Richard Madeley has responded to a reader query in which a couple are struggling to keep their wedding guest count within the limits set by their chosen venue. The couple had sent out invitations earlier in the year and had a 100% yes response, so have been left with trying to create an even-handed algorithm that does not offend friends and family but also ensures they can have your dream day at their dream venue. Although the couple had asked for advice on alrogithms, Madeley's response was based around a more personal equation. He urged the couple to consider wether they cared about the special people or special places more. Madeley said it was obvious from their letter that they could not have both but he suggested they find a larger venue to accommodate their guests instead of sacrificing people to accommodate the venue. Ultimately, Madeley's thinking is that friends should matter more than special places.
Mr & Mrs Smith, the boutique hotel booking platform, has been sold to US hotel firm Hyatt for £53m ($70m). The UK-based business was founded 17 years ago by Tamara and James Lohan and began life as a guidebook, featuring hotels with a focus on romance and sensuality. The company now has more than 1.5 million members and some 1,200 partner hotels. The Lohans will stay on as CEO and chief creative officer respectively.
Manager Dean Smith has backed Jonny Evans to play a key role in Leicester City’s fight to avoid Premier League relegation, with the defender in contention for starting a second consecutive match. The Irish centre-back played in in the 3-0 loss to Liverpool, his first start in the league for seven months. Smith has praised Evans, who he believes has commitment and experience that has been missed by the Foxes. Leicester must win away to Newcastle on 7 May to maintain their hopes of beating the drop.
The retrospective exhibition of British photographer, Tom Wood, in the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, promises to provide some rare views of Britain dating back over the past half century. Wood’s work: a mix of portrait, still-life and landscape photography, aims to catch the emotions of real life in his pictures. From young women snapped drinking juice under the crumbling sign for a gentlemen’s lavatory, to working men posing in industrial work settings, Wood’s photography is both visually stark and poignant. His work capitalises on a personal connection with his sitters, based on repeated visits to specific locations. Indeed, Wood’s photography has been a labour of “sheer love”, as he only ever received a letter from HM Revenue & Customs telling him: “we suggest this is a hobby”. Wood’s “Sheffield” collection was published as a book in 1989, followed later by his seminal “All Zones off Peak” series of pictures.
Drew Pritchard, the star of Salvage Hunters, has slimmed down his dealer's business model to only having three employees and the warehouse. His famously beautiful shop on Conwy High Street is gone. Pritchard is sharing everything he has learnt from being in business for nearly 30 years, in his book How Not to Be an Antiques Dealer, which covers an overview of what the business is all about. He advises new antiques dealers to focus on the nuts and bolts of how money is made in the trade, saying: “A shop is a very expensive gilded anchor”. The world of antiques is not as romantic as one might imagine. It is a world of early starts, long journeys and no-nonsense deals. Pritchard's remarkable success, and the televisual fame that has accompanied it, have inspired many to try their hand at what he does. “I have a lot of imitators – and some of them are now doing Drew Pritchard better than me.”
Manchester City has won the Premier League yet again, seeing off Arsenal's eight-point lead to clinch the title. City won 11 Premier League matches in a row and are unbeaten in their last 23 across all competitions. They also have a chance to win the FA Cup and Champions League finals, securing a treble. The club will be lifting the Premier League trophy for the third successive year and the fifth time in the past six seasons. Erling Haaland was key to City's success and set a new Premier League record with 36 goals. Players and manager alike praised their fans, who have supported them throughout the season.
The Dallas Stars have shown an amazing ability in the NHL playoffs to respond to early adversity, including Friday night’s 4-3 defeat to the Vegas Golden Knights. The Stars have opened all three playoff series with an overtime loss and have come back to win the other two series following similar situations. Although the other two ended positively, the Stars need to win overtime games if they want to advance in the playoffs. The teams meet again in Game 2 on Sunday in Las Vegas.
Dr Stephen Phillips, an expert in koala ecology who has worked in the field for 40 years, has warned that koalas in Australia are at risk of extinction due to a combination of threats including fire frequency, intensity and the effects of climate change. Thousands of koalas were lost in the 2019 bushfires, and climate modellers predict it will happen again as the likelihood of an El Nino next year increases. A moratorium on logging into wildlife habitats is essential to save the remaining populations of koalas from extinction, according to Phillips. He also calls for the most aggressive and proactive measures for managing fires and the compartmentalising of areas of natural habitat so they cannot be lost.
Phillips is not confident that the current state of Australian politics will be helpful for koalas. Conservative governments tend to be better for the economy, whilst left-of-centre governments are better for the environment, according to him. However, he is cynical about the potential effectiveness of the current Threatened Species Action Plan. In the NSW mid north coast, koala habitats in the Pine Creek State Forest are under threat from logging. Phillips calls for action by identifying the remaining populations and processes affecting populations, and a prohibition of logging of key food tree species. The timber industry, Phillips warns, is demonstrably unsustainable and has been for decades.
Opinion pieces about the UK's National Conservatism conference suggest some politicians are turning away from the hard work of searching for solutions that the country needs and instead are retreating to ideological comfort zones. In contrast, Labour Party leader Ed Miliband says his party has developed an industrial strategy to win the race for good jobs and cheaper energy and planning proposals to enable home ownership, while also making work pay through labour market reform. The party is now launching a national mission to reform the NHS, which ranges from moving care closer to home to putting prevention first across society.
Chef Giorgio Locatelli, who owns two Michelin-starred restaurant Locanda Locatelli, has said he has never become overdrawn and has never gone into debt in a personal bank account. Locatelli credited his financial discipline to his upbringing in northern Italy, where his parents only spent money if they had cash in hand. His parents built a home, while his grandfather invested in a hotel and his uncle built a second. The family all worked together at the hotel, with his mum overseeing the finances. Locatelli’s first paid job was to help out in his aunt’s restaurant, and after working in other restaurants, he landed a job at The Savoy hotel, earning £76 a week.
Australian cyclist Michael Matthews has overcome a 2.5 cm quadriceps tear, torn knee and sprained ankle to win a stage at this year’s Giro d’Italia. Matthews is known for his ability to keep up with major races, and has only experienced one season without a victory since turning professional in 2011. At 32-years-old, Matthews is still competing at the top of the sport. He has said that “everything gets harder” when riders turn professional, as major competitors continue to enter the sport with new training methods.
English football club Newcastle is inching closer to qualification for the Champions League with midfielder Callum Wilson scoring his 18th goal of the season. Magpies coach Eddie Howe praised Wilson's performance, noting this is "probably…the best level I’ve ever seen him at," and highlighted the striker's intensive work rate and tactical understanding. Newcastle's Thursday night 4-1 victory over Brighton puts the club in a strong position ahead of its Monday match against Leicester. However, although Newcastle winning the game puts them one step closer to qualification, should Tottenham overcome Leicester, Newcastle will realistically need to win 5-0 to qualify.
Chef Giorgio Locatelli, who owns two Michelin-starred restaurant Locanda Locatelli, has said he has never become overdrawn and has never gone into debt in a personal bank account. Locatelli credited his financial discipline to his upbringing in northern Italy, where his parents only spent money if they had cash in hand. His parents built a home, while his grandfather invested in a hotel and his uncle built a second. The family all worked together at the hotel, with his mum overseeing the finances. Locatelli’s first paid job was to help out in his aunt’s restaurant, and after working in other restaurants, he landed a job at The Savoy hotel, earning £76 a week.
‘An instinctive action.’ Alistair Brownlee relives one of the most incredible moments in sports
CNN
23-05-21 11:41
Alistair Brownlee, a British triathlete and double Olympic gold medallist, has opened up to CNN about the viral moment in 2016 when his brother, Jonny, was minutes from winning the world championship, but collapsed due to heat exhaustion at the triathlon finale in Mexico. Instead of winning the race, Alistair picked up his sibling and took him over the finish line in second place before ensuring his own place on the podium. Alistair said he has been asked about the incident "too often". Both brothers are now involved in professional triathlon and continue to compete at the highest level.
Sir Mo Farah has continued his farewell with an eighth-placed finish in the Great Manchester Run 10K. Meanwhile, the four-time Olympic and six-time world champion confirmed he's setting his sights on the Great North Run. The event he won six times from 2014 to 2019 is to be his last race before retirement. Farah, who is now 40 years old, has said he's looking forward to spending time with his family and will remain involved in athletics by giving back to the younger generation.
Manchester City have been crowned Premier League champions for a third successive season, following Arsenal's 1-0 defeat by Nottingham Forest. The title was confirmed with three games to go, with Manchester United having to avoid defeat against Liverpool on 13 May to prevent manager Pep Guardiola's side winning the trophy. Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan credited the team's collective effort, saying the talented squad, backroom staff and others working throughout the football club should be thanked for their hard work in helping the players be successful.
Manchester City could earn three trophies in the coming weeks as they have already secured the Premier League title and will now compete in the FA Cup final against Manchester United and the Champions League final against Inter Milan. Defender John Stones says that the team has to maintain its momentum and hunger for further success. “We know what’s ahead of us now and that we can try and make some more history," he added. Stones has played an instrumental role this season, where he has been used in a hybrid defence-midfield position.
James Butler has signed a two-year deal with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Canadian Football League, following a 1,060-yard season with the BC Lions. The move gives Hamilton a 1,000-yard rusher for the first time since DeAndra'Cobb ran for at least 1,000 yards in 2009 and 2010. Despite being surprised to learn a rusher had not passed 1,000 yards since 2010, Butler is looking ahead to giving his best for the team and hopes to help win as many games as possibly in the upcoming season.
When travelling with an elderly parent, there comes a point where you swap roles and you become the caregiver. Travel writer Sue Williams explains in an article for Traveller Daily how as a kid, parents “look after everything for you, from the journey, to the hotel, to the experiences to the meals”. However, as an adult, it is the opposite. Planning ahead and providing alternatives to strenuous activities are vital in order to ensure everyone feels included and able to participate. Williams offers numerous examples of her mother’s adventures including travelling on a boat on the Ganges and attending the famous Bolshoi Ballet. Williams advises against joining a coach tour, as the daily travelling and hotel changes will be too tiring and recommends cruises as they offer varied entertainment, but can also give you time to yourselves. Another warning is to avoid anything with too many stairs and no handrails.
The Miami Heat are slight favourites to close out the Eastern Conference finals against the Boston Celtics at home on Tuesday, according to Jordan Horrobin, a sports betting writer for NorthStar Bets. Horrobin has backed the Heat to win the second half as his best bet, pointing out they are 6-0 at home and have gone 5-0-1 in the second half of their play-off games. Miami's average margin of victory in the second half of home games is 6.3 points and it has covered a +7 spread in 12 of 14 play-off games.
