2015年7月27日 星期一

Bobbi Kristina Brown, 22, passed away at Peachtree Christian Hospice

Bobbi Kristina Brown died on Sunday - six months after she was found unconscious in a bathtub.
 
The 22-year-old aspiring singer was rushed to hospital and placed in a medically-induced coma on January 31 after she was discovered face-down in the tub at her townhouse in Roswell, Georgia.
 
She was later transferred to Peachtree Christian Hospice, where her distraught family and loved ones maintained a bedside vigil and eventually said their goodbyes as her condition deteriorated.
 
She passed away, surrounded by her family, at the hospice on Sunday - just three years after her famous mother, singer Whitney Houston, died aged 48 in a bathtub at a hotel in Beverly Hills.
 
But officials are planning to treat the death of Bobbi Kristina - who was found in the tub with bruises on her face and body, swollen lips and a missing tooth - as a murder investigation.
 
The first person of interest in the case will reportedly be her boyfriend, Nick Gordon. 
 
On Sunday night, Gordon - who was banned from visiting his girlfriend by the Brown and Houston families - was said to be 'out of control with regret and sadness' after learning of her death. 
 
Mother and daughter: The 22-year-old passed away at Peachtree Christian Hospice in Georgia on Sunday - just three years after her mother, singer Whitney Houston died aged 48 in a bathtub at a hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Above, the pair are pictured together at a pre-Grammy Awards party on February 12, 2011
Tragic: Bobbi Kristina Brown (pictured) has died - six months after she was  found unconscious in a bathtub
Distraught: A tearful Bobby Brown (left) is driven away from the hospice following his daughter's passing on Sunday
Distraught: A tearful Bobby Brown (left) is driven away from the hospice following his daughter's passing on Sunday
 
A final farewell: Bobbi Kristina was rushed to hospital and placed in a  coma on January 31 after she was discovered face-down in a bathtub at her home in Roswell. Above, relatives leave the hospice on Sunday
Heartbreaking: The car carrying Brown (pictured in a red cap and white shirt) leaves the hospice on Sunday
Heartbreaking: The car carrying Brown (pictured in a red cap and white shirt) leaves the hospice on Sunday
 
Convoy: A white van was part of the convoy of vehicles driving away from the end-of-life facility on Sunday
Convoy: A white van was part of the convoy of vehicles driving away from the end-of-life facility on Sunday
 
Uncle Tommy  - Bobby Brown's younger brother - is seen leaving Peachtree Christian Hospice on Sunday after Bobbi Kristina died
Gary Houston leaves the hospice
Bobbi Kristina's boyfriend, Nick Gordon - who was banned from visiting his girlfriend by the Houston and Brown families - was said to be 'out of control with regret and sadness' after learning of her death. Above, Gordon is pictured leaving his home in Sanford, Orlando, miles away from the hospice, earlier this month
Bobbi Kristina's boyfriend, Nick Gordon - who was banned from visiting his girlfriend by the Houston and Brown families - was said to be 'out of control with regret and sadness' after learning of her death. Above, Gordon is pictured leaving his home in Sanford, Orlando, miles away from the hospice, earlier this month
 
'Nick is on suicide watch. He keeps saying that if only [Bobbi Kristina] had heard his voice, things would have been different. She may have lived.'
 
Another source close to Gordon told People; 'Nick is very upset. You can say what you want about him and Bobbi Kristina, but he really did love her very much, and is devastated that she is gone.'
 
They then added; 'Nick was holding out hope that he would see her one final time. He is very emotional.' 

The Houston family said in a statement that Bobbi Kristina - who was the sole heir to her late mother's fortune, estimated to be a huge $20million - 'is now finally at peace in the arms of God.'
 
In a statement via a representative, they said: 'Bobbi Kristina Brown passed away July, 26 2015, surrounded by her family. She is finally at peace in the arms of God. We want to again thank everyone for their tremendous amount of love and support during these last few months.' 
 
Meanwhile, a relative said Bobbi Kristina's father, Bobby Brown, was 'very emotional' about his daughter's death but knows 'that [she] is in a better place now'.
Bobbi Kristina's funeral will be held in Atlanta, and that she will be buried next to her mother in New Jersey. 
 
As for the autopsy, the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office said in a statement that the time that has passed since Bobbi Kristina's death will 'complicate' the process.
 
'Interpretation of autopsy findings and other information will also be challenging,' said the medical examiner’s office. 
 
'However, an autopsy could be helpful to address questions which may arise about the cause of her unresponsiveness and eventual death.'


Source: the Mail

2015年7月25日 星期六

President Barack Obama welcomed with hugs by sister Auma as he lands in Kenya


US President Barack Obama hugs his half-sister Dr Auma Obama at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi on July 24, 2015. Dr Auma then rode with him in the president's official limousine.

Dr Auma Obama is probably one of the most talked-about woman in the world right now.
This follows the euphoric hug she shared with US President Barack Obama when he arrived in Kenya on Friday.
 
President Obama’s half-sister then took a ride in the "Beast", which is one of the most highly protected armoured vehicles used by the president of the world’s most powerful nation.
 
When Air Force One carrying President Obama touched down, a number of dignitaries, among them Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta, waited patiently for him to disembark.

She was at the end of the queue and as President Obama shook his host’s hands, she patiently waited and kept smiling and putting her hands in her trousers’ pockets.
 
President Obama embraces his half-sister at Dr Auma Obama at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi on July 24, 2015. On the right is President Uhuru Kenyatta.
 

LONGEST HUG OF THE NIGHT
Then came the moment. Everyone was treated to the longest hug of the night, followed by an eye to eye conversation between the two siblings as if nothing else mattered.
 
As the security agents kept their watch, the two conversed jovially then they boarded the "Beast".
Dr Auma could be seen through the window adjusting the seat belts on her own as she conversed at ease.
That episode carried the day and was used by local and international media to narrate the welcome that President Obama received in Kenya.
 
Before the heart-warming hug, Dr Auma had tweeted; “My brother’s coming home and we are over the moon. Welcome little brother!”
 
This was not the first time, though, that Dr Auma had taken the envied attention of President Obama, as the two have been in a close relationship since they were young.
 
In his book Dreams from My Father, Mr Obama recounts how his half-sister picked him up from the same airport in a "battered Volkswagen Beetle" that kept breaking down every now and then.
He also says that despite the numerous trips to the mechanic, he enjoyed the trip.
 
US President Barack Obama chats with half-sister Auma Obama (2nd right) during a family dinner at his hotel in Nairobi on July 24, 2015. On his right is his step-grandmother, Mama Sarah Obama. 

OBAMA RETURNS FAVOUR
On Friday, it was Mr Obama’s turn to return the favour. He rode with Dr Auma in his official limousine, the Beast, from the airport.
 
Early Saturday morning, Dr Auma, who had been very protective of her brother, wrote; "Precious time family meal before GES. B’s allegiance to American people (and rightly so) but he found time 2 (honour) Kenyan heritage."
 
It will also to be remembered that Dr Auma was a bridesmaid during Mr Obama’s wedding.
 
During an interview with CNN, Dr Auma said, "I'm proud of our name because my brother really has carried our name up there. It's made our mark in the world."
 
Dr Auma studied sociology and German studies in Heidelberg before attending the German Film and Television Academy (DFFB) in Berlin and finally graduating in Bayreuth.
 
She lived in Germany for 16 years and later in the UK before eventually returning to Kenya.
She runs an NGO called Sauti Kuu Foundation.

Source: Daily Nation, Kenya

2015年7月23日 星期四

The Story of Sir Norman Hartnell

HARTNELL FAMILY HISTORY: NORMAN HARTNELL (1901-1979)

Sir Norman Bishop Hartnell was born on June 12, 1901, to an upwardly mobile family. His parents were publicans in Streatham. Hartnell attended Mill Hill School, and later, Magdalene College at Cambridge. His love for designing began in college where he helped with various theater productions. After graduation, he worked for two designers in London, which ended in conflict. By 1923, he had opened his first shop.

Norman Hartnell was called on in 1935 for the first time by royalty to design a wedding dress and bridesmaid dresses for the Duchess of Gloucester. By 1940, he was named a dressmaker to Queen Elizabeth. Hartnell captured the traditional dignity of a British look with an unusual twist that caught the attention of those in the highest places. He was quickly associated with intricate embroidery and elegant and classy clothing that everyone from Hollywood celebrities to princesses adored.



During World War II, Hartnell had to comply with government regulations on the rationing of materials. During this time, he was a co-founder of the Incorporated Society of London Fashion Designers, which promoted his trade around the world. He was asked to design women’s British army uniforms as well as official garb for local nurses and the London women’s police.

Over his career, Hartnell created lines of bridal dresses, menswear, and furs in addition to collections of perfume, jewelry, and shoes. One of his most famous designs was Queen Elizabeth’s coronation gown, which included 10,000 seed pearls as well as crystal beads. The intricate designs have gone down in history. He went onto design many items for the Royal family, culminating with the wedding dress for Princess Margaret in 1960. In 1977, Hartnell was knighted for his services.

Although lesser celebrated, the Hartnell menswear collections were just as striking. He was famous for bringing back a double-breasted jacket with clean lines to menswear.

Hartnell carried over his design talent into the interior design of his Windsor Forest home. His extravagant taste meant a home with velvet-covered furniture, crystal chandeliers, and elaborate floral decor. Today, the house is preserved as part of Hartnell history.

Hartnell died on June 8, 1979.

Source: https://www.cahartnell.com/hartnell-history/
 

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