Latest news with #JamesHoward
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
‘We met through Telegraph Dating and bonded over our Brexit views'
James and Jill Howard's first date wasn't going too well. They had each driven 120 miles from their respective homes in Devon and Hertfordshire, the pub they had arranged to meet in wasn't wonderful, and James, dare Jill say it, was slightly shorter than she'd expected. The prospect of a wasted trip loomed. That was, ironically, until Brexit came up. At which point the pair clicked. 'I think our points of view were very similar, and that was the icebreaker,' recalls Jill, 72. 'We just started talking about lots of things after that.' Today the couple still have their separate homes; James's in Torquay and Jill's is in Beaconsfield, but they split their time between them together. They have found in later life a love and companionship that neither thought possible. It has given them a whole new perspective on life and ageing. In 2012 Jill was widowed after 37 years of marriage and one daughter. 'It really was an excellent marriage. We really were still very much in love. And you know, I suppose I would say I grew up with him. And so it took me a long time to come to terms with that,' says Jill. But then a chance conversation at a work dinner with a colleague, an actuary in his 50s who had terminal cancer but was also online dating, made her feel differently about the prospect of meeting someone new. 'I thought people like me didn't use dating sites, but he told me I should try it. My perception was that online dating was for 20-year-olds, not qualified, professional mature adults.' The website was Telegraph Dating. 'Because I was a Daily Telegraph reader, I thought, well, at least the probability is that I am more likely to meet somebody who's like-minded.' It was after a couple of years of casually dating – nothing serious or engaging of the heart – that she came across James, now 82, on the website in 2019. Jill had set her radius to 50 miles, but a change in the format meant that James snuck through, his profile making an impression with a Yeats poem and amiable photographs. However their nascent connection stumbled when after exchanging some promising messages, she left a reply unsent by accident. 'I was disappointed, because I thought we were getting on quite well but he hadn't come back to me,' recalls Jill. 'And then I realised that my message was still in my outbox.' James meanwhile had come to the conclusion that Jill wasn't terribly interested, which was why she hadn't responded. With the connection revived two weeks later, the pair arranged to meet. Jill drove around the M25 from Radlett, where she then lived, and then down the M4 to Castle Combe. James travelled up from Torquay, having approximated what would be halfway for the pair of them. 'But twice the stress for me,' laughs Jill. For the first awkward 20 minutes she admits to thinking: 'I've come all this way!' But then the pair found themselves agreeing about the idea of sovereignty and discovered they were pro-Brexit for the same reasons. On parting James said he would like to see Jill again. 'Which was much more spontaneous than any other man had been,' she says. But on the long drive home, she wondered, could the distance work? But then world circumstances overtook them. Jill was in Arizona on holiday with her daughter and grandson when Covid hit. Hers was the last flight out of Phoenix before lockdown came. Back in England, Jill's daughter fully expected her to join her family bubble, only for James to extend an invitation for her to stay with him. 'I love my daughter, but you know, even I know a mother after three days is something that can cause friction,' says Jill. And so she made the brave, or what could have proven foolhardy, decision to join James. 'It enabled us to get to know each other a lot better, in a way that would have been much more difficult with much more pressure, had we been commuting backwards and forwards,' says James, who was previously married, but divorced in 2003. Like Jill, he had met various people in the time afterwards, but no one he felt he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. What was different about Jill? 'Just the fact that we are both very much on the same wavelength. We find that we can communicate very easily. We both had business backgrounds.' Jill is a qualified accountant who has held senior positions in financial services, while James is a retired business owner. The pair found themselves enjoying each other's company so much that when Jill went home to Radlett when the lockdown eased, James came with her. Still, from Jill's perspective getting married again wasn't something she was at all fussed about. 'That's all James's fault,' she jokes today. It was on a trip to the Cotswolds in 2021 that he popped the question. Or rather, he said: 'Shall we make it formal?' A somewhat ambiguous proposal that Jill still teases him over. When she had worked out what he was actually proposing, what was her reaction? 'Well, by that stage, I thought, why not? I mean, yes, we could just continue living together. But there is something more permanent about marriage, isn't there? It's a deep commitment and having been married for so long before, to me it was like you were cementing the relationship. I did warn James that it would be quite literally till death do us part, because there would be no getting away.' The couple married in September 2022, in the City of London, surrounded by their family and friends. 'It was just such a joyous occasion,' recalls Jill. 'Nobody had been partying at all, due to Covid. The weather was perfect.' 'Jill is a marvellous organiser,' chips in James. 'Full credit to her for doing that and it really was an absolutely wonderful day.' They both agree it has been the most lovely marriage. 'I really do think that I've met the most wonderful woman,' says James. Companionship is the most important factor for both of them. As is the fact that they each get on with the other's grown-up children. James has two daughters. They have made sure that their marriage doesn't affect their children financially. James does have some indulgent hobbies, which Jill is tolerant of. 'I own a light aeroplane,' says James. 'Fortunately, it's a hobby that I can afford to indulge myself with.' As a couple they enjoy some very nice holidays together: New Zealand, Namibia, the Caribbean and South East Asia. 'It's indescribably more fun to see them together,' says Jill. Her advice to those unsure whether to put themselves in the dating arena is to be brave. 'If you don't try these things, you never know.' James adds simply: 'I am very, very lucky.' Reflecting on her life before James, Jill says: 'When I lost my husband, I thought the end of the world had arrived. And I never, ever, at this age, thought I could have a relationship that was as fulfilling ever again. That I could be that happy again. So I count myself as very, very lucky as well.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Solve the daily Crossword
Telegraph
4 days ago
- General
- Telegraph
‘We met through Telegraph dating and bonded over our Brexit views'
James and Jill Howard's first date wasn't going too well. They had each driven 120 miles from their respective homes in Devon and Hertfordshire, the pub they had arranged to meet in wasn't wonderful, and James, dare Jill say it, was slightly shorter than she'd expected. The prospect of a wasted trip loomed. That was, ironically, until Brexit came up. At which point the pair clicked. 'I think our points of view were very similar, and that was the icebreaker,' recalls Jill, 72. 'We just started talking about lots of things after that.' Today the couple still have their separate homes; James's in Torquay and Jill's is in Beaconsfield, but they split their time between them together. They have found in later life a love and companionship that neither thought possible. It has given them a whole new perspective on life and ageing. In 2012 Jill was widowed after 37 years of marriage and one daughter. 'It really was an excellent marriage. We really were still very much in love. And you know, I suppose I would say I grew up with him. And so it took me a long time to come to terms with that,' says Jill. But then a chance conversation at a work dinner with a colleague, an actuary in his 50s who had terminal cancer but was also online dating, made her feel differently about the prospect of meeting someone new. 'I thought people like me didn't use dating sites, but he told me I should try it. My perception was that online dating was for 20-year-olds, not qualified, professional mature adults.' The website was Telegraph Dating. 'Because I was a Daily Telegraph reader, I thought, well, at least the probability is that I am more likely to meet somebody who's like-minded.' It was after a couple of years of casually dating – nothing serious or engaging of the heart – that she came across James, now 82, on the website in 2019. Jill had set her radius to 50 miles, but a change in the format meant that James snuck through, his profile making an impression with a Yeats poem and amiable photographs. However their nascent connection stumbled when after exchanging some promising messages, she left a reply unsent by accident. 'I was disappointed, because I thought we were getting on quite well but he hadn't come back to me,' recalls Jill. 'And then I realised that my message was still in my outbox.' James meanwhile had come to the conclusion that Jill wasn't terribly interested, which was why she hadn't responded. With the connection revived two weeks later, the pair arranged to meet. Jill drove around the M25 from Radlett, where she then lived, and then down the M4 to Castle Combe. James travelled up from Torquay, having approximated what would be halfway for the pair of them. 'But twice the stress for me,' laughs Jill. For the first awkward 20 minutes she admits to thinking: 'I've come all this way!' But then the pair found themselves agreeing about the idea of sovereignty and discovered they were pro-Brexit for the same reasons. On parting James said he would like to see Jill again. 'Which was much more spontaneous than any other man had been,' she says. But on the long drive home, she wondered, could the distance work? But then world circumstances overtook them. Jill was in Arizona on holiday with her daughter and grandson when Covid hit. Hers was the last flight out of Phoenix before lockdown came. Back in England, Jill's daughter fully expected her to join her family bubble, only for James to extend an invitation for her to stay with him. 'I love my daughter, but you know, even I know a mother after three days is something that can cause friction,' says Jill. And so she made the brave, or what could have proven foolhardy, decision to join James. 'It enabled us to get to know each other a lot better, in a way that would have been much more difficult with much more pressure, had we been commuting backwards and forwards,' says James, who was previously married, but divorced in 2003. Like Jill, he had met various people in the time afterwards, but no one he felt he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. What was different about Jill? 'Just the fact that we are both very much on the same wavelength. We find that we can communicate very easily. We both had business backgrounds.' Jill is a qualified accountant who has held senior positions in financial services, while James is a retired business owner. The pair found themselves enjoying each other's company so much that when Jill went home to Radlett when the lockdown eased, James came with her. Still, from Jill's perspective getting married again wasn't something she was at all fussed about. 'That's all James's fault,' she jokes today. It was on a trip to the Cotswolds in 2021 that he popped the question. Or rather, he said: 'Shall we make it formal?' A somewhat ambiguous proposal that Jill still teases him over. When she had worked out what he was actually proposing, what was her reaction? 'Well, by that stage, I thought, why not? I mean, yes, we could just continue living together. But there is something more permanent about marriage, isn't there? It's a deep commitment and having been married for so long before, to me it was like you were cementing the relationship. I did warn James that it would be quite literally till death do us part, because there would be no getting away.' The couple married in September 2022, in the City of London, surrounded by their family and friends. 'It was just such a joyous occasion,' recalls Jill. 'Nobody had been partying at all, due to Covid. The weather was perfect.' 'Jill is a marvellous organiser,' chips in James. 'Full credit to her for doing that and it really was an absolutely wonderful day.' They both agree it has been the most lovely marriage. 'I really do think that I've met the most wonderful woman,' says James. Companionship is the most important factor for both of them. As is the fact that they each get on with the other's grown-up children. James has two daughters. They have made sure that their marriage doesn't affect their children financially. James does have some indulgent hobbies, which Jill is tolerant of. 'I own a light aeroplane,' says James. 'Fortunately, it's a hobby that I can afford to indulge myself with.' As a couple they enjoy some very nice holidays together: New Zealand, Namibia, the Caribbean and South East Asia. 'It's indescribably more fun to see them together,' says Jill. Her advice to those unsure whether to put themselves in the dating arena is to be brave. 'If you don't try these things, you never know.' James adds simply: 'I am very, very lucky.' Reflecting on her life before James, Jill says: 'When I lost my husband, I thought the end of the world had arrived. And I never, ever, at this age, thought I could have a relationship that was as fulfilling ever again. That I could be that happy again. So I count myself as very, very lucky as well.'
Straits Times
20-07-2025
- Straits Times
How to fly long-haul with a baby
A little planning and a few handy tricks might make the daunting task of flying with a baby less stressful. NEW YORK – 'Try flying any plane with a baby if you want a sense of what it must have been like to be a leper in the fourteenth century,' wrote American journalist, film-maker and author Nora Ephron in her 1983 novel Heartburn. That is not too far off. And I would know, as it was not long ago that I flew 19 hours across the world with my three-month-old. A newborn or young infant cannot be reasoned with, nor can he or she sit in front of a screen or snack on treats. What do you pack for an infant on a long flight? Where do you even put the baby? And that is all before accounting for the side eye you get from fellow passengers bracing themselves for screaming and crying. A little groundwork, though, can go a long way towards easing some of that stress, said Mr James Howard, a Delta Air Lines cabin manager and father of a toddler. You might even enjoy it, he added. Advance planning If you know you will travel in the first few months of your baby's life, you can add your child to your airline ticket even before he or she is born , said Mr Brian Kelly, founder of the Points Guy website and a father of two. Your airline would use a placeholder name – usually 'Baby' and your last name. Then, closer to your travel dates, update your booking with your child's legal name. For most domestic US flights, infants can travel free on the lap of an accompanying adult, though many experts do not think this is safe. On international flights, you might be charged a portion of your fare. Navigating check-in Breast milk and formula in your carry-on are not subject to the Transportation Security Administration's liquids limit, meaning you can take along large quantities of them on board. You will, however, need to take them out for screening. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 1 in 3 vapes here laced with etomidate; MOH working with MHA to list it as illegal drug: Ong Ye Kung Singapore HSA extends hotline hours, launches new platform to report vaping offences Singapore No unified guidelines? Animal shelters chart their own paths on welfare standards Asia Tearful relatives await news of Vietnam boat capsize rescue as death toll rises to 38 Multimedia How to make the most out of small homes in Singapore Singapore Minor Issues: Why I didn't send my daughters to my brand-name primary school Opinion I thought I was a 'chill' parent. Then came P1 registration World Diplomats dismissed: Inside the overhaul reshaping Trump's foreign policy 'I always tell parents to have the agents change their gloves before they do that because I don't know what they've touched,' said Dr Lauren Hughes. The paediatrician at Bloom Pediatrics in Kansas City, Kansas, has become popular on social media for sharing practical infant and toddler tips and tricks. If you know you have to get through a large airport, Mr Kelly recommends taking a foldable stroller that would fit in the overhead compartment with you rather than one you need to check in, which might get damaged or need to be picked up at an oversized luggage counter. Another option is to pack a baby carrier so you can keep your hands free through the airport, said Ms Christy Slavik, owner of the travel agency Mom Approved Travel. Seating choices Though having an infant sit in your lap is allowed, the Federal Aviation Administration recommends that babies be strapped into car seats during flights and advises against holding them in your lap. That does require you to buy a seat that is certified for flying and you should check whether the plane will have the right seat belts to secure it. Most business or first class cabins do not, said Mr Kelly. Getting an extra seat also ensures that in the event of a loss of cabin pressure, there would be an oxygen mask at the ready for the baby too, said Dr Hughes. If they were on your lap, one might not drop down for them but would be made available if you requested it. For longer international flights, it might be worth booking a bassinet for the baby to sleep in, said Mr Howard . Airline bassinets are free and can be requested through the airline reservations team, but they are available only on a first-come, first-served basis. They cannot be used during take-off, landing or during heavy turbulence. You also cannot hold your baby in a carrier for take-off and landing. Some international flights will provide an infant seat belt to loop around your baby on your lap that then attaches to your own seat belt for take-off and landing. Keeping your baby happy, healthy and clean When it comes to the safety of your infant, the biggest risk, said Dr Hughes, is the infection risk of being in an enclosed space. 'A fever in a child under 60 days old is an emergency, so my general guidance is to wait until at least 60 days old' to get them on a flight, she added. Also, pack a first aid kit in your carry-on that contains bandages; an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream for itchy, irritated skin; a topical antibiotic for cuts and scrapes; as well as infant versions of Tylenol, ibuprofen and an antihistamine, Dr Hughes said. To make sure babies are comfortable during the change in air pressure at take-off and landing, offer them a bottle or a pacifier or nurse them in those moments, Dr Hughes added, as the sucking can help with the ear-popping sensation. And ideally, you could try to time your flights around naps or take a night flight so that your baby can sleep for at least some part of the journey, she said. Diaper changes on flights can be a little tricky. Bathrooms that feel uncomfortably small for an adult, can feel even smaller with the addition of a baby and a diaper bag. According to Mr Howard, there should be at least one diaper-changing table on every aircraft. But before taking your baby into the shoebox of a bathroom, make sure your wipes and fresh diapers are easily accessible with one hand as there is not much space or time to fumble around searching for them in the depths of your carry-on bag, he said. That might mean you go in first and set up the diaper changing table while your partner or a crew member holds the baby. 'In my almost eight years of flying, I have helped watch children while the parent has gone to the restroom, I have helped install car seats, I've helped break down strollers and store items,' Mr Howard said. 'As a parent, it's important to remember that any extra pair of hands you can get is great.' NYTIMES
Observer
19-07-2025
- Observer
How to fly long-haul with a baby
'Try flying any plane with a baby if you want a sense of what it must have been like to be a leper in the fourteenth century,' wrote journalist, filmmaker and author Nora Ephron in her 1983 novel, 'Heartburn.' That's not too far off. And I'd know, as it wasn't long ago that I flew 19 hours across the world with my 3-month-old. A newborn or young infant cannot be reasoned with, nor can they sit in front of a screen or snack on treats. What do you pack for an infant on a long flight? Where do you even put the baby? And that's all before accounting for the side eye you get from fellow passengers bracing themselves for screaming and crying. A little groundwork, though, can go a long way toward easing some of that stress, said James Howard, a Delta Air Lines cabin manager and father of a toddler. You might even enjoy it, he added. Advance Planning If you are flying internationally, your baby, no matter how young, will need a passport. You can apply for one online, mail in supporting evidence, like a birth certificate, and then show up in person for an appointment. The process can take roughly three months, although you can pay to expedite it. You will need a passport photo; the State Department concedes that the baby can be lying down for the photo, and 'it is acceptable if your infant's eyes are not entirely open.' If you know you will travel in the first few months of your baby's life, you can add your child to your airline ticket even before they're born, said Brian Kelly, founder of the Points Guy website and a father of two. Your airline would use a placeholder name (usually 'Baby' and your last name). Then, closer to your travel dates, update your booking with their legal name. For most domestic U.S. flights, infants can travel free on the lap of an accompanying adult, though many experts don't think this is safe; on international flights, you might be charged a portion of your fare. If you are traveling in and out of the United States and want to use Global Entry, babies need their membership, no matter how young they are. You will need to sign your baby up separately, and they must go for the interview. Navigating Check-In Breast milk and formula in your carry-on are not subject to the Transportation Security Administration's liquids limit, meaning you can bring large quantities of them onboard. You will, however, need to take them out for screening. 'I always tell parents to have the agents change their gloves before they do that,' said Lauren Hughes, a pediatrician at Bloom Pediatrics in Kansas City, Kansas, who has become popular on social media for sharing practical infant and toddler tips and tricks, 'because I don't know what they've touched, I don't know what the hell is on your gloves and I don't want it on my baby's milk.' If you know you have to get through a large airport, Kelly recommends taking a foldable stroller that would fit in the overhead compartment with you rather than one you need to check, which might get damaged or need to be picked up at an oversized luggage counter. Another option is to pack a baby carrier so you can keep your hands free through the airport, said Christy Slavik, the owner of the travel agency Mom Approved Travel. Seating Choices Though having an infant sit in your lap is allowed, the Federal Aviation Administration recommends that babies be strapped into car seats during flights and advises against holding them in your lap. That does require you to buy a seat that is certified for flying, and you should check whether the plane will have the right seat belts to secure it (most business or first-class cabins don't, said Kelly). Getting an extra seat also ensures that in the event of a loss of cabin pressure, there would be an oxygen mask at the ready for the baby, too, said Hughes. If they were on your lap, one might not drop down for them, but would be made available if you requested it. For longer international flights, it might be worth booking a bassinet for the baby to sleep in, Howard of Delta said. Airline bassinets are free and can be requested through the airline reservations team, but they are only available on a first-come, first-served basis. They can't be used during takeoff, landing or during heavy turbulence. You also can't hold your baby in a carrier for takeoff and landing. Some international flights will provide an infant seat belt to loop around your baby on your lap that then attaches to your seat belt for takeoff and landing. Keeping Your Baby Happy, Healthy, and Clean When it comes to the safety of your infant, the biggest risk, said Hughes, is 'the infection risk of being in an enclosed space.' 'A fever in a child under 60 days old is an emergency, so my general guidance is to wait until at least 60 days old' to get them on a flight, she added. Also, pack a first-aid kit in your carry-on that contains bandages, an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream for itchy, irritated skin, a topical antibiotic for cuts and scrapes as well as infant versions of Tylenol, ibuprofen, and an antihistamine, Hughes said. To make sure babies are comfortable during the change in air pressure at takeoff and landing, offer them a bottle or a pacifier or nurse them in those moments, Hughes added, as the sucking can help with the ear-popping sensation. And ideally, you could try to time your flights around naps or take a night flight so that your baby can sleep for at least some part of the journey, she said. Diaper changes on flights can be a little tricky; bathrooms that feel uncomfortably small for an adult human can feel even smaller with the addition of a baby and a diaper bag. According to Howard, there should be at least one diaper-changing table on every aircraft. But before taking your baby into the shoebox of a bathroom, make sure your wipes and fresh diapers are easily accessible with one hand, as there isn't much space or time to fumble around searching for them in the depths of your carry-on bag, he said. That might mean you go in first and set up the diaper changing table while your partner or a crew member holds the baby. 'In my almost eight years of flying, I have helped watch children while the parent has gone to the restroom, I have helped install car seats, I've helped break down strollers and store items,' Howard said. 'As a parent, it's important to remember that any extra pair of hands you can get is great.' This article originally appeared in
ABC News
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Listening to Country with composer James Howard, and the Stiff Gins celebrate 25 years
For Jaadwa composer, sound artist and electronic musician James Howard, sound, Country and identity are inextricable. His latest release is a reworking of his score for Australian Dance Theatre's Marrow , a work which interrogates our dominant cultural narratives, written amidst the 2023 referendum. He also recently had his orchestral composition Nyirrimarr Ngamatyata / To Lose Yourself at Sea premiered by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. The Stiff Gins are 25 years into what they hope is a lifelong partnership. Yuwaalaraay woman Nardi Simpson and Yorta Yorta and Wiradjuri woman Kaleena Briggs look back at a quarter century of making music together, from their first meeting at Eora college, to the changing landscape of language and touring. Back in 2023 they chatted to Andy and performed two songs live in The Music Show studio. The Stiff Gins new album Crossroads is out now. And they're touring across Vic, Qld, NSW, SA and ACT. Find the full details here. Australian Dance Theatre have upcoming performances of Marrow in Sydney, Wyong, Albury, Canberra and Alice Springs. More info here. Music in this program: Title: Raki Part 2 Artist: Daniel Wilfred, Paul Grabowsky, Peter Knight Composer: Daniel Wilfred, Paul Grabowsky, Peter Knight Album: Raki Label: Earshift Title: Cycles Artist: James Howard Composer: James Howard Album: Marrow Label: Independent Title: Nyirrimarr Ngamatyata / To Lose Yourself at Sea Artist: Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Aaron Wyatt (conductor) Composer: James Howard Concert recording courtesy Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Title: life doesn't move through time, time moves through life Artist: James Howard Composer: James Howard Album: Variations on Country Label: Independent Title: Happy This Artist: Stiff Gins Composer: Kaleena Briggs and Nardi Simpson Performed live in The Music Show studio Title: Burruguu Artist: Ensemble Offspring Composer: Nardi Simpson Album: To Listen, To Sing: Ngarra Burria - First Peoples Composers Label: ABC Classic Title: Bear & Bee Artist: Stiff Gins Composer: Kaleena Briggs and Nardi Simpson Performed live in The Music Show studio Title: Yarladhu Artist: Stiff Gins Composer: Nardi Simpson and Kaleena Briggs Album: Crossroads Label: Independent The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country
