‘There are so many spots I love to visit when I'm home — the beach, a pint in Wee Tom's or Tessie's, or walking along the top of Fair Head'
Take Five … with author and illustrator Paddy Donnelly
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Daily Record
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- Daily Record
Davina McCall opens up about life after being diagnosed with 'big' tumour
Davina McCall revealed made an end-of-life checklist after being diagnosed with a benign brain tumour. TV presenter Davina McCall has opened up about the life-changing steps she took after being diagnosed with a brain tumour during a health check-up in November, part of her menopause advocacy work. Although doctors assured her the tumour was benign, the 57-year-old feared the worst and created an end-of-life checklist, which she now describes as 'the best gift.' Speaking at Fearne Cotton's Happy Place Festival, the former Big Brother host revealed that the checklist came four months after her diagnosis, a delay caused by her initial denial, Express reports. She said it was a 'wake-up call' from her fourth neurosurgeon that prompted her to act. Recalling his stern warning, Davina said: 'It's a big tumour. It can't grow anymore, or you'll get water on the brain. If you're on a plane, there would have to be an emergency landing.' The checklist was focused on ensuring her children would be secure if the worst happened. 'I needed to get my brain in the right place where I could be calm before the operation. I had to make sure that my kids were going to be OK if I did not make it. That is all I really cared about. I knew my partner, Michael, would be OK as he is a whole person, but I was really worried about my kids,' she explained. Davina shares Holly, 23, Tilly, 21, and Chester, 18, with her ex-husband Matthew Robertson, from whom she separated in 2017 after 17 years of marriage. She has been in a relationship with celebrity hairdresser Michael since 2019, describing him as her 'soulmate.' She reflected on the emotional process of preparing her children for the possibility of losing her. 'I went into forensic thinking about my children and where they were at in their lives, what stage they were at. You are only happy as your unhappiest child,' she said. 'But I realised that they would be great, they would miss me, and I want to be with them, but they would be fine. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. "I felt I could go to sleep on the operating table and know that they were all here to help me, but I can let go of the outcome, and it was the best gift.' For Davina, the checklist ultimately brought peace, as she accepted that her loved ones could thrive without her presence. She described her brain surgery as transformative, calling it 'the best thing to ever happen to me.' 'I am not afraid of dying anymore. It was the biggest journey of my life. It was an amazing time. I have been on a massive life journey, and I have been through terrible struggles. "That is where the learning comes from. If something really hard happens now, I know it is a good thing,' she added.
Daily Record
a few seconds ago
- Daily Record
'Blood everywhere' after vicious seagull attack as Scots woman rushed to hospital
Lesley Wright, 70, was left with a bleeding scalp that required medical attention after the unprovoked attack by the bird. A woman was rushed to hospital with a head wound after she was attacked - by a seagull. Lesley Wright, 70, was left with a bleeding scalp that required medical attention after the unprovoked attack by the bird. She was walking to a neighbour's house in Moray when the gull swooped in from behind and hit her in the back of the head, leaving her dazed and in pain. Lesley was left with a scar and a bald patch - and is questioning why seagulls are a protected species. "I felt an almighty whack on the back of my head," said Lesley. "I didn't know it was a seagull at the time - not until I heard it squawking after it had done it. "Next thing I knew my head was bleeding. "It wasn't a big cut, but it was bleeding a lot with it being a head wound." The attack occurred near the home of Selina Ho, a lash technician who Lesley had been intending to visit. Lesley, wanting to avoid bleeding in Selina's home, attempted to call her - but thankfully, a bystander intervened and knocked on her door. Selina brought Lesley water, a chair, and some towels to mop up the blood, and the pair waited in the street for a moment before rushing to Dr. Gray's Hospital in Elgin. "I didn't want to go into Selina's house with my head dripping with blood and get blood everywhere, so I tried to phone her to come out," said Lesley. "At that point, a lady came out of her car to check I was alright, and she went in and got Selina, who came out with water and a towel and a chair to sit down on. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. "We sat there until the bleeding stopped, and then Selina looked at it and said I'd better go to hospital to get it seen to, especially with it being a seagull. "She drove us to the accident and emergency department, where they glued it together. "It was quite a small cut, but with a head wound, they bleed a lot." Thankfully, the wound did not require stitches - but Lesley was left with a scar and a bald patch, which is now growing back. Lesley says the attack has left her wary and uneasy around gulls - and she has begun to question why the species is protected. "If I'm out, and I see seagulls or a chick around, I tend to start looking up in the air to make sure none are coming near me," she said. "I'm very wary around seagulls now. "I've seen quite a few incidents where they've been eating sandwiches out of people's hands on the high street, and my husband says they always go for the dog at the top of the street. "I do wonder why they're a protected species - they're not nice to look at, and all you can hear at three or four o'clock in the morning is them squawking."
Zawya
a few seconds ago
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Raya Holding delivers strong revenue and profit growth in H1 2025
Cairo, Egypt: Raya Holding for Financial Investments a leading Egyptian investment company operating across diverse high-potential sectors, announced its consolidated financial results for the first half of 2025, which showed strong performance across all key financial indicators, supported by notable growth in Q2 compared to the same period last year. This strong performance was underpinned by an exceptional second quarter, sustaining the positive momentum following the company's record-breaking FY 2024 results. H1 2025 Consolidated Performance During the first six months of 2025, Raya Holding generated revenues of EGP 27.78 billion, marking a 38.3% increase compared to EGP 20.09 billion in H1 2024. Gross Profit grew in parallel, rising 38.4% year-on-year to EGP 6.00 billion, while maintaining a stable Gross Profit Margin of 21.62%. EBITDA reached EGP 3.20 billion, reflecting a 34.9% increase from the same period last year and yielding an EBITDA Margin of 11.5%. Net Profit Before Minority advanced to EGP 972 million, up 27.5% from EGP 762 million in the prior-year period, reinforcing the company's consistent earnings growth. The company's Net Profit After Minority rose to 892 million EGP, reflecting a strong year-on-year growth of 36.3%. Outstanding Q2 2025 Results The second quarter was a significant growth driver, with revenues surging to EGP 14.90 billion, up 54.0% year-on-year and 15.6% higher than Q1 2025. Gross Profit climbed 52.3% compared to Q2 2024 and 23.4% from the previous quarter, reaching EGP 3.32 billion and resulting in a Gross Profit Margin of 22.3%. EBITDA recorded robust gains, rising 55.1% year-on-year to EGP 1.81 billion and 29.6% quarter-on-quarter, alongside an improved EBITDA Margin of 12.1%. Net Profit Before Minority Interest for Q2 stood at EGP 584 million, reflecting a 52.1% year-on-year increase and a 50.5% improvement over Q1 2025. Raya Holding's management emphasized that the strong H1 results reflect the success of Raya Holding's strategic approach to sustainable growth, operational efficiency, and sector diversification, while balancing top-line expansion with solid profitability. The exceptional Q2 performance significantly bolstered the half-year results, positioning the company for continued success in the second half of 2025. With strategic expansion plans, targeted investments, and a commitment to operational excellence, Raya Holding is well-placed to sustain its growth trajectory and deliver long-term value to shareholders.
