The Adventure Bike Rider show: ‘Glastonbury for bikers'
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Scottish Sun
21 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
I live in London's posh Notting Hill but don't pay rent thanks to 30ft narrowboat – people are baffled by my bathroom
Although her entire home is barely wider than a hallway, it's bursting with charm HOUSE THAT I live in London's posh Notting Hill but don't pay rent thanks to 30ft narrowboat – people are baffled by my bathroom WHILST most Londoners are blowing their wages on shoebox-sized flats and sky-high bills, one savvy woman has found a genius way to dodge the capital's rental chaos. Shannon Roselane, an artist and video producer in her twenties, lives on a 30ft narrowboat moored in one of the capital's poshest postcodes. 4 Shannon Roselane lives on a narrowboat in Notting Hill Credit: Instagram/ @Shannonroselane 4 She purchased her home for £24,000 Credit: Tiktok And instead of handing over thousands a month like her mates, she keeps her total living costs to a jaw-dropping £500 per month. She's managed to bag one of the most enviable addresses in London's Notting Hill without shelling out for rent because she doesn't pay any. Shannon owns her boat outright after snapping it up for £24,000 with help from a bank loan, and now her only regular payments are the loan repayments and day-to-day essentials like gas. The boat is solar-powered so she also doesn't have to pay any electricity bills. She told @joinrently "we're basically in Notting Hill and I'm paying £500 a month you'd never be able to do that". And although her entire home is barely wider than a hallway, it's bursting with charm – from a galley kitchen with a tiny gas cooker to solar-powered lights and a self-made mini version of the boat itself. She even has an open hatch where she waves at ducks and nosy passers-by. But life on the water isn't all sunsets and swans and Shannon doesn't shy away from showing the gritty side. On TikTok, where she shares her off-grid adventures under the name @thatweirdboatgirl, she's built a loyal following who tune in to watch her tackle the ups and downs of boat life. And it seems there has been plenty. We bought a mouldy narrowboat on Facebook Marketplace to live in - we slept on an airbed but save £10.5k on London rent From a toilet explosion to an incident where the entire boat "nearly sank", Shannon's had more than her fair share of drama. One mooring disaster left her in tears after a fellow boater shouted at her just for tying up. On another occasion, she returned from a short holiday to find someone had nicked part of her battery system, leaving her without electricity for weeks. And the bathroom situation isn't exactly glamorous. With no plumbing, she relies on a cassette toilet, which is essentially a glorified bucket that has to be emptied by hand. She's not shy in admitting it's "the worst part" of boat life. Her narrowboat doesn't have a proper bathroom or running water, and storage is so tight that clothes are crammed into every corner, often spilling onto her bed. Her fridge runs on 12 volts, powered by solar panels, and she heats her home the old-school way, with layers and hot water bottles. Still, for all the chaos and cramped quarters, there's one thing her floating lifestyle gives her that city flats never could and it's freedom. Because she doesn't have a permanent mooring, Shannon's required to move every two weeks – a rule that's actually become one of her favourite parts of the lifestyle. If she ends up next to nightmare neighbours or gets bored of a location, she simply casts off and finds a new view. And even with no garden or balcony, Shannon makes the most of the canal towpath, turning it into a performance space for her Tiny Boat Sessions – a project where she invites musicians aboard to film live gigs as they gently cruise through London's waterways. The Pros and Cons of Living on a narrowboat It might seem an idyllic lifestyle living on a narrowboat and taking this at a slower pace but it's not always plain sailing. The Pros Freedom – you get to choose where you stay and can move from the countryside to a city in possibly a few hours. If you don't like your neighbours you can simply move. Work anywhere – remote working has shot up with the Covid-19 pandemic and what could be better than working from a barge. Declutter your lifestyle – There's not a lot of space on a narrowboat but this can be an advantage as it forces your to get rid of things you don't actually really need. Decluttering your life can do wonders for your wellbeing. Life at a slower pace – anyone fed up of the 9-5 rat race and the pressure to earn money to pay for high-cost living can benefit from the easy-going life on a barge. More environmentally friendly – while not entirely carbon neutral, living on a narrowboat can help the environment as you use less electricity, gas and fuel. Improve fitness – living on a narrowboat doesn't suit a sedentary lifestyle. There are endless tasks that will keep you active, such as operating locks, carrying coal and gas canisters, toilets to empty, wood to chop and weed hatches to clear. Sense of community – many boaters feel a strong sense of community as they are with like-minded people to share tips and advice. Saving money – one big advantage is the amount of money you can save. Big savings can be made on monthly living costs not only from using less gas and electricity but you don't have any costly mortgage or rent payments to cover. The Cons Having to plan ahead – if you have a cruising licence you will need to move every 14 days, so you have to think about the future, where to next, do you have enough supplies to get there? Limited space – narrowboats are restricted in space and you may find you feel claustrophobic living in a confined space. Plus, you may have to chuck out some prized possessions to fit everything you need in. Lack of security – criminals may see a narrowboat as an easy target and you may need to invest in some quality security to keep your things safe. Maintenance – Beware that you will need to learn about engine maintenance, such as how to repair a bilge pump or water pump. You will also need to ensure it is properly insulated and ventilated or you could be battling dampness and condensation. The cost – while living on a boat is certainly cheaper than living in a property, it is not cost free. You have to pay for things like: a Canal and River Trust licence, insurance, engine and pump maintenance, blacking the hull, as well as running costs such as fuel and a TV licence. Her followers are obsessed with the quirky lifestyle, although many admit they had no idea quite how tough it could be. Shannon keeps it real, showing both the dreamy moments and the difficult ones. It may be wobbly and cold at times, but for Shannon, it's home and she wouldn't trade it for a pricey flat or a life stuck paying someone else's mortgage. Before now, Shannon was living in a shared house with two friends - originally paying £900-a-month until her landlord upped her rent to £1,000-a-month. The 29-year-old was having a stroll the Kings Cross canal in October 2022 when she came across a narrowboat for sale. Shannon said it was a "no-brainer" to move onto a boat and is now saving thousands a year. She said: "I saw the boat and thought 'what if?'. "I texted the owner and we set up a viewing for the following week. "As soon as I saw the boat itself I saw it was £24k and I worked out that paying my loan from the bank to afford it would be £300-a-month. "That is a massive saving from what I was paying in my house share." Meanwhile, Shannon's not the only one who's swapped a home for a life on the canal. Robbie Cumming has been living on a narrowboat for a decade and has revealed everything about his life on the new series of Canal Boat Diaries. He claims it's the best way to holiday in the UK. 4 She now shares her journey with her followers on Tiktok Credit: Instagram
Metro
2 days ago
- Metro
Sabrina Carpenter brings a different vibe to BST and we're all for it
As the sun sets over another summer's day in London, it's not just the high temperature (and Central Line) keeping Londoners warm, it's Sabrina Carpenter at her absolute best for the British Summertime festival. The pop princess fills Hyde Park with mostly women: mums with daughters, best friends in their thirties dressed in matching baby pink dresses and tweenagers, who were rehearsing the songs' viral TikTok dances before her grand entrance. Dressed in a red sparkly playsuit, she sings the first notes of Busy Woman – a very apt song title for the 26-year-old who seems to have been touring since time began (Short 'n' Sweet tour began in September 2024 and ends later this year, but BST marks her final UK dates). Sabrina has got the audience in the palm of her hands as she says her cheeky lyrics, 'If you don't want me, I'll just deem you gay' before winking at the camera, which is projected onto the giant screens on either side of the stage. It's high camp and delivered perfectly into her bejewelled microphone, setting the tone for the evening. It's where the party begins, and it doesn't end for the next 90 minutes, with Sabrina's high energy mimicked by her enthusiastic fans. She knows what she's doing when she follows the opener up with crowd pleasers, Taste and Complicated, before slowing things down for Slim Pickins. Her breathy, silky tones are particularly captivating in the low-tempo song, drawing us in with every word. I've been a regular at BST for quite a few years, but I've never seen anybody make the headline spot into such a production. The theatrics, costumes, and special effects were of the same quality that you would expect in a stadium tour date. The kitsch 1950s-style adverts between songs are a particular highlight, with Sabrina taking on the role of salesperson for made-up products. The biggest scream of the night was for a Manchild cleaning spray, which promises to alleviate the lives of boys who don't grow up. Although Sabrina can't actually perform miracles in that department, she provides free therapy by letting the audience scream out 'Won't you let an innocent woman be? Never heard of self-care. Half your brain just ain't there,' with her. The enthusiasm for her latest song shows that Sabrina's star power is only rising, so it's looking good for the Manchild album, which is coming out next month. Between the hits, Sabrina takes time to converse with the audience and provide the elements that those chronically online were undoubtedly expecting. A key segment of her tour is arresting someone for being too hot. It's often a celebrity, but tonight, she decided to give a young woman from South London, who perhaps appreciated the honour more. Busy Woman Taste Good Graces Slim Pickins Manchild Coincidence Sharpest Tool Because I Liked a boy It's Raining Men (Cover song) Nonsense Couldn't Make it Any Harder Feather Bed Chem Juno Please Please Please Don't Smile Espresso She also used her trademark humour to poke fun at British weather with her own rendition of It's Raining Men. Seeing Sabrina do a The Weather Girls cover was not on my 2025 bingo card, but I'm glad it happened. More Trending The all-singing, all-dancing and tambourine-playing (yes, she gets a tambourine out) show comes in the face of criticism for her raunchy cover art for Manchild. But it's quite clear her target audience is right behind her, and salutes her cheeky boundary-pushing art. She hasn't let the haters change her persona, and so, of course, a love heart-shaped bed comes out for Bed Chemistry. For the eighth year, 150,000 festival goers will descend on Glasgow Green from 11-13 July to see the liked of 50 Cent, Gracie Abrams and Biffy Clyro, and you could be there! Metro has teamed up with Rockstar Energy presents TRNSMT Festival to offer four VIP tickets to one lucky winner. For a chance to win this massive music prize, simply enter your details here. You have until midnight on Sunday 6 July 2025 to enter using the form below. Entrants must be 18+. Good luck! T&Cs apply*. Click here if form is not loading. * Open to legal residents of Great Britain (excluding Northern Ireland) aged 18 or over. Promotion opens at 18:01 BST on 2 July 2025 and closes at 23:59 BST on 6 July 2025. The promotion is free to enter; however internet access is required. Entrant must visit and when prompted by the form, submit their name, email, telephone number, date of birth and postcode. Acceptance of the terms and conditions is necessary to enter the promotion. There will be one (1) winner. The winner will win four (4) VIP weekend tickets for TRNSMT Festival, running from 11th – 13th July 2025 at Glasgow Green, in Glasgow ('Prize'). Proof of age and photographic ID are required for entry for all guests (the guests of the winner must be at least 16 years old at the time of entry). The Prize, including entry and attendance at TRSNMT festival, is subject to and governed by the Promoter's full ticket terms and conditions. 1 prize available. 1 entry per person. Full T&Cs apply, see here. 'Parental discretion is advised' is cheekily displayed to warn crowds, before she writhes around with two male dancers, who end the song with a smooch. And of course, there was only ever going to be one way to round off the evening – with a shot of Espresso. We may prefer our tea in Britain, but you wouldn't have guessed it as thousands screamed the caffiene hit. Same time tomorrow? Sabrina Carpenter performs at BST Hyde Park again tonight. Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing Share your views in the comments below. MORE: Sabrina Carpenter breaks major record set by Ed Sheeran MORE: Sabrina Carpenter hits back at criticism of racy album cover with sassy remark MORE: If Sabrina Carpenter's sexual lyrics offend you, she says you're to blame
Glasgow Times
2 days ago
- Glasgow Times
The abandoned London Underground platforms stuck in the 90s
While many Londoners act like they know all there is to know about the Tube, you might be surprised by one small detail. Among the many stations and platforms along the Tube, there are a handful that have become abandoned and are stuck in time. Including platforms at Charing Cross that have been closed to the public since 1999. The abandoned Tube platforms at Charing Cross Although Charing Cross Tube station is very much still active, there are some platforms within the station that have long been shut down. In 1979, Charing Cross joined the Jubilee line and saw the use of two platforms, a concourse and passenger tunnels. However, in 1999, the Jubilee line in Charing Cross was closed to the public after plans were created to extend the line to Lewisham. Charing Cross was never intended to be the final stop for the Jubilee line, with plans in the 1980s to regenerate the Docklands and East End area seeing a reroute of the line. The plans would see a reroute of the line from Green Park towards the south of the river to Waterloo, London Bridge, before moving back to Greenwich and Stratford. The change meant that Charing Cross's Jubilee platforms were no longer needed and were shut down. Despite being closed off, the platforms gained a new lease of life and have since become a filming location for major blockbusters. The platforms have featured in the likes of 28 Weeks Later, the James Bond movie Skyfall and the TV show Spooks. Recommended Reading Although the platforms are shut off to the public for daily use, you can still visit Charing Cross's Jubilee platforms through a Hidden London tour with the London Transport Museum. The Charing Cross: Behind the Silver Screen lets guests see behind the scenes of one of the busiest Tube stations in London. Allowing you to walk beneath Trafalgar Square and explore the closed-off Jubilee line platforms, passenger corridors, and concourses.
