The Regiment left the east coast on the night of 4/5th June for the West India Docks in London.
On arrival I knew that my home was just a few miles away on the other side of the River Thames. I realised that by scrambling over the dock wall I might be able to return home to see Helen before embarking for France, so I climbed over the wall and landed in the garden of a small house.
The woman who was living there said: ‘Come through, and when you come back I’ll let you back in to the garden’.
I ran all the way through the pedestrian tunnel under the Thames and managed to reach home, only to find an empty house – my wife and her mother had gone to the cinema! Fortunately they returned just before I had to make the return journey, where I once again scrambled over the dock wall. Fortunately I had not been misssed – very lucky!
We embarked on 7th June aboard the SS Fort McPherson and sailed down the Thames Estuary to a salute of hooters and sirens.
On the way over to France there was a submarine alert during the evening but no attack took place. However during the night the ship was attacked by planes.
At first there were some near misses but these were followed by a tremendous shudder as the ship was hit by a large remotely guided bomb. The bomb had penetrated the ship but failed to explode. I like to think the resistance movement had sabotaged the bomb.
The wings of the missile-like bomb were sheared off, revealing masses of wiring cabes that appeared to be attached to it.
The ship stopped and destroyers stood nearby while the bomb was defused. I watched as this missile was hoisted up and lowered over board; it appeared to be a massive size of about 14 feet.
Our ship’s steering gear had been damaged by the impact and the ship delayed, but was soon able to continue on to France by going round in circles.
Standing off shore the ship was attacked again, with many more near misses. Eventually landing craft pulled alongside us and we scrambled down the nets into the landing craft and we were beached at Ver-sur-Mer.
To my amazement the pilot of the landing craft taking me ashore turned out to be a man called Jackie Legge, who had been one of my next door neighbours at home – what a fantastic coincidence!
The lingering stress of the cost-of-living crisis weighs heavily on the shoulders of many, and with temperatures dropping, food prices skyrocketing, and the New Year in full swing, it is bound to have an added impact on the stresses of everyday life. Therefore, people up and down the country are looking for tips and tricks to ease and eliminate as much stress as possible.
CBD experts Simply CBD have revealed some tips that will help encourage stress relaxation and a stress-free routine that you can implement into your weekly routine.
New analysis reveals that searches in the UK for ‘reduce stress’ increased by 216% over the past month, proving just how desperate we are to find solutions for feelings of overwhelming stress.
In fact, searches for ‘is stress normal’ has seen a huge 635% increase over the past month in the UK, showing just how concerned people are about stress levels and how they can impact their health.
Self-care
Being mindful of your own needs is essential and focusing on self-care will help reduce stress and anxiety tremendously. Some forms of self-care include maintaining a balanced diet and sustaining a healthy sleep schedule but indulging in pampering is often overlooked.
Pampering doesn’t have to break the bank. Forget spa days or trips away; you can easily indulge in pampering at home:
Take a hot bath or shower.
Pop on a face mask and read your favourite book – time away from blue light from your phone also helps relax the mind.
Light some candles and listen to a meditation podcast.
Treat yourself to your favourite home-cooked meal (or take away if you prefer!).
Exercise
Although the thought of exercise can sometimes be exhausting, with long workdays feeling tiring enough, finding the time to get a good workout in can often be the release from a lot of pent-up stress.
Sometimes getting past the mental barrier of doing physical activity is the only thing holding you back from releasing tension and endorphins, aka the body’s natural painkillers.
The exercise doesn’t necessarily need to be intense, and there are many options when it comes to fitting in an hour of increased heart rate:
Go on a walk – Whether with friends, family or just by yourself, getting out for some fresh air and moving your body will work wonders.
Take part in a local exercise class – there are many different options, such as low intensity Yoga and Pilates, which are great options if you don’t want to do an intense workout.
Take part in an online exercise class! – if physically leaving the house to exercise fills you with dread, you will be pleased to know there are thousands of online classes and pre-recorded free videos of workouts that you can do in the comfort of your own home.
Listen to music
Listening to music gives the brain a total workout, and we all know how vital brain health is. By listening to music, you can:
Reduce blood pressure.
Improve memory.
Reduce anxiety.
Improve sleep quality.
Not only can it reduce stress, but it can elevate moods and clear the way for emotional expression; this is why it is great that there are so many genres of music to choose from; just pick whatever gets you out of a funk and makes you feel good!
Experiment with hobbies
By experimenting with hobbies that you might have put on the back burner, you are allowing your body to remind itself of something you enjoy and take pride in. Hobbies are a great distraction and can be the perfect way to relax and forget about the stresses of everyday life.
If you’re struggling to think of a hobby, it’s never too late to find one! By making a list of all the hobbies you would love to try, you are already one step closer to expanding your knowledge, widening your range of skills, keeping your brain working and mind off all things stressful.
Turn the phone off and stay off social media
In a world dominated by technology, we have everything at the push of a button, making it hard to imagine life without it, but keeping so up-to-date and caught up on social media can sometimes be exhausting and lead to unhealthy comparisons.
By turning off your phone or limiting the time spent on social media, you can shut off the constant updates and remain solely focused on other things that might bring you joy. Instead of getting distracted by technology, you could be reading your favourite books, spending time with family and friends, giving yourself a well-deserved pamper or just taking a nap, whatever relieves stress from your day!
Duck & Wafflewill open the doors to its highly anticipated Edinburgh restaurant on 1st February, bringing a brand new, unique eating experience to the city for 2023.
The critically acclaimed restaurant, which is the brand’s first UK venture outside of London, is located within St James Quarter. The restaurant will merge dynamic interiors, unrivalled hospitality, a buzzy atmosphere, and mouth-watering signature fare to create an unforgettable ‘gastro diner’ experience that has become a hallmark of the brand, welcoming guests for breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch.
“We are thrilled to welcome our first guests into Duck & Waffle Edinburgh” explains Duck & Waffle Brand Founder Shimon Bokovza, “From the stunning interior design to the creative dishes on our menu it’s an experience that promises elements of surprise and delight for those who dine with us – no matter the time of the day.”
At the helm of Duck & Waffle Edinburgh’s kitchen is Culinary Director Daniel Barbosa and Executive Chef Lucia Gregusova. The menu is built around its iconic, namesake dish – made with crispy duck leg confit, fried duck egg and a mustard maple syrup on a buttermilk waffle and supported by a playful take on comfort food – a curated selection of signatures and new, location-specific offerings.
Inspired by Scotland’s bountiful selection of products – the freshest produce, seafood, meats, and cheeses – Duck & Waffle Edinburgh’s menu sheds light on the integrity of the ingredients themselves. Vegetable-forward standouts include Pulled Aubergine with lyonnaise onions, goat’s curd and chervil, and Hispi Cabbage with miso brown butter, caperberries, and crispy shallots. From the raw offering: the vibrant Hand-Dived Scallop with apple, jalapeño, and truffled orange dressing; and the brand’s staple Angus Beef Tartare with pickled onion, mustard, Marmite-cured egg yolk, and crispy bread.
Building on a playful spirit of sharing the culinary experience, and an ‘ode to duck,’ are the Duck Sliders – prepared with crispy shallots, scamorza, harissa mayo, and the option to add seared foie gras for a bit of indulgence. And, the decadent Deep Fried Haggis Bar – a rich layering of ox cheek, haggis, and duck fat caramel, served with a side of Bovril.
Rounding out the ‘All Day’ menu are large plates like the famous Duck & Waffle – with two million sold and counting – the Whole Roasted Sea Bass with lilliput capers, potatoes, mussels, beurre blanc, and coriander; and grass-fed steakssourced from Scottish-local John Gilmour Butchers, distinguished for the extraordinary flavour of their meat, and their sustainable farming efforts.
For morning enthusiasts the breakfast and brunch menus – are not to be missed, showcasing the brand’s iconic sweet and savoury offering including a Duck Benedict prepared with smoked duck breast, the Full Elvis with PBJ, caramelised banana, Chantilly cream, and all the trimmings – inspired by some of ‘The King’s’ favourite ingredients and served over a waffle, or the Duck Egg en Cocotte with wild mushrooms, Gruyère, truffle, and soldiers. New creations for Edinburgh incorporate comforting, international flavours, as seen in the Homemade Chickpea Dhal with grilled flatbread, poached eggs and coriander, and Shakshuka with harissa yoghurt and black chili flakes.
For a sweet finish, the beloved Torrejas – a take on French Toast made with maple caramel apples and served with cinnamon ice cream, and the craveworthy Sticky Toffee Waffle with butterscotch caramel sauce and clotted cream.
“Edinburgh is one of the most charming cities I’ve been to,” shares Culinary Director Daniel Barbosa, “I came across beautiful produce and that has influenced the way the menu was designed. All of our beef, cheese, and shellfish are from Scotland – the quality of the Scottish products is second to none. These preferred purveyors range from Campbell & Sons Quality Meat, Central Produce, and I.J. Mellis cheesemongers, to George Anderson & Sons, David Lowrie Fish Merchants, and Ochil Foods – to name a few.”
Known for its iconoclastic cocktails and signature walk-around cocktail bar, Duck & Waffle Edinburgh will deliver inventive libations and classics, reimagined. Highlights include the bottled Duck & Stormy with Bacardi Carta Negra rum, coconut, lime, and ginger juice, and the culinary-minded Bone Marrow Cosmopolitan crafted with bone marrow-infused Grey Goose. The whimsical Waffle on the Rocks with waffle-flavoured Portobello vodka, St Germain elderflower liquor, Drambuie, and lime cordial layers in nostalgia, while the Yolk’s on You with vanilla vodka, oat milk, green Chartreuse, agave, features bright floral notes and refreshing acidity at the punchline.
Reservations:
Duck & Waffle Edinburgh reservations are now open, and can be made via the website at https://duckandwaffle.com/reservations/ The restaurant accepts bookings up to two months in advance.
New major exhibition coming this Spring to City Art Centre.
Saturday 27 May to Sunday 1 October 2023
A major retrospective of one of the UK’s leading figurative painters, Peter Howson, opens at Edinburgh’s City Art Centre in May 2023.
The exhibition will bring together around 100 works spanning the artist’s career, many never seen before in Scotland.
Howson has established a formidable reputation in the art world. His heroic portrayals of the mighty and the lowly confront subjects of human conflict and destruction that offer a penetrating insight into the human condition.
His experiences of abuse—whether self-inflicted and substance-related, or the traumatic events of his childhood—have moulded his world view, and afforded him an affinity with individuals on the margins of society.
The City Art Centre’s Curatorial and Conservation Manager, David Patterson has been planning the exhibition since 2019, working closely with Howson and his London gallery.
Howson has previously shown at the City Art Centre, when his critically acclaimed solo exhibition devoted to Scotland’s patron saint Andrew was displayed in 2007.
David Patterson commented: “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see works assembled from public and private collections.
“This retrospective will illustrate Peter’s consummate skill in a range of media and explore his religious work as well as his graphic responses to recent global events including the covid pandemic and war in Ukraine.
Councillor Val Walker, Convener of Culture and Communities said: “Peter Howson is one of the most respected artists of his generation and we are very proud that the City Art Centre will host this major study of his work.
“Visitors will be able to discover Howson’s instantly recognisable works with many on display in Scotland for the first time. Celebrating Howson’s 50-year career, we will showcase over 100 pieces across four floors.
“It will be the highlight exhibition of 2023.”
Emerging from Glasgow School of Art in the 1980s, Howson quickly proved his skill of capturing the maverick, the excessive, the non-conformist and his own personal understanding of the struggles of everyday life.
In 1992 he was commissioned by the Imperial War Museum to record the conflict in the former Yugoslavia. He was appointed official British war artist for Bosnia in 1993 and in 1996 was awarded Doctor of Letters at The University of Strathclyde. His work is included in numerous national and international museum collections.
When the Apple Ripens: Peter Howson at 65: A Retrospective opens at the City Art Centre in Edinburgh on 27th May 2023 and runs until 1st October 2023.
A new book will accompany the exhibition, published by Sansom and Co.
Cybercriminals are always producing new ways to steal from unsuspecting social media users, often trying to obtain account login credentials, personal information, or bank and credit card information.
Cybersecurity expert Liz Wegerer from VPNOverview.com reveals the most common Facebook and Instagram scams of 2023 and how to avoid them:
The most common Facebook scams of 2023
Facebook is the most popular social media app worldwide, and scammers flock to it to fleece unsuspecting users. With so many active users, fraudsters have a vast pool of potential victims to target. Here are some of the most common ways they try:
Phishing scams: Emails or direct messages with sketchy links that download malware or capture login credentials on spoofed websites.
Romance: Friend requests and direct messages that attempt to create a romantic interest with the goal to steal money from the victim.
Prizes or job offers: Claims designed to obtain personal information or money from the victim, including “You’ve won!” scams.
Quizzes and games: Designed to elicit personal information in the answers through the kind of information people may use to create passwords or answer security questions for their online accounts.
Charity pleas: Creating fake charities to get donations during times of disaster, using sites like GoFundMe.
The most common Instagram scams of 2023
More than one billion people use Instagram each month, making it the world’s fourth most popular social media platform. Cybercriminals know this and have several tricks to infiltrate your account and steal your personal information. These include:
Fake investment offers: Scammers promise you a great return for just a small investment.
Bogus brand collaboration requests: Fraudsters offer to pay you for promoting their products then steal your financial data when you provide them.
Selling followers and likes: Ask you to pay a nominal fee in exchange for like or follow packages, but your financial data gets stolen when you send financial details.
Giveaways: Entice you to try and win a prize, but then you will be asked to provide personal information or payment to claim your winnings.
Imposter brand accounts: Sell counterfeit goods (or never deliver the promised goods at all) under the guise of a popular brand to drain your bank account.
How to avoid scams on social media
1. Lock down your privacy settings
Your Instagram is set to “public” by default, allowing anyone to see your posts. To protect your privacy, set your account to “private” so only followers you approve can see your posts, make comments, and send you direct messages. On Facebook, while you can never hide your profile pictures or cover photos, you can hide almost everything else from those outside your friends list through your settings.
2. Use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication
One of the easiest ways to prevent unwanted logins on your accounts is to use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication. With this in place, anytime someone tries logging in from an unrecognised location or device, they will also have to enter a one-time code in addition to your username and password sent to your phone.
3. Keep track of third-party apps
Over time, you have likely connected several third-party applications to your Instagram account. You should regularly review these applications to ensure no suspicious connections have been made and delete any you do not recognise or no longer use.
4. Only buy from verified profiles and brand accounts
Before you buy anything on social media, check to make sure the account you are dealing with is verified. All legitimate brands on Instagram and Facebook are verified with a blue circle checkmark next to their name.
5. Search regularly for accounts in your name
To avoid the damage of someone cloning your accounts and using these fake accounts maliciously, get into the habit of regularly searching Facebook and Instagram for your name. This only takes a minute and is an easy way to identify and report imposter accounts.
6. Decline friend requests from anyone you do not know
Get in the habit of declining friend requests from anyone you are not familiar with. The more friends you have that you do not know, the higher the risk you will be approached with a scam.
7. Never click on suspicious links sent to you or respond to unsolicited messages
Whether it is a phishing email or a private message from a friend, avoid clicking on unsolicited videos or links. If you think a friend sent you something, double-check with them before clicking. Especially when what they sent you involves compromising information about you or says something like, “OMG! Is this you?” or “Have you seen this yet?!”.
RoSPA: Government must extend 2023 deadline for EU Law repeal to avoid life-saving laws falling over a cliff edge
The debate on the Retained EU Law Bill and trading standards featured at The Commons on Thursday
RoSPA calls to keep people safe from accidents and injury by ensuring there’s enough time to conduct a thorough review and consultation process to maintain the UK’s position as a beacon of safety
– Bill provides an ‘opportunity’ to pave the way for more effective legislation and regulations by assessing each law individually, over a greater time period – according to RoSPA
With Thursday’s adjournment debate on the Retained EU Law Bill and trading standards set to rage on, the Royal Society of the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has reiterated its calls for a delay to the proposed implementation of the Bill at the end of this year.
Under the Bill, the Government is committed to repealing or replacing over 4,000 pieces of law taken from the UK’s previous membership of the bloc by December 2023, including compulsory seatbelt usage, workplace safety legislation, toy safety regulations, the working time directive and more.
A growing list of organisations, politicians and peers have expressed concern over rushing through the Bill, saying there is not enough time to thoroughly assess, adapt or improve each law, and if essential laws are repealed on mass this year, without proper review and consultation, many lives will be lost as a result.
Errol Taylor, Chief Executive of RoSPA, says that if managed correctly, this Bill could offer an opportunity to arrive at a successful destination, but that cannot happen if the Government sticks by its current 2023 deadline, which represents a cliff edge over which will fall essential life-saving legislation.
“At RoSPA, we’re proud to say we’re world leaders in the safety field and work with UK Government to prevent accidents and the unnecessary loss of life. Consequently, the headlong rush to abolish regulations is alarming.
“While we agree that the revision and sanitation of standards could be a positive step, we need to ensure we do this sensibly and in consultation. The Bill offers a huge opportunity for health and safety professionals to lead the way in protecting and enhancing people’s lives, and we want to be at the forefront of that.
“Ultimately, the importance lies in the preservation of the aim and intention of legislation, whether that’s protecting children, drivers or the elderly – not in how we get there.”
Some of the key laws set to be abolished, include:
The 2011 Toys (Safety) Regulations – dictating how toys are marketed, to make clear if they might be choking hazards, contain toxic chemicals, or if there is a danger that parts may come loose
The 1993 Motor Vehicles (Wearing of Seat Belts By Children in Front Seats) Regulations – setting out limited exceptions
The 2015 Construction (Design and Management) Regulations – to ensure proper oversight of building projects to mitigate “the risks involved”, ensure firms employ “the right people for the right job” and communicate dangers “effectively”
The 2012 Control of Asbestos Regulations – requiring all building owners to maintain accurate registers of where there is dangerous asbestos to avoid accidental exposure
2011 legislation “on the provision of food information to consumers” – which sets out “requirements for food and drink labelling”, to alert shoppers to potentially deadly allergens
The 1999 Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations – specifying what actions an employer must take.
Sir Jonathan Jones, the former head of the Government Legal Department, said leaving a needlessly short space of time to review such a large amount of legislation, was a ‘terrible way to make law.’ [1]
This has been echoed by Chris Fox, the Liberal Democrat business spokesperson in the Lords[JA1][JB2][JB3] , as well as leading industry bodies like the Trades Union Congress (TUC), the Institute of Directors (IoD) and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, who say that the Bill will hinder economic growth2.
TODAY IS NATIONAL POTHOLE DAY – BUT THEN, EVERY DAY IS POTHOLE DAY!
Cyclists are being warned about the worsening condition of roads across the UK – with data showing 21% of cyclists are involved in an accident because of a pothole.*
Experts from leading bicycle insurance comparison site Quotezone.co.uk warn that this figure will only increase unless the government tackles the worsening condition of UK roads.
With a long winter of bad weather ahead, cyclists will run an increased risk of accident and injury by riding over potholes if UK roads are not properly maintained.
Damaged road surfaces represent a disproportionate risk to cyclists due to the lack of protection and the proximity of motor vehicles.
Credit: Shutterstock
Spending on road maintenance has almost halved since the financial crisis just over a decade ago, and the recent cost-of-living crisis has pushed potholes further down the priority list for governments and local councils.
Even temporary pothole fixes – which involve filling the hole with a form of asphalt treatment – have decreased by almost half in some counties.
There are also claims from members of the public that councils are not properly inspecting potholes that have been reported online.
Several county councils have admitted that filling in potholes is no longer a priority as a result of the rising cost of living, with less funding for UK highways.
With the Met Office issuing weather warnings for the coming weeks, the number of potholes on UK roads is set to increase.
A combination of bad weather and lack of funding has left the UK network at crisis point with experts predicting the pothole problem may soon get out of hand.
Quotezone.co.uk are calling for councils and the government to urgently act on what is a UK-wide problem for the benefit of all road users but particularly cyclists as they are the most affected by damaged road surfaces.
Data shows that the worst pothole-affected area in the UK by far is Northumberland, with over 180,000 potholes reported over four years, followed by Cornwall and Kirklees in West Yorkshire.
Newcastle, Liverpool and Suffolk also have some of the worst potholed roads in the UK as well as Fife and Glasgow in Scotland, and Newry, Mourne & Down joined by Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon in Northern Ireland.
Lee Evans , bicycle insurance comparison expert at Quotezone.co.uk said: “Many of us who cycle in the UK have been shocked at the growing danger caused by roads strewn with potholes, and unfortunately the problem does not seem to be going away.
“21% of cyclists experiencing pothole-related accidents is a worrying number because any accident for a cyclist, can be very serious.
“With a winter of extreme weather predicted in the coming weeks and with spending on road maintenance on the decline, we could expect to see an increase in pothole-related cycling injuries. We’d encourage local authorities and the government to act now on fixing the UK’s pothole problem to help keep cyclists and all other road users safe.”
The Prime Minister has announced the UK will send tanks and self-propelled guns to aid the Ukrainian offensive
As the first anniversary of the war approaches, the PM has stressed the need for an international strategy to break the stalemate
This week the Foreign and Defence Secretaries will meet counterparts to galvanise international action
The Prime Minister is set to accelerate the UK’s diplomatic and military support to Ukraine in the weeks ahead in a bid to push Russia further back and secure a lasting peace.
A flurry of UK diplomatic activity will take place across the globe this week after the Prime Minister directed senior ministers to drive international action as we approach the first anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in late February.
The Prime Minister has already committed to match or exceed the UK’s defence support for Ukraine in 2023 and he instructed ministers and officials this week to ensure we are being proactive as possible across the full spectrum of our support.
UK defence and security officials believe a window has opened up where Russia is on the backfoot due to resupply issues and plummeting morale. The Prime Minister is therefore encouraging allies to deploy their planned support for 2023 as soon as possible to have maximum impact.
Sending Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine is the start of a gear change in the UK’s support. A squadron of 14 tanks will go into the country in the coming weeks after the Prime Minister told President Zelenskyy that the UK would provide additional support to aid Ukraine’s land war. Around 30 AS90s, which are large, self-propelled guns, operated by five gunners, are expected to follow. The Defence Secretary will set out further details of this support in the House of Commons on Monday.
The UK will begin training the Ukrainian Armed Forces to use the tanks and guns in the coming days, as part of wider UK efforts which have seen thousands of Ukrainian troops trained in the UK over the last six months.
The Prime Minister has tasked the Defence Secretary with bringing together European allies to ensure the surge of global military support is as strategic and coordinated as possible. The Defence Secretary will travel to Estonia and Germany this week to work with NATO allies and other international partners to this end.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Secretary will travel to the United States later this week to discuss how the UK and US can leverage our position as leading supporters of Ukraine to galvanise further international action.
He will also travel to Canada – another of Ukraine’s staunchest supporters – to discuss closer coordination on international sanctions and our coordinated effort to boost our support to Ukraine.
A Downing Street spokesperson said: “As the people of Ukraine approach their second year living under relentless Russian bombardment, the Prime Minister is dedicated to ensuring Ukraine wins this war.
“Alongside his closest military advisors, he has analysed the military picture, looked at the strategic impact of the UK’s support and identified a window where he thinks the UK and its allies can have maximum impact.
“The Prime Minister is clear that a long and static war only serves Russia’s ends. That’s why he and his ministers will be speaking to our allies across the world in the days and weeks ahead to ramp up pressure on Putin and secure a better future for Ukraine.”
In the lead up to the one-year anniversary of the invasion, the Prime Minister will seek to demonstrate the UK’s power as an international catalyst with influence across NATO, the G7, the Joint Expeditionary Force and elsewhere.
He will work with partners to put Ukraine in the strongest possible place to enter future peace negotiations from a position of military, economic and diplomatic strength and secure a strong and lasting peace.
