VIDEO - Londra , papero gigante sul Tamigi Rai.Tv

LONDRA - Visitatore inatteso questa mattina sul Tamigi: un'enorme papera di gomma ha attraversato la City di Londra: giallo brillante, mezza tonnellata di peso, sembrava a proprio agio tra le torri lucenti della città finanziaria. Una curiosa iniziativa per promuovere una borsa di studio per progetti che incoraggino gli inglesi a divertirsi di più. Secondo una ricerca commissionata da un sito internet in Gran Bretagna gli adulti non ridono più di 7 volte al giorno, mentre gli psicologi consigliano di farlo almeno 15 volte al giorno. Negli anni 60 dicono gli esperti nel Regno Uniti si rideva fino a 18 minuti al giorno, ora sono scesi a 6.



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Now that's what you call a fat duck: 60ft bath toy sails through London's financial district

• Half-ton bath toy swam through London this morning to 'cheer people up'
  

City workers and tourists did a double take this morning as a giant 50ft-tall rubber duck sailed up the Thames.

The bright yellow duck, weighing half a ton, looked quite at home amongst the shiny towers of the City as it set sail on its mission to make people laugh in the capital today.

It was launched to publicise a new £250,000 bursary designed to encourage people in the UK to have more fun.







Bridge lift: Tower Bridge swung open today to allow the giant duck through

The oversized bath toy was launched from West India Dock in the Isle of Dogs, east London, at 8.30 this morning.

It floated along the Thames past the O2, the glittering towers of Canary Wharf, and on towards Tower Bridge and HMS Belfast as part of a publicity stunt organised by a website.

Former Carry On and EastEnders actress Barbara Windsor, who saw the duck off at West India Dock is patron of Jackpotjoy.com's new Facebook FUNdation, part of a marketing campaign to grant funds to people who have good ideas to make people laugh.



She said: 'We thought a giant rubber duck floating down the River Thames was a great way to kick the FUNdation off, and it definitely raised a smile and a chuckle from everyone who saw it.
'After the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Pageant, the floating Olympic rings and David Beckham jetting into the Olympic opening ceremony, the Thames really has seen it all this year.



Cheering up commuters: The oversized duck was a sight to behold in the chilly December dawn

'The giant duck was a perfect way to round it all off and it certainly cheered everyone up.

'No one could suppress a smile as they saw it sailing past on its way to HMS Belfast.'

Miss Windsor, who is patron of the FUNdation, said she hoped the duck stunt would encourage people to come up with their own ideas.

'We now want people to send us their own entries of wacky things they'd like to do, and we'll provide funding for the best ones.'

A team of eight people spent more than 800 man-hours cutting and welding together the parts for the duck to ensure it was airtight before it took to the water this morning.


Michael Saunders, managing director of Jackpotjoy.com, said: 'We want to make sure we get the laughter quota back where it belongs and are hoping the FUNdation will help people have some daft fun.

'If you want to organise the biggest ever street conga, or jump into a pool of jelly, let us know.'

According to the research commissioned by the website, adults in Britain laugh an average 7.2 times day, while psychologists recommend we should do it 15 times a day to stay happy and healthy.

Consultant psychologist Anjula Mutanda said: 'The importance of laughter and joy cannot be underestimated. Research shows that 60 years ago we used to laugh for up to 18 minutes a day but today this figure has gone down to six minutes. We should be laughing more than we are.'




Past the O2: The duck practically dwarfed the former Millennium Dome on its early morning journey



Not quite the Gloriana: The giant rubber duck weighing half a ton sailed down the River Thames this morning



Look out for the ravens: The duck attracted a crowd as it was towed past the Tower of London



Not quite what the schoolchildren had come to see: The duck sailed past HMS Belfast today



Traffic stopping: Tower Bridge usually opens for more traditional craft such as tall-masted ships





By [url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=&authornamef=Harriet Arkell]Harriet Arkell[/url]
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2246297/London-City-workers-confused-rubber-duck-swimming-Canary-Wharf.html#ixzz2EotZ894s