Latest news with #Doris
Times
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Times
Maro Itoje on understated people skills that underpin his Lions captaincy
In a parallel universe, under a different captaincy, you wonder how different this British & Irish Lions tour might have looked. It still seems likely that, had Caelan Doris, the Ireland captain, not been injured days before the tour squad was announced, then he would have got the job for the Lions too. Maybe we'll never know for sure. And if these had been Caelan's Lions, and not Maro's, then the Test match results would probably look little different. Maro Itoje himself would probably have slipped selflessly into the role of leading footsoldier. The leadership dynamic would, of course, have felt different, not worse, though maybe it has helped a squad with a preponderance of Irishmen to have had a skipper from outside their group. Again, we can but guess; and Doris is a democrat, just as Itoje is. Itoje doesn't crave the limelight. When offered the opportunity on Tuesday to bask in the glory of his success, he said: 'It's never been about me. It's never been about who the captain is.' And you could imagine those same words from Doris too. What you probably wouldn't imagine from Doris is a similar answer to this question: from whom has come the coolest congratulations message you've had since winning the series on Saturday night? When Itoje paused to ponder his answer, you were expecting a Mick Jagger, say, or a Daniel Craig. His answer, though, was David Lammy, and not only did he pick a politician, he said that the foreign secretary was someone 'I have a bit of a relationship with'. Nevertheless, like Itoje, Doris is also cerebral. The son of two psychotherapists, how could he not be? Yet he probably wouldn't be quoting the Bible in his press conferences, like Itoje did here. When Itoje was asked which he would treasure more from the tour, the people or the rugby, he quoted Mark 8:36. (Actually he very marginally misquoted him, but let's not split hairs.) His line was: 'For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?' And his explanation was what if 'we won every game and we absolutely hated one another … I think life is more than that'. There is so much contained in that one answer. When Itoje was made the England captain, barely seven months ago, it seemed a big call from Steve Borthwick, the head coach, largely because Itoje would be replacing Jamie George, whose people skills were always so good. Itoje was always going to be a big leader from the front in the field of play, but lacked the same empathy. It wasn't that he was selfish, just that he was slightly more caught up in his own world. That, at least, was how it had seemed, an impression that had been encouraged by Eddie Jones, the previous England coach. As it turned out, Borthwick judged perfectly Itoje's growth as a leader. These few weeks in Australia have only served to accelerate further his education as a captain and that is good for Itoje, good for Saracens and most certainly good for England. It's a reasonable guess that where the experience here has improved him, in particular, is his people skills. When he talks about his team-mates, he can sound somewhat avuncular, as if he is the grown-up on the sideline, enjoying watching the kids have fun. This is Itoje on Jamie Osborne, the Irish back nicknamed 'Showbiz': 'I have built relationships with people I really did not know well. Someone like Showbiz. I never thought I would have a relationship with him. I wouldn't mind the nickname Showbiz, if you want to start it … I know now whenever I play against him in the future I can call him Showbiz and he will have that little smirk on his face.' Or Finlay Bealham: 'Another one — I never thought we would have a good relationship. But he's absolutely hilarious, funny; he's a very endearing person.' Yet he has thought hard and intelligently about how these relationships should be conducted. 'What I've been conscious of,' he explained, 'is it's a higher level of player here. So you don't try to treat certain players of a certain level and calibre the same way that you would if it was a much younger or inexperienced group. They are the type of things I've thought about.' He is also conscious of what he is as a captain and what he isn't. He knows that he isn't the Mr Motivator kind who can naturally bring his team-mates to an emotional peak, so the last changing-room address before heading on to the Test match pitch is one he has passed on to Ellis Genge. 'I didn't discuss it with Ellis beforehand,' he explained. 'I asked him to do it ahead of the first Test. My thing is it's about trying to get the best out of the group. Ellis is very emotional, he knows how to get himself going and get people around him going. 'I want to use the talents of the group. It's never been about me, about me having the final word or sticking my chest out as captain. It's about us getting to where we need to be. For Ellis, that's a role he's quite familiar and comfortable with. I guess it's a judgment call from myself of who would be best placed to have the final message before we go out. It need not always be the captain.' He is aware himself that he's grown from the experience. 'You perhaps learn about the style of how I want to be and my approach to things,' was how he explained it. 'As always, when you start a new role, you have to work your way through a few things. As this tour has gone on, I've definitely felt more comfortable in the role.' That is certainly how it has looked and you wonder if Itoje would have had this same development had he been given the role four years ago. Again, maybe he wasn't ready, even though he was considered a leading contender. That, at least, was the conclusion of Warren Gatland, who appointed Alun Wyn Jones instead. 'The answer is I don't know,' he said, 'because it's a hypothetical. I definitely feel like I was ready to do the job when I was asked to. I didn't feel like it was a step too far for me or it was going to be something I wasn't able to do. 'So I'd like to think I come back as a better player and part of that is hopefully being a better captain as well.' Yes, Maro, it seems highly likely that you will.
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Katie Price says 'her boobs look like mine' as she shares odd snap of hairless Sphynx cat
Katie Price took to social media to share a screenshot of her family chat after she posted an image of one of her pet cats - and the former glamour model was left in hysterics They say pets look like their owners and it's certainly the case in Katie Price 's household. The reality TV star had a laugh with her family on Thursday, comparing her own chest to that of her hairless Sphynx cat in a hilarious Instagram post. The 47-year-old former glamour model, known for her numerous breast augmentations, shared a screenshot from her family group chat where she had posted a picture of one of her cats, Doris, who is pregnant. Katie, who has been branded a 'serial animal killer' by PETA after 'track record of deaths', captioned the image: "Her boobs. Her boobs look like mine," followed by several laughing face emojis. Her 18-year-old daughter Princess Andre was quick to respond to the humorous post, commenting 'I'm dead' along with crying face emojis. Meanwhile, her brother-in-law Harry responded with a voice note of him simply laughing. In the caption of her Instagram post, Katie wrote: "Our family group chat is going off do look like their owners..." In a previous Instagram Story, the mum-of-five shared a snap of her cat and quipped: "Looks like Doris has taken a leaf out of my books and gone to Turkey to get a boob job." Over the weekend, Katie announced on Instagram that her Sphynx cat Doris was pregnant. Katie was previously labelled a 'serial animal killer' by PETA following the deaths of at least eight of her pets. The two-time I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! star faced fresh criticism earlier this month for letting one of her £2,000 Sphynx cats suffer sunburn during the recent heatwave, with PETA declaring "here we go again". In footage she shared, the reality star displayed her Sphynx cat sporting a crimson head and back. Petting the feline, she remarked: "Oh Kevin, you have been in the sun today, you have got sunburnt despite us putting sun cream on you... Look at his little face." The accompanying caption read: "Trying to keep the cats out of the sun is hard work." PETA's Elisa Allen claimed the Mucky Mansion personality had consistently disregarded guidance on animal welfare. She commented: "Anyone who warns Katie not to hurt the animals she takes in might as well be screaming into the wind, for all she seems to care. And here we go again: her cat is sunburnt – something she was likely warned about when acquiring a gimmick cat, bred to look odd and be hairless." The charity states that felines with "light or no fur can burn easily, which is just one reason to keep them indoors." It continues: "If they do go into a secure garden, apply vet-approved sunscreen and ensure they have plenty of shade. Cat guardians must stay alert, if you spot redness, swelling, or signs of infection, seek veterinary care immediately." The animal welfare organisation expressed concern after she flaunted her latest addition, a Sphynx cat named Daisy, in November, suggesting there ought to be legal measures to prevent her from acquiring more pets. PETA's founder Ingrid Newkirk remarked: "If there was a way to file an injunction to stop this serial animal killer, PETA would do so, as this woman doesn't care about the lives she wastes or listen to vital advice and is still treating live animals like stuffed toys: as disposable." Newkirk also commented on the grim prospects for the new kitten, saying: "If William Hill took totally tasteless bets, the odds would favour those betting on how little time this kitten has on Earth, given the hideous track record of animal deaths in Price's custody. No one could call it 'care'." Katie has faced multiple pet tragedies, with four dogs – Blade, Queenie, Sharon, and Sparkle – having been killed by cars near her Mucky Mansion, and a horse meeting a similar fate in 2017. In a tragic incident in 2020, her dog Rolo suffocated after becoming trapped in an electric armchair; Katie admitted to giving him cannabis oil, unaware that it was illegal without veterinary consent. Additionally, Katie disclosed the loss of a chameleon and the necessity to euthanise a designer cat named Frog. In her memoir, she revealed the heart-wrenching moment: "He had a neurological disease. Within days it had spread through his body. So I cuddled him in my arms and he had to be put to sleep."
Otago Daily Times
7 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Otago Daily Times
Happy 108th birthday Doris!
Doris Wakelin is celebrating her 108th birthday today in a low key affair with family and friends. PHOTO: DELLWYN MOYLAN In her younger years, Doris Wakelin never gave any thought to living into her 100s. Today she celebrates turning 108-years-old. It will be a low-key affair. She is looking forward to friends and family popping in to see her as she celebrates. ''It's just another day really, it's not a big deal,'' Doris said. Birthday cards started arriving at her Ashburton home on Monday and she was looking forward to receiving one from King Charles. ''I am happy living independently and don't know if I would last long in care,'' she said. ''The homes do a good job, it's just not my thing.'' Doris, a longtime fan of UK television presenter Bradley Walsh, is also a keen quizzer. ''I keep myself busy watching tv. I especially enjoy Bradley Walsh in The Chase and in the programme travelling with his son,'' Doris said. She also enjoyed murder mysteries and quiz shows. In many of the quizzes on television or the magazines that she enjoys doing, she recalls the answers to questions from her school days. ''I enjoy doing quizzes and puzzles as it keeps my brain active,'' Doris said. Doris said she believes the secret to living a long life is to eat plain, down-to-earth food, keeping busy, being active and always looking at the positives. Her family continues to grow, and she is now the proud great-grandmother to 36 children, and great great grandmother to 29; the latest is named Beverley Doris, born in the past year. Doris, at age 108, is the fourth-oldest Aotearoa resident, the second oldest New Zealander born in New Zealand, the third oldest female in the country and the oldest person in the South Island.
The Star
14-07-2025
- Health
- The Star
Changing mindsets on care for elderly
Hakimah helping retiree Govindasamy Muthan, 67, understand the results of his sarcopenia screening at the Lembah Pantai PAWE in Kuala Lumpur. — Photos by AIDA AHMAD/The Star AS MALAYSIA progresses towards becoming a 'hyper-aged society' by 2059, when 21% of the population will be 65 years old and above, experts are advocating for a paradigm shift in how we care for our seniors. For Muhammad Mujada Rosli, 46, who serves on the committee of the Lembah Pantai Senior Citizens Activity Centre (PAWE) and manages the Genting Dementia Care Centre in Segambut, it starts with awareness and prevention. Doris says their modules for seniors are activity-based, with small group interactions and movement. 'PAWE promotes healthy ageing and prevents dementia. 'It is about building a sensitive, intergenerational community that sees ageing as something we're all a part of,' he said. While Malaysia's regulations for care centres operate on a one-caregiver-to-four-patients model, PAWE centres are meant to keep people healthy before they require that level of care, he added. That prevention-first mindset is echoed by Assoc Prof Dr Doris Padmini Selvaratnam from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). She is part of a group of experts who designed the Wellness Across Ages intergenerational programme for high-rise communities, under the Gerontological Association of Malaysia (GeM). Muhammad Mujada says PAWE helps prevent dementia and promotes health ageing. The pilot project is supported by the National Centre for Excellence in Mental Health (NCEMH) under a Hasanah Foundation Mental Health grant. 'Most senior citizens don't respond well to jargon-heavy talks or PowerPoint slides,' Doris said, 'so our mental health modules for the programme will be activity-based, with small group interactions and movement.' But to run such programmes effectively in high-rises, she said, they needed support from joint management bodies (JMBs) and the management committee (MC). 'When we have that, we can analyse outcomes,' she added. In urban areas − where more elderly people now live in condominiums or apartments − isolation is a growing problem, especially after illness or injury. Assoc Prof Dr Hakimah Sallehuddin, a geriatrician at Hospital Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah, UPM, who is also involved in the pilot project, believes PAWE can fill that gap. 'We need activities for post-stroke patients too, screening for sarcopenia, and spaces that foster intergenerational relationships,' she said. 'At high-rise buildings, we need to help the seniors build intergenerational communities where young people can also communicate with the elderly population.' People living in high-rises who want to be part of the pilot project can email gempesona2025@ Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing (MyAgeing) director Dr Rahimah Ibrahim, who delivered a talk on 'Interge-nerational Relationships and Care for Senior Citizens at Home and in the Community at Lembah Pantai PAWE', sees PAWE as a critical link but says it needs to evolve. 'Most seniors prefer to age in place,' she said, citing the Malaysia Ageing and Retirement Survey Wave 2 (2021-2022). 'We need services like home rehabilitation, respite care or trained caregiver support.' She believes PAWE can be that bridge: offering referrals, caregiver training and even serving as a hub for cooperative or social enterprise services. More inclusive, intergenerational spaces where children can do homework, seniors can engage, and caregivers aren't left to carry the burden alone will help tremendously, she added.
Glasgow Times
13-07-2025
- Climate
- Glasgow Times
England, Scotland and Wales hit 30C before heatwave starts easing
It comes after several records were broken during the peak of the heatwave on Saturday, with Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales all recording their warmest day of the year so far. Although the hot weather continued on Sunday, temperatures did drop slightly as forecast. People enjoy the hot weather in Bristol (Ben Birchall/PA) Ross-on-Wye in Herefordshire hit 30.8C while Achnagart in the Scottish Highlands reached 30.4C, Cardiff's Bute Park 30.2C and Castlederg in Co Tyrone 27.1C. A spokesperson for the Met Office said: 'It's been another widely warm day today, not as hot as yesterday with cloudier skies for some. 'A change tomorrow with showers or longer spells of rain and turning fresher from the west. 'The heatwave is coming to an end for most of us today with fresher air arriving tomorrow, but south-eastern England could still see 30C tomorrow so still classed here.' Tennis fans continued to grapple with the heat at Wimbledon following a few days where spectators needed medical attention amid high temperatures. Doris, a Devon Rex cat, perches on a windowsill next to a portable fan (Yui Mok/PA) In response to the incidents, the All England Club said it significantly increased the number of on-screen communications and push notifications to remind guests to stay hydrated and seek respite from the sun. The club also said service stewards on court have access to water for spectators in need, that on-site medical teams are ready to assist when required and that the grounds have more than 100 free water refill points as well as a pharmacy where guests can buy sunscreen. Amber heat health alerts are in place for the Midlands and southern and eastern England until 9am on Monday, warning of the potential for a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. Fire chiefs urged people to stay safe in the heatwave as they warned of the increased risk of wildfires and drowning, with the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) asking people not to enter water to try to cool down and urging parents and carers to ensure children are supervised around water at all times. A swimmer in the Sky Pool, a transparent swimming pool 35 metres above ground between two apartment buildings in Nine Elms, south London (James Manning/PA) Firefighters in Surrey spent a second day on Sunday tackling a wildfire on Hankley Common in Thursley which is estimated to have destroyed 2.6 hectares of land. The risk of wildfires in London is rated 'severe' by the Natural Hazards Partnership. HM Coastguard also issued safety advice for people heading to the coast, as data from the water incident database shows most drownings happened in July over the last three years. As well as the amber alerts, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has yellow alerts in place until Monday for the North East, North West and Yorkshire and Humber. Yorkshire Water brought in restrictions on using hosepipes for activities such as watering the garden, cleaning cars and filling paddling pools, on Friday, as part of efforts to protect supplies in the face of yet more dry weather forecast for the coming weeks. People have enjoyed the water and sunbathing at Clevedon Marine Lake in Somerset (Ben Birchall/PA) South East Water said demand for drinking water had reached 'record levels since May' and announced impending restrictions which will mean customers in Kent and Sussex are banned from using a hosepipe to water gardens and plants, clean vehicles, fill swimming pools or ponds or clean paths, walls or windows from July 18. Those who ignore the bans could face fines of up to £1,000. National Rail warned train passengers that the hot weather may cause disruption this weekend. Meanwhile, the RNLI warned beachgoers that, despite the heat, there is still a risk of cold water shock.
