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Transfer news LIVE: Arsenal to make official Declan Rice move; Man City close in on Mateo

admin — Fri, 09 Jun 2023 18:43:00 +0000

Published: 04:02 EDT, 9 June 2023 | Updated: 14:27 EDT, 9 June 2023

Follow Mail Sport’s live blog for all the latest transfer news on Friday, with Arsenal to make an official move for Declan Rice imminently.

It’s official – the pub IS therapeutic: Almost half of Britons turn to their pub landlord

admin — Wed, 07 Jun 2023 12:46:04 +0000

It’s official – the pub IS therapeutic: Almost half of Britons turn to their pub landlord for advice (and one in ten would rather get life tips from bar staff than their own parents)

By Laura Sharman

Updated: 03:41 EDT, 7 June 2023

Britons are known for their love of the pub, but there is much more to it than being a place to enjoy a cold pint and a packet of pork scratchings.

Pubs are also therapeutic according to a recent poll of Britons, which reveals that almost half the nation has turned to their local pub landlord or bar staff for important advice.

The research, by the ‘&me’ app, reveals that 48 per cent of Britons claim they have relied on staff at their local boozer for advice and guidance during a challenging time.

One in ten (11 per cent) of the 2,000 people quizzed would rather get life tips from someone at their local than their own parents.

Around a quarter (24 per cent) insist they would rather chat through life matters at the pub than anywhere else.

Almost half (48 per cent) of Britons have relied on pub staff for advice and guidance during a challenging time, according to a study (stock image)

While more than two in five (45 per cent) claim it is a relaxed and safe environment.

A third (33 per cent) of punters say it is a place where there is no judgement, while nearly a quarter (23 per cent) admit that they lose their inhibitions after a drink, making it easier to ask for opinions.

With the average Brit spending as many as two hours a week in the pub, it is no surprise that three quarters (76 per cent) feel their local is a safe space to chat through problems and get impartial advice.

And more than half (52 per cent) admit they have made a major life decision at the bar.

A third (36 per cent) admit they have asked for financial advice down the pub, with the most pressing concerns being savings and investments (40 per cent), and advice on mortgages (28 per cent) and pensions (25 per cent).

An overwhelming 71 per cent have then followed the financial advice they were given in the pub.

One in five (20 per cent) Britons have been persuaded while at the pub to invest in Crypto and a further nine per cent have discussed investing in a friend’s business or even a pyramid scheme.

The most popular subjects discussed while sipping a pint with pals are work (37 per cent), the current news agenda (31 per cent) and family (30 per cent), research shows (stock image)

The most popular subjects discussed while sipping a pint with pals are work (37 per cent), the current news agenda (31 per cent) and family (30 per cent), according to the &me study, which was conducted by Perspectus Global in April.

Other topics Britons like to talk through at the pub are money (25 per cent), political views (24 per cent), sex (23 per cent) and family disputes (19 per cent).

Punters are also prone to divulge honest thoughts about friends (17 per cent), relationship problems (17 per cent) and even their salaries (12 per cent) over a pint or a gin and tonic.

Riaan De Bruyn, from &me, said the pub ‘has always been a setting for lively debate or a quiet heart-to-heart’ but warned that ‘not all advice is created equal’.

He added: ‘It’s important to be discerning and careful about who we take guidance from, as the wrong advice can lead us down a dangerous path.

‘Always consider the source, their experience and expertise, and make sure that their advice aligns with your values and goals before acting on it.

‘Studies have shown that receiving professional financial advice boosts wealth, and ongoing support leads to far greater financial outcomes.

‘Receiving off-the-cuff advice in the pub cannot replicate this long-term insight and guidance.’

Motorist sets up an official tour taking tourists to the biggest potholes plaguing his

admin — Thu, 11 May 2023 15:52:02 +0000

A motorist has become so fed up with the potholes in his area that he’s set up an official tour taking tourists around the biggest craters in his local roads – complete with a picnic lunch.

Steve Bell, 55, is charging locals £80 for the tour of potholes around Bromley, south east London, including a personal favourite which he has named ‘the Big Dipper’.

The father-of-two came up with the idea after he was constantly having to ‘dodge and weave past potholes’ in his vehicle, which he uses a lot for his family as a full-time carer.

Mr Bell said he will give locals and tourists the inside info on the state of the borough’s roads, even taking a ruler with him to measure their depth.

Steve Bell, 55, is offering to take people on a tour of the potholes in Bromley, south London for £80 plus lunch

The dad-of-two came up with the ingenious idea of setting up ‘Bromley Potholes Guided Tours’ to give locals and tourists the inside info on the state of the borough’s roads

It comes as Bromley Council admitted it is struggling to keep up with the number of repairs needed, with 70 a day currently being filled in.

The tour will showcase the piece de resistance of Bromley’s – an enormous crater on an unmade road that is so large it can fit three cars in and is permanently filled with water.

Other holes include his personal favourite, dubbed the Big Dipper, which lies close to his own home.

An increasing number of huge craters having been popping up in Birtain in recent months, with residents coming up with similar nicknames.

One pothole in a village in Lincolnshire, which measures 26ft wide and 50ft long, has been dubbed ‘the lake’ by villagers who are frustrated over its growing size.

An increasing number of huge craters having been popping up in Birtain in recent months, with residents coming up with nicknames for them.

One pothole in a village in Lincolnshire, which measures 26ft wide and 50ft long, has been dubbed ‘the lake’ by villagers who are frustrated over its growing size.

‘Hold tight as we discover the ‘Big Dipper’ somewhere on the Westmoreland Road.

‘By the end of the tour you’re guaranteed to ponder in bemusement and exclaim ‘just where does our Council Tax go?

‘If your suspension and wheel rims survive with no damage then you’ll receive a unique certificate to commemorate the occasion.’

He added a picture of the ‘Big Dipper’ near his home, captioning it ‘Below – the majestic ‘Big Dipper ‘ as seen at sunset.’

‘It’s really dangerous and there’s more risk of an accident.

‘I’ve seen people slowing right down for these potholes and their cars are disappearing into them.

‘It’s bad so I thought I’d set up an official tour.’

An official Facebook post launching the guided tour business, showcasing his personal favourite pothole, dubbed the Big Dipper, which lies close to his own home

Mr Bell even takes a ruler with him to measure the potholes’ depth

The dad-of-two with a seven inch pothole on Westmoreland Road

Mr Bell with a huge crater on Downs Bridge Road

Mr Bell, who is a full time carer, said he uses his vehicle a lot for his family and is ‘constantly having to dodge and weave past potholes’

One resident recently broke their ankle after skidding on pebbles thrown up by one of Bromley’s potholes.

Elsewhere, a residential street in Dorset is thought to be Britain’s worst road for potholes as it features 21 road craters in a single 220-yard stretch.

Councillor Alison Stammers said that Bromley was ‘beset’ with numerous potholes, adding: ‘I understand such debris recently contributed to a resident breaking an ankle some two weeks after the debris was reported.’

She asked Conservative Councillor Nicholas Bennett, portfolio holder for transport, what the council would do to fill potholes and clear debris in the borough more routinely.

In his response, Mr Bennett apologised for the state of roads in the borough and said severe weather in winter had led to the issue, with the council’s contractor working as hard as possible on a backlog of repairs.

He added: ‘We have 13 teams dedicated to repairing potholes and some 70 or more are being dealt with every day and these are being tackled in a systematic way with the most serious potholes being dealt with first.

‘I have agreed that the teams should continue throughout the summer months.’

People found Steve’s tour idea hilarious.

One said: ‘I feel like I know the potholes so well now’, while another added: ‘I call potholes concrete meadows of the soul.’

Another queried: ‘How much is the tour? Better to know them in advance then guess while driving.’

One person asked if the council had ‘invested in Kwik Fit?’ and added: ‘It would make sense!’.

Mr Hill measuring a pothole on Highland Road

Mr Hill with a fixed pothole on Station Road

Mr Hill with potholes on Westmoreland Road which are due to be repaired by Bromley Council

The council admitted it is struggling to keep up with the number of repairs needed, with 70 a day currently being filled in

Mr Hill with numerous potholes on Beckenham Lane

Another said: ‘Can I get the certificate for the Highland Road one? I went over it a couple of weeks back at night.

‘It was shallower than the crater that is there now but my heart still skipped a beat. I think they are trying to make a shortcut to Australia at this point.’

One user added: ‘It’s a nightmare! I feel like the ground is going to open up and swallow us!’

Another person said: ‘There’s an assault course half way up the hill on Westmoreland Rd. Do you dodge left? Dodge right and just wiggle the steering wheel and hope for the best!’

Another added: ‘I think the strategy is if you leave them long enough the road won’t need resurfacing as it will just be one giant pothole’ to which another replied: ‘Seems like is heading that way, is like the council is waiting for the potholes to join together.’