Latest news with #Getaway
Irish Daily Mirror
31-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Mullins splashes out huge sum on horse that only finished third on debut
Willie Mullins has splashed out €150,000 on a horse described as a "beautiful model" at the Tattersalls Ireland May Point-to-Point and Horses-in-Training Sale. The search to find the next equine superstar never ends for Team Mullins and they went deep in their pockets on Thursday. Mullins paid €150,000 for a horse called Bentraghhill, who was an eye-catching third in a point-to-point race at Fairyhouse last month. The four-year-old son of Getaway was trained on his debut by Cormac Abernethy and owned by Wilson Dennison, who previously owned Grade 1 winners Bellshill, Shaneshill and Yorkshill. Harold Kirk, Mullins' trusted bloodstock agent, told the Racing Post: 'He's a gorgeous horse and we've bought so many Grade 1 winners from Wilson Dennison, at least eight or nine individual Grade 1 horses. "We also had Getabird by Getaway, who was a Grade 1 horse too. 'He ran fantastically well for a big horse on his first start, he was only beaten three lengths and he has a lot of filing out to do. He has a good pedigree and is a beautiful model. He will go to grass now. He needs time as he's a big horse.' The sale was also notable for the sales of some of the prominent owner Robcour's enviable string. Grade 3-winning half-brothers French Dynamite and Indiana Jones, both trained by Mouse Morris, were purchased by Eric McNamara for €40,000 and by Bobby O'Ryan for €22,000, respectively. Robcour also sold Grade 2 winner Aspire Tower to Jimmy Fyffe for €44,000.
Telegraph
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Screens have ruined holidays, it's time we all switched off
This week the Princess of Wales released a video imploring people to step away from the 'digital world' and embrace the wonders of nature instead. The timing of her message couldn't have been more apt. On the day her video dropped, a power outage knocked out multiple lines on the London Underground network. A day before, thousands of passengers at Stansted were grounded due to an IT glitch. Many shelves are currently empty in M&S and Co-Op stores as a result of a cyber hack, and large swathes of Europe recently went dark due to a mass blackout. The digital world seems to be failing us more than ever before. What the Princess of Wales alludes to is nothing new, of course. The link between screen time, social media, ' doomscrolling ' and depression is well-documented. And the resulting antidote, the 'digital detox', has been around for a while. A Google Trends graph shows the first spikes of interest occurred in 2009, and (somewhat ironically) there has been a gradual rise of search traffic for switching off ever since. Anyone who watched the latest series of White Lotus will be familiar with the movement. That's set in a fictional hotel, but the no phones fad is well established. Ten years ago I stayed in a remote cabin in Upstate New York with a new company called Getaway (now Postcard Cabins) which had a lock box for my mobile phone. A UK firm, Unplugged, has a similar philosophy. Now, lots of hotels and wellness retreats are at it, too. To take one example, last year Careys Manor Hotel in the New Forest launched a 'digital detox package', which included a mobile phone amnesty box. The self-catering accommodation site, Cool Places, used to have a 'Wi-fi' tag. Now, its adding a 'No Wi-Fi' tag too. The problem is that those boxes are easily unlocked. So is it possible to take things a step further, I wonder? One option would be to go to the country with the worst 5G coverage on Earth. In Indonesia only 0.9 per cent of mobile phone connected time is spent on a 5G network, according to Opensignal. By comparison, 48.4 per cent of digital time in Puerto Rico is spent on a 5G connection. Cuba is another example of a country with poor internet speeds across its state-owned network, with roaming costs too high for much of the population. A more practical approach might be to look at the destinations that have a deeper-rooted screen-free culture. According to a 2021 report by Data Reportal, the people of Japan spend the least time online, with an average of just 4hr 25m of screen time per day. In Europe, meanwhile, the Danes have the healthiest relationship with their devices, with only 5hr 16m spent online daily compared to 6hr 26m in the UK. Is it a coincidence that Denmark's cities consistently rank as the happiest country on Earth? I suspect not. The problem we face is that when it comes to our holidays, embarking on a digital detox is harder now than ever before. Ryanair is in the process of going entirely paperless with its boarding passes, which will effectively force passengers to download its app and have it at the ready. Since becoming quite fashionable during the pandemic, QR codes continue to be popular with restaurants and museums. Hard to resist Perhaps the biggest hurdle is the multi-faceted powers of today's smartphone. Not too long ago, phones were for calls and texts, meaning you would have a camera for photos, a portable audio player for music, a guidebook for local information and a hotel reception desk for weather reports. Now, with all the above available at the touch of a button, the temptation to momentarily reconnect is hard to resist. And this is not to mention the expectation of contact with loved ones back at home. When I went inter-railing in 2008, aged 18, I had a flip phone without mobile internet connectivity, so I would pop into internet cafes every few days to send an 'all is well' update to my mum. Now, going single-tick silent for 24 hours is enough to prompt a search party. All that said, logging off is not impossible. And I do agree with the Princess of Wales that escaping the digital world and soaking up the natural one is vitally important, particularly for children. So this summer, I am going to take a leaf from Kate's book. I am due to travel to Cap Ferret on France's west coast in a couple of weeks, and I pledge to dust off my Fujifilm camera, inform my loved ones of my digital abstention, and to leave that frustratingly brilliant piece of technology at the bottom of my bag.
Sky News AU
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
Shock reason Wally Lewis' son Lincoln didn't attend dad's wedding despite being just minutes away from the church - as league legend's family feud laid bare
Rugby league legend Wally Lewis has married his partner of four years, Lynda Adams, in a quiet ceremony in Brisbane- but there were some notable absences on the guest list. The 65-year-old NRL "Immortal" wed Adams, a freelance writer and volunteer worker from Townsville, at St Mary's Anglican Church in Kangaroo Point on April 26. The happy couple were all smiles throughout the service and at a stylish reception held at Brisbane's historic Old Government House. Among the 40 or so guests were Lynda's daughter, Sydney, her nieces Sienna and Paris Bell, Wally's longtime mate and former Maroons player Gene Miles, and Footy Show star Paul 'Fatty' Vautin. However, Wally's three adult children- Mitchell, 39, Lincoln, 37, and Jamie-Lee, 34- were notably absent from the nuptials. Lincoln, an actor and television presenter, was just minutes away at the time, hosting an event for Tourism Australia at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre. "So honoured to be the MC today for this year's Tourism @australia ATE," the Getaway star wrote on his Instagram Stories, posting a photo of his lanyard at the event. "Amongst the formalities, it's pretty much where I get to be on stage yapping about how much I love Aus." A source close to the family told Woman's Day this week that the siblings spent most of the day with their mother, Jacqui, who was married to Wally for 36 years. "All three kids have been through the wringer since 2021 when their dad announced the shock split after 36 years married to their mum," the insider said. "Lincoln has taken this the hardest, and feels incredibly betrayed and let down by the man who for most of his life was his greatest hero." While some might suggest it's time to move on, the source added that "only a few people know the full story of what really happened, and how ugly the split actually was". Wally and Jacqui separated in 2020, with Channel Nine confirming the split publicly in early 2021. Though the timeline has never been officially confirmed, there was speculation Wally began his relationship with Adams before his marriage ended. Speaking later that year on The Anj, Rob & Robbo Show, Lincoln admitted the family had been through a tough time. "We've all banded together, we're a tight family unit," he said. "She's got some amazing friends around her. That's the thing that gets anyone through (difficult times)." Five years later, Jacqui is said to be thriving post-divorce, enjoying her retail job, taking overseas trips, and spending time with her four grandchildren. Although Lincoln's relationship with his father may have weakened, his love for the game remains strong. Over the weekend, he posted from Magic Round at Suncorp Stadium, where a bronzed statue of Wally still stands proudly out the front. "Magic Round is a vibe!!!" he captioned the post, accompanied by the famous NRL theme song 'That's My Team' by the Hoodoo Gurus.
Daily Mail
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Channel Nine farewells 'legend' executive producer behind Married At First Sight as he quits his long-running TV career after 31 years with the network
Channel Nine executive producer John Walsh, who is 'the man behind TV shows that have shaped Australia', has farewelled his long-running television career after 31 years. Walsh is the 'legend' behind successful shows such as Getaway, The Voice, and Married At First Sight Australia. Current and former colleagues shared their tributes to Walsh on Thursday, announcing his exit on LinkedIn and revealing he will now work as a travel columnist for 'Today at Nine we farewelled a legend. John Walsh is the man behind TV shows that have shaped Australia,' wrote Digital Editorial Director Kerri Elstub. 'From Getaway to launching The Voice, and almost a decade on the record-breaking roller-coaster that is Married At First Sight. 'But while he is leaving TV behind, he is staying in the Nine family as a travel columnist for After more than two decades running Australia's top TV travel show, he has some great stories to share.' Elstub finished with: 'Congrats on an incredible career JW and here's to the next chapter.' MAFS expert John Aiken took to the comments with his own heartfelt message, writing: 'Wonderful man! So grateful for him.' 'What an incredible career! Congratulations John Walsh and so pleased to have you onboard with 9Travel!' said another colleague. A third commented: 'One of the best all rounders in TV. You'll be sorely missed JW. Cheers, JAF.' 'John Walsh you certainly are an absolute legend and a gentleman. I'll never forget how kind and helpful you were to me when I first arrived in Sydney back in 2011. Wishing you all the best for this next chapter in your life!' said one. 'The best. Don't know what I would have done without you John Walsh back in the day. Enjoy the next phase,' someone else wrote, as another added: 'John Walsh my former boss what a legend!' Walsh has worked at Nine for 31 years, predominantly as a producer for some of the most successful Australian TV shows to come out of the network. In December, Channel Nine star Catriona Rowntree revealed she even asked her boss for 'permission' to marry her husband James Pettit in 2008. The veteran getaway presenter, 52, who shares sons Andrew, 14, and Charles, 12, with the executive producer, admitted she sought the advice of Walsh, who was her boss at the time, before tying the knot. Her confession came as she shared a heartwarming tribute to Walsh on Instagram at the time as he bid a fond farewell to the long-running series Getaway after more than 30 years at the helm. Sharing a series of photos from Walsh's farewell party, Rowntree added an expansive tribute to her superior. 'I love my Boss and I ain't afraid to show it (his gorgeous wife Jenny is completely fine with this). With heavy hearts we bid farewell to the most amazing Captain of The Ship a TV Show could ask for,' she began. She added Walsh's tenure as an executive producer for Getaway, as well as for such shows as Travel Guides and MAFS, had seen him 'adored by all'. 'This gentle giant is our calm in the storm, no doubt helped by the fact he's a teetotaller and always has our backs,' she said. Rowntree added she owes her family to her former boss, admitting she asked Walsh's permission to wed. 'In fact I can thank him for my children (back down Legal Department) and the life I have today,' she said. Current and former colleagues shared their tributes to Walsh on Thursday, announcing his exit on LinkedIn and revealing he will now work as a travel columnist for 'When my farmer asked me to marry him, I didn't say yes, I went to ask John's permission, I feared I'd lose everything I'd built by leaving my home and head office.' She continued: 'But John said: "Treens, as long as you can get to an airport, I don't care where you live!"' Her lengthy post continued, with Rowntree sharing how grateful she is for Walsh's professionalism, friendship, and flexibility. 'He was up for Work From Home long before Covid, ahead of his time, knowing that if you wanted to retain staff you liked, you had to be a little flexible,' she said.
Daily Mail
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Catriona Rowntree raves about Aussie city for a surprising reason - as it surpasses Sydney and Melbourne for thousands of tourists: 'Seamless'
Move over Melbourne and Sydney, because Adelaide just got a glowing review from one of Australia's best-travelled TV hosts. Veteran Getaway presenter Catriona Rowntree, 53, took to Instagram to shower praise on the South Australian capital. 'You only get one chance to make a first impression,' she wrote to her 121 thousand followers, before declaring that Adelaide scored an 11/10 in the tourism department. According to Catriona, it wasn't just the sunshine, Shiraz or sandstone buildings that swayed her generous score, it was something far more humble: clean streets and clear signage. 'To enter a city seemingly devoid of rubbish, graffiti, with easy signage, a seamless airport… it makes a big impression,' she wrote. And she's got a point. With its Insta-worthy wine regions, a great art scene, historic architecture, and impressive night life, there's no wonder it's catching the attention of jetsetters like Catriona. Let's also not forget that Adelaide was named 'most beautiful city in the world' in prestigious Architectural Digest list in 2024. The South Australian capital edged out several global cities including New York, Paris and Barcelona. Seasoned traveller Catriona, who has been to every corner of the globe during her 27 years hosting travel show Getaway, gave a shoutout to every unsung local hero helping to keep the streets pristine. 'We notice the little things.' The post sparked a wave of hometown pride, with South Australians flooding the comments to agree. One wrote, 'Adelaide's best-kept secret is out,' while another added, 'We love her AND we love our bins.' It's not the first time Catriona has raved about one of Australia's 'hidden gems', previously giving Queensland's Maleny Lodge a perfect 10 out of 10 score. Located in the vibrant Queensland town of the same name in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, Melany Lodge is just over an hour-and-a-half drive's north from Brisbane. Catriona was lucky enough to stay at the 'gorgeous' boutique accommodation while she was filming in Maleny for her Channel Nine series Country House Hunters Australia. 'Maleny Lodge, high up amongst the Glasshouse Mountains, is where I chose to stay the moment I found out I was filming in this region for Country House Hunters,' she said in an Instagram video. 'I get really excited when I'm given the location, trying to find accommodation that I can recommend to you, which doesn't cost a bomb and supports the local community. Isn't this place gorgeous!' The Aussie TV icon said she loved how owners Lucy and Andrew Pink cleverly converted the wardrobe in one of the bedrooms into a mini bar, as well as the dreamy clawfoot bath tub. 'It was built back in 1905 for a well-to-do family who had loads of kids, later changing hands to become a boarding house and recently new owners gave it a very swish upgrade,' Catriona explained.
