Meet the tree with a face

Is it a demon? A new Doctor Who monster? A bit of rubbish art? No, it's a section of an oak tree branch that looks like a human face। Sort of.



The face-tree was brought into the Daily Times newspaper in Maryville, Tennessee on Monday, by Ernest Ward, a groundskeeper at the local Magnolia Cemetery.

Ward said it was found on Monday as he and co-workers cleaned up debris from a weekend storm.

According to him, a former worker at the cemetery believes the face is a spirit.

Meet the nine-year-old who can balance 14 spoons on his face

He balances spoons on his face. The nine-year-old is so skilled at it that he has his sights set on a world record attempt.

He began his hobby two years ago when his cousin encouraged him to try it and he now spends hours practising every day.

Joe can now hang 14 off his face - four from his forehead, one from his nose, mouth and chin, two from each cheek, two from his right ear and one from his left.

He is now aiming to beat the world record of 15 spoons set by 16-year-old Tim Johnston in California in 2004.

At the family home in Totnes, Devon, Joe's mother Fenella said: "I've tried it and I can't do it. His brother's tried it and he can't do it either.

"It must be something to do with his skin type. It seems to help if you have greasy skin which is why children are quite good at it."

Joe is preparing to appear on the TV show Britain's Got Talent - where he will balance the spoons and do a little jig.

But rather than going stir crazy with fame, the schoolboy wants to keep a level head and admitted: "Even my friends haven't seen me do it yet."

His mother added: "We've tried lots of spoons over the last two years.

"Ikea seems to sell the best ones for hanging off your face. I think we're their best customer when it comes to spoons."

A young schoolboy has developed a strange, top drawer talent for balancing spoons on his face and now he's aiming to go down in history with a world record attempt.

Talented Joe Allison, nine, can already hang an amazing 14 spoons from his forehead, nose, cheeks and chin - just one away from matching the world record.

He began his bizarre hobby two years ago when his cousin challenged him to give it a go.

Now, instead of playing computer games or meeting friends for a kick-around in the park, Joe spends hours every day perfecting his spoon-balancing technique.

Joe can now hang 14 table spoons off his face - four from his forehead, one from his nose, mouth and chin, two from each cheek, two from his right ear and one from his left.

He is now aiming to beat the world record - of 15 spoons set by a 16-year-old in America in May 2004.

Joe's mum, Fenella, of Totnes, Devon, says she has to buy special-quality spoons after he used up all the ones in the kitchen.

According to the mum-of-two, Ikea spoons have the best staying power when it comes to hanging off Joe's face.

"It seems to help if you have greasy skin which is why children are quite good at it.

"We've tried lots of spoons over the last two years but some on the high street are a bit heavy.

"Ikea seems to sell the best ones for hanging off your face. I think we're their best customer when it comes to spoons."

Fenella added: "I've tried it and I can't do it. His brother's tried it and he can't do it either. It must be something to do with his skin type."

Joe is now set to appear on TV show Britain's Got Talent - where he will hang the spoons and do a little jig.

"He filled out an application form online - I didn't even know he'd done it. He's passed the auditions and will be on in the summer.

"I thought it wouldn't happen but it did. He has to keep them on while he stands and does a little bit of dancing," she explained.

Despite Joe's upcoming TV appearance, he admits he has never shown his school friends.

He said: "They haven't seen me do it yet. Well, one of them has."

The current world record belongs Tim Johnston, 16, who balanced 15 stainless steel spoons on his face for 30 seconds at Havens High School, Piedmont, California, USA on May 28, 2004.

According to the Guinness Book Of World Records, he balanced "one on each ear, two on each cheek, three on his chin, two on his lips, one on his nose and three on his forehead".