Ali Bastian: “the epitome of an English rose” of Armenian and Russian descent

I knew Ali Bastian as Becca from a popular Channel 4 TV soap Hollyoaks. I never knew her real name. Watching yesterday BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special, where 6 celebrities compete in an “end of year dancing extravaganza”, it suddenly occured to me that her surname is “ian”. I know, it’s probably genetic, when each time hearing -yan/ian on a non-Armenian TV or event or a news item, our heart beat increases and we start looking for an Armenian heritage and so on and so on :) Yes, I accept this, and that’s exactly what I did. Quick search on Google brings me to this source that Ali Bastian is of Armenian and Russian descent. She is gorgeous and sexy. BBC describes her as “the epitome of an English rose”.

Originally hailing from Windsor, Ali is the epitome of an English rose. She made her first forays into TV with quintessentially English dramas such as Jane Eyre (when she was 10 years old) and A Touch Of Frost.

Ali is best known for playing Becca Dean in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks from 2001 to 2007. Becca's most controversial storyline in Hollyoaks saw her fired from her teaching job and sent to prison after having an affair with one of her students.

She did not manage to pass through to the final for Strictly Come Dancing 2009 competition. She was dancing in pair with Brian Fortuna, a professional ballroom dancer and choreographer from the US. Apparently, they are an item too.

[...] But just a week after they were controversially voted off Strictly Come Dancing during the semi-final, Ali Bastian and Brian Fortuna have finally confirmed they're an item.

After leaving the BBC show where they met, the couple journeyed to Paris for a romantic city break in the snow.

In an interview with the new issue of Hello! magazine, the couple said they are finally ready to go public with their romance.

In fact, they're getting so serious about each other Brian, 27, has bought Ali, 26, flight tickets to join him at his parents' home in New Jersey for Christmas. [...]

Before finding love with Brian, Ali dated London Irish rugby player Nick Kennedy and her Hollyoaks co-star Kevin Sacre.

But yesterday... she won the ultimate festive Christmas edition of the programme with all judges awarding the highest 10 score + being voted the highest by the audience.


Ali Bastian & Brian Fortuna dance the Viennese Waltz to Please Come Home For Christmas.


The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special 2009 Champions are crowned.


*picture - via Ali Bastian fan site

Quote of The Day (in Armenian)

Highly recommend reading today's article by detained for his political views opposition editor Nikol Pashinyan. His trial is currently underway in Yerevan and Nikol is facing up to 8 years imprisonment. Below is what I consider truly a Quote of The Day (in Armenian):

"[...] Եթե իսկական Եղիշե Չարենցից վերցնենք մտքի ազատությունը, ըմբոստությունը, արդարամտության զգացողությունը, հանուն գաղափարի զոհվելու պատրաստակամությունը, ամենադառը ճշմարտությունն ասելու ուժն ու խիզախությունը, դրան ավելացնենք մի քիչ վախկոտություն, հարմարվողականություն, ամպուտացիա անենք այդ Չարենցի ողնաշարը, կստանանք մի... այնպիսի Լեւոն Անանյան, որին նույնիսկ օրիգինալը կնախանձի: Սրանում է մեր իրականության ողբերգական առանձնահատկությունը. բանաստեղծները ուզում են Չարենց լինել, բայց շողոքորթել իշխանություններին, հոգեւորականները ուզում են Հիսուս լինել բայց չխաչվել, գիտնականներն ուզում են Ջորդանո Բրունո լինել, բայց չայրվել խարույկի վրա, նկարիչներն ուզում են Վան Գոգ լինել, բայց գլուխ չունեն ածխահատների գործադուլային շարժման հետ: [...]"

Read the article in full here: ԼԻՆԵԼ, ԲԱՅՑ ՉԼԻՆԵԼ. ԱՅՍ Է ԽՆԴԻՐԸ

My New Year resolution for the Armenian Cause

Aram Hamparian of the Armenian National Committee of America tweeted the other day:

#anca is interested in your New Year's resolutions for the #Armenian Cause.
@ANCA_DC

Well, here is mine: to make, however small, but personal contribution to evolve Armenia into a democratic state where human rights are not simply words but a reality. Everything else will follow.

To readers of my blog: BIG THANK YOU for reading my blog, for being in touch, for inspiring me. Whether it’s global, or very personal/intimate, whatever your dreams are, I hope and wish that at least some of them will come true in 2010. Have a very happy one!! x

Yet another report on alleged brutalities and human rights violations in the Armenian army

Not your usual festive story before Christmas and New Year, but yet another depressing and tragic story on alleged brutalities and human rights violations in the Armenian army (in Armenian, video - via Gyumri-based GALA TV station). This case is currently under investigation.

Mrs Armenia Gohar Haroutyunyan - new Mrs Globe 2009 (!)

Mrs Globe 2009 (*via Newscom, via Fotoglif)

2009-12-13, Bratislava, Slovak Republic: Mrs. Armenia and new Mrs. Globe 2009 Gohar Haroutyunyan poses after she won world final of a beauty contest for mothers and married women Mrs. Globe 2009 on December 13, 2009, in Bratislava, Slovakia. (many thanks to bsw_am for the info; also moon_lusin)

Mrs Globe 2009 (*Facebook)

Mrs Globe 2009 and Mrs Globe 2002 (*Facebook)

Cute Christmas tree :)

I was passing by this Christmas tree by Benetton in London and find it charming :)

First ladies of Latvia and Armenia at the Cafesjian Centre for the Arts in Yerevan

The Cafesjian Centre for the Arts reports that first ladies of Latvia, Mrs. Lilita Zatlere, and Armenia, Mrs. Rita Sargsyan, toured the Centre’s exhibition galleries on 11 December 2009.

Some people suck. Big time (re yet another video scandal in Armenia)

This video scandal (+ here) was just another reminder why I could never stand Hrant Tokhatyan & co. They suck. Big time.


*source of picture

Armenia: Free ALL political prisoners

10 December - Human Rights Day

Armenian opposition will march on 10 December (authorised by Yerevan city hall) to demand release of all political prisoners.

*I found this T-shirt via google search - "armenian political prisoners" 

The power of bloggers and state of human rights in Azerbaijan

#EminAdnan - 10 December Human Rights Day

Picture of the Day (source)

World AIDS Day 09, Yerevan, Armenia (Picture of the Day)

*picture - by Lara Aharonian
**More about the events - here
***video