Latest news with #Pollyanna
The Herald Scotland
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
The artists going from queer cabaret to the Venice Biennale
They will be working with Mount Stuart House, the neo-gothic mansion house on the Isle of Bute, on a show inspired by queer histories, Scottish heritage and the Filipino roots of Bugarin. Read more: Their project, which will feature elements of performance and moving image, was chosen to represent Scotland following an open call for proposals earlier this year. It is expected to to explore 'complex emotional legacies' of shame, pride and celebration through the sound and costumes of a parade. Artists Angel John Castle and Davide Bugarin with Mount Stuart Trust curator Morven Gregor. (Image: Neil Hanna) The pair have pledged to "trouble easy narratives on the contested ground of identity today" in a show that will transform a yet-to-be announced Venice venue with "spatial and drag-inflected interventions." Bugarin and Castle have both performed as their drag alter egos 'Hairy Teddy Bear' and 'Pollyfilla' at queer cabaret nights staged under the banner of Pollyanna, an arts company created by Castle in 2015. More than 250 artists have since performed across 75 shows, many of which were staged at the Paradise Palms bar in Edinburgh. The work of Bugarin and Castle, which has combined elements of cabaret, theatre and film, has previously explored the histories of performance, queerness, colonisation and gentrification. They have been showcased recently at the Fruitmarket and City Art Centre in [[Edinburgh]], the Tate Modern in London, the Microscope Gallery in New York, the Kriittinen Gallery in Finland and the Pineapple Lab, in Manila, in the Philippines. Mount Stuart House, the ancestral home of the Crichton-Stuart family, dates back to the late 19th century and is home to one of Britain's biggest private art collections. The house was opened to the public for the first time in 1995 and has been playing host to annual visual art exhibitions since 2001. Artists who have previously worked with the Mount Stuart Trust, which manages the mansion house and its cultural programme, include Kate Whiteford, Thomas Joshua Cooper, Christine Borland, Langlands & Bell, Anya Gallaccio, Nathan Coley, Lee Mingwei, Lucy Skaer, Kate Davis, Lorna Macintyre, Steven Claydon and Whitney McVeigh. Scotland has not been represented at the Venice Biennale since 2022, when Glasgow-based artist Alberta Whittle attracted more than 35,000 visitors to her solo show. Scotland's future participation in the event, which dates back to 2003, was put under review two years ago amid concerns over how it could be funded in future. However it was announced earlier this year that Scotland would have an official presence at the 2026 event after the review found 'overwhelming support' for it to continue. Creative Scotland, British Council and the National Galleries Scotland are sharing the £470,000 costs involved in making Bugarin and Castle's show, and showing it in Venice between May and November next year. However it is hoped further funding can be secured to allow the show to tour around Scotland following a planned run at Mount Stuart House in 2027. Morven Gregor, curator at the Mount Stuart Trust, said: 'We are excited to curate the work of Bugarin and Castle, extending our shared commitment through the opportunities presented by the Scotland and Venice project to bring this ambitious work of performance and moving image to life and to reach our audiences on the west coast of Scotland and internationally. 'We look forward to celebrating the return of Scotland to Venice with our communities across Scotland and beyond, and, as ever, recognise the positive impact of working in collaboration with key partners in the cultural sector.' Bugarin and Castle said: 'We first met performing in the mess and noise of queer cabaret in Edinburgh. 'A decade later, that spirit still drives our practice. We're thrilled to show new work together in Venice, transforming the venue with spatial and drag-inflected interventions that confront questions of gendered performance and colonial sound control, rooted in our lived experience. 'We aim to trouble easy narratives on the contested ground of identity today.' Emma Nicolson, head of visual arts at Creative Scotland, said: 'We are thrilled to support the Mount Stuart Trust, and Bugarin and Castle, as they lead Scotland's return to Venice with a commission that speaks powerfully to the rich and diverse contemporary art practice that we have in Scotland. 'This project is bold, visually compelling and emotionally layered and stands as a testament to the varied and ambitious artistic voices in Scotland, rooted in place, conceptually bold, and internationally relevant. 'We are excited to see how this work will evolve in Venice and ripple back across communities and venues throughout Scotland and beyond.'
Daily Mirror
22-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
British tourists urged to 'never wear' one type of shoes on plane for 'vital reason'
Pollyann is a frequent traveller who often shares advice on how people can better their travel experiences. Accoding to her, experts say there's one pair of shoes you should never wear on a plane When it comes to travelling on a plane, there are a few things we need to know, especially when it comes to what to wear. While some people like to plan their travel outfits for fashion reasons, there are actually some pretty practical things you need to consider too, as your outfit could just impact your safety at the airport. Pollyann, a travel guru who often shares travel tips under the name travelwithpalma on Instagram, recently drew attention to one specific thing - people's shoes. She claims experts say people should generally avoid one popular pair of shoes when flying, and the reason they should be swerved is pretty vital. While the shoes aren't banned at airports, it's generally advised you don't wear them. Little you may know, there are all sorts of things you may want to avoid wearing while travelling on a plane. In a recent post, Pollyanna wrote: "Skip the sandals when you fly - seriously. Change into those sneakers! If there's an emergency involving fire, broken glass or the need to evacuate fast, you'll want real closed-toe shoes to protect your feet and help you move quickly! "Sandals slow you down and leave you exposed when seconds matter. And, even when everything goes smoothly, airplane bathrooms mid-flight are…questionable. That liquid on the floor? "Yeah - it's probably not water. For safety and sanitary reasons, protect your feet." While it's something a lot of people may not realise, it turns out there are certain reasons why it's best to avoid wearing sandals on a plane. They have the potential to pose a number of risks. Even though airlines don't have specific bans on sandals, it's generally advised to wear closed-toe shoes for safety and comfort reasons during air travel. If an emergency situation arises, such as evacuations, closed-toe shoes offer better protection than sandals. Not to mention, open-toed shoes also allow your feet to be exposed to potential germs and bacteria in public spaces like airports and airplanes. Another added benefit is sandals may not be as comfortable for walking around the airport or during a long flight. As well as this, you could be asked to remove your sandals at security checkpoints, which means you may have to walk barefoot on potentially unclean floors. Generally, it's recommended people wear covered shoes while travelling such as trainers or walking shoes. This is because they help your feet to be better protected. Airline dress codes might restrict certain types of attire for reasons of propriety or potential offensiveness. In addition to avoiding a fashion faux pas, the Federal Aviation Administration also gives guidance on how travellers can dress smartly for their own safety whilst flying. Their website recommends: "Passengers who wear sensible clothing can reduce their chances of serious injury in the unlikely event of an emergency. "Dress to cover as much skin as possible. Wear clothes made of natural fabrics such as cotton, wool, denim or leather. "Synthetics may melt when heated. Wear clothing that is roomy, avoiding restrictive clothing. Wear low-heeled, leather or canvas shoes."
Daily Mirror
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
KEVIN MAGUIRE: 'Labour must find engaging story for the UK - or face election wipeout'
Kevin Maguire says No. 10 needs a rethink over failure to tell an engaging story, and fast, or Keir Starmer's Government faces being dead in the water at the next election Imagine if we had a UK Government reviving an ailing NHS, raising the minimum wage well above inflation, introducing breakfast clubs and giving free school meals to 500,000 more poorer kids. One that was devising much improved new job rights, planning a huge house-building drive, bringing a fragmented rail industry back into public ownership, overseeing a green energy revolution to safeguard supplies and prices while investing heavily to guarantee steel production in Scunthorpe and Port Talbot. Ministers committed to opening centres in every local authority to give all kids a better start in life and, finally, negotiate and implement concrete plans to deter and deal with small boat crossings where Rwanda failed expensively and disastrously. A Cabinet consigning dinosaur Tory hereditary peers to the dustbin of history and a Prime Minister resetting relations with the rest of Europe to boost trade and avoid long passport queues. You'd not be an excessively enthusiastic Pollyanna should you recognise that we have that UK Government but you'd also not be alone if you'd need to be Miss Marple to detect it. Because winter fuel, disability cuts and the 'Island of Strangers' rows mean that Government is a strange land to millions of voters, including those who put their X next to Labour a year ago. As MPs pack their buckets and spades this week, Downing Street must think hard about the missing vision thing over the Summer. The Government's fatal lack of a compelling, vibrant story is becoming an obsession of mine. The awful own goals, too. And the can't do rather than a can do approach to issues such as the pernicious two-child poverty cap. Labour isn't as good as it could be yet nor is it anyway as near as bad as Nigel Farage, Kemi Badenoch and the great disillusioned pretend or believe. But unless Starmer and Co start telling an engaging story, the writing will be on the wall sooner rather than later for a General Election that might be up to four years in the future. Donald Trump feels MAGA's bite Revolutions devour their children and you'd need a heart of stone not to enjoy his MAGA movement eating Donald Trump alive over the Jeffrey Epstein files. The demented US President, who once hailed the now dead paedophile a 'terrific guy' and 'a lot of fun to be with', is taking as much flak as Prince Andrew. Claiming there was nothing to see then, when abusing supporters failed to stem criticism, demanding the Justice Department release a 'client list' his puppet minister Pam Bondi claimed was on her desk before declaring it never existed won't cauterise this bleeding wound. Because conspiracy theorist Trump, a liar who questioned whether Barack Obama was born in the USA and entitled to be President, is suddenly at the heart of one of the juiciest conspiracy theories of them all. Flying to meet Starmer this week and visit his Turnberry golf course in Scotland ahead of September's state visit, Trump could always ask for a secret chat with the disgraced Duke of York to swap notes. Diane Abbott's suspension a mistake Foolishly suspending Diane Abbott and four more Labour MPs is bullying Keir Starmer putting rocket boosters under Jeremy Corbyn's proposed Left-wing rival party. The venerable first Black woman elected to the House of Commons U-turning on an apology for offending many Jewish people by downplaying anti-Semitism deserved criticism but loss of the whip? Equally backbench rebels Brian Leishman, Chris Hinchliff, Neil Duncan-Jordan and Rachael Maskell invited a stiff talking to from his enforcers yet surely not banishment. The battered Prime Minister whacking MPs who were on the right side of the argument over caring for the disabled won't reinforce his authority, It'll be weakened, perhaps fatally. The five plus another five on the Westminster naughty step all want to remain Labour yet Corbyn and co-conspirator Zara Sultana are eyeing possible recruits when Starmer's pulling up guy ropes down one side of what needs to be a big tent to win. 'Tycoon King' and his Highgrove row Labour's new job rights can't come quick enough for feudal lord Charlie Windsor's gardeners after an exodus from Highgrove. No wonder the peasants are revolting when a tycoon King worth an estimated £640million reportedly pays only the legal minimum wage, currently just £12.21 an hour, and is high-handed. The feather-bedded hereditary monarch's role in issuing marching orders to a probationary gardener, insisting 'don't put that man in front of me again' after the poor soul made a factual error about a flower, sounds nauseating. Issuing instructions during daily walkouts and sending memos written in thick red ink portray pompous Chas as the boss from hell. Charlie's exploited gardeners need to join a trade union and create a right royal stink. Going up He'll never have an easier mission when it was the Tories who ran a secret Afghan migration route and gagged Parliament and the media after that huge data loss on their watch but Labour John Healey was a commendably cool Defence Secretary. Going down All at sea Nigel Farage exposed Reform's muddled posturing by claiming England's sinking water firms 'need private-sector innovation' when it is commercial companies putting up bills and dumping sewage. Total renationalisation is the only answer. Speaker's corner 'We haven't forgotten you. We have failed you.' Leicester South Independent MP Shockat Adam at a meeting in Parliament summed up Britain's hand-wringing after a young Palestinian, Abubaker Abed, criticised UK arms supplies to Israel during the ongoing slaughter and war crimes in Gaza. Shame on us.
Daily Mirror
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Jenny Powell, 57, spills the truth behind her age-defying looks
EXCLUSIVE: Jenny Powell has been a fixture on our screens for more than three decades - and she's barely aged a day and now the TV star tells us how she keeps looking so youthful Jenny Powell is the TV face that simply does not age — and now she's finally lifted the lid on exactly how she keeps looking so fresh-faced at 57 (only just!), from high-tech blood treatments to the teen daughter who keeps her feeling twenty years younger. Speaking exclusively to The Mirror, the presenter - who first won hearts on Wheel of Fortune and is now hosting the Rewind Festival - laughs off her reputation as Britain's forever-youthful TV darling. 'People always say to me: 'Oh my God, you haven't aged!'' Jenny giggles. 'I go to a few people for remedies and treatments, and I said to one of them, what should I tell people? He said, 'Well, some of it's your genes, Jenny — but you do look after yourself!' And I suppose I do.' Yoga, a sprinkle of magic vitamins — and a bit of 21st century science, too. Jenny, who lives in South Manchester with fiancé Martin Lowe, 51, and their youngest daughter Pollyanna, 16, says it's a mix of ancient and cutting-edge secrets keeping her glowing. 'I do hot yoga about three times a week and I've just started Reformer too — it really keeps my mind and body in shape,' she says. 'I don't drink much, but I'm taking NAD now — I love it! It basically regenerates your cells after your 40s. I have it intravenously, which is pricey, about £300 a pop, but you feel amazing after. Then you switch to supplements to keep it up. It's fascinating stuff!' And the ultimate fountain of youth? Her teenage daughter Pollyanna. 'My kids keep me young. I've got a 24-year-old, but I had Pollyanna when I was like 40, 41. So I've still got a 16-year-old at 57. I have to keep up with her for a start! So I think it's just a combo of that. Just looking after yourself. Yoga's amazing for me." But behind the glam facade, Jenny admits it hasn't all been plain sailing. Last year, she made headlines when she spoke candidly about her life-changing hysterectomy - an Instagram post about it racked up a whopping two and a half million views in just 24 hours, sparking a wave of support. 'It was awful,' she says honestly. 'Yeah, it was awful. I had really bad symptoms, which I'd put up with for a very long time, like flooding terribly, like really badly. And migraines. I had backache. I had pelvic congestion, basically, because my uterus was the size of being 14 to 16 weeks pregnant. So it was enlarged. And it had fibroids and I had adenomyosis*(corr), which I didn't even know existed, which is sort of on the outer lining of your uterus." Adenomyosis is a condition where the tissue that normally lines the uterus (endometrium) grows into the muscular wall of the uterus (myometrium). This misplaced tissue continues to behave like normal uterine lining, thickening and bleeding during each menstrual cycle, which can cause heavy, painful periods, and pelvic pain. Today, mental health is top of her list - alongside making time for Martin, who she describes as her rock. 'He's so kind. And I think you're very conscious when you've got kids already. I mean, he hasn't got any kids. I think you're very conscious about who's going to come into the house and the home and get to know your family. 'You're very, very cautious. And he just adores the girls and he always has, Polly was two, three years old when we met and she's now 16. Polly was, she's 24 and she was like nine. I think it's his kindness I fell for. He can't help himself. He just thinks he can fix everyone. He's one of those. And of course, he is gorgeous!" Jenny has learned to prioritise herself as well as her loved ones - and she hopes other women will too. 'If your thoughts get the better of you first thing in the morning, you've had it for the rest of the day. So it's really having your own little mantras or something to the minute you wake up, you set your mindset in the right place. 'So, you know, even if it's singing your favourite song first thing when you wake up, putting frequencies on or repeating something three times, whatever it is that uplifts you, do it. Do it. Don't go on your bloody phone!" As she gears up to take the mic at this summer's Rewind Festival - and maybe even tackle the Strictly ballroom one day if bosses come calling again — Jenny says she's in no rush to slow down even as she turns 60 in three years. "I'm going to own it. Will I still be in a bikini, that's the question! Of course I will be! I think I'll still be in a bikini in my 60s, but if I'm not, I'm just trying to think why I wouldn't be! That's what we're trying to inspire women to do. It doesn't matter what people say, well, it's what is right for you. As long as I can do some yoga on the beach somewhere, I'll be happy," she beams. Cheers to that Jenny!
The Irish Sun
04-06-2025
- General
- The Irish Sun
Pro garden designer reveals 69p hack that will kill green flies without using any nasty chemicals to harm your plants
IF your garden is looking a bit of a mess and you want to ensure it looks fresh, you've come to the right place. It turns out that there's a nightmare pest that may be living in your garden - and it could be the reason why your 2 You may spot aphids clustered on the stem of soft shoots – look under leaves in particular Credit: Getty 2 Pollyanna Wilkinson, right, shared how to banish the pest without harming your garden Credit: The Ins & Outs Podcast Aphids are extremely common and can impact plant growth. They have tiny soft pear-shaped bodies, and are usually green or black. You may spot them clustered on the stem of soft shoots – look under leaves in particular – or may find a sticky substance on your plants that gives away aphids have been there sucking at the sap. But while there's no need to be alarmed, it's best to identify the problem as soon as possible - and luckily, a gardening whizz has come to rescue with a wallet-friendly solution. read more on gardening Speaking on her podcast, Pollyanna Wilkison responded to a listener who had written into the show how to banish the The gardening designer said: ''We're getting a lot of questions about how to get rid of aphids and it's a tricky one. ''Because on the one side, I want to say to you aphids are actually amazing forage for loads of really important insects - ladybugs, hoverflies, parasitoid wasps all eat aphids. ''They will be eaten by these guys if you leave them alone.'' Most read in Fabulous However, if you're dealing with ''an absolute infestation'', there's something you can use - and it's already in your According to Pollyanna, green-fingered Brits can use washing-up liquid - which you can snap up for around 65p from your local supermarket. The £14.50 Wickes buy people are swearing by to get rid of weeds on their driveway for GOOD She explained in ''That's not going to hurt anything. ''Whatever they breathe through, it blocks it and then they die.'' Keep pests out all summer IF you want to ensure that your home is pest free this summer, here's what you need to know. Hornets and wasps - hate the smell of peppermint oil so spraying this liberally around your patio or balcony can help to keep them at bay. Moths - acidic household white vinegar is effective for deterring moths. Soak some kitchen roll in vinegar and leave it in your wardrobe as a deterrent. Flying ants - herbs and spices, such as cinnamon, mint, chilli pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cloves, or garlic act as deterrents. Mosquitoes - plants, herbs and essential oil fragrances can help deter mozzies inside and out. Try eucalyptus, lavender and lemongrass. ''We're not here for the pesticides - the washing-up liquid will do it absolutely fine.'' The gardening whizz also recently shared 'Hate them. I effing hate hanging baskets. 'And the reason I hate them is much the same reason that I hate small pots.' She shared the first reason for this is that she doesn't think they are 'very attractive as a vessel.' Pollyanna explained on the 'And I don't like seeing plastic in the garden. 'And also the body of soil that a hanging basket holds - unless it's those amazing ones outside the Ritz, which are just the most extraordinary thing I've ever seen, but those are the sides of a beach ball - it's just, it's this tiny little dish of mud.'
