Damn where is my umbrella

The first umbrellas, or parasols, protected from sunlight rather than rain and first appeared in ancient Egypt over three thousand years ago. Obviously, rain wasn't and still isn't a major issue in Egypt so it's the Chinese we have to thank for the first waterproof umbrellas. Dating back to 11th century BC China these were made of leather.

So in celebration of both the great British weather at least it gives us something to talk about and umbrellas of all sizes and colours, we are drinking a Damn the Weather based of course on London dry gin - the dry spirit to emerge from our often damp city. Gabrielle Bonheur "Coco" Chanel led an extraordinary life. She introduced clothing staples such as bell bottoms and pea jackets to women around the world and was the only couturier to be included in Time's Most Important People of the Century list.

Gabrielle came from humble roots. When her mother died, her father did a runner, and she consequently spent six years in an orphanage where she learned to be a seamstress.

After a brief stint as a cabaret singer, she met a young French textile heir and became his mistress, simultaneously falling in love with diamonds, dresses and pearls. She had other affairs, but her true marriage was always to her label which she worked for up to the day she died.

Mix up a Grand Designs or a French 75 as a toast to the queen of French fashion and the epitome of elegance. The Mary Pickford , a Prohibition-era drink from the Hotel Nacional de Cuba, is one of our current favourite old-school cocktails. And this is the anniversary of the day the actress became famous enough to have a drink named after her, for it was this day in when Mary Pickford first saw her name up in lights, publicising a silent movie called Hearts Adrift.

Soon she would be known as "the most famous woman of all time". Her second marriage to Douglas Fairbanks made her "Hollywood royalty". An ultra-tough cookie and famously hard negotiator, Pickford demanded - and got - the role of producer on all her movies from and co-founded the United Artists studio in It all started, as these things do, with a Daily Caller post on Friday. They correctly pointed out that according to Marine Corps uniform regulations umbrellas are strictly off limits for male Marines.

Female marines are allowed to carry umbrellas under some very strict guidelines, but male Marines are taught from the beginning that they are not, under any circumstances, to be caught carrying an umbrella. President, when it rains it pours, but most Americans hold their own umbrellas," Sarah Palin said at the beginning of a long Facebook post. Yes, the Marines are often forced to get wet while standing outside the White House because they cannot hold an umbrella.

Yes, the Marine Corps uniform regulations state a Marine cannot hold an umbrella. But Marine spokesman Capt. Code, Marines must "perform such other duties as the President may direct. Ask a Question. May I please know the right way of saying - when you are holding an open umbrella to protect you from rain: holding an umbrella or holding up an umbrella?

Thank you very much. Merry Christmas! It's very unlikely that the speaker would mean "Please open it. I think you have to rely on the context to help you out. If you're telling a story about a rain storm, that will make it easier. Hi, You could use either, although 'holding up' is more explicit. Merry Christmas to you too! Site Hint: Check out our list of pronunciation videos.