Latest news with #Taz
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
The Block 2025 Episode 3 and 4 recap: Dan fires up at ‘dodgy' Han while teams are forced to rip tiles from walls
A last minute tiling disaster leaves two teams high and (not so) dry as one contestant is caught blue-handed breaking the rules. With just 40 hours left until tools down, Britt and Taz and Alicia and Sonny were informed that they would have to pull their freshly laid tiles off the wall. The reason? Both their tilers had used a slow-drying glue, which – as Foreman Dan foreshadowed earlier in the week when he spotted a tub of the stuff – is banned on The Block. In the normal renovation world, tiles can be left several days to dry on a wall or floor before they are grouted. On The Block, that window can be crunched to a matter of hours, hence the need for a fast-drying glue. The only exception to this rule is ceramic tiles, which are porous enough to allow even the slower-setting adhesive to dry. Taz's tiler, after putting in a valiant effort to defend his craftsmanship, was crushed to be told to start again. As was Taz. 'You put in a good shift, you put in the work and you see all your beautiful work up on the walls, and they tell you that have to tear it all off,' Taz said. Poor Alicia and Sonny faced an even worse situation. All of their tiles needed to be washed by hand before they could be reapplied. And some of their waterproof membrane lifted off with the tiles and would also need replacing. Channelling his inner football coach, Sonny gave his exhausted tradesmen a rousing pep talk, urging them to carry on. Meanwhile Mat and Robby were off shopping for bathroom decor, blissfully unaware of what was going down on site. There, Mat discovered Robby's indifference and indecision on soap dish selection was the kryptonite to his 'gay styling superpowers'. They may be the least experienced team on The Block, but Robby and Mat have proven they are a force with which to be reckoned. The pair were the first to pass their waterproofing inspection (despite having to blow dry their floor the day before). And they were the first to begin tiling. And now their potentially game-changing wine cellar plan has been approved, the boys have shown they are not just here to play. 'Dark horse baby! Neigh, neigh b***h!' Mat declared. Upon their return to site, they learned their own tiler had also used the banned glue. But unlike the other teams, Mat's choice of undulating ceramic tiles had saved them from also having to start from scratch. They just had to remove the grout. 'Compared to everyone else, we got away with murder,' Robby said. While Robby and Mat dodged a bullet, Han found herself in Foreman Dan's crosshairs when she blatantly ignored his instructions and sneakily tried to make a start on the second coat of waterproofing without professional supervision. Caught roller in hand, blue waterproofing splattered all over her fingers, Han first claimed the plumber was with her when she was applying the second coat (even though he was nowhere to be seen) before then tearfully telling Dan she hadn't understood his instructions. 'I've lost trust because you've just gone behind my back,' was Dan's response. 'He thought I was being dodgy so that hit hard,' Han worried. 'You're just handy Han,' reassured Can. 'It's a really high pressure environment and she is a really hard worker who likes to get in there and get her hands dirty. 'At home we would be doing all of this by ourselves.' Han's can-do attitude paid off with Scotty Cam and Shelley Craft (who rolled into town in a red sports car to survey the sites). Deemed the hardest worker on site, Han was rewarded with five plants of her choice (as long as they were no taller than Shelley). Nonetheless the hosts had grave concerns the girls had bitten off more than they could chew with their ambitious design and one-man tiling crew. It wasn't to cut costs, the tiler is a perfectionist who insists on working solo. No mean feat when there's floor to ceiling tiles and a curved feature wall of finger tiles to complete in small space of time. But hey, at least he knew what glue to use!
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
The Block 2025 Episode 2 recap: ‘Worst day on The Block'
Plumbing leaks, contestant waterworks and rain clouds all hit The Block just in time for the inaugural Waterproof Wednesday of season 21. Just two days into their Block experience and the contestants are discovering it's not all rainbow parades. An emotional Taz declared it his 'worst day on The Block'. That's not saying much given he'd only been on site two days (the first of which involved joining the local Chill Out festival). 'Gone are the days of dancing in my budgies in the back of a float,' he sighed wistfully. 'It's just the twists and turns which get you. You think you are going well one second. The next, three curve balls are thrown at you. You have just got to be ready for everything.' Adjusting to the new hi-vis uniform is proving to be a work-in-progress for the West Australian cop, who mistakenly referred to his limited DIY experience as a 'DUI' (that's police speak for drink driving). The father-of-two has already developed a reputation for his worksite lingo slip ups, referring to Villaboards as 'vanilla boards' and the Speedhorse as a 'seahorse' to the great mirth of wife Britt and Foreman Dan. 'Look there might be times where I am calling something the wrong tool or using the wrong terminology,' he laughed, acknowledging that he's got more experience negotiating with crims than carpenters. The lead-up to The Block's most notorious deadline (Waterproof Wednesday) wasn't plain sailing for Britt and Taz, who had to move their showerhead to be compliant. It was a similar story for their neighbours Sonny and Alicia who likewise had to adjust their vision. Firstly, Alicia was fearful that their bathroom would be 'basic bitch' with a vanity too large to accommodate fancy lighting either side of it. Then, with limited glass supplies available, they were backed into a corner and forced to move their shower head to no longer need a screen to be compliant. 'I am just not used to working like this because I am not in the trade,' Alicia said through tears about having to make decisions on the fly that compromised her artistic vision. 'I am pretty sure that we will be the only team without glass.' Having gotten past that speed bump, the couple then hit another when their waterproofing team got waylaid for five hours by an onsite safety training session. Thankfully, their inspections went off without a hitch. As did Can and Han's efforts along with Emma and Ben's bathroom. No mean feat given the experienced house flippers had fallen well behind the pack all day. Their slow start earned the Victorians some tough love from host Scotty Cam. But Emma and Ben were nonplussed by the fuss. 'What's the point of worrying,' Ben shrugged, even after Scotty revealed there would be no Hipages army of tradies coming to the rescue in an emergency this year. Another big change is the emergence of Gmac as a major player. With Foreman Keith hanging up his toolbelt, it now falls to Site Supervisor Gmac to step into the void and conduct the gruff inspections. Comparing the inspector to Harry Potter's Professor Snape, Mat said G Mac made him nervous because he could literally bring a wall down with one look. And so he did, forcing the boys to remove plasterboards and replace them with Villaboard before they could get his tick to start waterproofing. It was otherwise confidence central over at House Five where Mat wasn't letting a water leak dampen his spirits. Shunning traditional fans and heaters, Mat turned to his tool of choice to eradicate moisture from the floor: his trusty hairdryer. Mat had another secret weapon at his disposal for this week's room reveal. Enthusing to a sceptical Robby: 'I've got the superpower of being gay so I know how to style things. 'I know how to pick good things. I've got great taste. I can style a tile. It is a super power. There's not many gays with bad fashion.' The best buddies are also playing the long game. And so, it was already full steam ahead on their plan for their wine cellar, having already ticked off two of the three approvals needed to start digging their hole. With just the council left to sign off, the biggest hurdle would now be finding a spare $100k to fund the underground plot. And Mat mused: 'If we spend money on the cellar and don't win anything we are just going to end up with a big mud hole.'
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Tears, tantrums and budgie smugglers! Meet the five Block 2025 couples who are taking on the toughest season yet
It's the renovation reality show that's become an Aussie TV juggernaut - but this year, The Block promises to deliver the most demanding season yet. Filmed in the heart of Victoria's Daylesford, five couples from across the country have spent the past three months building homes from scratch under high pressure, racing against tight deadlines and under new rules that have left them frozen, frazzled and - at times - in tears. In an exclusive chat with all five teams outside their homes ahead of the show's premiere, Daily Mail Australia can reveal the 2025 season will be one of the most gruelling - and emotionally charged - in the show's 20-year history. COPS OFF DUTY Western Australian police officers Britt and Taz say they've faced high-stakes situations on the job, but nothing prepared them for the emotional toll of leaving their young children behind and diving head-first into a full-scale construction. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'This was probably the toughest thing we've ever done,' Britt said. 'We expected it to be hard, but not this hard.' Taz, who famously strips down to his budgie smugglers in the very first episode, says the pair relied on communication and resilience to get through it. 'We go into dangerous situations all the time - but this was out of our comfort zone. The mental fatigue was huge,' he said. The pair say the experience has only made their relationship stronger. 'In real life, if we argue, I'll say 'talk to me in two business days'. But on the show, you just have to get over it quickly,' Britt said. FIRST-DATE TOOLS DOWN For Perth couple Hannah and Can, applying to The Block was something they joked about on their very first date – and now, just 18 months into their relationship, they've made history as the show's first same-sex female couple. 'In Block years, it feels like 20 years!' laughed Hannah. 'We talked about coming on The Block on our first date – and here we are,' Can added. 'It was a dream for us.' But their reason for doing the show goes far deeper than just ticking off a bucket list. 'We wanted to show people what two girls in love can do,' Hannah said. 'We wanted to be out and proud on national television – and represent women in construction, in design, in leadership.' Can said the couple are proud to break ground not just with their renovation, but their presence. 'This is 2025,' she said. 'It's amazing that we're finally seeing same-sex female couples on shows like this. We want other girls and young women watching to feel like they can do anything.' 'And we did everything ourselves. We styled, we built, we cried into paint buckets… and then we went again the next day.' Despite being the newest couple in the competition – they've been together less than two years – they say their relationship came out even stronger. 'I wouldn't have wanted to do it with anyone else,' said Can. 'And I couldn't have done it with anyone else.' The toughest part? The pressure to deliver under strict worksite cut-off times - and the emotional exhaustion that came with it. 'There were nights we just cried into paint buckets,' Hannah said. SEVEN-TIME HOPEFULS Victorian couple Emma and Ben applied to The Block a whopping seven times before finally making it onto the 2025 series. 'We've renovated before, but never at this scale,' Emma said. 'We just wanted to challenge ourselves and tick it off our bucket list.' The couple say the new rules around working hours - which forced contestants to down tools at set times - helped them avoid the burnout seen in past seasons. 'We actually got to rest, which meant we didn't make silly decisions,' Ben said. But that didn't mean it was easy. 'We definitely had a few moments where we sat in a corner with our heads in our hands,' Emma admitted. Still, they'd do it all again. 'We've come out stronger. It was nice to spend so much time together,' Ben said. LARRIKINS WHO LOVE TO STIR THE POT Adelaide best mates Robby and Mat say they entered the competition with one goal: to have fun and stir the pot. And they delivered - with plenty of laughs, cheeky banter, and a few surprises for the street. 'We're just a couple of blokes having a good time building a house and a secret wine cellar,' Mat said. But their gamble to dig and build below ground level wasn't without risk. 'We had less money than the other teams - so we knew we had to win challenges or it wouldn't happen,' Robby said. Still, they say they're proud of how they handled themselves and praised the camaraderie among the cast. 'There's no villains this year. Everyone got along. We all helped each other,' Mat said. Their house? 'It's not for anyone - it's for everyone,' Robby said. HEARTFELT HOMEBUILDERS Gold Coast couple Sonny and Alicia, parents of three, say the emotional rollercoaster of The Block was more intense than they expected - but worth every tear. 'This was our second time applying - and it just felt right this year,' Alicia said. They're also the only team to build a brick house, giving them a clear point of difference. 'It stands out,' Sonny said. 'And we brought the brick inside too. It just feels like a real home.' The couple say their aim was to build something warm and family-friendly - not just a showpiece. 'We want whoever buys this house to celebrate Christmas here, host birthdays, and have their whole family around,' Alicia said. Despite the drama and pressure, they say their relationship came out even stronger. 'We've been together 14 years. We made a pact to always have each other's backs,' Alicia said. 'We bicker, sure. But that's how we roll. We don't let it linger.'
IOL News
09-07-2025
- General
- IOL News
Remembering a Durban hero: The story of lieutenant McGarr
Lieutenant Clement A. N. McGarr was a true South African hero from Durban who made the ultimate sacrifice during World War II. Image: Supplied / Taz During the Second World War, countless South Africans answered the call to rescue a world in peril, leaving behind their families, homes, and futures. Thousands of miles from home, they confronted the forces of tyranny - on land, at sea, and in the air. They did so not for recognition or reward, but to defend the ideals of freedom, democracy, and justice. In total, over 334,000 South Africans served across the globe, and more than 11,000 were killed. Among the young men who went off to war but never returned was Lieutenant Clement Aldwyn Neville McGarr. McGarr was born on 24 November 1917 in Johannesburg and moved with his family to Durban in 1923. He loved the city deeply and began his schooling there. At the age of twelve, he was struck by polio and became paralysed from the waist down. But McGarr refused to give up. Through determination and relentless effort, he recovered the use of his legs and attended Glenwood High School, where he excelled academically and athletically. He was a proud member of the school's First XV rugby team, and one of his greatest passions was riding motorcycles. After completing his studies, McGarr worked in the laboratories of Lever Brothers, and later joined the Treasury Department of Durban Corporation. In May 1940, as the war intensified, McGarr enlisted in the South African Air Force (SAAF). Motivated by a sense of duty and love for his country, he trained diligently to become a pilot. On 26 April 1941, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and awarded his pilot's brevet. Soon after, he was posted to Egypt and, in October 1941, joined No. 2 Squadron SAAF, flying Curtiss P-40 Tomahawk fighters over the Libya–Egypt frontier. On 6 October 1941, while on patrol over the Egyptian desert, McGarr's squadron was intercepted by German fighters. During the fierce aerial combat, his aircraft was hit, and he was forced to bail out. He landed in the desert with only one shoe - the other lost mid-air - and wandered for three days without food or water before being captured by the German Afrika Korps. After a brief internment in Libya, he was sent to Germany and imprisoned at Stalag Luft III. There, McGarr immediately volunteered to join one of the most daring prisoner-of-war operations of the war: The Great Escape. The plan aimed to enable up to 200 Allied prisoners tunnel out of the camp, not only to free them but also to disrupt German operations by forcing them to divert resources. McGarr's role was to oversee security teams - watching for guards and preventing the tunnels from being discovered. A picture of McGarr's grave at the Poznań Old Garrison Cemetery in Poland. Image: Paul On the night of 24–25 March 1944, McGarr was among the 76 men who escaped. This extraordinary feat was later immortalised in Paul Brickhill's 1950 book The Great Escape and made famous globally by the 1963 film adaptation, starring Steve McQueen. While dramatised, the film brought long-overdue recognition to the real heroes behind the escape, including McGarr. Following the escape, German forces launched a massive manhunt. McGarr braved freezing temperatures and remained on the run for a short time, but he was eventually recaptured by German forces and taken to Görlitz prison. Enraged by the escape, Adolf Hitler ordered the Gestapo to execute 50 of the recaptured prisoners - an act in direct violation of the Geneva Convention. On 6 April 1944, a truck arrived at Görlitz. Six names were called. One of them was Lieutenant Clement McGarr. Alongside his fellow escapees, he was taken into Poland, ordered off the truck and executed. He was just 26 years old - with so much life ahead, and so much to give. Cremated by the Gestapo, McGarr's ashes were initially interred at Sagan. After the war, they were exhumed and re-interred at the Poznań Old Garrison Cemetery in Poland. A beautiful headstone marks his grave - a quiet and eternal reminder of his heroism and sacrifice. The story of Lieutenant Clement A. N. McGarr is one that goes beyond a single life; it echoes the stories of countless South Africans who fought and died for a better world. Each had a name, a voice, a life - that deserves to be remembered. It is our solemn duty to honour their memory, to uphold the values they fought for, and to ensure the world never forgets the brave young souls who gave everything they had for everything we have today.
IOL News
09-07-2025
- General
- IOL News
Remembering a Durban hero: The story of lieutenant McGarr
Lieutenant Clement A. N. McGarr was a true South African hero from Durban who made the ultimate sacrifice during World War II. Image: Supplied / Taz During the Second World War, countless South Africans answered the call to rescue a world in peril, leaving behind their families, homes, and futures. Thousands of miles from home, they confronted the forces of tyranny - on land, at sea, and in the air. They did so not for recognition or reward, but to defend the ideals of freedom, democracy, and justice. In total, over 334,000 South Africans served across the globe, and more than 11,000 were killed. Among the young men who went off to war but never returned was Lieutenant Clement Aldwyn Neville McGarr. McGarr was born on 24 November 1917 in Johannesburg and moved with his family to Durban in 1923. He loved the city deeply and began his schooling there. At the age of twelve, he was struck by polio and became paralysed from the waist down. But McGarr refused to give up. Through determination and relentless effort, he recovered the use of his legs and attended Glenwood High School, where he excelled academically and athletically. He was a proud member of the school's First XV rugby team, and one of his greatest passions was riding motorcycles. After completing his studies, McGarr worked in the laboratories of Lever Brothers, and later joined the Treasury Department of Durban Corporation. In May 1940, as the war intensified, McGarr enlisted in the South African Air Force (SAAF). Motivated by a sense of duty and love for his country, he trained diligently to become a pilot. On 26 April 1941, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and awarded his pilot's brevet. Soon after, he was posted to Egypt and, in October 1941, joined No. 2 Squadron SAAF, flying Curtiss P-40 Tomahawk fighters over the Libya–Egypt frontier. On 6 October 1941, while on patrol over the Egyptian desert, McGarr's squadron was intercepted by German fighters. During the fierce aerial combat, his aircraft was hit, and he was forced to bail out. He landed in the desert with only one shoe - the other lost mid-air - and wandered for three days without food or water before being captured by the German Afrika Korps. After a brief internment in Libya, he was sent to Germany and imprisoned at Stalag Luft III. There, McGarr immediately volunteered to join one of the most daring prisoner-of-war operations of the war: The Great Escape. The plan aimed to enable up to 200 Allied prisoners tunnel out of the camp, not only to free them but also to disrupt German operations by forcing them to divert resources. McGarr's role was to oversee security teams - watching for guards and preventing the tunnels from being discovered. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading A picture of McGarr's grave at the Poznań Old Garrison Cemetery in Poland. Image: Paul On the night of 24–25 March 1944, McGarr was among the 76 men who escaped. This extraordinary feat was later immortalised in Paul Brickhill's 1950 book The Great Escape and made famous globally by the 1963 film adaptation, starring Steve McQueen. While dramatised, the film brought long-overdue recognition to the real heroes behind the escape, including McGarr. Following the escape, German forces launched a massive manhunt. McGarr braved freezing temperatures and remained on the run for a short time, but he was eventually recaptured by German forces and taken to Görlitz prison. Enraged by the escape, Adolf Hitler ordered the Gestapo to execute 50 of the recaptured prisoners - an act in direct violation of the Geneva Convention. On 6 April 1944, a truck arrived at Görlitz. Six names were called. One of them was Lieutenant Clement McGarr. Alongside his fellow escapees, he was taken into Poland, ordered off the truck and executed. He was just 26 years old - with so much life ahead, and so much to give. Cremated by the Gestapo, McGarr's ashes were initially interred at Sagan. After the war, they were exhumed and re-interred at the Poznań Old Garrison Cemetery in Poland. A beautiful headstone marks his grave - a quiet and eternal reminder of his heroism and sacrifice. The story of Lieutenant Clement A. N. McGarr is one that goes beyond a single life; it echoes the stories of countless South Africans who fought and died for a better world. Each had a name, a voice, a life - that deserves to be remembered. It is our solemn duty to honour their memory, to uphold the values they fought for, and to ensure the world never forgets the brave young souls who gave everything they had for everything we have today.
