Donald Trump arrives in Alabama for MASSIVE Crimson Tide-Georgia Bulldogs game as added security leads to brutally long lines for fans
Paris Jackson stuns in a quirky knit crop jumper and semi-sheer skirt as she attends the Ann Demeulemeester runway show at Paris Fashion Week
Who Would Have Been The Better Sith In Star Wars, Luke Skywalker Or Obi-Wan Kenobi?
Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker are easily two of the most significant Jedi in Star Wars, but who would have made the better Sith? The Jedi have been central figures throughout Star Wars movies and TV shows, and that began with Obi-Wan and Luke in A New Hope. As two of the earliest examples of …
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Expert reveals why Bobrisky was seperated from other inmates
Inmates’ rights activist and Director General of the Prison Rehabilitation Mission, Bishop Kayode Williams have explained the reasons behind the decision to separate controversial crossdresser Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, from other inmates at the correctional facility, while dismissing rumors of a special VIP section. He disclosed this on Arise TV’s The Morning Show …
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FIFA 2025 World Cup adds Rose Bowl Stadium to list of venues
The Rose Bowl announced it will be one of the 12 stadiums to host the FIFA World Cup in 2025. FIFA confirmed the other 11 United States stadiums will include Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta), Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte), TQL Stadium (Cincinnati), Hard Rock Stadium (Miami), GEODIS Park (Nashville), Camping World Stadium (Orlando), Inter&Co Stadium (Orlando), [...]
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I went to Spain’s Golden Coast – with 50 miles of beaches and huge family resorts
SPAIN’S Costa Daurada simply translates as the Golden Coast.
It’s named after the colour of the sand when the sun shines along its 50 miles of Mediterranean beaches, running south- west from Barcelona.
I hadn’t taken the time to explain its meaning to my children while sitting in the departures lounge at Stansted Airport.
But it was the first that thing they exclaimed as they dived into the surf three hours later.
“Daddy, there’s gold in the water!”
They weren’t wrong. Tiny grains of sand floating in the crystal-clear sea shone like a golden twinkling disco ball suspended in the sun’s rays.
My two grew up paddling in the familiar dark-grey murk of the North Sea.
So they were certainly thrilled to be snorkelling in 34C sunshine off Platja dels Pilans.
The beach was just a ten-minute walk from our Eurocamp holiday home at the Playa Montroig Resort, in Miami Platja. And that was just as stunning.
Our Ultimate lodge slept six in comfort — with efficient air-conditioning that came into its own on during our scorching summer holiday.
Outside, comfy patio furniture on the shaded decking was perfect for chilling at any time of day, and the dining table and chairs were great for al-fresco meals.
The beachside resort is a 20-minute drive from Reus Airport, and around an hour from Barcelona.
And it lives up to its 5H rating, with immaculate grounds, three restaurants, a beach bar and round-the-clock entertainment for both kids and grown-ups.
On our first night, a magician sawed his glamorous assistant in half to the wonder of watching children.
The same stage hosted intense-looking exercise classes in the mornings, which were definitely not for the hungover.
And by the afternoon it had turned into a kid-friendly Ibiza foam party with huge cannons coating the dancing crowds in clouds of bubbles.
Gigs on the beach, fireworks, and a swimming pool complex with triple-flume action only added to the fun.
The poshest restaurant on site was the Espai Grill, which offered a full three courses of prime meats, with courtyard entertainment from a Beatles tribute band.
Unfussy and simple
Mid-tier was the Terrassa Restaurant, which served traditional Spanish fare and cold lagers, just a stone’s throw from the main square.
Our favourite was the Tucanamar beach bar.
Unfussy and simple, fresh fish and meat were grilled here over woodsmoke and washed down with copious Del Boy cocktails.
You can’t beat tapas and an ice-cold mojito while overlooking the waves with sand at your feet.
There was a bakery for morning baguette runs, and a decent-sized supermarket which offered the wonderful European adventures of 15 types of chocolate spread and tinned olives.
Never has the gulf between a British booze aisle, and alcohol on the Continent, been so vast.
You could get three bottles of tip-top rioja and a slab of beers for the price of a petrol station chardonnay back home.
For a spot of offsite culture, we headed to the town of Montroig del Camp, which was famed as the rural retreat of the late Catalan painter and surrealist icon Joan Miro.
He began his painting career here at his parents’ farmhouse retreat and the landscape was the inspiration for some of his most famous works.
Montroig del Camp is overlooked by the remarkable 13th-century hermitage of Our Lady of the Rock, which is itself topped by the 19th-century Chapel of Sant Ramon.
Perched on top of a column of eroded red rock, it defies physics while also offering panoramic views all the way to the coast.
Wildlife and waterfalls
Thankfully, you can park at the top before clambering up to the chapel.
We then took the short drive to Cambrils to see the beautiful botanical gardens at Parc Sama.
It’s like a National Trust stately-home experience parachuted into the Med.
The wonderful 35-acre grounds are packed with wildlife and waterfalls.
You can feed the deer and marvel at the terrapins in the lake where fish will nibble your fingertips.
But it’s the peacocks that are the star of the show.
Chicks beside showboating grown-ups, and even their rare white- feathered cousins, strut among the tourists.
The coastal capital is Tarragona, home to the ruins of a magnificent Roman amphitheatre and an amazing 12th century Cathedral.
But it’s human structures that are the modern marvel — the city hosts the Castells competition, the world’s largest human tower contest.
The gravity-defying, centuries-old Catalan tradition sees incredible towers created from the crowds which stand up to 40ft high.
A wonderful life-size city centre-statue pays soaring tribute to their efforts.
There’s no doubt that the Costa Daurada, with all its sun-soaked family fun and Catalonian culture, delivers a gold-star break.
GO: Costa Daurada
GETTING / STAYING THERE: Seven nights’ self-catering in an Ultimate three-bed holiday home sleeping six at Playa Montroig, in Miami Platja in October half term is from £525 in total, arriving October 26.
Flights or ferries can be booked separately.
A seven-night trip in the Easter holidays next year is from £730 in total.
See eurocamp.co.uk.com.
Spanish city with £15 flights from the UK has cheap sangria jugs and new celebrity attraction
ROBBIE WILLIAMS is in Barcelona with the message, “Let Me Entertain You” – but he’s not singing.
Earlier this summer, he opened his art exhibition in the city more used to displaying masterpieces by Gaudi, Picasso and Dali.
Here’s how to catch Robbie’s vibrant, weird and wonderful works while enjoying a short break in this cosmopolitan, colourful and creative Catalonian capital.
WHY SHOULD I GO?
TO see the craziest church ever, the stunning 18-tower Sagrada Familia, designed by Antoni Gaudi.
He put his stamp on Barcelona and his architectural wonders are littered around this friendly city by the Med in northern Spain.
Attractions include museums for all the family, galleries, parks, beaches, all-budget shopping, markets, a zoo, port and aquarium.
There are regular concerts at Estadi Olimpic, where I saw Bruce Springsteen boss the stage for three hours, while football fans can tour FC Barcelona’s Camp Nou where there’s a “Messi Space”, dedicated to the footie great Lionel.
Flamenco shows, operas, theatres and let’s not forget, tapas and sangria are all part of Barcelona’s captivating charm.
STREETS MADE FOR WALKING?
YES, but to save time getting between major attractions, the hop-on, hop-off Bus Turistic is brilliant.
Two routes cost £30 a day for an adult and £40 for two days, while kids are half price.
Or, buy a multi-day metro pass which includes the trams and buses — I had three days for £22.
Stroll down the famous La Rambla with cafes, restaurants and performers and through the narrow, cobbled streets and squares in the Gothic Quarter.
Get panoramic views of the city from Park Guell, where the fabulous gardens are littered with colourful mosaics and sculptures — all down to that man Gaudi again.
For more views, take the cable car up to Parc Montjuic, and wander through the castle dating to 1640.
You can also rent an e-bike — there’s a 125-mile network of cycle lanes.
ANYTHING FOR BUCKET LIST?
AVOID queues and book a fun tour of Sagrada Familia, which after 142 years is still not finished.
But our City Experiences’ guide has news, it will be completed by 2026 to celebrate the centenary of Gaudi’s death.
The huge tower, dedicated to Jesus, will be completed with a 56ft cross that will make it the tallest cathedral in the world.
Marvel at the colourful carvings from religious figures to animals and fruit, columns shaped like trees and spectacular stained-glass windows.
Robbie Williams is in good company at the Moco museum, there’s a few works by Banksy and Andy Warhol.
The singer’s Confessions of A Crowded Mind, featuring 17 originals about mental health, runs until November 20 (from €12.95 per adult and €7.95 per child, see mocomuseum.com).
Add to the list the best dark chocolate ever from one of Torrons Vicens’ many confectionary shops dotted around the city.
WHERE SHOULD I EAT?
PLACA Reial in the Gothic quarter, close to La Rambla is fringed by restaurants and bars.
And nearby is Aguelo Taberna serving fantastic paella, fish and steak.
Sit overlooking the city at Les Cascades if visiting the National Art Museum or Olympic stadium and eat pizza, fried chicken, chips and free popcorn.
Of course, you’ll find decent tapas joints everywhere.
I FANCY A DRINK…
YOU are in the right place for cheap coffee, beer and wine.
“You’ve got to try my dad’s sangria. It’s the best,” said the welcoming waitress at Gaudi Gelats on Avda Gaudi.
She was right, and at £5 for a jug, you can’t go wrong.
Head for the lively George Payne Irish pub for a pint from £5 or sip a cocktail on a rooftop bar such as La Dolce Vitae at the Majestic Hotel.
WHERE SHOULD I STAY?
CENTRAL hotels are expensive, so opt for the modern and clean Travelodge Barcelona Fira, just a few stops away on the metro.
The 83 rooms have all you need for a city break — comfy beds, good showers, tea and coffee-making facilities, TV and free wi-fi.
The breakfast buffet costs just £9, there’s a 24-hour bar, lunch, dinner and snack service too and the staff are superbly friendly and helpful.
GO: Barcelona
GETTING THERE: Ryanair flies to Barcelona from Luton, Manchester and Birmingham from £14.99 each way.
See ryanair.com.
STAYING THERE: A double room at Travelodge Fira cost from £60 per night.
See travelodge.es.
OUT & ABOUT: For tours including La Sagrada Familia, see cityexperiences.com.
For city information, see visitbarcelona.com and catalunya.com.
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Are you tired all the time? The 7 pillars of rest you need to re-energise and feel wide awake
HOW did you sleep last night?
One in eight adults in the UK admit to feeling tired all the time, according to a survey by YouGov.
Brain fog, body aches, headaches and fatigue are all common symptoms of chronic tiredness.
The logical reason is you have not had enough sleep. But the alternative answer is you are not rested.
The term “seven pillars of rest” was coined by Dr Saundra Dalton-Smith, author of Sacred Rest – the idea being that to be truly restored, you need physical, mental, creative, sensory, spiritual, emotional and social rest.
Here’s how you can achieve all seven types…
Physical Rest
Physical rest is either passive (sleeping) or active (restorative activities that help improve circulation and flexibility, such as yoga or massage).
Without enough sleep, we are at risk of disorders such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and more.
Meanwhile, active rest can help relieve the body of physical stress, such as muscle tension.
Try to loosen your body when you can to help you sleep better, such as by stretching before bed or throughout the day.
“Look at the ergonomics of your workstation – how your chair and computer are set up, and how this can affect your posture,” says Dr Dalton-Smith.
Mental Rest
In her TED Talk, Dr Dalton-Smith describes an office worker who needs mental rest – they sleep for seven hours a night, but come to work with a huge coffee, are irritable, easily distracted and going through the motions to get their pay cheque.
At night, they struggle to switch off.
Dr Dalton-Smith says this person needs to take short breaks throughout the day to slow the mind.
“Mental rest techniques can include keeping a notepad by your bed to jot down nagging thoughts,” she says.
Psychotherapist Abby Rawlinson, author of Reclaiming You, adds: “Meditation and time away from technology can quiet the mental noise.”
Sensory Rest
A traffic jam, background conversations or bright office lights can lead to sensory overload, which is when the brain struggles to process the volume of information coming in from the five senses.
“People who need sensory rest may find that they feel good at the beginning of the day, but can’t understand why at the end of the day they are so irritable,” says Abby.
Some people are more susceptible, such as those with ADHD.
“Something as simple as closing your eyes for a few moments can help with this,” says Dr Dalton-Smith.
“It’s also a good idea to unplug from your electronics at the end of each day.”
Creative Rest
Imagine taking in a beautiful landscape, such as the beach or rolling mountains.
This is creative rest, which reawakens the childlike awe and wonder inside us.
Dr Dalton-Smith says: “You can’t spend 40 hours a week staring at beige walls and expect to feel passionate about anything or come up with ideas.”
She suggests making your workspace inspiring, with artwork or plants, for example.
Squeeze a museum visit into your lunch break, or stroll around a food market and eat something new.
“Creative rest involves exposing yourself to inspiring environments without feeling the need to produce a creation,” Abby says.
Emotional Rest
Do you feel the need to be nice or cheery to others but, in the process, fail to put your own emotions first, and often feel under-appreciated?
You may need more emotional rest, which is the “freedom to authentically express feelings and eliminate people-pleasing behaviours”.
Emotionally rested people would answer the question: “How are you?” with a truthful answer, rather than just saying what people want to hear, says Dr Dalton-Smith.
READ MORE HEALTH STORIES
Lean on those you trust and don’t hide your feelings.
If it feels daunting to be vulnerable, start by writing down how you feel.
Learn to say “no”, even if it leads to confrontation.
Social Rest
Social rest is closely linked to emotional rest and requires the wisdom to differentiate relationships that revive us from those that exhaust us.
“Research suggests we have mirror neurons that allow us to receive the emotional information of others,” explains Dr Dalton-Smith.
“So, if you surround yourself with negative people, you will soon start feeling like them.
“Surround yourself with positive and supportive people.
“Make time for friends who want nothing more than to be in your presence.”
Dr Dalton-Smith also recommends prioritising face-to-face socialising over virtual.
Spiritual Rest
Have you been feeling a lack of purpose, wondering if there is more to life or perhaps if you have made the right choices?
You may be in need of spiritual rest, which is “to have a deep sense of belonging, love, acceptance and purpose,” says Dr Dalton-Smith.
“It might mean practising your religion or engaging with something that gives you a sense of purpose, whether through community or work, where you feel like what you do matters,” Abby explains.
Alternatively, try yoga or a meditation class, or spend time outdoors in nature, either by going on a long walk, or just sitting in your garden listening to the birds.
- Sacred Rest by Dr Saundra Dalton-Smith (£14.99, Faith Words) and Reclaiming You by Abby Rawlinson (£16.99, Ebury Press) are out now
Clemson University to open arena, outdoor wellness center for area residents after Hurricane Helene
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Clemson University is opening its basketball arena and its outdoor recreational facility Sunday for area residents who need a respite from the destruction left behind by Hurricane Helene. The school said that Littlejohn Coliseum and its outdoor fitness and wellness complex will be available to people from 10 a.m. to 4
The post Clemson University to open arena, outdoor wellness center for area residents after Hurricane Helene appeared first on KYMA.