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Metro
05-07-2025
- Automotive
- Metro
I tried a 'hybrid holiday' and discovered the secret to work-life balance
My life in the city is non-stop. I spend my days travelling across London on heaving Tubes, working in an office, then rushing through crowded streets to meet friends. I wouldn't change it for the world, but sometimes, I want to escape. The only problem is, I don't drive. Maybe I shouldn't admit this, but I didn't even turn up to my driving theory test last month. I'm not alone; nearly half of London households don't have a car. So when I want a break in the UK, I must pack myself onto a train, pay a fortune for taxis, or endure the clunky process of renting a car (that someone else will have to drive). For all of that hassle, I'd never even think to bank the annual leave and work on that hard-earned staycation instead. That's where Turo comes in. It's an app that lets you rent cars directly from local hosts. A bit like Airbnb, but for vehicles. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. On your phone, you tailor your search, scroll, and pick a model that suits your price range. There's everything from Ford Fiestas to a Porsche 911, and your ride is delivered straight to your door. Then it's just you, the open road, and the kind of car that makes even the M25 feel glamorous. After being invited to test it out, I found myself on my first hybrid holiday. Not a full digital detox, just space, fresh air, and a change of scenery. It's part remote work, part mini-break, and I didn't need to use my limited leave to get out of the city for a night or two. My partner and I checked the weather forecast, saw glorious sunshine, and booked a convertible BMW Z4 for two days that would normally be around £300 in total. Compact enough for narrow country roads, but still stylish enough to make the trip feel like something special, the host arrived with the keys days later. We did a quick walk around, checked the app, and off we went. I'd recommend checking your host's reviews and previous bookings to make this experience as smooth as possible. Our destination was a cosy hut in the woods, buried in the Cotswolds countryside at The Fish hotel in Broadway. With a promise of strong WiFi, good food, a private hot tub and a log burner, it ticked all the boxes: peaceful, remote, and perfect for working during the day and unwinding in the evenings. If you're doing a hybrid holiday, you need to make the most of the time you aren't working. We made sure to make the journey part fun, cruising with the roof off and stopping for lunch at The Boxing Hare, a renowned pub in the famous Cotswolds town of Chipping Norton. After a breezy check-in at the hotel, where rooms start from £350 a night, I logged on to work for a couple of hours. For working from home, the Hilly Huts are perfectly set-up to spend hours huddled over your laptop. The fridge was filled with snacks and drinks, there was a tea station brimming with options, along with a coffee machine for that caffeine fix. And if that wasn't enough, the hut was installed with a buzzer to ring for more refreshments. Equally, if you're someone who needs a change of scenery, across the grounds are communal areas and food stalls with plenty of seating to work from. Staff were incredibly accommodating and made our stay as comfortable as possible. I've never 'worked from home' in such luxury; the only problem was feeling sorry for my poor colleagues who had to endure my Zoom background whilst they sat at their usual desk. After I signed off at the end of the day, it was time for a well-earned dip in the hot tub, with drinks brought directly to our garden. Having had time to switch off and relax, we got ready for dinner at Hook. It's a seafood restaurant on-site of the hotel, promising a laid-back but luxurious vibe. For those that don't like seafood, there are other options for meat-eaters and vegetarians, but for me, The standout dish was a tuna tartare with wasabi and a ponzu dressing. What followed was the best sleep I've had in ages. Needing to wake up ready to log on at 8 am the next day, I barely needed an alarm clock. Instead, an open blind let the countryside sun stream in, starting my day in the most relaxed way possible. Armed with my laptop, I worked for the day on the veranda. We can all relate to the issue of working outside with no charging ports, so you will have to shuffle around to charge your devices indoors with plug sockets in relative short supply. It may not be as accessible as your monitors and keyboards at home, but we returned to London feeling so refreshed before the weekend had even started. We're in this weird in-between space right now, where offices are open, but remote work is still the norm for many of us. And while I love the flexibility, working from home can get monotonous. That's why I'm convinced hybrid holidays are the future. You don't need to block off a full week or use up all your annual leave, but just refresh your routine by working somewhere else. More Trending And Turo makes it so easy. Whilst owning a car suits a lot of people, for those who rarely need them, it's better value, better for the environment, and way less stress. It's fine to love your bustling city life but also admit you need to recharge. When we're building careers, we don't always want to fully unplug to experience a new environment. My eyes have been opened to the hybrid holidays and honestly? It's the best kind of work-life balance I can imagine. Choose the car based on your destination. For narrow country roads, I loved having something small and agile. But for a coastal road trip or wild camping weekend, I'd be looking at an SUV. Read the host reviews. Like Airbnb, you can check feedback and see if hosts are communicative and accommodating. Look for places with good WiFi and phone signal. If you're working from home, you don't need the stress of losing a connection mid-meeting. Pack light but smart. Small cars require small cases. Comfy clothes for working, walking boots for exploring, and a good portable charger are a must. Give yourself breathing room. Don't try to do it all. Even just changing your work surroundings makes a big difference. Anna Staddon was a guest of Turo and The Fish Hotel. MORE: Crying at work is embarrassing — but it can reveal your biggest strength MORE: I hate the beach, but a £13 trip to one of the UK's 'worst seaside towns' changed my mind MORE: I spent 96 hours in Canada's 'forgotten province' — one of its last untouched gems
Scotsman
21-06-2025
- Automotive
- Scotsman
Kia Picanto review: why this charming city car deserves a comeback
The latest facelift has given the Picanto some bold styling, but it's still a charming little car | Kia This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement. Motoring writer Gareth Butterfield might be getting misty-eyed about the apparent end of the city car, but Kia's Picanto proves there's still magic in small, simple, petrol-powered motoring. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... For reasons I'll never really understand, the city car is dying. We're an overpopulated society bearing the brunt of sweeping urbanisation but we've seemingly fallen out of love with small cars. What's that all about? And by small cars, I don't mean Ford Fiestas and Vauxhall Corsas, that's another tragic tale to tell for another day, I mean really small cars, like the Volkswagen Up, the Smart ForTwo, and the Peugeot 108. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad They're the cars that gave the world cheap, frugal, easy personal transport in a crowded environment, and they're the cars that many of us first engaged a clutch in. The car I've been testing this week, then, the Kia Picanto, is part of a dying breed. I feel like I should be harvesting its DNA rather than taking it for a trip up the A38. But duty calls. In top GT-Line spec, the Picanto is surprisingly grown up and very well equipped | Kia And as much as it feels sad to be in what could be the last of the true city cars, I'm determined to stay chipper, because it's quite hard to feel sad when you're driving a Kia Picanto. Most models are powered by a peppy one-litre, three cylinder engine with 62bhp, or there's a fizzy 1.2-litre four cylinder, and both suit the car brilliantly. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Don't get me wrong, chasing a 0-60 time below 15 seconds is a trifle pointless, but you could happily dust off the old cliché we always used to apply to city cars, and refer to it as "nippy". And then there's the way it drives. In a motoring landscape that's being blighted by heavy EVs, or complex hybrids, there's a refreshing sense of mechanical charm to the Picanto. The interior is roomier than you'd expect, and everything is easy to live with | Kia Stirring the manual gearstick and throwing it into a corner is borderline nostalgic, and always fun. Sure, it's not fast, but most of us have forgotten the joy of driving a slow car in a spirited manner and reaping the rewards of feeling every response. The Picanto takes a B-road jaunt in its stride. It's a delight. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Of course, it's at its best in the city, as you'd imagine, and you'll be rewarded for your frugal choice of car with decent MPG, low emissions, and easy parking. But it's also remarkably civilised and grown-up inside, too. I tested a high-spec GT-Line S, which has more gadgets than a city car strictly should, but you've got all the safety kit you'd need in the urban sprawl, and some useful kit for helping long journeys pass by with minimal effort. All versions get a rather basic but decent enough touch-screen display | Kia Even basic versions, which arguably make more sense, get an eight-inch touchscreen as standard, as well as a decent digital instrument panel. There's also aircon and all-round electric windows, and you're only one trim level away from the joys of heated front seats and steering wheel, auto aircon, keyless go and wireless phone charging. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Price up a basic "2", and your starting point is around £16,000. A few years ago we'd baulk at that for a tiny car, but I'm afraid it's par for the course now. The top models can easily knock on the door of £20,000 and even I'd admit that's getting a bit silly, but you'd be surprised at how well equipped they are. And there aren't many premium small cars to choose from these days, if you still long for internal combustion. The rear seats are pretty roomy for a city car, and the boot is good too | Kia Kias still get a seven-year warranty, and given the scarcity of options in this segment, I'd hope the residuals would be fairly robust too. I park some seriously nice cars outside my house from time to time, but during my week in a Picanto my neighbour made a point of crossing the road to ask me all about it. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He's unashamedly disinterested in cars generally, but the sight of a distinctive little city runabout piqued his interest. I'd like to think this served as an indication that there's life in city cars yet. I certainly hope so, because the Picanto was an absolute joy to live with. Selling your car? Here's the fastest way to get cash – and how it compares to rivals Thinking of selling your car this summer? It all starts with a valuation – and you can get one in under a minute with WeBuyAnyCar. With over 500 branches across the UK and same-day payment available, it's one of the quickest ways to find out what your vehicle is worth and get the cash if you're ready to sell. Used car prices have stayed surprisingly strong, especially for economical hatchbacks and SUVs. Whether you're upgrading for road trips or switching to a hybrid, a fast online quote can give you a solid starting point – even if you're still weighing up your options.
Irish Independent
11-05-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Independent
Tullogher Rosbercon show is massive success
The Tullogher Rosbercon Vintage Club held its annual Vintage Show on Sunday, April 27, at the Rosbercon Parish Centre and grounds, and the event was a tremendous success, blessed with sunshine and large crowds. Visitors of all ages turned out to enjoy the fantastic family-friendly atmosphere. With children's activities, a wide variety of stalls, and plenty of entertainment throughout the day, there was something for everyone. A major draw was the impressive display of vintage tractors and cars, which drew great admiration from enthusiasts and the general public alike. One of the standout features this year was the special showcase of Ford Fiestas, featuring eight different models from the past 47 years which made for a a display that generated huge interest and nostalgia. The event also served as an important fundraiser, with proceeds going to several local charities and deserving causes. Chairman, P.J. Murphy, expressed heartfelt thanks 'to all members and volunteers who worked tirelessly to make the day such a success'. He acknowledged the commitment of those who helped prepare the grounds, manage the activities, and welcome attendees on the day. With such a positive response, the club is already looking forward to next year.
Times
23-04-2025
- Automotive
- Times
Central Cee review — the prowling, growling persona wears thin
It's been a big year for rappers and sensible second-hand cars. Kendrick Lamar began his Super Bowl half-time show in February on the bonnet of a 1980s Buick: not to be outdone, the London rhymer Central Cee kicked off his Dublin 3Arena concert emerging from a Toyota Yaris parked up at the back of the stage. Somewhere out there Jay-Z must be frantically checking prices on vintage Ford Fiestas. The humble hatchback was there to underline 'Cench's' rise from unglamorous origins in Shepherds Bush. He had a lot to brag about. His tally of 25 million monthly Spotify listeners is three times that of Stormzy and twice that of Dave, British rap's previous kingpins. He is also that rare UK hip-hop figure to break America,
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Yahoo
Police make seven arrests after stolen cars found in suspected garage chop shop
Seven people have been arrested after a haul of stolen cars were found in a suspected garage chop shop in Oldham. Police responded to reports of suspicious activity in the Newport Street area on Saturday afternoon (February 8). Upon arrival, officers found a garage with two Ford Fiestas inside along with several registration plates linked to other vehicles. All had been previously been reported as stolen. Greater Manchester Police said officers believe the garage was being used as a suspected chop shop, which is where stolen vehicles are then often dissembled with parts then sold on for cash. READ MORE: EasyJet flight to Manchester Airport makes emergency landing after pilot 'collapsed' READ MORE: 'If I say we're going to war, we're going to war' Four men, aged 60, 45, 39 and 32 and three women – aged 43, 33 and 27 – were all arrested on suspicion of theft of motor vehicles and remain in custody to be questioned. Chief Inspector Ian Partington from Oldham's Neighbourhood team said: 'We suspect this garage was being used to illegally disassemble and 'chop up' vehicles for parts, later selling them for profit. We have deployed crime scene investigators in order to gather evidence, which will support our specialist vehicle examiners with their investigations. 'Tackling vehicle crime is one of my team's biggest priorities and today we've achieved a great result. A location that is undoubtedly being used for criminality has been uncovered and two vehicles will hopefully be making their way back to their rightful owners. 'We are committed to robustly targeting thieves responsible for stealing someone's hard-earned property. These criminals are quite simply profiting from people's misery and are a blight on our communities. 'Whilst we are working hard and taking steps in the right direction, we will not become complacent and we ask members of the public to be vigilant and take extra measures to secure their vehicles, particularly owners of Ford Fiesta and Ford Transit vans with increased thefts of these models. 'We recommend owners consider preventative measures to deter these thieves, by installing steering locks or wheel clamps and not leaving anything of value in your vehicles. 'Anyone with any information in relation to a crime, please contact 101 or you can always contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online. If you witness a crime in progress, dial 999.'
