Latest news with #Harmer
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tracy Beaker star Dani Harmer reveals she's been diagnosed with perimenopause: ‘I felt like I was being possessed'
Tracy Beaker star Dani Harmer has revealed that she has been diagnosed with perimenopause after noticing symptoms related to her mental health. The 36-year-old actor, who rose to fame for her starring role in the CBBC TV adaptation of Jacqueline Wilson's novel The Story of Tracy Beaker, explained in a new TikTok video that she went to the doctors after experiencing brain fog, night sweats and difficulties with her mental health. In the video, Harmer pulled back some of her hair to reveal that her curly hair, which had become known as Tracy Beaker's signature locks, was thinning out as a result of the condition. 'I am losing it – it is thinning so badly you can see, like, the bald patches coming in, but just, like, the texture. It's thinning – it's bad, right?' she said. She added that the hair loss was 'getting me down' and that she was considering going to a salon to have curly hair extensions installed. Speaking about obtaining her diagnosis, Harmer revealed that it was her husband, Simon Brough, who encouraged her to get a diagnosis after her 'whole personality had pretty much changed'. 'There was just too much to ignore,' she said. 'I felt like I was being possessed by someone else; it was horrible – I was just getting deeper and deeper into a dark depression.' The actor is now managing her symptoms with the menopause treatment Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), which was prescribed after her doctor had run tests for different conditions, including cancer and coeliac disease. She said that the treatment has made her feel like herself again and that she had lost the weight that she had gained during lockdown, but her periods were 'all over the place'. Perimenopause is when a person has the symptoms of menopause but the periods have not stopped. The condition becomes menopause when a person fails to have a period for 12 months. Menopause is when periods stop due to lower hormone levels, which typically affects women between the ages of 45 and 55, but it can happen earlier. Menopause and perimenopause can cause symptoms like anxiety, mood swings, brain fog, hot flushes and irregular periods. These symptoms can start years before your periods stop and carry on afterwards. Harmer encouraged her fans who have had similar symptoms to seek medical advice and 'do not suffer', adding: 'Some of the symptoms are horrendous and you can spiral so quickly. I was really glad I went and got help.' The actor and her partner welcomed their first child, Avarie-Belle, in 2016. They had a second baby, Rowan, in 2022. Harmer appeared in The Story of Tracy Beaker from 2002 to 2005, before appearing in spin-offsTracy Beaker Returns (2009) and TheDumping Ground (2013).
Perth Now
20-05-2025
- Health
- Perth Now
Surging number of Aussies stuck in 'prison of poverty'
An increasing number of Australians feel forced to skip meals, eat from rubbish bins and forgo prescription medications, as growing financial hardship traps many in a "prison of poverty". Research from the Salvation Army found desperation is rising, and demand for support services has surged as more individuals and families struggle to make ends meet. Head of external communications Bruce Harmer said the data was concerning, saying a large cohort within the community simply could not afford daily basic needs. "We've been amazed at how much need is in the community and how raw and tactile it is," he told AAP. "It is truly shocking in a country like Australia that we are seeing these devastating numbers. No one should be forced to eat expired food or to eat out of rubbish bins." The survey released on Wednesday found 57 per cent of people could not afford prescription medication and one in 20 people reported eating from rubbish bins. It found 62 per cent of parents reported going without food so their children could eat, while 43 per cent could not afford essentials such as baby formula and nappies. "I just drink water to fill up my tummy. And the milk for the baby, for example, one bottle is for four scoops of milk, I always put two scoops in every bottle," a community member, who had received support from the Salvos said. "I don't use nappies for the baby because I can't afford to buy nappies for her. And also, when we wash our clothes, we are not using soap. I can't afford that." More than 3.3 million people live below the poverty line, according to the 2022 Poverty in Australia Snapshot by the Australia Council of Social Service. "Living in poverty and struggling to make ends meet has a huge impact on a person's mental health," Mr Harmer said. "We should be aware of that for people they're in a prison of poverty, there's no way out." The Salvation Army data surveyed 3586 community members who had received food, financial assistance or material aid from the service. About 90 per cent of respondents said they would not have managed without the support of the organisation, which is a positive statistic according to Mr Harmer. "That's a good news. Even though it indicates that 90 per cent of people were really struggling, they were able to make ends meet because of the Salvation Army," he said. "It's more important than ever, that the community gets behind the Red Shield Appeal and help us raise the $38 million we require to meet this need."
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Calls for police to maintain bin strike presence
Calls have been made for the police to maintain their presence at Birmingham bin strike picket lines as collections continued to be affected. Roger Harmer, Lib Dem leader on the city council, urged police not to wait until the city reached crisis point before stepping in. His comments came after the number of officers sent to police the picket lines were cut and amid reports of bin lorries being blocked by striking workers at depots. On Monday lorries were seen driving up to depot gates in Tyseley but parking up inside as striking workers stood outside. West Midlands Police said it would continue to assess the situation and ensure its presence is in line with its core policing responsibilities. Why are Birmingham's bin workers on strike? Bin strike exposes divide between rich and poor I haven't had my recycling collected since January Harmer urged West Midlands Police to have a "consistent presence" at picket lines and not to wait "until the city reaches crisis point again". "Human-height mounds of black bags" became commonplace in the city and Harmer described it as "a national embarrassment and terrible for the city's reputation". "The police have powers to stop strikers from obstructing working crews – they should not wait for the city to reach crisis point again before acting," he added. However some people in the city said a crisis point had already been reached for them. Judith Whalley told BBC Radio WM that the strike was starting to affect her ability to leave her home in Hockley. "As it's not been collected, people are just putting more rubbish and more rubbish out," she said. "Once again, I'm about to be trapped because it's spreading across the pavement but I can't get down the pavement on my mobility scooter. "With the weather the way it is, [it is] really getting smelly." However, Ms Whalley said she sympathised with those on strike: "Nobody could afford to lose that sort of money." Lorraine Boyce, from West Heath, said her hallway was full of recycling but some people had stopped separating it. "Probably they've got sheds or halls, full of recycling," she said. "They've started putting that in bags so a lot more black bags have appeared. "It's very, very depressing." Police patrols had previously helped secure the smooth exit of trucks from depots in recent weeks by using powers under Section 14 of the Public Order Act, a law used around public gatherings. But a force spokesperson confirmed those powers were no longer in place as the issue "does not currently meet the threshold". It came after waste collections were disrupted on Thursday when bin lorries were blocked from leaving two depots by striking refuse workers, leading to reports of rubbish piling up in parts of the city again. Police were parked nearby and were seen getting out of their patrol cars but they remained a distance away. The council said it was not safe for their trucks to leave the depot due to the police no longer using their Section 14 powers. "The gates had been locked for safety reasons, and we had already attempted to get lorries out of the depot. The gates were reopened at 8 am," it said. Union Unite, which organised the strike, has been approached for a comment on Monday's picket lines. The all-out strike began on 11 March in a dispute with the council over plans to downgrade the roles of drivers, which the union said would see pay cuts of up to £8,000. This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Why are Birmingham bin workers on strike? PM living in 'la-la land', striking bin worker says Bin strike policing cut as waste builds up again Striking bin workers block depot lorries again Bin collections not back to normal - politicians Birmingham City Council Unite West Midlands Police
BBC News
05-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Rew & Overton take Somerset to win over Essex
Rothesay County Championship Division One, Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton (day four)Essex 206 & 259: Cox 103* (retired hurt); Pretorius 3-36Somerset 145 & 325-7: Rew 116, Gregory 57, C Overton 53*; Harmer 4-120Somerset (19 pts) beat Essex (3 pts) by three wicketsMatch scorecard James Rew's 10th first-class century guided Somerset to an unlikely first County Championship victory of the season, a three-wicket success against Essex at been 78-5 at one stage in their second innings, chasing 321 to win, the home side began the final day on 216-6, still needing 105. But Rew took his score from 65 to a superb 116, off 189 balls, with 18 fours, sharing a seventh-wicket stand of 133 with Craig Overton, who contributed 53 not out, to complete a remarkable ended the game 25 minutes before lunch with a straight six off Simon Harmer, which took him to a 111-ball half-century notable for unbroken concentration and application in a pressure had let things slip with some wayward bowling the previous evening and their bowlers found scant assistance in a last-day pitch that had aided seam and spin considerably in the previous had to settle for three points, having been on top for long periods, while Somerset claimed a welcome 19 after a disappointing start to the Essex attack will have welcomed the first meaningful cloud cover of the match when play began with 12 overs to a second new ball, Sam Cook opening up from the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion End and off-spinner Harmer operating from the River unbeaten on four overnight, played and missed at the first delivery of the morning from Cook, but soon he and Rew were eating into the 105 runs needed for victory, the latter clipping Cook through wide mid-on for the first boundary and edging a second to third man off the next reigned himself in commendably against Harmer, content to pick gaps in the field for ones and twos, while using his long reach to negate any spin. Rew, who had looked in prime form the previous evening, was the more aggressive as the score passed 250 and he moved into the the sun breaking through, the pair safely negotiated the opening half hour, experiencing few alarms. But there was still the matter of the new ball, taken at 258-6, with a further 63 needed and Essex under pressure to break the began his second spell of the morning with it. At the other end Jamie Porter found the inside edge of Rew's bat only for the ball to fly past wicketkeeper Michael Pepper for four, taking the Somerset man onto 161-ball century came up with a back-foot shot through the leg side for two off Porter, a mature innings from a young player who looks destined for an international future. There was still work to do, but Somerset were starting to look firm favourites as Overton brought up the hundred quickly reverted to Harmer from the River End, who beat the outside edge of Rew's bat in his first over with the harder ball. But it was a rare moment of anxiety for Somerset as Overton, who had moved patiently to 27 without hitting a boundary, opened his shoulders to drive Hamer through mid-off for also sensed victory was assured as he cut loose with some sweetly-struck shots. But his brilliant contribution ended with just nine runs required, lbw aiming to launch Harmer over the leg mattered little as Overton off-drove Harmer for four and then smashed the ball back over his head, pumping a fist as celebrations began in the home dressing Reporters' Network supported by Rothesay
BBC News
03-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Cox helps Essex take control at Somerset
Rothesay County Championship Division One, Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton (day two)Essex 206 & 163-4: Cox 61*; Gregory 1-17Somerset 145: Davey 27; Harmer 4-43Essex (3 pts) lead Somerset (3 pts) by 224 runsMatch scorecard Jordan Cox scored a chanceless half-century as Essex assumed control at the halfway stage of the County Championship Division One match against Somerset at England batter finished day two unbeaten on 61, shared in partnerships of 57 and 61 for the third and fourth wickets with Tom Westley and Matt Critchley respectively and helped the visitors close on 163-4 in their second innings, a significant lead of 224 in what has been a low-scoring contest up to pursuit of a first win this season was again undermined by their frailty with the bat, off spinner Simon Harmer claiming 4-43 as the home side were dismissed for 145 in 46.3 overs. Seamers Sam Cook, Jamie Porter and Kasun Rajitha weighed in with two wickets apiece and Josh Davey top-scored with 27 for Somerset, who conceded a first-innings deficit of 61. From the relative security of 46-1, the home side lost nine wickets for 99 runs in an alarming slide reminiscent of the second innings collapse that saw them lose to Surrey at The Oval in their last was no sign of the carnage to come when Andrew Umeed and Davey safely negotiated the first half hour to stage a second wicket stand of 46 in the face of accurate seam bowling from Cook and Porter. But that soon changed with the advent of Harmer from the end where fellow spinner Jack Leach enjoyed such success on the first enough, his off-breaks effected a breakthrough in his third over, Umeed suffering an inexplicable rush of blood to the head and swishing across the line to a ball that rattled into his stumps. Having looked rock-solid in chiseling 20 from 48 deliveries, he was rightly abashed at the manner of his upon being positive, new batsman Tom Lammonby guided a ball from Harmer to the unprotected third man boundary to bring up Somerset's 50, while an increasingly authoritative Davey drove Porter through the covers for another four. It was Davey's final act, Porter beating his defences two deliveries later and bowling him for 27 with the score on was an altogether different feel to proceedings when Harmer angled a ball across Tom Abell's body and found his outside edge, Cox taking a straightforward catch at slip. Abell had gone for seven and Somerset were 63-4 and under pressure. Harmer further turned up the heat with a repeat of the delivery that had undone Abell to dismiss Lammonby for 13, Cox again demonstrating safe hands at worse followed for the home side, Tom Banton falling for 12 in the act of aiming an injudicious drive at a delivery from Rajitha that pitched outside off stump and made a mess of his stumps via an inside edge. Charged with the task of surviving until the lunch interval, the seventh wicket pair of James Rew and Lewis Gregory failed. Extracting late movement off the pitch, Rajitha persuaded Rew to push half forward and nick a length ball surrendered six wickets for the addition of 51 runs in 14.4 overs, Somerset were reeling, their supporters no doubt relieved when lunch cut short the carnage with the score on 106-7. Any respite was short-lived, however, Gregory shouldering arms to a straight one from Cook and being bowled for 14 as mayhem and mishap resumed in the afternoon to meet fire with fire, Migael Pretorius helped himself to a trio of boundaries and raised a quickfire 24 from 20 balls before Harmer took a startling diving catch off his own bowling to remove the South African. He was denied a five-wicket haul by Porter, who had Craig Overton caught by Cook at mid-on to bring the curtain down on an innings the cider county will want to forget in a were desperately in need of early wickets and Overton obliged, pinning Paul Walter in his crease without scoring. Thereafter, the home side were held up by Dean Elgar and Westley, who mustered stiff resistance on a pitch that was becoming increasingly prone to variable were 106 runs ahead when Gregory induced the ball to nip back at Elgar and bowl him for 23. But there was no shifting Westley and Cox, who reached the sanctuary of the tea interval with the score on felt confident they had run out Westley for 15 in the 26th over, Leach scoring a direct hit on the stumps from cover point as the batsmen scampered a single with the score on 72-2. But square leg umpire Nigel Llong gave the Essex captain the benefit of the doubt, much to the chagrin of hard-done-by Somerset rubbed salt into the wound by cover driving Overton for four to bring up the 50 partnership soon afterwards as the third wicket partnership began to flourish. Not surprisingly, loud cheers rang around the ground when Overton trapped Westley lbw for 26 to reduce the visitors to 102-3 in the 35th added a valuable 57 runs in alliance with his captain, Cox now took centre stage, raising a potentially crucial 50 from 88 balls with eight fours. He found a willing ally in Critchley, who made 28 before edging Leach to slip in the final over of the Reporters' Network supported by Rothesay
