Latest news with #Twiggy
Leader Live
41 minutes ago
- Automotive
- Leader Live
Noel Gallagher's Jaguar MKII Convertible up for sale
Gallagher, who is currently on tour with Oasis, owned the car in the 1990s and had the vehicle specially commissioned. Originally a four-door MKII saloon, the Jaguar underwent a high-specification transformation into a convertible model by specialists Vicarage. The two-year restoration period also allowed Gallagher the opportunity to learn to drive, as he had yet to obtain a driving licence at the time. The rear doors were removed and the front doors extended, while an electric hood and window system were added to create a fully-functioning convertible. From there, modern inertia-reel seatbelts, an electric cooling fan and an automatic gearbox transformed the Jaguar into a far more current affair. While the car was never driven by Gallagher in the end, it was kept in professional storage for many years, as well as making an appearance in a music video for Gallagher's High Flying Birds band, driven by Doctor Who actor Matt Smith. In 2022, the car was purchased by Jaguar Land Rover Classic, and it continued to make appearances in a number of high-profile events, including during the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations with model Twiggy riding in the back. Now for sale via Twyford Moors, the MKII Convertible remains in 'stunning' condition according to the seller. Harry Rochez from Twyford Moors Classic Cars said: 'We're absolutely thrilled to be offering such an extraordinary car with a story as rich as its spec. 'Commissioned by Noel Gallagher at the height of Britpop and built by the renowned team at Vicarage, this MKII Convertible is more than just a classic Jaguar—it's a cultural icon. With Oasis back on tour, it feels like the perfect time for this very special piece of motoring and music history to find its next custodian.' The Jaguar is currently available to purchase with its price released on application. However, it was last accompanied by a price of £144,950 when sold by Jaguar Land Rover Classic in 2023.
Time Out
2 days ago
- Time Out
I went truffle hunting near Sydney – here's what surprised me
I'm officially in my foraging era. The other month, I went deep into a pine forest in the Blue Mountains in search of a type of mushroom called saffron milk caps (no beef Wellingtons were made with them). And a few weeks ago, I visited Robertson – a quaint country town and home of the 'Big Potato' – in the beautiful Southern Highlands, around a 1.5 hour drive from Sydney. Thanks to its red volcanic basalt soil, high rainfall and frosts, it's also the perfect region for growing truffles. We spent the day at Robertson Truffles, a family-owned and -operated truffle farm established more than 15 years ago, making it one of the first operating and producing truffle farms in Australia. Owners Tanya and Patrick Moroney produce Black Perigord truffles, grown underground near the roots of oak and hazelnut trees – they've got about 320 trees on their farm. Restaurants buy directly from them, and you can too. Known for their intense, earthy aromas, truffles – which are a type of fungi – are considered one of the most luxe ingredients in the world. When paired well, they make food incredibly delicious – from a simple golden roast chook to creamy pasta and silky mash. Here's everything I learnt while truffle hunting – and what surprised me. Truffles have truffle sex to reproduce Fungi fun facts are endless, and once you start digging (sorry), they'll blow your mind. Did you know the biggest living thing in the world is a fungus? Yep, a fungus. It's found beneath the forest floor in Oregon, USA, and covers around 965 hectares – that's about 1,350 AFL fields. Here's another one. Scientists have coined the way truffles reproduce as truffle sex – but it's not how we know it. Truffles, like many fungi, reproduce sexually. Two compatible mating types need to be present in the soil near the host tree's roots – and when the conditions are right (hello, damp soil and cold weather), they meet and fuse. And just like us, it takes nine months for a truffle to fully mature. As Tanya, a former medical practitioner, says to me: 'It's science, but it's magic.' You don't really hunt for the truffles… Unlike bananas and avos, truffles do not mature further once they've been removed from their mother mycelium – so from an aroma, taste and financial perspective, it's important to harvest them at peak ripeness. Thankfully, there's someone who can help – bonus points that they're pretty cute. Traditionally, truffle farms in Europe have used truffle pigs to find truffles, because the females are naturally attracted to a chemical in them that's similar to a sex pheromone. But these days, it's much more common to use trained dogs to sniff out the best truffles. Twiggy and Seal were the very cute and very well-trained dogs who work at Robertson Truffles. Watching them, with their noses to the ground, lying down when they found the perfect one, was amazing. And they didn't eat them – which shows incredible restraint, if you're asking me. Once Twiggy and Seal found the best truffles, we helped Tanya and Patrick gently remove them from the soil, taking care not to damage the mycelium. The best way to enjoy truffles is to make a butter with them – and forget about the supermarket truffle oil Just like me, truffles love fat and cream. Patrick tells me his favourite way to enjoy truffles – and in his opinion, the best – is to make truffle butter with them. That way, the flavour is infused throughout the butter, making it go further. His go-to lunch is a toasted sandwich with truffle butter, ham and cheese. Truffle butter is also delicious twirled through angel hair pasta or spooned on top of silky mash. And whatever you do – put down the truffle oil you find at the supermarket. Most of them aren't made with real truffles, but with synthetic ingredients. Fresh is always best. Storage-wise, place your truffles in the fridge – ideally wrapped in a paper towel inside an airtight container – and enjoy for up to 7-10 days. It's easier and more accessible to go truffle hunting than you think If you're keen to get in on the action, during the harvest season between June and August, guests are welcome to join a truffle hunt tour at Robertson Truffles. They also host long truffle-spiked lunches and other events throughout the year. You can find out more here. Of course, there are other truffle farms throughout New South Wales and Australia if you're keen to get your hands dirty and have some fungi fun. Like truffle hunting, you'll need to do a bit of digging (online). But don't wait – truffle season isn't long All good things come to an end, and truffle season in Australia is relatively short – running from June to August. Go hard this winter. Order them at your favourite local restaurant – which supports truffle farmers – or source them yourself to enjoy at home. And soon enough, we'll be saying goodbye to them for the season. The good news? There's always next year – that's if the conditions are right, of course.
Straits Times
14-07-2025
- Straits Times
Then and now: Days of being wild in Singapore
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Whether 1845 or 2025, some things in Singapore never change. Snippets on how we reported them then and now. Workers removing the body of Twiggy, a black panther, from an underground drain near the Singapore Turf Club. The animal had escaped from the Singapore Zoo in March 1973. In 2023, retail manager Durga Devi was walking back to her Bukit Panjang home when a wild boar charged at her. The animal attacked her four times, flinging her from side to side before tossing her onto the road, The Straits Times reported. A passing jogger rushed to help. She survived the attack but had to undergo multiple operations in what doctors described as one of the worst boar attacks they had seen. Animal encounters, whether wild or captive, have long fascinated the public. In March 1973, Twiggy the panther escaped from the Singapore Zoo. For 11 months, it roamed the island before it was found dead in an underground drain near the Singapore Turf Club. A policeman advising pupils from Sembawang Hills Estate School to stay away from the jungle, as a panther that escaped from the Singapore Zoo had been spotted nearby. Two troops of Reserve Unit officers on duty and three police dogs were ordered to the scene in March 1973. PHOTO: ST FILE Two years later, in 1975, the police were on the alert for yet another panther, this one prowling the Tampines area after it was brought into Singapore illegally by an animal trader and escaped. The female cat was eventually captured in Tanjong Rhu. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore HSA intensifies crackdown on vapes; young suspected Kpod peddlers nabbed in Bishan, Yishun Singapore Man charged over distributing nearly 3 tonnes of vapes in one day in Bishan, Ubi Avenue 3 Singapore Public healthcare institutions to record all Kpod cases, confiscate vapes: MOH, HSA Singapore Man allegedly attacks woman with knife at Kallang Wave Mall, to be charged with attempted murder Singapore Singapore boosts support for Timor-Leste as it prepares to join Asean Singapore UN aviation and maritime agencies pledge to collaborate to boost safety, tackle challenges Singapore High Court dismisses appeal of drink driver who killed one after treating Tampines road like racetrack Singapore 18 years' jail for woman who hacked adoptive father to death after tussle over Sengkang flat 'PANTHER CAPTURED', the headline screamed on the front page on July 4, 1975. '24-day reign of terror ends with three shots from tranquilliser gun'. The panther had been spotted in the fuel tank of a ship under construction in Tanjong Rhu. It was captured by zoo officials while shipyard workers stood by to gawp at the drama. From prowling panthers to rampaging boars, sightings of animals on the loose have long made headlines, underscoring the tension between urban development and natural habitats. A dive into The Straits Times' archives reveals a much wilder Singapore in the past, when tigers were a terror. By the mid-19th century, Singapore had gained a grim reputation for tiger attacks. Historian C.M. Turnbull wrote in A History Of Modern Singapore 1819-2005 that tigers were said to carry off a victim a day. A report on Dec 11, 1855, which chronicled the deaths of an agricultural labourer and a coolie, lamented: 'How often are we compelled to record such verdicts. It reflects the greatest shame upon the Supreme Government that effectual means are not employed to relieve our dense jungles of ferocious Tigers.' Tiger hunting became common, with rewards offered for kills. In 1864, a reader named Carnie wrote in, describing how he had shot a tigress during an expedition before 'she could make another spring'. The menace extended to islands such as Pulau Ubin where a tiger killed two men in 1874. Those who killed tigers would sometimes take the carcasses to police stations to claim rewards, as Changi residents Ali and Mahomed did in 1898, when they hauled a dead tiger to the Rochore Police Station. The last reported shooting of a wild tiger in Singapore was in Choa Chu Kang in October 1930. But even in 1951, a tiger hunt was mounted near the Causeway after a sighting. 'It is believed that recent heavy RAF (the British Royal Air Force) bombing in south Johor may have driven the tiger out of the jungle and over the Causeway,' The Straits Times reported. Today, as the city becomes more built-up, animal sightings are rising again, though they are not in the league of tigers and panthers. In March 2025, The Straits Times reported a 55 per cent increase in calls to the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society between 2019 and 2024. The hotline received 15,203 calls in 2024 – up from 9,800 in 2019 – and now deals with an average of 10 cases a day. Among the animals rescued: mynahs, pigeons, pythons, civets, monitor lizards and wild boars. A wild boar spotted in Lorong Halus on Jan 12, 2021. ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO Straits Times assistant news editor Audrey Tan, 34 , who oversees environmental coverage, says Singapore now has experts with deep knowledge about certain wildlife species. Studies have also been done on why some animals, such as critically endangered pangolins, venture into urban areas. All this has made coverage about wildlife more nuanced, she says. Nature provides many benefits to urban dwellers, from the cooling effect of trees to the rest offered by parks and nature reserves, and reporting has evolved to highlight these intangible aspects, she adds. Singapore is also slowly embracing nature in its land use plans – which is only a good thing. From corals to armoured pangolins, otters to once-extinct hornbills, the natural world is an inescapable part of Singapore's urban cityscape, down to people's own backyards.
BBC News
12-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Two baby beavers born in Cornwall as part of wildlife project
Two baby beavers have been born in Cornwall as part of a wildlife reintroduction project. The parent beavers, Twiggy and Byrti, were introduced to a purpose-built enclosure on the Lost Gardens of Heligan estate in 2023 and 2024 respectively. It was part of a national programme of reintroducing the species more than 400 years after their extinction in Britain, said The Lost Gardens of Davies, wildlife coordinator at the gardens, said: "They looked to be a couple months old, but that's quite common for them to hide them away for a couple of months, and then all of a sudden, they kind of spring up." He added: "It's just such amazing news, I keep saying to everyone, I'm like a proud dad."Mr Davies said in the wild baby beavers, or kits as they are called, would usually stay with the parents for a couple years before Lost Gardens of Heligan said beavers were an important keystone species and their reintroduction was being monitored to gauge their impact on local biodiversity, flood mitigation and grazing livestock. It worked with The Welsh Beaver Project, Beaver Trust and Natural England on their reintroduction well as beavers, the gardens have reintroduced water voles and glow worms to the estate and bosses said they were working on reintroducing red squirrels in Davies said the beavers kits were yet to be named but would be named soon.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘America's Next Top Model' Alum Claims This Judge Was the ‘Meanest'
'America's Next Top Model' Alum Claims This Judge Was the 'Meanest' originally appeared on Parade. Former America's Next Top Model contestant Sarah Hartshorne recalled her alleged experience with one of the judges on the reality show. When asked during an appearance on Page Six Radio which judge was the 'meanest' when the cameras weren't rolling, Hartshorne, 38, replied, 'Definitely Twiggy.' She continued, 'In her defense, she worked as a model for a bajillion years in a very crazy, tough time and she was not taken seriously — and also that meant that her body got critiqued for so long that I don't think it really registered to her necessarily.' Hartshorne — a plus-size model who competed on season 9 of the reality show in 2007 but was eliminated during the eighth episode — claimed that Twiggy, now 75, made numerous comments that 'devastated' her. 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 'You know, 'I'm very surprised that this is such a good photo because in person you're actually not very attractive,'' she alleged Twiggy said to her. Hartshorne also claimed that Twiggy told her, 'And like, 'I understand maybe why you felt self-conscious in that outfit because you did look rather like a ham.'' Despite being hurt by Twiggy's alleged remarks, Hartshorne quipped that if she were 'called a ham' now, she would consider it 'absolutely accurate.' Twiggy served as a judge on America's Next Top Model for seasons 5 through 9, which aired from 2005 to 2007. During her tenure, the '60s supermodel judged alongside host Tyra Banks, Nigel Barker and J. Alexander. As for Hartshorne, she went on to model in campaigns for brands such as Skechers and appear in magazines including Glamour and Vogue. After retiring from modeling, she became a comedian and author. Her memoir, You Wanna Be on Top? — which dives deep into the behind-the-scenes world of America's Next Top Model via her own stories and interviews with fellow contestants and production crew — is set to be released on Tuesday, July 8. 'America's Next Top Model' Alum Claims This Judge Was the 'Meanest' first appeared on Parade on Jul 7, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
