Latest news with #20

South Wales Argus
16 hours ago
- Health
- South Wales Argus
Home Instead UK named highest-rated home care in Wales
Home Instead UK has earned the title based on glowing client reviews on an independent site often described as 'the TripAdvisor for home care.' The company's Monmouth, Newport, Cowbridge and Swansea branches all made the top 20 list, which is compiled annually from feedback provided by clients and their families. Only five per cent of home care providers in Wales secured a spot on the list. Lisa Rosser, care manager at Home Instead Swansea, said: "We are absolutely delighted to once again receive Top 20 Provider award. "While our office team works tirelessly behind the scenes to keep everything running smoothly, we know that it's is our incredible care professionals who truly make the difference in the lives of our clients and their families. "Not a day goes by without hearing wonderful feedback about their kindness, dedication, and unwavering commitment to providing exceptional care. "Their compassion and expertise shine through in everything they do, and this award is a testament to their hard work." The reviews reflect the experiences of those receiving care, including one client's daughter who described the service as 'absolutely first-class.' Amanda Hopkins, reviews manager at said: "Top quality home care is vital as it supports people so they can continue living in their own homes and retain their independence. "People who are less mobile due to illness, a disability or age can become hidden away from society. "When this happens their home care worker often plays a crucial role in keeping them both mentally and physically well." The reviews come directly from clients and their families, offering valuable insight for others seeking trustworthy, compassionate care. All companies featured in the top 20 help older people remain in their own homes while receiving the support they need.


The Mainichi
a day ago
- The Mainichi
Belgian man arrives in Japan's Itami after 448-day, 20,000-km bicycle journey
ITAMI, Hyogo -- A man who embarked on a bicycle tour from Hasselt, Belgium, to Itami, Hyogo Prefecture -- international sister cities -- recently completed his journey at Itami City High School, where he interacted with about 120 students. Jolan Bollen, 32, originally from Hasselt and now residing in Brussels, covered approximately 20,000 kilometers across 15 countries over 448 days. He shared with the students the joy of connecting with people worldwide and the importance of a spirit of challenge. The two cities established their sister city relationship in 1985. Their exchanges continue as the Hasselt city government gifted a carillon installed in front of JR Itami Station, and the Itami Municipal Government is assisting in the creation of a Japanese garden in Hasselt. Bollen planned his first bicycle journey to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the sister city relationship, aiming to reaffirm the bond between the two cities. He departed from Hasselt in April 2024. An Itami city government employee who maintained contact with Bollen through social media during his adventure suggested the interaction with local high school students, and the event was realized. On July 9, Bollen was greeted and congratulated by students in the school's gymnasium. Showing no fatigue, he smiled and recounted his days of adventure. Apart from crossing the sea by ship, Bollen pedaled continuously. He spent a month cycling through a desert without encountering anyone. He also camped in temperatures as low as minus 15 degrees Celsius. Although the journey was tougher than expected and he felt like giving up at times, people in each country showed him kindness, he said. In Uzbekistan, an 80-year-old woman offered him a place to stay. Bollen said that the world is kind and that he now has "family" all over the globe. He added that the most important thing is to share happiness with others and that he hopes the students will be curious and take on challenges. When asked by a student if his bottom hurt from riding the bicycle for so long, Bollen laughed and replied that it was painful at first but now his buttocks are as hard as a rock. Third-year student Nayu Sugawara, 17, remarked, "His words that not giving up is important were impressive. I also want to take on challenges." (Japanese original by Yukiharu Sakurai, Kobe Bureau)

Sydney Morning Herald
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Nick Cave draws a crowd – but the queues aren't to listen to his music this time
London: Australian singer Nick Cave has surprised shoppers at a small store in England by giving them an insight into his creative life – not with his music, but with his books. The singer has generated queues at an Oxfam bookshop at a seaside resort by donating 2000 books on topics including philosophy, religion and rock. The first of his boxes was opened last week and drew a crowd of buyers when word reached the local media in Hove, near Brighton in south-east England. 'I guess there were between 50 and 100 people queuing in the first couple of hours of the stock going out,' store manager Richard, who asked to be quoted without his surname, told this masthead. Cave lived near Brighton with his family for many years and donated the books after they were used in an art installation about his creative process. That exhibition, called Stranger Than Kindness, included a recreation of Cave's office, with his entire personal library, as presented in the Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard film 20,000 Days on Earth. Word of the donation reached the local newspaper, The Argus, which broke the news and triggered the crowds. About 800 of the books were put on display last week and included Australian books such as Helen Garner's This House of Grief, her account of the trial of Robert Farquharson for driving his car into a dam, killing his three young sons.

The Age
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
Nick Cave draws a crowd – but the queues aren't to listen to his music this time
London: Australian singer Nick Cave has surprised shoppers at a small store in England by giving them an insight into his creative life – not with his music, but with his books. The singer has generated queues at an Oxfam bookshop at a seaside resort by donating 2000 books on topics including philosophy, religion and rock. The first of his boxes was opened last week and drew a crowd of buyers when word reached the local media in Hove, near Brighton in south-east England. 'I guess there were between 50 and 100 people queuing in the first couple of hours of the stock going out,' store manager Richard, who asked to be quoted without his surname, told this masthead. Cave lived near Brighton with his family for many years and donated the books after they were used in an art installation about his creative process. That exhibition, called Stranger Than Kindness, included a recreation of Cave's office, with his entire personal library, as presented in the Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard film 20,000 Days on Earth. Word of the donation reached the local newspaper, The Argus, which broke the news and triggered the crowds. About 800 of the books were put on display last week and included Australian books such as Helen Garner's This House of Grief, her account of the trial of Robert Farquharson for driving his car into a dam, killing his three young sons.


Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
3 held for stealing from two-wheelers near exam centres
Mumbai: Three persons, allegedly members of an interstate gang involved in stealing wallets or bags containing banking ATM or debit cards and mobiles from scooters near examination centres, were arrested from Visakhapatnam recently. Powai police arrested Prince Singh (27), Krishna Jasbir (21), and Dharmender Singh (30), all from Uttar Pradesh. They were in Visakhapatnam jail after their arrest in June for a similar offence. They committed such offences in Powai in May, police said. The police claimed that they had stolen the phone and ATM card of Mahadev Goderao (42), a lecturer residing in Vikhroli and employed at Ruia College, from the boot of his scooter parked outside an exam centre in Powai. Goderao had placed his belongings in his scooter before entering the centre. "The gang used the SIM from the stolen mobile in another device and re-generated the ATM card PIN, withdrawing about Rs 70,000. Besides, Rs 20,000 was spent on clothes and movie tickets," said a police officer stated. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai Following Goderao's complaint, DCP (Zone X) Datta Nalawade led a team — ACP Pradeep Mairale, senior inspector Jitendra Sonawane, sub-inspectors Ganesh Awhad and Swati M. They collected details from CCTV footage outside the Powai exam centre and from ATM kiosks on Saki Vihar Road where Rs 70,000 was withdrawn before visiting Phoenix Mall in Kurla to spend another Rs 19,000 on shopping and movie tickets. The trio was subsequently arrested in Visakhapatnam in June when they targeted Degala Lalitha, a teacher who lost valuables worth Rs 43,000. Lalitha had kept her jewellery, phone, debit card, and Rs 2,000 in her scooter's boot outside the exam centre. The Powai police got information from their counterparts in Gajuwaka, leading to the custody of the trio. "From Gajuwaka police it is learned that the trio targeted youths by stealing ATM cards from their vehicles and making fraudulent bank transactions. They managed to arrest the accused from the same locality where they stole the teacher's mobile and bank card," the police said. Police seized property worth Rs 9 lakhand recovered items including Rs 5 lakh, gift vouchers worth Rs1,20,000, three mobile phones in June.