This is a false optical illusion, and its bold pink and purple color palette makes it even more challenging. It ...
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Optical illusion: Only a genius can spot the heart-shaped berry in 8 seconds
Mercy Chinwo Fights Back: Sues VeryDarkMan for ₦1 Billion Over ‘Malicious Lies’
Renowned Nigerian gospel singer Mercy Chinwo has filed a ₦1 billion defamation lawsuit against social media commentator Martins Vincent Otse,…
Read More: Mercy Chinwo Fights Back: Sues VeryDarkMan for ₦1 Billion Over ‘Malicious Lies’
How to take a family holiday EVERY MONTH for under £2k a year… including tips to bag free stays & beat high hotel prices
MY family-of-five loves a holiday so we go away somewhere in the UK every month – yet still only spend around £2,000 a year.
Working out at around £166 on average a month, in the last year we’ve been to Wales, Northumberland, Lincolnshire, London and to Norfolk multiple times, even during school holidays.
There are few golden rules I like to stick to so I don’t blow our budget on one big family trip and then end up stuck at home for the rest of the year.
Avoiding expensive international travel and focusing on shorter staycays is the best way to keep costs down, especially if you already have a mode of transport to get you around.
We mostly stayed in UK holiday parks or hostels and our accommodation cost less than £1,500 altogether.
When it comes to getting to the place, our petrol was about £500 for the entire year.
We also make the most of unusual inset days for planning our breaks as fewer families will be holidaying then, so we won’t be paying peak prices.
My sons’ school scheduled two inset days together at the end of June, so we used that to enjoy a long weekend in Wales, which cost us just £168.
This is compared to going a month later, when all the children would be off on holiday and it would have cost three times as much for the same accommodation.
We also took a cheeky overnight Christmas break to Butlin’s when the school set a Thursday in December as a teacher training day.
That only cost us £50 which included a trip to see Santa and all the usual entertainment and activities you’d expect.
Whenever I’m booking any breaks, I always like to shop around using different membership schemes or cashback sites to see how much I can get off the listed price.
This is great if you’re going to a big chain like Haven, which offers discounts through schemes like the Blue Light Card or Kids Pass.
Last year we visited four holiday parks near Great Yarmouth and saved about £60 using discount codes.
But the best saving was booking through the Sun Holidays: Club £9.50 for a term-time midweek at Parkdean Resorts Cherry Tree, which cost about £40 for a caravan for four nights.
Another way we really kept our holiday budget low last year was by offering to pet-sit for family and friends in return for staying in their house while they were away.
We enjoyed a little city break to Norwich over the August bank holiday, looking after a dog for a couple of nights.
My boys enjoyed having a pet to fuss, as we don’t have one at home, and it was lovely to be surrounded by homely touches instead of staying in a holiday let that only has the bare basics when it comes to kitchen utensils, towels and the like.
We got to explore the city and were also near enough to the coast to spend time at the beach in the sunshine.
My final tip to keep costs low would be to look at swapping hotels for hostels.
We had some cheap-as-chips stays at hostels across the UK last year, including three nights at Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland at Easter for less than £50 a night for a family room.
The beauty of choosing a hostel rather than a hotel is that you’ll probably have access to a self-catering kitchen and communal areas, so you can save money on feeding the family rather than eating out.
And there’s often people hanging out who are up for a chat, so you can make new friends and get travel trips from other guests.
If you want to mix it up, you could take a big foreign holiday one year and then lots of shorter UK breaks the next.
That way you get the best of both worlds on a budget that works for you.
Here’s another way I’ve saved money when visiting National Trust properties.
Love Island’s Ronnie Vint reveals ‘exact moment’ he KNEW Harriett was entering All Stars – despite her blocking him
LOVE Island’s Ronnie Vint has revealed the ‘exact moment’ he knew Harriett Blackmore was heading into the All Stars villa – despite her blocking him.
Ronnie, 28, and Harriett, 24, recently rekindled their romance on ITV2‘s Love Island: All Stars when they decided to give things another go after splitting in 2024.
Narrowly missing out on making it to the final, the couple were axed just days before Casey O’Gorman and Gabby Allen won the show.
But the pair have remained strong since returning home.
In a joint appearance on the So Wrong It’s Right with Olivia Attwood podcast, Ronnie shared the exact moment he had a feeling something was about to unfold.
Reflecting on the show’s kissing challenge, which saw the pair come face-to-face once more, he said: “I had a little bit of a feeling that something was going on.
“And then do you know what it was? I was counting all the girls. So like one, I think it was like, yeah, to six, so buzzing.”
But as the count continued, something seemed off.
“Get to seven, I was like, oh no. But yeah, obviously I was last. And then they were like, we’re going to do one more song just for like the whatever, the clips or whatever. And then it lasted forever.”
It wasn’t until a shadow appeared beneath him that the penny dropped.
Ronnie continued: “And then I like half see a shadow underneath. And then I was like, oh no, someone else.
“And then, yeah, the minute we kissed, I was like, that’s Harriet.”
And when asked if he knew for sure it was Harriett, Ronnie was certain.
“I knew straight away,” he confirmed.
Before the couple jetted back to England following the All Stars final, fans worried that they might have been heading for splitsville.
One fan thought Harriett looked a little sad during the grand finale.
Taking to Reddit the fan wrote: “Harriett looks so upset [during the All Stars final] and I think it’s because she’d made a deal with herself to get back with Ronnie just to win because she was SO adamant she wasn’t coming in for that and I think now she’s thinking ‘it was all for nothing.’
“I expect a split soon because she wouldn’t close herself off for ages.
“[She] was still saying she’d entertain new people AFTER he said he loved her, and it was always Ronnie saying, ‘Oh well we got each other, I come in and got what I wanted.’
“But Harriett never said the same…..”
Love Island All Stars final voting percentages revealed
Gabby Allen and Casey O’Gorman scored 33.37% of the votes, while Grace Jackson and Luca Bish came in just behind them with 30.38%.
Ekin-Su Cülcüloglu and Curtis Pritchard got 21.74%, Catherine Agbaje and Omar Nyame landed 8.14% and Elma Pazar and Sammy Root ended up with 6.36%.
Who is Freddie Osbourne? Meet the youngest Crufts entrant and best pal Penny the smooth fox terrier
PRECOCIOUS six-year-old Freddie Osborne is the youngest ever entrant in the history of the world’s most prestigious dog show.
The record-breaker and his best friend Penny will be hoping to take home Best in Show at Crufts 2025.
Who is Freddie Osborne?
Freddie Osborne, a youngster from Bobbington, Staffordshire, has captured the spotlight as the youngest entrant in Crufts 2025 — and in the competition’s entire history.
He’s been given time off school to compete at the competition held at Birmingham’s NEC.
Freddie was just five when he and Penny qualified for Crufts at the first time of asking.
‘Two weeks old’
His mum Kimberley said: “He was only two weeks old when he first came to Crufts with us and he has been going ever since.
“He’s always helped us with our dogs but this will be the first time he has competed there.”
Freddie and Penny are tipped to be a stars of terrier and hound day.
Freddie added: “I love dog shows and I love Penny because she’s not just my dog, she’s my best friend.
“I am really looking forward to being with her in the arena.
“At home she likes to lick you, sit on your lap and cuddles. I like going for walks with her as they are fun and gets you fresh air.
“But I like doing the dog shows and getting prizes and rosettes.”
Freddie was two weeks old when he first went to Crufts with his parents, who breed smooth fox terriers.
Journey to Crufts
Freddie’s journey to Crufts is a testament to his hard work and the special bond he shares with Penny.
Smooth fox terriers are famed for their intelligence, energy and affectionate nature.
Freddie’s story has already drawn significant attention.
His mother, Kimberley Osborne, shared that Channel 4 producers have expressed interest in featuring him during their Crufts coverage.
As Crufts 2025 unfolds from between March 6 to 9 at the NEC Birmingham, Freddie and Penny are already one of its standout stories.
Their journey reminds us that passion knows no age limit and that even the youngest competitors can inspire others to pursue their dreams.
Clare Balding and co-presenter Radzi Chinyanganya will keep us up to date with how Freddie and Penny progress in the competition.
Paralympic champion Ellie Simmonds and former professional rugby player Ed Jackson will also be reporting on the inspirational duo.
The townhouse with ‘fantastic potential’ on Irish market for €125k – and it’s in heart of busy area
TAKE a look at the bargain townhouse on the Irish market for just €125,000 – and it has “fantastic potential”.
The “fine” home on Main Street, Daingean, Offaly is looking for a new owner.
It comes with a kitchen, two sitting rooms, four bedrooms and a bathroom.
The pad needs to be refurbished, allowing the buyer to “put their own stamp” on it.
The listing on MyHome.ie reads: “Attention, first-time buyers, property investors, and developers.”
“Situated in the town of Daingean, County Offaly, this residential investment opportunity offers fantastic potential to anyone looking to get on the property ladder and develop a very nice townhouse for themselves.”
“Large garden with very good access to another road.
“It may qualify for the vacant house grant, subject to the usual planning application and conditions.
“This spacious house needs refurbishment and gives the new owner the opportunity of putting their own stamp on their new home.”
The property is exempt from a BER certificate.
Meanwhile, another home ideal for first-time buyers is on sale for €225k.
This stunning property is located in Navan town, Co Meath.
This mid-terrace home is a three-bedroom, two-bathroom house that has been maintained in fantastic condition by its current owners.
It is currently available for viewings.
The house listing reads: “Quillsen is delighted to present to the market this extended three-bedroom residential property located on Mellows Terrace with rear access for vehicles.”
“An early inspection of this property is highly recommended by the selling agent.”
It includes a substantial modern kitchen with access to the rear garden and is perfect for first-time buyers.
This stunning kitchen has mosaic tiled flooring and is fully fitted with grey cabinets, an oven, and a dishwasher.
Double-glazed windows located around the kitchen and dining area allow plenty of natural light to enter the house.
The family home is in an excellent location, with cafes, restaurants, public transport and a host of other amenities nearby.
Along with being a short walk from Navan town centre, Dublin and Dundalk are each within an hour’s drive of this fabulous property.
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I was groomed by my teacher and ended up moving in with her – then she caught me with her husband
A WOMAN revealed how her teacher groomed her before eventually moving her into her home.
Things took an even stranger turn for Brooke when she began an affair with the older woman’s husband.
Speaking on the We’re All Insane podcast, Brooke shared the strange story, which began when she was placed in a special education class.
The young woman explained how both her parents were alcoholics and addicts, leading to what she described as a “traumatising and tumultuous childhood”.
After her dad died when she was a teen, Brooke said she felt “angry” and began acting out in school.
She began cursing at teachers and skipping class to smoke in the bathrooms.
At the age of 16, she was pulled from a Spanish class that she was failing and placed with an “emotional support teacher”.
Brooke recalled hearing that the teacher, who she came to know as Tammy, was a “bit of a b***h”.
However, she described the then 28-year-old as “very welcoming” and “cool”.
Soon, she found herself deliberately having more “emotional outbursts” because she wanted to spend more time with Tammy.
“I instantly loved her, I felt seen, someone was giving me attention,” she said.
Tammy would text her during class, look the other way when she spotted her with cigarettes, and even took her to an overeaters anonymous meeting, where they made fun of the other women.
When another teacher became aware of their extra-curricular time together, Tammy warned Brooke to keep their “friendship” a secret.
“I knew that this was inappropriate but I just didn’t care, I was 16 and somebody was paying attention to me,” she said.
Tammy even gave her the code to a staff entrance, allowing her to sneak out of the school whenever she wanted.
Brooke began babysitting her teacher’s two daughters and would even spend the night at her house.
During her final year of school, she “struggled” with her relationship with her mum and confided in a friend in the school hallway.
What is grooming and where to get help?
What is grooming?
According to the Metropolitan Police, “Grooming is when a person builds a relationship with a child, young person or an adult who’s at risk so they can abuse them and manipulate them into doing things.
“The abuse is usually sexual or financial, but it can also include other illegal acts.”
Types of grooming
Grooming can take place online or in person and it can happen over a short or long period of time – from days to years.
- Online and through social media
- In person
Signs of grooming
- Are they being secretive about how they’re spending their time?
- Do they have an older boyfriend or girlfriend?
- Do they have money or new things like clothes and mobile phones that they can’t or won’t explain?
- Are they drinking or taking drugs?
- Are they spending more or less time than usual online or on their devices?
- Do they seem upset or withdrawn?
- Are they using sexual language you wouldn’t expect them to know?
- Are they spending more time away from home or going missing for periods of time?
A person won’t know they’re being groomed, they will trust their abuser who is giving them lots of attention and gifts. Also, their groomer may have warned them not to talk to anyone about it.
How to get help and support
Grooming is an offence. If you suspect a person is being groomed, even if you’re not sure, please tell someone.
Is someone about to be attacked or hurt? Is a crime taking place right now? If yes, call 999 and ask for the police.
If it isn’t an emergency you can report grooming to the police on 101.
Charities and agencies:
Tammy overheard and reported Brooke’s mum to child protective services, causing more friction in their home.
“I think my mum felt like she was losing me to this woman,” she recalled.
Eventually, Brooke made the decision to move in with her aunt, who lived a short distance from Tammy.
She would spend most of her time at the older woman’s house, minding her kids and falling asleep on the couch together.
It was Brooke’s aunt who warned her not to go to Tammy’s house in leggings and T-shirt as it would be inappropriate in front of her husband, Scott, then 30.
“My gosh, if that wasn’t a vision into the future,” said Brooke.
She described how she became dependent on her friendship with Tammy, even improving her attendance and punctuality at school to spend more time with her.
“I felt very obsessed with her, I was like I want to hang out with this person or text her as much as I can, and find any reason to be around her and she seemed to eat that up,” she explained.
Tammy would do Brooke’s maths homework for her and slip her answers during tests.
After graduation, Tammy invited her former student to live with her family while she attended a local college.
I remember their oldest daughter, she was four at the time, was walking up the stairs and he throws covers over me and runs out the door.
Brooke
Tammy and Scott would let their “live-in nanny” drink despite being underage, and even got her to take photos of them while they posed naked on their frozen pool.
Brooke recalled how she found their behaviour “funny” but “a little strange”.
After snooping on their computer, she realised the couple were into swinging with their friends.
On one occasion, Tammy even had Brooke send a picture of her boobs to Scott.
She soon developed a close relationship with the older man, “trauma bonding” over losing their dads at a young age.
One day, while Brooke was texting him about a sporting rivalry, she jokingly told him to “suck it”.
When Scott replied “suck what?” she soon realised he was flirting with her.
The two started an affair, which lasted for a total of six weeks before they were caught.
While the pair didn’t have “full on sex”, they would sneak into Scott and Tammy’s bed and “mess around” whenever they got the chance.
“I remember their oldest daughter, she was four at the time, was walking up the stairs and he throws covers over me and runs out the door,” Brooke said as she recalled one incident.
She described how Tammy would often leave for the weekend, leaving her to act as her replacement.
Scott would tell her that he loved how she was so like his wife, and would share his eagerness to “take advantage” of her.
Feeling a distance growing between her and Tammy, Brooke said that she came to think that the “closest I can get to her is him”.
However, one day Brooke’s “entire world exploded” when Tammy intercepted a text that was meant for Scott.
She recalled how she didn’t want to hurt her, describing how she “loved her more than anybody”.
Tammy confronted her, asking her: “How dare you? After everything I’ve done for you, how dare you?”
She demanded Brooke move out immediately but eventually the couple reached out and tried to set up an open relationship.
After trying it for a short while, Brooke decided to call it quits and went no contact with both Tammy and Scott.