Latest news with #Furneaux
The Herald Scotland
25-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Castle with gardens inspired by world-renowned artists
A specially curated exhibition of the works of the internationally-acclaimed print maker, who is native to the North East of Scotland, recently opened at the Castle and, inspired by one of Furneaux's abstract works, Daguin has created a striking new planting scheme that has transformed part of Drum's historic walled garden. Two bold beds anchor either side of a dramatic, geometric arbour, a bespoke structure crafted by local blacksmiths in response to Furneaux's use of line and form. Designed by Laurie Daguin, the two bold beds anchor either side of a dramatic, geometric arbour (Image: Discover Gardens) The planting itself mirrors the artist's palette, with layered blocks of yellow, grey, blue and black flowers, contrasted against hard landscaping in natural stone. Together, they offer a dynamic visual echo of Furneaux's work and a contemporary counterpoint to the garden's more traditional sections, which include an old wood of ancient trees, a garden of historic roses and a play park made from natural materials, where young visitors can run off steam. The Irvine family, owners of Drum Castle for over 650 years until the National Trust for Scotland took over its care, were significant patrons of the arts and the permanent collection boasts works by Van Dyck and Raeburn, alongside pieces by established family artists Hugh [[Irvine]] and Anna Margaretta Forbes [[Irvine]]. Another National Trust for Scotland property which has strong links to the world of art is Kellie Castle in Fife, where the garden of the 500-year old property was revived by renowned Scottish architect Robert Lorimer and then by his son, the sculptor Hew Mortimer. Kellie Castle (Image: Discover Gardens) The Mortimers developed an Arts and Crafts theme for the walled garden, filling it with roses, honeysuckle and delphiniums. They also turned a former archery court into a sheltered space for growing peaches, filled the bee boles set into the walls with wicker skeps and allowed hens to roam free amongst the flowerbeds. Their aim was to recreate a traditional Scottish 'pleasaunce', a medieval, enclosed garden set hard against the castle, in contrast to the fashion in later centuries for setting walled gardens at some distance from the main house. The planting mirrors the artist's palette, with layered blocks of yellow, grey, blue and black flowers, contrasted against hard landscaping in natural stone (Image: Discover Gardens) Details The gardens at Drum Castle are open daily, 10.30am - 4pm. The exhibition, 'Paul Furneack: North by East' is free to visit daily until October 31 2025. For more information, visit The grounds are open daily, dawn to dusk and entrance is free. Tel: 01330 700334 Drum@ In Association with Discover Scottish Gardens
Buzz Feed
10-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- Buzz Feed
This Emergency Item Could Save Your Life And It'll Only Cost You $10 Right Now
If you've been hemming and hawing about whether to plunk down roughly $20 on a Lifestraw, the multitudes of Amazon's Prime Day shoppers are here to tell you it's time to pull the trigger and pick one up for yourself, now that it's 43% off. It was, after all, one of the most-ordered items that HuffPost readers purchased on last Prime Day. Note: If you're immunocompromised, be sure to read all the package instructions to make sure it's safe for it may seem like a niche product, a personal water filter is something just about everyone could use. It's convenient, portable, and an easy way to give everyone in your family peace of you don't have to be an outdoorsy person to have one, buying a Lifestraw really makes sense for avid hikers and campers, especially. It can remove microplastics, bacteria, parasites, and more (including E. coli, Salmonella, and Giardia) from just about any water source. One single filter has a long lifespan, providing about 1,000 gallons of clean and safe drinking water — making it well worth the price I first heard about Lifestraw it was in a survivalist context, and I assumed that someone like me — a city-dwelling indoor gal who has never been camping a day in her life — would never have use for one. But upon further research, I've become more convinced that they're essential for everyone. We simply never know what's going to happen. Even if you're not big on the great outdoors, there's no denying that there's enough global instability to make one a bit nervous — and the existence of natural disasters alone is a good enough reason to have one in an emergency author, and television host Ky Furneaux is a big proponent of the Lifestraw in a variety of situations. She told HuffPost that 'finding good drinking water becomes a necessity very quickly when a survival scenario has arisen and simply being able to drink from any water source safely could be the difference between making it out alive or perishing in less than three days.'(While the device does promise to filter out over 30 contaminants, be sure to check the Lifestraw's FAQ section to see what the device cannot remove from water, including salt, arsenic, petroleum, and trihalomethane, which is a by-product of chlorination.)Furneaux said that she believes everyone should have a Lifestraw and a first aid kit on hand anytime they enter the outdoors for an extended period of time, as a precautionary measure should anything go wrong. 'It's light and doesn't take up much room, so it isn't a huge inconvenience for something that may save your life,' she said, adding that 'just knowing that water purification is taken care of takes a load off your mind and allows you to fully focus on other needs.'They also make for thoughtful gifts. 'I snagged a huge deal on the Lifestraw last Prime Day and bought 10 of them — I pretty much handed them out like candy to my family at Christmas, half-assuming they'd look down at it and say, 'What is THIS?'' said my colleague Kristen Aiken. 'But to my surprise and delight, they were all very well aware of what a Lifestraw was, but hadn't actually bought any yet. They're thrilled to take them on camping trips, and my inside-person mom is keeping some in her pantry in case we ever have an emergencies that prevent us from having clean running water.'The Lifestraw has 4.8 out of 5 stars and more than 95,000 five-star ratings on Amazon, plus a mass of glowing reviews. Take a gander for yourself and then take a leap and purchase one (or a few) for yourself. Promising reviews: ″Got these to keep on hand in case of an emergency, so I have not actually used them yet, but I know Lifestraw is a reputable brand. They are easy to use, and I especially like that you can attach a water bottle to it so multiple people could get the benefit of clean water and even filtered water for cooking if needed. There's so much going on in the world, it's nice to have the peace of mind that for a small investment, I can guarantee my family will have fresh water.' —Stephanie P.'I ordered one for my backpack, and then I ordered a second for backup. They truly work! You can unscrew the bottom for a good fit on any water bottle or use it like a straw. The water tastes like fresh mineral water from an artesian well! I'm an avid camper/survivalist, and have been most of my life. And these are well worth the price, and the taste of the water. Don't pass it by at this price! And when you buy one, you automatically, with no extra cost, help a child for a year with fresh water. It doesn't get any better than that! I totally recommend for many reasons.' —Leann F.'As advertised. The Lifestraw works flawlessly. I'm shocked how it actually eliminates all bacteria in the dirtiest waters.' —Milad Get it from Amazon for $9.45+ (originally $17.49; available in three colors and several pack sizes).
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Hay fever season ‘definitely longer and also more erratic', says York pharmacist
The hay fever season is 'definitely longer and also more erratic', a York pharmacist has said. Vikki Furneaux, a pharmacist at the Monkbar Pharmacy in Goodramgate, said rising global temperatures brought on by climate change have led to an increase in pollen levels over a longer season. The pharmacist said over the counter medication can be used to 'keep on top of hay fever'. But she said the medication is an added expense amid the cost-of-living crisis, adding: 'The best way to get on top of symptoms is to use a combination of items, which costs more money.' 'Tablets don't work for everyone, and the effects wear off,' she said. "Using a steroid nasal spray can help prevent symptoms and eye drops can also be useful, but these may be unaffordable for some.' Vikki Furneaux, a pharmacist at the Monkbar Pharmacy (Image: Supplied) The pharmacist said that while some people qualify for free prescriptions it is NHS policy 'not to prescribe things that can be bought over the counter'. 'So it is harder to get a prescription for hay fever unless over the counter medication is not working for you.' The 44-year-old said people took hay fever medication for 'around a two-month period' when she graduated but are now uncertain about when the season is. And the longer hay fever seasons means it is 'more unpredictable' for people to know when to take medication, she added. Ms Furneaux said hay fever symptoms beginning earlier means 'sufferers are also coming up against some of the cold and flu season'. 'Some of the [cold and flu] symptoms are similar to hay fever – so it's more difficult to get on top of things,' the pharmacist said. 'Some people are coming in with symptoms they didn't realise were hay fever.' Read more: GP shares 6 unusual hacks that can help you sleep with hay fever symptoms Sofie Jenkinson, co-director of Round Our Way, an organisation that supports people impacted by weather extremes in the UK, said: 'Longer hay fever seasons are just one of the health impacts Brits are facing as temperatures in the UK rise. 'As we all see around us, climate change is making Britain warmer and a lot wetter. 'We urgently need politicians to make sure we are better prepared for the worrying new weather we're facing and to tackle the pollution that is causing it.' Michelle Young, climate impacts research associate at US-based non-profit news organisation Climate Central, said: 'Warmer spring and autumn temperatures, driven by climate change, are extending the pollen season, causing hay fever sufferers to experience symptoms earlier and for longer periods. 'As temperatures rise, allergy symptoms are becoming more frequent, sometimes occurring outside the typical peak times. 'Without significant reductions in emissions, this trend is expected to worsen, leading to greater discomfort for those with seasonal allergies.'
CBS News
01-03-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Dozens of parents, students protest proposed school closures in Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD
More than 100 parents and students met Friday afternoon to fight for the future of their schools in Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD. The district is considering closing four campuses as it faces a budget shortfall and declining enrollment. McCoy, Furneaux, and Central elementary schools, along with Long Middle School, are all on the chopping block. "It's not a done thing yet," said Rosie Ramos, one of the Central Elementary School parents who came to the protest. "We want our kids to see and the board to see that we have an opinion, we have a voice, and ours is a no." The majority of people at the protest represented McCoy Elementary School, one of the highest-rated schools in the district. "The data that they've shown us so far isn't really matching up with why they would want to close their number one school," said Nova Broome, whose child attends McCoy. McCoy parents have been combing through financial records and performance evaluations, trying to understand why the district wants to permanently shut the school's doors. "It just doesn't make sense," said Mary Patton, a McCoy parent. "Immediately thinking of the impact not only on my kids who are in it and future students coming into McCoy, but the teachers and the community that we've really developed within the school… This is a huge loss and wrong." Families say McCoy is the heartbeat of the neighborhood, and it's highly regarded for its LEAP program for exceptionally gifted students. According to CFBISD, it's an old building in a feeder pattern that currently has four elementary schools all located within a mile of each other, so closing it would improve district-wide utilization. "It is a difficult circumstance that we are faced with," said Randy Schackmann, president of the CFBISD Board of Trustees. The district says that closing the four campuses would create up to $9 million in savings within the first year. CFBISD is currently facing a $19 million budget deficit. "You can only go so long with deficit budgets," Schackmann said. "And so we engaged the services of several outstanding educational consultants, both demographers, and space utilization consultants and just did a look at the district from top to bottom." Schackmann says the recommendations were made after an eight-month study into the district's financial, infrastructure, and enrollment challenges. The consolidation plan is expected to reduce more than 2,300 empty seats in the district. "We need to right size effectively so that we are able to accomplish what we want to do today and tomorrow for our students because this district has always been about high achievement, and we want to continue that," said Schackmann. In light of that, CBS News Texas asked Schackmann why the district would close its highest performing elementary school. "That's a good question. And one of the questions that I would come back with is, how are you determining it is one of the highest rated schools in the district?" he said. "They perform extremely well, as well as do other schools." Schackmann said he feels for the McCoy families, but the board has to look at what's best for the future of the entire district. He also said the board is committed to making sure the LEAP program stays as intact as possible while moving to another elementary campus if McCoy is closed. "We recognize this is a difficult, challenging time," Schackmann said. "It is a difficult circumstance that we are faced with. And this is probably the hardest vote I've ever faced as a board member. We want the best for our students and our schools." The board is set to vote on the proposal on Thursday, March 6. "The motto of the district is 'High Expectations for All' and McCoy, our school, is showing that motto," said Maiko Surmidea, whose children attend the school. "The decision to close down the school, it doesn't align with that value. So that's why the parents are rightfully so frustrated. We're trying to advocate for this school to keep from closing because it's wrongfully chosen." Parents believe the board should consider other options to address the district's problems. "We shouldn't be rushing a decision like this," Broome said. "I feel like the parents weren't aware until the last minute. They're doing the proposal February 6 and the vote in March, the very next month. So in 30 days, that's not enough time to make a decision."
