Latest news with #OliviaSmith
Hamilton Spectator
02-06-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Canadian forward Olivia Smith named Liverpool women's player of the season
Canadian international forward Olivia Smith has been voted Liverpool FC Women's 2024-25 Player of the Season. The 20-year-old from Whitby, Ont., finished tied for the team lead in goals with nine in 25 games in her debut season in England's Women's Super League after joining Liverpool from Portugal's Sporting CP last summer. Smith, who also had one assist on the season, finished ahead of defender Taylor Hinds and midfielder Marie Höbinger in a Player of the Season poll. Smith is currently with seventh-ranked Canada, which hosts No. 53 Haiti on Tuesday in Montreal. She scored in Canada's 4-1 win over Haiti on Saturday in Winnipeg, in veteran midfielder Desiree Scott's international farewell match. Smith has four goals and three assists in 17 senior appearances for Canada. —- This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 2, 2025
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Canadian forward Olivia Smith named Liverpool women's player of the season
Canadian international forward Olivia Smith has been voted Liverpool FC Women's 2024-25 Player of the Season. The 20-year-old from Whitby, Ont., finished tied for the team lead in goals with nine in 25 games in her debut season in England's Women's Super League after joining Liverpool from Portugal's Sporting CP last summer. Advertisement Smith, who also had one assist on the season, finished ahead of defender Taylor Hinds and midfielder Marie Höbinger in a Player of the Season poll. Smith is currently with seventh-ranked Canada, which hosts No. 53 Haiti on Tuesday in Montreal. She scored in Canada's 4-1 win over Haiti on Saturday in Winnipeg, in veteran midfielder Desiree Scott's international farewell match. Smith has four goals and three assists in 17 senior appearances for Canada. --- This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 2, 2025 The Canadian Press
Winnipeg Free Press
02-06-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Canadian forward Olivia Smith named Liverpool women's player of the season
Canadian international forward Olivia Smith has been voted Liverpool FC Women's 2024-25 Player of the Season. The 20-year-old from Whitby, Ont., finished tied for the team lead in goals with nine in 25 games in her debut season in England's Women's Super League after joining Liverpool from Portugal's Sporting CP last summer. Smith, who also had one assist on the season, finished ahead of defender Taylor Hinds and midfielder Marie Höbinger in a Player of the Season poll. Smith is currently with seventh-ranked Canada, which hosts No. 53 Haiti on Tuesday in Montreal. She scored in Canada's 4-1 win over Haiti on Saturday in Winnipeg, in veteran midfielder Desiree Scott's international farewell match. Smith has four goals and three assists in 17 senior appearances for Canada. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. — This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 2, 2025
Telegraph
30-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
‘I spent £18k on a garden room and now I regret it'
There was a time, not so long ago, that a garden room was top of everyone's wish list. The country was in the midst of Covid lockdowns and many people thought they'd be working from home indefinitely, so putting an office in the backyard seemed like the perfect solution. But for some, these garden additions are a source of regret. Olivia Smith* is one of them. Soon after the last lockdown ended in July 2021, she spent £18,000 building an office in her garden. 'I work fully from home and my husband got a new job which meant he'd also be working from home more, so I thought a garden office would be the answer to my prayers,' says Smith, who runs her own communications business. 'It felt like a really big investment but I thought it would pay dividends over the years. I spent a long time interior designing it beautifully – it has fabric on the ceiling and a gorgeous rug. However, I soon came to regret putting it in.' A big problem was that Smith, who lives in Berkshire, couldn't get the Wi-Fi to work properly in her garden office. As well as that, the basic structure – which has one electric heater, was too hot in summer and too cold in winter, when she'd have to trudge across the garden in the mud. 'In winter, the room is really cold and you have to put the heater on before you go in there. Also, it sounds silly, but my dogs never settled in the garden room – they would keep going back and forth to the kitchen and disturbing me,' Smith says. 'In the end, I hated taking my laptop across the garden in the rain because it would get wet. I found it easier to plonk myself in the kitchen to work, closer to the coffee machine.' Call in the rubbish removers Up and down the land garden offices are now gathering dust or are glorified dumping grounds, being used only for storage. Gareth Lloyd Jones, of Hippo, a rubbish removal firm, says they have been called out to remove 'countless' piles of waste from unused garden rooms since the pandemic. 'This includes the dismantled building itself, unwanted home office furniture or just general clutter that's accumulated in the space as it's no longer serving its primary purpose,' he explains. 'We've seen a significant increase in these types of clearances in the past few years and it's a real shame because many of the items and materials being disposed of are actually still in great condition.' Garden rooms have also caused discord between neighbours – users of the online forum Mumsnet have complained about the noises, such as a television, blaring out from garden structures erected close to their boundary. 'Last week, I sat out having lunch to the soundtrack of a football match and commentary,' one post laments. Another reads: 'There seems to be a trend for people turning their gardens into another 'room' in their home, outdoor bars, TV rooms, etc. But there was a reason those things were in houses. They contain the noise and maintain privacy for all!' A badly designed garden room can even make it harder to sell a house. 'Outdoor structures without heating, insulation or a clear use are now gathering cobwebs and delivery boxes – they're now more like an expensive bike shed than a home office,' says Georgie Bolton, a buying adviser at Property Vision. 'In some cases, we've even seen a negative impact on buyers, who factor in the cost of removal or renovation. Buyers are increasingly sceptical of the garden room Covid trend, so function and design are key. If it looks like a lockdown relic, it probably is.' Many garden offices have become redundant because employees are increasingly expected to be back in the workplace several days a week, especially if they work for larger companies. For that reason, demand from buyers and renters for a home office has plummeted. 'Today's property seekers are definitely more focused on prioritising a more urban location to minimise the length of their commute to work,' says Marco Previero, of the relocation company R3Location. Also, as Smith found, many of these hastily erected garden offices are not really set up for the British weather and are costlier to run than homeowners expected. Charlie Warner, of the buying agency Heaton & Partners, says: 'Homeowners often use easy-to-install but expensive to run systems like electric heating to keep the rooms comfortable, and for occasional usage it simply isn't worth it for many people.' Garden rooms can and do work successfully, however. Nina Harrison, of the buying agency Haringtons UK, says: 'From Victorian follies to sun-dappled summer houses, the idea of escaping into a space just a few steps from the main house has always held a certain magic. When done properly, a garden room can be a flexible, future-proof extension of the home, especially somewhere like London, where every square inch of living space counts.' Alex Smith, of the 3D architectural rendering service says good design is key. 'I always suggest clients picture how they will use the space across different seasons and scenarios, and think about storage, heating and access,' he says. And size and location matter – it's crucial that the space is in proportion to the plot and doesn't cannibalise too much of the garden. Geoff Wilford, of Wilfords London estate agency, says. 'Families, especially those with young children, often prioritise outdoor space where kids can run around, kick a ball, or simply be outside. If a garden room is too large or poorly positioned, it can eat into that valuable space and put buyers off.' 'We don't regret the investment' Parikshat Chawla, of Chestertons estate agency, put an office in the garden of his East Sussex home during the pandemic. 'The idea of working closer to nature on good weather days was appealing and, while it worked some of the time, we ran into challenges with internet speed and mobile coverage, which meant occasionally retreating to the main house for video calls,' he says. These days, he uses the space for storage – it holds a rowing machine and a bicycle, both of which still get used. 'Despite the change in use, we don't regret the investment and would absolutely do it again, with some tweaks, such as better connectivity and smarter, more ergonomic furniture,' Chawla says. 'There's something uniquely refreshing about working surrounded by greenery. It's not ideal for year-round use, but as a flexible workspace for part of the year, it remains a valuable addition.' Increasing numbers of garden offices are now being used for play instead of work. Harrison has seen them successfully turned into home gyms, while others have been transformed into granny annexes – although the last requires plumbing, wiring and heating, which comes at a cost. James Greenwood, of Stacks Property Search, has seen garden offices become yoga spaces and art studios. For now, Smith is keeping her redundant garden office – she hopes it will come into its own when her young son hits his teens. 'I thought about changing it into a sauna but, when I looked into it, I found that would be more expensive than buying a sauna from scratch,' she says. 'I have come to the conclusion that it will be a good teenage den.' And while most people regret a garden office they don't use enough, there are those who rue the garden rooms that are too enticing to leave. Robin Edwards, of Curetons buying agency, recently went to see a family house in south-west London that had an amazing garden room built during the pandemic so that the City trader husband could have a peaceful space to work. 'No expense had been spared and it was fully insulated with underfloor heating, a shower room, a kitchenette and a pull-out sofa bed, as well as a hi-tech office,' Edwards says. 'Unfortunately, the husband enjoyed the separate space a bit too much and the couple's marriage hit the rocks during lockdown. He is now living in it while they finalise their divorce and sell their home.'
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Can Liverpool keep hold of key players?
Liverpool are yet to receive an offer for club-record signing Olivia Smith and are preparing for next season with her in the side. Canadian international Smith, 20, has been one of the breakout stars of the season having impressed in her debut campaign. She has attracted interest from several clubs who have made enquiries, but she has two years remaining on her contract and Liverpool are not looking to sell. It is unclear if there is a release clause in her contract. Liverpool know she is a key player for their future and hope to build the team around her next season. They also remain positive in negotiations with midfielder Fuka Nagano, who has not yet agreed a contract extension at the club. Her current deal expires in the summer but Liverpool hope they can persuade Nagano to sign a new deal. Asked about the latest on Nagano's future this week, interim manager Amber Whiteley said: "Progress is still ongoing with Fuka and that is the same with a couple of others."
