The little-known areas in Italy where you can retire to a beautiful holiday home for less than £45k, revealed by property experts
Italy has some of the keenest priced properties on the market – making it a great choice for those on a budget, with unbeatable coastlines and landscapes adding to the charm. Access is easy and cheap too, with plenty of budget flights from the UK on offer.
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Times
17 minutes ago
- Times
How to protect yourself from (and treat) mosquito bites
While this long, hot summer poses challenges for farmers, gardeners, firefighters and water companies, it does facilitate one of my greatest pleasures: alfresco dining. And, horse flies and wasps aside, eating outside in the UK tends not to be associated with unwelcome guests — unlike in hotter countries, where mosquitoes can't wait to join you for dinner. Fortunately bites from mozzies and gnats in the UK are generally little more than an irritation, but elsewhere they pose a major threat, transmitting infectious diseases such as malaria, dengue, yellow fever, zika virus and chikungunya — all of which can be brought home by returning travellers. Indeed, the UK Health Security Agency has recently released data on chikungunya — a viral infection that causes fever and joint pain — that shows a threefold increase in cases in England during the first six months of this year. It is still rare at 73 confirmed cases, far fewer than the 1,000 or so people with malaria that you would expect during the same period in the UK. • Read more from Dr Mark Porter While anti-malarial drugs and vaccines can help to protect against some of the nastier threats abroad, the most basic defence is simply to avoid being bitten — something that applies here in the UK too, if you want to make the most of your time outside. And, as with any battle plan, the first step is to understand your enemy. Mosquitoes are a problem at dusk and, in hotter countries, at dawn. Their primary source of energy is nectar from plants, but females have to supplement their diet because of the demands of egg production and so turn to sucking blood. And while they use a combination of sensory cues — visual, olfactory, thermal — to target you, the carbon dioxide in your breath is one of the most important ones. Put simply, mozzies can detect ambient CO2 levels and fly 'upstream' towards the highest concentration (you). And it's not only your breath that will attract them but also the CO2 in the fumes from your candles and barbeque. And here's where a decent repellent such as Deet can help: not only does it make your skin taste nasty if they do find you, it is also thought to act as a cloaking device, jamming their CO2 sensors and making you harder to most people, I don't like plastering myself with chemicals, but I have always favoured Deet over 'natural' repellents such as citronella — and it is a stance backed by research. One study comparing 16 commercially available repellents found that volunteers using 24 per cent Deet were protected for an average of just over five hours when they put their arms in a tank full of mosquitoes. Meanwhile those using 10 per cent citronella (the strongest tested) were bitten within 20 minutes. Some studies have shown citronella in a more favourable light, but I would still stick to Deet or other proven products containing PMD, IR3535 and picaridin. • Read more expert advice on healthy living, fitness and wellbeing And be wary of lighting lemon-scented or citronella candles: even if they do contain something that will repel mosquitoes (and many don't), the CO2 they produce may negate that benefit. You should also avoid using too much aftershave and perfume because fragrances may attract bugs. Last but not least, ensure that you cover up — anything from socks and trousers to protect your legs to sleeping under a mosquito net in trouble spots abroad. If you are still bitten — and you will be — most cause short-lived problems, but if troublesome the best remedy is typically to apply a topical steroid cream (hydrocortisone) and take an antihistamine. If the redness and swelling worsens or the area becomes painful and/or is weeping despite trying both medications, then it may be infected and you should seek medical advice. However, redness and swelling, even if marked, is normally caused by inflammation triggered by a delayed immune reaction to anticoagulants injected by the mosquito. An inflamed bite tends to be itchy, whereas an infected one is more likely to be sore or painful. However it can be hard to tell the difference and antibiotics are often over-prescribed by doctors who prefer to err on the side of caution. How your body reacts to bites depends to some extent on how often you have been bitten before. If you have never been bitten by a mosquito, then you probably won't react much at all. If, like most of us, you have been bitten numerous times, then you can react quite badly. And at the other end of the spectrum, if you have been bitten frequently for years then the reaction may start to wane — a variation in the immune response that may explain why some people (my wife, Ros) seem to be bitten more than others (me). Alternative explanations are available … The UK Health Security Agency is concerned about the rise in cases of infection with the chikungunya virus in returning travellers to the UK. The virus is spread by bites from infected mosquitoes. Affected regions include Africa, southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, the Pacific region, the subtropical regions of the Americas and the Caribbean. Most cases identified this year have been found in travellers returning from Sri Lanka, India and Mauritius. Chikungunya is normally a self-limiting condition that causes one to two weeks of fever, muscle and joint pain, headaches, and skin rashes. However, the joint pain can be severe and persist for much longer. Rarely, the infection can be fatal.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Five ways to cash in on secret savings from your mobile phone provider
YOUR mobile provider is hiding secret savings and summer is the perfect time to cash in. Check out the latest offers below for £1 drinks, takeaway vouchers and family days out for half the usual price . . . PRIORITY: As part of their brilliant ongoing perks, use your O2 Virgin Media Priority app to get yourself a Greggs hot drink or savoury snack for £1, once per month. For summer, get 20 per cent off an airport lounge entrance or 40 per cent off airport parking with Holiday Extras. Or if you are a thrillseeker, 100 QR codes are being released daily to give you priority queuing at Alton Towers, Thorpe Park or Chessington World of Adventures. VODAFONE VERYME: Get a free 12-month Local Blend membership, which entitles you to 25 per cent off prices at independent coffee shops in your local area, while the free Eat Local annual membership means you can get 2-for-1 meals in lots of independent restaurants. With VeryMe Days Out, powered by the Kids Pass, you can grab up to 50 per cent off prices at hundreds of UK attractions, from aquariums and museums to theme parks and cinemas. THREE+ REWARDS: Download the Three+ app to get £1 hot or cold barista drinks at Caffè Nero weekly and, if you're dining in tonight, get £5 off a takeaway when you order via Just Eat and spend a minimum of £10. For fun days out, claim £3 Cineworld tickets Fri-Sun and get 25 per cent off English Heritage memberships and up to 45 per cent off museum entry across the country with Tiqets attractions. MY EE: Get the My EE rewards app to enjoy six months of free Apple Music, which usually costs £9.99 per month — and check your app for personal discounts at high-street stores and money off days out this summer. TESCO MOBILE: Tesco has no traditional rewards app but for every £1 you spend on your monthly contract, collect Clubcard points to spend on your next shop, at restaurants like Pizza Express or for places such as the Longleat Zoo. Plus, get ten per cent off selected Tesco brands in store including the F&F clothing range. All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability. Deal of the day THESE Adidas Originals Adilette Slides are perfect for your next holiday. Usually £25, now £15, at £10 Cheap treat PICK up a pack of Rowntree's Fruit Pastilles lollies at Iceland for half price. Previously £2.50 for a pack of four, now £1.25. Top swap FOR those with limited outdoor space, the VegTrug raised bed planter, £49.99 from is perfect. Or head to Ikea for the Primärskog plant stand, reduced to £15. Shop & save STOCK up on fabric softener at Home Bargains. Lenor Outdoorable Fabric Conditioner Northern Solstice (70 washes) was £5.99, now £3.99. PLAY NOW TO WIN £200 7 JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle. Every month we're giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers - whether you're saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered. Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket.
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
Nuneaton gallery hosts seaside-inspired summer activities
A museum and art gallery is bringing seaside fun indoors as part of a new Museum and Art Gallery has curated free family activities to run throughout August, including a workshop to make your own Punch and Judy show as well as arts and craft can also visit the Yellow Gallery for no extra cost to see artist Nicky Thompson's latest exhibition The Art of Travel which celebrates travel and runs until 20 said it was a delight to showcase her work at the museum and urged visitors to explore the other galleries. Families can enjoy activities at the museum in Riversley Park, which run from 11:00 to 15:00 BST and include:Make your own Punch and Judy show on 21 AugustMake your own sunglasses on 22 AugustTrain bookmark making on 28 AugustMake your own fun camera on 29 August Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
