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Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Our Yorkshire Farm's Amanda says 'I couldn't dream this' as she changes career
Amanda Owen, who stars in Channel 5's Our Yorkshire Farm, is set to debut as a children's author with a seven-book deal, the first of which will be released this September Amanda Owen, the beloved Yorkshire Shepherdess and star of Channel 5's ' Our Yorkshire Farm ', is set to charm young readers as she ventures into children's literature with the announcement of seven upcoming books. The 50-year-old farmer and author will be branching out into the world of children's publishing with an array of new titles spanning picture books, middle-grade non-fiction, and fiction. Her inaugural offering, ' Christmas Tales From The Farm', is a compilation of short stories for eight to 12 year olds, drawing inspiration from pastoral life and is slated for release this coming September. Owen, who split from husband Clive in 2022 after 22 years of marriage, expressed her excitement about the new endeavour: "I am absolutely delighted to have been given the opportunity to enter the world of children's books with renowned publishers, Puffin." She continued, acknowledging the lasting impact of literature: "As a mother myself I know firsthand the joy that books can bring to young readers and how a book can stay with you into adulthood, take you places and open up new worlds." Reflecting on her partnership with Puffin, she added, "To be taken under the wing of the Puffin family, publishers of some of my childhood favourites, is something that I could never have dreamed of being possible." The forthcoming book, illustrated by Becca Hall, promises to whisk children away to the countryside with tales of a mischievous reindeer, extraordinary chickens, and an astute sheepdog. Puffin editor Katie Sinfield shared her enthusiasm: "It felt only natural to bring Amanda's remarkable farming experience and wonderful gift for storytelling to young readers. "I can't wait for families everywhere to meet real-life characters such as Chalky the dog and Coco the sheep, and to experience the magic of Ravenseat Farm through the warmth of Amanda's bestselling writing and Becca Hall's beautiful illustrations. "Christmas Tales From The Farm is an incredible book to kick-start our ambitious publishing partnership, and the perfect, must-have gift for every household to read together this Christmas.'". The mum-of-nine is also celebrated for her Yorkshire Shepherdess trilogy and her 2021 offering, Celebrating The Seasons With The Yorkshire Shepherdess, which includes tales and images from their rural life, along with recipes for each season. Owen's literary agent, Jo Cantello, expressed: "It's a dream come true to be working with the fantastically talented and supportive Puffin team on Amanda's first children's title, having spent my childhood with my nose buried deep in their books. "We can't wait to see how Christmas Tales From The Farm is received and to introduce Amanda's incredible gift for storytelling and her characterful farmyard animals to a new audience." Owen now features in the Channel 4 series Our Farm Next Door: Amanda, Clive And Kids, which documents the family's adventures as they restore a farmhouse in the Yorkshire Dales. Christmas Tales from the Farm is set for release in hardback on September 11.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Tariff truce sparks hopes for Halloween orders in China
Live Events YIWU, CHINA: A tariff truce between the United States and China is helping kickstart the resumption of trade between the countries but for manufacturers of Halloween decorations in the eastern Chinese city of Yiwu feelings are Donald Trump's tariffs on Chinese imports, which reached 145% in April, prompted waves of U.S. customers to suspend or delay orders for festive decorations, disrupting business for the likes of Lou Xiaobo, whose company Xubo relies on the U.S. for 20% of 25-year-old, whose family has been making Halloween decorations in Yiwu for 28 years, warned they would have to scramble to produce and ship their hanging skeletons and costume props to America in time for the October 31 are weighing up the cost of the new 30% tariff rate and although he is expecting orders, Lou is also warning customers his business cannot produce more complex made-to-order products in time."I don't think because tariffs are lowered; we should be happy, because they have already delayed our production time," he told Reuters from his family's store at Yiwu's sprawling wholesale market."In these two months we have lost (to tariffs), we can produce about 500,000 yuan of goods, but now I only have 200,000 yuan...I'm not happy just because tariffs have been lowered."His comments point to how the damage has been done for many Chinese manufacturers that rely on the U.S. market. While they say the truce has brought hope that orders will return, uncertainty still exists given the current 90-day time limit on lower tariffs and the Trump administration's manufactures the majority of festive decorations the U.S. buys, not just for Halloween but for other events such as the Fourth of July and Christmas."The tariffs were implemented at the utmost worst time for the Halloween manufacturer, as product was either finished and on a boat being held up, or in some stage of production that was halted," said Robert Berman , a board member of the Halloween and Costume Association and the CEO of Imposta Costumes."China for many in the Halloween industry creates a one and done system," he added. "Yes, we can diversify and find new countries, but this will take years, and many of us are too far along to make any changes for 2025."Another exporter of Halloween masks, who only gave her surname as Ma, said she was hopeful that customers would now place orders, though she believes her overall exporting business turnover will be much lower than last year."If people order now, to ship it in June or July, it probably won't be too late, but if we don't have these in stock, which means they have to be made to order, we won't be able to get them in stock for Halloween," she said."Anyway, I definitely hope they don't start up the trade war again!"
BBC News
28-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Rock fall shuts rural Hoarwithy road for more than six months
A pub landlady in Herefordshire has said enduring six months of a local road being closed has left her out of pocket and feeling "angry".Kaytie Pinder, who runs the New Harp Inn in Hoarwithy, said the main route between the village and Ross-on-Wye had been closed since Council said following a rockfall, the Hoarwithy Road was shut due to the danger of further rockfall from a privately owned piece of sloped land above the Saturday, the authority arranged for a specialist contractor to remove the rocks from the road. The council said it had been in contact with the landowner, but various deadlines and notices had not resulted in the issue being said they intended to hire a consultant to assess the slope early this week to determine if it was stable enough to allow the road to reopen."Nothing has been done up until today [Saturday]," Ms Pinder said."We're angry that's it's taken a very long time and the rocks have been able to be moved in one morning." She said her trade had dropped by about 20% due to the road closure."I think the first few months were definitely the worst - it wasn't great leading up to Christmas."It had also coincided with other roadworks in the area, she said. Meanwhile, the nearby Laskett Lane had become damaged due to the volume of traffic using that road as an alternative and this had to be shut for repairs to be carried left her pub so quiet that during some daytimes it had been forced to shut as it was not worth opening. Parish councillor Peter Pember said the rocks had now been removed and that he hoped it might be possible for the road to reopen once a geotechnical consultant had assessed the area."They're coming back [during the week] to see if there is any more likelihood of rocks slipping," he said."It's certainly caused a fair bit of disruption," he added, and said the parish council had applied "quite a bit of pressure" to have the issue resolved. Ms Pinder said her pub tended to be busier during the summer months, however, and that she was keeping her fingers crossed that it would be soon resolved."It's a very big walking and hiking area," she had not been able to claim on insurance for loss of business as the road immediately outside her pub is still open – despite the closure being less than half a mile added that the daily school run now takes an extra 10-15 minutes each way, and had caused a lot of disruption for people living in the council said it would seek to recover costs borne by the taxpayer, and would provide a further update once the outcome of the assessment was known. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
24-02-2025
- General
- BBC News
'The UK is my home now but you never forget you are a refugee'
The first time Roxy looked out of a plane window was when she had to flee a war-torn country she once called aged 17, she is one of approximately 254,000 Ukrainian refugees who came to the UK following Russia's invasion on 24 February is estimated one million people have so far been killed or wounded in the conflict and thousands have been forced to abandon their for their safety, Roxy and her mother Alla Bredic also made the difficult decision to leave, their lives forever divided into "before and after the war". For Roxy leaving everything she knew behind was "an emotional struggle" that came with conflicting feelings."Although you feel at home, you never forget you're a refugee," she says."You don't only think about the country you left, you think about the life you left." Roxy and her mother moved in with Nikki Cohen in Leeds as part of the government's Homes for Ukraine to a new life in a different country did not come without its challenges and surprises."When Alla and Roxy came to Leeds, I think they assumed everybody sat down with a scone and jam everyday at four o'clock and drank tea out of china cups," Ms Cohen decision to open her home to them was in part influenced by Ms Cohen's own family history."My great-grandparents came to this country as refugees from what is now Lithuania," she says."I just felt really strongly that, heaven forbid, if I was in the same situation I'd want people to open their doors." The heartbreak of war includes not only the loss of life but the loss of a sense of Kasperovych, 18, says when she had to leave Ukraine's capital Kyiv, she felt her life was "ruined"."I had so many plans, I was going to finish school, I was going to go to university," she and her mother ended up living with Homes for Ukraine hosts Jan and Rob Livesley in the ability to speak English, Ola says her first few months in the UK were "hell"."It was hard to make new friends, it was hard to speak to other people because a lot of people think if I'm from Ukraine, I'm really different.""[I] was overwhelmed with studying and exams. It was important, I was so stressed." Last year, Ola's life was once again turned upside down when her mother, a doctor, was called back to Ukraine to help in a hospital."I have never lived alone," she says."I'm in a new city, a new country, it was really hard to understand."Luckily, Ola had the support of Mr and Mrs Livesley who she says have become "like grandparents"."I really appreciate what they've done for me," she Livesley says since Ola's arrival, they have created many wonderful memories, including trips to the Lyceum in Sheffield and Chatsworth House in Derbyshire at Christmas."We've become a blended family," says Mrs Livesley."We're all different and we all bring something different to the party."There's lots of nice things we've been able to do and build up our own little traditions too." Ola currently volunteers at DE Yummy, a Ukrainian cafe in Sheffield, which is run by Angelina and her 18, came to the UK in 2022 after losing her home."I think it's one of the most dangerous parts of Ukraine," she says."For four days we didn't have any electricity and had to be in the shelter and couldn't get out while the bombs fell."Angelina credits her settled life in the UK to her host family who helped them set up the business."If not for them, I wouldn't be here," she says."We became not just sponsors and Ukrainians who live in their house, we became family."Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
14-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Leicester Caribbean Carnival plans for return to mark 40 years
Plans are under way for the return of Leicester Caribbean Carnival to celebrate its 40th said they were "heartbroken" when they had to cancel the event last year due to financial difficulties, but have now confirmed they aim to stage the celebration on 2 committee member Tinu Rodney said this year's event was in the early planning stage, but they want to "reclaim the carnival" this year and make it a said it was "crucial" the next generation is aware of the African Caribbean heritage, folklore and resistance. The Caribbean carnival in Leicester traditionally includes a parade through the city featuring floats, dancers in elaborate costumes as well as live music, performers, a funfair and food and drink stalls in Victoria former Lord Mayor of Leicester, George Cole, of the African Heritage Alliance, which is co-organising the carnival, said: "There is a community group working with Leicester Caribbean Carnival Committee to make sure that carnival happens this year and the celebration of its 40th year be something really special."Ms Rodney, who said both her children "grew up with the carnival" and have been involved in the troops, said: "If you grew up in Leicester in the 80s and 90s, carnival was a significant part of the year, it was like Christmas."It was a big deal, a big day and we are really keen to get that spirit back again as Leicester celebrates 40 years." Ms Rodney added: "Understanding the journey Caribbean and African people have been through and the struggle for emancipation is one of the crucial aspects of the carnival," she said."It's also about coming together, recognising we are still here and celebrating our diversity."Carnival chairperson Dennis Christopher said there was a "huge amount of work to do" to make the 2025 carnival happen, but he was "feeling positive" and the plans were moving in the right direction, with many people offering to support the event.
