2 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on Життєві ситуації, які найбільше створюють напругу у відносинах
З побутовими проблемами найчастіше стикаються молоді пари, які ще не готові до спільного життя. Але навіть у сім’ях з міцним і тривалим шлюбом бувають такі ситуації, які дратують партнера. Небажання йти на компроміси Наприклад, найпоширеніше явище, яке приводить до незліченних сварок, це прийняття спільного рішення з якого-небудь приводу. Особливо гостро це стосується фінансових питань. […]
2 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on Як обрати смачну свинину для засолювання
Далеко не кожна господиня стикалась із потребою засолити сало в домашніх умовах. У випадку, якщо ви готуєте закуску вперше, важливо обрати правильну сировину. Можна припустити, що буквально у кожного пов’язані теплі спогади про дитинство, коли мова йде про запашне домашнє сало. Втім, купити дійсно смачний продукт не так вже й просто. Аби не отримати жорстке […]
2 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on The top 40 outdoor pursuits Brits want to try in 2025 revealed
Cold water swimmer Jenny Favell swims amongst ice pancakes in the River Braan at The Hermitage, Perthshire as temperatures drop well below zero. December 11 2024.SWNS:South West News Service
THE top 40 outdoor pursuits Brits want to try in 2025 include foraging, stargazing, and wild swimming.
A poll of 2,000 adults revealed 64 per cent are motivated by a desire to reconnect with nature.
Stargazing is the fifth most popular outdoor pursuit for Britsgetty
As such, natural world-inspired pursuits feature prominently in the list, with the likes of rockhounding – collecting rocks, minerals, and fossils, nature journaling, and wildlife photography all featuring.
Other popular wildlife-inspired pursuits for the year ahead include fishing, horseback riding, and swimming in natural pools.
Along with hiking, cycling, zip-lining, and archery, and running or trail running, cross-country road trips, beachcombing, and outdoor yoga.
Kristian Cholmondley, managing director of Jeep UK, makers of the Avenger Electric, which commissioned the research, said: “It’s clear Brits are increasingly seeking ways to reconnect with nature, which speaks to our fundamental need to escape the digital world and embrace the physical world around us.
“The research highlights how much people value outdoor activities that not only offer the opportunity to experience freedom and adventure, but also to improve mental health and wellbeing.”
The study also found 77 per cent of adults are ‘likely’ to try one or more outdoor pursuits during the coming months – and they’d be willing to travel an average of 39 miles to do so.
It emerged 81 per cent are ‘particularly’ interested in outdoor pursuits which are nature orientated.
With other motivations for getting out and about including to relax (50 per cent), to boost or maintain mental health (43 per cent), and to get fitter or maintain fitness (38 per cent).
But enjoying the great outdoors comes with some challenges – including lack of time (37 per cent), the cost of travel (28 per cent), and lack of confidence (28 per cent).
Despite this, those polled manage to spend an average of five hours and 15 minutes outside for leisure each week.
Carried out through OnePoll, the research also identified the biggest priorities among motorists should they invest in a car designed for rural roads, with price (45 per cent) coming top.
Other ‘musts’ include reliability (44 per cent), comfort for long drives (23 per cent), and safety features (23 per cent).
Jeep UK’s Kristian Cholmondley added: “The focus on reliability, comfort, and safety speaks to the kinds of experiences people are looking to have in the wild.
“Whether it’s a weekend getaway or a spontaneous outdoor adventure, the need for accessible, dependable transportation is at an all-time high.”
Jenny Favell is a Cold Water Therapist from Linlithgow, Scotland – she initially started wild swimming to manage anxietySWNS:South West News Service
2 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on Hidden sign your car is seconds away from costly breakdown – make key post-winter check and save yourself £100s
EXPERTS have revealed the hidden sign your car is on the verge of an eye-wateringly expensive breakdown.
Motors whizz Just Kampers have revealed new tricks to motorists to help prevent your car from letting you down as the winter chill continues to bite.
GettyA motors expert has revealed the key sign your car could be on the verge of a costly breakdown[/caption]
The cold months can have a big impact on your vehicle’s battery.
Car batteries use a chemical process that produces and stores electricity.
But cold weather can affect this, slowing down the key part and stopping it from holding a charge.
With all of this done, it’s time to take a look at your battery and make sure it’s still in good shape.
“Some older VWs like the T2 Bay have a bit of an infamous habit of leaking battery acid, which then corrodes the battery tray located to the side of your engine,” the expert said.
“Gnarly blueish crystals forming on the terminals, or damaged metalwork under your battery, are a sign that your vehicle’s battery might be due a replacement.
“All automotive batteries have a fixed shelf life, so try to think when yours was last replaced and whether it might be nearing the time to consider a new one.
“Your vehicles battery is a fairly major component, and having it give out on you is a massive inconvenience, even if it is relatively simple to fix.
“If you’ve disconnected your VW’s battery because it’s been in storage for the winter, then it shouldn’t have lost too much juice since then.”
Scooping a fresh car battery can set you back hundreds of pounds.
Factors such as your car’s make and model, driving style, the size and shap can all impact the price point, but motorists can usually expect to fork out between £100 and £300 for a new one, according to ProTyre.
What you can do to check your battery
The RAC recommends charging your battery once a week if your car is regularly used for short trips throughout the winter.
Halford recommends cleaning the battery often and checking its water levels.
If battery plates are exposed, it means your water level is low and needs filling with distilled water.
If you want to check to make sure your battery is still running smoothly, you can do it yourself using a multimeter or you can take it to a local garage and have a professional take a look.
If you aren’t using your car often enough during the colder periods, sporadically turn your car on, just to make sure the battery is still running.
And it’s not just your battery you need to regularly check during the colder weather to avoid a breakdown.
The RAC uses the acronym FORCES, reminding drivers to keep check of their fuel, oil, rubber, electrics and screen wash.
Most drivers will have a pretty good idea of how much fuel they have left in the tank but check it daily to make sure you have enough for your journey.
Oil is commonly forgotten about and needs checking regularly.
2 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on Dunnes Stores fans set to love major trench coat dupe for spring – and it’s €195 cheaper
DUNNES Stores fans are set to love a major trench coat dupe after it landed on racks – and it’s €195 cheaper.
The Gallery Alexa Double Breasted Belted Trench Coat is available in stores and online now.
The Dunnes coat is ideal for everyday wearThe designer version is €245
It is priced at €50 and comes in sizes XS to XL.
Dunnes wrote: “Crafted with impeccable attention to detail, this classic, double-breasted trench coat from Gallery features notch lapels, gleaming gold buttons, and a detachable tie belt that cinches the waist.
“Designed with a single back vent for ease of movement and adjustable button-tab cuffs for versatile styling, this fully lined coat ensures comfort and durability.
“Gallery is available exclusively at Dunnes Stores.”
The trench coat is a great dupe for the Sezane version – which is priced at €245.
The designer piece is described as a “trench coat with tie belt, raglan sleeves, button tabs at shoulders and cuffs, back slit with button.”
Meanwhile, Dunnes Stores is making it easy for shoppers to start in the gym this year – with their gorgeous activewear range.
The range features some stunning pieces including jackets, flattering leggings and additional items.
With bargain prices, shoppers are rushing to the tills to pick them up.
One shopper has tried some of the new range, and shared her opinion on social media.
TikTok user Lauren Egerton shared a short video to the platform for her followers.
In the caption of her post, she wrote: “I got a few new pieces from Dunnes Stores and I decided to wear a few of them today! These are all still available to purchase, even the rest that I showed you!”
At the beginning of the video, she can be seen wearing a luxury pair of black pyjamas from Dunnes Stores, with white lining along the edges.
The set costs just €20 in total.
Lauren said: “A very basic outfit for today, it’s only Tuesday. I’m actually off, but I might take myself somewhere nice.”
“I have new bits, they’re very basic.”
The first thing she shows off is a stunning khaki-coloured padded jacket that is perfect for the cold weather.
Holding it up, she said: “Has anyone else bought these jackets in Dunnes?”
She notes that she bought it two weeks ago in black, but went back to buy the second colour.
The Hooded Quilt Jacket comes in four colours: black, blue, khaki, and winter white.
It is available in sizes XS to XXL, and is set to fly off the shelves as it costs just €30.
In the official item description on the Dunnes Stores website, fashion chiefs wrote: “Designed in a diamond-quilted texture, this jacket has a high neck, zip pockets, dipped hems, and a hood.
“Lightweight and shower-resistant, it’s a great option for transitional weather.”
THE HISTORY OF DUNNES STORES
DUNNES Stores opened its first store on Patrick Street in Cork in 1944 - and it was an instant hit.
Shoppers from all over the city rushed to the store to snap up quality clothing at pre-war prices in Ireland’s first ‘shopping frenzy’.
During the excitement, a window was forced in and the police had to be called to help control the crowds hoping to bag founder Ben Dunne’s ‘Better Value’ bargains.
Dunnes later opened more stores in the 1950s and began to sell groceries in 1960 – starting with apples and oranges.
The retailer said: “Fruit was expensive at the time and Ben Dunne yet again offered Better Value than anyone else in town.
“Over time, our food selection has grown and that spirit of good value has remained strong.
“Now we offer a wide range of carefully-sourced foods from both local Irish suppliers and overseas.”
The retailer’s first Dublin store opened its doors in 1957 on Henry Street and a super store on South Great Georges Street was unveiled in 1960.
They added: “In 1971, our first Northern Irish store opened, and many others soon followed.
“Expansion continued in the 1980s in Spain, and later into Scotland and England.”
Dunnes now has 142 stores and employs 15,000 people.
2 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on EastEnders sees Cindy Beale’s family on the brink of collapse in latest twist following shock attack
TONIGHT’S episode of EastEnders sees Cindy Beale’s family on the brink of collapse in the latest twist.
The long-running BBC One character was shockingly attacked on the Christmas Day special.
BBC Cindy’s world was rocked once again with fresh accusations[/caption]
BBCJunior just wanted to join the rest of his family in Dubai away from Walford[/caption]
BBCHe dropped an extraordinary accusation onto Gina[/caption]
On tonight’s episode, it was revealed that the police have decided to drop the charges against Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa).
They have ruled that there was not enough evidence against her, just as Cindy (Michelle Collins) received another death threat.
As she stayed with Reiss (Jonny Freeman), a mystery person threw a brick through the window with a menacing warning.
On EastEnders, the suspicion shifted to Junior Knight (Micah Balfour), who just wanted to go back to Dubai and be with his family.
However, Gina Knight (Francesca Henry) was feeling the pressure as she was behaving in an odd manner.
She was seen by her sister Anna (Molly Rainford) to be in a hushed and tense conversation with Harry Mitchell (Elijah Holloway).
He issued a threat, saying that if he didn’t get a mystery payment of money by the next day, he would put interest on the repayment.
However, Anna and Junior burst through the door of the Vic’s storage room to demand answers.
Junior then stunned the whole pub into silence when he ran back to the main bar to expose Gina.
All the other customers looked on as he stated: “It was Gina. Gina threw the brick through the window.”
Elaine (Harriet Thorpe) was behind the bar and her widened as her step-daughter was accused of trying to kill her own mother.
This was as Cindy stood still, seemingly in a mixture of both shock and disbelief as Ian’s jaw was left practically on the floor.
He added: “She’s the one that attacked Cindy.”
Who attacked Cindy Beale?
The Sun’s Soaps Editor Carl Greenwood runs down the suspects in the big EastEnders whodunnit
Anna Knight
Shall we just rule Anna out straight away?
The woman’s barely got enough about her to kill a fly, so the chances of her finally becoming worthy of being Cindy Beale’s daughter and bashing her over the head with a shovel are slim to none.
But she was watching out of the Queen Vic window so she may well know who did attack her mother.
Gina Knight
Fiery, recovering drug addict Gina is a good shout for shovel-ing her mother this Christmas.
She’s got the boxing skills of George and the temper of Cindy – so she definitely has the ability and will to take her mother down.
And she was seen sneaking out of the Vic just before Cindy was attacked.
Peter Beale
This Peter is a bit of a drip – he’s more Anna, than Gina, shall we say.
It’s hard to imagine him being able to pick up a shovel without mummy’s approval.
But having said that he was seen drowning his sorrows in tears shortly before the attack, so maybe he finally embraced his mum’s side?
Lauren Branning
Never before has a character failed to learn from her past mistakes more than Lauren.
Except Cindy obviously who appears doomed to repeat the affair cycle until the day she dies.
But Lauren’s ability to ruin Christmas is unrivalled – and it provoked explosive drama.
And it left her with a bag of pills in the car lot having lost her relationship, her family and her son – and it’s all Cindy’s fault.
So could Lauren be the one responsible?
Ian Beale
For a man whose Christmases have included the time he was nearly murdered by his wife with a killer carbonara, you’d think he’d have quite low threshold for bad days but this was something else.
Humiliated in public by a recording of Cindy saying he couldn’t satisfy her so much so she was sleeping with her former stepson, Ian didn’t have a happy Christmas.
He threw a drink over and then punched Junior, before rejecting Cindy and throwing her out onto the streets.
Last seen smashing up his own living room and storming out into the Square, he was certainly in the mood for killing Cindy.
But could he? Really?
Kathy Beale
There’s been no love lost between Kathy and Cindy since they both returned from the dead and a full-on brawl is well overdue.
But after everything that happened last Christmas, would Kathy really want to go through that again?
It’s a miracle she managed to get back into the Vic.
Elaine Peacock
The Queen Vic landlady’s scheme to get rid of Cindy once and for all backfired quite spectacularly.
She began Christmas Day convinced she was about to be rid of Cindy forever – but ended it single and alone.
Hearing George rage about Junior taking what was his pushed her over the edge and she kicked George out.
But did it push her enough to grab a shovel and try to kill Cindy?
George Knight
Cindy cost him everything.
He’s now homeless, job-less and son-less after Cindy’s affair was exposed and as a former professional boxer he’s capable of explosive rage.
He was seen working out his emotions on a punching bag, but maybe it didn’t work and maybe he needed Cindy to pay for what she’d done?
Junior Knight
The spurned lover, unwanted son, humiliated man… things aren’t looking good for Junior.
He fell for Cindy, hook, line and sinker, and worse, he fell for her lies.
Last seen trying to call Cindy after everything went down – did he want to find her to kill her or to seduce her again?
Fans were also in absolute shock as they took to social media in their droves.
Writing on X – formerly known as Twitter – one viewer exclaimed: “Gina & Harry was not on my bingo card.”
While second sceptic fan asked: “Gina did it??.”
BBCThe police dropped their investigation into Lauren Branning[/caption]
BBCElaine looked shocked by Junior’s dramatic entrance as the pub was stunned into silence[/caption]
BBCHe accused Cindy’s daughter of attacking her in front of the whole pub[/caption]
BBCJunior seemed to be at the top of the suspect list after recent events[/caption]
EastEnders continues on BBC One and is available to stream on iPlayer.
2 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on Man, 39, sentenced to life imprisonment over murder of Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch’s nephew as mum slams ‘callous crime’
THE mother of Gareth Hutch has told how her son’s murder in an ambush outside his home over eight years ago was “a violent and callous crime with no value or thought given for a life”.
In a statement read out at a sentencing hearing for the fourth person to be convicted of the murder of Gerard ‘The Monk’ Hutch’s nephew Gareth Hutch, Vera Hutch said her son was “senselessly and cruelly taken” from her family in May 2016, tearing her life apart and changing their world “forever”.
Gareth Hutch was shot dead on May 24, 2016Gangster Thomas ‘Nicky’ McConnell was sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonmentPaul Sharp - Commissioned by The Sun DublinCCTV footage shows the moment that Gareth Hutch walks to his car as he is shot and murderedCCTV
Having heard the victim impact statement from Mrs Hutch, in the Special Criminal Court, presiding judge Mr Justice Alexander Owens sentenced Thomas ‘Nicky’ McConnell to the mandatory term of life imprisonment, backdating it to July 20 2020, when he was taken into custody by Turkish authorities and then extradited back to Ireland.
Last December, McConnell became the fourth person to be found guilty of the murder of Mr Hutch in an ambush in Dublin over eight years ago, following a verdict by the Special Criminal Court.
Revealing the verdict of the three-judge court last month, Mr Justice Owens said that the evidence showed, beyond reasonable doubt, that McConnell was the second assassin in the attack along with Jonathan Keogh, who followed Gareth Hutch from his home and shot him dead.
When passing judgement the court found that Keogh’s gun discharged a number of bullets at close range that caused the injuries which killed Mr Hutch.
McConnell’s gun was later found to have the safety catch on and did not fire any rounds during the assassination.
However, the court found that even if McConnell deliberately left the safety catch on, his other actions in preparation for the shooting showed that he was part of a common design with Keogh and others to commit murder and his actions were intended to result in Mr Hutch’s death.
Vera Hutch, whose victim impact statement was read to the court by Detective Garda Liam Lee, said she had the “privilege and honour of being Gareth’s mother for over 35 years before he was senseless and cruelly taken from” his family.
She said: “Standing here in front of you today with my life torn apart, our world changed forever. Losing Gareth has caused my heart and all our families hearts to be broken, nothing can ever repair the emptiness that his death has caused.”
At today’s sitting of the non-jury court, Det Gda Lee told prosecution counsel Fiona Murphy SC that McConnell has 105 previous convictions including those for assault, threatening to kill and causing serious harm as well as possession of knives.
McConnell, 39, of Sillogue Gardens, Ballymun, Dublin 11 had pleaded not guilty to the murder of Gareth Hutch, 36, on May 24, 2016 at Avondale House, North Cumberland Street, Dublin 1.
FOURTH PERSON CONVICTED
He is the fourth person to be convicted of the murder. In November 2018 the Special Criminal Court found Regina Keogh, 47, of Cumberland St North, Dublin 1, Jonathan Keogh, 39, with an address at Gloucester Place, Dublin 1 and Thomas Fox, 32, with an address at Rutland Court, Dublin 1 guilty of the murder of Mr Hutch.
McConnell’s trial began in 2023 but was postponed for 16 months, firstly when one of the judges was unable to continue and then as the court awaited a Supreme Court ruling in a separate case.
McConnell’s trial continued after the Supreme Court found in that case that traffic and location data relating to mobile phones could be used as evidence, even though the data was harvested using a now-invalidated law.
The trial heard that McConnell and Jonathan Keogh used an apartment opposite Gareth Hutch’s home as a lookout spot and when Mr Hutch emerged from his front door, they followed him and shot him dead.
Mary McDonnell, who lived at the lookout apartment, told the trial in June 2023 that she could identify Jonathan Keogh because she had known him for many years but she did not know the second man.
When asked to identify the second man from CCTV footage showing Mr McConnell in a shop later the same day, she said she was “not really one hundred per cent” and that she was “half and half”.
COURT EVIDENCE
Mr Justice Owens said last month that Ms McDonnell’s evidence could not be used to prove McConnell was the second gunman.
The court instead relied on mobile phone data linking McConnell to the other murder plotters, CCTV footage connecting McConnell to various vehicles used in the plot, and lies told by the accused to gardai that were indicative of guilt.
In particular, the court was satisfied that McConnell parked a black BMW in front of Avondale House with the intention of using it as the getaway car. Following the shooting, Keogh and McConnell got into the BMW but could not get it started.
They then ran to a Skoda Octavia, which the court said had also been parked nearby by McConnell that morning. They left the scene in the Octavia.
When gardai searched the BMW, they found McConnell’s DNA, a can of petrol and two changes of clothes that prosecution counsel Fiona Murphy SC said marked it out as a getaway car. McConnell would later lie to gardai that he had sold the BMW to a man who was similar looking to himself.
Mr Justice Owens said this “yarn” was told to hide McConnell’s guilty role in the murder plot.
In reaching its verdict, the court relied on further lies told by the accused and emails on a phone linked to McConnell which showed he had an “intimate knowledge of the murder”.
Gareth Hutch’s uncle, Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch� 2024 PA Media, All Rights ReservedGareth was approached by two men both armed with handguns
З побутовими проблемами найчастіше стикаються молоді пари, які ще не готові до спільного життя. Але навіть у сім’ях з міцним і тривалим шлюбом бувають такі ситуації, які дратують партнера. Небажання йти на компроміси Наприклад, найпоширеніше явище, яке приводить до незліченних сварок, це прийняття спільного рішення з якого-небудь приводу. Особливо гостро це стосується фінансових питань. […]
Далеко не кожна господиня стикалась із потребою засолити сало в домашніх умовах. У випадку, якщо ви готуєте закуску вперше, важливо обрати правильну сировину. Можна припустити, що буквально у кожного пов’язані теплі спогади про дитинство, коли мова йде про запашне домашнє сало. Втім, купити дійсно смачний продукт не так вже й просто. Аби не отримати жорстке […]
