Latest news with #Judy
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Home on the range? Now Andy Murray's playing golf in the house!
Sir has taken his obsession with his new favourite sport to another level by having a golf simulator fitted in his home, his mother has disclosed. The Scot swapped his racquet for a set of clubs after his retirement from tennis and changed his profile description on X to 'I played tennis. I now play golf'. He is now aiming to become a scratch golfer, having reduced his handicap from seven to two in a matter of months. The 38-year-old has had a hi-tech simulator installed in his mansion in Surrey so he can practise his swing at all hours of the day and in all weathers. His mother Judy, 65, who has also taken up golf, said he needed something to keep his competitive streak flowing after retiring from tennis last summer. On the How to be 60 podcast, she said: 'Andy didn't play so much golf when he was younger, it was more football and tennis. 'Since he retired last summer he has really got into golf. His handicap is already two which is so annoying that somebody could get so good so quickly. 'He has almost swapped the tennis training and the tennis competition for golf. 'He has even put a simulator in his house. I can just imagine him down there, he videos himself and puts all these little apps and lines and things through it. 'He has truly got obsessed and I think it's a great thing because I did worry that when he retired from tennis he would miss the routine and the discipline of the daily training. This fills what could have been a big void for him.' She added: 'I asked him last week what his handicap was and he said 'Two' but sounded p***** off. I said 'What do you mean' and he said 'Well, I was 1.7 last week'.' Sir Andy has also been getting tips from football legend Gareth Bale on how to improve his game. During his time at Real Madrid, the Welshman, 36, earned the nickname 'The Golfer' and was even mocked by his own supporters for his golf obsession. Three-time Grand Slam champion Sir Andy retired after competing for Team GB at the Paris Olympics last summer. There are numerous golf simulators on the market with prices varying from just under £100 for a basic set-up to a staggering £65,999.
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Climate
- Perth Now
The long, winding road to a climate-resilient Pacific
Helen Tony's life in a small and low-lying coastal village in the South Pacific is made increasingly difficult by a changing climate. Not only do rising seas and intensifying storms monster the shore and threaten homes, the global consequences of emitting more greenhouse gases extends to food and income security concerns for her family. Ms Tony lives in the village of Unakap on Nguna, one of Vanuatu's small islands off the north coast of Efate and about 4000km east of Cairns. In the 15 years she's resided there, growing fruit and vegetables has become harder especially after cyclones that bring destructive insects in their wake. Her husband is also catching fewer fish due to reef and ecosystem damage from extreme weather, higher seawater temperatures and ocean acidification. Their family of five is able to make money to buy food from local markets but one of their income sources, the mats Ms Tony makes from pandanus leaves, has taken a hit. To weave them, along with fans, purses and baskets, the leaves need to be dry but more rain than is typical has been shrinking her output and the cash she generates selling her wares. Living in an archipelago vulnerable to volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis and landslides, ni-Vanuatu are no strangers to disaster and the long road to recovery that follows. But the addition of climate change impacts and extreme weather events including more intense cyclones and storms are making it harder to bounce back. World Vision humanitarian emergency security affairs manager Pallen Abraham Philip says the country has always experienced cyclones but they are becoming stronger and increasingly hitting out of season. "They're still in the recovery mode, then the next hits," he tells AAP. Category five system Pam, to which Australia was a first responder, devastated the country in 2015, and there have been other severe storms since including twin tropical cyclones Judy and Kevin that tore similar pathways just days apart in 2023. A lot of money is needed to help vulnerable regional and rural communities recover and adapt and there is at least some funding funnelled into Vanuatu through a complex web of instruments and programs. On Nguna and neighbouring islands, dedicated global project the Green Climate Fund is supported by the Vanuatu government and humanitarian organisation Save the Children. Australia's $50 million contribution is part of its broader $100 million package of initiatives to foster preparedness including the Pacific Resilience Facility. This, in turn, allows the Pacific to invest in small-grant but high-impact initiatives to help make communities disaster-ready. Whitely Tasaruru, who is the Nguna and Pele area climate change manager within Vanuatu's Community-based Climate Resilience Project, says each village has its own set of issues and preferred fixes. His job is partly about making sure various adaptation measures like coastal tree planting, sea wall construction and coral restoration mesh cohesively. For Nguna, gradually relocating low-lying villages to higher ground on the island is the long-term goal. In the meantime, the community wants to buy extra time by protecting buildings and infrastructure, including the road connecting communities close to the shore. Planting more vegetation and trees along the shoreline should help, Mr Tasaruru says, as will a planned sea wall in a spot known to be vulnerable to erosion. But sometimes climate impact solutions can unintentionally create new problems. For example, work under way to build a road to higher ground for relocating households has been reliant on mining sand on the island's beach for the slab cement structure. But extracting the sand has created openings and channels on the beach that are leaving nearby settlements more exposed to storm surge and wash damage. "Many community members here have concerns," Mr Tasaruru tells AAP. He believes sourcing sand from Port Vila, the city on the mainland island of Efate, is a better option. On neighbouring Pele, Salome Kalo from Pilliura village has been instrumental in getting solar-generated food drying up and running. Located on sandy and therefore less productive soil, food security has become an issue for the village, especially when compounded by storms and unfavourable weather. To give themselves more flexibility, villagers have been preserving fruit, vegetables and other produce using a solar-powered dryer that blows warm air to prevent moisture. "It helps us a lot," Ms Kalo says. But a few months ago, the dryer in her village was destroyed in a storm. "We have to build that again this month." Like on the neighbouring island, Pele communities have scouted out higher ground to move to over time. Edward Lani, also from Pilliura village, expects their way of life to change when forced to relocate away from the beach. "There are people who live along the coast, they depend entirely on the ocean for food but if they move inland, it would change their way of getting food for the household," he says. But for Mr Lani, moving inland is not his biggest concern. He is more worried young people will leave the island entirely to avoid worsening environmental conditions.
Motor 1
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Motor 1
'It's Bone Dry:' Family Goes to Take 5 for an Oil Change. Now She's Issuing a Warning—But Is It the Dealership's Fault?
A simple Saturday errand turned into a mechanical and financial nightmare when a TikToker's family discovered their engine had been run with zero oil, and neither Take 5 Oil Change shop nor a local dealership seemed in a hurry to make things right. In a viral TikTok clip, Judy (@judyss7), a Pasadena, California-based creator, discusses how a quick oil change at Take 5 has turned into an expensive and frustrating four-month car repair ordeal. The saga began in late March, when Judy's husband took their Volkswagen to a local Take 5 location for a routine oil change after the dealership was unable to accommodate him that weekend. Minutes after leaving, he called home with concerns: The car wasn't driving right. Then, it stalled completely. A tow truck brought the car to the dealership, but because it was a Saturday, technicians couldn't inspect it until Monday. That's when the service advisor broke the news: The engine was 'bone dry.' No oil had been added during the change. According to mechanics and service techs, an engine run with no oil can seize within seconds , especially in turbocharged vehicles like those in the Volkswagen lineup. The resulting friction and heat buildup can cause bearings to fail, pistons to weld to their cylinders, and metal shavings to spread throughout the engine block, resulting in a total loss. The dealership confirmed the engine needed full replacement, but because it was a German-built model, the part was on backorder—a common issue with European parts post-pandemic. Repaired Engine, an Unresolved Claim Judy says Take 5 accepted responsibility after she contacted its corporate office. The company's third-party insurer, Fleet Response, opened a claim and agreed to cover the cost of the new engine and a rental car while it was being repaired. But the ordeal was just getting going. When the engine finally arrived two months later and the dealer installed it, the car still wouldn't start. A failed starter was blamed, and that's where the reimbursement stopped. Take 5's insurer argued that the starter failed because Judy's husband had attempted to restart the car multiple times after it stalled, and that Take 5 shouldn't be responsible for that additional damage. The company also declined to extend the rental coverage any further. With no car and no ongoing support from the insurer, Judy and her husband were at a standstill. They couldn't afford to keep paying for a rental, and they needed transportation for work. Eventually, they were forced to purchase a second vehicle out of pocket, all while still making payments on the original car that remained at the dealership. Via email, a Take 5 spokesperson gave Motor1 the following statement: 'At Take 5 Oil Change, customer care and satisfaction are a top priority. Following a customer complaint, we thoroughly reviewed the incident, which is relayed in the TikTok video. After the customer experienced an issue with their vehicle following an oil change at Take 5 Oil Change, we covered the costs for towing the vehicle to a dealership, renting a replacement vehicle, and a new engine. Following the engine repair at the dealership, the dealer cited that the starter was no longer working and required replacement. As with all claims, Take 5 Oil Change conducted an additional investigation. As part of this investigation, Take 5 Oil Change reached out to the dealership to uncover further details, but the dealership could not provide evidence or cause for the starter issues. Because of a lack of evidence, the claim for the starter replacement and any further rental coverage was denied. We appreciate customers sharing their concerns, and we remain committed to providing transparent and open communication.' Complaints about oil change errors, including overfilling, underfilling, or failing to tighten plugs and filters, are not uncommon at quick-service chains. But proving negligence, especially when damage is discovered days later or worsened by subsequent driving, can be difficult . How Drivers Can Protect Themselves Stories like this one underscore the importance of diligence, especially for owners of newer vehicles or those still under factory warranty. While mistakes during routine maintenance are relatively rare, when they do happen, they can have devastating consequences. Experts recommend several steps drivers can take to protect themselves from potential service errors and increase their chances of a successful resolution if something goes wrong. First and foremost, check the oil level yourself before leaving the service lot. Even if the shop provides a clean bill of health, take a moment to pop the hood, remove the dipstick, and confirm that the oil is filled to the correct level. While this may feel awkward in a drive-thru environment, it could prevent significant engine damage caused by an overlooked step. Verifying fluid levels post-service is a key way to catch mistakes before they escalate. In addition to checking fluids, always request a detailed receipt and review it for accuracy. Ensure that the correct oil type and volume are specified, and that the service meets your manufacturer's specifications , especially for synthetic oil or vehicles with specialized requirements. Mismatches can not only damage your engine, but also void your warranty. Volkswagen, for example, requires VW 502 00-approved synthetic oils in many of its modern engines. Drivers should also avoid aggressive driving immediately after an oil change, especially if the car feels different or if any warning lights come on. Driving cautiously for the first 10-15 miles can give you time to detect leaks, low oil pressure, or installation errors such as a loose drain plug or oil filter. As noted by AAA, it's wise to pay close attention to the vehicle's behavior and warning indicators after any maintenance service. Another essential step is to document every interaction. If something goes wrong, having time-stamped records including receipts, photos of the oil dipstick or engine bay, emails with the service provider, and notes about phone conversations can make all the difference in filing a warranty or insurance claim. Consumer protection experts recommend keeping detailed maintenance records as part of any warranty dispute or repair conflict. Owners of newer or high-performance vehicles may want to stick with dealership service centers or certified specialty shops for routine maintenance, even if it means waiting a few extra days. Dealerships often have access to factory-trained technicians, original equipment manufacturer parts, and direct ties to warranty providers. While quick-lube shops offer speed and convenience, they may not always adhere to the procedures or specifications required for more complex engines, leaving the customer vulnerable in the event of an issue. Motor1 reached out to Judy via direct message. Now Trending Texas Woman Gets Scammed Out of $30,000 During Facebook Marketplace Truck Purchase. Here's What She Overlooked Car Expert Shares How to Quickly Cool Down Your Vehicle On Hot Summer Day—All it Takes Is 1 Button Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
eNCA
6 days ago
- Politics
- eNCA
Vanuatu island chief 'very impressed' by global climate decision
PORT VILA - The paramount chief of a volcanic island in Vanuatu said he was "very impressed" by a global court's declaration that countries must tackle climate change. Vanuatu spearheaded the legal case at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, which found countries have a duty to protect against the "urgent and existential" threat of a warming planet. "I'm very impressed," George Bumseng, the highest chief of the Pacific archipelago's cyclone-prone island of Ambrym, told AFP in the capital Port Vila. "We have been waiting for this decision for a long time because we have been victims of this climate change for the past two decades," he said. The chief recalled that his island was battered by three tropical cyclones in 2023, with twin cyclones Judy and Kevin striking in March of that year, followed by Lola in October. The storms damaged "a lot of our root crops and forests and our traditional medicines", said Bumseng, who is chairman of the Ambrym council of chiefs. Global warming "keeps on changing our environment", the chief said. "We no longer have fig trees. There's coastal erosion continuously. Our tide is also changing," he said. "Some of the traditional crops are no longer growing like before," he added. "We're very happy that the International Court of Justice has ruled in favour on this issue."
Int'l Business Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Vanuatu Island Chief 'Very Impressed' By Global Climate Decision
The paramount chief of a volcanic island in Vanuatu said Thursday he was "very impressed" by a global court's declaration that countries must tackle climate change. Vanuatu spearheaded the legal case at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, which found countries have a duty to protect against the "urgent and existential" threat of a warming planet. "I'm very impressed," George Bumseng, the highest chief of the Pacific archipelago's cyclone-prone island of Ambrym, told AFP in the capital Port Vila. "We have been waiting for this decision for a long time because we have been victims of this climate change for the past two decades," he said at the country's council of chiefs meeting house. The chief recalled that his island was battered by three tropical cyclones in 2023, with twin cyclones Judy and Kevin striking in March of that year, followed by Lola in October. The storms damaged "a lot of our root crops and forests and our traditional medicines", said Bumseng, who is chairman of the Ambrym council of chiefs. Global warming "keeps on changing our environment", the chief said. "We no longer have fig trees. There's coastal erosion continuously. Our tide is also changing," he said. "Some of the traditional crops are no longer growing like before," he added. Young people in Vanuatu hailed the international court's decision, citing the rising seas and fierce storms menacing their futures. Children at one storm-battered school held up paper hand-written signs reading "Rising seas threaten our shores" and "Our school is threatened by sea level rise" as they posed for photos with the nearby beach behind them. Their Suango primary and secondary school on the main island of Efate still relies partly on tents after being damaged by the cyclones of 2023 and then rocked by last year's earthquake. At a student festival in Port Vila, Susan Alexander said she and other young people were "very happy" with the court decision. "Our country of Vanuatu has been one of the most vulnerable populations this past few years due to all these challenges that we've been through," she told AFP. "We have experienced cyclones, sea level rise across our country. This country lies in our hands." The six-year push towards the court's decision began in a small university classroom in Vanuatu. Frustrated by the glacial global efforts to tackle climate change, 27 law students decided to, in their words, "get the world's biggest problem before the world's highest court". Young people in Vanuatu hailed the International Court of Justice's decision that countries must tackle climate change. AFP
