger and ex-wife Jerry Hall and Royals including Princess Anne and the Duchess of York. The trainees learn the skills alongside more traditional ones like first aid, sewing and cooking on their £36,000 four-year degree course.