Latest news with #Howe
Sydney Morning Herald
7 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Travelling on a sleeper train is an exercise in space management
Australia by train: it's a romantic step back in time on board a rattling silver snake that winds its way across the continent. It's also an exercise in space management, with cabins on the Indian Pacific, The Ghan and the Great Southern demanding clever use of room storage in a cabin footprint that's remained the same since 2008. Here's the inside scoop on making the most of your space from the crew who do it every day. Pack light Start small and stay small. Indian Pacific journey manager Brittney Howe says this is the secret to a manageable and enjoyable cabin experience. There's only really floor space for a soft duffel bag or a very small wheelie bag, so be conscious with your clothing and pack things that you can wear multiple ways. 'You'll be far more comfortable with a duffel bag – something soft that can pack away,' says Howe. 'Then you're not navigating and moving [bags] around the ladder and moving them every time you need to open the bathroom or cabin door.' Unpack with intention The snug cabins are designed with nooks for your bits and bobs. In the Gold Twin cabin, which features two bunks and a private ensuite, that includes a slimline hanging space, a fold-out table, a book nook above your bed and even a designated hat rack for your Akubra. Space is limited in the private bathroom, so Howe makes more from the get-go. 'For me, it's hanging my towels straight away and that opens up all of that cupboard space [for toiletries],' she says. Other hot tips? Put your shoes in the cavity beneath the bottom bunk to keep the floor space free. Keep your toothbrush and toothpaste in the wall-mounted cup-holder above the sink. Use the space above the bathroom (where extra blankets and pillows live) for bulky or lesser-used items, like the puffer coat you won't need during warm Nullarbor afternoons.
The Age
7 hours ago
- The Age
Travelling on a sleeper train is an exercise in space management
Australia by train: it's a romantic step back in time on board a rattling silver snake that winds its way across the continent. It's also an exercise in space management, with cabins on the Indian Pacific, The Ghan and the Great Southern demanding clever use of room storage in a cabin footprint that's remained the same since 2008. Here's the inside scoop on making the most of your space from the crew who do it every day. Pack light Start small and stay small. Indian Pacific journey manager Brittney Howe says this is the secret to a manageable and enjoyable cabin experience. There's only really floor space for a soft duffel bag or a very small wheelie bag, so be conscious with your clothing and pack things that you can wear multiple ways. 'You'll be far more comfortable with a duffel bag – something soft that can pack away,' says Howe. 'Then you're not navigating and moving [bags] around the ladder and moving them every time you need to open the bathroom or cabin door.' Unpack with intention The snug cabins are designed with nooks for your bits and bobs. In the Gold Twin cabin, which features two bunks and a private ensuite, that includes a slimline hanging space, a fold-out table, a book nook above your bed and even a designated hat rack for your Akubra. Space is limited in the private bathroom, so Howe makes more from the get-go. 'For me, it's hanging my towels straight away and that opens up all of that cupboard space [for toiletries],' she says. Other hot tips? Put your shoes in the cavity beneath the bottom bunk to keep the floor space free. Keep your toothbrush and toothpaste in the wall-mounted cup-holder above the sink. Use the space above the bathroom (where extra blankets and pillows live) for bulky or lesser-used items, like the puffer coat you won't need during warm Nullarbor afternoons.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Alexander Isak to board flight this week with stance over Liverpool transfer made clear
Alexander Isak was left out of the Newcastle United squad for their pre-season friendly defeat to Celtic on Saturday, with speculation surrounding his future and a possible transfer having continued Alexander Isak may have missed part of Newcastle United's pre-season preparation due to transfer speculation, but the Swedish forward now looks set to board a flight this week. Eddie Howe confirmed the striker was left out of the squad which lost to Celtic. However, he will join the team in the Far East this week, clarifying the club's stance that Isak is still not for sale. The Premier League hitman has been garnering plenty of interest following his 27-goal season for the Magpies, with Liverpool one of the clubs reportedly considering spending £120million to secure his services. However, Liverpool are now on the brink of signing Hugo Ekitike – who Newcastle themselves had targeted – in a deal worth up to £79m from Eintracht Frankfurt, casting some doubt on their pursuit of Isak. Meanwhile, Howe confirmed to BBC Radio Newcastle that Isak would join the squad for their pre-season tour of the Far East, making it totally clear they expect the striker to remain at St James Park this season. "Yes, absolutely. He's part of our squad," Howe said ahead of Sunday's clash with Arsenal in Singapore. "At this moment in time, I expect him to come. "I'd never give a guarantee about anybody [staying] because I've been in football long enough to know I could end up looking silly. But, the desire from everybody to keep him is as strong as it could be. Fingers crossed that will happen for us. "We love him as a player and a person and want him to stay – and that is right through the club. He's an outstanding talent and a player we cherish. I think for any player speculation's not an easy thing to deal with, and not an easy thing to understand, when you're fielding calls and messages from players and people asking you all sorts. "The media now is so strong and the media message goes far and wide. I don't think it's easy for any player to be under that scrutiny and that's part – 10 per cent – of the reason why he wasn't here today. I just want him to focus on himself and his training and being ready for next week." Howe stated he left Isak out of the squad which faced Celtic on Saturday due to ongoing transfer speculation. Speaking post-match, he said: "It was purely the last thing Alex wants if he's not playing is to be sat in the stand. "Being under that scrutiny, I don't think that's fair to the player. If he wasn't going to play today, which we agreed, mutually agreed that he needs a little bit more training time, then it's best he's not here. I chose to send him home. The last thing Alex wants if he is not playing is to be sat in the stand and under that scrutiny, then if he wasn't going to play today, we mutually agreed he shouldn't be here. "It was my decision. He travelled back to Glasgow with us, but I decided to send him home due to the speculation around him. Both [ Joelinton and Isak] are fit but not ready to play. Alex has trained and is fine but we didn't want to take the risk with him. "Yes, I've had discussions with him, but that's not abnormal. I respect a player's career and how short it is. Alex has been really good, he's trained really well and I realise there'll be noise around him." The 47-year-old confirmed there had been "no formal approach" for Isak, adding that the club is hoping to keep the forward for the foreseeable future. Howe added: "I think it's difficult for me to give 100% clarity on any player. I'd never sit here and do that because it's football and you never know what can happen. All I can say is that Alex is happy at Newcastle. He loves the players that he plays with, the staff, the team. "I've never had any issue with him other than I'm really enjoying seeing his talent and seeing him express himself. Certainly, I'm confident that he's going to be here at the start of the season. We have a few players like that who I think are irreplaceable. Your top players are so hard to find, they're so hard to recruit, they're so hard to develop and make them into those players. "So when you have them, you need to treasure him. We certainly, on the staff, recognise his talent and his ability. We are of course desperate to keep him part of our team." One of Isak's agents, Gonzalo Gaitan, added some fuel to the fire amid these comments by recently admitting they are considering 'all options' for the Swede. "We are indeed studying and analysing all options," he said in an interview with Saudi Arabian publication Arriyadiyah. "And we may be close to finalising the next step for the player, without revealing any details regarding whether Isak will transfer or stay with Newcastle." Meanwhile, Liverpool are continuing to spend big in the transfer market, with the £79m for Ekitike bringing the Reds' spending close to £300m this summer alone. But their business may not stop there, with potential for more attacking recruits and a new centre-back. Liverpool will likely need at least one more new forward, given the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the futures of Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz and Federico Chiesa. But after committing to splashing out on Ekitike, it remains to be seen whether Liverpool would still pursue Isak – who would cost over £120m. With the doubt surrounding Isak's future arising from Newcastle's failure to agree a fresh long-term deal with a deserved pay increase, his representatives appear to be 'playing the game' regarding their client's prospects, reports the Liverpool Echo. Newcastle are preparing for their next test on Sunday, July 27, when they face Arsenal in Singapore, where Isak could well feature. They will take on a K-League XI and Tottenham Hotspur in South Korea on Wednesday, July 30 and Sunday, August 3 respectively. They will play further friendlies against Espanyol at St. James' Park on Friday, August 8, and then Atletico Madrid on Saturday, August 9, leading up to their Premier League opener away to Aston Villa on Saturday, August 16. The transfer window is set to close shortly after, on Monday, September 1, and while Howe was clear in his hopes that Isak will remain a Newcastle player by this point, his future could still be up in the air. Although a definitive move from the Reds for Isak is far from certain, they will keep a close eye on his situation, and Newcastle will be aiming to keep the Swede around for the upcoming season.
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
'Ridiculous' claim Eddie Howe made inside Celtic Park triggers foaming anger as Isak 'nonsense' boils over
Alexander Isak was left out and Howe's Newcastle absence explanation didn't wash with a former Celtic defender Former Celtic defender Craig Burley hammered Eddie Howe for a 'ridiculous statement' about Alexander Isak after Newcastle were thumped 4-0 at Parkhead. The Premier League giants were in Glasgow for a glamour friendly over the weekend and it was dubbed a clash of Champions League standard opposition – but it wasn't much of a contest as Celtic ran riot. Brendan Rodgers ' team, admittedly much further along in their pre-season preparation, racked up the goals with a penalty from Arne Engels opening the floodgates before Johnny Kenny, Yang and Liam Scales all piled on the misery. Primary striker Isak was left out amid speculation over his future, with Liverpool reported at the time to be keen on his services. Howe said after the match he hadn't planned to use Isak and sent him home since he didn't think it would be fair to leave him watching from the stands. But that hasn't washed with former Hoops, Chelsea and Scotland man Burley who went swinging for the Magepies boss. He told ESPN: 'Ridiculous statement, isn't it? 'I sent him home because it wasn't fair to him to sit in the stands. 'What kind of nonsense is that? What's wrong with sitting in the stands at Celtic Park watching your team getting gubbed? What's the problem? It's just cloak and dagger stuff. "He could have played him, and he decided not to play him. He sends him home, and makes it even more of a grey area.' Howe said the decision was down to rampant speculation over his future. That's since been cleared up to an extent with Liverpool moving on to Hugo Ekitike and Howe, speaking directly after the match, said he expects Isak to be a Newcastle player at the end of the window. 'It was my decision to leave him out," he said. "I decided to send him home due to all the speculation around him. 'The last thing he wanted was to be sat in the stands watching. That wasn't fair to him. But I am confident he will be a Newcastle United player come the end of this window.'
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Alexander Isak's agent breaks silence on transfer saga as Liverpool told 'next step' message
Alexander Isak's agent has spoken out on the Newcastle sensation's future amid interest from Liverpool and has now confirmed that a decision regarding the striker's future is "close" Alexander Isak's agent has finally addressed the transfer rumours linking the Newcastle forward with a move to Liverpool. Isak, 25, has been at the centre of intense speculation over the past week. Liverpool reportedly made an enquiry to Newcastle about a potential British record-breaking deal. The Reds were said to have been prepared to fork out £120million on the Swedish striker. But Newcastle have stood firm on their stance that Isak is not for sale, leading Liverpool to shift their focus towards Eintracht Frankfurt's Hugo Ekitike in the form of a £70m bid. Now, Isak's representative Gonzalo Gaitan has opened up about the situation to Saudi Arabian newspaper Arriyadiyah, with Isak also having been linked to Saudi Pro League sides. Gaitan said: "We are indeed studying and analysing all options, and we may be close to finalising the next step for the player. Without revealing any details regarding whether Isak will transfer or stay with Newcastle." Meanwhile, Magpies head coach Eddie Howe revealed that Isak was sent back from Newcastle's pre-season defeat to Celtic on Saturday due to the ongoing transfer talk. Howe, speaking to the media post-match, confirmed the reasoning behind his decision. He also expressed his belief that, despite the rumours, he didn't see Isak leaving the club this summer. Howe said: "It was my decision [to leave out Isak]. I decided to send him home due to all the speculation around him. "The last thing he wanted was to be sat in the stands watching. That wasn't fair to him. But I am confident he will be a Newcastle United player come the end of this window.' Howe continued: "It's difficult for me to give 100 per cent clarity on any player. Alex is happy at Newcastle, he loves the players, the staff, the team. I'm confident he'll be here at the start of the season." Isak has been linked with the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal following his stunning displays over the past few seasons on Tyneside. His goalscoring form in England has improved year on year since joining in 2022, with the Sweden international netting 27 goals in 42 appearances across all competitions last season.
